The Fort is sponsoring a 3rd F double down for the benefit of the Children at CAH.  The pax has two opportunities to participate in this 3rd F activity.

UPDATE:  1st F challenge to support 3rd F… At every AO from May 16th – May 21st we will begin with 100 burpees minus the number of individually wrapped snacks/drinks that the PAX brings. (i.e. 0 snacks = 100 burpees; 100 snacks – 0 burpees)

First, starting on May 9th through May 22nd we are organizing a goods drive to collect Individually Wrapped snacks (sweet, salty or a mix of the two) and drinks (HI-C Juice Boxes, Capri Suns, and Gatorade).  The goal for the pax is to collect 1,000 units (bottles, bags, bars, etc) during this drive (i.e. a 12 pack of gatorade = 12 units).  Please bring these to AOs when you post and site Q’s will collect and funnel to Reborn or Chicken Hawk.  You may also bring on Saturday, May 21st to Fastest 5k or Sunday, May 22nd to the 2nd part of the 3rd F activity.

On Sunday, May 22nd @ 1600 – 1800 at WEP (Walter Elisha Park) F3 will host Justice League in Field day activities and events for all ages.  We will setup games for the big kids including whiffle ball, volleyball, flag football and other age appropriate activities for the younger children to enjoy as well.  Please bring your Ms and 2.0s out to enjoy an afternoon pouring into the Children.

Bring your corn hole games as well because we will cap the afternoon off with a cook out of epic proportions!  Please reach out to Reborn or Chicken Hawk if you would like to Q an event or activity during the event.

AYE!

This Saturday The FORT PAX will be celebrating 2 years in Rock Hill.  The Convergence has closed all The FORT AO’s, so there will be lots of participation based on FOMO something awesome!

So, to start the festivities off right, how about a nice Double Down Fun Run to Old Town AO starting from FlightPlan AO (Baxter Starbucks)?!?! This 9.85 mile course is easy enough to navigate that even Decibel won’t get lost.  Take a look at the route link. 2 turns, lots of straight.

https://www.endomondo.com/routes/718265673

Launch: 0515

Start Location: Baxter Starbucks

Attire (highly recommended for your safety): Head Lamp, Blinking light, reflective vest

I have allotted enough time for 10 minute miles or recovery when we get to Old Town. The majority of the route has sidewalks, so we should be good once we get to River Walk.

If you are not going to run this but you are planning to be at the convergence, please TWEET out that you have room to take some guys back to Starbucks.  Some guys need to leave right after the Old Town workout, some will stay for breakfast. Your help in getting us back will be greatly appreciated.

Big turnout in support of McGruff on his welcome back from the DL.  It was still wet so YHC had to audible from the original plan to use sidewalk chalk.  Any comments about USC = five bombjacks or Clemson = 5 Burpees. The PAX adjusted and had a great workout.  Welcome to the PAX Jason and Will (two FNGs).

We moseyed to center lot for a brief warm up:

• 20 SSHs
• 15 Moroccan Night Clubs
• 11 Windmills
• 14 Imperial Walkers

Asked the PAX of the significance of the number 22?  Good job Howitzer on knowing.  22 veterans die by their own hand daily.  We (community at large) must do more to raise awareness and support veterans.  All exercises to be done in 22 counts today.

The Thang:

• Divided into 6 groups and each group to complete three or four exercises then run their fast five speed for one parking lot lap and then rotate to next station as a group.  The stations were…
• Merkins: Standard, incline, decline
• LBC, American Hammer, Flutters with bell
• Figure 8’s, Squats, Flutters (I was into my second drink when writing weinke last night)
• L arm and R arm curls, skull crushers, Tricep extensions
• Upright Rows, Swings, Shoulder Press, Lateral Raises
• Lunges

At the end of the six stations we had about 10 minutes left to go complete two cycles of wall sits and then a five minute ab lab at COT.  We wrapped the morning up with 22 merkins in cadence.  Bombjacks and Burpees were at a minimum.  Welcome back McGruff.  It was great to see you.  Welcome to the PAX Handy Manny and Clifford.

Another beautiful day in paradise with 22 of Rock Hill’s finest…and 1 additional #HIM from Fort Mill. 23 for a ManU beatdown is pretty solid. Disclaimer was disclaimed, FNG was welcomed, and mumblechatter started. Here’s what we did…

Warm Up

• SSH
• IW
• Merkins
• MNCs

The Thang

Long mosey around the entire shopping center (down to the Events Center, past Chili’s, to the wall at Books a Million)

• People’s Chair (x2)
• BTTW
• People’s Chair (x2)
• High Knees to Pier 1
• Butt Kickers to Michaels
• Bear Crawl to Dick’s Sporting Goods
• Sprint to Panera

Mosey to the Fountain

• 20 Irkins
• 20 Dirkins
• 20 Dips
• 20 Box Jumps
• 20 Calf Raises
• Shampoo

Mosey to the Cinemas

• 11’s (1 pull-up, half lap, 10 American Hammers, half lap, repeat until 10 pull-ups and 1 American Hammer).

Mosey to COT

• Mountain Climbers
• Merkins
• LBCs

NMM

Here we grow again! Always a pleasure to share the gloom with this group of men. So excited about the direction this group is taking and I’m proud to be a part of it. Rock Hill has had 6 FNGs this week! Welcome to our newest brother of the gloom – Scrappy.

• Bull – dude is getting better every day. I still don’t see how he wears long sleeves in this warm weather.
• Black Hawk – he’s already brought a friend and its only week 1. Great work, brother!
• Scrappy (FNG) – welcome to the PAX.
• Popeye – its always a good day when Popeye joins us.
• Schrute – great leadership, as always.
• Reborn – the man, the myth, the legend!
• Van Wilder – showing off the guns this morning. Don’t let his mild manner fool you, dude is a BEAST!
• JAG – glad to have you on board. I can tell you have a lot of wisdom and leadership to share with our PAX.
• Radar – rolling in a couple minutes late but making up for it with solid form.
• Samurai – respect for this guy. 54 and passing the youngins’ like they were sitting still.
• Sgt. York – does anyone do as much, as well, without wincing as this guy?
• Waterboy – don’t think we didn’t hear you rocking out to Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock when you left today. After all, It takes two to make a thing go right. It takes two to make it outta sight.
• Deacon – my brother from another mother – always a pleasure to have you down south of the river.
• Cool Table – welcome back to week 2. Glad you’re with us.
• Sapper – TClaps to this guy. Already counting in cadence like a pro.
• Full House – day 2 for this man of God. Proud to have you with us.
• Turbine – such a great encourager. Thanks for being here.
• Hot Sauce – if you haven’t taken the time to talk to this guy, please do. The man has faith that can move mountains.
• Apache – the king of mumble chatter! Love working out with my boy, Jaime Diaz.
• Saw Dust – welcome back, Kotter. Glad to have you back with us.
• River Rat – no rust at all. Great Q, bro.
• Bogey – Elvis! This guy almost made it to the end before nature called. More impressively, he turned two and returned in under 5 minutes. That has to be a record!

The mumblechatter this morning was strong – like the smell of my gloves strong. But more importantly, the fellowship was phenomenal. At the end of River Rat’s beating, Apache had something he had to get off his chest. Tuesday night he got a call from his mom saying the doctor’s feared her cancer had returned. We fervently prayed for her in her time of need. Guess what happened next? The scans came back negative! Same thing happened to Full House’s M this week. How awesome is that?

Our God is a mighty God. He can do anything! Just remember that this week when the deck looks stacked against you. Our God is bigger than your pain, anxiety, and fear. The same God that conquered death lives inside you. So fear not, you can do this!

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Announcements 

There’s a lot going on over the next few months. Read the newsletter.

• Q School tomorrow @0445 at Petra (behind Bojangles on Cherry)
• Special Olympics Torch Run 5/6 @0800 Cherry Park to City Hall. 3ish mile slow mosey. Wear your F3 gear.
• Suck it up Buttercup – 5/7 @0700 at Old Town
• F3 Dads – A night with the Knights – 5/14 @1805
• F3 Goes to WWC – 5/19 @1745
• Fastest 5K – 5/21 @1600 – get your teams together. You won’t want to miss this. Bring the family for a tailgate afterwards.

Prayers

• Continue to lift up our brothers recovering from injury (Riddler, Tinker Toy)
• Pray for Catfish’s M
• All those spoken and unspoken
• JAG’s son heading off to Boot Camp

19 PAX came to #OldTown to honor our brother, Apache on his 1-year anniversary with F3. He’s the epitome of a #HIM and we are proud to call him our’s.

Warm-Up (Apache)

• SSH
• Merkins
• Italian Night Clubs
• Burpees

Long mosey to the Hot Box.

The Thang (Italian Job)

Exercises were performed at the levels below. After completing the 1st five levels, we descended to level 1 and started over. Exercises included:

• A merican Hammers (25 in cadence at level 1)
• P rison Cell Push-ups (10 OYO at level 3)
• A lternating Shoulder Taps (15 each arm at level 5)
• C arolina Dry Docks (20 in cadence at level 1)
• H ello Dollies (20 in cadence at level 3)
• E levens (Burpees and Squats at level 5)

Mosey to the stairway to heaven in downtown for Popeye’s Merkin Mountain.

• 25 Merkins, run to the top of the stairs (4 flights)
• 20 Merkins, run to the top of the stairs
• 15 Merkins, People’s Chair for the 6

NMM

It was an honor to be asked to Q for Apache’s 1-year celebration. He’s one of our favorite sons down here south of the river. He’s an encourager by nature and has never met a stranger. He’s the reason many PAX have come and stayed with us over the past 12 months.

• Welcome FNG – JAG. Awesome work this morning, especially for your first time out.
• Mayhem, glad to have you back. We expect to see you often now that the weather has warmed.
• Sgt. York – always lead dog. Good work again this morning, brother.
• Blueprint – welcome back after a few week hiatus. Glad you’re back!
• Samurai – good to have you out on a Monday. Great effort this morning.
• Reborn – thanks for coming back for the 6. True #HIM right there.
• Van Wilder – is it me or are you getting better at this F3 thing?
• Chappie – thanks for joining us in Rock Hill.
• Pistol – TClaps and big time #Respect for this 57 year-old beast.
• Stang – thanks for crossing the river. Always a joy to have you in the fold.
• Radar – what was this, day 5 in a row? Wow!
• Burgundy – the guy doesn’t sweat – no matter how tough the workout is.
• Corruption – thanks for joining us south of the river. Always good to have this stud in the PAX.
• Bill Nye – getting faster, stronger, and better every day.
• Popeye – sorry I poached some of your time (I secretly did it to avoid the stairs).
• Schrute – a leader leading leaders. Thanks for all you do.
• Waterboy – losing weight so fast he’ll need a new wardrobe soon.
• Apache – always a pleasure to have you around. Looking forward to many more years in the gloom together.

Announcements (check your email for details and links)

Q School – This week – Apr 26 (Tuesday) @ 0445 – Eagles Nest, Apr 29 (Friday) @ 0445 – Petra

Rock Hill 2 year Anniversary Convergence May 7 (Saturday) @ 0700 at OldTown

F3 DADS: A Night with the Knights May 14 (Saturday) @1805 – BB&T Ballpark

Prayer Requests

• Riddler’s biopsy results and healing for his leg
• All those struggling with cancer
• The families of the PAX