WARMUP: barely
THE THANG: out 3 miles to QT and back 3 miles to Panera
MARY: Hail Mary
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Convergence
COT: Prayers and Praises
N/A We are all Veterans
WARMUP: None
THE THANG: 🎒 SOUL TO SOLE BACKBLAST — GOING THE DISTANCE
This morning the distinguished gentlemen of Soul to Sole gathered in the gloom for a little more than smiles and miles.
YHC had the Q, and the assignment was simple: put on the ruck, start walking, and go the distance.
We rolled out from Panera, made our way into downtown Fort Mill, hit Town Hall, and brought it back home for roughly 3.25 miles of good conversation, questionable wisdom, and shared burdens.
The cast of characters:
McHale — Just kept moving like a man who knew exactly where we were going. Whether he actually did is irrelevant.
Fogerty — Brought enough commentary to ensure there was absolutely no danger of this becoming a silent meditation ruck.
Ruby Slippers — No yellow brick road this morning, but somehow those slippers still found their way all the way to Town Hall and back.
Bonsai — Compact name. Full-size effort. Quietly putting in the work while the rest of us solved the world’s problems before sunrise.
Bassomatic — Providing the low-end rhythm for the morning. Every good ruck needs a soundtrack.
3D — Three dimensions, 3.25 miles, and somehow still finding another angle to the conversation.
Pollo Hermano — The Chicken Brother was in the house. Thankfully, no chickens were harmed during this ruck. 🐔
Sofrito — YHC — Had the Q and promised miles. Delivered approximately 3.25 of them, which means the Q math was close enough for government work — especially since we actually visited Town Hall. 🇵🇷😂
But underneath all the mumblechatter was what makes Soul to Sole special.
We carry weight on our backs because sometimes it reminds us that we don’t have to carry everything else alone.
3.25 miles. Panera → Fort Mill Town Hall → home.
Miles were logged.
Smiles were shared.
Burdens got a little lighter.
MARY: Never found
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Read your newsletter
COT: Reach out to someone today.
Munn then right on Harris. Enter neighborhood past Sam smith and run to masons Bend dead end and circle back to cot
WARMUP: Goose set the stage with an intro to Shield Lock September, then handed the baton to Pusher
THE THANG:
Pusher — he led the charge (literally) out of the parking lot to the corner leading toward Red Ventures where he led a series of exercises interspersed with Burpees and Disruption. He then took the pax back to the parking lot for a series of sprints and lunges.
Cake Boss — he led the pax on a mosey to the plaza in front of the movie theater where pax grabbed a partner for some exercises (Dips, Derkins, Irkins and more) on the flower bed wall while flapjacking with an out-and-back run.
Double D — took the pax on a mosey to the al fresco dining area between ice cream shop and Greek joint. Pax grabbed a chair for 3 series of step-ups and planks/core exercises. All moseyed back to the parking lot to complete a final 10 Burpees before COT.
MARY: She participated throughout the Thang
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bethel shelter meal TONIGHT!!! Shield Lock Qs continue throughout September at Lazarus.
COT: We had a lively group of pax that sweated profusely and laughed fully about Goose's plan for October (WAGs month!) and Pauly D's "proceeding hair line" among other topics. It was great to have an age spread of 31 to 59 and F3 tenure ranging from 3 workouts to 14 years. Goose has the MILGA spirit flowing at full speed at Lazarus! Thanks for the invite to our Shield Lock! And shout out to our 4th SL member (Old Bay) who couldn't join us today.
The core message shared throughout the workout was "don't do life alone!" We all face challenges and Disruption in our lives and we all need Faith that takes an active human form of brothers surrounding us to get through those times. Our F3 brothers we see in the Gloom provide one level of support, AND the most reliable support will come from those who are CLOSEST to us, those few men we've truly opened our hearts to through regular vulnerability aimed at shared accountability. So take the risk and step into the uncomfortable zone of bonding with 2-3 other pax at a similar stage of life in a committed Shield Lock.
Thanks to the pax who posted today and helped my Shield Lock appreciate the gift we are to each other!
WARMUP: None
THE THANG: We ran poles in the driveway at P Knoll. Turned a bootcamp into a modified LIIT. Ended up about 2 miles worth of running.
MARY: Yes, including Peter Pointers
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bethel Shelter, Tortoise and The Hare, BBBB (and Cigar area)
COT: Lots happening to lift up. Lots to be thankful for, but there are things happening with the Pax that need prayer. Just awesome to have these groups getting together every day.
WARMUP: admiring my handy work on the new base for the flag
THE THANG: after oooo-ing and awww-ing for quite some time, we ran
MARY: did not give a rats tail about my handy work
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 6@6 has a new spot to put the shovel flag, Kingsley approved
COT: circled around the shovel flag, with its new base
I rucked. Others ran. Around Kingsley and back.
WARMUP: Mosey to behind the stadium via pedestrian bridge
Hold plank until 6 arrived
Exercises in cadence
Windmills
Cherry pickers
Imperial walkers
Hillbilly walkers
Seal jacks
Merkins
Mountain climbers
THE THANG: Mosey to the back parking lot for a view of the Space X rocket experiment and DORA with rocks
Partner 1 runs, partner 2 exercises then flapjack.
100 merkins
200 flutters with the rock press
300 goblet squats with rocks
Return the rocks to their rightful place.
Mosey on to the light poles where exercises were done in cadence at each one moving back toward COT
Merkins
Mike Tyson’s
LBC’s
Carolina Dry Docks
Monkey Humpers
Mosey a lap around the front lot
MARY: A few exercises called – Boxcutters among others
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Always
COT: 5th core principle
NMM: We post to get better and be there for those in the circle with us, who we support and love. Shoulder burdens with others. They get a bit lighter and more tolerable. The workout makes us just a bit more resilient in the face of challenges.
For whom are you showing up today? 👁️
WARMUP: None
THE THANG: 4 mile loop down to Bojangles and back to Bob Jones Stadium
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Fort Mill Lawn Care service opportunities
COT: Closed in prayer
Missed the Q … nice …
Bonsai took it… nice …
They ran to Walmart … some rucked to wherever … nice …
COT: We have guys with kids that are struggling. Real stuff. We are blessed to be able to get together and bring these things to light, knowing we have other men to lift us all up. And we pray for our children that they would seek the Lord’s will for their lives and they can find the peace of Christ in difficult times.