Tag: Bonsai

Brought the Gear to Dawn Patrol

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Have participated in the Dawn Patrol workouts for a few months now. Noticed one thing missing at most workouts, gear. Remedied that this morning.

WARMUP: Started at COT with the usual suspects

THE THANG: Set-up gear in stations in the first parking lot at the top of the hill. Asked the PAX to partner up. Partner 1 performs the exercise at a station while Partner 2 runs down the hill and then back up to relieve Partner 1 – flapjack, then move to the next station. Everyone pushed hard and made it through all stations plus 1.

AB Wheel
Shoulder Rows in Squat Position w/ Heavy Rope
V-Sits w/ 10/lb Med Ball
OH Squats w/ Cindy
KB Swings w/ 35lb KB
Triceps Extensions in Ski Position w/ 12lb DBs
Reverse Lunges w/ 20lb Weighted Vest
OH Press Toss w/ 60lb SB
Single Arm Lawn Mower Pulls w/ 45lb DB
American Hammers w/ 10lb Handled Ball
Alternating Snatches w/ 35lb DB
Slam Ball w/ 30lb Slam Ball
Squats w/ 30lb Ruck
Curl to Press w/ 45lb Plate

MARY: No time

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 4Bs, Trash Pickup, Bethel Serve

COT: STK!

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KB Escalator

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WARMUP: Vatiety
THE THANG: Escalator KB swings, goblet squats, burpees, rows
Circuit-straight leg deadlifts, merkins, tricep extensions, curls
Partner farmer carry and LBCs
MARY: Ab fun
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT: prayers for healthy families and praises for anniversaries

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Skipper zipper

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THE THANG:
Zipper route starting at Elliott St. 10 merkins and 10 jump squats at the end of every street. 5 burpees each time the pax cross Springs St. Pax logged 3.5-4.5 miles.

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FORTeen Years

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WARMUP: 14 Burpees
THE THANG: Mosey to center of WEP

Pax rotated into center based on year of 1st post (ie Class of 2026, 2025, 2024, etc). Varied exercises were performed by all including Burpees, Partner Derkins, Squats, Sumo Squats, SSH, Mtn Climbers, Mahktar N'Dyiae, Flutters, Freddys, Monkey Humpers, etc

Pax sprinted home for the finish.

MARY: She participated during the Thang

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bethel Shelters service

COT: Yes, of course, 5th Core Principle

The pax came early and stayed late to celebrate this Community of Brothers we call The Fort. For 14 years, men have posted in the Gloom of WEP and other wonderful sites throughout FM/TC (and in Rock Hill, Clover/LKW and now Chester) to sharpen each other, to hone leadership skills, and to prepare themselves and each other to tackle the ups and downs Life will regularly throw their way.

The number of men who've stood at COT in The Fort over these years exceeds 2,000. And roughly 200 pax keep the flame burning in 2026. Their continued participation is an individual choice, one they can't not keep making because, as they shared, they've found brotherhood, community, belonging and accountability in The Fort.

Who will be standing in COT in 2036 or 2046? Anybody? Nobody? You? Your son or son-in-law or grandson?

As Band Camp shared, we Get To make this choice. Each man stands apart from the general crowd in our culture in making this choice. And yet, each man of The Fort is no better than any other man who lives among us. All men are made of the same fiber in the same image of our Creator. As Dark Helmet said, every man is needed in the leadership mission required to bring to fruition the world our Creator intended. So stay in the game. Find the next man and bring him into the fold. Because 14 years of history only matters if we continue to bring Impact to men and our broader community today, tomorrow, next week and next year. #KeepPosting

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Consistency in the Gloom

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WARMUP: Yes, we did some warm uppy things
THE THANG: Moseyed over to the church pavillion for most of the workout

3 rounds of Step-ups — good form, 10 R/10L interspersed with varied Merkins in cadence (Irkins, Derkins, Merkins)

Partner up with partner 1 doing an exercise while partner 2 completes a loop around the circular landscape bed in front of the church using various modes of transport. We bear crawled, crawl beared, lunged, sprinted, karaoked, and more.

Mosey back to SF

Some Mary followed by 15 Burpees to recognize the kickoff of Year 15 of The Fort starting the following week.
MARY: yes
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Convergence, Bethel shelter service, La Grama
COT: Solid crew of veterans who shared some comments on why they keep posting after many many years (or months in the case of SBR).

One of my reasons for continuing to post is that I know I will start the day with a W every time I post. When so much of life is filled with uncertainty and surprises, there are few surprises when I roll out the door heading for an AO. I don't know who will post and I don't know the weinke. But I know there will be a Q who has come prepared to lead and to share his gifts with me. I know I'll be surrounded by men who share my values and who will wake me up or challenge me or inspire me or all of these and more. I know I won't regret spending 45mins + COT with my brothers. This Consistency challenges me to match it with my own Consistency. And Consistency is a mark of a leader.

Thanks for the Q invite SBR! And thanks to these pax for their Consistency and Commitment to keeping the flame of The Fort burning and their own along with it.

#KeepPosting

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Cinder Block Party

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We had 12 including a fly by guest appearance from @U061FJV3GVD.
Standard warm-up exercises then we moseyed over to the stack of cider blocks.
1st DORA – Merkins (100), Squats (200), LBCs (300)
partner 1 did exercises, partner 2 carried cinder block around outside of stage. Flipflop upon return.
2nd DORA – cinder block exercises: Curl / Shoulder Press (100), Chest Press / V Up (200), Leg Lift over Block (300)

Great job Pax!

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Of course, more burpees

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WARMUP:
Moroccan nightclubs
Windmills
Cherry pickers
Hillbilly walkers
Mosey to some curb merkins in cadence

BurpBackMountain

  • partner up. Partner 1 does burpees while partner 2 nurs up the hill and runs down twice. Then switch. Completed when 100 burpees are done

THE THANG:
The Sheldon Cooper
10 burpees, 10 squats, 10 merkins, 10 big boy sit-ups, run .3 miles around park to halfway point and complete
9 burpees, 9 squats, 9 merkins, 9 big boy sit-ups, run .3 miles back to Amphitheatre. Repeat with 8, then 7, then 6…
MARY:
Fear of being alone is why I come out to F3 and to give other men the opportunity to push themselves to be better. I want to be around others that will help me improve and to be held accountable.

Flutters led by Dark Helmet for 1 minute
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:

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We’re going the distance !!!

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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.

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Running at the forge

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WARMUP:

  • 20 Side Straddle Hops
  • 15 Windmills
  • 15 Moroccan Nightclubs
  • 15 Hillbilly Walkers
  • 15 Imperial Walkers
  • 15 Cherry Pickers
  • 15 Low & Slow Squats

THE THANG:

Mosey 1 lap around the HT

● Bear crawl across the parking lot
● 4 shoulder taps at every other parking line
● Lunge walk back
● Bear crawl across the parking lot
● 3 Merkins at every other parking line
● Lunge walk back

Mosey to Roundabout
● 15 Flutter Kicks
● 15 American Hammers

Mosey to hill in arbors community
● 10 Sumo Squats
● Uphill Sprint → Walk Back
● 10 Big Boy Sit-Ups
● Uphill Sprint → Walk Back
● 10 Merkins
● Uphill Sprint
10 LBCs
● Uphill Sprint

Mosey to the child care

Elevens
● Start at the Child Care:
● 1 Big Boy Sit-Up
● Run up to the Fire Department
● 10 Burpees
Down to:
● 6 Big Boy Sit-Ups and
● 5 Burpees

Mosey Back to COT
● 5 Merkins at every speed hump we pass

COT
● 15 Box Cutters
● 15 Freddie Mercuries
● 15 Dying Cockroaches
● Stretching
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 9/11 event, bethel shelter
COT: pray for health and family

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Running at the forge

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WARMUP:

  • 20 Side Straddle Hops
  • 15 Windmills
  • 15 Moroccan Nightclubs
  • 15 Hillbilly Walkers
  • 15 Imperial Walkers
  • 15 Cherry Pickers
  • 15 Low & Slow Squats

THE THANG:

Mosey 1 lap around the HT

● Bear crawl across the parking lot
● 4 shoulder taps at every other parking line
● Lunge walk back
● Bear crawl across the parking lot
● 3 Merkins at every other parking line
● Lunge walk back

Mosey to Roundabout
● 15 Flutter Kicks
● 15 American Hammers

Mosey to hill in arbors community
● 10 Sumo Squats
● Uphill Sprint → Walk Back
● 10 Big Boy Sit-Ups
● Uphill Sprint → Walk Back
● 10 Merkins
● Uphill Sprint
10 LBCs
● Uphill Sprint

Mosey to the child care

Elevens
● Start at the Child Care:
● 1 Big Boy Sit-Up
● Run up to the Fire Department
● 10 Burpees
Down to:
● 6 Big Boy Sit-Ups and
● 5 Burpees

Mosey Back to COT
● 5 Merkins at every speed hump we pass

COT
● 15 Box Cutters
● 15 Freddie Mercuries
● 15 Dying Cockroaches
● Stretching
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 9/11 event, bethel shelter
COT: pray for health and family

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