TIREsome fun at Golden Corral

Gave disclaimer a few minutes early even though Dark Helmet tried to delay the start.

Moseyed over to O ‘Riley’s Auto Parts for the warm up:
SSH
Wind mill
Honeymooner / Downward Dog
Hand release merkins
More Honeymooner / Downward Dog
Mountain Climber
Even more Honeymooner / Downward Dog
LBCs

Then moved to the hill behind Quick Lube
Sprint to top of hill and jog back down
20 LBCs at bottom (repeat 4 times)

Next Pax ventured over to the field adjacent the Gold Hill YMCA.  Every time I drive by this area I am always intrigued by the tires that are sitting out there and no one seems to use them.  So I decided that we would put them to use.  Honestly I wasn’t expecting 15 guys to show up so I had to improvise on what to do until I could come up with something worse.

– had Pax split up in 4 groups (3 tires – 1 big tractor tire and 2 large truck tires)

– 3 Teams took turn rolling the tire down to the other end of the field and back will team 4 did merkins until the teams with the tires got to the end of the field and then squats until the teams returned.

– Team 4 took its turn with the tractor tire and other 3 teams did the merkins and squats

After that I came up with the bad idea that we would all line up in two lines shoulder to shoulder and lift the tractor tire overhead and pass it down the line.  Once it passed by you move to the end of the line.  We kept this going for about 30 + yards before someone almost dropped it on their head.

To finish out the workout we partnered up for a DORA
100 Burpees
200 merkins
300 squats

Needless to say doing a DORA like this at the end of the workout is a smoker.  Everyone was able to finish the merkins and then it was time to head back for COT where we arrived a few minutes early and knocked out about half the squats and a round of Mary.

It was an honor to lead and I appreciate the Pax patience as I adlibbed some of the workout trying to account for numbers.

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Gemini Birthday Bash

The Thang:

Mosey to the parking lot near the tennis courts

COP: Hillbilly Walkers(20x), Imperial Walkers (15x), 1 min of 7 burpees and 33 SSH, 3x

Mosey to the band’s practice parking lot

Jack Webb Style with Crackin Burpees for the 1 and Bobby Hurley for the 4 with 3-4 partners for encouragement

Bomb Jacks (100x), Overhead Claps (200x), Merkins (100x), Big Boy Sit Ups (100x), Squats (200x)

Moleskin:

On this glorious day, we followed our own advice of not “going it alone.” So we decided to lock shields to celebrate the 40th birthday of two Geminis that were born two days apart. We are humbled and honored by the love and support of our F3 brothers for our birthday bash. We can’t thank you enough.

As we turn 40 years old, we understand that we are progressing into the next season of life. Age 0 to 20 is the spring season where we identify who we are. Age 20 to 40 is the summer season where we learn and grow. Age 40 to 60 is the fall season where we influence others. Age 60+ is the winter season where we share wisdom with others.

What season of life are you in? Own it. Celebrate life and your season daily.

Peace,

Deacon & Shady

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Blown tire = Bullpen

Lets just put this out there.  I was HURTIN.  The Murph did me in like no one’s business.  Shoulders, arms, no extension.  The bed was calling.  Obligation as a PAX and as a site Q made my decision for me.  Have to do the hard thing.  Reborn has been on schedule for months and I got a call at 4:30 saying his tire had blown.  No problem.

Pulling into The Coloseeum there were already a large group of men gathering waiting.  With nothing prepared, I decided shared leadership was the key today.

Maximus: COP

Jekyll: 16s on the track.  Carolina Dry Docks and Jumping Lunges at each corner of track.  15/1, 14/2, 13/3….1/15.

Dungaree: Wall Muscle ups, BTTW

MacGuyver: Wall sits into merkins back into Wall sits (#crowdpleaser)

Gekko: Street lights.  AYG to next to pole 2, mosey to pole 3, AYG to pole 4. repeato until 10th pole

Walker: Cant remember but probably Merkins

Jekyll: Mary

all were completely smoked.  Always great to have the high energy and expectation from Walker.  He really drives me to be better and do better.  Unwavering principled man.

We finished up and met up with Ruckers and Pathfinders.

Aye!

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We’re going “Jack Webb” today…

Started out a bit chilly so YHC jumped in with the disclaimer and we took off for a mosey…that was about maybe 100 yards in change.  This workout had been predetermined to be “leg friendly and minimal running” and that bar was set immediately.

In the warmup, we did the “Shady” home warmup with incorporated getting the body stretched and blood pumping.  Warmup included: SSH, Mary Catherine of some sorts (no name for what looks like an elliptical movement), stretch of shoulders and arms, cherry pickers, windmill, squats, Moroccan night clubs, low slow squats, merkins, and finally some runner stretches.

After the warmup, we got into the Thang.  Immediate partnering up ensued, size didn’t matter, but picking someone you didn’t know very well did.  Incorporated into the Thang was going to be encouraged mumble chatter with your partner to get to know them – how’d they get their name, what’s their hospital name (not the name of the hospital), where they grew up, work, etc.  Kind of like a COT naming 101 session.  As my word of the year is “listen”, part of the message today was getting to know your fellow PAX.

Here’ the gauntlet that was laid down using “Jack Webb” as the theme:

  • Classic Jack Webb – 1 merkin, 4 overhead claps; 2 merkins, 8 overhead, etc. up to 10 merkins and 40 overhead
  • With your partner – 1 mak-tar-jai, 4 plank hand slaps; 2 MTJ, 8 hand slaps…all the way up to 10 and 40
  • Also together with your partner – 1 crab foot slap (don’t recall the actual name but get in crab position and lift left leg up and slap with right hand, alternate feet and hand = 1 rep), 4 LBCs…this up to 10 crabs and 40 LBC
  • Last together with your partner – 1 burpee, 4 squats.  This was get as many as you can b/c of time which I believe partners were in the 8 burpee, 32 squat range
  • In the last few min we did some MARY and called it a morning

As we wrapped up, getting to know the PAX 1 person at a time is important as that accountability and personal level of basic “I know where you’re from and I’m listening to who you are” helps develop and enrich your shieldlock.

It took zero movement to get to COT where we did name-o-rama, announcements and a quick roundtable of prayers and praises.  Enjoyed the push this am and especially the welcomed mumble chatter.  Looking forward to next time!

Shady

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Keep Moving to Get THROUGH It

15 pax shook off fears of rain & cold to post to The Fort, seeking a jump start to the MLK weekend.  All veterans this morning so Anchorman checked the Disclaimer box in brief fashion and then offered a preview with comments about avoiding the pit of “getting stuck” and embracing the opportunity sharpen yourself by “going  through it.”  Oh yeah, he also made a reference to 100 burpees coming over the next 60 mins.

The Thang

Run to front parking lot between WEP and Springs

COP — SSH, Burpees x10, IWs, Merkins, Flutter kicks, Burpees x10 (count=20), Morrocan night clubs, Overhead claps, Morrocan night clubs

Run to Pike’s front lot

People’s chair, Burpees x10 (count=30), people’s chair

Run to bottom of Massey St hill

1 Burpee at bottom, run to top, 2 Burpees, continue down and back up adding 1 Burpee on each end until 10 Burpees at the top. Result: 55 total Burpees (count=85)

Handoff to DD

Mosey to memorial park

Makhtar N’Dyae

Knee-tar N’Dyae

Mosey to parking lot grass

Tunnel of love

Mosey to Pike’s front lot

People’s chair on wall / Donkey kicks x10 on wall
Rinse & repeat

Bear crawl across lot / crawl bear back
Rinse & repeat

Mosey to Springs side lot

Plank it up shoulder to shoulder for bunny hops through the pax to the end of the parking lot.

Freddy Mercury / Hello dollies

Move to wall

Wall pull-ups x10

Sprint to curb and back

Wall pull-ups x10

Mosey back to WEP

Burpees x10 (count =95)

Box cutter

Rosalita

4 Minutes of Burpees

COT

NMM

We had a great morning at WEP with a lively group of mostly veteran pax.   Cool and damp, but no rain until COT.  Thank you to all the pax present, to Bonsai for the invite to Q and to Anchorman for sharing the lead in High Impact fashion.

T-claps to X-Ray and Slash for consistency in their first 30 days since their initial post at The Fort. And t-claps to Esso for their EHs and encouragement.

The theme for the day was about not getting stuck when facing adversity and instead going THROUGH it.  Anchorman referred to an article by Jalen Hurts (Alabama QB transferring to Oklahoma) where he describes his faith through the experience of the January 2018 National Championship game and the following season in Fall 2018.   Hurts said, “This isn’t something you’re stuck in,” I’d tell myself. “This is something you’re going through.” And one thing I can promise you is that I’m better off for having gone through it. Everything I dealt with at Bama: I’m stronger for it. I’m wiser. I’m a better man.” You can read the article here.

Anchorman didn’t waste any time delivering extended pain during the opening COP with his shoulder series of Moroccan night clubs and overhead claps…drawing much mumblechatter.  The move over to Massey Street triggered even stronger mumblechatter.  The pax rose to the challenge despite the grumbles.  They got THROUGH it.

The suspense of reaching the 100 burpee mark carried us through the final 30 mins of the workout.  With about 6 mins left, we chinned up close to the bar, reaching the 95 mark.  Anyone who expected YHC to stop at 100 surely won’t make that mistake again.  Everyone lost count of their total during the 4 mins of burpees wrap-up.  But they all got THROUGH it.

We paused after the Tunnel of Love to reflect on a tragic example of getting stuck instead of getting through it.  I learned last week about a 53-yr old Chicago father of four who committed suicide.  His name is Tim.  Tim was a year ahead of me at ND in the late 1980s, and we lived in the same dorm for three years.  I don’t recall having any contact with Tim after he graduated in 1988.  But, certain of my classmates from the Chicago area did have contact with Tim.  In fact, some lived nearby, attended the same church, had kids in the same schools and the same sports leagues.  Looked at in some ways, Tim appeared successful — professional career in the financial sector, home in a sought-after suburb, four kids, private schools, etc.  At the same time, Tim battled alcoholism…maybe all those achievements weren’t truly fulfilling for him…maybe he was stuck…maybe he wasn’t getting through it…maybe he couldn’t get through it, at least not without help, not without a partner, not without a group.  The most chilling comment in many emails I read about Tim and his situation was when the email sender said “…then I lost touch with him.”  The challenge this week is to consider someone you know who’s facing tough circumstances, someone at risk of getting stuck and reach out to that person.  If you’re in the unfortunate place of being stuck or at risk of being stuck, identify someone who can help you start moving.  That’s the essential action to getting THROUGH it.   If you need two names, put Anchorman and Double D on your list.

SYITG

 

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Hurricane Michael

I heard the rain from Hurricane Michael pounding my windows right before the alarm clock went off. If it weren’t for Lil E and the Pax, I would have fartsacked. The Pax in attendance were actually looking forward to the storm. We stood against the rain and got stronger.

The Thang:

COP: SSH (30x), IW (20x), WM (15x), Sumo Squats (15x), MC (20x).

Mosey to the hill near the stadium to add inertia and do the following exercises.

  1. 100 Yard Dash
  2. Jumping Squats (2x)
  3. Big Boy Sit Ups (3x)
  4. Pepper Grinders (4x)
  5. Burpees (5x)
  6. LBCs (6x)
  7. Sumo Squats (7x)
  8. Heels to Heaven (8x)
  9. Dips (9x)
  10. Calf raises (10x)
  11. Merkins (11x)
  12. Penguins (12x)

COP: V-ups (15x), Scorpions (15x), Windshield Wipers (7x), Peter Parkers (15x)

Moleskin:

We live in a hero-centered society. More attention and accolades are focused on the player verse the team, the “I” and “me” instead of we. At times, people who show humility are perceived as weak.

So why should we remain humble?

The answer is because God can do more with a humble heart.

A man who lacks humility tends to be arrogant with a heart that’s hard as rock. How can God plant seeds on their hard soil?

A man with with a humble heart tend to grateful for with an open mind and heart. God can plant many seeds that bear fruit with their soft soil.

James 4:10 ~ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

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Laces In – 9.20.18

14 strong at LacesIn on a great morning.  All tolerated a few of YHC’s favorite exercises.

Warm up

Short mosey and circle up for the usual suspects.

  • SSH
  • Windmill
  • Imperial Walkers
  • Merkins
  • Squats
  • Peter Parker
  • Parker Peter

The Thang

Mosey over the band lot and line up on the goal line for the following

  • Lunge walk 50 yards. Stop every ten yards for 10 squats.
  • Bear Crawl remaining 50 yards and 10 CDDs every ten yards.
  • Crabwalk back 50 yards with 10 LBCs every ten yards.
  • Burpee broad jump remaining 50 yards.
  • Theee rounds of suicides to the 10, 20, and 30

 

Mosey to base of hill at the entrance to parking lot from Munn Road and do the following:

  • 10 singe count Merkins, 10 sumo squats IC, 20 Freddy mercury IC. Run to third light pole and back.
  • 10 single count diamond Merkins, 10 monkey humpers IC, 20 Flutters IC. Run to top of hill and jog back down
  • 10 single count wide Merkins, 10 bombjacks, 10 hello dollies IC. Run to top of hill and jog back down.

Mosey back to start for a few minutes of Mary

COT

Announcements

Prayers/Praises

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Not much of a game, but a whole lot of suicides

So for some quick backstory, YHC had the Q at the Deep on 9/29, but was asked by our Nantan to be on of the Q’s at the convergence at WEP.  I was planning on doing a football themed workout there, but since I was losing that Q, I thought I would try to move it to the Swamp.  That being said, nothing about what this workout evolved into resembled anything like what I was originally thinking, but as always, it was great to lead these awesome PAX.

There were 16 at The Swamp on a morning that was back to being hot and muggy.  I gave a short disclaimer and we started promptly at 515, the PAX were really chatty this morning, which stopped almost immediately after I got started because there wasn’t much time to breathe after that, let alone talk.

We took a short mosey around the parking lot and did some toy soldiers and shuffle steps on our way to the parking lot by the fountain where we circled up for a quick warm up.

  • 10 Windmills IC
  • 15 Moroccan Nightclubs IC
  • 10 Low Slow Squats
  • 10 Merkins IC

I only had 1 “thing” planned this morning, we would have 2 teams and do the same thing over and over again mixing in different exercises.  I had 5 cones on each side of the lot/fountain spaced 10 yards apart.  We would start at the back island and essentially do suicides while stopping at each cone and doing an exercise of my choice.   The first whole team to cross the finish line at the other end of the lot by the far island got a point for some friendly competition.

Breakdown:

  • Run 10 yards, do exercise, run back to finish
  • Run 20 yards, do exercise, run back to finish
  • Run 30 yards, do exercise, run back to finish
  • Run 40 yards, do exercise, run back to finish
  • Run 50 yards, do exercise, and then go the final ~60 yards or so via a movement of my choice.
  • Mosey back to start and repeat with different exercises

Exercises:

1st set

  • 10 Burpees
  • 20 Merkins
  • 30 Squats
  • 40 LBC’s
  • 50 Alternating Shoulder Taps
  • Sprint to finish

2nd set

  • 10 Burpees
  • 20 Werkins
  • 30 lunges
  • 40 flutters
  • 50 SSH’s
  • Bearcrawl to finish

3rd set

  • 10 Burpees
  • 20 Diamond Merkins
  • 30 Monkey Humpers
  • 40 Rosalitas
  • 50 Overhead Claps
  • Lunge Walk to finish

4th set

  • 10 Burpees
  • 20 CDD’s
  • 30 Reverse Lunges
  • 40 Dying Cockroach
  • 50 Plank Jacks
  • Crab walk to finish

5th set

  • 10 Burpees
  • 20 Ranger Merkins
  • 30 Lateral Jumps
  • 40 Hello Dolly
  • 50 Seal Jacks
  • NUR to finish

6th set

  • 10 Burpees
  • 20 Crucible Merkins
  • 30 Calf Raises
  • 40 Box Cutters
  • 50 High Knees
  • Shuffle/split the distance to the finish

We finished up with 2 minutes to spare, 1st team consisted of YHC, Bones, Cha-Ching, and Mainframe and we won with 4 points.  The 2nd team consisted of Gears, Regal, Tinsel, and Moab and they won 2 of the sets.  Winning team had a choice of 10 more Burpees for everyone or 20 for the losing team, we chose 10 more Burpees for everyone.

Mosey back to CoT right on time.

  • Invergence tonight!
  • Convergence 9/29 at WEP
  • Prayers for Moab and his big interview
  • Prayers for Cancer
  • Prayers for our troops that fight and the struggles they have with PTSD when they are back home.
  • Prayers for victims and families who are dealing with Hurricane Flo

Thanks for the Q Cha-Ching!

Until next time,

-Flux-

 

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Give Yourself Permission

9  pax posted to the land of the free and the home of the brave in Fort Mill, SC (aka Walter Elisha Park aka WEP aka The Fort) for a snot-woggler of a morning.  Of course, all men are welcome at F3 AOs and none are left behind.  But, when I took note of the pax present (no FNGs and all wily veterans), I knew we were in for some real pain.  This was not a crew that modifies, and my co-Q (Copay) certainly was going to dole it out.  My mission of the morning was to keep the pax present and encourage them through the barrage.  For the record, a brief Disclaimer was proclaimed.  Then I put forth a short command — “Give yourself permission to be here and only here for the next 60 minutes…let go of everything else that might be occupying your mind.”  All pax confirmed they had permission to proceed, and then the fun began.

The Thang

Double D in the lead

Mosey up hill out the parking lot with right turn down Ardrey St

Series of Karaoke, High knees, Butt kicks, To Soldiers

Take paved trail at first intersection back into the Springs parking lot and work our way through the lot to the building with periods of Lunge walks, Broad jumps, Bear crawl, Backwards lunge walk, Crawl bear, Crab walk.

COP — Al Gore, SSH, IWs, HWs, Merkins, CDDs, Bombjacks

Mosey to UCSynergetic back lot

Pull-ups on the walkway railing + 10 Bombjacks OYO
Rinse and repeat

Mosey partway down grassy hill toward Hwy 160 and then a permission slip check was made before handoff to Copay

Copay in the lead

Build a burpee X5

Mosey to bottom of gun shop hill.

50X Side Straddle Hops

All out Sprint to top Side squats left/right and lunges down

All out Sprint to top Side squats left/right and lunges half way

Lunges and side squats left and right back up

Message Give permission and your “will” will take you further than you want, especially when it’s about doing His will

Mosey to parking lot across from gun shop

Combos:

CDD Donkey Kicks X12

Mountain climber merkins X12

Standing push up jump squats X20

Run back to parking lot
Rinse and repeat

Build a burpee X5

Handoff to Double D for the finish

Mosey to UC Synergetic parking lot along Hwy 160

Plank on curb facing short brick wall

Derkins + sprint to wall + backward sprint back to the curb
Rinse & repeat for 3 cycles total

Mosey to grassy area along Hwy 160 in front of Springs bldg

Freddy Mercurys

Flutter kicks

People’s chair against wall

Balls to the Wall

People’s chair

Mosey back to WEP

Mahktar N’Dyiae

COT

Naked Man Moleskin

Well, it’s Monday afternoon, more than 48 hrs since the beatdown, and My lower body is still sore.  The soreness started Sat afternoon.  A 15 mile run on Sunday and a 5 mile run plus burpees on Monday have yet to relieve the soreness.  Copay really put it on us!

It looked as though we had an in-game EH when Copay was leading us through his first round of Build-a-burpee.  An enthusiastic fellow in his 20s/30s driving a black car w/NY plates parked on the street near the gun shop and got out of his car to ask “Is this the class?”  Of course, we said yes, waved him into the parking lot and continued the burpees until he parked and walked back over.  Suddenly, he didn’t look so excited.  He was looking for the “gun shop class” and the idea of Copay and burpees had him shaking in his boots.  We invited him back to WEP for 9/15.  We’ve got one week to work up one heckuva name.

We covered new territory around the buildings for some pax.  The pull ups on the walkway railings were new to some.  The wall along Hwy 160 was new to others.  Both of these, plus all the other spots demonstrate what an awesome AO WEP continues to be, despite 6 years of downPAINments!

The message for the workout was geared around being PRESENT and INTENTIONAL.  I came upon the phrase “I gave myself permission…” in 2-3 conversations last week and it stuck with me.  Sometimes it takes a bit of a mental device to force us to realize that (a) everything is a choice and (b) the only actions we can make choices about are those in the here and now.  Giving yourself permission to be present to do something specific and intentional is a powerful way of exercising our freedom to choose.  Copay took the “permission” idea to an even greater level with his inspiring words about “giving permission to God to do His will through me now” (only way more powerful coming out of his mouth).

Lots to think about and lots of laundry after this one.

Thanks to Bonsai for the Q opportunity and to the pax for leaving it all out there!

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Colosseum 9418

What a delicious swampy suckfest at The Coliseum today.  10 (real) men were brave enough to post today including two former nantans(DD, Pusher), a former #kotter (LULU), and a former #D1(Crab Cakes). Who among us doesn’t love a dirty McDeuce?

YHC came in on 2 wheels this morning but was ready to go disclaiming that which needs to be disclaimed and off we went for a yog/mosey where we learned that McGuyver still hates me from a Sunday run where I may have underestimated the mileage.  In the back of GHMS our freshly minted black top served as our warming grounds.  Various heartpumpers: SSH, Squats, LBC, Flutters got it going.  Oddly I thought we would have a Chippendale this morning but everyone kept their shirt on. looking at you Jedi.  Making an appearance in our warmup was the always welcome 10- down burpee count sprinkled in.  got down to 7 before we changed direction to a new section of our Roman fortress.

The THANG

Dirty McDeuce- 3 exercises, 12 reps, 4 rounds.  Usually Upper, Middle, Lower but Q’s call.

  • Merkin, LBC, Squat
  • Carolina Dry Dock, Dying Cockroach, Lunge
  • Wide arm Merkins, Big Boy Situps, Jumpsquat
  • Diamond Merkin, Freddie Mercury, Apolo Oh-no

Spliced in some more burpees with 6 through 4 down.

Mosey to back parking for suicides, 5 points, 3 burpees each.

curb action with 60 seconds each of alt shoulder plank walk and steps ups.

Finish with Mary and the rest of our Burpees: 3 through 1 down

Naked Man Moleskin

Good to see Rebel this morning.  Strong, fit and at front of pack today in Dirty McD.  No question he could beat the 55th ranked tennis player unlike Federer.  Coliseum regulars JWoww, and Objection crushed as usual.  McGuyver lead from the front in his silent assassin way while LuLu  still had enough breath to explain the origin of his name.

We got in 70 burpees on the day to help our totals for the September of 1000 burpee challenge and support Double D in his efforts running in the NYC Marathon for Let Me Run.  If you finish with more than or less than 1000, pay up friends.  Lets financially support DD for this great program,

Twas a great morning.  Aye!

F3 the Fort Invergence 9/21 5:30 Rush Pavlilion!

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