Better late than never!

4 Corners – Travel with KBover head

Squate/Lunges

Alt Arm Merk / Mtn Climber

Press/Burpee’

Curls/Am Hammer

Skull Crusher/LBC (I think)

Message: Say YES especially when you want to say NO. Good things follow that uncomfortable feeling.

Stack the deck in your favor every morning by asking for direction, patience, tolerance and understanding.

TClap |
28

Ring Around the Rosey

10 pax showed up at The Armory this amazing Monday morning to start the week off right. I am certainly happy that I was finally able to come out and enjoy the gloom with my brothers for the first time since January due to my knee issues and subsequent surgery. It was a very sweet homecoming!

A certain HIM wasn’t able to join us this morning, due to marathon training, so we took turns around the circle, with each of us leading an exercise with the kettle bell.

I believe we made it around the circle about three and a half times, so we did a bunch of reps of about 36 or 37 different exercises. YHC took a pass on a couple laps, and manmakers, but it was definitely an enjoyable workout with plenty of 2nd F taking place as well.

Thanks to everyone that came out this morning, I’d ask everyone to invite one person they haven’t seen in a while, or who has never been out to come join the brotherhood at The Armory. We’re focusing more on the weights, not on the miles, so guys like me with lower body injuries can still come participate and get a good workout.

Remember that it doesn’t have to be complicated, simple is many times more enjoyable for everyone! (I may be biased as it was my first morning back…)

TClap |
1

Miles under cover

8 said no to the fartsack and chose the DRP at Colosseum. YHC was conflicted over whether or not to keep the PAX under cover or not, so naturally we chose both.  Here’s what happened:

PAX were disclaimed, a mosey to the West end of the school and in the small parking lot, we circled up for COP.  WIndmills, burpees, imperial walkers, burpees, hillbilly walkers, burpees, low slow squats, Moroccan night clubs in the people’s chair, burpees and side straddle hops were done in varying quantities.   YHC decided it was time to go under cover, so we moseyed toward the center junction of the middle and elementary schools after stopping at the flag for a Pledge of Allegiance.

Main Event – Part 1:  4 corners under cover.  8 PAX made for appropriate (and even) partnering.  PAX paired off in 2’s and ran to each station, coming back to the middle after every stop.  Every time PAX came back to the middle they did 5 burpees.  2 rounds were completed of the following:

Station 1 – 3 burpees, 16 rosalitas, 21 diamond merkins

Station 2 – 3 burpees, 16 hello dollys, 21 wide arm merkins

Station 3 – 3 burpees, 16 flutters, 21 merkins

Station 4 – 3 burpees, 16 mountain climbers, 21 shoulder taps

After completion we moseyed toward station to and took some wall while assuming the people’s chair – where PAX sounded off for the things for which they were grateful.

In honor of the nantan’s appearance, it seemed only fitting the part two was jack webs – PAX did all of them up to 10 & 40.

A mosey after that to COT brought us to 0558 so a 2 minute geometry class was held where PAX worked with the protractor in varying degrees with 0 and 90 being the crowd favorites.

0600 came upon us, JWOW split for a double down, announcements were given and prayers and praises were offered up.

Thanks to Long Duck for the call.  YHC was honored to be sharpened this morning by a strong group of HIM.

Grateful and until next time,

Cyclops

 

TClap |
0

Blessings

YHC was honored to be granted the Q Spot for Slow Burn on the mildest morning of the week.  The rising temperatures likely led to increased turnouts throughout the week so as YHC sidewalk chalked the finishing touches on the workout and pulled up to COT, it was great to see a big number of HIMs gathered to start of the morning.

All PAX were disclaimed and assured that YHC was absolutely not a professional.  Risk was assumed by all present and off we moseyed to the warm-up:

COP consisted of the following exercises in varying quantities:  Windmills (Trucker-approved), Imperial Walkers, Hillbilly Walkers, Side Straddle Hops, PAX remained in the plank position for the following: Merkins, Down dog, Up dog, Mountain Climbers, Peter Parkers, Shoulder taps, a 6-inch hold for a notably slow 10-count given by Trucker and the warm up was complete.  PAX moseyed to the Hampton Inn entrance were partner Dora was to commence:

50-100-150 – Merkins, LBC’s & Flutters

16 PAX made for even splits into groups of 4, which fit nicely with the 4 corner stations that were about to commence.  PAX counted off and miraculously all remembered their numbers as we moseyed to 4-corner land for 10-20-30’s.  Mode of transportation between stations varied and some PAX were displeased and modified.

PAX completed roughly 6 stations in total , did all exercises together in their assigned groups and rotated in clockwise fashion.

Station 1 – 10 bombjacks, 20 diamond merkins, 30 flutters and crawl bear to station 2

Station 2 – 10 burpees, 20 merkins, 30 Rosalitas and lunge walk to station 3

Station 3 – 10 bombjacks, 20 shoulder taps, 30 boxcutters and bear crawl to station 4

Station 4 – 10 burpees, 20 werkins, 30 Hello Dollys and NUR to station 1

YHC called time at 0556 and PAX moseyed to the Empire Pizza wall.  People’s Chair was held and each PAX spoke of a blessing for which they were thankful.  There were many.   After all sounded off we moseyed to COT for announcements, prayers and praises.

Announcements –

T-Claps to Curious George for taking the Q reins on Fort Mill Care Center and to Assassin for his leadership in this effort.  Sign up genius to post soon.

April 13 – Pancake breakfast celebrating 1-year anniversary of the Bubble.  T-Claps to Twister for spearheading this 2nd F event.

Prayers were offered for the schools beginning back full time Monday.  Praises to all the teachers, administrators and those who were part of this effort.

NMM – Blessings come in all forms.  As we slowly lift from the depths of this pandemic, YHC has found the simplicity of an ordinary day to be one of the greatest blessings there is.  Having the ability to get up, exercise and improve in all facets of our lives is something we all must embrace.  The effect that has on others around us is often greater than the effect on ourselves.

Thanks to Twister for the opportunity to lead.

With Gratitude,

Cyclops

TClap |
0

Swimming Laps on a Frigid Morning

17 posted to STL on a crisp morning, perhaps one of the last ones of winter 2020-21 with temps in the 20s.  70+ in the days ahead — sunshine and pollen, Spring is here.

The Thang

Pretty simple weinke this morning

Quick mosey to Baxter and the Mushroom Pool parking lot

From the parking lot run out Richard’s crossing back across Front St, past the homes of Sugar Daddy, Tesh and other pax around the loop and back to the MP parking lot

OYO exercises at the parking lot:
10 Burpees
20 Parker Peters
30 Squats

Rinse and repeat

Return run home

COT

Moleskin

Great to see the pax out pushing hard on a cold morning.  The pace was brisk too, so the bodies warmed up quickly.  Those who made 5 laps ended up with 3.9 miles and those with 4 laps finished with 3.4 miles.  A few OCD pax had to get that 4 mile click so they added a loop in the parking lot on return.  Great effort by all!

It was great to meet Juan Valdez for the first time — keep posting, amigo!

My word for 2021 is NOW.  It’s surfaced a lot in the first two months — a constant reminder to live in the real world with the people immediately around me in the place that I’m in at that moment.  Get out of my head and be aware of what’s happening NOW and how I’m called to live NOW.  Hopefully the challenge for each pax to live my word for this day bore fruit.

A big thank you to Vuvu for the Site Q exemption from the Top 3 rule at STL.  Always an honor to lead the pax.

TClap |
3

Ripple Effect

15 PAX gathered to defeat the fartsack on a chilly but hospitable Thursday AM in the gloom.

Here’s what we did:

PAX were disclaimed and moseying commenced to the top of the hill at the high school entrance.  We did the following exercises in varying quantities in cadence:

Low slow squats, Moroccan night clubs in the people’s chair, 5 burpees OYO, imperial walkers, hillbilly walkers, windmills (Trucker approved), merkins, a few down dog and up dog stretches and we commenced/moseyed  to the Main Event – part one

1 – Jacob’s Ladder – 7’s were called – Kracken Burpees at the bottom and a run to the top for squats.  PAX finished at the top of the hill, planked and, when the 6 arrived, recovered and moseyed to Main Event – Part 2

2 – East or West – PAX were divided in teams of 2 and Bobber was given the choice to take his team (1) to the east field or the west field.  Choosing West, team 1 moseyed to the end zone and team 2 to the East end zone.

PAX performed the following exercises at each yard line in a head to head competition.  PAX ran to the specified yard line, did the exercise and nur’d back to the goal line each time

Team East – 10 diamond merkins, 20 burpees, 30 lunges, 40 squats, 50 SSH’s, 40 shoulder taps, 30 flutters, 20 burpees, 10 werkins.  Team leaders reached the red zone, but not the end zone

Team West – 10 kracken burpees, 20 bombjacks, 30 SSH’s, 40 Hello Dolly’s, 50 flutters, 40 Rosalitas, 30 burpees, 20 boxcutters, 10 kracken burpees.  Team leaders reached the red zone here too.

Time was called at 0556 to allow for mosey time to COT at 0600.

Announcements were made about this thing called the Yeti and a blood drive on 3-10.

Prayers were offered up and praises as well.

NMM – Ripple Effect – In our lives we encounter opportunities to make an impact numerous times a day.  Yet an “ordinary” moment to us could be an opportunity to make a moment extraordinary for someone else.  Holding a door for someone else, paying for a cup of coffee for the person behind you in a drive thru.  If you’ve ever been an a position to do for someone else, the feeling of doing so can bring about a joy to us and a lift the other person could be desperately needing.  Or, better yet, it may inspire the person you helped to do the same for another, and another, and another.  Our ripple effect can be an inspiring light to others if we allow it to be.  So let it.  YHC thanks Slap Shot for the call to the bullpen.  It’s always an honor to lead and a privilege to serve.

Cascade your influence well, men.  It makes a difference.  And greater than we’ll likely ever realize.

With Gratitude,

Cyclops

 

TClap |
2

Finding Cindy

The cars really poured in this morning….

25 PAX Present

Changed my plans a bit….Modify as necessary, right?

Warm-up
SSH in cadence….had to part the waters for River Rat’s arrival
Burpees in cadence. I think we hit 18
Imperial Walkers in cadence 15ish

Brisk Mosey to the Church of God

COP
SSH
Hillbilly Walkers
Some Yoga
Mountain Climbers
Slow Count Merkins (always a crowd pleaser)
A few burpees in cadence

Mosey through all the brick stairs at the Church of God
Plank it up in First Baptist Parking Lot
Some More Yoga (squats)

Thang:
Bear Crawl with additive Merkins at each parking line
1-2-3-4-5-6 (total 21)
distance – a long way to bear crawl
Al Gore
Cossack Squats

Brisk Mosey up to the Rug factory

COP:
More Yoga? Yep
33 Monkey Humpers in cadence (nobody liked this)
Some burpees in cadence

Brisk Mosey to Sisk Memorial Parking Lot to find Cinder Blocks
(There’s a reason it’s called Block Party)
Thang:- divided into groups of 3
– Three Stations: Manmakers, plank, run to bottom of Massey hill and back
Had time for everyone to do one rotation (probably 15-20ish manmakers)

7 Additional Burpees in cadence
11 Bomb Jacks

Mosey with the blocks back to COT

NMM:

Quote for the day from Thoreau’s Journal August 5 1891 ““The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”

A word on today’s naming: the Q takes responsibility for the outcome. That was me today. On naming an FNG, I went with “Dude Wipes” as a suggestion thrown out. Not the worst name, but was not right for this FNG.

It didn’t feel right. I did a poor job reading his body language. I should have vetoed it. Not my best moment as Q. We’ll rename this FNG.

When we’re on Q, we are charged to take responsibility. In this moment, I accepted responsibility for the outcome of the naming. In the future, I’ll take responsibility fearlessly when convicted. Even (especially?) when that conviction appears as a still small voice. If that means going against the flow of the PAX, so be it. After all, that’s a leader’s job: influencing movement towards advantage. Sometimes we gotta row upstream. I should have rowed harder today, and that’s on nobody but me.

Besides, none of the PAX wanted to do that many burpees or monkey humpers anyway. So if I go with a name they’re not happy with, it’s just more of the same from the 1st F side of the morning.

Welcome – unnamed FNG, It’ll be good to post with you again soon.
Welcome – Barrel Age, I think you brought out a lot of PAX to support you today!

Prayers for the kids, teachers, and parents of the FMSD as they plan for a return to school 5 days a week at all levels.


Band Camp Dismissed

TClap |
4

Cupid’s Cup 5k at Minnow Pond

The date on Thursday marked 6 years since YHC found himself in a non-siren, precautionary ambulance ride to Atrium Pineville with some annoying chest pain. Turns out my LAD needed 3 stents and I needed some cardiac rehab. Ever since then, about this time every year, I support that program by running in The Cupid’s Cup 5K put on by Atrium Health. The donations and support from F3 have always been overwhelming.

Well, 2020-2021 being what it is, the event was virtual this year. Not only that, but the cardiac rehab program added another Pax to its list of graduates. Bonsai, as you know, had a hiccup in his LAD this past summer. While both of us know that program is awesome, the F3 brotherhood plays an even more important role.

And it was on full display Thursday 2/11/2021. 25 of you came out to support us. You ran hard with us. You prayed with us and you supported the cause with you donations. It was truly humbling to be surrounded by so many Pax giving so much of themselves.

Congrats to Scalp for 1st overall and Long Duck for 1st of the respectables.

And please remember, if you’re experiencing any sort of chest discomfort, arm pain or unexplained nausea/vomiting, don’t brush it off. Get to the doctor/ER/Urgent Care. Time is precious when it comes to treatment and care. The time afterwards when you’re surrounded by the love and support of F3 is priceless.

Aye!

Boeheim

P.S. – Still time to donate/run virtually through Sunday 2/14

TClap |
5

Hilltopia

Eight men posted for Sweep the Leg on a cool, but dry, first day of February.

Disclaimer given
Short mosey run to launch point and lay out the plan:
Start at the bank and do 12 Bobby Hurleys
Run out to and down to Patricia lane where a lighted cone sits.
At the cone do 12 merkins.
Resume running to front of GHES and at the flag pole do 12 gas pumpers.
Return towards the bank, stopping to do the merkins and doing the bobby hurleys at the bank.
Rinse repeat
Got just over four miles in.

Your leading pax were: Fishsticks, Straight Up, Longshanks

Prayers for the country and schools/school kids.

Route for STL 2-1-21

TClap |
4

Golden Corral…GOTTA GO

It was raining and the temps were dropping throughout the morning but as discussed with several PAX, it’s mornings like this when memories are made and durability is built.

In the end, 22 PAX posted this morning with 13 for this final Golden Corral of edition in January. It started a little something like this…

Disclaimer
50 Fast SSH
10 Jump Squats
10 Merkins
10 Burpees

Run to TCES: ~1.2mi
Jack Webb: 1 Merkin : 4 Overhead Claps (Total of 10:40)
10 Burpees

Run to TC Baptist Church: ~.8mi
Wide Arm Merkins
1 V-Up : 4 Flutters I/C (Total of 5:20)

Run back to Teeter:
Al Gore’s followed by baby squats
15 Mike Tysons
5 Burpees

Run to the end of the center
More Mike Tysons & SSH

Move to another storefront
Dips

COT

Until next time…Maximus

TClap |
4