G-Fit Deck of Cards

Beautiful warm sunny day especially for January.  a total of 17 attended with 12 being younglings.  YHC opened the workout with a word on WOM: Beginnings.  I told our young folks that with each new year brings beginning.  a chance to start fresh.  But don’t forget about each day as new.  Perhaps you had a bad test score, weren’t your best self- wake up the next day and start fresh.  Its a new day, a day to do better and have a beginning.

A warmup run around the park and church parking lot finishing at the basketball court.  COP warmup with SSH, Merkins, Squats and more.  A base line to base line run got us ready.

The Thang- taking advice from the G-Fit Q sheet- keeping the pax in COP helps for attention, interest engagement and control to some degree.  below’s Q allowed for fun!

Deck of cards: Hearts: Merkin, Spade: squat, Club: Moroccan Night Clubs (obvi), and Diamonds: LBC.  Face cards: 10 ct, Aces: baseline sprint.

YHC was in center but let each member pull the card.  the kids loved pulling the cards, the sense of surprise and their involvement/investment.  We helped to really “ham” it up and the kids bought in.  we were able to get around circle twice.  The aces were buried but we finally got one on the last pull and got a sprint in.

Those kids are so bright and full of life.  Honored to be a part.  If you feel the calling and this becomes part of your D2X, fulfillment will be your reward.  You see many of the same kids.  The more times you come, the more trust you gain and influence you have resulting in deeper relationships.

Aye!

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Goruck Welcome Party prep at Golden Corral

14 HIM’s showed up at GC for a crash course on the welcome party portion of a Goruck challenge, or to remind themselves how much the welcome party sucks.

We started with 12 HIM’s but stole Royale and Copyright from their planned boot camp workout.

Welcome party training consisted of a very simple combination of merkins, mountain climbers, SSH, flutters, overhead squats, curls, presses and Ruck swings at a 30 count of each – followed by a 100 yard bear crawl. This was a time hack with 15 minutes to complete the task.

The PAX made the time hack – but forgot that Rucking is a team activity. All 14 finished the hack at different intervals. The punishment for non-compliance was man makers x10.

After a quick breather and reminder the Goruck is about teamwork, new leaders stepping to the forefront, and that Welcome Party’s suck. We tried the task again.

This time the PAX worked perfectly as a team – but the time hack was missed. The punishment was manmakers x10.

At this point we had completed 500 ruck reps and still had seven minutes to spare. We finished up with 100 yard ruck tosses broken up into 50 yards tossing a 40 pound sandbag and 50 yards tossing a 60 pound sand bag

COT

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Fartlek – Training to train

6 PAX started Thursday with the 5am start to Laces Out.  Warnings were given via Twitter that running in circles was in order.  The Fartlek was researched and memorized. Here we go:

Warm up with 2 laps and some dynamic stuff (SSH, WindMills, etc)

1 minute @ 5k pace, 1 minute Recovery

2 minutes @ 10k pace, 2 minutes Recovery

3 minutes @ 1/2 marathon pace, 3 minutes Recovery

2 minutes @ 10k pace, 2 minutes Recovery

1 minute @ 5k pace, 1 minute Recovery

2 minutes @ 10k pace, 2 minutes Recovery

3 minutes @ 1/2 marathon pace, 3 minutes Recovery

2 minutes @ 10k pace, 2 minutes Recovery

1 minute @ 5k pace, 1 minute Recovery

Cool Down on field and stretches

COT with Laces In

Some of us got almost 4 miles, the over achievers close to 5.  This workout was to put your body through different stresses and different recoveries.  Just like life.  We go through different lengths of struggles and sometimes we have to recover quickly before the next one pops up.  We had to help each other to continue pushing through each leg, same goes for real life with F3.  To have such a great group of guys that have my 6, I am a blessed man.

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GC – RUCK – Teamwork – DFQ – Embrace the Suck

Man I hope you guys read the whole way through this, because I left truly inspired by the PAX that Embraced the Suck with me today.

8 Ruckers joined up on a “warm” morning at GC.  It was 31 or something which felt like summer compared to the 9 we have been seeing.  We split into two groups as some guys are recovering and test driving their rucks.  So 4 went on their way rucking through Tega Cay and 4 stayed with me to continue with the workout.

The Thang:

Skip the pleasantries and do a quick double time run around the parking lot of Harris Teeter to get the blood flowing.

Get into Listening Position (LP) (for those of you that haven’t embraced it yet, its rucks overhead anytime we are getting directions or discussions are occurring).

In LP we talked about the plan for today and that the goal will be teamwork, that as Q my goal is to inspire leaders among everyone, not to micro manage every part of the workout.  I told them before we loaded up that we are a team and will compete as a team.

If you know me you also know I Ruck Heavy, so we loaded up.

120 lbs of Sandbags – Two 2×3’s running through the handles to make a makeshift litter

93lb Sandbag – (My personal Favorite)

Big Tire – 35″ tire off my truck

The directions stated to try and do a low carry of the litter but if it got to be too much discuss it and switch to shoulder carry.  I also told them I won’t be calling out switches so its up to the team.

We made our way to the YMCA field

Big issue! – We didn’t stay as a team and Mainframe and I made it there about a minute ahead of the other two.  So punishment was instituted – 10 Ruck Burpees

I set up a relay course of sorts

4 Stations

Station 1 – Drag that big tire to the fence and back, sprint to tag the next guy (He is the clock)

Station 2 – Deadlift the 90lb

Station 3  – Toss the 60lb

Station 4 – Users Choice – I saw fireman flips, rows, curls, squats it was cool

The first rotation took 3:02 so we got in LP and discussed why we Ruck – Looks Badass, Wanted to Push Ourselves – Variety – 2nd F – A challenge.  So with that I asked the TEAM how can we improve on the time.  Everyone through up some ideas and then Shakespeare threw down an ambitious goal of getting the time down to 2:15 we weren’t sure but we embraced it.  We decided on a punishment of 1 Burpee for every second over 2:15.  Well guess what we got it in 2:02!  We came back and got in LP and talked about the power of teamwork and coming together and what we were able to accomplish.

We took a lap around the Y field doing alternate carrys of our Rucks – Farmer Carry – Switch Hands – Bear Hug – Over Head – Again we came together as a TEAM where I started to get ahead of some people and Mainframe gave me a quick shout to slow it down a bit and we finished as a TEAM!!!!

Tired and hurting we came back to do one more rotation on my relay race.  We got in LP and discussed all those reasons we Ruck again and even though were tired we are here to better each other and if we got 2:02 the last time why would we ever go slower again.  So we set the same goal of beating 2:02.  I felt slower, I hurt worse, but as a TEAM we embraced the suck worked together and when we sprinted back to the tire we couldn’t believe we were faster and got 1:58!!!!

We were hurting but got back in LP and discussed that it took 8ish minutes to walk there and that we need to speed that up and how can we do it.  Deacon came through with some ideas and the team called out switches like clockwork.  We got back to my truck in 5 minutes!!!!

Joined up with Boot Campers and the other Ruckers to finish off the morning.

MY TAKEAWAYS!!!!

Man I left so inspired by this Ruck today.  When we started we were a group of guys doing a workout.  When we returned we were a team that came together and really pushed through the pain to embrace the suck and lift up our fellow man.  Shakespeare and Mainframe who are new to Rucking were rockstars and the leadership everyone offered was amazing.  I mean where else other than F3 can you walk away with all this.  Big props to all those guys that got out today and I truly enjoyed myself and had a uplifting and encouraging morning to help me carry those same themes to the rest of my day.

Thanks Guys,

Rad

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20 @ G-Fit 12/23

It was a windy Saturday afternoon with overcast skies, but our Sky Q kept the rain away and 20 Pax came out to play, including 6 HIM.  Showing up to G-Fit and CAH makes you a true HIM, in my opinion.

We started in a circle and did a few warmups IC:
15 Overhead Claps
15 SSH
10 Weed Pullers (I’ve always called these Cherry Pickers but recently thought about it…Cherry’s grow on trees!)
A round of Forearm Planks while we all called out our F3 names
10 Merkins

Next we took a mosey around the basketball courts.  Some Pax gave it AYG and got a “‘atta boy” from me.  I then lined them all up on the left side of the basketball courts and we played a quick round of East to West.  Left side was East, Right side was West (probably backwards I now realize). When I shout West, everybody runs to that side.  When I shout East, everybody runs to that side.  Last person to reach the side sits out.  If I all East and you run West, you’re out.  Visa-Versa.
I found some exercise dice at Target and brought those along from a round of Lucky Dice.  A few of the kids took turns rolling the dice that determined what our exercise was and how many reps we do. The options were:
Merkins
Lunges
LBCs
Wild Card (rollers choice)
Squats
SSH

x10
x20
x30
x30 seconds amrap
x60 seconds amrap
x90 seconds amrap

We were all ready for a game of basketball after a few rolls of the dice so that’s how we ended our time together.  The old guys vs. the youngins’.  Old guys totally rocked it out.  😉

Much love to Deacon for the opportunity to lead G-Fit.  Being there is always an honor and always a pleasure.  I invite all of TheFort to give it a try ASAP!

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2017 Clave Boss 5k/10k & Christmas Convergence

Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more——Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!!

The largest turn out by far for the Clave Boss 5k/10k was a success. We started on time and as far as I know nobody died. Thank you to all the PAX that ran and had a fun time and fellowship.

For the 5k, here were are winners of Bundt Cakes

  1. MacGyver
  2. Harry Carry

For the 10k, here were are winners of Bundt Cakes

  1. Sir Topham Hat
  2. mix of PAX coming from all directions—no idea

For the Ruck, here were are winners of Bundt Cakes

  1. Dark Helmet for 11min pace 5k ruck…..nice work!

Honorable Mention for Anchorman completing the 5k and Barry Manilow being his wingman!

The Convergence kicked off on time and we had Gecko open us up in prayer. We split the groups up and away we went with COT at 0750. Click on links to see the pain that was delivered…..Merry Christmas!

Black Diamond – Longshanks Q – https://t.co/odVJHWCBPS

Bootcamp – Cha Ching Q – https://f3thefort.com/2017/12/23/christmas-convergence-boot-camp-mixed-w-some-bd/

Noderate – Barry Manilow Q – https://f3thefort.com/2017/12/23/your-moderate-option-at-the-convergence/

COT came together and we had 83 men attend this year.

Welcome FNG – Lake Effect, who is 41 not the 50 that he just shouted out. Classic!

Many announcements:

  • Thank you Site Qs for all your work, dedication and leadership!
  • Serve Saturdays ….reach out to Deacon, Bolt, NASA for info…..HIMs!!
  • Joe Davis Run Jan 6
  • Friday Convergence with 3rdF post beat down Jan 12
  • Rooster CSAUP Jan 20
  • Yeti – February
  • P200 – March

More than a workout!!

Prayers/Praises

  • Dark Helmet shared his sister is in need of prayer. Please remember DH and his family each day in prayer
  • Family visiting is fun and sometimes no so fun. BE HIMs!!
  • Prayers for all the PAX traveling and for peace this week!

Challenge:

I spoke to the PAX about how 2000 years ago Sky Q sent his son into the world in the form of a baby. When looking for a place to come in from the cold there WAS NO ROOM AT THE INN. I believe we all fall into this trap and put so much busy into our lives that we don’t have ROOM AT THE INN for Sky Q in our lives. We fill our hearts and minds with so much and when it come to his word and being in relationship, we DON”T HAVE ROOM AT THE INN (in our hearts).

I challenge myself and the PAX to make room for SKY Q and see how it changes your life in 2018 and beyond.

Honored to lead this PAX. I am blessed and grateful for each of you!

Cake Boss

 

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BRR Comes Early to Laces In

It was a cold, windy December morning where 9 pax (7 BC and 2 Runners) showed up for their daily down payment.  The wind was fierce today, the kind that cuts right through you so I wanted to make sure we got nice and warm.  Laces Out went off campus for a tour of Fort Mill.  Here’s what went down (or as best I can remember) at Laces In:

Mosey to Band lot (it was further than I thought) for COP

Line up facing across the band lot for a series exercises

  1. Toy Soldiers to mid way – Sprint to other end of parking lot
  2. Butt Kickers back to midway – Sprint back
  3. Karaoke one way
  4. Karaoke back the other way

COP: SSH x 20, Windmills x 10, Mountain Climbers x 15, Squats x 15, Slow Merkins x 10

Main Course: Line up facing across the band lot for a series exercises again

  1.  Alligator Merkins for three parking spaces – sprint to other end.  LBC x 25
  2. Frog Jump Merkins for three parking spaces – sprint to other end of lot.  Flutters x 25
  3.  Bear Crawl half way – Sprint to other end of lot –  LBC x 25
  4. Bear Crawl half way – Sprint to other end of lot

Mosey to hill by stadium for partner work .  B.OM.B.S – 75 Burpees, 100 Overhead claps, 150 Merkins, 200 Big Boy Situps, 250 Squats in accumulation while your partner runs to (almost) the top of the hill.

Once finished – Partner 1 holds a plank while partner 2 runs hill and performs 10 Bombjacks at the (almost) top.  Rinse and repeat until COT

NMM: 2.3 miles was the count on my Garmin this morning.  I had no idea we were going to run that far but we did.  Thanks Longshanks for pointing that out!  Team Chafing the Dream is locked and loaded again for BRR 2018 so I was anxious to get out there and hit the inclines.   I love running hills and feel it really gets the blood flowing and makes you stronger.  The pax worked hard this morning and we were all better for it.  Thanks Lil E for the opportunity.  I’m usually at Laces Out so it was cool to explore the bootcamp option at FMHS.  Lastly, I had never formally met Sugar Daddy.  It was nice to meet you and I appreciate the mumble chatter.

Announcements: Joe Davis Run, Christmas Convergence, Focus on recruiting those FNGs

Prayers – Deacon’s upcoming Christmas present!

Until next time…

STH

 

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THE PAX OF FORT PLEDGES TO HELP ANOTHER BROTHER AND HIS FAMILY OUT

Its Christmas time and the word of the month is giving so I am asking if you would take moments pray about giving to help a fellow pax. Last year Stang got the Fort and the Rock pax to donate gift cards, cash and presents for me and my family.  This was huge for me and my family, with that  being said I feel the need to help a fellow pax and give back. I have been in touch with our pax of the Fort looking for someone to help out. This morning in COT it was mentioned by Destiny that a fellow pax’s son has just been diagnosed with leukemia and his wife is pregnant with twins. Then again Ginsu and Rock thrill had a tweet about it and come to find out it is an Area51  pax named Bout time his sons name is Jennings. This hits close to home and just knew this is who we need to help this year. a few

If I have never had the pleasure of posting with you in the Gloom I would like to take a second and share my story, Dec 2015 on Christmas eve my 2.5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia ALL Type B, on Christmas day she had surgery to have a port installed and her first 3 rounds of chemo. We spent Christmas in the hospital and I broke down never cried so hard in my life. I reached out to God prayed that everything will be okay and about 10 min later after the took my daughter back for surgery he answered my pray because a peace just came over me and heard the words its going to be okay.  The last 2 years have been a hard 2 years with ups and downs but also have enlightened me, allowed me to get closer to God.  It also allowed me to become apart of F3 with out the men of this group not sure where I would be mentally and physically today. I like to thank you for the push the words of encouragement.

 

I am asking pax to give what your heart tells you. Prayers gift cards, cash etc. I have seen what awesome pax you can be when challenged to give you all always go above and beyond.

See your site Q’s for collections and or Dark helmet , Stang, Witch hunt, Royale and Cornerstone, we want to wrap it up by 12/22/17

 

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 18:16

A gift opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

 

Thanks Again HIMS

Cornerstone

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The Fort pledge to help another Pax out

Its Christmas time and the word of the month is giving so I am asking if you would take moments pray about giving to help a fellow pax. Last year Stang got the Fort and the Rock pax to donate gift cards, cash and presents for me and my family.  This was huge for me and my family, with that  being said I feel the need to help a fellow pax and give back. I have been in touch with our pax of the Fort looking for someone to help out. This morning in COT it was mentioned by Destiny that a fellow pax’s son has just been diagnosed with leukemia and his wife is pregnant with twins. Then again Ginsu and Rock thrill had a tweet about it and come to find out it is an Area51  pax named Bout time his sons name is Jennings. This hits close to home and just knew this is who we need to help this year. a few

If I have never had the pleasure of posting with you in the Gloom I would like to take a second and share my story, Dec 2015 on Christmas eve my 2.5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia ALL Type B, on Christmas day she had surgery to have a port installed and her first 3 rounds of chemo. We spent Christmas in the hospital and I broke down never cried so hard in my life. I reached out to God prayed that everything will be okay and about 10 min later after the took my daughter back for surgery he answered my pray because a peace just came over me and heard the words its going to be okay.  The last 2 years have been a hard 2 years with ups and downs but also have enlightened me, allowed me to get closer to God.  It also allowed me to become apart of F3 with out the men of this group not sure where I would be mentally and physically today. I like to thank you for the push the words of encouragement.

 

I am asking pax to give what your heart tells you. Prayers gift cards, cash etc. I have seen what awesome pax you can be when challenged to give you all always go above and beyond.

See your site Q’s for collections and or Dark helmet , Stang, Witch hunt, Royale and Cornerstone

 

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 18:16

A gift opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

 

Thanks Again HIMS

Cornerstone

 

 

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8 @ Footloose For a Dangerfield Run

Don’t they say “better late than never”?  I hope so.  Sorry so late!

Dangerfield got his feet with with a great VQ Warmup.  I really think he’s ready to lead a full workout, now we just have to convince him of that.  We started the morning off with 8 merkins to celebrate 8 PAX coming out for Dangerfield’s VQ.  Gave the disclaimer and Dangerfield started running saying Follow Me!

We ran for what seemed like a mile one way, did 20 SSH’s , and then ran for what seemed like a mile back towards where we started from.  There we did some Cherry Pickers and Merkins.  Then Dangerfield took off again in true Gingerbread fashion saying Catch Me If You Can.  We didn’t catch him but thankfully he stopped at a curb to get us to do 20 calf raises.  He said we should be warmed up by now and we all called him some names and I gratefully took control of the workout.  Great job Dangerfield!  Anytime you can get the guys cussing at you, it means you’re doing something right!

After a walking 10 count, we moseyed to the back of the church, found a wall, did people’s chair, and passed a 30lb dumbbell down the line a couple times.  The 3rd time around we curled it left and right before passing.  Bear Crawl to the bottom of the hill for 20 SSH’s.

A short mosey down some stairs to the front of a different church.  I told the guys we’d be running some stairs in honor of Smithers giving a HC and then fart sacking on us.  @ his VQ, he had us running a whole bunch of those stairs.  It wasn’t too bad this time around.  We missed you Smithers!

Across the street I had some coupons waiting.  Each card had an exercise listed on it and each PAX picked 3 cards.  We found a parking space for each of us, laid the cards down, and got to work in cadence.  Choose 1 of the cards, do 20 count IC. We were each doing a different exercise but it didn’t confuse anybody.  Swap parking spots with somebody, choose a card, 20 count IC.  We did this for a full 2 rounds.  I tried to get us back to COT early but Uncle Sam insisted we had time for 1 more so we did 2 more. Cards pulled were:
Burpees, Gorilla Squats, Crab Humpers, Crab Jacks, Donkey Kicks, Flutters,  SSH, Lap around the lot, Merkins, Werkins, Diamond Merkins, LBC’s, Double Arm Curls (20 lb bells), Plank Hold, Forearm Plank Hold, Big Boy Situps, Tree Hugger Hold, Makhtar N’Diayes, Carolina Dry Docks, Scorpian Dry Docks,  and a few more crazy ones.

Finally headed back to COT for announcements, prayers, and praises.  Dont’ forget to read your newsletter!

Shoutout to Beacon for allowing me to Q.  It’s an honor I take way more seriously than writing backblasts.  I promise!

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