Tag: Drop Thrill

68 Years of Impact

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13 Pax posted to The Ballroom on a crisp Dec morning with meteors falling and new and veteran pax rising.  Triple Lindy was honored at the start despite his DR status.  Our FNG was introduced.  A Disclaimer was proclaimed.  And then the fun started.

The Thang

Mosey to the football field with some carioca along the way

COP — SSH, Seal jacks, Mtn climbers, Windmills, Hillbilly Walkers, Burpees

Line up along goal line facing the field

Mosey to other goal line via lunge walks, bear crawls or combo of the two with stops every 10 yards for Merkins x10 at 10-30-50-30-10 and Squats x10 at 20-40-40-20-goal line

Plank series

Return mosey to original goal line via backward lunge walk, crawl bears or combo of the two with same stops and exercises on the return trip

COP — each pax calls an exercise and counts # of reps that match # of yrs he’s been posting at The Fort

Mosey to grass area halfway back home from football field

COP — Knee-tar-N’diaye, Freddie Mercury, Back scratcher,  LBC,  Superman

Mosey to school side entrance and form two lines for relay across parking lot and back with pax holding plank or Al Gore while they wait

Mosey home

COT

Moleskin

A lively festive spirit prevailed from pre-launch right through to the end.  Thanks to all the pax for the enthusiasm and energy today!  Many thanks to Cake Boss for the pre-marketing, which brought out a great crowd (but not CB!).  Hope the extra Zs paid off CB!

The remainder of the Geminid meteor shower entertained the pax throughout, at least while they weren’t comparing notes on favorite Tuesday night wines (@Pusher @Cheddah).

Poppins rallied FNG Dirty Bird for his first post.  His brother,  Spud, in the northern CLT burbs hadn’t been able to get him into the Gloom but a push from Poppins plus extra encouragement from CB sealed the deal.  Glad to have you among the pax, brother!

The cumulative years of experience among this group of pax was 68 years — an average of 5 years/pax.  And that’s’with a group that included 2 pax in yr 1 plus an FNG.  Excluding those three we had an average of 6.5 years.  Clearly this thing has legs!

Even in my 10th year, mornings like this make me feel young and like we’re only just beginning.  Long live The Fort!

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Dora, not Dora

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Earlier in the week, Mainframe lead a DORA without running.  I thought I would try the same at the Hive.  No running. well maybe just a little.

Warm-ups (No KB):  SSHs, Windmills, Imperial Walkers,  Plank Stretches

DORA #1:

  • 100 Overhead Presses (Alternate 10 reps while other partner holds bell overhead)
  • 200 Squats  (Alternate 20 reps while other partner holds Al Gore)
  • 300 LBCs (Alternate 25 reps while other partner holds bell above chest)

ok, we needed a break some we ran around the parking lot.

DORA #2:

  • 100 Curls (Alternate 10 reps while other partner holds bell in front of chest)
  • 200 KB Swings  (Alternate 20 reps while other partner holds Al Gore)
  • 300 Flutters (Alternate 25 reps while other partner holds bell above chest)

Next, we carried the KB overhead to the end of the parking lot, turned around and lunge walked back to the first light post.

Great work guys.  Lots of encouragement and mumble chatter.

Senior moment, forgot to change phone to video mode so I’ve got a cute picture of Airborne if anyone is interested.

 

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21-Gun Salute for The Veterans

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Great morning!! A little chill and NO rain!!
No FNGs. A solid group of 5 Caballeros!! Disclaimer was disclaimed.  Off we went.

Rain around the parking lot for warmup. Approx 500m. Circled up for warmups. 15-25 each of the following:
* SSH
* Windmill
* MNCs
* Produce/cherry/weed/strawberry pickers
* IWs

Then started the main event. A 21-gun salute:
* Run a loop (approx 500m) – the dang track out back was locked so we improvised, then when back at the start do….
* 21 Merkins
* 21 Hillbilly Squats – go down to a LSS, then on the way up transition to a hillybilly walker.
* 21 LBCs
* 21 MCs (2 ct)
* 21 American hammers (2 ct)
* Rinse and repeat

There were a few injured PAX present so most walked the lap, myself and Kielbasa ran it all and got in at least 5 rounds. The others got in 3 rounds plus extra exercises. Wonderful mumblechatter with this group! It’s been a while since I’ve seen my homie Kielbasa so it was great catching up and hearing about how his life has been.

Back to the COT.

Announcements: A LOT of opportunities to get involved. Read the newsletter and be intentional!

Prayers for health and healing for many; for Drop’s friend Kevin who is a veteran dealing with demons and struggles; for Keilbasa’s wife (praise) for all her work and help while they move into the next chapter of his business life; for all our veterans; for JD’s 2.0’s dealing with teen angst; for NASA’s wife and her health.

Special thanks to our veterans for everything. It takes a special person to sign on the dotted line and commit to the military life, not knowing what you are going to get, where you are going to go, what are you going to do, and whether or not you are going to come out of it alive – all to help liberate the oppressed, provide for those who cannot provide for themselves, defeat evil and tyranny, and help foster freedom in its many forms. They are doing these things all while not really knowing who they are doing it for, other than it is someone in need. It is the ultimate action or display of putting others ahead of yourself, living 3rd, and not expecting anything in return. Many cannot do this to the magnitude done by military members, as well as first responders. I have a 13 year old son who, if he has his way, will become a USMC soldier one day (it’s about 5-9 years away, pending if he goes to college). As a father this makes me as scared as it makes me proud, but when someone is so strongly driven by those deep beliefs, you are doing the world a disfavor by being selfish and trying to hold them back. When you see that in people, it is God in them shining through. God bless them all.

Thanks for the opportunity to lead. God bless.
– NASA

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Pick Your Poison

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Disclaimer. Mosey lap around parking lot. Warmup with usual.

Pax circle up. Go around circle, 1st pax picks an exercise for the rest of us to do while they run the lap. Go around circle with same method. Now, partner up. Partner does exercise their partner called the 1st go round, other partner runs lap. Pick a different partner–same thing. Now we finish with you doing the exercise you selected, 2 max out sets.

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Convergence – Shop Vac

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65 PAX gathered to remember Shop Vac. Probably had closer to 70 at different points during the hour. Fishsticks took the Milkshakers

Lutefish warmup:
Sean Kelley, 56, Shop Vac

There are a couple of young men I was hoping would hear this this morning. While I’m talking to them, I’m also talking to myself and all of you.

We all know that or God, SkyQ, has written our books. He went before us, He knows us by name, and He alone knows when our earthly lives begin and end. God knew our brother Sean was to come home. And it doesn’t make sense to us.

But let me ask you this. What would it be like to know that when it is our time that we would also know that we accomplished the tasks that the Lord created us to do? God knows the great plans He has for each of you. You are here for a reason.

Wouldn’t it feel comforting to know that you full executed your purpose here on earth? Today we celebrate Sean, who I believe did just that. Sean loved his sons. It’s all he talked about when we worked out together. That, and his dream to have a home in Beaufort. He lived out and executed his purpose. We now have 2 of his sons as our brothers, and how great it is that the world is better because of him. Recover on your feet.

I read a quote recently:

“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced; live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.”

Sean is rejoicing and would want us to do the same. And he would want us to do 56 side straddle hops in cadence.

Split out to:

  • Kettlebells
    • Uhaul
  • Bootcamp: split PAX into two groups for 20min sessions
    • Ruby Slippers
    • Band Camp

Uhaul’s KB workout:
56 Squats
56 Curls
56 Skull Crushers
56 Calf Raises
56 Uhauls
56 Flutters w/ press (4 count)
56 Dead lifts
56 Lawn Mower Pulls R
56 Lawn Mower Pulls L
56 American Hammers
56 LBCs (4 count)

Band Camp’s portion:
EMOM
minute 1 – 20 burpees
minute 2 – 30 jumping lunges
minute 3 – 40 Freddie Mercuries
minute 4 – 50 Carolina Dry Docks
minute 5 – 60 SSH

7s w/ Mike Tysons and Squats
Mode of transportation: bear crawl/crawl bear

Some in cadence jump squats, core work,

I found a backblast from Shop Vac…It reads with a lot more significance to me now. https://f3thefort.com/2021/04/14/403656/
I may have said something asinine while holding a squat and quoting his backblast.
Something like:
Have understanding when I say 5 more squat jumps
Show tolerance when I say 6 more squat jumps
Practice patience when I call 7 more squat jumps
Take direction as we’re now hitting 8 more squat jumps

Did a little sprinting as well with the second group. (Shop Vac would not have approved, and neither did most of the PAX)

NMM: Shop Vac’s love for and pride in his sons was palpable. He made me want to be a better dad. I’m glad to be around men that make me want to be better. Shop Vac was one of those dudes.

Ruby Slippers’s portion:
I had the pleasure of working out a lot with Shop Vac. His attitude, smile, and laughter infected you immediately every time you met him.

YHC remembers a time during COT after a workout where frustrations from my work life came bubbling to the surface. After I vented to the PAX about the situation ( usual selfish rant where everyone else has a problem but me ) and the Q finished prayer, Shop Vac pulled me to the side and gently explained that it was my attitude that needed to be adjusted, not everyone else’s. He did it in a manner where I gladly and thankfully accepted his advice.

The Thang:
At every Shop Vac Q you could count on stations, simple exercises and/or routines, and minimal running. The six was never left behind at a Shop Vac workout so we are using the buddy system to make sure that does not happen at this workout.

Set-up 4 stations in the shape of a square in the middle parking lot at The Armory. 4 stations represented each member of the Kelly family, there were 4 exercises at each station, partner work to complete a cumulative total of 56 reps of each exercise:

Sean’s station:
– Merkins, Diamond Merkins, Wide Arm Merkins, CDD’s
Stacey’s station:
– Crunches in cadence, Flutters in cadence, Big Boy Sit-ups, Straight Lower Leg Lifts
Jack’s station:
– Squats, Jump Squats, Lunges, Jumping Lunges
Brian’s station
– Side Straddle Hops in cadence, Seal Jacks in cadence, Mountain Climbers in cadence, Plank Jacks in cadence.

PAX partner up – complete all 4 exercises at a station and then mosey to the center. YHC stood in the center of the square to represent Francis, Shop Vac’s faithful four-legged companion, where PAX would come to complete 56 monkey humpers.

Continued around the stations until time was called.

Video Evidence: https://twitter.com/jisenhour/status/1456967297453727750

Welcome FNGs: Bow Wow Wow, Bam!, Triple H, Dictator, Wax Off, and Pool Boy

Prayers for Sean’s family.

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Grounded at The Ballroom

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School was in session and we were grounded.

10 PAX rolled in, we disclaimed and formed up in 2 lines for an Indian Run with little direction, only a destination. Get there. And so we got there.

Warm ups consisting of Imperial Walkers, Lunges and Merkins

Mosey down to the lighted road by the new “structure” no one can explain:
10 Carolina Dry Docks
Bear Crawl to the “end”
Lunge walk back

20 Dips
Crab Walk to the “end”
Crawl Bear back

Go back to the top of the road
10 Mountain Climbers
Run 1/2 way
10 Mountain Climbers
Run the rest
20 Flutters
NUR 1/2 way
20 Flutters
NUR the rest

The longest 5 minute plank with a 3 burpee penalty if you break the plank. The challenge here is that when you call this with this crowd, they’ll end up doing whatever they want anyways so it truly is, just a suggestion.

Run the “9” which is down the road, encircling the parking lot, making a 9.
Upon completion, 5 Burpees, 25 LBCs, 50 SSH

Run 15 yards, 5 Merkins, run 15 yards, 10 Squats
Run 15 yards, 5 Merkins, run 15 yards, 10 Squats

5 MOM with different PAX calling counts.

Thank You TL
Maximus

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A Dozen in the mist

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When 19 HIM descended upon Bushwood and the Snake Pit, YHC did not know how the split would break out.  7 opted for no kettle bells and a ruck or a beatdown delivered by Olaf but 11 HIM chose to join YHC for a 4 corners style workout  – parts of which may have surprised a few folks and parts were likely expected (consistency is a trait we are trying to sharpen after all).

At 0500, YHC came upon a large parking lot and with no rain falling, sidewalk chalk was decreed the flavor of the day to sketch out the work that was to follow.  Upon completing the 4 corners of 3 exercises each, an arrival happened at 0511.  The next 4 minutes of mumble chatter and the joy of seeing fellow brothers in the gloom ensued until 0515 arrived, when Olaf disclaimed us enthusiastically.  With that, we were off.  Here’s what happened.

COP:

Noticing that a total of 12 PAX brought bells, the math worked out favorably to break up into groups of 3 (more on the significance of that later).  We walked/jogged/ran/moseyed with our bells to Corner number 1 of the parking lot.  After completing 10 windmills IC, 3 bells were left and the PAX and 9 bells moseyed to

Corner #2 – after 10 Imperial Walkers were done in cadence, 3 bells were left and PAX and 6 bells moseyed to….

Corner #3 – after 10 Hillbilly Walkers in cadence, 3 bells were left and the PAX and the last 3 bells moseyed to…..

Corner #4 – the last 3 bells were left and we circled up to complete COP of:

5 burpees, 10 low slow squats, after squat #10 the people’s chair was held while we completed 10 moroccan night clubs and 10 air presses in cadence.  Bobber was notably pleased at this sequence and we recovered to begin 4 corners in groups of 3 – the main event.

Groups of 3 completed all 3 exercises in counts of 9, 22 and 21 – fittingly aligned with today’s date.  Upon completion, PAX ran to the next corner and continued this effort for 30 ish minutes with the kettle bells left at each station (more on that later).  The lucky exercises were:

Corner 1 – 9 thrusters, 21 chest presses, 22 flutters with press

Corner 2 – 9 manmakers, 21 hammer curls, 22 squats

Corner 3 – 9 burpees, 22 swings, 21 upright rows

Corner 4 – 9 flying squirrels, 22 merkins on the bell (11 each side), 21 LBC’s with the bell

PAX completed nearly 2 rounds and got their money’s worth.

All bells were then brought back to corner #1 at 0555 and YHC posed the following thoughts:

NMM – Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us that though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves but a cord of three strands (the number of PAX per group) is not easily broken.  PAX were assigned 3 per corner for a reason beyond the math.  We reflected on this as well as the significance of being a part of as shield lock and how we are better with this in our life than not.  It ensures that we are also leaving no man behind per F3’s credo.

The different weights of kettle bells represent the fact that, in life, we never know what weight we will be asked to carry – the same way no PAX knew this morning what weights would be at which stations (other than their own of course) but we do know that a weight shared among many becomes less and less of a burden and more of a joy.  As we work through and overcome struggles and challenges, we realize that the joy on the other side is worth the work, the pain, the sacrifice and the abandonment of ourselves in serving and being there for others – living 3rd.

My thanks goes out to 3D for the call to the bullpen and the opportunity to Q #eastofthepeachstand.

Honored to share the gloom with you all.  Until next time,

Cyclops

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Lucky 7 at the Ballroom

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Seven strong hit the Ballroom this morning for some mid-summer fun.  Here is what they did:

The Thang:

Warm-up with arm circles, stretches, knee to chest pulls, toy soldiers, lunge twists, and downward/upward dog.  Mosey to the patio for COP:

COP (all in cadence):

SSH x 20, windmill x 15, merkin x 10, IW x 15, Squat x 20, MC x 15, LBC x 15, wide arm merkin x 15, Burpees OYO x 3

Mosey to the adjacent grassy patch

Bear crawl 15 yds, 15 merkins, mosey back to start

Crabwalk 15 yds, 15 dips, mosey back to start

Lunge walk 15 yds, 15 squats, mosey back to start

Rinse and Repeat.

Jack Webb (traditional) 1 – 7

Mosey to the front parking lot.  Side shuffle along the parking ling, run-up to next line, side shuffle back, run to up next line ……  4-5 lines.  Rinse/repeat back to the start.

Circle up for Mary (all in cadence)

Flutter x 15, pretzel crunch x 15,superman x 3 (25 sec hold), hello dolly x 15.  Finish up with the Body Destroyer.

COT

I am slowly getting back to Qing workouts after a long absence.  This was my second Q since March.  I really enjoyed today’s Q and it was great to see my old F3 friends who I’ve missed a lot this past year.  Also good to see  Dojo and Naked/Afraid again.  The three of us were together at Footloose not long ago.

I really took to F3 when I started about 9 years ago.  I loved the workouts from the get-go, and know I’m a better man through the various 2nd and 3rd F  activities I’ve been a part of since 2012.  I consider myself lucky that I can still do this,  and I don’t take it for granted.  My guess is that the 6 guys who joined me this morning also feel the same way.   We are truly a blessed and lucky bunch.

Prayers and praises:  Residents of the Miami, FL condo collapse, ST’s friend with cancer, mother with dementia, mother in law with illness.

 

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4 Square Dancing at the Ballroom

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4 posted to the Ballroom this morning. Personally I enjoy the small numbers: better conversations.

Warm Up
– Windmill x10
– Imperial Walker x10
– Hillbilly Walker x10
– Mountain Climber – Slow x10
– Updog/Downdog
– Monkey Humpers x10

Moseyed around a bit

Caught some wall for People’s Chair – some single legged
Found some benches for Bulgarian Split Squats

Kept moseying
Lunge walked the basketball parking lot, twice…I think

Found the 4 Square courts
Find a square, we’re moving clockwise
– Merkins in cadence x 10 –> bear crawl to the next square
– Squats in cadence x 10 –> bear crawl to the next square
– LBC in cadence x 10 –> bear crawl to the next square
– Rosalita in cadence x 10 –> bear crawl to the next square

There were 5 total 4 Square courts

Had some cones set up on the hill next (4 Cones lit on a hill)
– I’ve been thinking about backing ourselves into a
problem and then having to work our way out of it, so:

Crawl Bear down the hill to first cone (maybe 10 ft?)
1 merkin
Bear Crawl back up
1 merkin
Crawl Bear down the hill to first cone (maybe 30 ft?)
2 merkins
Bear Crawl back up
2 merkins
Crawl Bear down the hill to first cone (maybe 60 ft?)
3 merkins
Bear Crawl back up
3 merkins
Crawl Bear down the hill to first cone (maybe 100 ft?)
4 merkins
Bear Crawl back up
4 merkins

Ran some cupcakes from the bottom of the hill to cut the lights in the cones off

Moseyed back the long way around
Here’s the route:
https://www.strava.com/activities/5546875884

COT

NMM:
Thoughts on appreciation for respectable PAX that pour into younger PAX

Thanks Drop Thrill for the call to lead; always grateful for an opportunity to Q

—
Band Camp dismissed

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3

Humane, Inhumane, Inhuman

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Some 14 PAX broke off from the larger Bushwood/Snake Pit conglomerate with a kettlebell in their hand

Warmup:
Yoga – much to everyone’s “enjoyment”
KB Windmill – nobody even pretended to like this one
SSH
Large Arm Circles
Shoulder Taps
Mountain Climbers

Short Mosey:

Dan John’s Humane Burpee
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings (It was here that BOB tweaked his back)
4 Goblet Squats
4 Merkins
15 KB Swings
3 Goblet Squats
3 Merkins
15 KB Swings
2 Goblet Squats
2 Merkins
15 KB Swings
1 Goblet Squats
1 Merkins

Short Mosey

YHC interpretation of an Inhumane Burpee (5 rounds)
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins

Short Mosey

Break from the routine:
10 R Single Leg Deadlifts
10 L Single Leg Deadlifts
10 R High Pulls
10 L High Pulls
10 R Racked Split Squat
10 L Racked Split Squat

5 R Single Leg Deadlifts
5 L Single Leg Deadlifts
5 R High Pulls
5 L High Pulls
5 R Overhead Split Squat
5 L Overhead Split Squat

Short Mosey – taking a new path

YHC’s addition of Inhuman Burpee (5 rounds)
15 KB Swings
6 Goblet Squats
6 Merkins
15 KB Swings
7 Goblet Squats
7 Merkins
15 KB Swings
8 Goblet Squats
8 Merkins
15 KB Swings
9 Goblet Squats
9 Merkins
15 KB Swings
10 Goblet Squats
10 Merkins

(interspersed this with 1 rep of pistol squat or burpee snatch between for variety)

NMM:

Genesis 3:9
First question in the Bible is God asking “Where are you?” Let us be the men who can answer and not hide. To say “here I am Lord.”

Praises: Gotcha Day, that we still have work, new babies
Prayers: job losses, work surprises, cancer, snake bite, surgery recovery, BOB’s back

Thanks for the opportunity to lead 3D:

—
Band Camp dismissed

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