Ballroom – Last workout for 2020

We had 5 at the Ballroom for a end of year wrap up beat down.  A slight delay due to a mother nature call, brought us into an immediate warmup as we waited for Drop to get situated.  Then we took off for a quick mosey to our first stop to complete the warm-up.  We did a few SSH, Wind ills, imperial walkers, Moroccan night clubs and a couple of other exercises.  Mosey number 2 for the main event.

We started with 3 minutes of merkins – 10, Mtn. Climbers – 15 and 20 shoulder taps.  Keep rotating through until 3 minutes is up.  at the end we did a burpee stack starting with 1,2,3 and so on.  After 3 minutes lap around the parking lot. Next round 10 squats, 15 monkey humpers, 20 calf raises (arms are tired) then nurring around the lot.  Round 3 10-BB Situps, 16-American hammers, 20 flutters. Lap around the lot.  Round 4 10-SSH, 15-overhead claps, 20- Moroccan nightclubs. nurring around the lot.  Short mosey over to the benches for round 5. 10-derkins, 15 dips and 20 step ups. Run to bottom of lot for a few minutes of wall sits.

We had a few short stories to talk about what 2020 looked like and if 2021 is a repeat what would we change.  U-Haul also mentioned the article that Anchorman posted to forget New Year’s resolutions and conduct a past year review instead.  Check it out here 

Thanks drop for the opportunity to lead.

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On The First Day Of Ballroom My True Love Gave To Me

It was a brisk mid December and three Pax chose to get stronger and sweat a little at the Ballroom.

Being December and all, I broke out the 12 Days of Christmas routine and it goes a little something like this…

1 – Run a lap
2- Turkish getups
3- Jump squats
4- LBCs
5-Diamond Merkins
6- Imperial walkers
7-Rosalitas
8-Flutters
9- Low slow squats
10-Lunges (each leg)
11- Merkins
12-Brupees

I know you were all sad we only made it to Day 10.

Great to see Bass and meet Poppins for probably the first time as he’s only been posting a few weeks, welcome to The Fort from Chicago!

We talked about the 5 Core Principals, The Credo and then about the legacy of my mom and how we want to leave a legacy for the next generation.

Until next time.

Thrill is gone!

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Acceleration Through Consistency

COP/Warm Up

Lap around lot to warm up. YHC played Christmas tunes today.

SSH

Moroccan Night Clubs

Low Slow Squats

Slow Windmills

Round 1

20 KB Swings

20 Shoulder Press

20 Around the World

Method of Travel: Bear Crawl/KB Drag to next line of spaces, rinse/repeat out and back

Round 2

10 Merkins w/Hand on Bell

10 Halos

10 Skull Crushers (The halo/tricep combo got real hard real quick)

Method of Travel: Lunge Walk w/Bell to next line of spaces, rinse/repeat out and back 

Round 3 

5 Burpee Snatches

5 One Arm Curls (Both sides)

5 One Legged RDL’s (Both Sides)

Method of Travel: Crab Walk w/Bell to next line of spaces, rinse/repeat out and back

Finisher/Mary

High Plank/Drag Bell Left/Right 10 times.

Mosey back to COT, 18 flutter kicks w/press as the boot campers rolled back in.

Complete

 

NMM

YHC gave a quick message to the PAX about how this weinke was mostly copied by a Fishsticks burner in October. The idea was that we as a group constantly focus on the next big thing or the hardest movement combo to spice things up. While that makes us better in a way, getting stronger at things we’ve done in the past is another way to accelerate. Focus on what you’re good at and master it. We won’t always benefit from doing the next big thing.

YHC played a song this morning during the warmup by Straight No Chaser (which as Wegmans put it is like “Music ADHD”). This song is a fantastic medley, but it shows what putting too much into something can do to the flow of things and the overall effectiveness.

 

Announcments

Dam to Damn Bar 10K Jan 30th. Sign up!

Slash will be buying rounds at Amor Artis after Stangs Fort Mill Golf Tournament this weekend.

 

Prayers/Praises

Mills’ family via Drop Thrill

Splinter is donating a kidney to a friend in need

3D’s surgery

Praises for health 

Praises for our kids and their joy that is so visible

 

Thanks for the opportunity to lead, 3D. YHC is always ready.

Punch List out.

 

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Returning to the dance floor

Yeah buddy, it’s back on at the Ballroom as I had the opportunity to Q the 9 of us this morning. The weather was right and the campus was well lit; another perfect morning.

Hot Cakes rolled in with an FNG, welcome “Cubbie” to the brotherhood. The rest of us welcomed Destiny back  to the gloom and proceeded to listen to him complain, or at least talk about his skill to do as much. It’s all in love. We moved on to the disclaimer…check.

Mosey behind PKMS to the drop off loop and circle up:
SSH, Merkins, Squats, Windmills, Moroccan Night Clubs

Partner up for DORA while one partner would run to the bridge and back:
100 Merkins
200 Mountain Climbers (single count)
300 LBCs

Back in a circle:
60 second plank then Shoulder Taps I/C
60 second Al Gore with Overhead Claps then Squats I/C
60 second 6″ leg holds then Flutter Kicks I/C

Nur the drop off loop followed by a run of the same loop.

Mosey to the other side of the bridge.
Peter Parkers / Grave Diggers / Dips / Grave Diggers

Indian Run back to COT but we did Butt Kickers as we jogged.
A few PAX-led ab exercises upon arrival to COT.

Drop Thrill – Thanks bud.
Cubbie – Welcome.

SYITG
Maximus

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Stealing from Metro

11 PAX on a crisp November morning

YHC got some influence one from one of the few backblasts written at F3-Metro’s Combine (Kettlebell and Sprinting) AO.

Warm-up
Run a big lap with unnecessary looping
Plank
– shoulder tap
– yoga
– mountain climber
– yoga
– peter parker
– yoga
– parker peter
Imperial Walker
Hillbilly Walker

Move with bells to parking lot
Line up from one island facing another

Ladder:

  • 5 manmakers
    -bear crawl to the next island and back
    KB Swings for the six
  • 5 manmakers
    5 goblet squats in cadence
    -bear crawl to the next island and back
    KB Swings for the six
  • 5 manmakers
    5 goblet squats in cadence
    10 upright rows in cadence
    -crawl bear to the next island and back
    KB Swings for the six
  • 5 manmakers
    5 goblet squats in cadence
    10 upright rows in cadence
    10 overhead presses in cadence

Move with bells to the farthest parking lot
Line up between one set of lights facing the other
We did an exercise with the bells and then sprinted to the other set of lights. At the other end, we did a descending count of merkins and sprinted back to our bells. So:

10 Merkins/Sprint/10 Alternating Lunges in cadence/Sprint back
9 Merkins / 5R & 5L Single Legged Dead-lifts
8 Merkins / 10 Sumo Squats
7 Merkins / 5 Manmakers, then 5 more
6 Merkins / 5R & 5L Snatches
5 Merkins / 5R & 5L Single arm overhead press
4 Merkins / 5 Lawnmower pulls each side, then 5 more, then 5 more
3 Merkins / 5 Goblet Squats in cadence
2 Merkins / 10 Swings
1 Merkin / 10 Overhead Presses

Move with bell back to COT

Flutters with press
Seated Yoga until 0600

Prayers:
Fathers that have passed recently
Those battling illness (COVID, Cancer)

NMM:
I sat on this backblast a bit and have lost my steam on a message. I remember an idea of checking in with your word of the year and how much of a struggle this year has been.

My word was Input. And I’ve been letting the world decide what my mental input is more often than deciding myself. There’s still days in the year left to get better…so let’s go work on it.


Band Camp dismissed

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12ish Days of Christmas at Snake Pit

Been a while since I was Q at the ol’ Snake Pit and as I’m not scheduled for next month, I figured it was time to pull th5e 12 Days of Christmas workout out of the bag.

After a short warm up, we got after it.  Despite what U Haul said, we got to day 9.

Just like the song, you repeat each set every time you add another exercise.

1 – Run/Walk
2- Turkish getups
3- Goblet squats
4- LBCs
5- Shoulder press
6- Chest press
7- American hammers
8- Calf raises
9- Sumo squats
10- Lunges
11- Lawnmowers
12- Dead lifts

 

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Are You Committed?

YHC had the honor to share the Q with Dark Helmet in celebration of his six years in F3. The disclaimer was disclaimed and the group split between The Fort and Milkshake. Here’s what we did:

  • 10 Imperial Walkers (IC)
  • 10 Low Slow Squats (IC)
  • 10 MNCs, Overhead Claps, Raise the Roofs, Little Baby Arm Circles (IC)

Mosey to the back parking lot

  • 20 Burpees
  • Lap
  • 40 Merkins
  • Lap
  • 60 Squats
  • Lap
  • 80 Little Baby Arm Circles
  • Lap
  • 100 Calf Raises
  • Lap
  • 80 LBCs
  • Lap
  • 60 American Hammers
  • Lap
  • 20 Burpees

Transition to Dark Helmet

For DOAH’s half, we ran around downtown to various parking lots for mumblechatter, Burpees, Bear Crawls, Flutters, and a myriad of other “fun” things. At each stop, he spoke to the 5 Core Principles, the Credo, and various other lessons on becoming a better man through F3. He’s an example of how a man can change if he commits.

So, are you committed? Without commitment, nothing happens. Commitment is required for any gains; gains in your fitness, faith, marriage, work, and life. Commitment is not a feeling. It’s a requirement to get through the hard times. We post in the heat, cold, rain, or shine. Why? Because doing the hard thing at the hard times prepares you for the the future. Commitment isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary to get you prepared for the next hard thing. You can’t get out of something that you don’t put into.

Six years ago, DOAH made the first commitment to daily investment into his fitness. Because of his efforts, he’s down over 50 pounds and up hundreds of new friends. He’s a better husband, father, and leader. What’s his secret? Commitment to betterment – the daily red pill. You have to commit if you want to see gains. Get after it, fellas. Today’s your day. Take it!

Aye!

Italian Job

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Rain and Pain at #TheArmory

It wasn’t supposed to rain after 4am but it was sprinkling when I arrived at Forest Hill Church. My weinke was prepared and I wasn’t going to change directions just because of a little rain. We did 21 SSH’s to warmup and then walked over to the far side of the lot where I knew there were the most parking spaces. It started to pour. I briefly thought about going under cover (because it was pouring, not sprinkling) but got over it really quickly.

The Thang:
Line up along the parking space lines.
1. 10 Swings at every line (hold plank for the 6) walk back to start
2. 10 Squats at every line (hold plank for the 6) walk back to start
3. 8 Double Arm Curls at every line (hold plank for the 6) walk back to start
4. 7 Double Arm Tricep Extensions at every line (hold plank for the 6) walk back to start
5. 5 Big Boy Situps w/ Press at every line (hold plank for the 6) walk back to start THESE WERE THE BEST THANKS TO THE PUDDLES!
6. 4 Halos at every line (hold plank for the 6) walk back to start
7. 2 Lunge Pass Throughs at every line (hold plank for the 6) walk back to start
8. 1 Man-maker at every line (hold plank for the 6) walk back to start

Did I forget something?

We finished at 05:58, just in time to walk back to COT.

F3 is outdoors, rain or shine. We embraced the suck with minimal whining and it was good.

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Just. Keep. Posting.

On a crisp 48 degree morning, a similar # of pax posted for a convergence at The Fort/Milkshake to commemorate 8 yrs of pain and impact in the Gloom of Fort Mill, SC and elsewhere in York County.   The occasion drew pax from Rock Hill, Metro and Raleigh.

The Thang

Double D led a warm up with yog to the Church of God parking lot plus some Carioca

COP — Mtn Climbers, Peter Parker, Parker Peter, Monkey Humpers, SSH, Seal Jacks, Merkins

Hand off to Jekyll

Yog up the hill to the rug factory lot and a re-introduction to, yes, you guessed it  — The Board Pain!!!

See photo for the Weinke from here….or check your soreness today (Sunday) for those who were present.  A Jekyll Classic!  Heard at F3 from Redwood @Santini “I’ve been avoiding this Board for years…100 Burpees!!”

Yog back home

COT

Naked Man Moleskin

8 years…Is that a long time?  Well, the average time of degree completion for US college students is 6 years.  Only 50% of startups make it to the 5th year mark.  So, I suppose 8 years qualifies as something of a landmark.  At the same time, I don’t personally remember much about being 8 years old.  What about the 8 years from 2-10 years old?  Or maybe 10-18 years old?  Yes, I remember more…and if I had my way I’d like to forget some of those moments!

Well, I can remember quite a bit of the past 8 years.  I quite clearly remember 9.29.12…a date etched in my memory like my wedding day, my daughters’ birth dates and my birthday.

As I reflect back on 8 years of #Impact delivered by the men of F3TheFort, what really matters is 10.06.12 and 10.13.12.  You see, those were the Saturdays when pax returned to WEP for week 2 and week 3.  And FNGs posted for their own personal version of #TheLaunch.  And then Saturdays became Tuesdays, too.  And then a short time later they also became Thursdays.   In the end, what matters the most is not what happened in the past, but what happens today.  Or what will happen tomorrow when pax post to one of 30+ workouts across Fort Mill/Tega Cay or 70+ workouts across York County.

Just. Keep. Posting.  The one true constant across life is #Change.  Since 2012, I’ve moved to a different house,  nurtured two chicks out of the nest, collected a paycheck from two additional employers and traversed through a lot of ups and downs.  One of my rocks during this period has been the community of #HIMs known as F3TheFort.  You’ve been steady in your acceptance of me each time I post.  And along the way, you’ve revealed to me more and more parts of myself as you’ve revealed parts of yourself.  I know I’m all the better for it, and so is my family.  I’m pretty certain you’re better too.  And in the process our town, county and country are also better.

So, yes, we should take heart in what’s transpired over the past 8 years.  It is remarkable.  It is a blessing.  Some might call it a miracle….or miracles.  And the only way to honor this fruit and express our gratitude to God and the men who’ve contributed (past and present) is to Just. Keep. Posting.  Because if a day ever comes when no one posts…well…let’s Just. Keep. Posting.

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Double Trouble With Drop Thrill at Snake Pit

3D gave me the reigns this morning and I obliged with another lead at Snake Pit, the closest AO to my house, so I’m a regular.
After a little warm up, we launched into what I call Double Trouble.  Each exercise you do 15 of, and then Round 2 20 of.  Simple but effective, I think anyway.
Double Trouble

Kb swings

Turkish getup (only Round 1)
goblet squats
Flutters
Curls
merkins

tricep extensions

Squat

Sumo squat

LBC
skull crusher
Rosa lita
Dead lift
calf raises
Lawnmower
American hammer
One arm dead lifts
Dips
The mission of F3 is to plant, grow and serve small workout groups for the invigoration of male community leadership.
  • 1 Are free of charge
  • 2 Are open to all men
  • 3 Are held outdoors, rain or shine, heat or cold
  • 4 Are led by men who participate in the workout in a rotating fashion, with no training or certification necessary
  • 5 End with a Circle of Trust

The F3 Credo is: Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you find him.

Thanks 3D for the chance to lead again.  Thanks Pax for the mumblechatter.

 

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