Making it Count at the Colosseum

I forgot how dark this AO is to start so was surprised when I felt like I didn’t recognize any of the pax that came to work this morning.  We had 9 in all, including Ryan the FNG (EH goes to Bubble Boy).  Gave the standard disclaimer and reminded him not to worry, that the hardest part about today was done before this workout started.  He made it here.

We moseyed around the big loop at the school, made our way to the parking lot out back and did an ultra fast warm-up:

  • 20 seal jacks
  • 10 wind mills
  • 20 mountain climbers
  • 11 merkins / 10 diamonds / 9 merkins / 8 diamonds….down to 1 merkin (66 in total)

From there we headed over to the corner of the first playground, underneath the light pole.  Informed the pax I’d give them an exercise and rep count, we’d do that at the starting line, and then run to each light post and do the same thing for 10 light posts, then run all the way back to the starting line.  I seem to forget every time that the distance of 10 light posts is pretty dam far.

First leg – 5 burpees per light pole (50 in total)
Second leg – 10 big boys per light pole (100 in total)
Third leg (the worst) – 15 jump squats per light pole (150 in total)

2.6 miles later we were running out of time so we did the final leg with merkins x10 per light pole.  We did 8 light poles to get us to 80 reps in total, then hustled back to COT.

Ryan the FNG got the hook-up based on a lack of creativity this morning – “REAPER”.

Prayers were said for marriages, kids, travel safety and those dealing w/ sickness.  Thanks for the letting me come and take the lead Jekyll.  Had a great time sweating it out this morning in what felt like 90 degrees at 5am.  See y’all in the gloom.

Cha Ching

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First Timer at the Hive

Always fun to Q a workout your not overly familiar with so figured I’d give the pax a little something different than what they’re used to in a kettlebell workout.  Special thanks to Shady who brought his arsenal of KB’s to share w/ Jedi, Dirty Harry and myself.  Otherwise we would have looked really stupid w/ our 15 pound colored shake weights.

Started out by doing a quick mosey around the big lot holding our KB’s.  From there we hit the warm-up:

  • 20 SSH, 10 thrusters, 20 alternating merkins (one hand on a KB at all times, switching hands each merkin), 10 big boy sit ups w/ KB press and 10 KB halos around the head clockwise and counter clockwise.

Ran the guys w/ our KB’s down to the far end of the lot adjacent to the football field and we got started:

4 cones set-up (1st at the far end of the lot), the next 3 about 8 parking spaces apart.  Quick and dirty – do an exercise at the first cone, immediately lunge walk (w/ twist) w/ KB to the next cone, drop the KB, run back to the first cone (every time) and bear crawl back to your KB.  Once there, you do the next exercise, lunge walk w twist to the next cone, drop weight, run to the very first cone, bear crawl back to weight (now 2x the original distance)….you get the point.

    • Exercise #1 – wood choppers – It’s a play on the KB swing, but a little harder.  Start w/ KB above your head to the left then swing it down to the right side of your legs, and then swing back up to the left side of your head.  Key here is to not blow out your knee, but to actually accelerate as much as you can on the way UP.  20 reps per side, then lunge walk, run, bearcrawl back to your KB (wait for pax, those waiting did upright rows), then
    • Exercise #2 – jump squats x20.  Lunge walk, run, bear crawl 2x the distance (those waiting for pax to get back did sit ups w/ KB), then
    • Exercise #3 – curl thruster combo (curl KB, drop down into a squat and press it over head) x20, then lunge walk run, bear crawl 3x the original distance.
    • Exercise #4 – finish off w/ KB toe touches x20.  After that we ran to the bottom of the hill right next to the stadium

Starting at the bottom, do the exercise and rep count i give you and then run w/ your KB up the hill stopping at each light pole to do the same exact exercise & rep count until you get to the top of the hill, then do it one last time, then run down the hill and wait for the 6 (and the next exercise).

  • Exercise #1 – American hammers x10 (only count the right side) – 50 reps by the time you’re to the top
  • Exercise #2 – old fashioned skull crushers on your back x20 – 100 reps
  • Exercise #3 – shoulder press / tricep extension combo move x15 – 75 reps

Once we finished w/ the hill work, we ran to the start of the big lot where we parked our cars and bear crawled the entire width of the lot w/ our KB’s in hand until we made it back to COT.  End result was about 1.6 miles, tons of reps (tris and shoulders fully smoked) and a pretty quiet COT lol.  Prayers included Jedi’s school / crazy life right now, Pax that haven’t been out in a while (get a hold of them and get em back), kids / marriages and safe travels.

Thanks to Band Camp for giving me the torch for a day – had a blast.  The guys rocked it.  Until next time.

ChaChing

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Quagmire- Where it all Started

14 plus an FNG  in the warm and muggy Gloom at Quagmire. This AO is where I posted for my first time back on 2-18-19. Bones’ Eh’d me for 12 full months before I gathered the gumption to get after it. Lutefisk had the Q for a coin flip beatdown. Couple of the regular Pax picked me up in the deep 6 for the next 3 weeks while I got my legs under me.  Will be eternally great full to those guys for keeping me going day after day.

Quick Disjointed disclaimer at 0515 and off we go on a quick mosey across the AO to the Tuesday Morning parking lot.

COP

20 SSH

20 imperial walkers

20 Hillbilly Walkers — At this point Cornhole did me a solid and advised the PAX we did have an FNG in the mix. Need to work on my Openers/ disclaimers and such- Thanks Cornhole.

20 fast and slow Windmills-Based on the Mumble Chatter the Pax like very slow windmills- I like to keep the pace up.

20 Weed pickers

15 Flutter kicks

Roll to Plank for 30 seconds then into 3 rotations of Downward Dog and honeymooners.

Mosey to Target for the fun

The Thang

Red Ball Workout with Suicides. Side Note- Had the Weinke all ready to roll last night when I stopped to cook supper and my son deleted the entire thing. So who knows what the comparison between what we did and what I had on paper would have actually looked like.

Rep Counts 10-20-30

Exercises

Ball 1: Burpees–Run to ball 3.

Ball 3: BombJacks- Suicide back to Ball 2 up to Ball 4.

Ball 4: Squats- Suicide back to Ball 3 up to ball 5.

Ball 5: Werkins- Suicide back to Ball 4 up to Ball 6.

Ball 6: Merkins- Suicide Back to Ball 5 up to ball 7.

Ball 7: Diamond Merkins- Suicide back to ball 6 up to Ball 8.

Ball 8: Big Boy Situps- Suicide back to Ball 7 up to ball 9.

Ball 9: LBCs- Suicide back to Ball 8 up to Ball 10.

Ball 10: Box Cutters- Mosey back to Start

Rinse and repeat  increasing as stated 10-20-30

Was shooting for 3 rounds. Most got in 2.5ish.  2-3 HIM completed all 3 rounds like the beasts they are. All accelerated. Non partner work but lots of guys picked each other up and worked together to make it happen.

Long Mosey back for COT right on time.

FNG- Jason Holland- LT. Colonel in the US Army now known in the Gloom as Cloggs.

Announcements

Newsletter- Sweati upcoming.

Prayers- Cloggs is taking his new command of the MEPs Facility in Chicago and traveling back today.

Sick/injured and traveling PAX.

Thanks Jedi for allowing me to lead where I got my start.

Duck Out

 

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We don’t need no stinking drill bits – we’re at Quagtastic!

Kicked off the fun with a short mosey to one parking lot over about 50 yards.  Started the warm-up with windmills (10x), low slow squats (10x), imperial walkers (10x), cherry pickers (10x), merkins (10x), diamond merkins (10x), downward dog 2x, and finally honey mooner 2x.  Laid on our backs and did some hamstring stretches and then stretched our backs.

On to more fun where we started off our tour “drill bit” style.  If you’ve been to WEP, then you know the drill.  Started off with a run to Petsmart and off we went…

  • Petsmart 10 bombjacks…run….
  • Home Depot 20 diamond merkins, then the 10 bombjacks…run….
  • Target 30 American Hammers (double count), then the 20 above, then the 10..run….
  • Verizon 40 squats (see above 30, 20, 10)..run….
  • BW3’s 50 flutters (double count and see the above)..run….
  • Kay Jewlers 60 calf raises, all 3 ways, then see 50-10 above

Next we toured over to the stairs where we found the gate to be zip tied so we improv’d.  Jacob’s ladder up and down the stairs where we did 7’s (exercises needed to add up to 7).  Started with 1 ranger merkin (or as Jedi refers to it as 1 real merkin) and 6 bupees.  To amp this up competition style we had semi-sick out of energy Bonsai go first and then Jedi trailed 8-9 guys deep.  If Jedi passed Bonsai, we would do a bonus exercise…and this happened so we got to do the below bonus.

Next tour was a short sweaty mosey over to the fountain which looked enticing enough to dive in.  Instead we did the below:

  • 3 Krakken burpees (for our bonus thx to Jedi)
  • 10 step ups (10 each leg)
  • 20 derkins
  • 30 dips
  • Rinse and repeat

Off to COT for name-o-rama and all things COT worthy!

Today’s message was inspired by what journey you are on as a man.  Are you just trying to get to a destination or do you have a mission and a purpose you’re focused on.  Are you inspiring those around you in a positive or negative way, do you need to make a change to what you’re doing, can you do it today?  If not, why?  Comments we make or actions we take can have a lasting impression.  Surround yourself with the right friends and make decisions that are impactful to your purpose.

Pleasure as always Jedi, thanks for the invite, and nice work out there men!

Shady

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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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Badger 1 year Convergence

Thank you to our QICs of the Badger Convergence.  For those that were close with Badger and his family who was in attendance it was a blessing to see 78 strong come out in his honor.

Cyclop’s Portion of Badger Convergence

The W/O: The sets follow the dates of every March madness trip I took with badger and the 71-64 significance is the final score of the Kentucky-Wisconsin game in 2015 (our first trip) when badger’s badgers knocked off unbeaten Kentucky in the final 4.  I heard a bit about that. 😎

3 – burpees
19 – merkins
20 – squats
15 – LBCs

64 second – wall sit (people’s chair):  reflect in silence on how we leave no doubt as badger did.

3 – burpees
17 – LBC’s
20 – flutters
16 – burpees

DORA partner up – 71 burpees.  Partner 1 runs to semi trailer and back while partner 2 does burpees then switch off and repeat until 71 is reached

3 – burpees
16 – squats
20 – lunges
17 – flutters

71 seconds – balls to the wall

Reflect on leaving no doubt and what that means for each of us – then mosey to COT.

 

Change Order’s Portion of Badger Convergence

18 merkins
48 Lbc
4 burpees
9 merkins
11 side startle hops
20 freely mercury
07 merkins
39 Lbc
Run a lap in between each

Jiffy’s Portion of Badger Convergence

Headed over to the side of Parking Lot…

 

I shared the Pax my background with Badger – I joined F3 because of him.  F3 has had a meaningful impact on my life and I owe that to Badger.  I shared with the Pax how quickly things turned for Badger and encouraged them (and myself) to make sure we are using our time and resources very intentionally.

 

The workout

 

I had cones setup and the Pax did the following sequences:

  • Lunge Walk to each cone and stop and do 10 jump squats, run back
  • Bear crawl to each cone and stop and 10 merkins
  • 20 LBC’s in cadence
  • Sequence of 10 merkins, 10 plan jacks, 10 merkins, 10 plank jacks, 10 merkins, 10 plank jacks

 

  • Lunge Walk to each cone and stop and do 5 bomb jacks, run back
  • Bear crawl to each cone and stop and 10 carolina dry docks
  • 20 American Hammers in cadence
  • Sequence of 10 merkins, 10 shoulder taps, 10 merkins, 10 shoulder taps, 10 merkins, 10 shoulder taps

 

  • Lunge Walk to each cone and stop and do 10 monkey humpers bomb jacks, run back
  • Bear crawl to each cone and stop and 10 dips
  • 20 flutters in cadence
  • Sequence of 10 merkins, 10 side shoulder punches, 10 merkins, 10 shoulder punches, 10 merkins, 10 shoulder punches

 

  • Straight suicide

 

 

We then ran to the side and between a couple of islands did a Jacobs Ladder with Bomb Jacks on one side and Burpees on the other with a total of 6.

 

Great job by the Pax pushing each other and picking up the 6 at the end.

 

We headed back to the group at the end for COT.  It was an honor to serve especially in honor of Badger.

 

Trucker’s portion of Badger Convergence

Ran behind 9 rounds. Badger would have been 40 this year. So honored him with 40/4 workout. Each PAX had to do 4 rounds of 4 exercises of 40 reps with a run from 9 rounds to end of parking lot.
Merkins
Squats
LBCs
CCD

Then over to Red Bowl wall for 40 leg raises. Wall sits with 2 burpees each down the line. Repeat with 4 scorpion merkins.

Missy to oil change store. 4 PAX lined up 20 yards away while the other took 4 car tires and flipped tires to partner, return back to start. Each PAX then grabbed a tire nd did 40 shoulder presses.

Mossy to COT

 

Senator Tressels Portion of Badger Convergence

After COP, mosey to the inclined driveway by the apartment complex on Tega Cay Drive.  I gathered the group and told them that Matt was my neighbor and friend.  Our families spent time together and that Matt was active in an adult men’s soccer league.  Matt’s fight with cancer was very short and that he was gone way too soon.

 

On to the workout:

 

Jacob’s ladder, 1-7, with burpees at the top of the hill.  Plank when you are finished.

 

Walk to the grass area in front of the apartment gym and circle up for  Jack Webb’s (10/40).

 

Freddie Mercs x 20, and Hello Dolly x 20, all in cadence.

 

End with 90 seconds of the body destroyer.  As the Pax laid still and quiet,  I told them to think about how much they have, how lucky they are, and that every day is a gift.

 

Mosey  back to the Harris Teeter lot for COT

 

End.

 

Decibels Portion of Badger Convergence

 

MERKINS X25

ALTERNATING LUNGES X25

TOE TAPS X25

TONY HAWK BURPEE X15

Heals to Heaven x25

GORILLA HUMPER X20

IMPERIAL WALKER X20

EMPTY WHEELBARROW

SQUATS X20

LBCs  X39

E2K X20 EACH SIDE

ROSALITA X25

During the workout we keep 3 soccer balls moving at all time to honor Badger’s love for soccer. 

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since Badger went to be in heaven.  I was blessed to spend time with him prior to his passing.  We talked about him being saved and how important that was to him.  He let me know that his M was a big reason he was saved but also seeing my families reaction to losing our daughter and son and our dependence on God at that time.  I am saying this to let you know as Christians people watch our actions and want to make sure our actions match our words.  I encourage every Christian brother in F3 to live out your faith and in times of need lean on God just like Badger did in his time. 

My M and I received a letter from Badger.  In that letter he mentioned F3 and the support he and his family received after the diagnosis.  I remember him just being in awe of all the people that were praying for him.  He was so touched by this community that he asked that I make sure that his boys get involved in F3.  It was such a blessing to have Jeter and all the his relatives experience the convergence.  To have 78 men in our community support Badger was an emotional journey for all of us that knew him.  I had several members of his family let me know how much they appreciated the convergence and the support for Badger.  Thank you to each man that showed up!

Badger was a man I respected to the utmost.  He was not a guy that sought attention or glory, but he was always there when you needed him.  He loved his family and was a loyal friend.  I am still in awe of how he bravely prepared to walk into heaven.  It was so comforting to know he was going to see Jesus.  He told me many times that he would take care of our babies (Elizabeth Grace and Garrett) until we met up with him.  Badger was a great Father and I know he is having a blast with my kids in heaven. 

Let us all take this time to pour into, support, love on and encourage our F3 brothers. Then take that momentum and turn it to our families.  Then take that momentum and pour it out on the least and the lost in our community.  Badger knew that God had a purpose for him and that purpose was to spread the word of God’s Grace and Love.  Let’s make that happen for him.

 

 

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Q Kicks Own Butt at Quagmire on Memorial Day

Like most of my F3 brothers, If I’m in town and not already booked, I accept the Q.  When I agreed to take the Q on 5/27 at Quagmire, I didn’t realize it was Memorial Day and we’d maybe want to do a Murph.  Too bad for y’all  (and me) that I’d already planned to bring out my trusty paver bricks for the occasion.   Here is how it went down:

Warm – o – rama

  • 50 yard mosey into the light
  • 10 week pullers (some call them produce pickers) IC
  • 10 Wind Mills, IC
  • 20 SSH, IC
  • 10 Merkins, IC
  • 10 Low Slow Squats, IC
  • Downward Dog, Honeymooner

The Thang, Part 1

After the warm-o-rama, YHC led the pax to the trunk of the ’06 Caddie (it’s the 3.6 liter, not the 2.8) where I invited each man to take two paver bricks, weighing maybe 4lbs each?

  • We moseyed about 3/4 of a mile to the hill yonder near the Sun Trust bank
  • 11s  with the bricks, up the hill for 10 squats, the back down for one CDD at the bottom
  • Repeat until the reps were reversed

The Thang, Part II

Partner beat down, 100 reps of each, one partner running around the SunTrust bank –  Bricks in hands the entire time

  • Two arm bicep curls
  • Lunges (single count)
  • Two Arm Shoulder presses
  • LBCs
  • Squats
  • Flock of Seagulls
  • Flutter Kicks – bricks held up
  • Triceps Extentions

Rinse and repeat

  • 2nd time through we added shrugs after the lunges.  No team made it all the way through the 2nd time
  • Omaha for some ab work
  • Run back to COT with Bricks

Moleskin

I started the workout with a reminder of the US Military KIA and Wounded since WWII and told the story of my Grandfather’s WWII experience.   We closed in prayer with honor and in remembrance for those that served and continue to do so, and for their families;  We thanked God for this great country and for our salvation through Jesus.

It was an honor as always.  Thanks for showing up.

-Aye, Wolverine

 

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DORA Got Lost at Quagmire

While driving the clown car with 5 deep there is no better site then coming around the corner and seeing Jedi posting up the #Quagmire Shovel Flag. 13 PAX arrived to hit it hard with the worst merican ever dora.

Disclaimer was given and moseyed off to the Home Depot parking lot for a little warm up. Once warm up was complete off to the Target parking lot to get that blood flowing and a little more stretching. Then comes the pain.

With the help of Jedi (trying to utilize the whole area/not get lost) we made our way to the fountain. Partner up. Dora time. Start out with 100 worst mericans ever (wide push up, normal push up, diamond push up=1), 200 clapping crunches (thanks six pack abs in 30 days), 300 irkins, and 400 LBC’s. One partner would run around the fountain while the other pushed pavers or worked those abs. Then once around the fountain trade spots. We were all able to get the 1st 3 exercises done before having to mosey back to COT. Once back at COT with a little time to spare we crunched out 100 LBC’s together. We were able to get in 2.25 miles and about 600 different variations of pushups.

These guys took the pain and kept on going. Proud to be part of this Pax and this community. Thanks Jedi for making me a better man. Until next time.

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Tempo Run at Tempo

We ran the Carowoods loop, 5.25 miles. Nice course for a tempo run – it is  mostly flat so you can open it up so to speak and maintain a good pace throughout. Spud and Decibel joined us for COT. After so much rucking it felt good to stretch the legs out with my running mates. Thanks Gekko for the opportunity to lead.

-NASA

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That was a lot of sit-ups

My 2nd of 3 Q’s in 3 days. Always a pleasure to Q The Swamp!  Now that I am Ruck free and with no big race on the schedule I’m free to just do regular old Bootcamps. My favorite workouts combine a good amount of running(big surprise) with a bunch of other stuff so that is what we did today and  was glad to have a bunch of guys to share it with.

Started off with s nice mosey warm-up with some dynamic warm-ups of butt kicks, high knees, shuffles and some karaoke.

Circle up in the HD parking lot for COP consisting of SSH, IW, Carolina Dry Dock, Peter Parker, Mountain Climbers, then a series of Downward dog to Honeymooner. Back on our feet for Windmills, Apollo Ono(look out for the car), and just for fun some Monkey Humpers.

Mosey to the bike racks at HD for the main thing. Partner up for a nice BOMBS routine. One partner does the exercise the other does a lap around Home Depot.  There  were some complaints that the lap was a little long even though I assured them it was only about 1/4 mile  I was accused of measuring Zima miles.

50 Burpees, 100 Overhead claps, 150 Merkins, 200 Big Boy Sit-ups(crowd favorite), 250 Supine Pull-Ups(only because I hate squats and I needed an S).  We did not make through all the pull-ups, headed back to COT for a few minutes of Mary, ending with a Body Destroyer.

Announcements – Convergence 5/24, Honor Badger at Golden Corral 5/21 wear Red, Read your newsletter

Praises for Lutifisk daughter, Dungaree’s 1 year anniversary, prayers for kids cancer relapse.

Challenged the PAX to take the role as the leader in their home.  We are called to lead, do not be a passive bystander or even worse do not take or accept the role as another child in the house.  Be the man/leader you are called to be.

Thanks as always for the opportunity to lead this great group!!

 

 

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