Tag: Longshanks

7th Year Convergence for The Fort

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The 7th Year Convergence for The Fort followed an exhilarating Invergence from the night before.  Hoping to continue that acceleration, the 4 Q’s had a plan to talk about the 4 Skills needed for Virtuous Leadership: Vision, Articulation, Persuasion, Exhortation.

CakeBoss to start us out with Vision: Recognizing advantage and the movement required to achieve it.

Disclaimer and welcome
“Go Hard or Go Home!”

Take off for 100 yard mosey up path, Get in 3 lines – Indian Run across WEP

Break into 4 lines, 2 groups of seal teams -20 seal team sit ups in cadence

Back into 2 lines , Everyone plank – Tunnel of Love (25 guys per line) – Plank series while guys army crawling under

Crowd pleaser for sure!

7 Burpees for 7 Years!

Vision is what I spoke about and the men that saw the advantage of F3 and planted it (moved towards it) in Charlotte, the The Fort and we continued to give it away in Rock Hill & Lake Wylie.

Hand off to Maximus

Articulation: Describing vision to others in a clear manner. Being able to tell others where we’re going and being able to describe that vision to others.

So, with that said, we’re going over to the top of the big hill to start with drill bits:

½ the group goes one direction while the other goes the opposite way

At each white post (drill bit), 10 Jumping Lunges (10 each leg)

10 Jump Squats

Mosey to the base of the other hill, the one with the statue on it:

NUR (backwards run) up the hill

3 Burpees at the top

Bear Crawl down

5 Burpees at the bottom

Hand off to Fun House for the “P”.

Persuasion – The initiation of first Movement.  Convincing people to move in the direction of advantage, abandoning their Status Quo,

YHC gave an awesome yet forgettable speech about Persuasion.  Then the Thang:

Circle Up – Duck, Duck, Goose – One guy runs around the circle the rest of us plank, the next guy goes when the running guy finishes.  Planking excercises were called out: High Plank, Low plank, Mountain Climbers….. Audible called to get the next guy running after 1/2 a lap around the circle of Pax….. Peter Parker, Parker Peters….. Audible called to get the next guy running after 1/3 lap around….. Mak-Tar-Jai, Left Hand High, Right hand high…..Done.  That took 10 minutes!  60 guys is a lot of guys to be running around in circles.

Stay in circle, 5 minutes left, Jack Webb: 1 Merkin to 4 Overhead hand claps.  We got to 8!

Hand off to Pusher for Exhortation!

Exhortation – Incentivizing The Breach Of Obstacles.

Burpees x 10 OYO
Flutters IC x 10
Mosey to a corner of WEP
Burpees x 9 OYO
Flutters IC x 10
LBCs IC x 10
Mosey to another corner
Burpees x 8 OYO
Flutters IC x 10
LBCs IC x 10
Rosalita IC x 10
Mosey to another corner
Burpees x 7 OYO
Flutters IC x 10
LBCs IC x 10
Rosalitas IC x 10
Hello Dollies IC x 10
Mosey to another corner
Burpees x 6 OYO
LBCs IC x 10
Flutters IC x 10
COT
Naked Moleskin – The name-o-rama took forever.  That is a good thing. When 60+ PAX post to celebrate something that has obviously changed their lives, then change is happening!  Thanks to Maximus who put this awesome weekend celebration together!  His leadership is not only Effective (Using VAPE) but he is a Virtuous Leader! (Check out the Q Source for the 5 C’s Virtues of Virtuous Leadership) Can’t wait to see what year 8 brings to The Fort!  More importantly, who it brings!  Time to go EH someone.  See you in the gloom.
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Minnow Pond Strikes Again

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17 Pax descended upon the Minnow Pond this AM. Many were new to the Pond and all were better for having posted.

In the 5 weeks since launch, Shady along with the other Qs have set the bar high for MP. The workouts have been difficult with more 1st F than 2nd or  3rd F. I have been reminded of a few trips to F3 Metro where YHC was gassed after each post. I loved it!

YHC was honored to be asked to Q early in the existence. Honestly, I was both excited and nervous much like the old days of F3 the Fort. I was excited to lead the group of HIMs and nervous to create a beatdown that matched the intensity from the first 4 weeks. Minnow Pond stretches you as a Q. Whether you are a thoroughbred or a clydesdale, all Pax must get equal pain. After reviewing some backblasts from the Shark Tank (the OG), YHC created a plan that included a few holes at Fort Mill Golf Club.

Weather: 64 and not humid (Football season is here!)

The Thang:

Warm up and disclaimer prior to 5:15

AYG to Fort Mill Church of God parking lot (burpees until the 6 arrives)

10 Merkins, 20 Squats, 30 LBCs

Run to end of lot and back

Repeat 4 times

AYG to FM Golf Course (burpees until the 6 arrives)

Holes 7, 8 and 9

Hole 7 – 50 paces followed by 7 burpees from tee to green

Hole 8 – 50 paces followed by 8 sit ups from tee to green

Hole 9 – 50 paces followed by 9 bombjacks

Burpees until the 6 arrives

AYG to Fort Mill Church of God parking lot (burpees until the 6 arrives)

10 merkins, 20 squats, 30 LBCs

AYG to Veterans Park

Based on loose calculations, we covered the following in 45 minutes:

3+ miles

60 merkins

120 squats

180 LBCs

35+ burpees

40+ sit ups

50+ bombjacks

 

Moleskin:

  • Invergence/Convergence coming up 9/6 – 9/7
  • Mainframe on Q for Q Source on 9/7 at Kingsley amphitheater
  • Minnow Pond t-shirt order
  • Prayers for child at Children’s Attention Home that Nasa is mentoring
  • Praise for successful start to school year
  • Marriages

Thanks to Shady for the opportunity!

Pusher

 

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Housekeeping Incoporated

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17 PAX gathered on a hot muggy August morning.

Rundown:

Band Camp on Q
– Mosey
– Carioca
– Butt Kickers
– Carioca
– Toy Soldiers
– Mosey to where the dogs bark constantly
COP
– SSH
– Windmill
– Merkins
– Shoulder Tap
– Mountain Climbers
– Parker Peters

Mosey over to the Nazarene church to get away from the Dogs. Miraculously cones were also set up here. (Bear crawled to the cones)

Flash on Q
– Partner up
– 3 cones
– Partner 1
– cone 1: burpee broad jump, sprint back
– cone 2: duck walk, sprint back
– cone 3: lunge walk, sprint back
– Partner 2
– keep doing squats until Partner 1 is finished
– 3 sets of this
– Indian Run to Springs Corporate center
– DORA: 100 Merkins, 200 (more) squats, 300 flutters

Band Camp on Q
– Mosey back to COT
– A Gross (12 reps of 12 exercises)
-Upper Body: Merkins-single count, Overhead claps, Moroccan Night Clubs, Merkins-in cadence
-Lower Body: Squats, Lunge, Cossack Lunge, Jump Squat
-Core: Flutter, Dying Cockroach, LBC, Freddie Mercuries
– Mosey up the hill
– Mosey back down

NMM:

Flash shared about one of his leadership role models, Captain Picard, and making earl grey tea. In order to make tea, the leaves have to be immersed into the hot water. As a leader, we have to immerse ourselves with those we’re leading. And beyond immersion, we need to “steep” or remain in contact long enough to have the desired effect.

YHC shared up on the hill at the very end, that it is possible to over steep tea. We need to recognize in our households when mom has been immersed too long with the 2.0s and it’s our turn to step up. Or a similar scenario in our jobs.

An honor to lead such a strong group.

-Band Camp dismissed

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New Stuff

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Wow!! 20 at Slow Burn – AWESOME!!

The idea was to utilize string of pearls and always go back for six AND introduce a few “newish” exercises

After the mandatory disclaimers etc, the workout commenced with brief warm up:

THE THANG

10 Windmills, 10 LSS, 10 Merkins and Annies

Mosey to parking lot of Accounting Firm for:

First round of a string of pearls:  15 partner merkins, 15 Turkish Get Ups, 15 double count Gas Pumpers and 15 Merkins.  The stops were:  west corner of Lowe’s, east corner of Lowe’s, Lowe’s contractor entrance and back to the starting point.

Second round of a string of pearls:  same stops with 15 Superman Merkins, 15 LSS and duck walk to station #3, 15 Bomb Jacks and 15 Diamond Merkins

Final Component:  6 rounds of Jack Mary Web as suggested by Spitz, who was not present.

 

Moleskin

Based on comment from Renaissance, let’s all continue to, as Q Source envisions, getting “better.”

 

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The Honey Badger 1776 Challenge

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There was alot of chitter chatter on Twitter…..and Slack……leading up to this workout on 7/1 regarding posting to Badger or some other location in the greater Fort area. I ponder if some thought my idea of a finishing this Badger workout with an earned patch was like luring kids with candy and less worthy. I guess others though 0430 wakeup was a little too early, disturbing their beauty sleep, and had to lament about that as well (even though preruns and prerucks some participate in do indeed launch around that time). I guess  some people still think Badger workouts ONLY come from a book.

Well, I like to think they were all wrong. If others chose to not post to Badger, that’s their choice. That’s part of what 7/4/1776 is all about.

But 11 HIMs did show up early. They heard my disclaimer. We had a VERY brief warmup run then the  COP right at the start

15-20 or so of the following to loosen up a little:
* SSH
* Windmill
* IW
* MNC
* and a few other things

Then off we went to the track/football field for the main event.

The Honey Badger 1776 Challenge

7 Laps of 400m runs, plus 1,776 Exercises
Not many words of inspiration. Get right into it. OYO, You vs you. Similar to the Fort’s infamous Board of Pain, but I tweaked it a little because wanted everyone to complete it in around 90 minutes, not get 1/2 way only to come back a week later to get 1/2 way again. Q Special was  – if running out of time – allow folks to team up to accumulate/add reps together. Goal is for everyone to complete it in 1.5 hrs or so. We did not need it.
  1. 50 Burpees
  2. 100 Calf Raises (50 Reg / 50 Toe out)
  3. 100 Ski Abs (DC)
  1. RUN 400m
  1. 100 Merkins
  2. 100 LSS
  3. 100 LBC
  1. RUN 400m
  1. 100 CDD
  2. 100 Jump Squat
  3. 100 AMERICAN Hammer (DC)
  1. Run 400m
  1. 100 Overhead Clap
  2. 100 Mountain Climbers (DC)
  3. 100 Hello Dolly
  1. Run 400m
  2. Q Special – Teaming can start after this run pending time remaining
  1. 100 Wide Arm Merkin
  2. 100 Jump Lunge (SC)
  3. 100 Flutter (DC)
  1. Run 400m
  1. 100 Plank Shoulder Tap (SC)
  2. 100 Hillbilly Walker AND – Badger Challenge of 100m Crab Walk
  3. 100 SSH AND – Badger Challenge of 100m Bear Crawl
  1. Run 400m
  1. 26 Burpees
  2. CROSS THE FINISH WITH 400m RUN!!

Music was provided. Not the death metal Dirty wanted to satisfy his unicorn rainbow spirit animal urges, but what I provided was good enough. MAN WAS IT HOT!! We all were completely coated in those little rubber pellets in the artificial turf field. Longshanks was King for sure, but we all pushed each other through it and everyone completed it. That was the goal, and we met it.

As we were around #12 or so the sun started coming up…..an amazing red glow that got brighter and more vibrant as daybreak drew closer. We all took a moment now and then to admire God’s creative artistry on display. It was absolutely stunning. and seeing it as your rounded the curve halfway through a lap was quite motivating. It gave you that little boost only He can do.

Back to the COT for a little discussion on Freedom, getting patched, and A/P/P.

Those who were there earned a “Freedom Isn’t Free” patch. Yes, a patch. For one, in honor of 7/4/1779. For two, the BoP is pretty much a mini CSAUP. Completing a slightly watered down version (half the running. a few different exercises, but more exercises) IMO warranted something to remember that.

Freedoom Isn’t Free

As well drew close to Independence Day on that Monday, I wanted everyone to remember what went into achieving our independence. It is not just about the soldiers who fought and died in the Revolutionary War. They are a huge part of why we have our independence, but so are the people who essentially started the war. In the years leading up to it, the men and women behind the rebellion from British rule were forging the foundation of a new, independent country knowing that their actions could lead to their own death, or to harm of their loved ones. That took alot of courage to stand behind their convictions. They wanted this country to stand and prosper on its own ruling power, but in order to do that they collectively had to stand and fight on their own willpower. They knew that once they declared freedom from the Kingdom of Great Britain, there was no turning back. Either they would become a free country, or they would all die trying. When those 56 men of the Second Continental Congress from the Thirteen Colonies that made up the fledgling nation signed the Declaration of Independence, they knew the gravity of the situation but were more than willing to do so. Their act of signing and ratifying the Declaration of Independence was an act of treason, punishable by death. Those men were hunted down. Their properties, belongings seized. Their families were taken prisoner or sometimes executed as well. But that did not matter to them. While other men were dying on the battlefield, they were dying behind the lines. MANY made the ultimate sacrifice to forge our freedoms. To this day MANY have made the ultimate sacrifice since to ensure they remain in place. Never forget that. Never take anything you are blessed with in this country for granted, for there are MANY with MUCH less. Pay what you have forward to others less fortunate, even if it means taking risks – however they may affect you –  to do so. That’s how this country, and world, will get better. That’s how our country was born.

Happy Independence Day!! Happy Birthday USA!!

Thanks for the opportunity to lead.
-NASA

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4yr Hive-iversary

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12 PAX gathered in the humid pre-rain gloom on Deacon’s 40th Birthday for a workout marking the four years since #TheHive shovel flag was first planted.

With current and former Site Qs on hand, the Q was split 3 ways. YHC took the first 10 and last 5, Tesh and Longshanks had 15 each.

The Thang:

Warmup – Band Camp
– SSH x40
– Windmill x10 (slowcount)
– Mountain Climbers x10 (sloooowcount)
– Parker Peter x10
– Peter Parker x10

Bro-ga sequence
– Honeymooner
– Down Dog
– Right leg high
– Right foot between hands
– Move right hand inside right foot
– Push right knee out further to the right
– come down to elbows and hold
– Return to high plank
– repeat on left side

Kettlebell flow
– Deadlift
– Goblet squat
– Right lunge
– Left lunge

Handoff to Tesh:

Single arm overhead press
– start with bell up
– come down on a 3 count
– press up and count the rep
– 10 each arm

Partner up – try to find similar bell size
Stand about 40 yards apart
One partner does 10 KB Swings, other 10 snatches (5 each arm)
When finished with your reps, put your belly down on the ground
Your partner will either be down on the ground or finishing up. If they’re down, both of you pop up and sprint to change places. If they’re finishing up their reps, wait for them to finish and their belly to hit the ground, then pop up and sprint to change places.
Continue for 7 minutes.

Double arm tricep extension
– start up
– come down on a 3 count
– press up and count the rep
– 10 reps

Handoff to Longshanks

Ladder:
– 5 manmakers
– 10 deadlifts
– 15 goblet squats
– 20 curls (10/side)
– 25 big boy sit-ups with bell
– Run to the end of the parking lot and back
Rinse and Repeat 3 times

Back to YHC for some core (flutters w/ bell, american hammers, and Deacon called some leg raises) a message on Kennedy’s “We choose to go to the moon” speech. https://youtu.be/kwFvJog2dMw?t=19

“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.”

That we choose to do the hard things because they are hard. (Here’s a personal list for me. 1st F: posting in the gloom to increasingly challenging workouts; 2nd F: reaching out to a PAX I don’t know well, but know is struggling; 3rd F: praying aloud with my wife/discussing my faith with someone whose beliefs I don’t know.) Because that difficulty measures us. It forces us to organize our energies to accomplish the challenge.

Grateful for the opportunity to serve as Site Q and to strive to be better among men that inspire me to keep going.

– Band Camp dismissed

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Badger 1 year Convergence

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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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River District Run – Clydesdales

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21 posted to Clydesdales.  Pretty simple backblast.  We ran.  Here’s what many pax ran, but not all.

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Leg Day at The Hive – Friday, May 17th

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12 men joined YHC at the Hive to make a baker’s dozen of PAX ready for a kettlebell beatdown.

Warmup

  • mosey around the parking lot
  • 25 side straddle hops
  • 5 burpees OYO
  • 11 windmills
  • 5 burpees OYO
  • 10 peter parkers
  • 10 parker peters
  • 10 4 count mountain climbers
  • mosey back to bells

The Thang

Pax lined up on one side of the parking lot. Will do a series of 4 exercises, run at 75% speed to the other side of the lot for another series of exercises, then sprint back to start to rinse and repeat.

First set 

  • Side 1
    • 10 single arm thrusters – each arm
    • 10 overhead lunges – each leg
    • 10 goblet squats
    • 10 kettlebell swings
  • Side 2
    • 10 big boy sit ups
    • 10 burpees

Rinse & repeat x 3

Second set

  • Side 1
    • 10 snatches – each arm
    • 10 sumo high pulls
    • 10 single arm rows – each arm
    • 10 overhead press
  • Side 2
    • 10 big boy sit ups
    • 10 burpees

Rinse & repeat x 3

Extra credit

  • 25 LBCs
  • Captain Thor to 3×12

Announcements

  • Convergence

Prayers

  • marriages
  • churches
  • personal issues
  • travel
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