The Right Kind of Sacrifice

14 men awoke to not so bright/wet conditions and converged in the gloom of the hallowed ground at The Swamp for a Beyond message from YHC.  Here’s what went down

Warmup:      20 SSH IC, 20 Imperial Walkers, 15 windmills (wonderfully executed), 10 Mtn Climbers.    Let’s mosey

The Thang:      Mosey to the alley behind Home Depot for a perfect location to perform the BLIMPS workout and grab some wall for 1-min wall-sits in between each as their active rest, allowing YHC to convey the message for today.  At each 1-min sit, YHC shared what has been on his heart about sacrifice.   This is defined as something that is a loss or something  you give up for the sake of a better cause.    Approximately 1-year ago, my wife and I were celebrating her completion of treatment for Breast Cancer.  Surgery, radiation, DNA testing, doctors, etc…pronounced her as Cancer Free and we returned to our routine.  Our faith had been a anchor throughout and continued to grow thru prayer and my F3 brothers and Journey group, yet I had one main question.  How did this trial change us and by us I mean, me and my role as a husband, father and leader of my home.  I realized how consumed I was with my martial arts training, races, Goruck events, etc..that I was actually not IN my home very much.  That which I thought was making me healthier, stronger and better for my family had me gone for large amounts of time from them.

Time for a sacrifice! I am going on year of stepping away from all those things that took me away from her and the kids to activities to do together and that were important to her!  She never once asked for this and struggled with me giving it up after so long but it’s been the best decision of my life.  God has changed my path for the better by sacrificing what I thought was important to what is truly important.

Sacrifice will lead you to make significant choices. But being a husband and father is a significant experience!

B  5 Burpees OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
10 Lunges each leg OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
15 Imperial Walkers IC, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
20 Merkins OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
25 Plank Jacks, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
30 Squats, followed by 10 SSH IC

Mosey to the large parking lot for some 4-corners of Blimps!  Total of 6 laps around the parking lot stopping at each corner to perform the exercise.  First (1) lap: 5 burpees @ ea corner (2) lunges (3) 15 IW (4) 20 merkins (5) 25 plank jacks (6) 30 squats (stop at end of each full lap to wait on the 6 with planks; modified the M, P, & S

Return for COT and some last words:  Identify that thing in your life that you may be placing your identity in that may be causing you to miss the mark of your Concentrica Bullseye!

Good work, men.  It was an honor to lead you this morning.

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Smashing Taboo on this Election Tuesday

Today 11 men  joined together in the unseasonably warm but wet aftermath of a heavy rain that preceded us.  Plenty of puddles to step in but lots of good fellowship to counteract the wet.  My apologies to Long Shanks for getting his shoes wet by moseying through the fields

Message:  The challenge during partner activities was to engage in the taboo… to engage in dialogue around politics and religion.  The great deceiver has created societal roles that it is taboo to talk about politics or religion because he knows when we talk about difference, when we talk about our own pain and suffering that what we usually find is commonality, hope and support that he doesn’t want you to find.  This month take a leap of faith and make yourself vulnerable by speaking about something on your heart that you wouldn’t normally speak about. Find healing, support and hope in the men around you.

The THANG:

Started with some stretching… because we are old (except Falcon Crest but he played along)

Moseyed past the smelly trash can to the back parking lot for some Rugby sprints that included SSH, CCDs, Merkins, Sumo Squats, Hill Billy Walkers and maybe a couple others.

Mosey to the side HT wall for some wall sits and bear crawls from one end to the other (that is one long wall……….)

Mosey to Grace parking lot for the Starfish which included 8 pain stations within 1 Min. on and 15 seconds of transition which we did two rounds of that included 50#, 30#, 25# weights and a 10# ball.

This morning was a good work out but great fellowship among the pax.  It was a lot of fun connecting but also sweating!  Special call out to my partner, Old Bay,  for the good conversation on politics and religion.  I’m better because of the conversation.  Aye!

 

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Forties for 40

Well today was the day… turning 40…why not take the Q today?  I asked Bones for it months ago.  There’s nothing better than leading a group of men and friends at an F3 workout, especially on a birthday.  I was really happy to see 17 other men here, including a few faces that don’t usually travel to the Abyss.

We started up with a mosey around the parking lot.  Nemo and Flux were pulling in right at 5:15 so we did a lap and let them catch up.  Standard dynamic warmup stuff on the lap.

It was cold so the warmup had some more cardio items than usual.

-SSHs – Ab Vagota – Seal Jacks – Squats – IWs – Mountain Climbers

We ended with the Merkin Circle

6 rounds around the circle.  1 merkin each for the 18 guys while in plank.

We moved over to the Hill.  I found an exercise in the lexicon called “Forties”.  I figured if we added the hill we could call it the “Over the Hill Forties”.  That got some laughs, and some groans…

It’s a ladder with higher reps.  An Exercise at the Top of the Hill, one at the bottom.  Take 30 reps at the top 10 at the bottom, then subtract 5 and add 5 until you’ve flipped to 10-30.

1st round : Top = CDDs Bottom = Flutters

2nd Round : Top = American Hammers Bottom = Calf Raises

We took a break and I shared a little message about reflections.  How these men and F3 have helped change me to be a better person and on a better path in life.  I reflected on who I might have been at 40 with out these men… it wasn’t so pretty.

We moseyed next to the front of the school.  I split the group into 2 teams.

Team 1 would stay for wall sits while Team 2 bear crawled around the circle

Flipped it

Next round BTTW as long as you can, then wall sits while Team 2 Crab Walked the circle

Finally we head back to COT for a very special circle.  For my birthday we we’re going to play a game.  The group had to answer questions about me.  If correct 10 SSHs.  If wrong… 10 burpees!

The Questions were:

  1. How many siblings do I have? right
  2. What is my favorite professional sports team? right
  3. What High School did I attend?  Bonus, what was the mascot? right with bonus!
  4. What was my favorite children’s toy in 1985? wrong
  5. Where do I work? right
  6. Where did I go to college? right

To my surprise these men got 5 of 6 right…and to Iced-T’s credit he was saying He-Man for #4…but the group out voted him!

Announcements

Thanksgiving Convergence

Christmas Party

Fast 5 postponed

Prayers

For Soprano and the passing of his brother

Hurricane victims still in need

Grateful for all the people in our lives

If you’ve read this far the answers were

  1. 1 sister = Rachel
  2. Green Bay Packers
  3. South Meck = Sabres
  4. He-Man
  5. Merrill Lynch
  6. UNCC

An Honor to Lead!

-Royale

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beatdown summary

Warm Hugs For Everyone…….that survives

In celebration of the cooler weather that was exactly one weekend later than requested for a perfect Ragner Carolinas Trail race YHC got the nod to do my thing this past Monday morning at the most proper bootcamp workout west of I77 in Fort Mill. Warmup was handled by my main partner in crime ChaChing so you know by the time YHC took over the upper body was already smoked.
Choose the harder option I’ve been told so we performed some Circle of (insert painfull exercise here).
Circle of Merkins, hold plank and critique all possible things that can be critiqued and even some that cant is expected by the PAX while observing the victim complete 10 merkins. Pass the pain to the right and let the critiques rip. One round was good so we went straight into the Circle of Hump. Same theory just more inappropriate comments from the PAX while each participant performs his best monkey humper. Two rounds of hump were performed because a true HIM never wants to deny her an encore if requested. Next on the docket was the Ring of Fire. That finally ended after two rounds or approximately not a second before everyone had red indicating fluid leaking from some area of skin directly covering a pointy joint. Sorry guys but just chalk it up as mental toughness. Could always be worse, think fire ant infested grass outside of Winthrop basketball gym. Thanks Packman for the memories and mental toughness.
Mosey to the wall beside BestBuy for some BTW, shoulder tap BTW, and some burpees before heading to the Home Depot parking lot.
Get your crawl on ladies. Each PAX perform one loop around the greenspace before running to the Lawn and Garden entrance and back. Methods of transportation around the loop were as follows: Bear crawls, crab walks, crawl bears, inchworm, then one last loop of bear crawls. Mosey back towards Pets Mart and perform some team staggered sprints from crosswalk to crosswalk. Great job guys pushing each other and encouraging until the end. Finally make it back to COT for a quick round of Cha-Cha Merkins since all snowmen love to dance before the Count-A-Rama, Name-A-Rama, P&P, Anouncements and closing prayers by YHC. Thanks for the opportunity Jedi and to the PAX for hummoring YHC with my requests. Warm Hugs for Everyone

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Fall Sunrise at Alcatraz

Six faithful PAX removed themselves from the fartsack to post for the Fall Premier of Alcatraz.

Conditions: Temperature mid-50’s, Dew – heavy, Gloom – minimal due to maintenance crew turning on the field lights.

Work: Change Order kicked it off with a disclaimer, mosey and a warm-up COP with some stretching and 10 counts of SSH’s, Merkins, Imperial Walkers, Freddie Mercurys, and maybe some more.

2 rounds of a 4-Armed Starfish with 10 Burpees in the center (round 1) and 10 Bomb-Jacks (round 2)

  • 25 SSH’s
  • 25 Merkins
  • 25 Freddy Mercurys
  • 25 Low Slow Squats

Paver work with two cycles of 20 Curls and 20 Overhead Tricep Extensions

Handoff to YHC for a mosey around the park, including a trip down and up the hill, with a few stops for a 20 yard bear crawl, 10 pull-ups and some squats, 10 dips, and 10 merkins more bear crawls, and ending with a short plank.

Behind the dugout for 20 step-ups each leg, and another 10 dips, then to the field for a 15 minute Wheel-of-Pain.

With 10 minutes to go, we hit the small field wall for a variety of PAX called exercises with field sprints.  Wall Sits, BTTW, Merkins, SSH’s, and a mini Yoga session.

Wrap-up: Having been an aspiring Ragnarian for the last few months, (I can run, I’m just not good at it), it was good to be back at Alcatraz.  It is worth noting that choosing to focus only on running for a few months, makes Boot Camps a LOT harder than they used to be.  Review the above and note the low rep counts.

YHC realized yesterday evening that there was not a Q lined up for Alcatraz this morning.  Thank you Change Order for agreeing to step up and join me.  As always, I am thankful for the opportunity to lead.

Praises for a mother’s successful surgery, for F3, and a safe and healthy morning.

-Smuggler

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Run, run, run. Do some things. And then run some more. Grass is wet.

The Thang:

 

Mosey up Munn Street to the other side of the school.

A few warm up exercises in the parking lot.

Partner up for accountability and run the LARGE half circle stopping three times to do 10 burpees, 20 merkins, 40 lbcs at each stop.

The complaining..errr…mumblechatter started.

Nice soft grass was found on the lacrosse field along with 2 tires.  Two groups lined up.  One line ran carrying the smaller tire while the other line rolled the tractor tire the length of the field.  The remaining Pax did a series of exercises until their turn.

Complaining.

A nice lil mosey o a wall for some sits and BTTW.

Another run and then 150 calf raises (50 regular/50 toes in/50 toes out)

Lots of complaining.

Ran back to COT for a quick round of Mary.

The End.

My message was short but hopefully is remembered when life happens – there is opportunity in change.  Look for the good side and embrace what that can mean for you.

As always an honor to lead the men of The Fort, esp on the day we honored Dark Visor who passed away yesterday in Alpharetta at a workout.

Until next time….

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Six every 3 at Quagmire

Quick disclaimer, then to start, a volunteer PAX chose 3/6 out of 3/6, 4/8, 5/10. So, 6 burpees every 3 minutes, or the best the Q to do to maintain that throughout the workout.

Then, it was:

Mosey to Home Depot w/ BK’s, HK’s, SS’s.

6 every 3.

Warmup w/ SSH, WM’s, Flutters, MNC’s, 1-leg scissor lifts, etc.

6 every 3.

Six balls in parking lot. At each do 1 then 2,3,4,5,6 reps w/ mode of transport:

  • Broad Jump / Toe squats               6 every 3.
  • Crab Walk / V-ups w/ 3 sec hold               6 every 3.
  • Lunges / Squat Thrusters (leave ground)              6 every 3.
  • Bear Crawl / Donkey Kicks                6 every 3.
  • Straight Suicides / Monkey Humpers               6 every 3.

Jog, sprint behind HD to People Chair wall. 3 x we did PAX count 5 sec each x 12 = 1 min each time. Run across to opposite wall.

Jog to red balls. Half group went to ball 2, 4, 6 and did that many bombjacks. Other half did American Hammers.                       6 every 3.             Switch groups.

Jog back, finish with 10 Panther Pound  Eagle Pound Burpees (minus the roll on the macadem). We had done our best to stick to 6 every 3 but with some improvisation and timing issues, probably ended up around 58 or 68 burpees.

A brief discussion about the clock of your life. Where are you on the clock right now? What are things you want to do in that time? Is there anyone you need to talk to in that time…and how much time do they have left?  YHC has a strained relationship with parents and they are further along on the clock.

YHC’s clock with lifespan of 72 is 8:36.

Announcements, Convergence 9-29, Ragnar 10-5, .Praises, Royale for new 1st F leadership role. Thanks Jedi for the opportunity and for taking us out. Thank you PAX for following.

 

 

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Q School Week 3

A big turnout of 24 pax posted to Golden Corral for the third week of Q School.  The Ruck gang added another 9 pax, for a total of 33!  It was great to see such a large and enthusiastic group seeking to learn and grow.  The F3 mission is all about leadership, and the leadership foundation of F3 is grounded in the workout Q.  So, YHC was honored by the chance to help teach new Qs and to do so alongside our new 1st F leader, Royale.

Royale started us off with a full disclaimer and why we give it every time.  The PAX need to know and understand the assumption of risk every morning, no matter how many times they’ve posted.

Before the mosey to warm-up Royale took a minute to explain how to “read the PAX”.  The Q should be deliberate when starting the workout by eyeballing guys with experience levels and condition levels.  We talked about a Sweeper and how a Q should assign someone to the six.  No man left behind!

The Thang (DD takes over from here)

Warm-up run to back parking lot behind HT and circle up

COP — series of warm-up exercises led by various pax to get loose and to gain familiarity with Counting in Cadence, emphasizing a few important points:

  • Consistent correct use of three commands of Cadence counting for earning confidence of the pax and keeping them altogether in rhythm
  • Sync each count with a movement in the exercise…the Q is counting MOVES, not just counting out numbers
  • Use good form in all exercises
  • Use moderate or even slow counting pace — you can count too fast but you can never count too slow (just ask Senator Tressell)

After COT we broke the large group into 2 sub-groups.  Double D took Q101 group for newer Qs and those that have not Q’d.  Royale took his hand at the Q201 PAX that have Q’d at least a few times.

Double D continued the COP format to allow all pax more opportunity to lead exercises in cadence.  We discussed the fact that the Q’s role is to lead, and as leader his priority needs to be on the pax.  This is not a workout built for the Q’s benefit.  It’s a workout for the pax who are present, led by the Q. We also discussed not feeling trapped by your Weinke and like you have to follow it rigidly.  If you miss an exercise or your rep count is longer or shorter than you planned, just carry on.  No one knows your Weinke and no one will call you out as making a mistake.  Show yourself some grace and just keep rolling on.

The pax also raised many questions:

  • How to prepare — review prior BBs for the AO, review BBs for other AOs, talk to the site Q, make a scouting trip to the AO, arrive early to the workout, ask site Q to arrive early to the workout, practice cadence counting, practice exercises
  • Exercise choice/workout structure — don’t include anything you can’t comfortably do yourself, don’t overdo # of reps, include Dora, small group stations, OYO or partner portions as means to limit period of time Q has to count in cadence
  • Start/end time — Always start on time (ie, 0515 for most weekday workouts) and always end on time (ie, 0600 for most weekday workouts)
  • How to manage COT — always starts at end of the workout period (ie, COT is not included inside the workout time, such as 0515 to 0600), includes 5 elements: (i) count off, (ii) Name-o-rama, (iii) announcements, (iv) prayers & praises and (v) Ball of Man.  Does not have to be long or complicated.  just plan to cover the basics.
  • Backblasts — Q’s job is not complete until Backblast is posted.  Get Backblast posting rights from Old Bay or Gears.  Don’t feel pressure to write a novel.  Get the names and a basic summary of what happened.  Backblasts are critical because they provide connectivity for all pax – those present and those absent – and they provide material for Qs to draw on for planning their workouts.

In order to get he heart pounding and the sweat flowing, we did some sprints up the street by Grace Church.  Then we moseyed back to COT.  We discussed along the way back the importance of watching the clock and location so that you can finish on time back at home base.  It’s better to arrive back home early and knock out a few exercises there than to reach finish time 1/4 mile or more away from home.

During his session, Royale explained how you handle a Q-Jack or too much mumble chatter.  The group will usually self-police but if they don’t making guys do burpees is an easy way to get them back on track.  Do not give up your authority to lead.  Also talked about how to address the Larry Birds (guys out front on  their own) with a communication to them on what to do if they finish early.

But sitting around was not what we here to do!  Our next evolution started with a Lazy Dora.

  • Partner Up
  • 100 Merkins combined.  Rotate partners at 20 while other partner planks
  • 200 Flutter Kicks (double count) while other partner holds 6 inches.  Rotate at 25
  • 300 Squats while other partner holds Al Gore.  Rotate at 25

During these exercises I shared more about an advanced Q style.  What message can you bring to the PAX to help them become Accelerating men?  Some of my favorite workouts are when the Q shares a life lesson during breaks or incorporates it into his workout.  I gave ideas that I’ve stolen from all kinds of sources.  The Q-source, 43 feet podcasts, Jocko podcast, twitter, our 3rd F theme of the month, etc.…

An example I shared about a recent Q I had at the Abyss (see back blast) around the 43 Feet podcast and a Man’s Concentrica.  I made a bull’s eye game with corn hole bags.  The PAX competed around the different areas of focus in a man’s Concentrica.

We moved on to a wall for some more discussions and exercise.

The first wall had a ledge and was no good, so we moved down to the next building where a better wall was located.  Another great lesson from my mistake by telling guys to recon the site before the workout!

During wall sits we opened up questions from the PAX.  Some great questions were raised around workout groupings, how many reps should you prep for, and knowing your group.  We continued with BTTW and another Wall sit.

Last item I shared during the final wall sit was around the COT Prayer.  This was something that made me very nervous around my first Q.  I was not accustomed to praying much, and certainly not in public.  I told the PAX this is an important piece of your leadership when you Q.  Do not give this away to another man.  Finish what you started by sharing from your heart.  It does not have to be each individual prayer request from COT… but don’t forget about this practice too!

We moseyed back to the front of Harris Teeter and joined back up with Double D’s group.

COT

Naked man moleskin

Double D double-clutched the smartphone video during COT (where’s a millennial when I need one?), so this BB is missing a few pax names.  Apologies to those I missed for allowing my Respect traits sabotage the recording of your presence.

Thank you to all the pax who posted!  It was great to see so many new faces as well as some veterans in support of new Qs.  This morning reflected the excitement and engagement  of the pax necessary to sustain the culture of The Fort.

Thank you to each of the new Qs for stepping up. You will be nervous and anxious — that’s normal and expected.  Your workout won’t be perfect — no Q’s workout ever is.  You will also learn and grow through the process.

And a shout out to the Site Qs — take a look at the list of pax here and get these guys booked into Q slots!

 

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Games At Pantheon

7 HIM began with a brief disclaimer followed by a mosey to the back of the school, the long way.

Circle up for Warm-O-Rama:
2 slow windmills.  Q altered his count for a HALT when he realized the wind was about to be stronger, so we did:
2 medium windmills.  Q altered his count for a HALT when he realized it was going to be a hurricane, so we did:
10 fast windmills.
Imperial Walkers x 15
Freddie Murcuries x 15
LBC’s x 15
Plank to 6″ for a 10-count, back to plank, right arm up, wave goodbye to clear skies, plank, left arm up, wave goodbye to clear skies, plank, 6″ for a 10-count. Recover on feet.
Q joins circle for Howling Monkeys (hold monkey humper position while one PAX at a time completes a 10 count monkey humpers), went two times through. Mosey to field in front of TCES

THA THANG: LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Considering the Q felt like we all may be stuck in our homes without power and we may have to play games with our kids, Q decided to  play some outdoor games while we could.
GAME 1: The BOPO Cornhole
Q brought cornhole boards, teams of 2 (one w/3). Start with 15 points (21 for the team of 3). Each team member threw two bags to attempt to reduce the score of 15.  Remaining number was # of BOPO reps.  Most ended up with 12.  Q modified all down to 7 reps, as he expected better cornhole throwers.  We did not do well.  Each PAX did 7 BOPO’s (Burpee, One-legged Burpee, Plank Jack, Other One-legged Burpee).  Thank goodness for modification.

Q is from God’s country, Minnesota, where the proper name for the next games is Duck Duck Grey Duck  (How does a goose get thrown in there? So silly…).  The only difference is PAX holds Al Gore whilst playing.  Played until our legs were shot.

Next, in consideration of the hurricane, we did the Bermuda Triangle.  3 cones approx. 30 yards apart, in the shape of *you guessed it* a triangle.  Cone 1, one burpee.  Cone 2, two burpees.  Cone 3, three burpees.  Rinse and repeat.  Travel from cone to cone via bear crawl.

Last game of the day was a nice game of frisbee.  Each PAX got a throw.  Upon the throw, PAX sprinted toward the frisbee.  As soon as it hit the ground, the thrower of the frisbee called out how to get the reminder of the way there. (Bear crawl, Crab Walk, Reverse Crab Walk, Duck Walk, Lunge Walk, Broad Jump).

Lastly, a little Triple Check. One team of 3 and One team of 3 plus Q.  Partner 1 held people’s chair while Partner 2 held plank while Partner 3 sprinted to the end of the parking lot and back.  Completed three of each position.

COT, announcements, prayers, praises, BOM.

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Alcatraz “fun”

8 HIM got better this morning at Runde Park for some Lutefisk and Bear Grylls fun.

After a quick disclaimer (no FNGs) we moseyed around the parking lot to the field where we circled up for 7 warm-up exercises:

Peter Parkers  x 15
American Hammers x 15
Carolina Dry Docks x 15
Krakken Burpees x 5 OYO
E2K’s (R ankle over L knee, L elbow to R knee like a crunch) x 15
Ranger Merkins x 15
Seal Jacks x 15

And yes, that spells PACKERS.  GO PACK GO!!  Thank goodness the NFL is back on.  I’ve been having withdrawals.

The Thang:

Start with a modified “Charles Bronson:”
Perform 50 exercises at point A, sprint 100-ish yards to point B, army crawl to point C, mosey back to point A for 50 different exercises.
1st exercise: 50 x Side Straddle Hop
2nd exercise: 50 x Merkins
3rd exercise: 50 x Jump Squats

Next a modified “Millennial:” The PAX thought I would be calling out the exercises via text, twitter, or some other form of nonverbal communication.  Perhaps  we’d just have Bear Grylls do all of the exercises for us while we sat and watched.  But no, we’re gonna earn this one.  Split PAX into 2 teams of 4.  Starting point, do 25 x of each exercise, mosey 100 yards, 25 x of exercise, mosey 100 yards back, 25 x of exercise… you get the point.  Rinse and repeat 10x for a grand team total of 2000 ‘reps’ in honor of the millennials born around the year 2000.
1-Carolina Dry Docks
2-Squats
3-Moroccan Night Clubs
4-Flutters
5-Mountain Climbers
6-LBC’s
7-Merkins
8-Lunges
9-Side Straddle Hop
10-Burpees (a crowd pleaser)

And with that Lutefisk handed the baton to Bear Grylls.  The PAX were toast, and unsure of what to expect from what we saw earlier which looked like the unloading of Myrtle Beach from his Range Rover onto the sidewalk above captured in bags.

Ten stations were set up about 10 yards apart for partner work. The pace setters on the end were either a ruck down and up the hill or carry a 100lb sand bag up and down the hill. The other stations were AMRAP and included…. a ton of sandbags.  Each bag had different weights from 30lbs to 60lbs and included: calf raise into overhead press, bear crawl bag drag, row into curl, dead lift into kettle bell swing, and a ball slam and jump from crunch position.

With that a mosey to COT where we honored CSPAN with one thing each of us is thankful for. Prayers and praises for kids, uncles, jobs.  Praises for families, F3, job anniversaries.  Bear Grylls led us out in prayer.

I feel honored, humbled, and blessed to be able to have an opportunity to lead these true HIM who come out and give it all they have to get better.

Lutefisk out.

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