That claw thing

WARMUP: Mosey to the Amphitheater
THE THANG: Run up the sidewalks to each of the 4 points doing 1 BBSU at the end of each. Run back down the sidewalk to the bottom for 3 burpees. then 2 BBSU and 6 burpees. At the top of the circuit on the sixth round it was time to head back to CoT.
That’s 84 BBs and 45 burpees with 2 miles
MARY: Juliet choose to plank for a sixty count.
Minuteman had us doing a superman impression
Incoming called seal jacks
Naked and Afraid was not afraid of gas pumpers
YHC called window wipers and then flutters to run out the clock
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 10 year, charity shoot, golf, bourbon tasting
COT: Prayers offered for kids, marriage, health (physical and mental), and PAX posting

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Pillar Pain

WARMUP:
Lap around the car loop. Circle up for SSH, Imperial Walkers, Windmills, Plank Stretches
THE THANG:
11s on the curb. Merkins, crabwalk, dips, bear crawl, rinse and repeat.
Next, Pillar work, Alternate exercises Squats and LBCs x 10. Run to the far pillar and back.
Finish strong, 10 merkins at each pillar, move to the next, rinse and repeat.

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Break Time at Golden Corral

We started the beautiful morning with a nice mosey around the dumpsters.  Thankfully, the one in the back had the aroma we were looking for.  Oh, the memories.

Circle Up:

10 Merkins, 20 Windmills,  15 CDD, 12 Cherry Perkins, 10 Mountain Climbers, 10 Parker Peters and 10 Peter Parkers.

Mosey to the front for some circle of Abs.

Low and behold her come the Ruckers and they needed some men to help them carry their coupons.  We joined them and did some Ruck Pushups, Coupon carries with shoulder press and squats and some Burpees.  We then carried the coupons to Napa where we parted ways.

We had an AMLAPs with 10 burpees, 20 CDD, 30 Squats, 40 LBC/Hello Dolly, 30 lunges, 20 Merkins and 10 Bomb Jacks then a lap.

Once finished we mosey to COT and ended with some boats and canoes, Cha Cha Planks, Windshield Wipers and X-O’s.

Good time was had by all.

Keep the Change Orders in your prayers.

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Thanksgiving Convergence 2021

68 PAX in attendance for a pre-thanksgiving beatdown and some fellowship on a brisk morning Thursday 11/25/2021.

 

With the anticipation of fried turkey, oreos and coffee brought by @Change Order, @Smuggler and @RubySlippers, mumble-chatter abounded,  until @Hardwood took the center and called attention at 0600 hours. Disclaimer was disclaimed and the call for new FNG’s was made, no new FNG’s was the lone blemish on the otherwise fantastic morning in my humble opinion.

Run options led by @Gekko and a Moderate group led by @TripleLindy set off as the rest of the PAX moseyed towards back of Springfield Elementary. First Destination was in parking lot way back by the Middle School.

Circled up and @Hardwood called out the following exercises:

SSH- 40

Windmills

Downward Dogs and Honeymooners

Low & Slow Squats

Cyclops: Stay in Squat Position and complete Moroccan Nightclubs

 

The Thing

Series of Webs

Starting with Merkins and Overhead Claps

1×4 for 10 rounds of excruciating shoulder pain, mumble-chatter becoming more focused on the task at hand

more SSH 🤮

Next we completed ANOTHER WEB, worse than the last,

Shoulder Taps and Moroccan Nightclubs

1×4 for 10 more rounds that was never ever going to end

Lots of requests for Burpees strangely or anything other then arm workouts!

 

YHC began the 2nd half of the workout with more SSH

Mosey around to front of Middle School with 3 stops for 5 Burpees OYO, at the request of the PAX

Line up at bottom of small hill in front of school and explain the workout, AMRAP LEG CIRCUIT

Teams of 4 ish men cycle through three exercises at bottom of hill individually:

2 Squats

2 Split Lunges

2 Bomb Jacks

Next Broad Jump up Hill to top and complete the following:

2 V-ups

Bear Crawl to bench

2 Step Ups

Run around and down to bottom of hill stopping at cones for 2 burpees (two stops per lap)

Meet back at bottom of hill and repeat, only this time DOUBLE ALL REPS TO 4X

Goal is to complete 5 rounds or AMRAP, almost completed but just short of time before we had to get back to COT

YHC shared a article on Gratitude, and then @Shady shared the heart of the Fort, the success of @Seamstress initiative with the help of the PAX, @Seamstress shared his excitement and appreciation for the success of the event! Great job by all T-claps!

Finally we had a shovel hand-off YHC taking the Ranch from a long line of great site Q’s which I hope to make proud.

Then we were finally able to enjoy the fried delicacies and coffee! Cheers!

 

 

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Christmas Trivia and Choices

Eight men showed up at Alcatraz this morning.  Two carried their heavy backpacks around the Cay for the hour.  Geronimo was still putting together his painful Q at 0630 so I began the workout with some warm-up exercises (SSHs, Imperial Walkers, Windmills, Plank Stretches).

I decided to borrow this idea from a workout Double D and Old Bay Q’d back in 2017. Christmas Trivia with exercises sprinkled in between each question.  Penalty for missing a question was 5 burpees.  Oh, by the way, the burpee penalty was cumulative until the next correct answer.

Exercises:

10 Bomb Jacks

20 LBCs

15 Plank Jacks

10 Donkey Kicks

20 Monkey Humpers

15 Moroccan Night Clubs

20 Calf Raises

10 Plank Jacks

15 Mountain Climbers

15 Merkins

10 Lunges

15 Carolina Dry Docks

20 Squats

Luckily Skate or Die knows his Christmas Movie Trivia or we would have done alot more burpees.

Next, hand off to Geronimo.  He quickly told us to partner up and headed to the “Hill”.  As we ran down the hill, there were several signs with exercises lined up along the side of the street.  At the bottom of the hill, he instructed us to run up the hill and choose an exercise at each sign.  Sounds simple enough..what was the catch?

The exercises:

  1.  50 SSHs or 50 Merkins
  2. 50 Merkins or 50 Hello Dollies
  3. 20 Air Lunges or 50 Mountain Climbers
  4. 20 Squat Jumps or 20 Diamond Merkins
  5. Bear Crawl or Nur to Next sign
  6. 50 Squats or 100 LBCs
  7. 50 Flutters or 20 Flying Squirrels
  8. Crawl Bear or Broad Jump
  9. 20 Tuck Jumps or 50 Overhead Claps
  10. Run down the hill and back or run to the fire station
  11. 30 Big Boys or 60 Calf Raises
  12. 20 Burpees or 40 Burpees

When the teams got to the top of the hill, Geronimo instructed us to go down the hill and repeat the process, but do the exercise that you did not choose the first time.

Great work this morning..mind, body, and holiday trivia 🙂

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Tick Talk

It was a beautiful cool morning at Alcatraz. 8 men showed up for the workout, the Sale family represented half of the Pax.

After a quick disclaimer, we took a stroll around the block.  This would be the extent of the running we would do for the morning.  Next, we did the following warm up exercises:

SSH x 15

Imperial Walkers x 15

Plank Stretches

Honeymooner, downward dog

Arm/shoulder stretches

Next, we each grabbed a paver and moseyed to the basketball court.  We formed a circle like a clock.  At each number of the clock, an exercise would be performed until the person at the top of the hour (#12) finished a set of exercises (Round 1 and 2:   Squat Thrusters – set of 20, Round 3 and 4:  Burpees – set of 5).  After the completion of the exercise, the Pax would lunge walk to the next hour on the clock with or without the paver in hand.

Below are the exercises (with paver) for each hour:

  1.  Paver swing
  2. Tricep Extension
  3. Merkin
  4. Flutter
  5. Upright Row
  6. Curl
  7. Chest Press
  8. LBC
  9. Lawn Mower
  10. American Hammer
  11. Calf Raise
  12. Squat Thruster/Burpee

Great job by everyone.  Lots of good chatter and fellowship.

 

Announcements:

Read your newsletter

 

Prayers / Praises:

Bob the Builder’s recovery

Families

Work

 

 

 

 

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The Fort 6 year Anniversary – Making Getting Better a Priority!

September 29, 2012 the landscape of Fort Mill changed dramatically. Some men from north of the border grabbed the attention of a few men south of the boarder and said we may have something for you. Double D, Santini, Senator Tressel, World Wide Leader, Red Banjo, Assassin, Peach and maybe others made the commitment to come to a “workout” on that Saturday morning. It was very skeptical, but I am sure each of them will say it changed their lives.

Here we are 6 years later, meeting in the same park with more than 200 regular participants (800+ over the years) at 37 workouts across The Fort/Lake Wylie area. Thank you to those that gave it away and thank you to those that said yes!! I think it is safe to say, IT’S MORE THAN A WORKOUT!!!

Today we recognize the 6 years with 6 Qs leading a beat down in 1st F style. On September 21st, Jekyll led us in our Invergence, which reminds us of the 3rdF and that there is something bigger than ourselves. Serving, Praying and Worshiping together happened then. On this day, we are getting better physically and having some fellowship with 70 of our PAX,

Format was a rapid fire approach where each Q has 10mins to lay it on the PAX. Old Bay would keep time and blow the air horn (maybe tweet the horn??), and then the next Q jumps in.

YHC asked for FNGS, (none) and explained the plan of attack, and then the Horn Sounded

The Thang:

  • Wegmans for COP
    • Mosey down path out to grass
    • Circle up and some traditional and not so traditional exercise moves.
    • We did notice another “Boot camp” group in the gloom. T-clapps to them, however also saw 2 holding clip boards…..not F3!!
    • Horm Blows
  • Funhouse on Q
    • Mosey to the hill for Jacobs ladder
      • Burpees
      • Squats
      • Some mary to fill time
      • Horn Blows
  • Jwow on Q
    • Mosey to top of hill for partner work
    • step ups/lunge walk up and down hill
    • squat jumps/lunge walk up and down hill
    • Plank hand slap with partner
    • Horn Blow
  • Twister on Q
    • Mosey to tree line
    • Army Crawl to tree /SSHs
    • Sprint to tree/Merkins
    • Army Crawl to Tree/SSHs
    • Sprint to tree/merkins
    • 2 rounds
    • Run Path until Horm
    • Horn Blows
  • FLUX on Q
    • Mosey back to hill
    • 6s – do following 6 times
      • bear crawl up hill
      • diamond merkins
      • bear crawl back down hill
      • Some filler in there of something aweful
      • Horn Blows
  • Assassin On Q
    • Mosey to play grownd
      • Dips
      • Derkins
      • Burpees
      • multiple rounds with running around the playground until…..
      • Horn Blows

The PAX was dripping wet from rolling in grass but also from the humid beat down that just occurred. Thanks to all the Qs for bringing it and having fun out there.

I brought up to the PAX “WHY”? Why F3 versus the many other options we have even outside of fitness and self help books. Why do we get up early and why do we do CSAUPS and why do we attend 3rdF and give away our time at various community organizations???

Pockets, Spud and Assassin all shared their Why. Thank you! I’m sure there were many more that would undoubtedly impactful.

I mentioned my why was straightforward for me. I want to continue to challenge myself physically, surround myself with like minded guys heading in the same direction and reach more guys for Sky Q and HIS purpose. I feel F3 has positively impacted my life in all 3 Fs and why would I not give it away??

See you in the GLOOM!

Cake Boss

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The Captain and the 1st Mate

11 Pax met at Runde Park to get their Saturday started right.    Leading the group today was one of the Fort’s youngest Q’s (Offspring) and one of the oldest (YHC).  Here is what we did:

The Thang:

Offspring on Q:

Take a lap around the park and circle up in the field by the front ot for COP:

All in Cadence:

SSHx30, IWx10, Morrocan nightclub x 20, merkin x 10/hold/shoulder tap x 10, Freddie Merc x 10, flutter x 10.

Take a short mosey to the front lot and rinse and repeat COP with more reps and LBC’s thrown in:  SSH x 50, Morrocan nightclub x 30, merkin x 20, shoulder tap x 20, Freddie Merc x 20, flutter x 20.  Complete 20 LBC’s in between each of the above exercises.

Mosey back to the field for Jack Webb.  The Pax completed 7:28 today.  The new Q was mindful of time and handed the Q off precisely at 7am.

Hand off to Senator Tressel

Pull up  the shovel flag, head up Windward Lane,  and replant it on the lake shore at Pitcairn Park.

Mosey to the lower lot at the base of the staircase and pair up.

Wheelbarrow up the first staircase, across the upper parking lot, and up the second staircase to the pavilion.  Flapjack,  rinse and repeat.

At the Pavillion, split into two groups.  Group 1 does 20 step ups while group 2 does people’s chair.  Flapjack.

Mosey back to the lower lot and down to the lake shore.  Remove your shoes and (if you like) your shirt.  Line up in the shallow water.  Start running in place and drop to the lake when the Q says down.  Rinse and repeat 4 or 5 times.

Swim out to the floating dock, find a spot on the edge and hang onto it:  20 pull-ups in cadence.

Keep holding onto the edge of the dock and then, on the Q’s command, pull yourself up and on the top of the dock.  Jump back into the lake.  Rinse and repeat 3 times and swim back to shore.

Take a minute to snap a few pictures, then pick up the flag and head back to Runde for COT.

Naked Man Moleskin:

Offspring and I were last-minute Q subs this Saturday.   Offspring is just 19.   I remember when  Funhouse brought him to his first F3 workout a few years ago,  and we gave him that classic name.  How cool it was to have him as my co-Q today,  and nice to see Funhouse and brother Brick there to support him.  Great job today, Offspring!

The decision to go to the lake was made late last night,  and my half of the workout was thrown together at about 5:45 this morning.   It’s not how I like to do it, but it’s been about a year since we’ve been to the lake,  and I couldn’t resist making the trek to Pitcairn.   Workouts at the lake are not always the best, but they sure are fun. Plus, being able to pull yourself out of water and onto a boat or dock is a life skill you’ll be happy to have when the need arises.  Technique is just as important as strength.

Some Alcatraz regulars from long ago joined us today. Aquaman was in town this week and it was fitting that he was in attendance on lake day.  Minuteman, absent for several months, also posted today.    Awesome to see you guys and we miss you!   I was also very happy to see Stallion again and hope he continues to post regularly.

As F3 The Fort closes in on our 6th year anniversary, the friendships and the fellowship among our local Fort Pax remain as strong as ever.  This past Thursday, a large group met at a local brewpub to support Cable Guy who recently lost his brother.  I was the last guy to get there and when I arrived, the Pax gave me a rousing welcome.  I felt like Norm at Cheers.   Cable Guy and YHC were the last ones there and we had a good talk.   This morning after the workout, Decibel (who was not at Alcatraz) called and asked where the coffeteria was at.   He, along with Minuteman, Aquaman,  and myself, drove out of our way to meet the WEP boys (Twister and Geronimo) at Panera for a solid 2nd F.    There are a lot of other examples of how our Pax have supported each other lately, and it’s  awesome to have that network of guys who care for one another.   More than a workout indeed!

Announcements/Prayers and Praises

1st F and 3rd F convergence this Friday, August 3 at Harris Teeter near Baxter.  3rd F discussion on IMPACT.

Children’s Attention Home meets every other Friday at 7pm in Rock Hill.  G-Fit meets at 7pm every Friday in the Fort Mill Paradise neighborhood.  If you have not attended these F3 outreach AO’s, come on out and check them out.

Prayers/praises for the Change Order’s co-worker’s son recovering from Leukemia and returning home. Prayers for F3 brother Elmer who is battling Leukemia.  Prayers for Cable Guy and his family after the death of his brother.  Praise for Minute Man whose mom is relocating to Fort Mill.

 

 

 

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Alcatraz Custom Q

Two Q’s and One PAX for an hour of fun.

Three of the Alcatraz faithful gathered in the gloom with Change Order and YHC at the helm.

A quick disclaimer was all that was needed before a quick mosey around the park.

Circle Up for Warm Up:

SSH, Merkins, Imperial Walkers, Windmills, etc.

Mosey to the wall for alternating exercises.

Wall Sit while partner(s) perform exercise, the flip-flop.

  • Bear Crawl to Second Base and mosey back, Crab Walk to second base and mosey back, Frog Jump to second base and mosey back.
  • Rinse and repeat.

Exercise while partner(s) run(s) over the fence to the top of the hill.

  • LBC’s, Sit-ups, Rosalitas, Grave Diggers
  • Rinse and Repeat

Static Stretching (hamstrings, and IT band) I can’t really explain it!

Head to the back of the dugout for some step-ups and dips (20 each).

And to the bottom of the big hill for a Dora 1-2-3. 100 Merkins, 200 Bomb Jacks, 300 Squats, while alternating running to the crosswalk sign half-way up the hill.  I will admit to an Audible on the running portion of this exercise after about 5 trips up the hill, with a shift to a similar distance and about 1/3 the vertical climb heading in the other direction.

Dora complete, we headed back to the ball field for 4 minutes of Mary.

COT

Prayers for those suffering from both chronic and acute illness.

Thankful for F3 and our many blessings.

 

As always, it is an honor to have the opportunity to lead.

Smuggler

 

 

 

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Hills, more hills, and some remembrance

With spring break starting and Longshanks having part of the Q I didn’t know what type of crowd would show up. With Easter being the next day and this week being very reflective for me personally, we tweeted out about some Easter trivia and before I knew it we had several of our more scholarly PAX HCing so I went back and tuned up the questions. It was great to a solid collection of PAX ready to go when start time rolled around.

Longshanks led us thru some SSHs and Wind-mills while Sasquatch finished getting dressed. Once he was ready Longshanks took us behind the park to the bottom of the big hill for a Longshanks style warm-up. Partner up for a Dora 1-2-3. 100 Merkins, 200 Squats, & 300 LBCs, other partner is running about 3/4 way up the hill and back.

After everyone was ‘warmed up’, we moseyed back up the hill to playground. Again with Easter being the next day I worked up some questions about the events leading up to Easter. 4 questions per station, 3 stations, and exercises accumulated at each station.

  1. At the last Supper, who did Jesus say would deny him 3 times before the cock crowed twice? Peter – 5 Pull-ups
  2. After dinner they walk to the Garden of Gethsemane , when Jesus goes off to pray what does he ask Peter, James & John to do? Not go to sleep – 5 Pull-Ups, 10 Dips
  3. In the Garden, how to Judas identify Jesus to the guards? Kisses him – 5 Pull-Ups, 10 Dips, 10 Derkins
  4. What was the name of the Jewish group that initially condemns Jesus? Sanhedrin – 5 Pull-Ups, 10 Dips, 10 Derkins, 5 Burpees

Mosey over to small hill

  1. When Jesus is initially brought to Pilate, who does Pilate then send Jesus to? Herod – 10 Monkey humpers, run up hill and back
  2. Pilate nor Herod can find anything to convict Jesus of so Pilate asks the crowd if they want to free Jesus or a criminal. What was the criminal names? Barabbos – 10 Monkey humpers, 10 squats, run up hill and back
  3. What is the name of the location where Jesus was crucified? Golgotha or Calvary – 10 Monkey humpers, 10 squats, 10 lunges, run up hill and back
  4. Who was voluntold to carry the cross when Jesus was unable? Simon of Cyrene – 10 Monkey humpers, 10 squats, 10 lungers, 10 calf raises, run up hill

Mosey over to parking lot

  1. When Jesus was crucified, at noon what natural event occurred? Sky went dark for 3 hours – 3 line suicide
  2. Who took Jesus’ body down, wrapped it, and place it in the tomb? Joseph of Arimathea – 3 line suicide with 10 Plank Jacks at each end line
  3. Who was the 1st human to see Jesus after he rose from the dead? Mary Magdalene – 3 line suicide with 10 Plank Jacks at each end line and 3 Burpees at each start line
  4. How many days did Jesus stay on Earth before ascending to heaven? 40 – 3 line suicide with 10 Plank Jacks at each end line and 3 Burpees at each start line: waited on all PAX and we did 40 SSHs

Longshanks finished us up with about 3 minutes of Mary.

PAX went 100% on the questions. There really wasn’t going to be more exercises if they didn’t answer a question correctly but I was impressed nevertheless. Hopefully everyone got a good quick recap of the events that occurred but also got a solid work-out. Always an honor to lead this group. Thanks Smuggler for the opportunity!

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