BB – Swamp Ruck – Miles and Smiles

Here we go, new year, new workout.

Miles and Smiles

The six of us showed up with our Rucks ready to move it.  Grabbed a cement pipe, and a couple sand bags and got in a little under 3 miles.

Great times and great practice for all of our events coming up.

Glad to have Shakespeare joining us with his new shiny Ruck (yeah I’ll take care of that on Tuesday).  Nasa talked about old man farts coming from ahead of us, I’ll let you guess who the supplier was.  And good times.

If you are new to rucking and want an intro come on out.  Post up and let us know and we can source a ruck for you to borrow.  If you are a expert Rucker come out and log some miles and have a great time with us.

COME OUT TUESDAY TO GC

Rad

TClap |
1

New Year’s at #SwampMire

First off, I’ll let you in on a little secret that you may already know:
If I’m promoting something on Twitter (especially my Q), you should only believe about 60% of the content of the tweet. Problem is, you just don’t know which 60%, so my hope is you’ll show up to find out… That said, the Sodium Borohydride (NaBH4) tweet was ridiculous. If you didn’t see it, trust me, you didn’t miss anything much. In that same tweet, though, I mistakenly referred to Quagmire as The Swamp. Both workouts launch from the same parking lot, so I’d love to blame it on that, but it was IN THE TWEET I REPLIED TO. Meh…Details…

I did make a vague attempt to tie the chemistry to the “One Word” convergence coming up on the 12th. NaBH4 is used as a reducing agent for aldehydes and ketones, and one of the words I’m trying on right now for 2018 is “Reduce” or “Simplify”… I know… a long stretch and an obscure reference… you’ll live.
I was a Chemistry minor in Undergraduate… Despite Crash’s Dad failing me in Chem 102 my Sophomore year. But, that’s a long story, best shared on the road in a white van whilst running a 200 mile relay or something… What were we talking about…? Oh yeah… the workout…

We’ve all heard of Dora 1-2-3… No good to start a New Year, so, I modified it to a Dora “Oh-Why-Me?” Here’s how it went:

Warm up:
Mosey to larger traffic circle
Windmills x 10
IW x 10
Mosey to next traffic circle:
Weed Pullers x 10
Moroccan Nightclubs x 10
MC x 15
Mosey to front of Books-A-Million:
Parker Peters x 10
SSH x 15

Then on to the “Dora, oh why me?” – A Pyramid of hate

You and your partner:
Partner 1 runs (roughly 75 yards down, then back)
Partner 2 does the exercises:
100 Burpees
200 Jump Squats
300 Merkins
400 Flutters
300 CDD
200 Squats
100 Makthar N’Diayes
Mosey back to the flag for some Mary
COT
——————
NMM:
We didn’t make it all the way through the exercises. It was cold… Also, that was a lot of freaking exercises. QBert and Geronimo were the Kings of the day and they managed to get through most (actually, I think all?) of the squats. The rest of us petered out in Carolina Dry Dock Land… which is a lovely place… I think Jedi has a Summer home there…

Helmet, Out.

TClap |
12

Bring Back the Donkey Kicks

9 Pax and 2 Runners showed up in freezing temps and were ready to get after it. The runners were already off to the races so the rest of us needed to move to warm up.

There was no disclaimer given as there were no FNG’s present, but after NASA pointed it out, YHC relented and gave a brief one while we moseyed (knees to chest, toy soldiers, butt kickers) to the back of the school.

Warm-Up (IC)

15 – SSH
15 – IW
15 – WM
15 – MC
15 – Peter Parkers
15 – Parker Peters

The Thang

We moseyed to the paved hill behind the bus circle for some partner work (size did not matter).

Partner 1 – Lunge walk to the first rock pile. Backward lunge walk to the second pile and run it out the rest of the way up and back down.

Partner 2 – Work on the exercises until partner 1 is back down the hill and flapjack.

Exercises – (50) Burpees, (100) Big boy situps, (200) Squats and (300) LBC’s

We finished up the last 50 LBC’s as a group and then moseyed to the wall for some People’s Chair.

Hold the wall while each Pax counted down from 10.
Hold the wall on one leg while each Pax counted down from 5, switch legs for another countdown.

Mosey to the grass hill for more hill work with 11’s.

**Now the reason for the title of this backblast**. When I started in F3 in September of 2015 it seemed like every bootcamp contained at least 50 donkey kicks. No real thought here but they are terrible and we should do more of them! And so we did…

We started at the bottom with 1 donkey kick and ran up the hill for 10 monkey humpers. 2-9, 3-8, etc…It was as terrible as it sounds and a lot of mumble chatter accompanied our second round of hill work. With time up we slow moseyed back to COT.

Great job by all the Pax. I know my quads were successfully shredded by the time we finished up.

Announcements
Joe Davis – 1/6
CAH workouts – NASA encouraged everyone to step up and get involved
Read newsletter for upcoming events. Lots of them.

Prayer Requests
Qbert and M are dealing with where God wants them to serve for a church home
Mr. Clean is dealing with some struggles right now and needs to be lifted up
Cerrano has a friend that is expecting and dealing with her husband’s recent passing (30 yrs. old)
Lutefisk’s Mom isn’t doing well and he is traveling to be with her in MN
Unmentioned prayers
Parenting (continue to lift one another up in this important, yet difficult at times, task with which we have been entrusted)

Thanks Bones for the opportunity to lead. Always honored.

Until next time…
Hauschka

TClap |
2

BB – Tempo – 12/28

See BB for runs do exist.

7 showed for a fun filled morning of running.

Originally had two routes planned a 7min group and an over 8 minute group.  As the cold hit us I think we all agreed lets just do the over 8 group.

So we knocked out 5 on a hilly cold windjammer, but hey as Nasa says, the view of the lake at the end was all worth it.

Came back and circled up and talked about all the great things coming, aka read your newsletter.

Prayers:

Traveling Families

Mr. Clean

Injured PAX

 

As always great time and thanks for the chance to lead!

TClap |
0

2017 Clave Boss 5k/10k & Christmas Convergence

Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more——Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!!

The largest turn out by far for the Clave Boss 5k/10k was a success. We started on time and as far as I know nobody died. Thank you to all the PAX that ran and had a fun time and fellowship.

For the 5k, here were are winners of Bundt Cakes

  1. MacGyver
  2. Harry Carry

For the 10k, here were are winners of Bundt Cakes

  1. Sir Topham Hat
  2. mix of PAX coming from all directions—no idea

For the Ruck, here were are winners of Bundt Cakes

  1. Dark Helmet for 11min pace 5k ruck…..nice work!

Honorable Mention for Anchorman completing the 5k and Barry Manilow being his wingman!

The Convergence kicked off on time and we had Gecko open us up in prayer. We split the groups up and away we went with COT at 0750. Click on links to see the pain that was delivered…..Merry Christmas!

Black Diamond – Longshanks Q – https://t.co/odVJHWCBPS

Bootcamp – Cha Ching Q – https://f3thefort.com/2017/12/23/christmas-convergence-boot-camp-mixed-w-some-bd/

Noderate – Barry Manilow Q – https://f3thefort.com/2017/12/23/your-moderate-option-at-the-convergence/

COT came together and we had 83 men attend this year.

Welcome FNG – Lake Effect, who is 41 not the 50 that he just shouted out. Classic!

Many announcements:

  • Thank you Site Qs for all your work, dedication and leadership!
  • Serve Saturdays ….reach out to Deacon, Bolt, NASA for info…..HIMs!!
  • Joe Davis Run Jan 6
  • Friday Convergence with 3rdF post beat down Jan 12
  • Rooster CSAUP Jan 20
  • Yeti – February
  • P200 – March

More than a workout!!

Prayers/Praises

  • Dark Helmet shared his sister is in need of prayer. Please remember DH and his family each day in prayer
  • Family visiting is fun and sometimes no so fun. BE HIMs!!
  • Prayers for all the PAX traveling and for peace this week!

Challenge:

I spoke to the PAX about how 2000 years ago Sky Q sent his son into the world in the form of a baby. When looking for a place to come in from the cold there WAS NO ROOM AT THE INN. I believe we all fall into this trap and put so much busy into our lives that we don’t have ROOM AT THE INN for Sky Q in our lives. We fill our hearts and minds with so much and when it come to his word and being in relationship, we DON”T HAVE ROOM AT THE INN (in our hearts).

I challenge myself and the PAX to make room for SKY Q and see how it changes your life in 2018 and beyond.

Honored to lead this PAX. I am blessed and grateful for each of you!

Cake Boss

 

TClap |
10

The 12 Pains of Christmas at The Poop Deck – Redux

Thursday before Christmas in 2016, I Q’d this same workout up at The Poopdeck. We had a great time then, and I was asked to bring it back again to The Poopdeck this year. That’s quite a complement to redux a Q. Thanks Wild Thing for the request and opportunity to lead.

Ho ho ho! Santa Q was out and ready to receive the PAX of HIMs this morning when they rolled in to the Poodeck. It was a great day, balmy for December. What a treat in itself. Everyone was in a great mood. Alot of mumblechatter. It is always great to start your day with a group of HIMs like this,
No FNGs unfortunately. After the disclaimer was disclaimed, off we moseyed around the parking lot a to get the heart rate up. After the warmup run, we circled up for the COP, 20 or so of each:

 

  • Side-straddle hops
  • Imperial walkers
  • Windmills
  • Moroccan night clubs
  • Cherry/Strawberry/Weed Pickers

We were all nice and warmed up. A brief run over to the large parking lot at the boat ramp for NASA’s follies…..

The 12 Days of Christmas…. Pain:
NASA Claus came prepared with a red bag full of goodies for each and every PAX, whether naughty or nice they have been. In Santa Q’s sack was 12 ‘presents’, complete with bows even. With warmth from his heart Santa Q gave each PAX a present. The joy and excitement each PAX had of receiving these wonderful, yet unknown gifts was an incredible sight to see. I wish I had my camera at the ready! The PAX were excited to reach in NASA Claus’ sack to see what they got, but NASA Claus had to remind him to be gentle with it, for it is VERY old.
After a gift was opened, the group had to partake in the pain it presented. Not only that, the HIM who opened the gift got to lead the exercise it outlined. They were gifts that kept on giving. Each PAX took turns opening their gifts from NASA Claus to find the following pains:
Gift # / Pain:

 

  1. 15 Burpees OYO
  2. 25 Monkey Humpers, cadence (c)
  3. 40 Merkins (c)
  4. Run, run Rudolph! (Run a loop around the entire boat ramp parking lot, about 1/4 mile loop)
  5. 50 Plank Jacks (c)
  6. 50 LBCs (c)
  7. 40 CDD (c)
  8. Grin and Bear it!! (Bear Crawl loop the circle of HIMs –  had to open the circle a little for this one)
  9. 40 LSS (c)
  10. 30 Hello Dollys (c)
  11. 50 Calf raises (c)
  12. Don’t be Crabby (Crab walk loop the circle of HIMs)

 

I wanted cadence to slow the exercise down, focus on form rather than speed. Even with not much rest between ‘gifting’, that took a good chunk of the 45 minutes. We still had around 10 minutes or so left, so we started another round. Due to tough economic times, we had to regift and Santa Q redistributed the presents for round 2, letting each PAX reach into Santa Q’s sack AGAIN to grab a gift of goodness. Unfortunately due to time we cut short round 2 to only 4-5 presents. Even so, it was alot of pain combined with alot of fun. Each and every PAX had alot of laughs.
Run to the COT for Announcements, Prayers, and Praises.
Brief discussion on Gifts: My opinion the most precious Gifts we are blessed with is Christ and time. Without those, all other Gifts we have been blessed with we would never be able to be thankful for.  Do not take either for granted. Use every moment of time you have to utilize the Gifts you have been blessed with in a positive way. In doing so, maybe you will bestow a Gift upon someone else.
Thank you for the opportunity to lead.
Merry Christmas and God Bless,
-NASA
TClap |
6

The DaVinci Cones® Redux

Forecast called for a warmish start for December, but a high chance of rain, so I wasn’t sure if we’d have a crowd or just a few. Very glad to see a bunch of cars when I pulled up. We ended up with 14 including YHC.

The Thang

Ran around the parking lot to warm up the legs, with a little side shuffle then circled up for some COP:

SSH x 15
Low, slow squats x 15
Slow, old-man windmills (just 10, since I was reminded it’s just a 45 minute workout
Merkins x 10
A little downward dog and honeymooner to stretch out
Mountain Climbers x 15

Then a short mosey to the traffic circle in front of school. I spoke briefly about our theme of the month, which is “Gifts.” At other workouts, the Qs have spoken about Gifts, be they tangible, material things that we give and receive, or intangible, like the gifts of time and support and love.

My message was about the holiday phenomenon of the REGIFT.

Today, I decided to reuse a workout I led earlier this year at the Abyss. It worked pretty good then, and worked well today, too.

Here’s what we did:

Partner 1 acts as a timer, going halfway around circle drive to the Cone using the prescribed means of conveyance (bear crawl, crab walk, etc), then runs the second half while Partner 2 does the prescribed exercise (squat jumps, merkins, etc); then switch

1. Bear Crawl | Squat Jumps
2. Lunge Walk | Merkins
3. Crab Walk | LBCs
4. Lt. Dangers | Plank Punches

Then a mosey around to the side of the school for some Wall Sits.

Have a seat, won’t you? A PAX from either end of the row runs out to the center stripe in the driveway, does 3 burpees, then runs back to the wall.

Finally, a mosey around to the track behind the school.

This is one of the set-it-and-forget-it workouts I like to uses. It’s self-paced and allows for some cardio as well as a variety of body-weight exercises. Plus, if someone finishes and there’s still time on the clock, we can always rinse and repeat.

Start at Cone #1 at one end of the track, do the exercise and prescribed reps, run to the other end of the track, do #1 on Cone 2 at  that end, and so on.

Cone #1
1. Slow Squats (20)
2. Curb Dips (20)
3. Mtn. Climbers (20 d.c.)
4. Curb Derkins (20)
5. CDD’s (20)

Cone #2
1. Imperial Wlkrs (20 d.c.)
2. Jump Lunges (10/leg)
3. Freddy Mercurys (20 d.c.)
4. Flying Squirrels (10)
5. Peter Parkers (10 d.c.)

NMM

All jokes aside about gifts and regifts, at COT I shared my feelings about what a gift F3 is to me. I was able to thank DarkHelmet again for EH-ing me for weeks, finally convincing me to post at the Deep on a warm Saturday in April of 2016.

I was hooked from the very first workout.

Mind you: it nearly killed me (curse you, Jack Webb!), but the remarkable thing to me was how I felt welcomed from the moment I got out of my car. I was supported and encouraged during that first workout, and that encouragement and support has continued to this day.

I challenge each of us to continue offering support and encouragement to FNGs and long-time PAX alike.

The world may beat us down. This group can help build us back up.

So during this time of giving, I want to thank all of my brothers for their gift of friendship and support and encouragement.

I feel blessed to be a part of this group.

DaVinci

TClap |
6

Ruck W/O: Hill Work on Time

Golden Corral usually draws a good crowd of folks eager to take on a challenge. No different today. A bunch of go-get-ers ready to go get it, despite the cold and wind. Today the ruckers outnumbered the others. Awesome!

No FNGs. The disclaimer was disclaimed. Booties went off their own way, Rad the lone runner went blazing off at a great pace on his own, then we rucked up and got after it.

No 16+ min pace rucking was my goal all WO. So we started off with rucks on running/jogging to the parking lot in front of the church nearby for the COP (rucks off):

  • SSH x 20
  • WM x 20
  • IW x 15 (or so)
  • MNC x 20

Didn’t want to spend too much time on the COP. So then we rucked up and then short mosey over to the hill by the super realistic 300ft tall tree (aka cell tower). This hill is shorter than the hill by the church, but quite a bit steeper.

The Thang – Hill Work

Partner up for a couple of series of exercises / hill repeats.

First series: P1 farmer carries both rucks to top of hill as quick as possible (NO WALKING) and back, P2 AMRAP exercises, then swap. HIIT style, no rest. I did not want to waste any time. Circulate through the following exercises:

  1. Merkins
  2. LBC
  3. CDD
  4. Flutter (HAVE to say that with a thick Boston accent – Fluttah!!)
    >> Rinse and repeat one more time
    >> Plank w ruck on for the 6
    >> Couple of 10 sec breathers, then on to second series

Second series: P1 with ruck on run to top of hill, do 10 deep LSS, return; P2 AMRAP exercises, then swap. HIIT style, no rest. I did not want to waste any time. Circulate through the following exercises:

  1. Ruck curls
  2. Ruck swings
  3. Ruck upright rows
  4. Ruck overhead press
    >> Rinse and repeat one more time
    >> Plank w ruck on for the 6

BONUS: When you get to the top of the hill and look to your left (south), you get to see Tinsel’s house all lit up top to bottom!! Sweet!!

By the time we finished all of that, we were ready to get off that hill. Everyone did GREAT!! Alot of excellent mumblechatter by the group. Man we had a group of characters!! Confession – this is what I love about F3. No matter how much pain you’re in, it is so much better when you have folks pushing you on…..and distracting you from the pain with their 2nd F. It made the time go by much easier.

We had about 5 minutes or so to get back to COT. Rucked up and jogged/ran back…..until we saw a wall…..

People’s chair/wall sit, shoulder to shoulder. Rucks on laps. Sit for about 10-15 seconds, then left end person passes their ruck down the line (group is in wall sit position) while they bear crawl to the other side of the line to catch up to it, then back to wall sit position. Relay down the line until all are done. Tried to repeat, but ran out of time. Back just in time for the COP. GREAT JOB FELLAS!!!

This ruck WO I’ve done before at The Swamp. Stairs there help make it more painful. Had to bring it out to the GC. Sorry for not being original.

COT: Announcements, Prayers and Praises – see Boot Q BB

NMM:
I’ve been keeping my talking during my Q’s to a minimum lately. Hey, it can happen. While we were on our brief breaks, I did want to briefly mention to the PAX something that has been on my mind. December is about Gifts. For me, the most important gift He has bestowed upon us all, beside His Son Jesus Christ, is the gift of time. Time ultimately translates to being able to wake up the next day and start each day new. Time allots you a chance to make things better than they were the day before. It promotes growth. It grants you wisdom. It allows you to show mercy, grace, and forgiveness. It allots you a chance to show someone how much they mean to you. It allots you opportunity to reconnect, correct, reconcile with others. It gives you opportunity to heal. It affords one a chance for peace.

But by no means is this gift guaranteed. It can perish at any given moment. We all are given a certain amount of it, and only He knows how much. This is why we have to cherish every moment we are given, and use it wisely.

I bring this up because in December 2002 I lost my dad to leukemia. I did not talk about this to the PAX. Since then, each year around the holidays I get in a funk. My normally positive, energetic self is a bit less so. It has not gotten any easier with time either. He was my best friend, the best dad one could have. He has had an amazing impact on my life. I was blessed to have the amazing family I am part of, and he and my Mom were the reason that was so. To this day I miss seeing him when I visit and calling home and hearing his voice. I thought he was invincible, a hero in my eyes from the time I was a toddler up to this very day. When cancer got him, it put a hole in my heart and soul that to this day I still feel. Our precious time together on this earth was cut short way too early. My mom has been a total trooper. She is an amazing woman. She’s gone through the loss of a son, a husband, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, her mother and father, in-laws, and friends. But to this day she is still loving, laughing, nurturing as she was when I was a little child. An incredible mother, another blessing.  When my mom’s time is up, it will rip another hole in my heart and soul as well. I do not have any regrets of my time with my dad…..other than he not being able to ever meet his grandkids, my two sons, one of which I named after him. But what I have learned….through the gift of time…..is that they, with His word as well, have both showed me how to be a proper parent, son, husband, brother, uncle, nephew, friend, and citizen – a better person as a whole – our most important task here on earth, for it impacts the lives of others. Now it is up to me to figure out how I can follow that path. I know that one day my time on earth will end, and then I will be with them, with Him. That path will lead me to there.

2018 is coming. A new year. Another gift of time. I challenged each of the PAX to reflect on 2017 (and previous years). Be honest with yourself and identify what things or aspects in your lives you would like a second chance at. What have you REALLY taken for granted? What would you do better? What would you improve? Who would you want to reconnect and reconcile with? Who would you want to better know how you feel about them? Who would you like to forgive, and let them know? What needs to heal? Where do you need to find peace? When you identify the ‘whats’, the ‘hows’ will be self-evident within you if you open your heart and soul to finding the answers. The path may be rough and challenging, but anything worth achieving usually is. Persevere! Use this gift of time wisely.

Thank you for the opportunity to lead.

God Bless
– NASA

TClap |
2

Chilly Run/walk

The Q still recovering from Kiawah did some run/walk laps at TCES while Rad, NASA, and Router went for a run to Alcatraz and then joined for a few laps at the school

TClap |
2

#14DaysTillChristmas Quagmire Style

12 Men showed up in sub-freezing temperatures at Quagmire just to prove that cold weather means absolutely nothing.  Especially when you get moving.  5:15 came and we took a nice mosey over to the Home Depot parking lot while doing some side steps, high knees, and butt kickers.

Warm Up-

Windmill x 10

Imperial Walker x 10

Hillbilly Walker x 10

SSH x 20

Seal Jack x 20

Plank/Honeymooner/Downward Dog

 

The Thang-

A Dirty McDeuce (or as DaVinci said, McFourteens?) of sorts.  3 excercises, constant movement, supersets, in all its glory to keep us warm.

Home Depot- Squats x 14, Merkins x 14, LBCs x 14… x 2

Run to Target parking lot through back delivery entrance

Target – Jump Lunges x 14, Carolina Dry Docks x 14, Freddie Mercury x 14…. x 2

Run to around Target parking lot to BAM

BAM- Jump Squats x 14, Wide Arm Merkins x 14, American Hammers x 14…. x 2

Run to Just Fresh parking lot

Just Fresh- People’s Chair (hold for… a long time?), into Donkey Kicks x 14, into BTTW (hold for… a long time… again?)…. x 2.  On last BTTW, PAX held through all 12 taking turns at 5 Merkins.

Mosey around the corner to the Fountain

Fountain- Find a bench… Box Jumps/Step Ups x 14, Tricep Dips x 14, Derkins x 14… x 3 (added an extra set for fun)

Indian Run Back to COT for many (10 minutes) of Mary (Q altered schedule thinking that time would run short… too much overthinking).  Completed 3 Mary exercises, into Diamond Merkins, 3 more Mary exercises, into Diver Bombers, and 3 more Mary exercises with time running out.

Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Prayers

Significance of 14….

All exercises were completed with 14 reps.  Monday, December 11.  14 Days until Christmas.  14 Days until the greatest gift the world has received.  With the focus on Gifts this month, I used the exercise to countdown to my favorite day of the year.  Christmas has meant a lot to me, not just through the greatest gift of all time, but through the significance to my family.  I am excited to continue my family’s Christmas traditions with my children as they start to understand the significance of this time of year.

 

Until next time,

Shakespeare. Out.

TClap |
3