Great morning for a workout! 13 pax posted (no new guys). The disclaimer was issued and we bolted out of the Chick-fil-a parking lot, Pusher style.
We ran past BP in front of Jimmy John’s for a bit of COP warm-up:
SSH
Imperial Walkers
Mountain Climbers
Merkins
Windmills
Morning Wood, OYO
The Thang
We then ran down to the parking lot in front of Empire and found 12 cones spread out to a large ring. Time for a burning ring of fire. Each pax was to start at a cone, doing the exercise (and count) written on the cone. Once done, they were to run across the middle, around the cone on the opposite side, then back to the middle and plank up for 10 seconds (the non-modified version does cinderblock burpees – yuck!). After planking up , the pax runs to the next cone. Rinse and repeat until all 12 cones completed. Pax were encouraged to pair up. YHC struggled to keep up with MOAB. Here were the exercises, in no particular order:
10 Monkey Humpers (4 count)
10 Hello Dollys (4 count)
7 Burpees
10 Merkins (single count)
10 SSH (4 count)
10 Mtn. Climbers (4 count)
10 Bombjacks
10 LBCs(4 count)
10 Plank Jacks (4 count)
7 Morning Woods (turkish get-up)
10 Box Cutters
10 Seal Jacks (4 count)
Once completed, we moseyed to a nearby wall for a little People’s Chair:
Round 1 – one person at a time jumps out and does 2 burpees
Round 2 – Jack Reachers (10x)
We ended with Jack Webbs. But wait! We got to COT with 2 minutes to spare so we did a few ab exercises.
Great work by all! Thanks to Hootie for the opportunity to lead!
I haven’t been to Colosseum in a long time. I’ve been doing the ruck WOs on Tuesdays so it was good to shake up the routine. It was also great to see so many cars rolling in. I haven’t seen several guys in a while due to being under a ruck so it was great to be out in the gloom with them again.
Go time arrived and disclaimer was attempted. Mosey around loops in front of school with high knees, butt-kickers, karaokes both ways. Circle up for normal warm-ups: SSHs, windmills, Peter Parkers, Parker Peters, and some Hillbilly Walkers.
Moseyed over to side lot. Today’s theme was simple, 4 exercises done 4 times. First off was Bear Crawl from top of parking line to curb, 4 Merkins, Crawl Bear back to top of parking line, 4 Donkey Kicks. Repeat 4 times.
Mosey over to lot behind school. 5-Worst Merkins (Wide, Normal, Diamond), 10-Big Boy Situps, 15-Plank Jacks, 20-Shoulder Taps then run to other side of lot. Repeat 4 times.
Mosey to loop in front of school. Starting at center of loop: 10-Burpees, 10-Mtn Climbers (4 ct), 10-Lunges (each leg), 10-Smurf Jacks, then run around loop to center spot of on other side. Repeat 4 times. Lots of good mumble-chatter during this segment, except for Tesh who almost lapped everyone.
Slow mosey over to front of middle school for some Wall Webbs. Start in People’s Chair, walk out on hands into Merkin, walk back up on hands into chair for overhead claps. Normal ratio of 1:4. I cut it short at 6:24 so we had time for some mary (and my legs were starting to burn). Back at cars to finish up with 10 tiny circles clockwise, 10 counter-clockwise, then 20 flutters. Time’s up. Hopefully the PAX got their money’s worth today.
Continued prayers for Stang’s family as they mourn the passing of his grandfather as well as all of the kids that Cornerstone is involved with in their treatment group.
I was excited to Q Block Party after the co-Q at The Fort on Sat. I arrived early and saw 7 runners take off at 5:00 sharp with Bird Cage leading the way down the back trail. Cars began to file in and the cars kept coming. I wasn’t expecting a large crowd and then I heard that CSPAN was still in town and was coming to Block Party so I knew there would be a big and rowdy crowd on hand.
Once we hit 5:15, no FNG’s were present so a short disclaimer and off we moseyed. Since the park has several obstacles littering the grass from the festival, I was going outside of the park. We moseyed to the first parking lot up front and circled up.
Mosey over to the sidewalk and wall near Springs Global. 3 exercises , 3 sets, decreasing reps each set.
Dips – Reps – 25/20/15
Derkins – 20/15/10
Step-UPS – 30/20/10
Mosey to the big hill and meet at the top parking lot. 3 excercises, 15 reps each, then run to bottom of the hill and come back up the hill backwards.
Squats/Monkey Humpers/Calf Raises
Slow Merkin/MNN/O/H Clap
Flutter/ Big Boy Sit-up/Hello Dolly
Mosey back to the sidewalk and wall where we started and do one more set of dips and derkins 20 & 15. Mosey back to the park. Since we had a few minutes left I decided to take a lap around the park on the path for an added bonus. We ended back at the parking lot for set of LBC’s.
This was a great morning and I enjoyed the chatter and hard work. Through the Q Source, I have been motivated to look for ways to continue to accelerate in all areas. I shared with the group that I have been successful in accelerating in King, Queen and Jester control, but the last 4 weeks the QSource was focused on Faith. I was convicted that I am not accelerating in study and recognize the need to have my shield locks there to hold me accountable and provide the push I need. I asked everyone to think of where they need to accelerate and who are they going to have beside them to hold them accountable.
Thanks Esso for the opportunity to Q and lead the Pax.
6 years ago YHC rang the bell for the first time with a handful of rag tag HIM’s. There were 3 workouts, total, in The Fort. A lot has changed! YHC was blessed enough to be able to come to Block Party and Q on a day that has changed my life. 32 other PAX joined YHC in the gloom for some fun for Day 20 for Ass Kickn’ April Y2!
The Thang:
Long loop around WEP
COP
SSH X 50, Squats X 25, IW X 20, Mountain Climbers X 25, Plank Jacks X 25, Slow Sumo Squats X 25, 6 count Burpees w/ hand clap X 10, SSH X 10 – Mosey to playground
Got the PAX together to briefly talk about what F3 has done for me. I had initially thought that F3 would always be a physical challenge, and it is, but I would never have guessed how much the 2nd and 3rd F’s would come into play. Having 32 other men show up at 0515 to work out under my lead, shows exactly what F3 is all about. Supporting your F3 brother celebrate a special, life changing day by doing burpees and dodging fire ants. The 1st F is the magnet, always pulling you in. The 2nd F is the glue, keeping you connected and active. The 3rd F is the dynamite, serving others, putting yourself 3rd and sharing this crazy thing F3 to all men around you. Off to the hill for Jacob’s Ladder.
Jacob’s Ladder – 8’s – 1 Burpee at top and 7 Bomb Jacks at Bottom. Add, subtract, flippy flop, you know the drill.
Off to COT, but lets do some more while we count down to 0600. 30 seconds of Mountain Climbers, Plank, burpees….. Saved by the Bell. Done.
Great Tuesday morning. So humbled and blessed with the HUGE turnout this morning. I couldn’t be more excited about being a part of F3!
It was an honor to travel across the River on this cool Spring gloom with Italian Job and Canseco to join up with 9 of our Fort and Rock Region brothers on the day before Easter. Thank you Bonsai and the rest of our brothers for the opportunity to lead this morning.
As Italian Job, Canseco and YHC discussed this workout the previous week, we decided that it would definitely be split into three equal time periods with each of us focusing on different body groups. Italian Job began with the F3 Disclaimer and welcome to all:
WARMUP
There was no Warm-Up
THETHANG
Italian Job moved right into working the upper body. This is what was done:
10 Burpees (OYO); 5 Plank Destroyers (Plank, Makhtar D’Diaye, Merkin, Alternating Shoulder Tap, Plank Jack); 20 MNCs (IC); 10 Merkins (IC); 20 Little Baby Arm Circles (IC); 10 Wide Arm Merkins (IC); 20 Overhead Claps (IC); 60 Seconds Arm Circles in Plank; Mosey to Springs or Playground; 20 Irkins; 20 Dips; 20 Derkins; Mosey; 10 Wide-Diamond-Wide (OYO); Mosey; Merkin Ring of Fire (10 rounds).
After he finished, the Q Stick was handed off to YHC for the lower body portion performing each of the following exercises for 50-seconds and resting for 10:
Squat + Calf Raises; Squat Jacks; Mosey; Alternating Hamstring Reaches; Broad Jump w/Back Pedal; Mosey; Left Lateral Lung; Right Lateral Lung; Squat Tap-Outs; Mosey; Left Leg Lunge; Right Leg Lunge; Mosey; Step Ups; Squat & Squat Jumps.
Then YHC passed off the lead to Canseco for some Core & Cardio and an awesome work below in the NMM. This is what he led us in:
YHC planned to use the steep portion of the running path for sets of core exercises with a jailbreak between. We did 2 to 3 exercises for each set and started at the bottom of the hill.
We did the following with a jailbreak between sets.
All In Cadence:
30 Imperial Walkers; 50 Flutters; Jailbreak
20 Mtn Climbers; 20 Freddy Mercurys; Jailbreak
20 American Hammers; 30 Pretzel Crunches (15 each Side); 10 Makhtar N’Diayes; Jailbreak back to top
20 LBC’s ; 10 Delayed LBC’s; Plank w/6 Inches and Up x2
Mosey to COT where IJ led us in another 10-Burpees for fun
Great work was put in by all PaX in attendance. Thank you again for allowing us to lead.
NMM
Canseco shared his heart this morning. Below is what he discussed:
The sun came through the clouds and shined directly on us during Reborn’s leg workout. We were at the top of the Walter Elisha Park looking out and for a few moments everyone was quiet. I had something to share with the PAX and in that moment this capped it off.
I have been reading through the gospels the last couple weeks and wanted to share something that has been stirring in me. So, as we know its Saturday before Easter and Jesus has been crucified and placed in a tomb. On this day thousands of years ago there were all kinds of emotions for those who were near to Jesus.
Those near to him who followed and loved him were doubtful, confused, and didn’t know what would happen next. The Pharisees and scribes still saw Jesus as a threat to their own Kingdom and world and placed guards at the tomb. I find this interesting as he is dead yet they didn’t believe?
I shared Matthew chapter 21 with the PAX when Jesus curses the fig tree that didn’t have any fruit. Jesus disciples said how can it wither instantly? Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, it will happen.” 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Jesus was preparing them to believe and have faith during the darkest and most doubtful times to come.
We know what happened next. We have record and an account of the resurrection. But we still have to figure out what we are going to do with Jesus?
Is Jesus threatening your Kingdom, life, and world. Are you keeping him at distance and putting HIM away somewhere so as to hide?
Or, are you believing on His life, death, and resurrection as sufficient for your sins and eternity with HIM. You can’t hide from the light!!!
My prayer for the PAX was that just as the sun rose before our eyes this morning that the Son of Man would rise in each of our hearts this day, tomorrow, and forever.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
April 3rd F Theme-Be Still.
Summer Lawn Service at the Care Center-Sign up now.
Manion WOD-April 27-See Cobra Kai.
Date Night-April 27-Contact Wegmans.
PRAYERS/PRAISES
Prayers and praises were mentioned and Italian Job
– Stretch; front fold/squat, rotate, arm stretch upward
– Mosey to field > jog to 50, sprint; repeat NOT A BREAK, GET HEART RATE UP
– Warmup; SSH, Windmill, imperial Walker
– The seeds of discontent will yield a legacy of damaged fruit. >> WHAT FRUIT DID THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FATHER YIELD?
20 X’s – Everything in cadence, NO OYO
@ End zone
– Squats, IC > toy soldier to 20
– Monkey Humpers, IC > lunges to 40
– Jumping squats, single ct. > long jumps to 40
– Calf raises 3 ways, single ct. > butt kickers to 20
– Low slow Squat, IC > duck walk to end zone
– Air squared (squat w overhead clap), IC
– Jog to 50, sprint to end zone [X’s 2]
– A father is the defining relationship in the Shortys life. If a father is loving and warm he provides a template of success for relationships in their future. >> WHAT TYPE OF FRUIT DO WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO YIELD? NOT JUST OUR WORDS BUT OUR ACTIONS.
– Repeat X’s 15
– What do we as father’s have to sacrifice? i.e. jester, time, money, interests. >> FOR THOSE W OLDER KIDS, HOW ABOUT NOT LETTING THEM LEARN FROM THIER OWN FAILURES? CORNHOLE’s MESSAGE @ BLOCK PARTY
– Repeat X’s 10
– Repeat X’s 5
COT
– Doing this so our kids can be free. No more virtuous act that a man can do. RETURN ON INVESTMENT. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.”
15 PAX Strong posted to the Fort on Saturday. It seemed fitting that my return to the Gloom would be where it all started back in October of 2012. The Fort! I started that workout an FNG and finished it almost spilling merlot! Got a “cool” name. I also found a brotherhood of guys who aren’t that much different than me. Found something I never knew I needed too. I went all in, with a small hiatus of a hernia repair surgery, brought on by all this new activity. Fast Forward several years and several CSAUPs later. Life happens. New job. Life challenges. Deceleration. I went full #kotter there for quite some time. Sure I went to an occasional workout here and there but in my heart I knew I was decelerating.
So I recently moved to a neighborhood that is populated with quite a few F3 brothers. They really laid into me strong and got me back out to the gloom. I can’t even remember why or when the deceleration started, but this is what makes F3 great! Your proximity to other men. They’ll get in the weeds with you and stay on you and won’t leave you behind. All this to say, if you haven’t seen a guy around in a while, reach out to them. Call them out on twitter. Chances are it’s what they need!
Now onto the 1 hour CSAUP that I crammed down their throats:
Prior to the beatdown Dirty Harry and Punchlist did the 12 Mile Time Hack #weirdos #rucking #330starttime. A couple of us pre-rucked, which was nice.
0630 Time to Roll, this was referenced as a ruck “friendly” workout. So some had rucks, others did not, it was difficult either way.
THANG
-Mosey around the park, stop for some SSH, Merkins and Windmills
-Mosey some more and stop for some Mtn Climbers and a few others I forgot
-Mosey to the…wait for it…
RING OF FIRE
Large Circle comprised of 8 cones. Each cone has an exercise and count. There’s also a cone in the middle.
-Start in the middle and do 5 burpees
-Walk to first cone, do the exercise
-Bear Crawl to the center cone, do 5 burpees
-Walk to the next cone, Repeat
-After completing the ring, run around the playground, return and start over…see how many times you can complete the ring
Here were the exercises and counts (memory is fuzzy):
1. 15 Merkins
2. 20 Lunges (10 each leg)
3. 30 Flutter Kicks (2-count)
4. 15 GTOs (Ground to Overhead) w/ 40# sandbags
5. 20 Squats (either w/ Ruck or Block)
6. 30 Big Boy Situps
7. 20 CDD
8. 30 Mtn Climbers
Half the PAX did it with Rucks on. It was equally difficult for all though. If you had a ruck on you probably got 2 rounds in. No ruck probably got 3 or close to it.
Some notable take-aways:
-Pax get punch-drunk when the workout gets rough
-Apparently noon is not the time to go to a certain type of club
-Tesh kept his shirt on
-Geronimo took his shirt off 😐
-Each round represented 40 burpees and 2-3 rounds were completed…do the math #ouch
I think we were all glad when this one was over.
COT
Announcements
Prayers and Praise
BOM
Thanks to Bonsai for the opportunity. And thanks to my brothers for encouraging me to get back after it. Glad to be back in the Gloom!
It was a powerful day across F3 Nation as men from all over gathered at their AOs to workout and to raise awareness for Mental Health, specifically Depression and Suicide. It’s a thing that we as men tend to shy away from discussing, and our brothers Aerobie and Miyagi out of F3Louisville put out the call to post and to start eroding the stigma of mental health challenges among men (including our Pax).
So, we warmed up, I shared a bunch of statistics, and we went to work.
A modified Dirty MacDeuce was on the menu that morning.
3 exercises, 22 reps each (for the 22 Vets that commit suicide every day), then run a lap around the track. We did arms, legs, core each round; and we attempted to get in as many rounds as we could in the time we had.
I don’t remember all the exercises that we did, there were Merkins, and Squats, and Flutters, and Dry Docks, and lunges, and Makthar N’Diayes, and a bunch of other stuff. The point, though, wasn’t the workout. I’ll tell a couple of things I did remember…
Suicide is the 7th leading cause of death among men in the US
Every man in the circle raised his hand when asked if they or someone they know had experienced some sort of mental health issue
One of the main contributing factors to mental health issues is a feeling of isolation
You are not alone. You are NEVER alone. Reach out. Don’t suffer in silence.
What a great morning for a run. Low 50’s, no wind and 20 PAX for a post P200 Monday. Up in the rotation today was the newest member of the Flight Plan plans, “Loops of Choice.” They include a 2.5 mile loop that goes over the walking trail at the end of YMCA parking lot, out 6th Baxter, up Sutton and back to Starbucks. And a 1.5 mile loop that goes down market, comes up Sutton and back to Starbucks. Modify as necessary, find a running buddy, have some fellowship, attend COT, check the box.
Flight Plan is an AO that’s predictable. Because of safety, we stay on the north side of 77. We have 4 routes and run each one, once per month. Today’s route emphasizes, (maybe represents is a better word) those circles we find ourselves in. Don’t get me wrong, the workout is beneficial. And I love the sense of accomplishment of conquering the long climb up Sutton (twice) in the gloom. However, the round and round is indicative of what can become of us as men.
But F3 is there to break those patterns. In COT we were reminded of that by two very strong PAX. Pusher (along w/ Twister & Change Order) who has taken the monumental task of leading Q-source. The weekly study of how this group can shape lives, of not just ourselves, but our families and community. If you’re not involved, you’re missing out. If you’ve been going, you know what I’m talking about. The added support outside of fellowship of the gloom, is great.
The other PAX is Stang. What happens when something throws us off these loops we find so comfortable. Something devastating or tragic. Or what if we struggle just to stay upright on the loops but don’t feel like we can tell anyone so we use other outlets to hide the burden? Stang is going to lead the discussion on these topics Wednesday at The Tomahawk (Doby’s Bridge Elementary – Kettle Bell). The last 15 minutes of the workout will be a stretching session with discussion on these heavy topics. Things we need to be able to share and discuss if we are going to be the leaders we need to be.
It’s great to see these HIMs pushing us past the 1st F.
Annoucments:
See Above
Cristina Latini Memorial 8K – Saturday March 30th – Clown Cars leaving Baxter Starbucks at 7:00 for Huntersville or Virtual run 6:30 at Alcatraz
What a great morning to get out in The Fort for a little jog around Wally World. Attendance is strong lately with all of the P200 training and the handful of (almost) only running PAX. There’s a pace and a buddy for everyone when the crowd is this size for a running workout.
The Thang:
Wally World – A Flight Plan original wrapping around a shopping mecca and the back road for two of Fort Mills finest learning institutions. All kinds of opportunities to modify distance and incline. So if you were well rested, take that Dave Gibson Hill. If you had too much for St. Patty’s day, easy out and back to WW entrance. It was a glorious morning to be reminded how lucky we are to have our brotherhood and inhale that late winter frosty air.
COT/Announcements
Jekyll took the lead at COT. Reminding us to support our brother Olive and The Christina Latini Memorial 8K on March 30th. Sign ups right now are lower than last year. Let’s get the word out not just to the PAX but to everyone we know. Olive has taken the worst of situations and grown it into a lasting tribute. Something that he has made easy for us to be a part of. He’s done all the heavy lifting and we can claim a little bit of pride simply by doing something we already do, run a little bit. If you can’t make the actual run in Huntersville or the virtual one set up by Change Order at Alcatraz, then still donate. You will be smiling all day after you do (Christina Latini Memorial 8K) Thanks for the reminder Jekyll
Paryers:
Lift up Funhouse’s brother Scott . He’s going through major life changes today; new home for himself as he starts the painful process of a divorce. He will need the strength of Sky Q so be sure to add Scott to your prayers.
Help Hootie as he travels this week. He asks that we lift his M & kids in prayer as they work through the week while he’s gone. The life work balance is hard on everyone. Supporting each PAX with fellowship and prayer will get us through.
NMM:
A COT this large can be tough for me. I don’t hear well (Funhouse & Pusher excepted) and can’t wear my hearing aids while running. The sweat makes them shut down. I miss a lot of the jokes and camaraderie that goes on. But the energy that comes from the circle is real. Just like the workout, it doesn’t matter if you’re wide awake or struggled just to make it back, there’s something in there for everyone. Take these jokes, causes, praises and prayers to heart. Think about them as you go through your day. Give them the extra prayer they need or the smile/laugh to yourself they bring to your soul. And know there’s more waiting for you tomorrow when you need it all over again.
