And, yes, we ran

The Thing:

We had 4 or 5 in prep for Ragnar head out on the trails. Most everyone else headed to Wally  World. Flat Tire reminded the Pax to pickup relief supplies while at Walmart for the team headed to Florida. Our prayers are with them and the people they will touch while helping out in the disaster area.

COT:

We finished up with a ball of man.

Prayers and Praises – All kinds of praises and prayers today. Family, marriage, health, Irma, the F3 Columbia mission team diverted to Florida, kids in school, etc…

It was a pleasure running with these guys!

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4

Dealer’s Choice: Shovel Flag hand-off at The Ballroom

A beautiful early fall morning with a bright moon called some hearty soles to the “new” Ballroom. Q-drenaline was surging in my veins as the cars kept rolling in. YHC was proud to have my 2.1, Pigeon roll out of the fartsack to join us. As no FNGs were present, an abbreviated disclaimer was offered. Off we went.

Mosey to inbound carpool lines and circle up. COP: (all IC), SSH *20, Windmills * 15, Merkins * 10, Pater Parkers * 10, Plank-o-Rama (As hard as I try, YHC still can’t get execute the hand/foot in the air combo), Squats * 20, MNC*25. Now that we’re warmed up, mosey to the gym wall. Before we got to the wall sits, YHC offered a few words on Leadership: F3 is an incredible opportunity to hone your leadership skills. As I am also a scout leader, F3 has sharpened my abilities and made me much more comfortable taking on the mantle of leadership.

Wall-sits while Pax on each end run out of line, do 5 squats, return and next man goes. Repeat, but this time each Pax does 5 Bombjacks. Nice form by Twister and Anchorman had a nice vertical. Now that the hammys are sufficiently smoked, mosey to the staff parking lot, under the bright lights for:

Deck O Pain: Each Pax draws a card and the group does the number of exercises on the card. Exercises were based upon the suit shown on each card as follows: Hearts = merkins, Clubs = squats, Diamonds = LBCs, Spades = Bombjacks. Each time a 10 is drawn, everyone run a lap around the lot. This is an easy “set it and forget it” piece and gets everyone engaged in the workout. Newer Pax get a chance to practice calling out the cadence and can gain some confidence in their leadership skills. Some quality mumblechatter followed along with an inordinate amount of merkins. We made it to about card 42 when YHC called an Omaha and had us run one more lap. After that, mosey back to COT.

Before the announcements, YHC offered a quote that I really enjoyed on Leadership:

Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better. – Harry S. Truman

 That really hit home- having the courage to lead and building my skills are areas that I often fall short on. But sharpening iron alongside my brothers will help me to progress in these areas.

Announcements: upcoming Invergence and Convergence, G-fit workout on Fridays, read your newsletter. Prayer and a praise for our scout leaders of Pack 250, other prayers for Houston, F3 Columbia team and injured Pax. Cake Boss took us out with an awesome, prayerful giving of thanks for the leadership shown by fellow Pax and asking that we each become the leader that our Father meant us to be.

Before we got to Prayers, the Shovel Flag for the Ballroom was officially passed off to YHC as the new Site Q. I was honored when Cake Boss asked me to take over for him. Big shoes to fill there, but this is always a solid group of supportive Pax, so just know that I’ll be reaching out to each of you to get on the schedule. Thanks also go out to Change Order for leading this AO for many years. One reason I was glad when Cake Boss approached me about taking over as site Q was that I had thought about it when Change Order had been looking for someone months ago. Probably should have stepped up then, but opportunity came knocking again. As always, color me honored and humbled. See y’all in The Gloom.

Short Sale out.

 

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Colombia Mission Trip Sendoff @ The Ranch 9-7-17

On a cool morning in early September, the men of The Fort gathered together to support the group of 12 men that answered the call to serve those in need in Colombia.

Mosey to the soccer field

The Warm-up (VQ led by Skinny Jeans)

  • 20 4-count side straddle hops 
  • 15 4-count windmills
  • 10 4-count Merkens
  • 15 4-count mountain climbers
  • 20 low slow squats
  • 8 burpees OYO

Mosey to the football field

The Thang

Markers set up every 25 yards on the football field from endzone to endzone. PAX will start from one endzone and run from marker to marker and do the following exercises (below) at each. They will then run on the track back to the starting point.

  • 10 merkins, 2 burpees
  • back to start – LBCs for six
  • 10 Carolina DD, 2 burpees
  • back to start – flutter for six
  • 10 squats, 2 burpees
  • back to start – American Hammer for six
  • 10 bomb jacks, 2 burpees
  • back to start – freddy mercury for six
  • 10 dips, 2 burpees
  • back to start – heels to heaven for six
  • 10 lunges (5 per leg), 2 burpees
  • back to start -diamond LBCs for six
  • 2 burpees per marker

Mosey to COT

Today we focused on the 12 men that are leaving tomorrow to serve in Colombia. We had the privilege of hearing the reasons why each of them have been called to serve during todays workout and then pray over them at the close. We are all lucky to have these men as our brothers and will continue to pray for them as they make their way abroad.

As mentioned in COT, each of us were blessed with passion for certain causes and influence to impact them. Find your passion and your calling and answer that call, whatever it may be.

Ginsu

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Lazy Dora and Triple 5s at the Yard

I’m late in getting this up so I’m just going to focus on what we did.
Mosey to behind elementary school – 25 SSHs, 10 WMs, 10 IWs
Mosey to near end of access road – 15 Mountain Climbers, 10 Peter Parkers, 10 Parker Peters
Mosey half way back – Fuzzy memory on these
Mosey to loop behind ES. Partner up for some lazy Dora.
100 Merkins – One partner does 10 while other holds plank, then flip and keep repeating to 100.
200 LBCS – One partner does 20 while other holds legs 6″, then flip up to 200.
300 Squats – One partner does 25 while other holds Al Gore (hug a tree or how to take a grumper in the woods). Flip it up to 300.
Most agreed Dora isn’t really that lazy.
Mosey over to b-ball area and split into 2 groups. Each group is inside one of the painted squares for some triple 5s.
Set 1 – 5 Diamond Merkins, 5 Plank punches, 5 Jump Squats, 5 Xs-Os, Run/Slide/Run Backwards/Slide around square – Repeat 5 times.
Set 2 – 5 CDDs, 5 Plank Jacks, 5 Jump Squats, 5 V-Ups, lunge walk from one side of square to other – Repeat 5 times.
Set 3 – 5 Merkins, 5 Donkey kicks, 5 Jump Squats, 5 Toe touch LBCs, Run/Slide/Run Backwards/Slide around square – Repeat 5 times.
Circle up, each PAX is doing lunges. One PAX does 2 burpees, then resumes lunges. PAX to his right does 2 burpees, etc all the way around the circle twice.
Time was almost up so we moseyed back to the cars for some crab cakes. Crab walk position and then touch right hand to left foot, left hand to right foot. It’s always kind of fun to see who’s not coordinated.

Lots of great mumblechatter, mostly from Twister. But great effort by all the PAX including Mash’s 2.0 Radar. It is always an honor to lead the PAX. Thanks Hasselhoff for the opportunity.

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80’s/90’s Themed High School Sports

SSH 15
Mtn Climbers 15
Squats 15
windmill 15
Moroccan night club 25
The Thang:  (football style)
Monkey rolls for 30 secs
butt rolls 30 secs
chop and drop 30 secs
squat thrust 10
Discussed discipline and what that means to the Pax
Turned over to Bonsai for basketball style workout
Moseyed over to First Baptist Church back parking lot
Ran suicide with a twist up the hill
(Start running backward to first line)
– first line 10 merkins
– second line 20 squats
– third line 30 LBCs
– fourth line 40 toe taps
(After completing each exercise return back to start running forward)
10 merkins in cadence
Single leg hop to next row of parking spaces and back
Switch and repeat
Next split up in two groups
Group 1 – work their way through the cones setup with the defensive slide
Group 2 – merkins until the 6 completes the defensive slide
Rinse and Repeat
Group 2 – Bobby Hurley’s until 6 gets back
Move over to the wall for 20 jump wall taps
Mosey back to COT
Anchorman I appreciate the opportunity to lead and it was a great idea to
incorporate High School sports.
In case you can’t figure it out Destiny was the one in high school in the 80’s.  Just saying – All most respectable.
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Choose Wisely

I had the pleasure to cross the river and Q #FootLoose this morning. Conditions were okay considering its August in South Carolina – temps in the lower 70s and a light rain. All in, 28 #HIM made the choice to roll out of the fartsack and start their day off on the right foot. Here’s what we did…

The Thang
Short Mosey across the street to the circle in front of the church. Bird Cage reminded me that this area was just as congested as the previous spot, but that didn’t stop us from warming up, shoulder-to shoulder with our brothers.

  • 20 SSHs (IC)
  • 15 Hillbilly Walkers (IC)
  • 30 Moroccan Night Clubs (IC)
  • Mosey to the Church steps
  • Bear Crawl up
  • Crawl Bear down
  • Squats while you wait

Apparently, the steps get slippery when wet. Since I like to keep my teeth, we Omaha’d round two and moseyed to the lot to behind the church.
Circle Up for Choose Your Poison. We took turns rolling dice and choosing exercises. One die was the exercise (see below); the other was the rep count (x10). The roller had to choose which die was for the exercise and which was the rep.
1. Merkins
2. LBCs
3. Squats
4. Side Straddle Hops
5. Overhead Claps
6. Burpees
Luckily we didn’t have two sixes (60 Burpees) rolled, and if we did, the PAX calling the shots wisely modified. Even though this is a moderate workout, we did our share of Burpees (probably 50ish). Overhead Claps and SSHs were popular choices (maybe 200ish). Merkins and LBCs came up a few times (150ish). Squats were tossed a couple times (100ish).

  • Mosey to the wall
  • 15 People’s Chair (IC)
  • 15 One-legged Squats (flapjack)
  • 10 Merkins (IC)
  • Mosey back to COT

NMM
I was honored to be asked to Q this morning. TClaps to Anchorman for his dedication to growing #FootLoose and awesome leadership stepping up to take over, Beacon. This AO has tons of options, so reach out to Beacon to get on the Q schedule.
Today’s workout reminds us that every day brings choices. Post or not post? Boxers or briefs? Paper or Plastic? Gossip or Gospel? We have opportunities each day to choose wisely or poorly. Every choice brings consequences. Sometimes you will face a challenge where the choice is hard to make and the outcome is difficult to take, but when you make it through, you will garner something from the experience. When a choice needs to be made, you need to make it. You’re either in or you’re out. Own it.
It’s been said that opportunity knocks, but temptation leans on the doorbell. When there is a knock, open the door and dive in to the challenge at hand. When temptation leans, step back and evaluate the potential outcome. Is it worth it? Opportunity is often missed because it looks like work. Temptation is often chosen because it looks like fun. Realize that every action has a reaction and you have to deal with the consequences of bad choices.
Today, I encourage you to choose positivity. Whatever you want, make the decision and do what it takes to get it. There will be challenges, but the greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. Sometimes it takes time, but remember, patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

Aye!
Italian Job

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Summer Q School – Shooting Stars and Counting to 3

Senator Tressel and YHC headed up the final installation of the summer Q school.  8 PAX joined in for some instruction, antidotes, and how to count to 3.  Brief introduction in lot, totally forgot to make the disclaimer, and we were off.  YHC at the helm.

The Thang

1/2 lap around WEP and circle up for the COP

Each exercise had some instruction of counts, cadence, form, etc.  It was awesome, I guess you had to be there.

SSH X 25 (Hey I saw a shooting star!)

Imperial Walkers X 25

Merkins X 10

Windmill X 15

Mountain Climbers X 25

Disclaimer X 1

Mak Tar Jai X 15

Burpees X10 OYO

Hand Over to Senator who then took us to the hill.

Jacob’s Ladder to 7 with Burpees at top. Senator explained more about what the main workout is about and how to prepare, audible, and listen for mumble chatter.  Kielbasa helped out with the suggestion to do burpees for this ladder.  No one was pleased, except for Seantor.

After ladder we moseyed over to the playground for some pull ups and ab lab.  Senator made it a point to tell the Q School that we do not do enough pull ups/chin ups and that he ALWAYS adds these in at an AO with bars.  I think Senator’s agenda was accepted under duress and the PAX pushed through with 2 sets of 10 pull ups/chin ups and then slow count LBC’s followed by a slower count of Freddy Mercury.

Final thoughts from Seantor about safety, serving the PAX when Q and how he doesn’t ever need a Wienke (memorizes before he gets there) but FunHouse always does (can’t even remember his kids’ names). And do the damn BackBlast!

COT – Always end with Circle of Trust – Prayers for kids to college, parents transitioning to new home and Seantor’s brother in law. 5 years of The Fort in September!

It was an honor to work with Senator to get the new Q’s on track to lead the PAX.  I am looking forward to see what this group of men will bring to the Gloom.  Double D is the man to hit up if you haven’t Q’d and want to get on the list for Block Party!

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Mid-term Exam @ the Coop

23 Men arrived with lots of chatter and welcome to FNG “Horse Shoe” and the EH by Couter inviting the intern out.  It was a beautiful day at the Coop for a Mid-Term Exam to remind ourselves of the word that we chose at the beginning of the year and to challenge our selves to finish strong.  

For those that chose a word at the beginning of the year… how is it going?  What have you learned? How are you approaching life differently?

For me… My word is Wisdom and I struggle for perspective and often lose my way and need to be anchor and guided.  The verse that has been shown to me to help is below:

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Ephesians 5:21

The Thang:

 –  Warm up… Thank you Pitts for stepping up and leading us through a series of warm up exercises!!  Nice leadership and excellent cadence! 

(mosey to band parking lot)

Power skip to 50 yard line and back

10 min Amrap

  •    5 burpees
  •    10 donkey kicks
  •    15 bomb jacks
  •    Sprint to 50 yard line and back after each round

  – bear crawl / Merkin ladder (1+ merkin every 10 yards) to 50 yard line and back

  – lunge walk/jump squat ladder (1+ jump squat every 10 yards)

Mosey to the NaFo wall for some wall sits and a bit of balls to the wall

3 minute Amrap

  –  5 – Flying squirrels

   – 5 – mountain climbers

   – 5 – Carolina dry docks

It was an honor and privilege to lead and thank you to Sugarbug for the opportunity.

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Get busy living at the Yard

12 #HIM responded to the call this warm and humid morning. We all said our normal grumbling hellos and soon the mumble chatter started. YHC gave the disclaimer, brief and to the point as there were no FNG’s, and the PAX began to mosey.

The Warm Up
The PAX circled the parking lot and proceeded to the front of the middle school where a little high knees, butt kickers and Karaoke were in the cards while running to the parking area near the top of the hill. Warm Up exercises were as follows:
SSH
Windmill
Moroccan Night Clubs
Cherry Pickers
Mountain Climbers
Imperial Walkers
Merkins

The Thang

The PAX proceeded to the bottom of the hill at the entrance to the schools, partnered up and began a little round of Dora 1,2,3. Partners traded off on running up and down the hill while the other performed the Dora, consisting of 100 Merkins, 200 LBC’s and 300 Squats.

From there, the PAX moseyed back up the hill, grabbed some wall for multiple rounds of preachers chair complete with arm raises and overhead claps.

Sensing there was more living to do, the PAX moved to the back parking lot where cones awaited for a bit of 4 corners. PAX were broken into 4 groups and instructed to perform 3 laps around the cones, performing 10 reps of the identified exercise at each cone. The exercises:
Flying Squirrels (this is a moderate so no Burpees)
Flutter Kicks
Carolina Dry Docks
BOXCUTTERS
One more round was performed for giggles.

All ended with a round of Mary, with nearly half the PAX having the opportunity to lead an exercise. Back to COT.

With the word of the month being FREEDOM, the discussion turned to what that meant to each of us. The common theme iterated by the group centered on the freedoms we have as a country, as a people, to worship where and how we want and most frequently, the choices we have the freedom to make. Choices that have positive outcomes, such as the choice these HIM made to come out and get better, and choices that have consequences which everyone of us has experienced in this life.

We prayed for families, those traveling, those with job loss, and those struggling to live lives based on choices that the Sky Q would be proud of us making.

Thanks to Hasselhoff for allowing me to lead this group. I remain thankful and humbled.

V/R, M*A*S*H

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Laces In and Laces Out: Back together Again!!

Long time ago…..in a different AO……Laces Out and Laces In were together. Today we could say that again. Its like meatballs and spaghetti or hot dogs and hamburgers…..its just natural!!

So the Laces out clan arrive at 0500 and take off running to Baxter like the fools they are. Hills and cars and danger Will Robinson!! But they all made it back safely and met us Laces IN  crowd at COT. No water melon ….losers!! haha

Laces In we did a little tour of the High School, with some 4 corners and some other pain stops along the way. There is a ton of potential and no Rosalita calling the 5.0 anymore. If we bother anyone out here, they better join the PAX as they have no other reason to be out there at 0 dark 30.

Great PAX and awesome times. Be sure to post to Laces In/Out and bring an FNG!

Cake Boss Out!

 

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