Tag: Senator Tressel

12 days (actually 13) to celebrate a shovel flag handoff!

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Big shovel flag hand-off day so hype train was in full effect!  As PAX walked up to the gathering, Bear Grylls had 80s hairband music rocking why he was making preparations for post-workout coffeeteria.  YHC gave the disclaimer and jumped on a quick mosey given this chilly morning.  Mosey’d over to parking lot to the right of the school where we circled up for some warm up exercises and stretching.

Exercises included: SSH, Moroccan night clubs, low slow squats, hillbilly walkers, mountain climbers and then some leg, back and “6” stretches.

Mosey’d over to the playground in the back of the school for The Thang!  In true 12 days (actually 13) days of Christmas fashion, we had a weinke waiting for us and 12 days was explained by YHC.  For anyone reading and unclear on 12 days, start with 1, move on to 2 and back down to 1, go to 3 then 2 then 1, and so on.

As the list was next to the basketball court, since that’s where there was light on this chilly dark morning in the gloom, we started with suicides…

  1. Suicides – mid court, full court
  2. Burpees
  3. Calve raises – 3 out, 3 regular, 3 in
  4. Pull ups
  5. Hand release merkins
  6. Jump Knee tucks
  7. Flutters (double count)
  8. Bear crawl down & crawl bear back – full court
  9. Gorilla squats
  10. B 2 Wall – 10 sec count
  11. Lunge walk down & duck walk back – full court
  12. America Hammer (double) + LBC (double) + big boys
  13. Bomb Jacks (bonus)

The PAX made it to about day 10-11, with I believe Fish Sticks leading everyone possibly to day 12.  The killer in this had to be day 8 but YHC quickly reminded the PAX that Spiderman (yes, he got a shoutout) who had 12 days at #BlockParty the day before crushed the PAX with Bear crawl / crawl bear on day 2….so a quick fix for the mumble chatter.  Once time was called, mosey’d back for COT.

Announcements, prayers and praises (CSPAN style).  YHC shared that as we enter the Christmas season, after just leaving Thanksgiving, giving Thanks has been at the forefront of his mind.  Being grateful for what we have, i.e. families, health, each other, it’s easy to forget how some people are not in the same positions we are in.  As we enter the holiday season, and even after the holidays, keeping a watchful eye for how we can help others less fortunate than us, puts us in a unique position.  How you choose to act in those situations or if you have your eyes and heart open, is something to be mindful of.

Closed out with prayer and the celebration of the great work Fish Sticks brought to Pantheon and the beginning of the Bear Grylls legacy.  The beginning of this legacy kicked off with the Pantheon flag makeover – which was great to see!  I highly recommend checking it out and getting the full breakdown for each detail.  It was a pleasure Q’ing today and am happy to do it anytime!

Shady

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4

Something About Mary

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7 Pax posted in a gloom that turned out a bit frostier than forecast.  The Senator T Thermostat proved that it wasn’t too cold for shorts, but YHC wasted little time with Disclaimer, etc so we could get moving without delay.

The Thang

COP in parking lot — SSH, Hillbilly Walker, Peter Parker, Mtn Climber, run to stop sign and back
(For the record, Offset pulled an Elvis somewhere amid this set and we picked him up on the run portion)

Mosey to the path and launch into Drillbits (all exercises OYO and cumulative, meaning the sequence is repeated adding the new exercise at each successive Drillbit)

1/6: 5 Burpees
2/6: 10 Moroccan Nightclubs
3/6: 15 Squats
4/6: 20 Merkins
5/6: 25 Jumping lunges
6/6: 30 LBCs

Mosey to the playground

10 Pull-ups OYO
10 Plank punches IC
10 Shoulder taps IC
10 Hip slappers IC
10 Pull-ups OYO
Al Gore
10 Monkey humpers

Line up along playground boundary facing the path away from the White Street

Bear crawl to path, sprint back
Sprint to path and back (rinse and repeat)

AYG back home

Mary — Low slow flutters, Slow Freddie Mercurys, Superman

COT

NMM

Thanks to the pax for their energetic effort on a cold morning.  And their investment in the message of the season shared at points throughout the workout.

At launch I referenced my Fartsacking on two days in the past week after making HCs the evening prior.  Excuses abound but they’re all just that.  My personal disappointment in these failures contrasts with one of the most inspiring HCs ever — that of Mary through her response to the angel announcing her pending pregnancy.

In Christmas seasons past, I’ve often used my Q opportunities in 1st and 2nd F to highlight Joseph, a #HIM in all ways who mostly receives limited attention.  This year, however, I’ve found myself contemplating Mary.  Perhaps my focus on Joseph in the past reflected my usual self-centered, masculine mindset. Regardless of the reason, I’ve been concentrating on Mary more this Advent than in the past.  Joseph made exemplary choices, no doubt.  From one perspective though, he could be seen as taking the steps that he should take as a God-fearing adult man.  On the other hand, Mary was a teenager.  Plus, she was the first to be challenged with a twist in her tidy life plans.  Had Mary not HC’d to the angel, Joseph’s opportunity would never have arisen.  Impressive for anyone, and especially for a teenager.

Even beyond Mary’s initial commitment (“Let it be done to me according to your word”), Mary remained true to her mission over time.  The gospels refer to her pondering and reflecting on the developments of the Christmas story and Jesus’ upbringing.  She cultivated and reaffirmed her commitment by recognizing moments, storing them away and contemplating their significance in the fulfillment of her mission.  How often do I slow down enough in my own life to recognize the ties between life’s events and a plan God may have for me?  Could making a habit of slowing down and building in more time for reflection actually yield more experiences of Wonder, Joy, Hope and Peace during this Christmas season and beyond?

Thanks to Shady for the opportunity to Q and to the pax for helping me get back on track with my DRP.

Merry Christmas!

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12

Santa’s Trip 2.0

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Similar to the last Santa Trip in terms of exercises and idea, however we changed from a 4 corner style workout to a run-around-stop-somewhere-and-exercise type of workout.  What would you call it?

Mosey to North Pole (Salsarita’s)

  • Warm-O-Rama (Windmills, hillbilly walkers, weed pullers, light stretching)
  • SSH, Boxcutters, American Hammers in cadence to “Little St. Nick”-Beach Boys

Mosey to Asia (PetSmart/Fuel Pizza-ish area)

  • Dora w/ Partner… Partner A-Bear Crawl and back to start Partner B-Sumo Squats.  Repeat until “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”- Andy Williams is over.

Mosey to Australia (Home Depot)

  • Dora w/ Partner… Partner A- run to a tree and back Partner B- Peter Parker. 2nd Round- Partner A- same Partner B- Prison Cell Merkin Burpee.  Repeat until “What Christmas Means to Me”-Stevie Wonder is over.

Mosey to Antarctica (Between Home Depot-Target)

  • Seal Jacks, Imperial Walkers (during instru. part), back to Seal Jacks to finish out during “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”-Brenda Lee plays.  (Not gonna lie, this was my favorite part… I thought it looked cool.)

Mosey to Africa (BAM)

  • Dora w/ partner… Partner A- Crocodile Crawl to spot and back Partner B- Moroccan Night Clubs.  Complete this during length of “Do They Know It’s Christmas”-Band Aid (Not gonna lie… this was my least favorite part. But still fun?)

Mosey to Europe (CVS)

  • Dora w/ partner… Partner A-Run laps around parking lot Partner B- Freddie Mercury.  2nd Round subst. ski jumps for Freddie Mercury’s over a parking spot line.  Did this while playing “Wonderful Christmastime”-Paul McCartney.  (cut short due to running out of time with 2 continents left!)

Mosey to South America (Fountain Area)

  • Dora w/ partner… Partner A- run a lap while Partner B- mountain climbers.  Subst. monkey humpers for mountain climbers.  Complete to “Jingle Bell Rock”- Bobby Helms.  (kudos to Witch Hunt for pointing out that “Feliz Navidad” would have been better.  Just couldn’t pull myself to do it… didn’t want that song stuck in my head all day.)

Mosey to North America (COT)

  • CDDs, Crabcakes, American Hammers during the length of “Christmas in Hollis”- Run DMC
  • We had 1 minute left… Witch Hunt led us in some LBC’s to his favorite Christmas song/artist of all time Mariah Carey- “All I Want For Christmas”.

Name-O-Rama (almost forgot it)

Announcements- Convergence, Q Source, possible late start for Abyss on the 26th?

Prayers- traveling this season, Cha-ching’s M w/ surgery Wednesday

 

I had fun planning and executing this workout.  It was fun… silly… slightly awkward at times.  But the lighthearted conversations and laughs are always welcome in my opinion.  Even so… we still logged in somewhere between 2-3 miles (who knows?) and other stuff.

 

Come out to Poopdeck Thursday for the 3.0 version of this workout!  #SYITG

 

Thanks for the opportunity to lead Jedi!

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300 and more at Alcatraz

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Two of the Fort Mill famous Run and Gun Musketeers led Saturday’s Alcatraz workout.  One, Mainframe, has been a solid, regular poster and another, Bolt, has been fartsacking too much and turning into a Kotter Q (only posting when Q’ing). Bolt arrived early to lay out his goodies.

Solid plan in hand from both. Mainframe led out testing everyone’s stamina.

Started with a lap around park then back to parking lot for normal starters – Windmills, Hillbilly Walkers, SSHs, Merkins, Mountain Climbers, and MNCs.

Warm-ups done, onto the “300”. Pretty simple concept, 10 exercises, 30 reps each. The focus was on legs and abs. The plan was to run suicides after every 2 exercises. 3 line suicide with 10 seal jacks at each line.

Exercises for the 300 were: Smurf Jacks, Flutters, Bomb Jacks, Tiny Os (15 each way), Plank Jacks, Big Boy Sit-ups, Jump Squats, Box Cutters, Monkey Humpers, & Hello Dollies. We had to skip the suicides between the last set in order to stay in the :30 time window. (It’s amazing how we get used to 20 reps on most exercises… so pushing past for another 10 can really bring about the mumble-chatter).

Bolt took over with sandbag mania , duct tape wonders at 4 of 6 stations. Pairs went to each station and did work during a time frame of about 2 minutes. The actual time was determined by the pair of PAX either carrying sandbags down the parking lot with burpee stops and/or the pair of PAX working and dragging the 140# Worm sandbag across the field and back. (trust me, that sucked). After each performance, met in the middle for some ab work, then broke out back to the stations.

The 6 stations were: sandbag carry with at least 3 burpee stops, sandbag American hammers, playground hang (as long as you can), 10# sandbag each hand or cinderblock burpees, Worm drag, Balls to the Wall.

Implementing individual stations, it should be noted, has it’s positives and negatives. It can offer some creativity. It allows for PAX to workout at their own pace. If paired, builds comraderie. But the Q has to be aware that he is no longer “directly leading”.  PAX may not push at the stations as much as if the Q was leading. Q’s should make sure they are mixing up their Q’s over time.

As a write this BB, I can tell you I am really sore in the thighs and lower back. Pushing up the rep count will do that and should be done periodically. Mixing in something unusual like a 140# Worm pull will definitely work new muscles.

Thanks to PAX for their effort. Had some good mumblechatter. It was highly unusual, but this Alcatraz stayed in the parking lot for the full hour. I’m pretty sure that won’t happen again. It was great meeting again some new PAX. Keep posting and Q!!! Thanks to PAX for helping Bolt cleanup.

COT –

Decibel requesting support with the breakdown of Badger’s business. This is what F3 is all about. Support your brothers, do what you can.

Cornerstone still collecting bandaids for the Children’s Home. Xmas party was same today, now happened, and looked like a very good time. Join Bolt in Paradise every Saturday 3:00 pm to workout and interact with the kids of the community. Volunteer at the afterschool tutoring and homework at Bethlehem Baptist every Monday and Wednesday 3:00 pm.

Bolt spoke of his fartsacking  and thanks Jekyl for the kind words about his involvement in the Paradise community. PAX, always speak up about your brothers and the good things they do.

Mainframe took us out. PAX met at DD for some F2.

 

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The Cones Return at Laces In

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15 Pax fought off the fartsack and posted to Laces In on this chilly morning.  Seeing 28 degrees is just under my over 30 degrees no tights rule, Tclaps to Stang and Senator Tressel rolling with shorts.  #RealMen   I wanted to keep moving this morning to keep everyone warm.  This is one of my favorite workouts and was excited to bring it back from the vault.  Here is what we did:

Warm Up: Run lap around student parking lot.  COP coming back to stadium which included, SSH, Imperial walkers, Windmills, Peter Parkers, Merkins to Squats.

Main Course: Mosey to hill leaving school.  10 cones.  Perform exercise at first cone then run hill.  Perform exercise at first cone then second cone, run hill.  Perform exercise at first cone then second then third, run hill.  So forth and so on.

  1.  10 Burpees
  2.  20 Merkins
  3.  20 Mtn Climbers (Double count, like you have to ask)
  4.  20 Carolina Dry Docks
  5.  20 Flutter kicks
  6.  10 Lunges (each leg)
  7.  15 Jump Squats
  8.  20 Freddie Mercuries
  9.  20 Dips
  10.  20 Monkey Humpers

Appreciate all the pax telling me how much they were enjoying the workout everytime we started a new lap.  We made it to around Dips.  Bandcamp was king for the morning and made it to the last round.  We had a great group today and appreciate the support.  Without these guys pushing me, I would have been in my comfy, warm bed this morning.  Thanks for the push and accountability.  Aye

Prayers for Rock Thrill’s Mother, Stang’s house, Bonsai’s child care, Bandcamps co worker with cancer.

Until next time, (Which might be a while considering how bad I am at writing these things!)

STH

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Big 50 Birthday bash

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Today was my 50th Birthday and Maximus allowed me to lead a Beyond so that I could take some extra time to discuss somethings that I have been pondering as I approached this milestone birthday.  To go along with our monthly theme of Vulnerable I took the opportunity to share some struggles as well.  With that we moseyed.

Warm up of SSH, Imperial walkers, Squats, Mountain Climbers, Merkins, and Plank Jacks

Moseyed to Rite Aid parking lot(some chatter about too much running, but I ignored it).

Sharing time #1 – Shared with the Pax that I feel like 30 year old me would have thought that 50 year old me would be “further along”.  Further along Professionally and Financially, Further along Spiritually and in Family.  In 2001 I was recruited to Charlotte for a position with a new company, for a salary that I thought would be my ticket ahead.  I had great plans that I could do this for a bunch of years, make a bunch of money and then I could check out and go do something that I wanted to do , maybe full time ministry or teaching.  Within 1 year it all blew up, I was demoted for not doing a good job, salary was slashed plans were gone.  17 years later we’re still feeling the affects.

First circuit – Partner up – Partner 1 does People’s Chair Partner 2 does a lap, then flip it.  Next Partner 1 does Plank, Partner 2 does a lap, flip it.  Next Partners do 100 Merkins as a team, 1 runs I does Merkins, flip it.

Sharing time 2 – Felt like I would be further along spiritually.  30 year old me would have thought I would have gotten past my need for man’s approval.  I would have thought that the sins that tripped me up back then would be conquered and pride & lust would no longer be an issue foe me, but they are still there.  Felt like I would be further along in family & parenting. My plan was to be an empty nester at this point, but here I am with a 7th and 9th grader still at home, and t top it off I’m not particularly better at parenting then I was when I 30.

Circuit #2 Partner again – Lap #1 Partner 1 does Al Gore Partner #2 does a lap.  Lap #2  Partner 1 does Flutters Partner 2 does a lap.  Lap #2 Team does 100 Big Boy Sit ups total while 1 partner runs.

Sharing time 3 – The truth is that when I look at my life with clear eyes I can see that my life has been Blessed beyond measure!  I have a job that I mostly enjoy, and work with great people(shout out to Royale) and I am well compensated.  I have a beautiful wife of 26 years and we have a great marriage that keeps getting better.  I have 5 awesome kids who are healthy and bring me great joy, and sometimes frustration.  To add to it I have found this thing called F3 and a group of friends and Brothers that I never even knew I needed!  To see my 50 year old life s anything but blessed is ridiculous.

Off to COT for 2 minutes of Mary

Final share – What I have found is that the only times that I get down about where I am at 50 is when I look around me at others and I compare myself to what  my perception of them is.  This can lead to pride but for me it mostly leads to despair.  What I am trying to learn is contentment as Paul describes it in Phil. 4, whether he had much or little Paul was content.  The source of this contentment is found in Phil. 3 where Paul shares that all of his achievements, any possession he may have or any legacy he may be able to boast about , all of is it is worthless, or as he calls is a big pile of manure, compared to knowing Christ.  Paul says he has 1 aim, and that is to Know Christ!!  The secret Paul learned is that all he need was Jesus and if he had Jesus he had all he needed, and if he had Jesus, he could never lose him so therefore he could always be content.  In whatever amount of years I have left let this be my aim; that I may know Christ!!

Thank you for the opportunity to lead.

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23

Smashing Taboo on this Election Tuesday

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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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14 posted at The Armory today to honor the service of Assassin who turned the Site Q over to JWOW.   Best of luck to JWOW for the upcoming year although I am sure he won’t need any luck as long as the Brotherhood supports him, I will, how about you?

I am not the glowing writer that othe PAX are so best that I just get to the Thang.

We started with a very, very slow mosey past the tents to the far parking lot and circled up for a warmup.

Moroccan night clubs x20

Baby arm circles x 15

big arm circles x 12

LSS x 10

windmill with KB x10 each leg

We then partnered up because the gloom is always better with a friend. The PAX then head off to a parking spot where the find 8 spots with 3 exercises chalked out the object do the first exercise and the move to the next spot until all 24 exercises are completed. The exercises:

Front raise x 10 each arm
Side raise x 10 each arm
Merkin to row x 10 each arm
American hammer x 20
Sit-ups x 20
LBCs x 20
Skull crushers x 20
Triceps extensions x 10 each arm
Halos x 20
KB swing x 20
1 arm KB swing x 10 each arm
Snatch x 10 each arm
Goblet squat x 20
Calf raises 10 each in/out/regular
Lunge x 10 each leg
Turkish getup x 20
Chest loader swing x 20
Clean and press x 20
Shoulder press x 10 each arm
Upright rows x 20
Chest press x 10 each arm
Curls x 10 each arm
Lawn mowers x 10 each arm
Squat to press x 20

Always amazes at how some PAX can blow through these 24 exercises and start a 4th round kudos to them. I am not there yet…

After completing the rounds moseyed back to COT for flag ceremony, praises and prayers.

Dungaree out

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4

High Rep Blast

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I was honored to lead these 12 Pax for a high rep kettle bell blast.

Warm Up:

We started off with a slow mosey to include High Knees, Butt Kickers, Side Shuffle, and Karoke.  From there we circled up and continued the warm up with Morrocan Night Clubs, Cherry Pickers, Small Arm Circles, Big Arm Circles, and Mountian Climbers.

Main Thing:

150 squats w upright row

200 Right Arm Shoulder Press

200 Left Arm Shoulder Press

100 Right Leg Dead Lift

100 Left Leg Dead Lift

100 Right Arm Chest Press

100 Left Arm Chest Press

100 Flutters

Annoucenments – Read your newsletter

Prayers and Praises – Prayers for those going thry mental and emotionla distress, seek help.   Continued prayers for our school leaders, kids, bus drivers, etc.   Praise for Uncle Cracker inviting Cakeboss to church many years ago.

 

 

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4

Running away from hills towards hills

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Thursday morning we ran. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Tempo so I asked Gekko what’s been going on recently so I could do something a little different. This is what we did.

  • We ran away from the hills of Tega Cay Only to find more hills (Hubert Graham and Dave Gibson)
  • Exit Trailhead towards 160
  • Right at Hubert Graham
  • Go straight at the round about into Walmart Parking Lot
  • Run around the back of Walmart
  • Cross Dam Road and Run the back entrance to Gold Hill Middle School
  • Run out the front up Dave Gibson Hill 🙂
  • Left at 160
  • Left at Stonecrest Blvd
  • Right at Hubert Graham (another hill)
  • Left Gold Hill
  • Return to Trailhead Park

Total Miles: 4.7

Several Prayers for healing, comfort, families and marriages. Always an honor to lead. Thanks Gekko.

Zima Out

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