Bushwood – Black Diamond(ish)

L-Train originally asked me to Q a black diamond because he was working on an EH that did a lot of gym work. Wanted to show a pretty fit FNG what an outdoor workout is like. FNG dropped out, but we pressed on anyway. Hardwood allegedly got his heart rate up to 200bpm….that’s pretty high buddy; might want to keep an eye on that.


We ran around a bit.

Mile buy-in at a pretty fast pace
SSH x39
IW x10
HW x10
Some downdog/updog…..black diamond or not, warmups matter
Kraken Burpees in cadence…..that’s a 16 count
Toy Soldiers

Run up to lot at the front of the school
Bear crawl through the lot to the stop sign
add a Kraken burpee at each island…there were 4 islands

Run down to end of the sidewalk
Mountain Climbers for the 6

Run on the by-pass until we could get to the sidewalk leading to the elementary school
Front lot of the school
Bear crawl through the lot to the stop sign
add a Kraken burpee at each island…there were 4 islands

Front of the elementary school
1 squat
lunge walk to next pillar
2 squats
lunge walk to next pillar
etc.
stopped at 10 for time
Run back to CRHS the way we came…traffic was heavier

Bear Crawl/Crawl Bear up and down the hill to the band practice field in a zig-zag for the 6

Run down to drainage hill…bear crawl down and through
BTTW – Shoulder taps

Run to edge where there were some support for hands (signs, fire hydrant, guard rail, etc.)
Called pistol squats in cadence, but gave an option to modify to regular squats….apparently YHC was the only one doing pistol squats. So, we wrapped that up.

Run to lot near football field
Dying Cockroach
Hello Dolly

Run up the hill to COT
0600

NMM

What’s a black diamond to me, may not be a black diamond to someone else. But I felt we were challenged today. The real black diamonds for me are keeping my temper in check around my kids. I can bear crawl with you as far as you want an 0530, but I need to find more kind words with my family at 5:30pm.

Let’s not shy away from what are the real black diamonds in our lives.


Band Camp dismissed

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5

You good with a shoulder workout…good

Man, it’s a good day when I get to Q with Spiderman and our full Shieldlock posts. It was steamy, the bugs were active, we worked a lot, struggled to breathe a little and I have to believe, we’re all better for it. I’m writing from memory and that means the details are fuzzy. If you feel slighted, you should’ve been there.

More or less, it went like this…

Spiderman on Q with a few warmup exercises.
Run out the back of WEP, down the never-ending path to the bottom of Harris St…you know what’s coming. Spiderman marked chalk lines up the major hill to our left.

At the bottom, 2 alternating V-Ups (like a killer dying cockroach)
Run up to the first chalk line, 2 Spiderman Merkins…how fitting
Run down to the bottom, for 4 alternating V-Ups

Run up to the second chalk line, 4 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the first chalk line, 2 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the bottom for 8 alternating V-Ups

Run up to the third chalk line, 6 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the second chalk line, 4 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the first chalk line, 2 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the bottom for 12 alternating V-Ups

Run up to the fourth chalk line, 8 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the third chalk line, 6 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the second chalk line, 4 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the first chalk line, 2 Spiderman Merkins
Run down to the bottom for 16 alternating V-Ups

Yeah, that was a smoker which covered about 2miles total. Hand off to Maximus:

Make our way back on the trail with a few stops for exercises as a group, along the way.
Line up on one end of the park.
Bear crawl until I call out Carolina Dry Docks or someone takes a break from the bear crawl, at which point we’d do a burpee (so much better).
After a few stops, we made it almost 1/2 way across the park then circled up in the grass.

Full set of Jack Webb using the traditional exercises. You know, since we didn’t do much with shoulders.

Afterward, we made our way to the playground.
Grab a spot to do pull-ups and do 1 burpee into 5 pull-ups, starting from a dead hang. Do this set 3 times.

A few ab exercises then COT.

Read your newsletter & check in on Tinsel.

Spiderman & Maximus

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BlockParty: M and being the right guy

New day everyday to start new!!

19 PAX came to BlockParty to wrap up “M” month and have a slice of cake 🍰

we moseyed and did some warm up

3 corners of 5 burpees each

3 lanes of bear crawls

3 lanes of broad jump burpees

3 lanes of lunge walk Merkins

1.5mi running

As for the “M”

💥Continue to Honor her, court her and love her like it’s day 1

💥Need to stop trying to change her and be the change and right guy

💥Best thing for your kids is to love their mother more than a self

peace out ✌🏻

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June FNG Jamboree

Prepare yourself to get uncomfortable for the greater good of the community. We always brag about how tough we are and how we are not afraid to do “Hard Things” with our bodies to strengthen our 1stF; but how about we challenge ourselves to get uncomfortable by asking dudes to come out and join us in the gloom. Official rules and scoring will be presented in the near future.

In summary, we are challenged with the task of giving this thing we call F3 away in order to invigorate male community leadership. We need to get guys out and in shape, so they can help other men to better our community.

WHO: All Pax

WHAT: FNG drive!

WHEN: Month of June 2021

WHERE: We will be competing between AO’s located within the Fort region to see who can bring out the most FNG’s in the month of June.

WHY: What we have in F3 is amazing and there is a pandemic of sad clowns that need to be unshackled. We will not get to 250,000 men by 2025 if we don’t add them one at a time starting now.

Again Official rules and scoring will be presented in the near future.

UPDATED RULES AND SCORING BELOW:
YHC has gotten his matrix on and made a fancy little workbook to keep track of the points per AO and it should even give a visual plot if everything works out as planned. But as Iron Mike says the plan is probably going to change once someone punches me in the face. So the format is simple. Every AO for himself. This makes the siteQ’s in charge of their site’s performance. I know some of you know that it’s not fair that some locations have more pax than others. Well, that’s true and life ain’t fair princess so get over it. But in an effort to encourage more participation we will have two winners, the outright winner, and the normalized winner. The normalized winner will be the site that has the highest point total after being normalized for the average attendance compared to the average attendance for an AO for that day of the week. Don’t worry Trucker its just math for all of us to try and catch up to you.

So here is the point breakdown:
FNG 1st time posting: 1000 points
FNG 2nd time posting: 1500 points
Cotter : 500 points
VQ : 250 points
Downrange Post : 200 points

To start this party off I will post the spreadsheet on google drive and share the link but if we run into issues I am prepared to put the data into the sheet myself for the first week. If the site Q’s will make sure I am informed of the FNG’s that will help get you credit for your site.
Sample worksheet and chart shown below, hopefully.

JuneFNGJamboree_TheFort2021

*New Kids for F3 dads don’t count for the F3 FNG but its a great introduction to getting them to post kidless later on in the week. Spam the crap out of those classroom email lists before the school year ends fellas. Whats the worst that can happen….don’t answer that.

I will be challenging siteQ’s to encourage PAX to get outside that bubble of friends you normally hang with and give this gift away. Imagine where you would be if you were still a sad clown.

Stay frosty my friends,
Olaf
Build those guardrails out of bricks!

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Marriage isn’t Chuck E. Cheese

YHC had the privilege to lead 24 other men through a stations workout with a discussion on the transformational relationship with our Ms. Conditions were perfect – 62 degrees and a slight breeze. The Disclaimer was disclaimed and we were off. Here’s what we did:

The Thang

  • 20 SSHs (IC)
  • 15 Imperial Walkers (IC)
  • 10 Low Slow Squats (IC)

Mosey to Top of Main

  • 20 Alternating Shoulder Taps (IC)
  • 15 Mountain Climbers (IC)
  • 10 Merkins (IC)

Mosey to First Baptist Parking Lot

  • 2 Burpees at 10 stations

Mosey to behind the Police Station

  • 20 Squats
  • 15 Calf Raises
  • 10 Turkish Getups

Mosey to Top of Main

  • 20 LBCs
  • 15 Bomb Jacks
  • 10 Tempo Merkins

Mosey to the corner of Tom Hall and Monroe White

  • 20 Alternating Shoulder Taps (IC)
  • 15 Mountain Climbers (IC)
  • 10 Merkins (IC)

Mosey to Academy and Monroe

  • 20 Squats
  • 15 Calf Raises
  • 10 Turkish Getups

Mosey to Mosey to behind the Police Station

  • 20 LBCs
  • 15 Bomb Jacks
  • 10 Tempo Merkins

Mosey back to COT

  • 20 SSHs (IC)
  • 15 Imperial Walkers (IC)
  • 10 Low Slow Squats (IC)

Total Mileage – 2.20

NMM

We call our wives “M” because she is the Most important relationship we have. That relationship is transformational. Before marriage it was “me” and “her.” Once married, “we” became an “us.” It is no longer solely about you. You are to serve your M. You are to pursue joy with her – even when things are tough. Its not a game. There is no scoreboard. There are no winners and losers and no one gets a participation trophy. We are to love her as Christ loves the Church.

Society tells us that marriage is 50/50. Let me assure you that is a farce. There are times it is 80/20. There are times it is 20/80. As John Michael Montgomery once said, “Life’s a dance you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.” Marriage isn’t about keeping tally of who has done what. This isn’t Chuck E. Cheese – you can’t trade in your emptied dishwasher tickets for a guy’s weekend. That’s not how it works. You empty the dishwasher so she doesn’t have to. You set the example for your children so they know how to be a good husband one day or what to look for in a future husband. They are watching, so make your actions count.

It was my pleasure this morning to have the opportunity to lead today. I was encouraged by the push from the guys and the mumblechatter at the stops. Today personified why F3 matters so much to me. But remember, if your focus becomes more about the fitness and fellowship with your friends and less about loving your wife, your concentrica is out of alignment. Keep each other accountable and pursue your wife. Let her know she matters. Don’t seek relationship maintenance. Instead, keep accelerating. Don’t meet in the middle, go the distance and serve her.

Aye!

Italian Job

 

 

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Crowded Colosseum

As I caught my breath after a two mile pre-run with Straight-Up and Shady, I noticed the line of headlights from the cars arriving.  I wasn’t expecting to have as many Pax this morning, but this was a good problem.  In addition, we had an FNG, Jorge, dressed with cut-off sleeves and ready to roll.

After the disclaimer, We moseyed to the elementary school parking lot for the standard warm-up exercises (SSH, Windmills, Imperial Walkers, Moroccan Night Clubs, and Planks Stretches).  Lots of chatter so it was time to step it up a notch.  We ran down to the bottom of the hill on Dave Gibson Blvd.  The next exercise I borrowed from Spiderman’s Q at Alcatraz.  We partnered up and wheel barrowed up to Patricia Lane.  Each time the partners switched up, they had to perform five burpees.  Extra credit Ab work for those who completed early.  We were not done yet, we finished up the wheel barrow exercise at the end of Patricia Lane.

Next, we jogged over to the office building for a round of Dora 1-2-3.  Same partners, one partner would run around the parking lot while the other started on the list of exercises ( 100 Hand-Released Merkins, 200 Dips, 300 Squats).  Mumble chatter died down, men were focused.  Once complete, we had enough time to jog back to COT.  I mentioned to stay with your partner and find out something new about him.  I think it is good for us to make those personal connection to reinforce F3 is more than a workout group.

Great job by all!

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Humane, Inhumane, Inhuman

Some 14 PAX broke off from the larger Bushwood/Snake Pit conglomerate with a kettlebell in their hand

Warmup:
Yoga – much to everyone’s “enjoyment”
KB Windmill – nobody even pretended to like this one
SSH
Large Arm Circles
Shoulder Taps
Mountain Climbers

Short Mosey:

Dan John’s Humane Burpee
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings (It was here that BOB tweaked his back)
4 Goblet Squats
4 Merkins
15 KB Swings
3 Goblet Squats
3 Merkins
15 KB Swings
2 Goblet Squats
2 Merkins
15 KB Swings
1 Goblet Squats
1 Merkins

Short Mosey

YHC interpretation of an Inhumane Burpee (5 rounds)
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins
15 KB Swings
5 Goblet Squats
5 Merkins

Short Mosey

Break from the routine:
10 R Single Leg Deadlifts
10 L Single Leg Deadlifts
10 R High Pulls
10 L High Pulls
10 R Racked Split Squat
10 L Racked Split Squat

5 R Single Leg Deadlifts
5 L Single Leg Deadlifts
5 R High Pulls
5 L High Pulls
5 R Overhead Split Squat
5 L Overhead Split Squat

Short Mosey – taking a new path

YHC’s addition of Inhuman Burpee (5 rounds)
15 KB Swings
6 Goblet Squats
6 Merkins
15 KB Swings
7 Goblet Squats
7 Merkins
15 KB Swings
8 Goblet Squats
8 Merkins
15 KB Swings
9 Goblet Squats
9 Merkins
15 KB Swings
10 Goblet Squats
10 Merkins

(interspersed this with 1 rep of pistol squat or burpee snatch between for variety)

NMM:

Genesis 3:9
First question in the Bible is God asking “Where are you?” Let us be the men who can answer and not hide. To say “here I am Lord.”

Praises: Gotcha Day, that we still have work, new babies
Prayers: job losses, work surprises, cancer, snake bite, surgery recovery, BOB’s back

Thanks for the opportunity to lead 3D:


Band Camp dismissed

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Month of the M

YHC was fortunate to be called out of the bullpen by Bobber.  Prior to the workout, YHC was asked to offer a few thoughts on marriage during the beatdown.  Being a novice at that topic (but constantly trying to improve through learning and practice), it seemed appropriate to consult the Q source.

Last evening, fittingly, the M and 2.0’s came with me on a tour of downtown Fort Mill where YHC furiously scribbled out 5 stations worth of exercises designed to align with each of the 5 points of M preparedness as cited in the Q source.  YHC’s M fittingly remarked that I was getting a workout before the workout.  She was right.

Upon arrival this morning, YHC pulled in the lot at 5:08 to be greeted by numerous PAX – some of whom (Stang, cough, cough, Stang), arrived sans gloves.  All were quickly reminded to get them if they did not have them already.   After a few PAX scurried in at 5:14,. all were disclaimed and we moseyed off to Kimbrell’s after the 5 core principles of F3 workouts were voiced.

The COP – because Slapshot was present (and because YHC felt like it), 5 burpees were done in between each of the following exercises done in cadence:

Windmills – 10 D/C, Imperial Walkers – 10 D/C, Low Slow Squats – 15 then holding people’s chair while doing 10 D/C  Moroccan night clubs I/C and 10 D/C air presses I/C.  Then we moseyed off to M preparedness station #1 – Maintenance = deceleration

Station 1 – Unity Presbyterian – because status quo enables no movement, we decelerate, therefore PAX were asked to do 7’s in a jacob’s ladder format – kracken burpees at the top and squats at the bottom of the driveway.  Planking was done until the 6 arrived back at the top of the hill.  The lesson was reinforced and on we moved to station 2.

Station 2 – Fort Mill 1st Baptist Church – Culture is a Jester.  When it comes to our relationship with the M, culture denatures and softens marital relationships (we meet each other halfway, etc.).  PAX did the following circuit – an exercise for each of the light poles with some free exfoliation for those who went gloveless as there may or may not have been some bear crawling between stations.  40 squats, 30 SSH’s, 20 wide arm merkins, 10 hand release merkins, 20 regular markins, 30 SSH’s and 40 squats before returning to the parking lot entrance to re-emphasize culture’s hindrance of acceleration and moving on to station 3 – the crowd pleaser.

Station 3 – Fort Mill Church of God – There is NO 50 yard line.  The relationships with our M require more than 50% effort.  It requires our best to be aligned because we know if we aren’t aligned at home in our most important earthly relationship, it becomes next to impossible to have alignment in the other relationships within our concentrica.   Since we must operate in the red zone, PAX were instructed to bear crawl more (maybe much more) than 50 yards downhill to the red zone where 5 burpees awaited   Then PAX returned to the start via crawl bear (crowd pleaser) uphill.  The return was somewhat slower than the start…….somewhat.

Upon completion – movement to Academy street left YHC to cover the last two points – because one of  the PAX incorrectly answered that the M is our best friend (spoiler alert – point 4 – the M is NOT our best friend), YHC had to graciously call out the gaffe and assign 5 burpees for the miss.  We then proceeded to articulate the 5th and final point – Joy trumps happiness and then moseyed back Academy Street – safely crossed the railroad tracks and sauntered into COT – roughly 2 1/4 miles later.

Announcements were made, prayers were offered for Stang’s mother in law, Pusher’s Mom/Esso’s MIL, and fittingly for marriages. Stang graciously took us out in prayer.

NMM – to look around the group this morning, YHC could not help but be filled with a feeling of gratitude.  Mumble chatter, fellowship, hard work doing things together we would very likely not to do on our own and the feeling that YHC has so many other brothers beside him to do life.  It eases the feeling of burden we often face.  YHC has said before that Q-ing is an honor.  And when Bobber made the call asking YHC to stamp the passport and trek east of the Peach Stand, there was only one answer.  I am better prepared to face each day because of those who choose the hard thing and encourage YHC to the same.  For that, my thanks and gratitude go out to each of you.

Meantime, study and practice the 5 points reviewed.  Alignment at home means greater alignment and impact downstream – the call being asked of each of us.   Until next time, thank you, gentlemen.

Cyclops

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Mini-training day

(For the record since it’s been a while since I’ve posted a backblast, I actually wrote this the morning after the workout and sadly it took me another fully week and then a couple days to copy and paste it…at least I’m making some kind of backblast progress…)

Aren’t all days in a sense training days?

Today, 9 men gathered, 3 had miles on their minds so split off for laughs and miles but could have just been laughs and coffee as YHC wasn’t there to witness.  Regardless, 6 men set off for the unknown.  Before any setting off happened, we had ourselves a little warm-up.

Slick: 20 SSH, 10 man makers, 25 SSH, 5 man makers

With heart rates higher than 5 minutes ago, we rucked up, gathered our 3 sand bags, and headed towards the church parking lot.  Wait…we first had Mainframe and Maximus do a quick demo on how to transfer a sand bag the proper way since a majority of the crew is headed to GrowRuck Grandstrand next week.  Demo concluded and we trekked off.  At the arrival of the church, we did 2 group sand bag handoffs, somewhat successful, and started on the first pain station.

While 1 guy ran / shuffled, with ruck, around the church parking lot circle and acted as our timer, the remaining 5 did the following exercises:

  • Plank hold
  • Flutter
  • Merkins
  • Squats
  • Overhead ruck press
  • Upward row with ruck

Next, we got in a ball of man of sorts, but YHC asked the guys to close their eyes and “mix around” while all the time keeping our eyes closed.  The goal of this exercise was to play with our minds and remove our site so communication became key since vision was impaired.  During an event, it’s going to be dark and disorienting and a guy, or guys, will need to find their voice BUT, also be ready to listen.

  • Objective 1: organize ourselves by height from tallest to shortest in a single file line
  • Objective 2: organize ourselves by age (days matter) in a single file line

Objective 1 – fail by ¼-1/2 inch.  Tinsel is working out too much and has stunted his growth.  10 burpee penalty

Objective 2 – pass

In summary, communication is key, but details matter.  How much is too much communication?  Depends on the situation and if penalties are involved.

Loaded up and moved to the fire station with sand bag transfer happening and Ruck event war stories filling the early morning air!

Arrived at fire house and unloaded gear.  Next up was “jacob’s ladder” modified version.  1 end was burpees and other end was squat presses with ruck (so this was done slick).  Counting was starting at 7 for both exercises and working our way down to 1.  Finished this by 0555 with not a lot of time (underestimated distance to COT) to get back.  We did see the space shuttle walking back which filled more questions about alien invasions and why is that plane’s lights facing the wrong way, etc.

Made it back to COT where we did the normal….aside from ball of man which we may have done for those that were ok to participate.  I will tell you that it felt pretty awesome.

Thanks to Tinsel for the opportunity!

Shady

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Block Party 4.6.2021

Catch up BB 4/5

Warm up

Arm/Leg ballistic stretching

SSH/Burpee Pyramid

 

Topic: Accelerating Fitness

Why are we here?

Why do we “take it easy” when it comes to fitness some times? We have the opportunity to be in the gloom. That’s right – an opportunity to be here. We aren’t forced here. It isn’t something that a judge or authority figures ordered us to do. We choose to do this. We get to do this. 

So why, then, is the temptation to “mail it in” so great, even when we go through the trouble to wake up at zero dark thirty? In the famous words of Youts: “We don’t wake up early to half-ass it.”

Mosey down Confederate Street to Withers, turn right to 4 way stop signs

ISI DORA

Partner up and challenge each other. DORA style but keep your reps secret from each other. After both PAX do a round of the movement, reveal the number of reps completed. Loser does the difference in a harder exercise while the winner gets a less difficult movement.

Legs – Run up Withers to Meachem & Back

Loser – Bomb Jacks

Winner – Squats

Bonnie Blairs

Monkey Humpers

Apollo Ono’s

 

Abs – Run down Academy to Forrest & Back

Loser – In & Outs

Winner – LBCs

Big Boys

American Hammers

Flutters

 

Arms – Nur up Withers to Confederate; run back

Loser – Diamonds

Winner – Wide Arms

Merkins

CDD’s

Dips

 

Putting somebody into your corner. 

The use of a brother (or several brothers) to motivate and push you. We are only as strong as we tell ourselves we are. And… spoiler… when we’re in the the thick of it – we’ll try to convince our own bodies to quit. Why?

Maximus quote: “I would have never completed, much less attempted, the GORUCK HTL without these men by my side. They knew the headspace I was in. Physically, I knew I could do it, but mentally, that is where I lacked confidence. These men saw to it that I wouldn’t train alone and each of them had their own motivation.”

There’s power in surrounding yourselves with like minded individuals. 

Mosey back toward Veteran’s Park for COT.

 

Punch List out.

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