We had 17 for a 6 mile run at 6 at 6. Ran to the QT for a biscuit.
It was rainy, cloudy, dark, in other words perfect weather for a convergence. We had roughly 55-60 PAX out for the variety of workouts that were about to be executed. Disclaimer disclaimed, FNG identified (Randy from heaven on earth (aka Pittsburgh) , and we launched.
Bootcamp Q : Slapshot
Bootcampers followed me up the hill and towards the springs parking lot. After a quick plank for the 6 we moved onto to the parking lot across 160 behind the former bank and now drug store for the warm-up.
Warm-up:
50 SSH (IC)
20 Merkings (IC)
10 Michael Phelps (IC)
5 Windmills (IC)
20 Mtn Climbers (IC)
Stretch
20 Plank JAcks (IC)
Mosey to the other side of the parking lot.
DORA: Partner up with someone you haven’t worked out with. Run was around the drugstore and through the parking lots.
200 Plank JAcks
200 Toe Touches
200 SSH
150 Diamond Merkins
100 4-Ct Flutters
Recover Run Back towards COT.
Tabata Series
30 Seconds on 10 seconds off
4 Rounds 4 sets
Last 7 minutes: 10 Burpess EMOM (which was reduced to a an 11 of sorts after minute 5 where we started going 10 burpees plus 1 BBS, then 9 burpees plus 2 BBS….etc… until we had about 20 seconds left.
I had everyone recover on their feet and then add 1 last Burpee.
NNM: I spoke today about one of the many examples of what F3 has meant to me. Specifically, the other day I was out for a pre-run where I started out at a “comfortable pace” already deciding in my head what I was “good” with that morning. Then about 2 miles in I came across a fellow Pax who got to the AO early and decided to go find me. We started to run together and my “comfortable pace” got very uncomfortable very quickly. All told, when we got back to COT I had increased the pace I was running at by over 35 seconds. He literally found me where I was, didn’t leave me behind, and pushed me to accelerate. It is what I needed then, and it’s what I needed 5 years ago when I started F3. I never knew how fast I could run, until I started running with faster guys. That Friday morning was a great reminder that I can always push more, that I have plenty of gas left in the tank, and that somewhere out in the gloom a brother is willing to go find you and get you better. (Thanks Olaf)
Whether you are accelerating 1F or the 2nd and 3rd, run with faster guys and don’t just be comfortable. You never really know what you are capable of until you push just a little bit more.
AYE!
Running Q Bandcamp
Speaking of Running with faster guys…Bandcamp executed a 10K route where he was able to hit a PR. The route went all over the downtown Fort Mill area. Again, men surround yourself with HIMS you never know what you’re going to be able to do.
Ruck Q : JWOW
Ruck to Church of NAzarene
10 rounds –
5 merkins at the bottom then 10 squats at the top of the stairs.
Rucked to Print Shop
20 step ups and 20 dips
Rucked up Main STreet and back to Wep for the chair swing loop at each chair swing 5 squats and 5 CDD’s One more half loop to COT.
Kettlebell Q: 38 Special
Leg stretches for a couple minutes while us 40somethigns PAX complained about our joints
The Thang:
10 each of Arm Curl and Press, tricep ex. and overhead press. Grabbed bells and went for a stroll around the park. Bells always farmered carried. We used the park equipment to tell us what to do. Each Swing 20 swings, Statues 30 Standing Tesh with squat each arm Bathrooms = 20 squats same set as the start upon our return.
Paired up for a dora
100 Goblet Squats
200 Calf Raises
300 Flutter with chest press
6 minutes to go carry back to bathroom and back 1 minute of squats and 1 minute of swings.
IR Q: Kermit
Took a nice mosey around downtown Fort Mill and even down to the Peach stand and back. Big thank you for leading this piece and not leaving any men behind!
Post Workout JWOW led us in prayer and we named a FNG The name Cannonball.
80ish of the Fort’s, Lake Wylie’s, and Rock Hill’s finest converged this fine Monday to celebrate and show our support for the Darkest of All Helmet’s becoming the new Nantan of F3 Nation.
After my usual disclaimer and a giving of thanks for those who all showed , Dark Helmet led the warmup. As any true leader would do he quickly refreshed (and reinforced via burpees) the core mission of F3 and our core principles. After a rough start we did eventually nail it. After some side straddle hops and merkins the Pax were released into their own unique workout groups.
HERO WOD(Honey Badger)
This was my Q and I’m always humbled to lead Hero style workouts. They should be hard but also purposeful. For me I have created two unique workouts to honor different men of my family who have served. They would be the last people to ever consider themselves heroes. But that’s why I honor them. They sacrificed more than I ever could and I will always be inspired by them. I hope that in this very simple way their stories help inspire others.
For the purpose of today’s workout I truncated both them in the interest of time.
The “Uncle Paul”
I encourage anyone to Google the USS Pueblo Incident to get the full details but the long and short of it is that my wife’s Uncle Paul was a member of the USS Pueblo crew when it was captured by North Korea in 1968. For 11 months he was help captive as POW. Tortured, sleep deprived, and subject to all sorts of propaganda he along with 81 of his ship mates were eventually returned to the US. As a result of his PTSD he hasn’t been able to sleep for almost 50 years.
The Workout:
82 SSH (IC)
11 Burrpees OYO.
1 LAP around the Earth Fare Complex.
As we returned to our starting position I began the Second Hero Workout of the day. The “Sgt. Major”. This one is a WOD I’ve done before for the Honey Badger and is about my father who was a Command Sgt. Major in the 28th ID. Again for the sake of time I limited the usual 3 miles I try and incorporate into this workout for 3 laps instead. The exercises are as Follows.
28 Burpees
1 Lap
28 Burpees
56 Squats
1 Lap
28 Burpees
56 Squats
112 HR MErkins
1 LAP.
(Pick up the 6 if you can)
This pretty much took us up to the bell after a brief visit by the ruckers. Thanks to all who broke off to me to indulge me and these workouts. They are supposed to be hard and challenging and I hope we all got our money’s worth.
Running Boot camp: Sweep the Leg – FishTix
Group was split into teams of 4. Relay race around the parking lot two stops with exercises. Two runners traveled to stop 1 and stop 2 respectively while the other team members did the exercises at the stops. Once the runners arrived the running duties were handed off. Process was continued until the closing bell.
Stop 1 Exercises: HR Merkins, Dips, Burpees, CDD, Mike Tyson Merkins
Stop 2: Jump Squats, Flutters, Mnt Climbers, Lunges, Box Cutters
Rucking – VA – Olaf
4 corners with low slow squats, merkins, Lunges, and shoulder taps. After round 1 got a 40 and a 60 pound sand bag to spice it up. The bags were rotated around by the Pax.
Kettlebell – Armory – BandCamp
4 Rounds:
16 clusters (clean, squat, press
16 single arm swings (alternating)
16 lateral lunge with a row (8 a side)
Short Mosey
Some overhead lunges and suitcase deadlifts when the heart rates got too high.
Running – Flight Plan – Bass-O-Matic
Ran a bunch 🙂
At 6:00 I blew a whistle and we all reconvened for the longest Namearama I ever conducted a brief reminder of the Rooster, to read the newsletter and to have our Nantan of the Fort Esso lead us out.
Best of luck to Dark Helmet in his new role! Let’s all continue the mission!
AYE!
13 at SlowBurn for a warm morning of some Slow and some Burn… if you did it right!
Mosey around parking lot
Warm up
Slow – partner lines – split into groups of 3 count off within 1-2-3 or 4 (3 rounds each)
Burn – 10,9,8….1 – with 3 second break between (lap around parking lot then plank or LBC) – Exercise then lap around the track
WARMUP: all Exercises IC: SSH, IW, Squats, LBCs, MNCs- Flying Squirrels between each set
THE THANG: Yog to guardrail on the side of Lowes, 10 Derkins, 15 Dips, 20 step ups. Rinse & Repeat. Then mosey to one corner of Lowe’s & partner up. Partner 1 runs clockwise around the building, Partner 2 run counter clockwise. Meet in the middle for 5 partner Merkins. Run back to startex and do 5 partner Big boys (locking feet together). 3 rounds
MARY: 5 minutes of Broga led by Change Order
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Shovel Flag handoff, Weezer to Peach Stand. Inspired words from both of these High Impact Men.
COT: Find Some Joy in life and share it with others. May it come back to you tenfold.
Short Sale out.
Dirty dozen went back to basics this morning at Alcatraz. Here what we did:
10 Low Slow Squats (IC)
15 Side Straddle Hops (IC)
15 Seal Jacks (IC)
10 Imperial Walkers (IC)
String of Pearls around the park
DORA – 100 Merkins, 200 Squats, 300 LBCs
Mosey to “Breather Hill”
10 Burpees
Down the hill and back
20 Wide Arm Merkins
Down the hill and back
30 Calf Raises
Down the hill and back
40 MNCs
Down the hill and back
40 Overhead Press
Down the hill and back
30 Jump Ropes
Down the hill and back
20 Diamond Merkins
Down the hill and back
10 Prison Cells
Down the hill and back
Mosey back to AO
10 Flutters (IC)
10 American Hammers (IC)
10 Freddies (IC)
10 Hello Dollies (IC)
3.16 miles total
NMM
The Mission of F3 Nation is to “plant, grow, and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership.” Fitness brings the guys in, but fellowship keeps them coming back. I know I can count on my brothers in the best and worst of times. Through F3, I found what so many lack: true friends. Faith and living third through service unlocks our leadership capabilities. I’m a better man when I serve others.
Our core principles are simple:
It’s free. All it costs is your effort.
It’s open to all men. Full stop. All means all.
It’s outdoors, rain or shine. The elements make you durable.
It’s led on a rotating fashion by your peers. No certifications necessary. When you lead, we follow.
Finally, it ends in a COT. The COT is what separates us from workout groups. In the COT, it doesn’t matter if you were the fastest or if you had the best form, all that matters is that you care for the guy next to you. I think our world could use a lot more COT.
The Credo of F3 is “leave no man behind, but leave no man where you found him.” We pick up the six at every workout, but it doesn’t stop there. These men will walk beside you when you’re high on the mountain or low in the valley. We are there for each other physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. These men are there when it matter – always.
The mission, credo, and core principles are simple and if we follow them, we can change the world, one man at a time. So strap in, hold on, and enjoy the ride. If you stick with it, you’ll be the man your family and community deserves. And you might have a little fun on the ride!
Aye!
Italian Job