Read directions and go…

Short mosey over to band practice parking lot with some high knees, butt kickers, and high skipping.  Next we circled up for the following warm-up:

  • SSH, Imperial walkers, cherry picker, mountain climbers, Moroccan night club, hillbilly walker
  • Stretching – downward dog, honeymooner, sitting down with knee up pressing elbow on knee to stretch your back, and last we laid on our backs and pulled knees to chest

Then on to the fun.  Staying on the practice field parking lot, we had 2 sets of activities spaced out 40 yards.  One station had cinder blocks for us to play with.  We split into 2 groups where the goal was to perform the first exercise on the list (some OYO and some in cadence) then run the 40 yards to the other set of activities starting at the top of the list, performing that exercise, then back to station 1, etc.

Station 1 – w/ blocks

5 Block shoulder press (x2)

10 Lunges (10 each leg) with block

20 Curls

30 Dips on block

40 American hammer with block (single count)

50 LBC

60 Ski jumps

60 Calf raises

50 Plank jacks

40 Squats with block

30 Bench press

20 Row with block

10 Merkins using block alternating arm (10 / arm)

5 Plank alternating shoulder taps (5 each)

 

Station 2 – no blocks

5 Burpee

10 Diamond merkins

20 Knee to chest jumps

30 Mountain climbers

40 Monkey humpers

50 Seal jacks

60 SSH

60 Moroccan night club

50 Shoulder presses

40 Crab cakes

30 Flutters

20 Flying squirrel

10 Durkin (get partner to put feet on back)

5 Dive bombers

 

Wrapped up and mosey’d back to COT and met up with #lacesout group.  We all had the pleasure of having FNG – Gilligan join us from Florida.  Thanks Pusher for dragging him out!  Had a great time and glad we made it through all exercises with no PAX left behind!

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A Primer on The Mission and Principles of F3 served with a side of pain.

Another day at The Ballroom dawned clear, cold and windy. Kept the Shovel Flag in the trunk for fear it would be blown away. Excellent mixture of veteran and new pax were ready to get warmed up and take on the Weinke. Think that we got some Pax scared away from Jedi’s Q at Golden Corral.

Mosey around the school for  COP:

  • Windmill* 10
  • IW * 15
  • SSH * 20
  • Merkin * 10
  • Squats * 15
  • Plank-O-rama
  • DIAMOND MERKINS *10

Mosey to hill between PKES and PKMS. Word on the Misssion of F3: For our NEWER PAX: WHAT IS THE MISSION OF F3? PLANT, GROW AND SERVE MEN’S SMALL WORKOUT GROUPS FOR THE INVIGORATION OF MALE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.  The Nation is here to serve the Pax not the other way around.

Partner up FOR MODIFIED DORA 1,2,3

P1 RUNS TO TOP OF HILL, P2 DOES EXERCISE

54 Donkey Kicks TOGETHER with your Paartner, 108 MERKINS, 216 LBCs, 324 SQUATS. PLANK ON THE 6

Mosey to wall- Word on the  Core Principles of F3:

  1. Free
  2. Open to Men of all ages, fitness levels
  3. Outdoors, rain or shine
  4. Peer Led
  5. Ends with a COT

Peoples Chair while each Pax does 5 Bombjacks. Mosey to field-partners do 20 leg throws, 20 cherry pickers, 20 Big Boy sit ups (ouch)

Circle up for some scorpion dry docks & Jack Webb.  Back to COT and a word on one of my favorite F3 themes- PROVERBS 27:17-AS IRON SHARPENS IRON, SO DOES ONE MAN SHARPEN ANOTHER.

The camaraderie and banter among the Pax today was great to experience. Never hurts to remind the group how this crazy thing called F3 came to be and, more importantly, what it stands for. Always a pleasure to lead even when the Q-drenaline means a night of fitful sleep.

This is Short Sale bidding you a pleasant adieu.

 

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Creative Misery at the Rock

When Smuggler organized this Q combo, he must’ve known a lot of PAX were looking for that Saturday morning push. After some banter back and forth between the WEP Q’s and us Alcatraz Q’s, we were pleasantly surprised to see car after car after car roll into Runde Park this Saturday morning. The weather was warm and the PAX were primed with the early mumble chatter. With the typical “don’t hurt yourself and don’t sue if you do hurt yourself” disclaimer, we took a very abbreviated (10yd) mosey to the right side of the parking lot (a slight teaser for what was coming).

Jog to the other end of the lot and back then repeat.

Walking lunges 1/2 way down then high knees to the end. Same thing on the way back to the start.

Windmills & deadlifts to warm up the legs a little more then mosey to the top of “THE HILL”

PAX squat for 20sec then jog to the base of the hill followed by an all-out sprint back to the top of the hill and squat for the six.

Repeat for a 40sec squat hold then the jog down/sprint up and squat for the six.

Repeat for a 60sec squat hold then the jog down/sprint up and squat for the six.

Find some curb and 50 calf raises each leg.

Mosey to the field for a circle up.

This was when I think they really lost my mind…Lt. Dan’s (1 squat and 4 jumping lunges (2ea side counts as 4)) and we went to 8:32 before handing it off Tesh!!

With Tesh on Q, you just had a feeling this was going to get bad.

With the PAX in a very long plank:

5 Merkins

10 Mountain Climbers

5 Merkins

10 Peter Parkers

5 Merkins

Various Tesh-approved CORE exercises

Mosey to the fence line:

Merkin-Turtle crawl (can’t explain…you had to be there)

10 Merkins

Bear Crawl 50yds

More Tesh-approved CORE exercises

10 Bombjacks x 3 rounds

Mosey to the playground and split into 4 groups

Rotate through 5 pull-ups & 10 dips. For those waiting, hold the Al Gore pose.

Yet more Tesh-approved CORE exercises

Repeat the above 2 lines

Closed it out with 6min of Mary which couldn’t end fast enough.

Announcements: Yeti (Newsletter), Reading in Paradise

Prayer Requests: Praise for Palmer family, Cornerstone’s family, continued prayers for the Family & Friends affected by the recent tragedy’s our community has experienced, our officers, job transitions, marriages.

I’m sure Smuggler will get a little verbal backlash on this but hey, it made us better and everyone crushed it.

Maximus & Tesh

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Slowburn – Pain Stations +

25 PAX gathered at slowburn for a saucy workout.  We gave a quick disclaimer and welcomed 2 FNG’s.  It wasn’t long and we headed out for a short mosey.  We circled up and I turned over the warm up to Fogarty for his V Q.

Fogarty started us off with some of the usual:

SSH
Imperial Walkers
Speedy Windmills
Peter Parkers
Mtn. Climbers
Merkins
Moroccan night clubs
2 double merkin burpees (where’d that come from?)

Fogarty turned it back over to YHC for another Mosey. I gave a shout out to Quickbooks for his intro that he did a couple of weeks back and I tried to do the same giving a little background on YHC. I’ll spare you all the details. Dark Helmet was observant to realize that my years of marriage did match up to how old my son is. That dude’s sharp! I closed out the intro with Romans 5:4. Look it up, it’s a solid verse on building character.

On that note we moseyed to the back of Lowes for some chalk scribble that was planned for the PAX.

We broke into two groups with 3 stations. Each group started on either far end would do an exercise and sprint to the middle station do an exercise and then return back to their starting point for the next exercise. Instructions seems easier that the PAX wrestled with, but they quickly got the hang of it. Here are the pain stations:

Station 1:
Merkins
Shoulder Taps
CDD’s
Mtn. Climbers

Middle Station:
Calf Raises
Squats
Lunges
Donkey Kicks

Station 3:
Leg Raises
LBC’s
Hello Dollies
Flutters

Round 1 15 of exercise run to the middle and then back for the next exercise until all 4 exercises are complete then run to the opposite Station. Do the same thing 15 of each run to the middle. When finisished with 1 and 3 then rinse and repeat with 10 of each exercise. This took us right up to time.

Jailbreak back to COT. Welcome to the fold Moab and Jake Brake FNG’s.

Thanks for the opportunity to serve!

Bass-o Out. <><

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Post Snow Cold Burn

11 at SlowBurn … label me disappointed, is it the cold? Is it the snow on the ground? Prepare Yo Self, put on some mittens and a cap and get out here … please (apparently I don’t say please enough)

Filling in for an injured PAX …

The Thang:
Mosey down the hill and circle up. Reps were 10x or 15x (sprinkled in 25s for OH Claps & MNClub). Burpees (1 or 2) in between each exercise after the first few were in the books. Windmill, Imp Walker, Plank-o-Rama (stretch it out), MNClub, LBCrunch, HR Merkins, Hillbilly Walker, OH Claps, Dying CR, CDDock, LSSquat, MNClub (yes, again), Freddie, Travolta (14 burpees in between).

Mosey to the lot on the other side of Lowe’s, run from the wall to the other side of the parking lot doing 7s, 1-6,2-5,3-4,4-3,5-2,6-1. Burpees and HR Merkins. Back to the wall … sit while the two ends pop out, do 2 burpees and return to the wall, until the ends meet in the middle. Recover. Back to the wall, everyone Bear Crawl from one end to the other. Recover.

Mosey to the front of Lowe’s. 3 station suicides.
Run, Shoulder taps 2ct x10, run back
Run, Shoulder taps 2ct x10, Donkey Kicks x10, run back
Run, Shoulder taps 2ct x10, Donkey Kicks x10, Monkey Hs x10, run back

Back to the big lot for some cool down, stop on the way for calf raises, 10x forward, 10x point in, 10x point out, OYO. Big lot … Squat, Mahktar N ‘Diayes, OH Clap, LBCrunch ….couple more ?

Indian Run back to COT

Looks like we made it,

Barry Manilow

 

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21’s , 25’s, Shuffles and Word of the Year

Thankful for the men that posted this morning, particularly those that faced challenges or just didn’t feel up to it as they went to bed last night. I wasn’t sure how many would show, with temps dropping into the 30’s after a somewhat “warm” week.  T-Claps to Spitz, who put in a couple of miles with a pre-run prior to #Footloose.

The Thang

With disclosures shared, we moseyed to the side (basketball) lot for warm-up, although some claim it was coldest spot at the AO due to wind.

SSH x 15

Imperial Walker x 15

Low Slow Squat x 15

Arm Circles Sequence (Tiny Circles Forward x 10 , Tiny Circles Backward x 10, Big Circles Forward x 10)

Monkey Humpers x 10

Plank Sequence

21’s – This  is a GREAT exercise. It gets everyone on the same page, focused on what we are doing and what we came out to do. Straight from http://f3nation.com/exercises/  : In unison PAX does 2-count side straddle hop and counts reps 1-5 out load. Reps 6-21 are all mental and everyone must stop together at 21. If anyone stops early or goes over Q has PAX perform penalty workout of Q’s choice.    

Since we are overachievers, we did these as 4-count.  First try, resulted in “penalty” of 5 Burpees OYO. The second set resulted in a flawless finish by the PAX, aided by Spitz’s “STOP” at the end of 21 reps.

Mosey to small lot, beside football field, to see if we could find a spot with a little more wind.

A moderate version of 35’s, 25’s was the same concept but with fewer reps. Complete the exercise at each corner with 25 reps, next round is 20, and so on, until final set is 5 reps.

Carolina Dry Dock

Lunge

LBC

Mountain Climber

This took a while longer than I expected and I was going to audible the last set (of 5), but the PAX was having none of it! I appreciate everyone wanting to complete the rotation and see the set through to the end.

Mosey to benches. Wall sit to wait on the six.
Six in and we hit the parking/lane dividers.

Run up 2 cones, shuffle, up 2 cones , shuffle to the end.

Turn around and side shuffle through each cone. (leg burner)

COT

Moleskin

Lots of good mumblechatter this morning, but we were able to stay focused on why we climbed out of bed and came to a workout in 30-something degree weather….to get better. Hopefully, Spitz finds a nice place to take the M to celebrate 22 years. Congrats!

T-claps to Caddy Shack and Magnum for posting after what sounded like really tough, tiring weeks. T-claps to Skate or Die for encouraging and bringing out BridgeGate. And to BridgeGate for posting again. It doesn’t get easier, you get better.

Several PAX shared their “one word” for 2018 and I hope you all have yours. Kindness, we each have an opportunity to display this, but  subconsciously choose another route, such as  apathy. We should challenge ourselves to display kindness at every appropriate opportunity. Sustain, this is the time of year where everyone decides to make big, sweeping changes. The challenge lies in our ability to sustain those changes. Sticking with small, DAILY, changes is how you get there. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It didn’t crumble in a day either. Just win each day and you’ll get to your goal. Action, stop getting ready to get ready. Step toward whatever it is that you want to do and take action. Goals without action are just dreams.

#LeanIn.  One thing for sure is that we will all face challenges. At work, at home, physical, mental, spiritual, financial, the list goes on and on. Be the man that leans into the challenge. Face it and take it on the same as you do a workout. Don’t shy away from it.

Prayers for all those that expressed them in COT and for those that were unspoken.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to Q. I am humbled and strengthened by the support of the PAX. For Iron to Sharpen Iron, it must be strong.

See you in the Gloom.

Beacon

 

 

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Footloose – Balmy weather

What a difference a week makes.  Who would have thought we would be out in tee-shirts and shorts after a week of the teen temperatures.  Fortunately the rain finished up a few hours before we kicked things off at 5:15.  17 PAX were ready for a saucy challenge.  We started out with a mosey around the FBC parking lot Indian run style.  Towards the end it became quite comical with more mumble chatter going on than running.  So Ihad to circle up quickly to get back control.  We did a few rounds of SSH, Moroccan night clubs, merkins and imperial walkers.  Then off for another mosey down to the Church of God parking lots.  We circled up again for a few additional paleo exercises while the six rolled in.

The Thang:

We started out with 4 corners, but made it crisscross style to keep the cardio going.  Do 1 exercise and go to then run to the next corner.  Once you finished the round plank it up in the center for a dealers choice exercise.  Then on to the next round.

Round 1 (15 reps) : Flutters, Calf Raises, Peter Parker, Shoulder Taps

Round 2(15 reps) :: LBC’s, Lunges, S.S.H, CDD’s

Round 3(15 reps) : Hello Dolly’s, Squats, Mtn. Climbers, Merkins

Rinse & repeat increasing the reps to 20.  That was a big hit with the PAX.

Round 1 (20 reps) : Flutters, Calf Raises, Peter Parker, Shoulder Taps

Round 2(20 reps) :: LBC’s, Lunges, S.S.H, CDD’s

Round 3(20 reps) : Hello Dolly’s, Squats, Mtn. Climbers, Merkins

Jailbreak back to COT for some mary to wrap things up.

Appreciate the opportunity to lead such a fine group of men!

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Frosty Footloose

11 PAX gathered in about 18 frosty degrees at Footloose.  The most important thing is that they showed up!!!  That is the first step – show up!  Great job.

The work:

A brief disclaimer followed by Windmills and SSHs with a mosey to a church parking lot.  YHC has no idea which church it was as there are about three or four within rock throwing distance.

The main work was centered on a triangle – enough of the four corners – we went with the triangle symbolized by the triangle of pain, the Illuminati or the Taco Bell Stacker.

Three stations, with three rounds at each station with legs, abs and upper body.  After each rotation the PAX ran up and down the church stairs.  On round followed by a brief moleskin and then rinse and repeat.

With time still permitting and the temp only dropping the PAX serpentined the stairs followed by 50 calf raises.  With still more glorious time remaining,  we Indian ran to downtown FM and back to our COT.

We prayed for Squeaky’s daughter as well as Reece and Maggie – Mr. Clean’s 2.0s.

 

The moleskin:

When I was in college one of my room mates uncles was a priest.  Often, on Sunday, he would call and if we answered (no cell phones in 1981) he would ask whoever answered if we had been to Mass.  When I said no, he asked why.  Why?  Because, I said, I got nothing out of it.

Well, he said, it isn’t about you.  It is about you supporting the others are that are there.  By your mere presence you may mean something to someone.  And . . . maybe, you will benefit.

It is the same with posting in  the gloom – we are there to support each other.  To lend encouragement, a hand when someone is down, to offer advice (its free so its worth what you paid) and to just be there.

 

That’s all – Twister out.

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The Ballroom_ Moon River and some CakeBoss!

6 PAX joined YHC at The Ballroom on this 12 degree morning. We all have a choice and if we think its cold outside, you need to ask yourself what is colder….the temperature or leaving your brother alone at an AO? I know some are sick and injured, but its also the easy choice to stay in the fartsack….I been there. However if you are choosing the easy route each day…..when faced with two tough choices you won’t be prepared. Yes, posting with your brothers in cold, rain miserable conditions…..makes you better prepared. 5 years of this, I can tell you that making the hard decisions and converstations that I don’t want to have but need to have…..have come easier because I posted with my brothers in all conditions.

Enough on that!

The Thang:

Immediate COP:

  • SSHs
  • Low Slow Squats
  • Moracan Night Clubs
  • Merkins
  • LBCs
  • Parker Peters

Mosey to school benches

  • 2 x 15 derkins
  • 2x 20 dips

Mosey to side of school

  • People’s Chair
  • Each PAX run around set of cones, until all complete

Mosey to football bleachers

  • Gaze at Super Moon

Mosey to endzone of football field

  • Run field to cones on field an do exercise to reps of yard marker 10, 20, 30, 40, 50
    • Run to 10 – 10 burpees and run back to end zone
    • Run to 20 – 20 donky kicks and run back to end zone
    • Run to 30 – 30 Merkins and run back to end zone
    • Run to 40 – 40 Lunge Hops and run back to end zone
    • Run to 50 – 50 Sumo Squats and run back to end zone
    • Run to 40 – 40 Ski Hops and run back to end zone
    • Run to 30 – 30 Wide Arm Merkins and run back to end zone
    • Run to 20 – 20 Leg Lifts and run back to end zone
    • Run to 10 – 10 Inch Worm Merkins and run back to end zone

On 6

  • Freddy Mercury’s
    • Bearcrawl to 5 yrd line and back
  • Rosalitas
    • Bearcrawl to 5 yrd line and back
  • Hello Dollys
    • Bearcrawl to 5 yrd line and back

Mosey to COT

  • Moracan Night Clubs
  • Squats
  • SSHs

YHC talked to the guys about not waiting for the calendar to flip, the next day or year but choose to make the changes needed in your life. Do it now! Get started on getting better now and don’t wait. Especially if you need to know Sky Q. I made the decision to put him first in my life and all other areas have benefited since making that change…..and not waiting to do it. Get better today and don’t hesitate!

  1. Joe Davis run Saturday with warm up at 0715
  2. 1/12 convergence at Baxter Harris Teeter 3rd F after
  3. Yeti 2/24

Prayers:

  1. Kids, patience, health, injuries, being better men and leaders in our lives

Thanks Short Sale for the opportunity

Cake Boss

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WARMUP

-Mosey to behind school: SSH (20), Merkins (10), LBCs (20), Morrican Night Clubs (15)

THANG

-Light pole with 5 Burpees, 10 Merkins, 15 CDDs, 20 LBCs, and 25 Squats then go back the same five poles doubling the counts

-Mosey to gym wall and do a series of PAX led exercises and wall sits

-Mosey to the front hill and do a 10 to 1 (Merkins/Squats) while going up and down the hill

-Mosey to the benches for 20 dips and 10 Dirkins (X2)

-Mosey to COT for PAX led Mary

COT

-Understand your individual spiritual gifts and plan to use in 2018 and focus in on your individual word for 2018.  Choose to be KIND in all your interactions.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

-Next Saturday Joe Davis Run (any AO’s open?), 12 January Convergence followed  by 3rd F at Eternal offices, Feb. 24 Yeti planned for ~14 miles

PRAYERS

-Mr. Clean, family, and individual thoughts, hopes and plans for 2018

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