Iron PAX Challenge – Week 1

First week of the Iron PAX Challenge.  Bolt and I arrived early to carefully measure out the 400 meter run and scope out the best place to perform the other exercises.    As the others arrived, we reviewed the menu of events for the morning.  Lots of mumble chatter about Dark Helmet making an appearance, maybe he was busy styling his hair.

Straight Up led the warm-up session with some much needed stretching.  Bolt read the description for each exercise, emphasizing the need for proper form over speed.  Once complete, we were on to the challenge:

  • 50 Air Squats
  • 40 Big Boy Sit Ups
  • 30 Merkins
  • 20 Bonnie Blairs (each leg)
  • 10 Burpees
  • 400 M run
  • Repeat 4 times

Great effort and encouragement by all.

Here are the times for the HIMs:

Straight-up  29:45

CSPAN  33:45

Trucker  33:35

Bolt  33:14

Dirty Harry  35:50  (Impressive, second workout this week!)

Gypsy  31:03 (First time visitor to Pantheon)

Half Shell  35:00

Fishsticks  27:46

 

Prayers:

2.0s, Parents, and Teachers preparing to go back to school

New employment opportunities

2.0s dealing with disappointments

 

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Board of Pain Week 4

12 came out for the final week of the Board of Pain.  T-claps to Jekyl for bringing this back!  It is a great test to see where you at and everyone pushed incredibly hard today.  It was good to have Aquaman back in the fold and no surprise that he and Topham were out in front today with River Rat just slightly behind.  Looking forward to it again next summer.

The Thang:
Finish each exercise before moving on to the next. After each exercise is complete run out to first light pole and back.

  • Burpees – 100
  • Calf Raises – 150 (50 regular, 50 toes pointed in, 50 toes pointed out)
  • Ski Abs – 100
  • Merkins – 100 – Soprano (60)
  • Deep Squats – 100
  • LBCs – 200 – Norm (90)
  • Carolina Dry Docks – 100 – Barry Manilow (C)
  • Russian Twists – 100 – Manifold (30), Band Camp (77), Anchorman (53), Lil E (12), Trucker (???), Taz (C)
  • Mac Tar Jai– 100
  • Jump Squats – 100 – Sir Topham Hat (C), Aquaman (C), River Rat (1)
  • Mountain Climbers – 100
  • Shoulder Raises – 200
  • Mary Catherines – 100
  • Hello Dolly – 200
  • Wide Arm Merkins – 100
  • Squat Jacks – 100
  • Nippler– 100
  • Burpees – 100
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Board of Pain Week 2

Whoaaa Nelly!  Humidity up and so was the PAX count.  Added 9 men from last week for a total of 19.  Several first timers- Norm, Manifold, Sugar Daddy, JWOWW.  The Sale Boys were valiant.  My understanding is they blacked out.  Week 2 in the books and most returners improved.  Dang Sir Topham Hat comes in from the Bullpen to capture 1/2 of this weeks Virtual trophy.  No shock there.  As always #sneakyfast Fishsticks is up at the front.  See below and see you next week

The Thang:
Finish each exercise before moving on to the next. In between, complete a recovery run. Normally, distance is 1/4 mile. today was shorter but will adjust next week. Each week PAX (and returning PAX) work to better their accomplishments down the board.
F3 June week 2
The Challenge:
 Burpees – 100
 Calf Raises – 150 (50 regular, 50 toes pointed in, 50 toes pointed out)
 Ski Abs – 100
 Merkins – 100 Sunshine (C)
 Deep Squats – 100
 LBCs – 200 Norm(116), Funhouse(75), Offspring (10),
 Carolina Dry Docks – 100 Gridlock (C)
 Russian Twists – 100 Cyclops (C), JWoww (C), CSPAN(C),Shady (C), Dark Helmet (70), Lil E (45), Manifold(25)
Mac Tar Jai– Sugar Daddy (38), Trucker (15), 100 Brick (10), Harry Carry (5)
 Jump Squats – 100 Jekyll (27)
 Mountain Climbers – 100 Fishsticks (C), Sir Topham Hat (C), Bonsai (1)
 Shoulder Raises – 200
 Mary Catherines – 100
 Hello Dolly – 200
 Wide Arm Merkins – 100
 Squat Jacks – 100
 Nippler– 100
 Burpees – 100

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Beyond My Comfort Zone

14 PAX joined YHC on this day to push themselves Beyond their comfort zones.

When I was offered the opportunity to Q, I’ll admit, I hesitated for a moment. I had a busy week ahead and wasn’t sure I was up for the challenge of delivering a message during the beatdown. Then I remembered, never pass up an opportunity to Q! They don’t come too often.

Standard Disclaimer, Disclaimed

Disclaimer to my message – I felt it necessary to preface my message and inform that I’m not an overly righteous person. I come before the PAX with a heart of humility. I come before the PAX not with an attitude of confrontation, but rather with a heart for caring.

The Thang: 

Mosey around the parking lot. Karaoke left/right, mosey, high knees, ankles to chest, mosey. Ended up down the hill past the pull-up bars and circled up.

COP –

50 SSH

20 Windmills

20 Merkins

20 Peter Parkers, Honey Mooner, Downward Dog

20 Parker Peters, Honey Mooner, Downward Dog

Message: Going into the planning process for the Q, I thought I would discuss with the PAX what was going on in my life, mainly where my faith has led me to this point. I’ve been thinking a lot about my relationship with Christ Jesus because I’m 6 months into a 9 month Journey (Offically called: The Journey) with at least a dozen other PAX in which we’re learning to abide in Christ through scripture, journaling and weekly meetings. It’s an intense program that has really started to transform my level of faith for the better. I could talk more about this process (and certainly that would have been okay!), but I also knew that was well within my comfort zone. I wanted to go Beyond my comfort zone and challenge the PAX to do the same.

I decided, rather, to share how my faith walk as help me to overcome obstacles in my life.

Beatdown: 

Run to Pull Up Bars –

3 Sets:  Partner 1: 8 strict pull ups / Partner 2: SSH

Plank until 6 is finished

Bear Crawl from the pull up bars down to the first speed pump (~50 yards)

Message: James 5: 15-16

15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

I admitted to the PAX I lost sleep when I decided to go beyond my comfort zone with this message. I was anxious and uncertain about my decision. But I also knew by confessing to my Brothers, I could continue the healing process. I then shared with the PAX that I’ve struggled with porn. I was clear in sharing I didn’t put this out there lightly, without a lot of thought or consideration. These PAX I know and respect.

Why put this out there and risk losing that mutual respect? See above – James 5: 15-16.

Stats on Pornography:

$97 Billion Dollar industry

35% of all downloads are porn related

25% of all internet searches are porn related

70% of men ages 18-34 visit porn sites monthly

YHC then asked the PAX: Have you seen the affects of porn on the world? In your community? In your family?

Beatdown: 

Run to The Wall –

BTTW – 40 seconds

35 Donkey Kicks

24 Merkins in cadence

10 burpees

Message: Galatians 6:1

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

I felt it was a sign from the Lord when the  Sunday before my Q, my Pastor spent 40 minutes talking about accountability. During his sermon on accountability, I couldn’t stop thinking about the PAX.  F3 is a unique organization that a lot of good comes from. We’re a band of Brothers who desires to lock shields anytime necessary. The problem of pornography can be overcome. It’s much more likely to be overcome if you’re being held accountable. To quote my Pastor, “sanctification requires community”. Again, what an opportunity the PAX provide through this community which is F3! (#WhetStone)

Beatdown: 

Mosey to the Band Practice Field:

Sprint 40 yards, mosey 60 yards (3X).

Bear Crawl 20 yards, 20 SSH

Walk 20 yards, 20 Bomb Jacks

Bear Crawl 20 yards, 10 Burpees

Walk 20 yards, 20 Squats

Bear Crawl 20 yards, 10 Burpees

Rinse, Repeat. Modified with doing half the number of reps.  Also, we didn’t do the 40 yard sprints.

Message: Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

This habit, this drug, this problem, can be overcome. To quote my Pastor, again, “our ultimate accountability is to God”.

I wasn’t able to get beyond my problem of porn until I got serious about my relationship with the Lord.

My final question to the PAX that morning in the gloom: What is your relationship like with the Lord?

Beatdown: 

Sprint 100 yards, mosey to COT.

COT –

Name-O-Rama

Announcements

Prayers/Praises

NMM:

It’s an honor to be among the PAX. The process of preparing the message (and beatdown!) was an exhausting one for YHC.  The process also sharpened me in ways I wasn’t expecting. To revisit some bad habits of my past has really helped me to realize how far I’ve come in this life and in my faith. I thank you all for the support.

It’s was an honor to Q.

Maximus – thank you for the opportunity.

#CoopStrong

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Block Party/Colosseum Colombia Team Send off!

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt 20:28

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

61 PAX and YHC came to Block Party this day to show support to those that have felt a call to serve. As we are commanded to serve locally, nationally and globally this group of men are going global to get uncomfortable and grow closer to SkyQ. The support, prayers and encouragement from our brothers in the PAX is overwhelming and powerful. Anyone that has not realized it yet, F3 is more than a workout!

The Thang:

  • Ruckers when their separate way with Cobra Kai at the helm
  • Runners went looking for golf balls at FMGC with Pusher at the point
  • The rest of us followed YHC for a boot-camp with 40 or so of our brothers
    • Mosey down path, across the field out towards 160 for COP
      • All exercises were to 11 count for the 11 heading to Colombia
      • Plank
      • SSHs
      • Squat
      • Merkins
      • MOracan Night Clubs
      • Sumo Squat
      • Wide Arm Merkins
      • LBCs
      • Peter Parkers
      • Rosalitas
      • Imperial Walkers
    • Mosey to playground
      • Ladder work
      • Do exercise with designated reps, take a lap, add next exercise, take a lap…..
      • # of REPS Exercise COLOMBIA PAX MEMBER TOTAL REPS
        1 Merkin Bonsai 11
        2 LBC Bubba 20
        3 Squat Cake Boss 27
        Here from PAX on their WHY
        4 Burpee Crawdaddy 32
        5 Inch Worm Merkins Elvis 35
        6 Sumo Squat Fire Marshal Bill 36
        Here from PAX on their WHY
        7 Bombjacks Flat Tire 35
        8 Overhead Clap Italian Job 32
        9 Leg Raises Mr Bill 27
        Here from PAX on their WHY
        10 Lunge Hops Sir Topham Hat 20
        11 Donkey Kicks Trucker 11
    • Right up against time we finished
  • COT
    • We had 3 FNGs, Love Handles, Arrowhead and Homer
    • CSPAN prayed us out  an prayed over the whole team

YHC can thank you all for being a stable rock in my life. I can’t say enough about what F3 and each of my Brothers means to me and how it has changed my life. More importantly it has allowed me to reach men for SkyQ’s kingdom and that is the best achievement ever.

Peace Men

Cake Boss out!

 

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The Honey Badger with Schmalls and CSPAN

Disclaimer

Hot thick and extra humid (extremely poor conditions)

warmup-o-rama

mosey

shirts optional

hero review

workout review (slightly modified WOD)

  • Run 800 meters
  • 50 burpees
  • 40 pull-ups
  • 30 one-legged squat (each leg)
  • 20 squats
  • 10 handstand pushups
  • Run 800 meters
  • Repeato

COT / Prayer or Praise / BOM

NMM

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Justin E. Schmalstieg, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, assigned to the 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Camp Pendleton, California, died on December 15, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife Ann Schneider, parents John and Deborah Gilkey, and brother John.

The “Schmalls” Hero WOD was first posted on crossfit.com as the workout of the day for Tuesday, April 23, 2013 (130423).

 

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What is a minute really?

What is a minute?  It’s not very long, and they go by SO fast!  Today we had 14 PAX and we learned how short/long a minute can be!

Started with a disclaimer, and then a mosey down to the parking area past the Empire Pizza strip.

Warmup:

  • 25 SSH’s in cadence
  • 10 Windmills in cadence
  • 25 Mor. Nite Club’s in cadence
  • 25 Overhead Hand Claps in cadence

And then we got right into it.  We were not going to do much running, in fact at this point we had done exactly half of the running we were going to take on this morning.  Instead I utilized a bit of technology (having some of the standard technological issues) to setup a solid 34 minute workout in minute increments.   We did two rounds, with a 2 minute break between rounds.  The list below are the exercises we did for a minute (30 second breaks in between).

Didn’t look like too much on paper, but we got our sweat on for sure, even without the running!

  • Side Straddle Hops
  • Merkins
  • LBC’s
  • Calf Raises
  • Squats
  • Dips
  • Plank
  • American Hammers
  • Wide Arm Merkins
  • Flutter Kicks (the final round of flutters was performed at COT).

It’s been a busy summer, but I enjoyed being able to take the opportunity to Q the workout today.

COT:  Prayers

  • Bob The Builder’s recovery
  • Popper’s recovery
  • Traveling mercies for those heading out of town over the upcoming holiday

Thanks for the opportunity…

Smithers…out

 

 

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Chalk up the Pain

29 Men descended on the Colosseum for a downpainment delivered via sidewalk chalk and a discussion on You vs. You.

There are enemies around all of the time and as men we are challenged to defeat those enemies one by one. Often overlooked is the enemy of one’s true self. This may be the most challenging enemy in our effort to become a better man.

In fighting with our enemies, we often look at overcoming the battles and winning the war. For example, to overcome alcohol addiction there is a 12 step process. This works because no one can overcome the war of addiction in one step. It takes winning individual battles…or steps.

To become a better man as we are called to do in Ephesians 5, it is much the same strategy. Get a little better as part of a journey to ultimately be the man that you want to be. It doesn’t happen overnight. There is no cold turkey quitting that offers long term benefit. It is baby steps, one at a time, with an understanding that the enemy is always out there. These enemies are called pride, selfishness and greed to name a few.

The Thang

Mosey to parking lot (Lots of mumble chatter here…love it!)

Stop along the way for 5 Burpees…quieted some of the chatter

COP

30 SSHs

5 Burpees

15 IWs

4 Burpees

10 Merkins

3 Burpees

10 Windmills

2 Burpees

15 Squats

1 Burpee

Mosey to back parking lot

9 Stations  each with a different exercise and sidewalk chalk

Do each exercise for 1 minute. Write down the number of times you completed

Station 1 – Burpees

Station 2 – Flutter kicks

Station 3 – Wide Arm Merkins

Station 4 – Bombjacks

Station 5 – American Hammers

Station 6 – Jumping Lunge

Station 7 – Donkey Kicks

Station 8 – Elbow Plank

Station 9 – Carolina Dry Docks

Rinse and repeat station asking that you do 1 additional rep per station

Mosey home

 

Moleskin

  • Convergence on July 4th at Pantheon
  • Upcoming Sweati on 7/14
  • CnW discussing your One Word on 6/29
  • Tclaps to Ginsu for living the mission of #218 with another FNG – Love Boat
  • Prayers for Bob the Builder, Father in Law, Deacon’s M

It was a pleasure to lead the Pax and all 3 Fs were accomplished with a visit to Crossroads led by Bonsai after. Thanks to Jekyll for the opportunity!

Pusher out!

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4×5 At Collesium

Cakeboss did warmup I’m sure he did the usual SSH and Merks. I was fashionable late as usual QT was calling my name, thank you Lord for such nice facilities! I did make it to his 10 burpees OYO and plank curb walk 10 steps to the left then 10 back to the right x 2.

The Thang

I had Q for this part of workout. Workout we did I call 4×5. Here’s how it goes: Each exercise counts off in 4’s all the way to 20. 4-8-12-16-20. Start doing 4 count one end of parking lot then a different mode of transportation to other end of parking lot (about 75 feet) away for every different exercise. Reps go up each end of parking lot. Here’s the different rounds.

1) Hand Release Merkins with Duck Walk in between

2) Sumo Squats With Bear Crawl in between. Every other Bear Crawl was backwards.

3) CDD with Lt. Dans in between

4) Burpees with Power Skips in between. Omaha was called after 12 burpees.

5) Monkey Humpers with Inch Worm Merkins in between.

6) Time was almost up so one last backwards bear crawl 75 feet then back to COT for 2 sets of ablab. Rosalita and Hello Dolly x 10 in cadence.

Sweati is coming up July 14th sign up. It’ll suck but most CSAUPS do! I’m doing a 10k that day on trails (surprise) so it will suck too!

Last but not least my two cents or my message. I’m guilty of this big time and struggle daily. PUT DOWN THE PHONES! Invest quality time with your wife and kiddos. No phones at dinner table. Do a puzzle together. Read a book. Take your kids outside they are only little for so long. Spoil your wife. MAKE MEMORIES! I love each and every one of you guys in F3. Let’s do life together men. If anyone wants anyone to talk to I’m your man! I love helping and being of service to others. Sorry so late for backblast!

LOVE IN JESUS, STANG

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Beyond Adversity

Adversity: A state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune  through showing COURAGE in the face of adversity. 

The Beyond workouts have been influential in pushing us all beyond our normal tendencies. As each of the Q’s created hard, meaningful, powerful workouts, the messages have been even more impactful. I dug deep into why F3 has been so impactful to me for the past 5 ½ years and realized that if I wasn’t Headlocked by Sen Tressel and Decible, I would never have found the reason why I am who I am, nor stepped outside of my comfort zone. As many know, I am not one to speak messages or bring attention to my birth defect. Yes I love to rattle the Q’s and bring sarcasm – but that is to hide my anxiety and self-awareness. Growing up with a birth defect being extremely skinny and frail had a huge negative impact on me: from being prohibited from playing organized sports, to ridicule, to hash words, to being left out. Growing up I became extremely self-aware of  how I was different, how I looked, and how people looked at me. Up until college, I had no self-esteem. I was shy and timid. A college roommate encouraged me to hit the gym with him and from that point on, I became a gym rat for the sole reason to make my body look normal. That never happened, and I knew it wouldn’t. But I had to find a reason – COURAGE – to face Adversity. When Sen Tressel approached me about F3, he knew that I worked out religiously, but I bet he knew I was missing something. That was the fellowship and faith aspect of my life. Don’t get me wrong, my wife is my treasure, and she see’s through all my fallacies and understands the importance of my working out. Adversity has smacked me right in the face more often than not, and without the courage of my F3 brothers, pushing me, encouraging me, accepting me, I would not be a better man, husband, nor father. If you asked me 20 or 25 years ago to participate in a GoRuck Tough, a Mudrun, a 5k, a CSUAP, I would have said something that is not print worthy. We all deal with Adversity, we deal with it differently, but courage is the root of the means to fight adversity. I will never be normal, I will never be as strong as Maximus or as fast as Sen Tressel or courageous as Dark Helmet, or a leader like CSPAN, but without F3 and our brothers locking shields together, adversity would overrule our lives and we would not find the courage to push each of us through the hard time.

So the Thang represents one of the hardest WO’s F3 experiences. I thank Jekyll for introducing the board of pain many years ago. But I wanted to put a twist on it – different exercises and a little more running. I wanted each of us at Beyond to encourage each other to push through the adversity that the box of pain presented.

Ran ½ mile to the FMHS ROTC pull up bars. Conduct each exercise listed on box of pain, then run around the parking lot (approximately 0.3 miles). Complete as many as you can until Q halts WO.

100 LBCs

50 Burpees

25 Pull Ups

100 Big Boy Sit Ups

150 Squats

100 Merkins

100 Mountain Climbers

Wrap up with round of 10 count Abs:

A = American Hammers

D = Dying Cockroaches

V = V-ups

E = E2K (oblique crunch with RL on L knee then switch

R = Rosalitia

S = Sit ups

I = Imperial Walker on your back (bicycle)

T = Tummy Tuck (LBC)

Y = Yo Rosalitia this is Dolly (Start in Hello Dolly brings legs together then bring legs up)

Run back to COT

Thank you Maximus for allowing me to Q Beyond and for us all to find Courage to fight through Adversity everyday. F3 is a conduit to each PAX finding the courage and accountability to get through whatever Adversity your are dealing with, and F3 brothers are the foundation to help each of us through adversity.

Trucker

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