Blast from the Past

WARMUP: We welcomed two pax from years past and far off locales, Chino Grande and Uncle Sam! Then we got after it.
THE THANG: Based on a late night call from the bullpen by Cake Boss, the plan all along was to include the pax. We did some warmup moseying, then found our way to the far West side of the school and proceeded to follow a pearls-on-a-string path driven by each pax in Fartlek style. Each pax picked a destination, a form of transit and an exercise for the group once we reached the destination. Then he passed the baton to another pax. In each case, the pax shared how long he’s been posting and a bit about what brought him out to F3 and kept him posting. All learned, and all sweated. A good morning with welcome friends! Thanks for the Q stick CB!
COT: Yes! it’s one of the 5 core principles!

TClap |
0

Set your Goals…then crush em!!

WARMUP:
Dynamic warmup with running, lunges, karaoke, shuffling to various locations and performing various exercises
Side straddle hops
Hill Billy walkers
Merkins
Low slow squats
LBCs
Hello Dolly’s
Derkins
Dips
Step Ups

THE THANG:
Up and down hill at main entrance
Accumulating exercises ever stop
1 Merkin down the hill
1 Merkin 2 big boys up the hill
1 Merkin, 2 Big boys, 3 plankjacks down the hill

Get the idea

4 full squats
5 burpees
6 Wide Arm Merkins
7 SSHs
8 Flutters
9 Jump Squats
10 Donkey kick
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:

TClap |
0

Set your Goals…then crush em!!

WARMUP:
Dynamic warmup with running, lunges, karaoke, shuffling to various locations and performing various exercises
Side straddle hops
Hill Billy walkers
Merkins
Low slow squats
LBCs
Hello Dolly’s
Derkins
Dips
Step Ups

THE THANG:
Up and down hill at main entrance
Accumulating exercises ever stop
1 Merkin down the hill
1 Merkin 2 big boys up the hill
1 Merkin, 2 Big boys, 3 plankjacks down the hill

Get the idea

4 full squats
5 burpees
6 Wide Arm Merkins
7 SSHs
8 Flutters
9 Jump Squats
10 Donkey kick
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:

TClap |
0

Set your Goals…then crush em!!

WARMUP:
Dynamic warmup with running, lunges, karaoke, shuffling to various locations and performing various exercises
Side straddle hops
Hill Billy walkers
Merkins
Low slow squats
LBCs
Hello Dolly’s
Derkins
Dips
Step Ups

THE THANG:
Up and down hill at main entrance
Accumulating exercises ever stop
1 Merkin down the hill
1 Merkin 2 big boys up the hill
1 Merkin, 2 Big boys, 3 plankjacks down the hill

Get the idea

4 full squats
5 burpees
6 Wide Arm Merkins
7 SSHs
8 Flutters
9 Jump Squats
10 Donkey kick
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:

TClap |
0

We got route options

WARMUP: pre-stretching OYO
THE THANG: ran 1 big loop. Route was down 160 to White street, all the way to Kanawha up to Spratt, then down Harris alllll the way (hills included) to Munn and back to COT.

Some PAX cut over before Kanawha, some PAX added in extra down by Sam Smith or old Kingsley…but all PAX came back soaked with sweat and up 1-0.
MARY: nada
ANNOUNCEMENTS: lots in your newsletter!
COT: ✅

TClap |
0

Takin’ it back old school because I’m an old fool

WARMUP: we ran up the hill on Massey into the big parking lot to circle up. Started with some SSH and stopped pretty quick to get in cadence. 5 burpee penalty. Started over with SSH in cadence…stopped again to get in cadence. 3 burpee penalty. Started again and stayed in cadence for the most part. Moved on to sumo squats, merkins, shoulder taps, up and down dog, and finished with some back stretching.
THE THANG: From the parking lot, we ran down the grass hill over to the small lot with the wall that used to have nails sticking out (we didn’t find any of those). We did 7s here with burpees at the bottom, jump the wall, and donkey kicks at the top.

Finished here and had a short run over to the “step up” wall. Before we left the parking lot, we were reminded we have one mouth and 2 ears and if we’re thinking of our responses before someone else is done speaking, are we truly listening??

Made it to the step up wall where we did 11s. Steps up were both legs (bad idea here) and we did decline ranger merkins for the other half of our 11s (10+1, 9+2…1+10).

Left here with the plan to go to LBJ church and with 15 min left, we Omaha’s back to the big parking lot. Dora was the plan and previous site Q Bobber suggested running up and down the big hill…so we did. Partner up and Dora was: 100 diamond merkins, 200 jump squats, 300 flutters 2 count…which no one made it to flutters.
MARY: 5 min to spare we ran back to COT for MARY. Both Jackelope and State Farm got a chance to call cadence and crushed it!
ANNOUNCEMENTS: lots! Check out the newsletter! Dam to dam is coming so look for Sept 1 sign up!
COT: welcomed Stiletto who was visiting Maximus from TX, and Wegmans has 13 weeks to perfect his smoking craft as he takes care of that new baby!

TClap |
0

Dust in the Wind? No!

WARMUP: SSH, Mtn climber, Peter Parker, Parker peter

THE THANG:
Triple Bs day — bells, bricks and blocks

Bells:
10 Swings (round 1)
10 Goblet squat (round 1)
10 Lawn mower pull each side (round 2)
20 Tricep extension (round 2)

Bricks (1 pair per pax):
20 Moroccan night clubs
20 Punches
20 Overhead claps
20 Bent over flies

Blocks (1 per pax):
20 Derkins
20 Irkins
20 Overhead press
10 Man makers (blockees)

Half of group runs to each pile, completes first exercise, runs back to bells and completes 2 exercises, runs to opposite pile, returns to bells to complete sa.e 2 exercises.

Group made it through almost two full rounds.

MARY: American Hammer, Flutter

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Final Countdown coming 9/10, 10 yr convergence 9/17 am, 10 yr party 9/17 pm, The Bubble 8/4, Pints & Padres Tue pm at Amor Artis.

COT: Battle Bot was missed today. Hopefully we moved enough heavy stuff and listened to enough UHaul ear candy and mumblechatter to meet our Site Q’s standards. Get well!

Reports of Barry Manilow posting proved to be false unfortunately.

Special guest visitor posted today — Uncle Sam, fresh back from Colombia on his way to Virginia for 12+ most of education and inspiration before returning back to Colombia to continue his life’s work in his home country. great to have you in the Gloom with us and to hear your stories of Picking up the Six. Keep up your HIM efforts and example! Praise and prayers for you!

Prior Site Q Shatner was back in the Gloom today after many weeks DR. welcome back!

DaVinci proved he can throw shade with the best of the pax, dropping some darkness with a smile on Cake Boss. Watch out DOAH, he’s coming for you next!

Thanks to Battle Bot for the Q invite, my first at a gear AO. Sometimes we all need the push toward something new and different. As I persevere through a long, hot, sometimes mundane summer that at times feels like Ecclesiastes and Kansas “Dust in the Wind” this morning’s experience with the pax including dialog before, during and after gave me a real jump start to the week. Thank you!

This thing we call The Fort is special. It’s impact is actually global, as we heard this am from Uncel Sam. And it only continues if you post tomorrow. #keep posting #noOYO

TClap |
0

Badger 1 year Convergence

Thank you to our QICs of the Badger Convergence.  For those that were close with Badger and his family who was in attendance it was a blessing to see 78 strong come out in his honor.

Cyclop’s Portion of Badger Convergence

The W/O: The sets follow the dates of every March madness trip I took with badger and the 71-64 significance is the final score of the Kentucky-Wisconsin game in 2015 (our first trip) when badger’s badgers knocked off unbeaten Kentucky in the final 4.  I heard a bit about that. 😎

3 – burpees
19 – merkins
20 – squats
15 – LBCs

64 second – wall sit (people’s chair):  reflect in silence on how we leave no doubt as badger did.

3 – burpees
17 – LBC’s
20 – flutters
16 – burpees

DORA partner up – 71 burpees.  Partner 1 runs to semi trailer and back while partner 2 does burpees then switch off and repeat until 71 is reached

3 – burpees
16 – squats
20 – lunges
17 – flutters

71 seconds – balls to the wall

Reflect on leaving no doubt and what that means for each of us – then mosey to COT.

 

Change Order’s Portion of Badger Convergence

18 merkins
48 Lbc
4 burpees
9 merkins
11 side startle hops
20 freely mercury
07 merkins
39 Lbc
Run a lap in between each

Jiffy’s Portion of Badger Convergence

Headed over to the side of Parking Lot…

 

I shared the Pax my background with Badger – I joined F3 because of him.  F3 has had a meaningful impact on my life and I owe that to Badger.  I shared with the Pax how quickly things turned for Badger and encouraged them (and myself) to make sure we are using our time and resources very intentionally.

 

The workout

 

I had cones setup and the Pax did the following sequences:

  • Lunge Walk to each cone and stop and do 10 jump squats, run back
  • Bear crawl to each cone and stop and 10 merkins
  • 20 LBC’s in cadence
  • Sequence of 10 merkins, 10 plan jacks, 10 merkins, 10 plank jacks, 10 merkins, 10 plank jacks

 

  • Lunge Walk to each cone and stop and do 5 bomb jacks, run back
  • Bear crawl to each cone and stop and 10 carolina dry docks
  • 20 American Hammers in cadence
  • Sequence of 10 merkins, 10 shoulder taps, 10 merkins, 10 shoulder taps, 10 merkins, 10 shoulder taps

 

  • Lunge Walk to each cone and stop and do 10 monkey humpers bomb jacks, run back
  • Bear crawl to each cone and stop and 10 dips
  • 20 flutters in cadence
  • Sequence of 10 merkins, 10 side shoulder punches, 10 merkins, 10 shoulder punches, 10 merkins, 10 shoulder punches

 

  • Straight suicide

 

 

We then ran to the side and between a couple of islands did a Jacobs Ladder with Bomb Jacks on one side and Burpees on the other with a total of 6.

 

Great job by the Pax pushing each other and picking up the 6 at the end.

 

We headed back to the group at the end for COT.  It was an honor to serve especially in honor of Badger.

 

Trucker’s portion of Badger Convergence

Ran behind 9 rounds. Badger would have been 40 this year. So honored him with 40/4 workout. Each PAX had to do 4 rounds of 4 exercises of 40 reps with a run from 9 rounds to end of parking lot.
Merkins
Squats
LBCs
CCD

Then over to Red Bowl wall for 40 leg raises. Wall sits with 2 burpees each down the line. Repeat with 4 scorpion merkins.

Missy to oil change store. 4 PAX lined up 20 yards away while the other took 4 car tires and flipped tires to partner, return back to start. Each PAX then grabbed a tire nd did 40 shoulder presses.

Mossy to COT

 

Senator Tressels Portion of Badger Convergence

After COP, mosey to the inclined driveway by the apartment complex on Tega Cay Drive.  I gathered the group and told them that Matt was my neighbor and friend.  Our families spent time together and that Matt was active in an adult men’s soccer league.  Matt’s fight with cancer was very short and that he was gone way too soon.

 

On to the workout:

 

Jacob’s ladder, 1-7, with burpees at the top of the hill.  Plank when you are finished.

 

Walk to the grass area in front of the apartment gym and circle up for  Jack Webb’s (10/40).

 

Freddie Mercs x 20, and Hello Dolly x 20, all in cadence.

 

End with 90 seconds of the body destroyer.  As the Pax laid still and quiet,  I told them to think about how much they have, how lucky they are, and that every day is a gift.

 

Mosey  back to the Harris Teeter lot for COT

 

End.

 

Decibels Portion of Badger Convergence

 

MERKINS X25

ALTERNATING LUNGES X25

TOE TAPS X25

TONY HAWK BURPEE X15

Heals to Heaven x25

GORILLA HUMPER X20

IMPERIAL WALKER X20

EMPTY WHEELBARROW

SQUATS X20

LBCs  X39

E2K X20 EACH SIDE

ROSALITA X25

During the workout we keep 3 soccer balls moving at all time to honor Badger’s love for soccer. 

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since Badger went to be in heaven.  I was blessed to spend time with him prior to his passing.  We talked about him being saved and how important that was to him.  He let me know that his M was a big reason he was saved but also seeing my families reaction to losing our daughter and son and our dependence on God at that time.  I am saying this to let you know as Christians people watch our actions and want to make sure our actions match our words.  I encourage every Christian brother in F3 to live out your faith and in times of need lean on God just like Badger did in his time. 

My M and I received a letter from Badger.  In that letter he mentioned F3 and the support he and his family received after the diagnosis.  I remember him just being in awe of all the people that were praying for him.  He was so touched by this community that he asked that I make sure that his boys get involved in F3.  It was such a blessing to have Jeter and all the his relatives experience the convergence.  To have 78 men in our community support Badger was an emotional journey for all of us that knew him.  I had several members of his family let me know how much they appreciated the convergence and the support for Badger.  Thank you to each man that showed up!

Badger was a man I respected to the utmost.  He was not a guy that sought attention or glory, but he was always there when you needed him.  He loved his family and was a loyal friend.  I am still in awe of how he bravely prepared to walk into heaven.  It was so comforting to know he was going to see Jesus.  He told me many times that he would take care of our babies (Elizabeth Grace and Garrett) until we met up with him.  Badger was a great Father and I know he is having a blast with my kids in heaven. 

Let us all take this time to pour into, support, love on and encourage our F3 brothers. Then take that momentum and turn it to our families.  Then take that momentum and pour it out on the least and the lost in our community.  Badger knew that God had a purpose for him and that purpose was to spread the word of God’s Grace and Love.  Let’s make that happen for him.

 

 

TClap |
6

The Coop: Mixed Meters

24 PAX gathered in the gloom. The summer numbers bump is upon us. Can we stick with it when it is 10° again??

The Thang: Lots of mixed (non-4) counts

Mosey around the main parking lot covering as much ground there as possible in a zigzag pattern. Alternating High Knees, Butt Kickers, and Karaoke.

Mosey to the band practice lot
SSH x30
1 Burpee
Windmill x10
2 Burpees
Imperial Walker x15
3 Burpees
Hillbilly Walker x15
4 Burpees
LSS x15
5 Burpees
(It took until the Hillbilly Walkers for Longshanks to realize I was copying one of his warmups. Imitation is the highest form of flattery…..why fix it if it ain’t broken?)

Mosey to traffic circle COP
Alternating:
Down Dog and Honeymooner
Plank
Shoulder Taps x10
Yogi Squats

Mosey to Pull Up Bars at ROTC Building
Split into groups of 3s (CSPAN made a French joke and the PAX did 9 Burpees in cadence)
Rotate partners through Derkins, Pull ups, and Wall Sits. Called up and down for each exercises. Did about 6 slow pull ups per PAC.

Mosey to Elementary School parking lot
Partner up for alternating Mike Tysons and Bear Crawls from island to island through the parking lot.

Mosey back towards COT with a lap around the basketball court.

At COT:
Around the Worlds (12 count lunges) x6
Flutters x15
LBC x15
Catalina Wine Mixer x2 (hit 6 o’clock)

NMM:

As PAX, we regularly challenge ourselves physically in the gloom. Leaving the comfort of the fart sack to push ourselves and get better. But how often do we challenge ourselves mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Often with these challenges we don’t have to wake up and head to the gloom; they come our way without us seeking.

How do we respond to emotional challenges presented in the form of a four-year-old trying to situate their sock perfectly when it is time to go? Or mentally when there’s a civic challenge that needs to be addressed? Or spiritually when were faced with our own demons?

Addressing and improving physically is a wonderful thing, but we as PAX must strive to better ourselves emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as well. Otherwise we are always out of balance.

TClap |
0