Tag: Wild Thing

Jedi’s Post-iversa-Q

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You would think that I’d have some sort of snarky intro to open my backblast for my anniversary Q. But, writer’s block. I blame peanut M&M coma. #keepingitclydesdale

YHC was pleasantly surprised when 11 PAX joined me in the gloom for my poorly hyped celebration. I blame the site Q…  Special recognition goes out to Phish, who is in town for the training YHC runs for his job. Poor soul didn’t know he’d be seeing me in the gloom before putting up with me all day. Anyway, the disclaimer was given and we jumped right into our warm-up. SSH, low slow squats, Moroccan night clubs, and windmills were all done in cadence to some forgotten number before we rolled out.

When I was EH’ed a year ago, my very first post was to a running AO. I hate running (shocker, I know), and at that point I hadn’t run in well over a decade. Not intentionally, anyway. Copperfield gets credit for bringing me out, and since he was training for his marathon, we did a lot of running for my first week. So, to commemorate my first post, we went on a run around Rivergate, working out to right around one mile (we cut out the full loop done for pre-runs, which is ~1.6 miles). Final destination: the fountain.

Mini Moleskin 1

My first big takeaway from jumping into this F3 thing was, you have to put yourself out there and do the uncomfortable thing if you’re going to get better. I hate running, but more than that I hate getting vulnerable and walking into a new situation where I may or may not be accepted. The first couple weeks of posting were more of a mental battle, trying to get over myself, step out, and meet some people because, let’s face it, I had no friends. I wasn’t going to make friends by sitting on my six, so I had to do the uncomfortable thing. Like running. Or meeting a group of guys I’d never met before in a dark parking lot in the wee hours of the morning.

Back to the workout…

Next to the fountain were 10 balloons (taped to cones so they didn’t blow away). Inside each balloon was a card with an exercise and a number of reps. Pretty simple here: pop a balloon, the group does the exercise for the given number of reps, then we all run a lap around the parking lot. Originally the run was around the traffic circles, but that got shortened after the second round.

Exercises completed:

  • 100 hillbilly squat walkers
  • 1000 burpees
  • 400 jump squats
  • 700 squats
  • 500 diamond merkins

Reps were evenly distributed among the PAX, but those completing their reps first were encouraged to pick up reps from those still working. As a team, all reps were completed, with probably some extras thrown in for good measure.

Mini Moleskin 2

After surviving the first couple weeks with F3 last year, I realized that this group was special. It’s been years – probably at least a decade, if not longer – since I’ve had a group of guys who are willing to step in and help out in a moment’s notice, with pretty much anything. Guys who are willing to encourage you, push you, or be a total idiot with you. We aren’t in this life alone, and F3 is a tangible example of that reality. We aren’t made to do it alone, so stop trying, get over yourself, and reach out. There are people around ready and willing to help.

Back to the workout…

With just a couple minutes left, we had to get back to COT. We could run (blech), or we could partner carry. Having recently dropped weight through the generosity of food poisoning, I wasn’t as burdensome as I have been in the past. Nevertheless, Witchhunt took one for the team and carried this Clydesdale halfway back. I lucked out in that deal, as he weighs maybe 160 pounds. All PAX gathered at COT for a final word.

Mini Moleskin 3

In addition to having a group of guys around to help out or be an idiot with, the community here goes deeper than that. These guys are willing to step in and carry your burdens when you can’t. We have PAX in our region who have gone through some awful experiences, just in the past year. Watching the community step in and do for them what they can’t do for themselves at their times of greatest need has been incredible. We can carry each other in a workout, but it’s something entirely different to carry each other through the hardest times. It is an honor to be able to be a part of this.

It’s not about the workout. It’s not about ourselves.

It’s about our brothers.

This is why we do it.

And this is why we give it away.

There were announcements. Read your newsletter.

As for prayers, here were a bunch, but the big ones I remember are recent friends and/or family members of PAX who have died of cancer. Pray for those left behind as they mourn the loss yet continue on.

Thanks to all the PAX who posted with me this morning, and for those who didn’t post but have been a part of this journey. It is an honor to get to serve you.

Jedi

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Lots of balls at the Swamp!

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Short notice Q for the swamp bootcamp this morning could very well be my last before I move to Everett Washington. A lot of Ruckers, only 5 of us for the boot camp.

Thang:

COP

mosy to target balls for the main event:

one armed merkin each arm and a regular merkin at each ball, running between each

15 squats and bear crawl to each ball

5 burpees and lunge to each ball

10 monkey humpers and crabwalk to each ball

last thing we did I beleive is a variation of belching, sprint to each ball and drop to 6 inches, sprint forward and repeat when Q says go. That one actually was pretty intense.

Kept things simple but painful.

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GC 7/10

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7 bootcampers and 5 ruckers showed up for the buffet.

After a disclaimer by Olaf, we went our separate ways and bootcampers mosied around HT and started COP.

COP – MNC x 15, IW x 15, LSS x 10, Merkins x 10, PP x 15

We then made our way to HT where YHC had set up some cones for the main event.  PAX did 7s (but really 8s) of big boy sit-ups and burpees, bear crawling to the first cone and crab walking back.

For the main event, PAX did suicides starting with 1 SSH x 10, 2, 1 SSHx 10 Plank Jack’s x 10… Building up to 4, 3, 2, 1 SSH x 10 plank jacks x 10 bomb Jack’s x 10 and ski abs x 10.  We then rotated through again with squats, lbcs, monkey humpers, and diamond merkins.

After the main event we sat on the wall a did some burpees, and finished up with some mary.

Met up with the ruckers for COT.  Sweti coming up, read your newsletter.

Thanks decibel for the opportunity to lead

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Taters beat down

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23 Pax, 19 for Bootcamp and 4 Ruckers

Welcome FNG Mill-Billy

It’s been a while since Tater had the Q and he did not disappoint!

He gave the disclaimer and we were off to mosey, Toy Soldiers, Butt Kickers, Knee to chest, Karaoke

COP Did a few exercises here to get nice and warm before we mosied over to the fountain and partnered up

Dora 1-2-3-4 100 Derkins, 200 Step-ups, 300 Dips, 400 LBC one partner ran the loop while the other partner did the exercise

We got through one full round and started our way back down before we stopped and returned to the COT area to do a little Ab-Lab

Excellent work! It was not an easy workout and we were all challenged!!

Great work Tater and the PAX!!!!!!

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Burpee Temple Of Doom

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Preamble:  On a cool summer morning with a breeze coming off of Lake Wylie, 8 brave Pax rolled on in to the PoopDeck for my second ever Q.  After watching the new Paramount Network on my cable TV and seeing them replay all 4 Indiana Jones movies over and over again add-nauseam, I got the idea for a Temple of Doom style workout, but with cones shaped into a pyramid, not an actual temple.

Right off the bat I had the Pax do 5 burpees OYO.  After that I had the Pax mosey on over to the COP for a nice relaxing warmup.

Arm Circles-1 Burpee

10 Cherry Pickers-2 Burpees

10 Windmill-3 Burpees

10 SSH-4 Burpees

10 LSS-5 Burpees

10 Break Dance ‘mericans-6 Burpees

20 Dips-7 Burpees

10 Mountain Climbers-8 Burpees

10 Imperial Walkers-9 Burpees

10 3 count punches-10 Burpees 

The Thang

I welcomed everyone to the Temple and told the Pax my reasons for the theme of the workout which I wrote about in my preamble above.  There were four tiers to the Temple with the first tier consisting of four cones with four different style of Burpee’s per cone.

1St Tier:

1st Cone: 5 Spider Burpees

2nd Cone: 5 Break Dance Burpees

3rd Cone: 5 Jack-Ass Burpees

4th Cone: 5 Plank Jack Burpees

We crab Walked to the second tier where more fun awaited us.

2nd Tier:

5th Cone: 10 Hand Release Burpees

6th Cone: 10 Punching Burpees

7th Cone: 10 Switch Burpees

We Bear Crawled to the third tier.

3rd Tier:

8th Cone: 15 SSH Burpees

9th Cone: 15 Mountain Climber Burpees

We partner carried to the pinnacle.

Pinnacle:

10th Cone: 25 Burpees

After surviving the Temple we mosey’d back to COT, where I realized we had 9 minutes left, time for an Ab-Lab!

Ab-Lab:

10 count American Hammer

15 count Freddie Mercury’s

20 count side planks

10 Big Boy Sit Ups

10 Box Cutters

Rip Cord to Boat

10 LBC’s 

15 Dying Cock-a-roach’s

Observations:  I was so wiped I forgot to do the video name-o-Rama, I will get better and stronger!  

Cancer and heart disease sucks, we are losing loved ones seemingly daily to these horrible diseases.

Prayers to those Pax looking for work.

Grateful to Peg for the opportunity to lead!

 

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2 Year Anniversary of The Abyss

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Today we celebrated 2 years of the Abyss.  When the shovel flag was planted 6/29/20016 by Dark Helmet the Abyss was merely an idea that “if we build it….they will post.”  And post the PAX did!  Over the past year and half it has been an honor to be the Site Q of this versatile AO and I appreciate all the PAX who have come out and led a workout.

Q got to the AO with seconds to spare due to an emergency bathroom visit at a 24 hr Harris Teeter in route.

Once disclaimers were given and the 5 F3 Principles given (due to FNG) we were off.

Quick mosey around the front half of the AO to allow all stragallers to exit their vehichles (ehem…Wildthing) and then to a warm-up circle.

Warm-up

  • Windmill
  • Weed Pickers
  • Moroccan Night Club
  • Slow Low Squat
  • Plank (a few Broga moves)
  • Merkins
  • Stretch with knees to chest

The Thang

I told the PAX that I wanted to highlight a few of the “features” of the AO during the workout so we started with the Flag pole.

  • Bear Crawl around circle in front of school

Mosey to very back hill of the AO for a series of hill exercises

  • Lunge walk–Sprint to top
  • Broad Jump–Sprint to top
  • Basketball shuffle Flip half way

Mosey to the Basketball court for some Suicides

First Suicide–

all four goals and back

Second–

  • Start with 10 Squats
  • 2nd Goal–10 Merkins
  • 4th Goal–5 Burpees

Mosey into “wet and muddy” field

  • Elbow Plank position with Peter Parker’s
  • Jack Webs (everyone’s favorites)

Mosey to “the hill”

  • Finished strong with 5 sprints up the hill

Mosey to COT.

Everyone pushed themselves and got better for it…includding FNG who was off to the side threatening to Merlot.

Once Namorama was finished we welcomed FNG Oompa Loompa!

Announcements and Prayers

Thanks again for all the PAX who came out today to celebrate this AO.  We had 24 there and we have set the goal for 30 next year!

-Bones

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BEYOND – CONFIDENCE & SELF-WORTH

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Being the BEYOND Q has been something that I’ve found to be quite intimidating after the first few that I attended. I’ll admit, I’m not the most experienced in the 3rd F. How will I find a message that will resonate with the PAX? Will it impact them? Will it move them? These are all of the questions that have been on my mind since getting on Q schedule for BEYOND.

5 brave PAX split from the group and went off into The Gloom with YHC.

Pre-Amble:
Throughout the majority of my life I’ve had the luxury of being able to take the easy way out when things got tough. High School Sports Injury? Rehab is too hard I’ll just find something else. Finding out the career you want involves hard classes and real work? Find something easier that takes less effort. Tough time finding a job? Take the first and easiest option instead of facing rejection. I can’t even count the number of goals I’ve set for myself and just sat back watched as goal date just floated on passed.

What do all of these easy way out decisions lead to? Regret. They lead to happy hours and late night talks about how I could’ve done X, but (insert lame excuse here). They lead to late nights saying I should’ve been Y, but (insert lame excuse here).

Where does all of that come from? What makes it so easy to compromise? I think it comes from not knowing who you are as a man, or what is important to you. I’ve spent most of my life trying to assimilate into whatever peer group would have me. Tupac summed up my teen years the best, “I hung around with thugs and even though they sold drugs, they showed a young brother love”. The quickest way to make friends in college? Find the party or hang out in front of dorms and meet the smokers. So far, probably not the most High Impact Men to surround myself with.

Enter F3 about 2.5 years ago. This group of men has given me confidence. It has built enough self-worth in me that I can now look people in the eyes when I talk to them. It has given me the desire to want to finish what I’ve started, to complete the task, to not accept not meeting the standard. The saying we’ve adopted is “Do the Harder Thing”. That is how I want to live my life.

Today the feeling of regret stops. Today we come back to one task, one goal that has eaten away at me slowly for 18 mos…

THE THANG
About halfway through our F3 Custom GoRuck Challenge, after carrying heavy logs and each other, Cadre Danny and Cadre Flash challenged us to a PT Test.

100 Burpees
Run 1.1 Mi
50 Burpees
Run 1.1 Mi
Time: 32 minutes (for the vent they added an extra few minutes)

My time the first time was over 40 minutes.

All participants finished in 31 minutes or less!

Thank you Maximus for the opportunity to lead.

Until next time in the gloom,

Wild Thing out!

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Gym Jones and a little DORA

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It’s been a while since I’ve been back to my old stomping grounds at The Deep and thought this would be a great way to warm up for BEYOND coming on Monday. 9 PAX answered the call in The Gloom. Here’s what went down:

Quick Disclaimer and Mosey over to the parking lot in front of The Office (slight location adjustment was needed due some leftover splashed merlot).

A brief warm up followed.

THE THANG
A while back Facebook into me to Bobby Maximus and some of his Gym Jones challenges. It goes like this: Set a timer for one minute. Starting at one increase by one Burpee every minute until you can no longer complete the number of Burpees in that minute. This group pushed themselves to the limit and made it 15! For those who don’t want to do the math that’s 120 total Burpees

With all the PAX sucking wind we slowly moseyed over to the building and partnered up for a little DORA. With a partner complete 100 Dips, 200 Squats, and 300 double count Flutters while their partner ran to the parking island and back.

With the PAX sufficiently smoked, we moseyed back to COT.

MOLESKIN
F3 has impacted my life in more ways than I can count. I shared today that for most of my life due to various factors including being bullied, I have never had the confidence to look people in the eyes while speaking with them. I didn’t feel worthy. It felt intimidating. While I’ve held leadership positions, I’ve never known what it took to be a leader. F3 has given me the confidence to finally do that. The mental shift that happens when all of a sudden you lead and others follow is life changing. It’s downright empowering. These 45 minutes or hour leadership sessions have not only impacted my relationships, but my professional life as well.

There’s your preview for BEYOND. Check out the next BB for PART II.

Wild Thing Out.

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6/19 GC Ruck

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With the first of my 3 Q’s this week we jumped ventured into the world of GoRuck with their Wednesday Workout from last week. It went something like this:

Partner Up and grab a sandbag
Movement: One mileish to Tega Cay Elementary switch sandbag as needed
PT with your partner: 50x Sandbag Front Squats
50x Ruck Merkins
50x Ruck V-Ups
Movement: Ruck back to COT

YHC got a little aggressive with the distance and movement which impeded finishing the second round of PT

PAX put in great effort. I’m sure I’m missing some from the tag.

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PAINtheon Games 3.0 (The Time I Posted the Scores)

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This morning 9 Pax woke up and chose to do the harder thing. It’s not like they didn’t know what was coming (they did). It’s not like they had never done this before (most had). They just chose to get better.

PAINtheon Games was born out of doing something stupid (see: CSAUP) to celebrate the anniversary of Pantheon. We then decided annually wasn’t enough and we hold the “half anniversary” at the Coop (I digress). So Pax showed up to celebrate the 3 year anniversary of Pantheon. This is how it went down…

Warmup: SSH, Windmills and Mountain Climbers

Mosey to front of school. PAINtheon games begin:

  • 2 Minute AMRAP Merkins
  • 2 Minute AMRAP Sit-ups
  • 2 Minute AMRAP Burpees
  • 100 Yard “Bear Crawl” Dash
  • 1 Mile AYG
  • Timed BTTW (as long as you can hold it)
  • Timed 6” Hold (as long as you can hold it)
  • Burpee Chase (Race the Carpool Lane .33 mile and do 5 Burpees at each corner 20 total)

Scores are listed below:

PAX Name Merkins Sit-Ups Burpees 100 Yd BC Dash 1 Mile BTTW Time 6 Inch Time Burpee Chase
Never Never 35 55 28 2:11 8:50 0:50 0:45 4:10
Sugar Daddy 68 72 28 1:29 7:06 1:03 1:00 2:35
Olaf 52 61 28 1:14 7:30 2:03 0:57 3:34
Wild Thing 67 49 31 1:19 8:06 0:44 0:52 3:38
Bolt 74 69 37 1:17 6:44 2:10 1:00 3:33
BMT 45 52 25 1:29 8:22 0:40 1:10 2:35
Fishsticks 82 58 30 2:05 7:00 0:55 0:55 3:17
Atlas 85 70 30 1:40 7:22 1:02 1:30 3:25
Cornhole 50 50 25 2:09 9:10 1:00 1:00 4:16

NMM:

Huge Tclaps to the Pax that showed up. They really got after it and didn’t hold back. I apologize to the Pax from PAINtheon 2.5 at the Coop, the time I didn’t post the scores. I will look for them and see if I can get it out in a BB (no promises). I’m inspired by the guys I see in the gloom. We’re all just ordinary guys doing some pretty extraordinary things before 6 AM (thanks for pointing that out Anchorman). Keep getting better.

Prayers and Praise: Did the #oldschool CSPAN round the horn #praise&prayers

Announcements: H&C this weekend, Sweati in July, Read your newsletter

BOM on Anchorman

Aye,

Zima & Anchorman

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