Mostly Legs at the Poopdeck

4 today stayed behind for the bootcamp, others went out for a run to get some miles on their legs for the upcoming Ragnar relay.

The bootcampers put in some stretching and then went out to the marina for some laps. It was a good strong pace and we kept it up for 5 laps

I decided to throw in some sprints so we used the lightpoles as All You Got markers and pushed through a shorter length each time, all in all doing 4 sprints.

As we headed back towards the shovelflag we lunged the entire length of the shopping center and it’s unclear if Cat Lady was seen or if they were YMCA goers

Over at the field next to the flag I had set up a short cone distance of about 20 yards and we partnered up for some….
Buddy BearCrawl (thanks 9/11 GRT)
Partner Wheelbarrow
Partner Carry x2
Partner…. Standing? Idk what this is called but you lay down and are assisted in standing up by gripping with one hand only, keeping your feet planted the whole time is the key. Standing up 20 times without being able to push off the ground with your off hand is tough. So we did it 20 times for both arms.

Dora 1-2-3 is one of my favorites but instead of 100/200/300 we did a Lazy Dora of 1-2-3 sets of 25 reps. “resting” partner was to plank while waiting
1 set of 25 burpees ( I had forgotten what I wrote down first and later remembered it was LBCs because I was going to do rinse and repeat )
2 sets of 25 flutters (each leg)
3 sets of squats

Nothing fancy, kept it simple so people could push their bodies today.

Announcements
There is an invergence/convergence coming up, read your newsletter!!
Ragnar training is hitting its peak momentum, if you are interested in running up to 20 miles in October at the greenway, ask

Please pray for those in the path of the hurricane, damage will be done, its just a matter of how much and will the PAX and surrounding community be there to help.
Keep our injured brothers in prayer, we do some stupid stuff and we get physically injured but make sure to keep in contact so the Shieldlock is not lost.

Aye!

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Octagon of Pain, same low price, but now with more jumping!

Great morning and a great crowd of 16 PAX at the Poopdeck.  I mean it was still hot and humid as hell, but that’s par for this summer.

After a quick disclaimer we took off around the lot for a mosey that included some shuffle steps, NUR, and Toy Soldiers before circling up near where the cat lady roams for some Warm-A-Rama.

  • Windmills x10 IC
  • Planks (2x 10 counts)
  • Merkins x 10 IC
  • Morroccan Nightclubs x 10 IC
  • Low, Slow Squat x 10 IC
  • Hold squat (2x 10 counts)

Short Mosey to the upper lot (deck?) at the Poopdeck, I’ve been Q-loaded the last couple of weeks and the previous 2 Q’s were brutal on the arms and shoulders so I decided to mix it up a bit this morning by giving the upper body a complete break at the expense of all leg plyo workout.  I wasn’t sure how it was going to go over, but everyone seemed pretty beaten by the end.  In any case, here is the breakdown of how it works:

  • 8 Cones setup in an Octagon in the parking lot (fairly large in diameter though I didn’t count the paces) with a 9th cone in the middle of the Octagon.
  • Each cone had a (jumping) exercise on it
  • Pair up (only for the push, none of this required a partner)
  • Pick a cone, do the exercise on the cone, and then Broad Jump to the center cone and do 8 Burpees, then Broad Jump back to one of the 7 remaining cones and continue through until all 8 are completed and a trip back to the center cone after each cone for 8 more Burpees.
  • The exercises were:
    • 100 SSH
    • 100 Jump Rope
    • 50 Jump Squats
    • 50 Jump Lunges (25 each leg)
    • 50 Lateral Jumps (25 each leg)
    • 50 Knee Tuck Jump-ups
    • 50 Squat Jacks
    • 25 Bomb Jacks
      • ~64 Burpees
      • lot of broad jumping!

Everyone made it through at least once, which was the goal. In typical Jedi fashion he made it through a couple extra.  With about 10-15 minutes left we lined up for some Indian running around the parking lot.  Lead PAX drops and does 4 Burpees and rejoins at the back of the line.  We cycled through each of the 16 PAX twice before heading back to CoT and about 2 minutes of Mary to end the workout.

  • 6th annual Invergance at Rush Pavilion 9/21 @ 5:30
  • Prayers for all the teachers and kids in school
  • Prayers for injured PAX

Thanks Peg for the opportunity to Q!

Until next time,

-Flux-

 

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Live Right through your Concentrica

My goodness it was humid again.  The day started at 74 degrees and just being outside for 1 minute you started to sweat.  It was going to be a tough morning!

17 men gathered before the 5:15 start, I was happy to meet Radar down from F3 Gastonia.  Tesla told him to come down and check us out.  Regal also brought Supafly who was posting for his 2nd workout this week while up from GA on business.

Bones allowed me the pleasure to Q at one of my favorite AOs.  Always a large and great group of guys out at the Abyss.  Today I wanted to bring more of a message to the group than usual, but this is a 1st F workout…so a beatdown came with it!

Gave the longer disclaimer (I needed the practice) and off around the parking lot we went for the warmup.  Standard running stuff, high knees, butt kickers, karaoke, toy soldiers then circled up.

COP consisted of Seal Jacks, Imperial Walkers, Moroccan Night Clubs,  Slow Squats, Merkins, Plank Jacks…all at different reps.  That seemed to drive Witch Hunt and Jedi crazy because the mumble chatter between those two wouldn’t stop.  Tough to yell at someone when you’re counting in cadence (and they know it).

Mosey to the back bus parking lot for the things I had planned.

The Thang

I really did find these on the F3 Nation exercises!

“Bo jangles Biscuit” = Use the oval track, sprint the straightaways & mosey the turns. Do this twice.

“Slowjangles Blueberry biscuit” = lunge walk around the oval and at four designated spots we stopped for 5 burpees.  One lap.  This was longer and harder than I thought!  I might have been the biggest complainer about this evolution.

The Main Event

I’ve truly enjoyed the 43 feet Podcasts and the Q source posts.  The messages are excellent, but the implementation is tough…but bringing this stuff to our PAXs attention should be something we all do as a Q in some detail.  Many of my most memorable posts are when the Q brings a solid message with the workout and I wanted to live up to that.  In my own life I know how backwards I’ve had my Concentrica lately and a good refersher for all followed.

We talked about the Acceleration of a HIM going from Get Right –> Live Right –> Lead Right –> Leave Right.  Today was a focus on the Live Right.

The discussion I shared was around intentionality, understanding the fallacy of a work-life balance being represented on a teeter-totter.  The picture is best represented as a target.  In the center is your “M” (and we properly defined M) then 2.0 (family) then Shieldlock Brothers then Friends then Mammon.  I explained each and there suggested relevance to your life.

But I had also drawn a large target representation of all this on the ground (Mr. Selfie forgot to take a picture)…so we were going to play a game! Each PAX was going to get an opportunity to throw a bean bag at the target from about 18 paces away.  (definitely not corn hole regulation distance I was told multiple times.)

Each section represented a different 10 rep exercise we would do…and DO NOT miss the target!

M = 10 count (we had ZERO hits here)

2.0s/Family = Squats in cadence

Shieldlock = Ranger Merkins

Friends = Jump Lunges

Mammon = Bombjacks

outside the circle = 10 burpees (about 5 men missed)

I thought it was fun, and we kept sweating quite a bit.   I hope the PAX enjoyed it as well.

Mosey back to COT where we had 5 minutes left of Mary.  10 counts for ab exercises picked by the PAX

Annoucements = (read your newsletter)

Prayers for Lutefisk’s mother, Tesla’s friend Meredith and her passing, Qbert and his church helping 100 children through the gospel.

A Honor to Lead!

-Royale

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Fun and Games Friday @ The Swamp

On a cool Friday morning, things got weird quick. After we ditched 5 ruckers led by Zima, the 17 bootcampers moseyed to a parking lot with some shuffles on the way. Warm-o-rama started with some windmills, peter parker peters, mountain climber merkins, super low super slow squats followed by smurf jacks. We went on to do some T-bombs and a superman hold which led to sun gods and Moroccan NC’s whilst in superman pose. This warm-o-rama made for much mumble chatter.

Next, mosey to the walls between target and home depot for some wall work, where PAX started with a derkin ladder from 10 to 1, running to the other wall in between. Next was ascending testicles, with feet starting at 10 degrees for a 10 count, then 45 degrees for a 10 count, followed by full BTTW 10 count. Mix in some leg work with a squat countdown. Start with 10 squats and hold Al Gore for a 10 count. Not too bad, until you do 9 squats and hold Al Gore for a 9 count. Repeato until 1:1.  Ouch…

Numbered off 1’s and 2’s to split into teams.  Regal forgot he was a 2.  Fridays are hard.  When we finally got the teams even, both teams hold BTTW and one at a time run to other wall and get up BTTW then call for next teammate. First team to have everyone BTTW on the other side wins.  Team 2 won both.  Probably because Regal was on team 2.

Mosey to parking lot where we lined everyone up at the end of the lot. It was game time. Good ole Rock Paper Scissors. Everyone against the Q. If you beat the Q, you had to bear crawl forward approx. 10 yards.  If you tie the Q, 1 burpee.  If you lost to the Q, 1 kraken burpee.  In perfect statistical form, about a third beat the Q.  Next, round two, where the winners bear crawled another 10 yards, the ties did 2 burpees, and the losers did 2 kraken burpees. This went on for a total of 6 rounds and I’m fairly certain I saw 1 or 2 PAX who lost them all.  More ouch…. Regal won

Mosey to grassy hill to finish off the arms with 2 rounds of clock merkins on the hill, mosey back to COT where we met up with the ruckers. With 2 minutes left, busted out the JBL for some linkin park workout. Let the Bodies Hit the Floor (LTBHTF).  On the lyrics “1, 2, 3, 4” we did a merkin. On a “LTBHTF” it was a donkey kick.  Hold plank in between.  Made it just under halfway though the song for a 6am COT.

Thanks for the opportunity to lead Cha Ching!

~Lutefisk

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Running in McDowell Park, watch out for Pumas!

Tuesday morning.  9 guys showed up.  We went for a run in McDowell park across the street from Palisades Elementary.  I told the guys to keep turning right.  So we hit the 4 roads that travel down into the park.

Ran back, a few went around the school, three of us went on the back paved trail loop behind the pond. Strava tells me we did 4.5 miles.

~ Fin

Royale

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Anniversary Q & Lake Wylie Pub Tour

One year ago I posted for the first time at F3. Unlike most men in F3 I was not EH’d by a friend, coworker, or relative. I was EH’d by a podcast. I listened to the episode (link below) while I was at work, and by the end I knew I had to see what this F3 thing was all about. I posted the next day. Not because I was excited to wake up early, or to walk up and hang out in a group where I knew no one (fellow introverts, you know what I’m talking about). I posted the next day because I knew if I didn’t post right away I never would. At the time, I was not even sure I could do 10 pushups. But I was a textbook example of a Sad Clown, and I thought “Well, if this is a dumpster fire I just won’t come back.” I got smoked at that first workout, and it was great. I went to 2nd F drinks that night, posted again the next morning, and posted to CNW2 right after. All 3 Fs in the first 26 hours of showing up – I was hooked.

Podcast #324: How Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith Are the Cure for Sad Clown Syndrome

Today marked the anniversary of my first post. So I did a reprise of that first workout, which was originally Q’d by Kenyan.

The Thang
Disclaimer disclaimed. We found out that Witch Hunt had stepped on a piece of glass during a pre-run and that a policeman had given him hand sanitizer (foot sanitizer?) for the wound. He still did the full workout with a bleeding foot #ManPoints

Run to Copper Pub – Big boy sit-ups until 6
* The PAX saw what appeared to be Respectable Olaf getting a ticket by the Foot Sanitizing Policeman. Sources later confirmed that the offender was not Olaf but a similarly dressed doppelganger who also drives a red pickup. What are the odds?

COP
• SSH
• Merkins
• Mountain climbers
• Plank jacks

* 10 monkey humpers between each exercise. Apparently 4 count monkey humpers was a bit zealous for some, but YHC went for it with gusto which resulted in a fair deal of mumble chatter.

Run to Sweetwater – Plank until 6

Lazy Doras
• 100 Merkins +  plank
• 200 LBCs + 6” leg hold
• 300 squats + Al Gore
Switch with partner every 25 reps

Run back to COT. Total we ran about 2.5 miles.

Thank you to all the PAX who have been a part of my first year at F3. Whether we’ve sweated together, shared a beer together, prayed together, or done a CSAUP together I have been blessed to share a bit of the good life with you. This is definitely more than a workout.

Thank you Peg for the opportunity to lead.

Stay Classy,
Homebrew

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Taters beat down

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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Gym Jones and a little DORA

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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Mystery Filthy Fifty at Crows Nest

As I was heading out the door, I was asked to Q today. I had already been thinking about the Weinke for my next Q the same week, so obviously I threw all that out the door and started over as I was driving to the AO

Completely forgot the disclaimer for a bunch of vets though, so ooops.

Moseyed around toward the Y with the standard butt kickers, toy soldiers, bear crawl… wait what? and then stayed in plank as we crawled into a circle for some stretching and warmup

Partner DORA 1-2-3
Pointed out a short distance to run and swap with your partner through 100 merkins, 200 squats and 300 LBCs (a classic in my opinion)

I keep with me a brown paper bag of exercises printed out into baseball card sleeves (mega cheap guys, maybe have one in your arsenal as well just in case) so we did 50 OYO of each exercise that was drawn by the PAX

In no particular order
Monkey Humper
Pistol Squat
LBC
CDD
Big Boys
SSH
Inchworm Merkin (this was slooooooow)
Overhead clap
Apollo Creed – no one could agree or remember what this was so we did something Wolverine called out where you sit up like an American Hammer but instead of twisting, you alternate punch and alternate bicycle kick your legs out. makes more sense when you see it, need to name it

Moseyed back for 4 MoM (dolly, box cutters, protractor)
And ended the workout with 5 burpees as expected 6:00:01 was the time

CoT
Sweati July 14 at First Baptist Fort Mill – in the newsletter
Homebrew,DaVinci,NASA doing the GoRuckLight in Colulmbia on 6/30

Homebrew’s brother? is engaged now!
Witch Hunt is traveling to St Louis
Wolverine just hit 2 years in F3!!!
Nemo admitted he needs to have a better attitude even though his life is going great with a wonderful family, kids and job. AYE!!

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Of Relays and Dance Parties

Truth be told, YHC is losing his mind.

When I was asked to Q at the Deep for the return of the 0630 launch, my first thought was, “Hey! That AO is at a school. I don’t normally post at schools. I should do something to commemorate that.” Forget the fact that the majority of our AOs are at schools. That’s irrelevant. But, it does set us up for the dumb ideas that followed…

My memories of middle school in May involve basically two things: Field Day and the end-of-the-year dance. So, to harken back to the days of old, that became our theme for today. Twelve PAX (including one FNG) joined YHC for a baker’s dozen at Oakridge Middle. Here’s what we did (kinda):

Warm-up

Mosey around to the back of the school for our “field day” warm-up. Split into two teams for four relays:

  • Sprint (i.e., the basic relay)
  • Bear crawl
  • Broad jumps
  • Crab walks

That got our heart rates up and ready for the dance party. We moseyed back around to the front of the school for the fun to really begin.

The Thang

When I think of middle school dances, I think of songs you can’t really dance to, weird mixes, and lots of wallflower moments. So, we relived my childhood. Six songs. Wallflower between (people’s chair or balls to the wall each time). Today’s playlist:

  • Jukebox Hero – SSHs (slow and fast to match the music) during the verses, Rock Star jumps during the chorus/refrain/hook
  • I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – Imperial Squat Walkers during the verses, bear crawl and crawl bear during the “well I would walk” segments, and donkey kicks during the “da da da da” parts. You know what I’m talking about, because you’re singing it in your head.
  • The Middle – LBCs during the verses, flutters during the refrain, and some Freddie Mercuries during the bridge/interlude/guitar solo
  • Smooth Criminal – Plank jacks during the verses and a merkin for every “okay” (“Annie just freaking answer him already!”)
  • Sorry – Hold boat throughout, dropping down and completing one V-up for every “sorry”
  • The Devil Went Down to Georgia – curb dips during the “singing,” crab cakes during the musical interludes/fiddle or guitar solos
  • I Will Survive – lateral plank walks with merkins during the refrain (longest version of this song ever, but the brief rain made it a little more manageable)

We actually left out the song with the burpees. That’ll be reserved for the next dance party.

Quick mosey back to COT.

No earth-shattering announcements that can’t be found in the newsletter, so read your newsletter. Prayers for teachers (and students and parents) as school wraps up, and for Whopper in his job search/potential promotion. Late request added for the shooting that happened down in Texas.

Cofeeteria at Dunkin because it’s cheaper (in many aspects of the word).

As for the (somehow now infamous) FNG naming, well, that story can be saved for a verbal diarrhea run with Q*bert. You’ll also want to ask Cha Ching about his comment regarding the arrival of “Mr. Wood.” Um…………

I appreciate everybody participating in the stupidness of this morning. I wanted it to be fun and different. I think that happened. Thanks to Shakespeare for the opportunity to lead, for changing the launch time to 0630, and for the speaker to blast the music.

-Jedi

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