F3 Knoxville

Author: Baby Boomer

A Year In The Making

THE SCENE: A comfortable mid-50’s fall morning

WARM-O-RAMA:
4ct SSH (IC) x 25; 4ct Tai Fighters (IC) x 10 – forwards and reverse; 4ct Starfish Crunches (IC) x 10; 4ct Plank Jacks (IC) x 10; Mosey to the CMU pile in the alley

THA-THANG:
A killer few rounds of fun to be had:

Before beginning the first round of pain, murder bunnies for 25 yards and then rifle carry CMU back to starting line.  Repeat murder bunnies and rifle carry between each round and to finish off the killer workout.

Round 1: Alternate between exercise 1 (CMU dead lifts) and exercise 2 (SSH’s) running 25 yards between each set of reps.  Perform 5 reps of exercise 1, run 25 yards and perform 20 reps of exercise 2, then run back to starting line.  Now perform 10 reps of exercise 1, run 25 yards and perform 15 reps of exercise 2, then run back to starting line.  Perform 15 reps of exercise 1, run 25 yards and perform 10 reps of exercise 2, then run back to starting line.  Last set perform 20 reps of exercise 1, run 25 yards and perform 5 reps of exercise 2, then run back to starting line.

Round 2: Similar 4 sets of 25 total reps.  Exercise 1 is CMU bentover rows and exercise 2 is merkins.

Round 3: Similar 4 sets of 25 total reps.  Exercise 1 is CMU squat thrusters and exercise 2 is mother earth burpees.

Return the CMU’s to the pile.

MARY:
Indian run formation to head back toward AO but start with planks instead of running.  6-man sprints to the front and resumes plank then next HIM in the rear sprints to the front – rinse a repeat as the formation inches toward the AO.  After much growing and clamoring, switch to Al Gores.  After a little more ground is gained, switch to Rocky Balboas.  Once the AO is close enough to smell it, switch to SSH’s.  Finally a jailbreak leads the PAX back to the AO just in time for a speed round of 10 SSH’s then 10 merkins back and forth in AMRAP/OYO fashion until the Q draws to an end.

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  Election next week has many divided and pitted against each other and causing undue stress and worry.  Trust in the Sovereign Almighty and know that He is in control – no matter the results of the election.  Do your civic duty and vote, but trust God for the result.  Join me in prayer on Tuesday while others watch the polls.  2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

 

Duck Duck Goose

THE SCENE: Wet and steamy 70’s

WARM-O-RAMA:
4ct SSH x 25 (IC); 4ct Tai Fighter Combo (forward, reverse, front clap, and overhead clap) x 10 (IC); 4ct Plank Medley (plank jacks, shoulder taps, Catalina wine mixers, and merkins) x 7 (IC); Temp Squat Jumps x 7 (IC)

THA-THANG:
Don’t stop the fun… Indian-style: PAX mosied over to back corner of high school and formed a COVID-friendly single file line along the curb; Exercises began and 6-man sprints to the front while PAX moves; Next HIM follows suit and so on and so forth making our way ultimately around to the AO; AMRAP exercises performed along the way as a group were 1) Rocky Balboas, 2) Merkins, 3) Big Boy Sit Ups, 4) Squat Jumps, 5) Carolina Dry Docks.

Group paused half way for a little F3 Duck, Duck, Goose (Dora-style)… PAX formed a COVID-friendly circle and each worked OYO to finish 100 Iron Mikes (Q accidently called them Magic Mikes), 200 Carolina Dry Docks, and 300 SSH; meanwhile each HIM would run around the circle back to their starting point and then the next HIM would take a lap; much panting and groaning followed.

Continued the Indian-style conga line back toward the AO: Again the PAX performed AMRAP exercises while 6-man kept advancing to the front; group exercises were 1) SSH, 2) Lunges, 3) Rocky Balboas, 4) Lunges; PAX paused just before reaching AO and ran some 40yd sprints back and forth with 5 merkins on each end (AMRAP and OYO).

MARY:
Alternated 10 merkins then 10 SSH for about 3 minutes (OYO)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Talked about the unique benefits of flying in V-formation as geese: 1) Group can fly 70% farther than an individual goose using the same amount of energy, 2) If they fall out of formation, they quickly realize the benefits of the group, 3) Leader of the formation rotates back and each goose takes a turn leading, 4) Each goose honks to encourage the group to push beyond their limits and remind others they are there, 5) If a goose is injured or sick and falls out of formation, at least two of the geese will drop out with them to encourage them and protect them while vulnerable.

Talked about the parallel between geese and F3 PAX.  Talked about Genesis 2:18 and how God declared “it is not good for man to be alone”.  Paired that with Galatians 6:2 that says we should “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”.  Encouraged the PAX to be like the geese and lead, encourage, and help those in their sphere of influence.  Encouraged those hurting or isolated or struggling to reach out for help – if no one else, call me – and that there were men in the circle that would step up for them.

Revenge of CMU Later

THE SCENE: Perfect low 70’s and just a bit of steam in the air


WARM-O-RAMA:
4ct SSH x 20 (IC); 4ct Starfish Crunches x 7 (IC); 4ct Tie Fighter x 10 (IC) F&R; 5ct Catalina Wine Mixers x 5 (OYO)

THA-THANG:
Mosey to the big CMU stack in the alley and load up for some fun – encouraged to grab 2 CMU’s but allowed to modified some took only 1; Farmer’s Carry toward the top of Detention Hill with a stop half way to wait for the 6 (and to regain some feeling in the shoulders); Work stations marked with chalk to help us keep separated where PAX broke into groups of 3

CMU Hill of Pain:  2 HIMs worked through several exercises at the top while the 3rd HIM runs to bottom of Hill to perform 10 single count SSH then Bear Crawls back up Hill to rotate;  3 HIMs combine reps in order to finish all of the exercises collectively; 50 Clock Pendulums (1 block), 100 CMU Merkins (2 blocks), 150 Block Squats (2 blocks), 200 Bent Over CMU Rows (2 blocks), and 250 Blocky Balboa’s (1 block) completed by most

PAX redistributed for some COVID Shuffle – groups of 3 sent 1 HIM to each corner of a triangle course along the parking lot but the 3rd leg going down into the Gloom Valley and back up Detention Hill; Each HIM performed 10 SSH, 10 Squats, and 10 LBC’s (single count) at each corner then ran to the next corner; Kept moving until at least 4 station rotations; Farmer’s Carry to move CMU’s back to pile

PAX mosied over to Saint Patty’s Circle for some speed round exhaustion; Spread around the circle wall and several benches, PAX did 5 Dips and 5 Jump Ups/Step Ups over and over for 3 minutes;  Mosey back to the AO

MARY:
Returning to AO, had 1 minute to work in some Pickle Pounders to end the fun

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
3 FNG’s: @Slim Reaper, @Flower Pot, and @Macho Man

@Dragon Slayer not on system

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Genesis 32 story of Jacob wrestling with the God-man and not willing to stop without being blessed; Jacob’s hip was injured and ailed him the rest of his life – a scar and a reminder of his close encounter with God; Jacob was alone and fearful and trying to control his world of chaos but came face-to-face with the only thing that could truly bless him and change his circumstances; Encouraged the PAX to wrestle with God in the weighty matters of life and trust Him for change.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

To Infinity and Beyond

THE SCENE: Low 70’s but a beat steamy; perfect beat down weather

WARM-O-RAMA: 4ct SSH (IC) x 25; 4ct Plank Jacks (IC) x 10; 4ct Iron Mikes (IC) x 5

THA-THANG: Mosey toward upper lot in figure 8 pattern stopping for plank jacks and squats at various intervals.

Infinite pain stations in upper lot – 6 cones spread out in upper lot creating a figure 8 course, PAX ran (OYO) to each cone and performed the workout listed – began at 20 reps and reduced by 1 at each cone; Cone 1: SSH, Cone 2: BBS, Cone 3: Plank Jacks, Cone 4: Iron Mikes, Cone 5: Squat Jumps, and Cone 6: Carolina Dry Docks.

Saint Patty Circle of Pain – PAX spread out around short brick circle wall; round 1: 1 HIM at a time performed 5 dips while the rest of the PAX did jump ups/step ups; Round 2: 1 HIM ata a time performed 5 incline merkins while the rest of the PAX did dips (or squats once arms were dead).

Bonus push – Indian plank train headed back toward AO; all PAX lined in single file line doing plank, HIM at 6 runs to front of line and resumes plank, rinse and repeat to move the train forward; paused for Rocky Balboa’s for 90 seconds; mosied back through the figure 8 circuit near AO pausing occasionally for plank jacks, SSH, and LBC.  Arrived back at the AO with just enough time for some cherry pickers to end with a stretch.

MARY: No time for this.

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM: Rambled a bit about the weight and magnitude of standing before other men and proclaiming the words given to us by our Almighty God, Savior, and Heavenly Father – humility should be felt and care should be had.  Mentioned the imperfection of those sharing wisdom in our worlds, whether it is CNN, FOX, or Snapchat… they do not know all and are sinful people with bias.  The only perfect man with all truth was Jesus and He is our only hope.  So instead of seeking wisdom and guidance and opinion-verification from sinful, passing men, we would do better to humble ourselves before a benevolent and grace-filled Heavenly Father.  Shared Psalm 139:23-24. Prayed for mercy, grace, and healing in our communities and throughout the whole world.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Coffeeteria to follow at Dunkin on Cedar Bluff.

Hope to CMU Later

THE SCENE:

72-ish; Wet but comfortable drizzle

WARM-O-RAMA:
De-motivators IC x 7 (started at 1 and went up… keeping the suspense); 5 burpees OYO; Mosey up to covered porch to limit the drizzle impact – stopped for Shoulder Taps x 13; Tie Fighters IC x 11 (left/right); 5 burpees OYO; 4ct Mountain Climbers OYO x 10; Mosey to the CMU pile – stopped for Plank Jacks x 11 along the way

THA-THANG:

Cozied up to our CMU for the day with some simple block merkins x 6; Mosey toward the covered area near the church bldg. – stopped for 25 CMU curls OYO (Cusak waiting for 6); went a bit further and stopped for 25 CMU kettle swings OYO (Cusak waiting for 6); Arrived at covered area already wet – unsure if by rain or by sweat

Setup for Greta 1-2-3 (similar to her cousin Dora); Picked battle buddies but kept COVID safe and didn’t share coupons; HIM1 started on 100 CMU alternating merkins while HIM2 ran to a location 40yds or so away and back (minus his CMU); Flapjack until combined total met target count; HIM1 moved to 200 CMU American hammers while HIM2 ran; Flapjack until combined total met; HIM1 moved to 300 CMU squat thrusters while HIM2 ran; Flapjack working toward total; groaning abounded but time ran out to finish (though many were close)

Headed back toward CMU pile; stopped for some CMU tricep extensions waiting on the 6; mosey a bit further and stopped for some CMU planks waiting for 6; mosey on to CMU pile with some @Waxjob led Cherry Pickers (shoulder exercise) waiting for 6; Mosey back to AO

MARY:
Shoulder Taps led by @Pom-Pom; Hello Dollies OYO AMRAP; Boat/Canoes IC (or something close)

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
@GI Jane in attendance but not on F3 website yet

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Read James 1:22-25 – Emphasis on being doers of the Word not hearers only; In light of chaos and angst going on in our world – and close to home… used words from Michael Jackson’s “Man In The Mirror” to encourage stepping up and looking deep into what we are about; The only hope we have is Jesus and his gracious movement in our lives.  Finished with Micah 6:8 and encouraged the PAX to “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”

Praises: Successful surgeries and care for @Baby Boomer’s daughters; @Curveball and @Baby Boomer celebrating 26y and 22y anniversaries respectively

Prayer Requests: @Cheatsheet’s daughter Willow; Dubois Family – death in family (good friend of @Cheatsheet); Kenny (connected to @Curry) had blood clot, docs still working through managing

MOLESKIN:
Welcome to FNG @Compass (Hank H) – need to add to Slack and F3 website