F3 Knoxville

Author: Hammy

Curtains

THE SCENE: Mostly cloudy, 68 degrees F.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH, Cherry pickers, Little baby arm circles.

Run across Grinder,  Bernie back, karaoke across Grinder, skip back.

THA-THANG:
Mosey to Alcoa Road with CMU, stop at each light post and do a blockee.

Put CMU’s just off the trail at Alcoa Road and begin the beatdown in the short Springbrook Fountain loop.

16 Candles

Run to the each of the first 4 light posts and do the following:

Light post #1:  5 Merkins

Light post #2:  5 WWII Sit-ups

Light post #3:  5 Jump Squats

Light post #4:  5 Dry Docks

Run to Start Line and do 1 Body Builder

Run to Light posts #5 through #8 and do the following:

Light post #5:  10 Merkins

Light post #6:  10 WWII Sit-ups

Light post #7:  10 Jump Squats

Light post #8:  10 Dry Docks

Run to Start Line and do 1 Body Builder

Run to Light posts #9 through #12 and do the following:

Light post   #9:  15 Merkins

Light post #10:  15 WWII Sit-ups

Light post #11:  15 Jump Squats

Light post #12:  15 Dry Docks

Run to Start Line and do 1 Body Builder

Run to Light posts #13 through #16 and do the following:

Light post #13:  20 Merkins

Light post #14:  20 WWII Sit-ups

Light post #15:  20 Jump Squats

Light post #16:  20 Dry Docks

1 Body Builder @ #16

Run back to Start Line.  Stop at each light post to do 1 Body Builder at each one.

Additional Time Killer

At the base of Mt. Krumpit do 7 CMU thrusters and run up and around Christmas tree, do 6 thrusters and run around tree, do 5 thrusters and run around tree.  Mosey back to AO.

MARY:
Box cutters, superman/bananas, LBC’s to cash out.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
8 HIM’s with me being an observer due to back surgery restrictions.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
In their final album as a group, Cream had a song called Badge on side two.  They were calling it quits because singer/bass guitarist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker couldn’t get along.  The song, Badge, was a collaboration between Eric Clapton and George Harrison.  Harrison played guitar on the selection under the name L’Angelo Mysterioso because his contract with Apple records didn’t allow him working with other groups.  He was paying Eric Clapton back for his work on the Beetles song, While My Guitar Gently Weeps.  One line in the song has always stuck with me and continues to offer encouragement.  “And you better pick yourself up from the ground, before they bring the curtain down.”

Get it done before it’s too late, don’t procrastinate, no time like the present.  That’s hard to do sometimes and actions are certainly subject to multiply priorities.  There is one that should take the top billing in our day to day life that unfortunately for me (and I suspect for many of you) gets push aside too easily and too frequently.  That is my relationship with God.  It may be the same for you.  For others it may be a lack of a relationship with God.  Regardless, each and every day I need to get up, be right with Him, and live in His light because the curtain will be brought down.  As the Bible says, we don’t know the day nor the hour.
MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.

Remembering and Cultivating

THE SCENE: Partly cloudy, 61 degrees F.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, Overhead claps, Windmills

3 Stop Suicides

Run to Stop 1

@Stop 1 – 1 Burpee

@ Start – 2 Burpees

@Stop 2 – 3 Burpees

@ Start – 4 Burpees

@ Stop 3 – 5 Burpees

@ Start – 6 Burpees

Repeat suicides with Flutter Kicks (4 Count)

THA-THANG:

Ol’ 69s (Perform 69 of each of the following)

  1. Merkins
  2. American Swings
  3. Step Ups
  4. Triceps Extensions
  5. Box Cutters
  6. Gobblet Squats
  7. Bobby Hurley’s
  8. Bent Rows
  9. WWII Sit ups
  10. Curls
  11. Lunges
  12. Lawn Mowers

Run a lap after each odd number exercise.  ( Approx. 0.22 miles/lap.)

Bear crawl 25 yards after each even number exercise.

Note: We cut the reps to 40 after the American Swings.  It may come back in a modified form with a partner 70s beatdown.

MARY:
Tabata with plank, right side plank, and left side plank (20 seconds on, 10 second rest for two rounds)

Box Cutters and cashed out with LBC’s

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
10 HIM’s including FNG Hydrant (Rich Carnes) plus Webelo
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Each Memorial Day observance for me since 2010 has included remembrances of SSG Jason Dahlke, 1st Ranger Battalion.  He was killed in action on September 29, 2009 in Afghanistan at the age of 29.  He was the best friend of my daughter, Emily, and my son-in-law, Travis.  Travis was with him the day he was killed instantly by enemy fire.  It was Jason’s 6th tour and Travis’ 8th tour to either Afghanistan or Iraq.  Uncle Jason, as three of my grandchildren refer to him, was a warrior and seemingly invincible.  Only one of those attributes was true.

While Memorial Day initially brings to mind Jason’s ultimate sacrifice, my thoughts fairly quickly turn to the friendship he shared with Travis.  It was special and one of mutual respect, one in which a competitive spirit made each other better (Iron Sharpens Iron), and one that fostered undying loyalty.

It brings to mind men who have been “Jasons” in my life.  Ron, my best friend of well over 50 years until his death at age 62, seven years ago.  Gig, my soccer coaching partner and hiking buddy, who passed away 20 years ago at age 52.  It also brings Chip to mind.  He could have been a “Jason” according to his own admission had he not committed to move away from bad habits in the late 1990’s.  While great friends in the 1970’s and 1980’s, overseas work assignments for him separated us and we lost contact.  Only in the early 2000’s did we reconnect and pick up where we left off.  Our bond is strong and, although living 200 miles away, we stay closely in touch.

HIMs need strong connections with other men.  F3 recognizes that and strives to foster it.  For those of us with spouses, there is no better friend or confidant.  But there is something to be said about the special bond between a small group of men.  Those relationships can be tougher to form and they may be shattered by tragedy as in the case of Jason or Ron or Gig.  The challenge is to find that Chip in your life and not let things get in the way of maintaining a strong connection.  We all will be better for it.

MOLESKIN:
Travel mercies for Drifter and healing for ESPY’s ankle.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AO kickoff for Rockwood is Monday, May 30th.  AO kickoff for Speedway is June 4th.  Convergence at JUCO on July 2nd.  No other AO beatdowns that Saturday.

See You Coming

THE SCENE: Clear skies, 40 degrees F.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Bulldog Drill, Cherry Pickers, Plank Reach Back, Little Baby Arm Circles, Windmills, Various AO Runs

THA-THANG:

Start at the Scrapyard are and do Merkins x12, WWII Sit Ups x12, Dry Docks x12, SSH x12 (4 count), Pull Ups X6 or Inverted PU x12, Box Jumps x12 or Step Ups x9/leg, and Dips x12.

Bernie to CMUs at the AO restrooms and perform Bent Rows x12, Curls x12, Upright Rows x12, Triceps Extensions x12, On the Shelf x6/arm, Lawn Mower Pulls x12/arm, and Russian Swings x12.

Run to Trail Apex at Road and do Burpees x3

Run Back to Scrap Yard

Bear Crawl up hill at steps

AMRAP until Recover is called.

MARY:
Box cutters and LBCs
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
5 HIMs
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
In 1965, Bob Dylan was facing a lot of backlash from “friends” as his music was shifting to a more electric sound.  Some were not happy with his departure from his “folk” music roots.  He wrote a scathing song, Positively 4th Street, to get some things off of his chest.

Some of my favorite lines of any song are in the last verse of the song:

“I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes, And just for that one moment I could be you.  Yes, I wish  that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes, You’d know what a drag it is to see you.”

We all probably know someone that elicits such feeling in us.  I know a few that bring those thoughts to mind.  The Lord knows better than I the feelings that others may have when I approach.

This brings to mind Major General Fred Forster. Fred was in command of the Air National Guard at McGhee Tyson until his retirement in May 2003 after which he became a prominent community leader in Blount County.  He was the exact opposite of the person(s) Bob Dylan wrote about. When Fred approached me, or anyone else for that matter, I felt like the most important person around.  He truly engaged with people and made them feel that they mattered.  The great thing is they did – in Fred’s eyes.  What a great guy.  I think of him often.  Sadly, he died much too soon after a three year battle with cancer in 2010 at the age of 64 years old.

We could all learn from this wonderful role model.

MOLESKIN:
Health of Rep Sleepy’s daughter, Carrie, and for Drifter in his upcoming travels with his work and family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.

12 Daze Too

THE SCENE: Clear skies, calm wind, 27 degrees F.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, Windmills, Little baby arm circles
THA-THANG:

Mosey with a CMU to the trailhead by the pavilion.  At each of the upcoming light poles is a piece of paper.  Run to the first pole with the CME and do the first exercise.  Leave the CMU behind, return to start, and do 12 reps of exercise 1.  Run back to the first pole, pick up your CMU, carry it to pole #2 and do the second exercise and the first exercise.  Leave the CMU behind, return to start, and do 12 reps of exercise 2.  Continue the pattern until all 12 exercises are performed at light pole #12.  Finally return to the Grinder for a time of Mary.

12 Daze

1x Roll Over Merkin (all sides)

2x Blockies

3x OH Squat Press

4x On the Shelf (2/side)

5x CMU Swings

6x Upright Rows

7x Goblet Squats

8x Triceps Extensions

9x Curls

10x Lawn Mowers (per arm)

11x Bent Rows

12x Dips

Home Base Exercises

(12x Each)

  1. Dry Docks
  2. Iron Mike Squats
  3. Body Builders
  4. WWII Situps
  5. Shoulder Taps (4 ct)
  6. Squat Jumps
  7. SSH (4 ct)
  8. Plank Jacks (4 ct)
  9. Box Cutters
  10. Merkins
  11. Flutter Kicks (4 ct)
  12. Mountain Climbers (4 ct)

Unfortunately we ran out of time.  No one completed the 12 Daze.  Better suited for an hour long Saturday beatdown.

MARY:
No time for Mary today
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
8 HIMs including FNG Grouch (Danny Lupisella) plus 2.0 Webelo
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Julie has always made comments that the best gift is to have her family around her on special occasions like her birthday.  I was able to experience how much she meant that recently as she celebrated her 70th birthday last week.

My daughter, who lives in Northern Virginia with her family, organized a birthday party with her two brothers for Julie last Thursday, two days before her birthday on Saturday, December 18th.  We met at a nice local restaurant with our children, spouses, and 7 grandkids.  There were a total of 15 of us.  It was a total surprise to Julie as she walked into the room and, in an instant, I could tell that it meant the world to her.  As Julie has always said, it was the best present she could have received.

There were many great things about the evening but perhaps one of the more noteworthy is that I never saw anyone looking at or playing with their phones.  Everyone focused on Julie and each other.  Everyone was tuned in and enjoying each others company.

Most of us will have some sort of family gathering over the coming days.  Too often, and I’m a guilty party, phones and other electronic devices distract us and keep us from really connecting.  As HIMs lets not let that happen in our own behavior and as leaders lets see if we can make a difference in others around us.

Merry Christmas!  May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His face look down on you and give you peace.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Drifter as he travels over Christmas.  Prayers for 3 year Hunter recently diagnosed with cancer.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.

Look Forward

THE SCENE: 30 degree F, partly cloudy skies.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, Windmills, Overhead claps, Skip the length of the Grinder, Bernie back.
THA-THANG:

4 – 8 – 12 – 16

Mosey (a real short one) to the start of the trail with a CMU.  Count off (one through nine) to determine starting order.  Perform suicide run involving the next four light poles.  4 reps at Pole 1, 8 reps at Pole 2, 12 reps at Pole 3, and 16 reps at Pole 4.  Runner 1 starts and the rest of the PAX begin the CMU exercise at the starting point.  When runner 1 gets to Pole 1 he yells “go” and runner 2 starts.  The remaining PAX continue the CMU exercise until their time to start the suicide run.  Runners completing the suicide run continue to perform the CMU exercise until all runners return to the start.  Continue until all 9 circuits are completed or recover is called.

Exercise at Start        Exercise at Poles

                                        1 to 4

  1. Bent Rows                Bobby Hurleys
  2. Curls                        WWII’s
  3. Swings                     Merkins
  4. Lawn Mowers            Iron Mikes
  5. Thrusters                  Flutter Kicks
  6. Upright Rows            Dry Docks
  7. Triceps Ext                Squats
  8. On the Shelf              Box Cutters
  9. Floor Press                 Burpees

Recover was called during circuit 7.

MARY:
Ab work included in the 9 circuits.  No time for a special session.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
9 HIM’s
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
January 6th is a special day in the life of Christ and is known as Epiphany.  It is a special day in my life as it is the day I met my future wife on a blind date – in a month, it will be 49 years ago.  It is very special day even though we didn’t see each other for almost 6 months after that epiphany. This got me to thinking about how things have a way of working out.  I don’t believe in coincidence – to me it is divine, pre-destined.  Thinking about the past, I sometimes catch myself wanting a previous outcome to be different.  If only this or that; if only I would have done or not done this or that.  But I don’t do that much anymore.  It is because of the past that I am where I am now.  It is because of my past (with all of my experiences and actions) and the past of those I cherish (with all of their experiences and actions) that I am here and now, and able to enjoy the many blessings of being surrounded with a spouse, family, and friends that bring so much joy.  The future is built upon the past and there is so much to look forward to.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for healing of Genevieve (Drifter’s daughter) from her fever.  Prayers for Hotsquat’s Uncle Freddie as he battles Stage 3 prostate cancer.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Breakfast at Drifter’s December 11th following beatdown.

All I Want for Christmas Walkabout on December 18th.  Sign up on Slack.