F3 Knoxville

Where Do You Want to Go

THE SCENE: 33 degrees F, 97% humidity, overcast skies
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH, Cherry Pickers, Little Baby Arm Circles, Overhead/Forward Hand Claps

Run to Dalton Street and then down to the base of Waxjob Hill for a set of 7’s.  Started with one BBS at the base and 6 Burpees at the top.  Each time was Bear Crawl up and Mosey down.
THA-THANG:

Three stations using CMU’s

Station 1 (Touch It)

  • Incline Merkins – x17
  • Toe touches – x17/foot
  • Decline Merkins – x17
  • Dips – x17
  • Crossover Planks – x17
  • Bobby Hurleys – x17
  • Shoulder Taps – x17

Run length of the Grinder and return to Station 1.  Bear Crawl with CMU to Station 2.

Station 2 (Lift It)

  • Bent Rows – x12
  • CMU Swings – x12
  • Squat to OH Press – x12
  • Dead Lifts – x12/arm
  • Triceps Extension – x12
  • Curls – x12
  • Goblet Squat – x12

Run length of Grinder and return to Station 2.  Overhead carry CMU to Station 3.

Station 3 (Throw It)

  • Two hand CMU push throws toward West direction.  Throw six times.  Retrieve and OH carry back to Station 1 then run length of the Grinder.

Return to Station 1 and repeat stations 1 through 3.

MARY:
Flutter kicks, box cutters, LBC’s, ABC’s (capital letters), LBC’s
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Total of 18.  No FNG’s.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
I try to read two books a year.  I just made it under the wire in 2018 when I finished “Everybody Always” by Bob Goff on December 30th.  In the book Bob mentions that he recognized each of his 4 children’s 10th birthday in a special way.  His question to them was, “where do you want to go?”  His 4th child is an adopted boy from Uganda who had been mutilated by a witch doctor in that country.  His genitals had been cut off when he was 8 years old and left to die.  Charlie at age 10 wanted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.  After a few days they made it to 16,400 feet when Charlie decided he could not go any further.  At that point Bob holds a ceremony and gives Charlie medals for his efforts.  Medals for bravery, for effort, for strength.  He proclaimed him a Mountain Climber.  Bob Goff finishes Chapter 23 with this encouragement:

The most important part of our ceremony wasn’t what I said or all the medals.  It was what I didn’t say.  You see, I didn’t tell Charlie how far he had to go.  I said, “Charlie, look how far you’ve come.”  People who are becoming love celebrate how far the people around them have come.  They’re constantly asking the question, “Where do you want to go?”  Then they help the people around them get there.

Go do that with the people you love, including your enemies.  Don’t talk to them about their failures and the dark places they’ve been.  Talk to them about who they’re becoming and the bright hope that is their future.  Speak truthful and wise words over them.  Bring a few medals too.  As you put the last one on their chest, look them in the eye and tell them, “Look how far you’ve come.”  Knowing that the journey you and I are on never really ends, we can ask the people we love one of the most important questions ever conceived.

“Where do you want to go?”

I personally want to add that I see a lot of this going around with the Bomb Shelter HIM’s.  Sometimes we even intuitively know where our partners in the gloom are going.  We are there for them and we help them get there.

MOLESKIN:
Continued to lift Derrick up in prayer as he endures a long recovery from an auto accident  We added Tony for surgery recovery and also Rainman from F3 Knoxville.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Partnership construction with Blount County Habitat for Humanity has been cancelled for this Saturday.  A reschedule for late February is anticipated.

12 Days

THE SCENE: Foggy and 46 degrees F.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Grab CMU and mosey to Mt Crumpit.  Stopped five times to do SSH, Little Baby Arm Circles (Forward and Backward), Cherry Pickers, and Hillbilly Walkers
THA-THANG:

12 DAYS OF BOMB SHELTER

Start with #1, then perform #2 then #1, then #3, #2, #1.  Continue until reach #12 and do all numbers down to #1.

1 Bernie ascent of Mt Crumpit

2 x 10 yard Bear Crawl

3 BBS/American Hammer (progressive to 3 BBS/12 Hammers)

4 All Americans (8 count)

5 laps around the fountain

6 Burpees

7 CMU Goblet Squats

8 CMU Derkins

9 CMU Triceps Extentions

10 CMU Swings

11 CMU Squat Presses

12 Overhead CMU lunges (12 per leg)

Most made it into #9 or #10.  Called everyone together with about 12 minutes left and everyone worked the routine (#12 down to #1) before heading back to the AO.

MARY:
Stopped three times on the way back to the AO to do protractors, LBC’s, and flutter kicks.  Returned CMU’s and started Count Off.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
8 including second timer Lay Up and Bagger who is making the AO rounds.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Winter of My Life (Author Unknown)

You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing of years.  It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.

And yet, in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all…..

And I have glimpses of how it was back then, and of all my hopes and dreams…..But, here it is…..the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise….

How did I get here so fast?  Where did the years go and where did my babies go?  And, where did my youth go?

I remember well……seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things. I know that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last,
when it’s over…..it’s over!

Yes, I have regrets.  There are things I wish I hadn’t done…..things I should have done.  But, indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have done.

It’s all in a lifetime…..
So, if you’re not in your winter yet……
Let me remind you…..
It will be here faster than you think!

So….
Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life…..Please do it quickly!  Life goes by so fast.  Do what you can today, because you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!  You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life…..

So, live for good today and, say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember…….

“Life is a gift to you.
The way you live your life is your gift to those who came after.
Make it a fantastic one!”
Remember, yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is a gift….
LIVE IT WELL!!

We likely will begin to know when the winter comes as we live longer into our 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s but winter can come early for us.  I remember Gary, a friend I played baseball through high school with.  His winter came at age 23 as did my brother-in-law, Tom, at age 27.  There winter lasted days and weeks. Then there was my hiking buddy, Gig.  His winter came at age 49 and lasted three years. Or Gail, whose winter started 8 years ago and ended last month.

We cannot forecast our winter but we can live our life knowing that it will come.  Jesus told us how to do that when he said that we should love the Lord, our God, with our entire being.  Likewise we should love our neighbor (friends, enemies, and those we don’t know) as we love ourselves.   As the writer of the text above wrote, “The way you live your life is a gift to those who came after.”

MOLESKIN:
Pray for Pinnocchio’s friend Derrick involved in a head on crash on December 22nd.  He is facing a long recovery.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.

Christmas Flyby

THE SCENE: 40 degrees, 79% humidity, calm winds, clear night skies
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH x20, Windmills x10, Overhead/Out Front hand claps x10

Various trips across the parking lot: run, Bernie, bear crawl, side shuffle

THA-THANG:
Retrieve CMU and overhead carry with both arms, then right arm only, then left arm only, then both arms as we travel to Mt. Crumpit.

Two stations were set up about 150 yards apart on the path below Mt. Crumpit.  Cardio and Upper Body F3 workout cards were at the first station (CMU’s were left here to assist in any exercise needing them).  The second station had the Legs and Core F3 cards.  A card was turned over at Station 1 and the exercise and specified reps were performed before running to Station 2.  Running back and forth between stations occurred until time was exhausted.  Any sprint, bear crawl, or Bernie card turn over at Station 1 required a trip up Mt. Crumpit and around the Christmas Tree.

Carry CMU’s back to the AO.

MARY:
There were plenty of core work included in THA-THANG
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
8 HIMs and 0 FNG’s
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Last Wednesday and Thursday, I had the privilege of watching the various services and tributes to the late George H W Bush.  I had a tough time staying hydrated.  All the water I drank just ran out through my eyes.  I decided that I really need to be more like him.  I have 28 more years to reach that goal, assuming I live to his final age of 94.

Listening to the seemingly endless accolades reminded me of the late General Fred Forrester from the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard base.  He was a Maryville resident and civic leader for many years.   Anyone who ever encountered Fred was made to feel like the most important person in the room.  Like the late President Bush he knew the value of friends and family.

Anyway, I wanted to share some things that I picked up watching the tributes to President Bush.  They are not in any particular vein of thought or theme.  They just stuck with me and perhaps they may have some significance to you.  Here are the quotes attributed to him:

  • We know what works. Freedom works. We know what’s right. Freedom is right.
  • It’s a very good question, very direct, and I’m not going to answer it.
  • Hatred corrodes the container it’s carried in.
  • The idea is to die young as late as possible.
  • Failure is part of living a full life but don’t let failure define you.
  • Old guys can still do fun things.

The prayer that George H. W. Bush recited at his presidential inauguration in January 1989 was another thing that impacted me.  Here is the full text of his prayer:

Heavenly father, we bow our heads and thank you for your love.  Make us strong to do your work, willing to heed and hear your will and write on our heart these words: use power to help people.  For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name.  There is, but one just use of power and it is to serve people.  Help us remember, Lord, Amen.

President Bush was an excellent role model in many ways.  He will undoubtedly be remembered for the importance he placed on family and friends and for his dedication to serving people and his country.

I have much to do.  My 28 years are ticking down.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Tin Man as he undergoes a medical procedure today.  We hope for his quick return to the Gloom.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.

Rust Never Sleeps

THE SCENE: 32 degrees, overcast skies, light north wind
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH, Baby Arm Circles, TN Rocking Chairs followed by jog, sprint, skip across parking lot.

Mosey to the ball field hill to crab crawl down and bear crawl up – started with 6 burpees at top and decreased by 1 burpee until complete at the top with 1 burpee.

Mosey to the grinder.
THA-THANG:
Three stations in the 1/4 mile short loop:

CMU Station: Lunge dead lifts x12 per arm, Bent rows x12, Squat to OH lifts x12, Upright rows x12, and American swings x12.

Sprint across grinder and do Dips x24, Steps ups x24, and Pull ups x12.

Run to bottom apex of 1/4 mile loop and do Merkins x12, BBS x12, and Dry docks x12.

Run up to the CMU station and repeat as time allows.

MARY:
Little baby crunches in sets of 25 with 10 seconds rest between set until time is up.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
7 HIM’s
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
The songs of the day were My, My, Hey, Hey (Out of the Blue) and Hey, Hey, My, My (Into the Black) by Neil Young.  They were bookend songs to his 1979 album “Rust Never Sleeps.”  He wrote the songs out of his concerns that he was becoming obsolete as a performer.  The electric version (final track) really kicked his career back into gear and is often referred to as the precursor of grunge rock by artists such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, etc.

I use these songs today as a reminder that rust never sleeps.  We all can rust – we all can just fade away.  Obviously, F3 helps us to keep from rusting away physically through the first F.  Through Fellowship and Faith we can also counteract the rust that tries to creep into our mental and spiritual lives.

God has given much and God requires much of us.  One of my favorite Bible passages about this is from Ephesians 6:10-20.  In particular Verse 13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Remember, rust never sleeps!

MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Moses is moving and needs some help on December 8th and posted an event on F3 Alcoa.

Sally

THE SCENE: Mostly cloudy, 58 degrees, 96% humidity
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH x20, Cherry pickers x16, Little baby arm circles x10 forward/x10backward

Jog parking x2, skip parking lot x1, mosey to base of ballfield hill.
THA-THANG:
7’s at the hill

  • Burpees at the base of the hill
  • Bear crawl up the hill
  • BBS at the top x2
  • Crab crawl down the hill
  • Mosey to the grinder

Bring Sally up, bring Sally down

  • Hit the ground/hop up to the music
  • Run the Bomb Shelter short loop
  • Merkins to the music
  • Run the Bomb Shelter short loop
  • CMU squat presses to the music
  • Run the Bomb Shelter short loop
  • Leg lifts to the music (60 degrees up/10 degrees down)
  • Run the Bomb Shelter short loop
  • BBS to the music

MARY:
Box cutters, flutter kicks, LBC’s
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
12 HIM’s, no FNG’s
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

The following is from Wild Together, My Adventures with Loki the Wolfdog by Kelly Lund.

Wish You Were Here

The concept of being present is one that is so often said, but rarely lived.  I’m guilty of it.  I say I am going to be more present; I say I am going to  put my phone down and focus on what’s in front of me; I say I will put the camera down and just look with my eyes.  But I don’t. I get caught up and think secondary things are important in the moment, and then the moment is gone. 

Never has Loki had this behavioral flaw.  How could he?  He sees now and now only.  I am not saying that beyond my knowledge he doesn’t have a memory band of his past experiences.  Simply put, he is not worried about what tomorrow will bring.  The anxiety of the future, the disappointment of the past; that’s not a thing for him.

If now is all we have, all that is promised, let us not be fools and waste it.

As the Bible says, don’t worry about tomorrow. That won’t add an hour to our life. Tomorrow will worry about itself.  This is the day the Lord has made. Let us all be glad and rejoice in it.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Moses and Sqeaker’s recovery.  Steer asked for prayers for his family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
F3 Knoxville 3rd Anniversary during weekend of November 3rd.