F3 Knoxville

Author: Kick-Flip

What Judge Said

THE SCENE:  73 and clear.  Perfect.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered.

WARM-O-RAMA: 

  • Reach for the sky!
  • Let it hang!
  • LBAC F/B – IC x 8
  • Hillbillies – IC x 8
  • Abe Vigoda – IC x 8
  • Tempo squats – IC x 8
  • Knee Slap Merkins – IC x 10
  • Pickle Pounders – IC x 20
  • X and O
  • LBCs – IC x 20
  • Sleeping Hillbilly L/R – IC x 10
  • Hello Dolly – IC x 20
  • Projectivator from 15

THA THANG:

Mosey to the curb for

Jelly Legs:
Hold Al Gore 30 sec, 30 Squats, Run, Repeat.
Hold Al Gore 20 sec, 20 Squats, Run, Repeat.

and

Jelly Arms:
Hold Merkin at 6inches 30sec, 30 Merkins, Run, Repeat.
Hold Merkin at 6inches 20 sec, 20 Merkins, Run, Repeat.

then

Totem Pole:
Perform exercises in descending order at indicated numbered reps (12-1), Run. Upon return do the same but eliminate the top exercise on the list.

 

MARY:

Sprints:  1st place leads ab exercise after each sprint.  In subsequent rounds, 1st place finishers do three burpees before running.

Finish with a nice long set of pickle pounders.

 

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

19 HIMs and 4 2.0s

 

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Today’s workout was a repeat of one that Judge Judy led last year on August 11.  He was signed up to lead today – most of you know that Judge planned to hand the flag off this morning to Spotter.  But he had to back out due to illness.  So, I picked up his Q – and, because Judge Judy is not here, I chose to do something that he would never tolerate if he were…I boasted on Todd Celeste, aka Judge Judy.

Todd started posting at F3 almost two years ago.  Within about a month he was leading Qs.  I was here in August of last year when Booster handed the flag to him.  To a man, everyone standing here thought or said, “oh yeah, he’s going to be good”.  Over the past year, he has challenged all of us physically, relationally, and spiritually.  He inspires the exhausted to push farther and harder than they thought they could.  He provokes the unwilling to jump in and lead a Q.  He prompts us to lead, and serve, and give to the community.  He encourages us to reject indifference and lean into our roles as a friend, father, and husband.  That dude has led this group very well.

One thing that I appreciate about Judge is how he shares during the Word.  He is open with his heart and his weaknesses, so that we might prevail where he struggles.  He speaks God’s Word over us and brings it alive with applications which are relevant to all of us.

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about the impact of their lives and imitate their faith.”

I read seven things that I’ve heard Judge say while standing right here on this parking lot.  Remember…think about their impact…and imitate the faith that you’ve seen lived out right here;

  1. “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.”  Are you a Peacemaker? Or do you help stir dissent as I often find myself doing… Stirring dissent, whether it is engaging in gossip or complaining about someone, ruins your witness for Christ.”
  2. “Don’t give in to fear.  Be a slave to Grace instead, maintaining an eternal perspective on daily fears. Place everything with Christ and the hope we have in Him.”
  3. “Take the highroad when you receive harsh criticism undeservedly.  Follow what God says about these situations: rich in kindness, slow to anger. Then let Him work through you.”
  4. “What kind of leader are you? Do you go home after a long day and expect to be served? Or are you serving?”
  5. “Leadership sometimes can be a simple act – you don’t need words.”
  6. “The life not wasted is one focused on lovingly serving others in a way that magnifies God’s glory.  Let that be our daily, even hourly, focus.”
  7. “…consider your words wisely, use them to build others up”

That’s solid gold!  I am thankful for the man that Todd is and the leader that he has been for this group.

 

I closed with a thought about leadership that I think reflects Judge’s style.  As you lead in your own circumstances (as a father, husband, boss, mentor…) consider this; a leader leads, he doesn’t just point the way.  Actions speak louder than words.  If you want those in your sphere of influence to remember, think about your impact, and imitate you – do, don’t just say, and work to be worthy of imitation. 

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about the impact of their lives and imitate their faith.”

MOLESKIN:

Prayers for MC Hammer and Sty’s friend, Jeff.

Spotter will get the flag and be our AOQ soon – that dude is going to be good!

Custom Fit

THE SCENE: 68 and clear.  Perfect.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Moroccan nightclubs (for our boy, Erector) – IC x 8
  • Cherry pickers – IC x 8
  • Ranger merkins – IC x 8
  • Mountain climbers – IC x 8
  • X and O

THA-THANG:

Mosey, sprint, and bear crawl our way to “The Half-Pipe” (two sets of 15 steps that face each other).

Perform exercise at the top of staircase 1, run down, across, and up staircase 2.  Perform the same exercise at the top of staircase 2, run down, across, and up staircase 1.  That’s one round – repeat with the following;

  • 20 Bobby Hurleys
  • 20 Flutter Kicks 4-ct
  • 20 Ranger Merkins
  • 20 Mountain Climbers 4-ct
  • 20 Lunges
  • 20 Hello Dolly 4-ct
  • 20 Carolina Dry Docks
  • 20 LBCs

Mosey, sprint, and bear crawl our way back…

MARY:

  • Freddy Mercury IC x 20
  • Hello dolly IC x 20
  • Sleeping hillbilly L&R IC x 10
  • Jailbreak!

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

SEVEN:  5 HIMs and 2 2.0s

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

Many of you have heard me talk about a sad time that our family recently went through.  My wife was 10 weeks pregnant and we lost the baby.  I’ve spoken before about the grief that followed – but this morning, I want to commemorate one part of that season which impacted me in a positive way.

We got the bad news from the OBGYN on Monday, May 18th.  We heard that the pregnancy was not viable and that a miscarriage would happen after some time – that might be days or weeks.  It occurred on the day which we’d dreaded most – May 20th, which was also the 4th birthday of our youngest son.  So instead of joyfully celebrating him, our family was devastated, and my wife spent that day in agony.

In that terrible moment… Mailbox’s wife (S.O.S’s mom) texted my wife to check on her.  Knowing our situation, his wife asked this unexpected and deeply moving question, “can we come decorate your home for your 4-year-old’s birthday?”  The family brought balloons, streamers, and homemade signs – they made our living room look awesome.  They brought Chick-fil-a for lunch, gave him a personalized tee-shirt, sang Happy Birthday, and had him blow out a candle on a cookie.  They brought all of our kids to the park for a play date…. For our 4-year old, it was a good birthday.

They came to meet a need that we didn’t even know we had.  They came to make our son’s birthday special, when we could not even think about it.  I will remember their kindness for the rest of my life.  We were so moved by this gesture (I tear up writing about it almost 3 months later) because it was incredibly thoughtful and tailored specifically to our need.  

That action has inspired me to seek out opportunities to meet the needs of others in a way that is customized to their need.  I’ve challenged myself to not only offer those around me, “if there’s anything I can do, just ask…” – but rather to look deeper into their situations and offer something specific.

Takeaway:  Search for opportunities to serve others in a way which is customized to their circumstances – and offer them specific, not general, support in their time of need. 

You’ll need to be observant and thoughtful.  What’s more, you’ll need to be creative to identify the needs of others that they may not even realize they have.  Are you up to that challenge?

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

 

MOLESKIN:

  • The Word was inspired by Mailbox’s awesome crew; C, K, C (S.O.S.), and K – you guys are so thoughtful and special! T-Claps! T-Claps! T-Claps!
  • Prayers for Erector’s family
  • Speedy and full recovery, Rocket!  See you in the gloom again soon, brother!
  • Where on earth has Samaritan been?

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
none

Esse Quam Videri

THE SCENE:  70 and soggy.  Perfect for a beatdown.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered. 
WARM-O-RAMA: 

  • Cherry pickers x 7 IC
  • Hairy Rockettes x 8 IC
  • Seal jacks IC x 10
  • Overhead claps IC x 10
  • Wide out drops x 10
  • Morrocan Nightclub x 10 IC
  • Knee tap merkin x 5 IC
  • LBCs x 10 IC
  • Hello Dolly x 10 IC
  • Prime time merkin x 5 IC

THA THANG:

Mosey…

#1: Sprints across the field.  50%, 75%, 75%, 100%, 100%, 100%

#2:  Chin-ups (max) + 25 merkins + 40 LBCs.  Run a lap (0.40 mi).  Repeat 4x

#3:  Galway hookers.  4 lunges, squat, 4 lunges, 2 squats, etc. up to 10 squats – turn around and work back down to 1 squat. (total 100 squats, 76 lunges)

#4:  Dips x 20 + lateral box jumps x 10 – 3 Rounds

Mosey back

MARY:

Hat tip to Slappy for leading Freddy Mercury.  Out of time!

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Me and 7 of the best men I know

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

On the morning of June 30, 2013, members of a wildland firefighting crew called the Granite Mountain Hotshots headed into the mountains to protect the small town of Yarnell, Arizona, from an advancing wildfire.  Ignited two days earlier and fed by a strong wind and long drought, the fire had grown from 300 acres to over 2,000.  In the afternoon, the weather changed quickly and the fire raged through a valley and straight toward the crew.  The hotshots attempted to make it to a safe zone but must have known they had little chance to outrun the fire.  They deployed their emergency shelters to shield against the hell that would pour over them.  Tragically, their foil shields would not save them.  The fire overran the crew and all 19 members perished on that hillside.  June 30, 2013 was one of the largest losses of firefighters in modern time, second only to September 11th, 2001.

The Granite Mountain Hotshot crew has a motto; “Esse Quam Videri”.  If you have read F3’s leadership model “Q-Source”, esse quam videri (EQV) may ring familiar in your ears.  The model establishes EQV as something to strive for in all areas of your life.  It is Latin for “to be, rather than to seem.”  To BE…rather than to seem.  To be genuine in all these things that you are called to be as a HIM – faithful, trustworthy, kind, supportive, generous – strive to be them.  Be the Real Deal.

  • EQV requires authenticity – being honest with yourself and others (as appropriate) about your capabilities and shortcomings.  I truly appreciate and respect the men who authentically share about struggles during their Qs – the CoT is unlike any other atmosphere for men in our culture.
  • EQV requires intentionality – making a daily commitment and spending the energy to be the man, father, husband, friend, that you are called to be.  Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”
  • EQV means your motives and thoughts match your actions.  It’s not enough to appear generous, or forgiving, or supportive – you must be those things in your mind and heart as well.  Mathew 6:1, “Be sure you do not do good things in front of others just to be seen by them”.  Proverbs 10:9, “The one who walks in integrity will experience a fearless confidence in life, but the one who is devious will eventually be exposed.”

To be a genuine HIM, involves hard work on your part – it will NOT just happen.  It is a thousand decisions that you’ll make throughout the day – starting with the one that got you here, getting out of bed to better yourself and your friends.  In his eulogy of the 19 fallen firefighters, then-vice-president, Joe Biden, called them, “Men of undaunted courage, uncommon resolve, and an uncommon and stubborn perseverance in the face of unfathomable challenges”.  You too will have to develop and display undaunted courage, uncommon resolve, and an uncommon and stubborn perseverance, in order to keep pursing your authentic role day after day.

Proverbs 14:23 “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

Proverbs 13:4 “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.”

Bottom line, men: Don’t do just enough to outwardly appear to be a good husband, a caring friend, a diligent employee…  Persevere each day and resolve yourself to BE those things.

MOLESKIN:

You can read all 50 Q-Source points on the F3 Nation website.  Check out 1.1 DRP for more on Esse Quam Videri.

Part of the workout that you all did this morning was very similar to the minimum physical agility test to be a “hotshot”, a wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service.  All Interagency Hotshot crew members strive to meet the following fitness standards:

  • Run: 1.5 miles in 10:35 or less
  • Sit-ups: 40 in 60 seconds
  • Pushups: 25 in 60 seconds
  • Chin-ups (4-7, based on body weight)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Prayers for Snagg and his family.

CSAUP coming up!

Share Your Heart

THE SCENE:  60 and clear.  Perfect for a beatdown.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered. 
WARM-O-RAMA: 

  • Morrocan Nightclub x 10 IC
  • Chinook x 5 IC
  • Cherry pickers x 7 IC
  • Carolina Dry Docks x 5 IC
  • E2K x 5 IC
  • Hello Dolly x 5 IC
  • Rosalita x 5 IC
  • Twinkle Toes x 10 IC

THA THANG:

Mosey to the high-school lot…

Routine 1:

10 Wing-nuts (4 count) + 20 Derkins…. 3 Rounds

Routine 2: Heart-shaped circuit.

6 stations – each has 2 exercises.  Get into groups of 3.  A group starts at one of the stations.  After performing both exercises, run 5/6 of a lap and stop at the station pervious to the one you just left.  Each time you pass the culvert drain (the middle of the “heart”), do 3 muscle-ups on it.  Continue circuit until Q calls stop.

Exercises are:

  • 10 Burpees + 20 BBS
  • 20 E2K Left + 20 E2K Right
  • 10 squat jumps + 20 Diamond Merkins
  • 20 Flutter kicks (2-count) + 20 Squats
  • 30 Calf raises + 20 Carolina Dry Docks
  • 20 Hello Dolly (2 count) + 20 Rosalita (2 count)

Routine 3:  7s on the steps.  Burpees + Donkey kicks.  Bear crawl, crawl bear.

Routine 4:  Suicides on the tennis courts.

First cone and back, second cone and back, third cone and back – Mountain climbers.

Repeato with flutter kicks

Repeato with freddy mercury

Mosey back to the flag

MARY:

No time!

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Me and 5 of the best men I know

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is about toxic ambition and rivalry for the Scottish throne.  Once he becomes king, a paranoid Macbeth orders a raid on the castle of a perceived rival – Macduff – and in that raid Macduff’s entire family is killed.  Macduff, who is in England during the raid, is with a companion when he receives the terrible news about his family – and he becomes silent.  After a moment, his friend prompts him, “Give sorrow words.  The grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break”.  His friend is urging him – don’t keep this agony inside, or you will implode into despair.  That is good advice – and in this season that I’m in, it registers loudly with me.

I am, by nature and nurture, someone who bottles up emotions – both good and bad – and seldom processes them externally.  We modern men are doubly disadvantaged when it comes to sharing our emotions.  The inner architecture of our brains is physiologically different from our curvy counterparts – MRI studies have shown that women are more capable of expressing their emotions verbally.  On top of that physical handicap, our culture layers an expectation for men to be laconic and impassive – like Charlton Heston in every role he has ever played.  We are free to express anger – but other emotions are effeminate and off-limits.  What a shame that we promote this dysfunction.

Last time I spoke in this setting, I told you about our recent miscarriage and vowed to support my wife well through this hard time.  That meant listening, praying with her and for her, and making myself available – but I also committed to sharing more of my own sadness.  I can tell you, each time I do – whether it is opening up to her, or a quick word with one of you after the workout – expressing those feelings relieves the mounting pressure in my chest.

I want my three young sons (ages 4, 7, 9) to excel where I have not.  I want them to have healthy strategies for talking about their emotions – because in doing so, they will be physically healthier and have richer relationships throughout their lives.  Like their dad, they seem unwilling or unable to reveal much when simply asked, “how do you feel?”.  Maybe they don’t want to talk about it – or maybe they don’t know how to translate their feelings into words.  Just in the last few weeks, I’ve been prodding their emotions a little differently and they’ve responded.  When I can get one of them alone and the moment is right, I’ll ask, “What is the happiest thing in your life right now?”.  Sometimes, they’ll answer that question in full paragraphs – sharing their heart with me.  Then I’ll ask, “What is the saddest thing in your life right now?”  That simple change has led to expanded discussion and gives me a little glimpse of what it looks like for these young boys to express emotion.

Are you at all like me?  Do you muffle your joy and sadness and excitement and disappointment?  Do you even know if you do?  Licensed counselor, Debbie Causey, says a sign that an emotion has been buried is when you give a “dollar response” to a “fifty-cent incident”.  If the largeness of your reaction is disproportionate to the weight of the incident, you might have buried emotion.  Be honest – have you overreacted lately?  Explore that.

Challenge:  Those who are closest to you – friends and family who love you – they deserve to know you better.  They deserve to know how you feel.  Pick one person who is close to you and share a little of your heart with them today or this week.  If you don’t know where to start, then answer one of the questions, “What is the happiest thing in your life right now?” or “What is the saddest thing in your life right now?”

Bonus Challenge:  Ask them to reciprocate with their own answers – and listen.

 

MOLESKIN:

Prayers for Pi’s upcoming exam.  No pressure…but….HIS CAREER AND HIS FAMILY’S LIVELIHOOD DEPEND ON HIM PASSING!  But, no pressure.  We know you’ll do great!

Rocket – you better be doing your burpees!  We missed you out there.

I know that, sadly, other HIMs have a wife who has, or will, experience a miscarriage.  If you want to work through that agony with someone who can relate, DM me on Slack and we’ll get together.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Second Time is Better

THE SCENE:  67 and clear
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Administered. 
WARM-O-RAMA: 

  • Cherry pickers x 7 IC
  • Tempo squats x 7 IC
  • Imperial Walkers x 7 IC
  • Hillbillies x 7 IC
  • Mountain Climbers x 10 IC
  • Knee tap Merkins x 7 IC
  • Projectivator from 7

THA THANG:

Short mosey to the bars…
15 muscle-ups on the wall + 15 dips on the bars (x3 Rounds)

 

Mosey to K-25 Hill

DORA

Partner 1 – Up the hill

1st time – Sprint

2nd time – bear crawl

3rd time – Bernie

Partner 2

45 burpees

45 BBS

45 lunges (2-ct)

45 squats

45 Merkins

 

Mosey to the Friendship Bell

11s; Dips and Derkins + 5 box jumps between each set

 

MARY:

Mosey back to the flag for some Mary

  • Sleeping Hillbillies L&R
  • Flutter Kicks
  • Freddy Mercury
  • Hello Dolly

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Me and 6 of the best men I know

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Did that workout seem familiar?  It was a do-over of my first ever F3 workout – one that Snaggletooth Q-ed last April.  Our first time, my performance was terrible.  I couldn’t finish the muscle-ups, was sucking for air like a drowning swimmer, felt ready to vomit at any moment, and was wondering why Archie would invite me to participate in such agony.  You guys dragged this sorry FNG around the park while he muttered to himself, “what the heck am I doing out here at 5:30 in the morning??”  Our second time, however, my personal performance was considerably better than the first.

Let’s talk a minute about regrets.  I’ll start with one of my own…

My wife was 10-weeks pregnant until we lost our baby last week.  We will surely be grieving that loss and processing our emotions for a long time.  While I’m not ready to talk about those feelings publicly – I am going to talk about my response to our tragedy.  You see, this isn’t our first time.  Eight years prior, almost to the day, we lost another baby – what would have been our second child.  Just like my first time doing this workout was a terrible performance, my first time leading after that tragedy was dreadful.  My wife and I grieved our loss separately – I did not try to communicate my feelings and I didn’t pursue hers well.  After just a few days, I went on a work trip to Las Vegas and left her to mourn with our infant son.  At the time, I had some unhealthy habits (self-centeredness, jealous thinking…) and few healthy habits (wasn’t exercising or praying regularly, no shield lock with other men…).  I’ve spoken before about a season of complacency in my marriage. It would be years later before I realized that the origin of that complacency may have been this occasion and some of the aftermath.  Little did I know how lasting an impact it would have… how that curve in the road would redefine us for a time.  My uninspired response and retreat after our shared trauma made an agonizing season even harder – and it is one of the biggest regrets that I have.

This second time isn’t any easier.  In fact, for a multitude of reasons – it seems to be much harder on both of us.  However, I have an opportunity to relive that regretful experience from 8 years ago.  This time, my response can be less selfish and more considerate.  I can think less often of myself and more often of the ones who I’m charged to support and lead.  I can engage with my wife and embrace her often.  I can pray for her and with her.  I can talk to her about my sadness.  I can grieve with her and be there to support her.  I can talk compassionately with our other kids – who are also confused and saddened by our circumstances.  I can continue to care for my physical and emotional health so that I can effectively lead my family.  Our second time, my personal performance will be considerably better than the first.

BB Reader – Are you ready to do something courageous?  Let’s reflect now on you…  What is something that you regret?  Write it down.  Why did you make that choice or decision?  Write it down.

Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness”

What specifically would you do differently if you are one day in a similar situation? Write it down.

  • What would you say differently?
  • How would you process your thoughts differently?
  • What would you do differently?
  • What would you not do or say?

Proverbs 24:16 “Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up…”

You may not ever get a chance to re-do your regret, but what can you do about it today?  Write it down.

  • Issue an apology?
  • Make a recommitment?
  • Take a step toward a long-abandoned dream?
  • Cast-off unhealthy habits which will set you into a tailspin next time?
  • Incorporate or continue healthy habits to be better prepared for next time?

MOLESKIN:

T-Claps to Snaggletooth for creating today’s workout and Q-ing it a little over a year ago

Hat-tip to Archie for pulling me out to F3

I know that, sadly, other HIMs have a wife who has, or will, experience a miscarriage.  If you want to work through that agony with someone who can relate, DM me on Slack and we’ll get together.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Pool Boy on Q tmrw at JUCO, Snaggletooth for Heavy PT on Thursday, Mailbox on Friday at JUCO