F3 Knoxville

World Cup Redux

THE SCENE: Warm and muggy, 92 degrees, but thankfully not much sun!
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
Cherry Pickers x 10 (4-ct), Slow Windmills x10 (4-ct), Tempo Merkins x10 (4-ct), Motivators 5 reps decreasing, baby arm circles forward x10 (4-ct) and backward x10 (4-ct)

THA-THANG:
We recreated the World Cup Quaterfinals at the Asylum! Run the loop road around the administration 3 times.  8 Stations are located throughout the circuit, each station representing a team from the WC Quarterfinals.  We will do an exercise at each station named after the country represented for the first lap (quarterfinals), second lap (semi finals), and third lap (Finals).  The teams that were eliminated in each round of the playoffs will have their exercises replaced with 10 squats.

FIRST ROUND QUARTERFINALS

  1. French Flutter Kicks (x20, 4-ct) @ Bat house
  2. Brazilian Burpees (10 OYO) @ Big Tree
  3. Belgian Box Cutters (20, 4-ct) @ Corner
  4. Croatian Carolina Dry Docks (x 15) @ Circle Drive Split
  5. Russian Rocky Balboa (10, 4-ct) – then run up to top of stairs and do the victory dance @ Stairs
  6. Swedish Mountain Climbers (x 10, 4-ct) @Circle Drive Split
  7. English E2K oblique crunches (x 10 each knee) @ Turn on to Hilltop
  8. Uruguayan Upright Rows (need rocks, x30) @Rock Pile

SECOND ROUND  SEMIFINALS – Brazil, Russia, Sweden, Uruguay eliminated

  1. French Flutter Kicks (x20, 4-ct)
  2. Brazil Burpees (10 OYO)
  3. Belgian Box Cutters (20, 4-ct)
  4. Croatian Carolina Dry Docks (x 15)
  5. Russian Rocky Balboa (10, 4-ct) – then run up to top of stairs and do the victory dance
  6. Swedish Mountain Climbers (x 10, 4-ct)
  7. English E2K oblique crunches (x 10 each knee)
  8. Uruguay Upright Rows (need rocks, x30)

THIRD ROUND – Belgium and England eliminated

  1. French Flutter Kicks (x20, 4-ct)
  2. Brazil Burpees (10 OYO)
  3. Belgian Box Cutters (20, 4-ct)
  4. Croatian Carolina Dry Docks (x 15)
  5. Russian Rocky Balboa (10, 4-ct) – then run up to top of stairs and do the victory dance
  6. Swedish Mountain Climbers (x 10, 4-ct))
  7. English E2K oblique crunches (x 10 each knee)
  8. Uruguay Upright Rows (need rocks, x30)

FINAL ROUND CHAMPIONSHIP– Croatia eliminated

  1. French Flutter Kicks (x20, 4-ct)
  2. Brazil Burpees (10 OYO)
  3. Belgian Box Cutters (20, 4-ct)
  4. Russian Rocky Balboa (10, 4-ct) – then run up to top of stairs and do the victory dance
  5. Croatian Carolina Dry Docks (x 15)
  6. Swedish Mountain Climbers (x 10, 4-ct)
  7. English E2K oblique crunches (x 10 each knee)
  8. Uruguay Upright Rows (need rocks, x30)

MARY:
We did a mini-competition to determine who got the World Cup Trophy (which just so happened to be an F3 Pint Glass!).  Everyone did Imperial Walkers while each man in turn took a turn kicking a soccer ball as close as possible to the F3 Flag.  Congratulations to Bearcat for taking home the hardware!!

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

RECOGNIZING GOD, a Personal story about recognizing God in my life.  A few years ago my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away 5 months later. She was only 75, and it was just 2 years after my father passed.  Everyone loves their mom, but she truly was a special person… Never had a harsh word to say about anyone, generous to a fault, loved her friends and family and church community, humble but talented, gregarious and kind.  When she became ill, I authored her Caring Bridge website which kept friends and family up to date on her situation.  I raced home to Chicago when I heard she had taken a downturn, and missed being able to say goodbye to her by about a half an hour.  I knew it was my responsibility to pass on the news.  As I was sitting at the computer, trembling with unbearable grief, trying to find the words to put into the final entry, I stared out the window and my anger turned towards God. Where was He?  Where was He for my mother?  Why did she have to get sick and suffer as she did? I sat there for a while, tears pouring down my face, my heart broken and hurting, and I felt a tingle run through my body. And I saw these images so clearly…

  • Her neighbor across the street who brought her over hot dinners twice a week
  • Her friend from her college days who drove 6 hours to visit with her when she heard she was sick
  • The waitress at a restaurant where we went to eat shortly before she passed away that brought her a bowl of chicken broth and vegetables when she learned my mom was sick and the original soup order was too spicy for her. The manager also picked up her bill.
  • The friends who kept our freezer stocked with more ice cream than an Army could eat because they knew that was her favorite treat.
  • The widow at church who drove her to several of her doctor’s appointments and was good company for her.
  • The surgeon who performed a near-perfect surgery in the early stages to give her a fighting chance and whose optimism and encouragement was so needed for all of us.
  • Her caregiver who lifted her spirits and was such a warm and comforting presence in the house.
  • Some friends of mine who drove 600 miles (!!) from Knoxville to attend her funeral.

Where was God? God was EVERYWHERE.  I was too blind and ignorant and selfish to see it.  He was all around me, I saw Him in these friends and neighbors, in the love these people showed my mother.

I encourage everyone to look for God in the kind acts of friends or strangers, and to be a vehicle for God’s love for others in the way you conduct your own lives.

MOLESKIN:
We prayed for the health and well being of several family members of the F3 community that have fallen sick or have been injured.

It was an incredible honor to lead my first Q for the Asylum PM group.  I was humbled and thankful by the opportunity.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Kickball tournament on Saturday.

Old Fashioned Family Beatdown

THE SCENE: 68 Degrees and oddly pleasant
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Little o’ this
  • Little o’ that
  • Little o’ Michael Phelps (exc. Ratchet who hates that stretch)
  • Cherry Picker x 10 IC
  • Imperial Squat Walker x 10 IC

THA-THANG:
I had the PAX count off into three equal groups; one lucky group got to run over and pick up CMUs from the pile.

Group 1 stood shoulder-to-shoulder at Cone A and Group 3 stood should-to-shoulder at Cone B. Groups 1 and 3 began an exercise while Group 2 traveled between them as instructed. When Group 2 reached Group 3, the PAX rotated and ran back to Group 1, where the rotation continued. Exercises are below:

Set 1: World’s Greatest Merkin/CMU Run/Freddie Mercury

Set 2: Squats/Sprints/CMU Curls

Set 3: Burpees/Bernie Sanders/CMU Press

Each set lasted approximately 10 minutes with minimal rest between sets.

MARY:

  • Plank Jacks x 25 IC (4 ct.)
  • LBCs x 25 IC (4 ct.)
  • Mountain Climbers x 25 IC (4 ct.)
  • Oblique crunches x 15 IC (single ct., each side)
  • Flutter Kicks x 25 IC

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
22 PAX including 1 FNG – strong showing!
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Gerald Swindle is a professional bass angler that has been on the circuit for quite a while. He competes at the highest level in a stressful sport and yet he almost always seems collected, deliberate, and positive. I shared with PAX a quote that Swindle wrote regarding his personal slogan of “Positive Mental Attitude”:

“That’s the way my personal slogan of PMA (positive mental attitude) works in life. One of the PMA principles is that today’s bad news leads to tomorrow’s good news. You have to believe that today’s bad unexpected will lead you to tomorrow’s good unexpected.”

I really like what he’s getting at here. We will constantly have entropy in our lives, and we have to be intentional about embracing that and moving forward as HIMs.

MOLESKIN:
Felt good to be back with the PAX after several tumultuous weeks off-kilter schedules!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Don’t forget about kickball, Truckin’ to the Pound, and several F3 events coming up in October & November!

What’s at your core?

THE SCENE: low 70’s I think….didn’t check.  It felt good for a mid-August morning.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER


WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH x 20
  • Cherry pickers x 5
  • This/that stretch
  • Squats x 10
  • Tempo Merkin x 10
  • 5 Burpees OYO

THA-THANG:

  • One lap around the boat dock parking lot.  Stop at each light pole for 5 Thrusters as you mosey.
  • At the other end of the lot – DORA work.
    • Partner A starts at one end of the lot and runs to the 2nd light pole.  Do 2 Burpees at the halfway mark each way (coming and going).  While Partner A is running, Partner B is doing reps of the following.  Switch when the running partner gets back.
      • 100 Plankjacks (4ct)
      • 100 Shoulder Taps (4ct)
      • 100 Spread Eagle Merkins
      • 100 Raised Arm Big Boy Situps
  • Run back around the parking lot the way we came from.  This time stop at each light pole for 5 Squats as you go.
  • Indian Run back to the AO.

MARY:

  • Roll up, V up x 10
  • Hello Dolly x 25
  • Ring of Fire leg press x 2 rounds
  • Spread Eagle Merkin x 10

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
17 total:  Junk, Mayberry, Frosty, Booger, Barn Door, Barnacle, Shooter, I-Beam, Waxjob, Snitch, High Heels, Wall Ball, Bowflex, Wagon Wheel, Scooter, Sparky, Bartman

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Today was a core workout…in keeping with that theme, I though I’d talk about what’s at my core.

My core starts at Romans 3:23 where the Bible tells us that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory (or perfection) of God.  Later on in the 6th chapter of Romans we are told that the wages of sin (the penalty of sin) is death.  Pretty gloomy stuff, but it all gets turned on its head with the life/death/resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus came to this earth, lived a perfect life and died in your place to take the penalty of your sin for you.  Romans 10:9 tells us that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart, that you will be saved.  It’s the gospel in less than 30 seconds.  That is what’s at my core…what’s at yours?  If you aren’t sure, I encourage you to reach out with questions.  I’d love to tell you more over a cup of coffee sometime.

MOLESKIN:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Guardians for Garrett kickball tournament this weekend

Truckin’ to the Pound

F3 Olympic weekend

Rise Up to Fall Back

THE SCENE: Cool and Dark… and a little grassy
WARM-O-RAMA:
Side-Straddle-Hops, Baby Arm Circles, Arm Stretches, Cherry Pickers, Windmills, 8-Count Merkins
THA-THANG:
Ring-of-Fire Merkins to 7

Buddy Bear Crawls (2x per PAX) + 25 Squats (4x)

Descending Sprint + Burpee Cardio Ladder

Tunnel of Love (2x)

MARY:
Row, Row, Row your boat (and canoe)
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
16 PAX
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Train your body, mind, and soul! You always fall back to the level of your training, so rise up and get better!

Kicking It

THE SCENE:  Partly cloudy, mid to upper 80’s.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
25 Squats, 20 Side Straddle Hops, 10 Bottle Openers, 10 Windmills
THA-THANG:
Mosey to other side of Admin Bldg.  We will do 25 Squats by steps up to Admin Bldg.  Then we will run up steps to top.  We will do 20 Merkins on porch.  Run back down stairs.  Bernie Sanders to street.  Lunge across street and run down stairs to grassy area.  10 Burpees.  Run back up stairs.  Lunge back across street.  Run back to stairs of admin bldg.  Rinse and repeat.  Those who finish first do baby crunches at top of stairs.

Mosey to northeast corner of admin bldg.  20 American Hammers in cadence.

Mosey to northern parking lot and trail leading north of that that gradually turns towards park entrance on Lyons Bend Road.  We will do Route 66 with the following exercises.  Whoever finishes first sweeps others back to start.

  • Big Boy Situps
  • Star Jumps
  • Dive Bombers

We will do 14’s to where trail hits roadway coming from Lyons Bend gateway entrance.  We will bear crawl to first light, sprint the next four lights, bear crawl one more light, sprint another four, etc. until roadway.

Mosey to Bottom of Roadshow Run.  Do 25 Squats in cadence.  Run to top of Roadshow Run.  Those who get to street first do plank until everyone arrives.

Mosey to AO.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Eleven men, one who was a Flying EH, a great guy named Sam Harward whom we have given the F3 name of Samsung.  Samsung is a competitor of the group he works for.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM 

John Donne’s poem, A Hymn to God the Father is a powerful and beautiful reminder of how much God loves us, despite are continuing sin.  In the first stanza, Donne asks God whether he will love him despite the fact that he continues to commit the same sins again and again, despite the fact that he himself deplores those very sins.  How could a just God continue to love him despite the fact that, given so many chances, he doesn’t ever get it right?  And yet, God still loves him.

In the second stanza Donne admits to being even worse.  He asks if God will forgive and love him despite the fact that he wins others to the very sins he has committed.  He asks whether God will love him despite the fact that he escapes from some sins, only to commit them years later – and may even wallow in those sins.  How could God forgive him.  And yet, God does.

In the final stanza, Donne, a great man of faith, admits the sin of his own lack of faith.  He fears that when he dies that he shall perish alone, devoid of anything – that death is only the end.  So he asks for God’s promise that at his death, God’s son shall shine as he shines now.  And, realizing Jesus’ love for us, he sees God, he sees his love, and in that he fears no more.

A Hymn to God the Father

Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
         Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
         And do run still, though still I do deplore?
                When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
                        For I have more.
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I have won
         Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
         A year or two, but wallow’d in, a score?
                When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
                        For I have more.
I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
         My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
         Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
                And, having done that, thou hast done;
                        I fear no more.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Kickball tournament this Saturday!