F3 Knoxville

Category: Asylum AM

Founding AO

Broken Frisbee Toss and The Vote at Asylum – 2020

THE SCENE: Slightly Overcast, mid 60’s
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 SSH IC

Pinto Hops – 15 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Grady Corns – 32 IC

Rocketts – 10 IC

Merkins 10 OYO
THA-THANG:
Mosey to the open field near the outdoor field just before the large chapel. Throw the frisbee (broken due to preworkout fracture). The entire group runs to the frisbee position and does the exercise, throw again, do same excercise, repeat:

    • First 15 squats oyo (run back and forth)
    • 25 American Hammers, 4 ct oyo (Bernie back and forth)
    • 20 Hello Dollies (4 ct, LT Dan back and forth (1 lunge, 1 squat, 2 lunge, 2 squat, 3 lunge, 3 squats, etc))
    • 20 LBC, 4 ct, (bear crawl back and forth)
  • Mosey further towards entrance past first stop sign to open field with cones
    • NIckel, Dime, Quarter at each end of field – Merkins 5,5, then 10, 10 then 25, 25 running in between
  • Mosey back half way to CMU parking lot, ring of fire- 1 round x 1 Merkin, 1 round x2 merkin
  • Mosey back to CMU parking lot. Partner up, each grab a CMU
    • . Electorals (aka Doras) 100 Curls, 100 BBS, 70 Overhead presses
      • Partner runs to other side of lot, 20 Sawmills (1 ct) 5 squat jacks, run back

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
20 strong
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
October is a tough month for our family. Oct 17 is Grady’s (my son’s) birthday- he would have been 32 this year. Grady died 2 years ago this Dec 13 of an accidental overdose. Sharing the fact that your son was an addict is not an easy thing to do. You just don’t talk about it. I just wanted to share a little bit about our story. Grady was a straight A student and an outstanding athlete. He played on the top Arizona soccer teams until he was about 17. He excelled at pretty much everything he tried. He worked hard to be the best. His issues started when he was a Jr in high school. He struggled with his addiction and our family struggled along with him for the last 13 years of his life. He was clean for about a year before he moved to Knoxville in October.  I was proud of him, especially when he was able to join the Asylum PM group- we finally had something in common and it was healthy. I think he came to 4 or 5 workouts and he Q’d after about 3 or 4 I think. His life ended on Dec 13. Having gone through the addiction cycles with Grady, I can attest how devastating it is to the addict and the family. Progress and setbacks… It dominates and controls every aspect of life. It’s chemical and mental but treated as criminal in our society. Substance abuse and addition is all around us- so if you know someone (or observe it in someone you don’t know) , pray for them and reach out to help in any way you can. In Knoxville in 2017 there were 293 drug related overdoes , in 2018- 295, 2019-257 and in 2020 year to date- there were 299.

MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence Oct 7

Moving Refrigerators

THE SCENE: Beautiful evening, temps in low 60s
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 Side-Straddle-Hops, 10 Tempo Merkins, 10 Mountain Climbers, 32 Grady Corns, 10 Windmills, Little of This and That.

THA-THANG:

Mosey to “the Caribbean” parking lot.  We will journey a candy cane route around the parking lot (starting up south side of parking lot then rounding to go about half-way down north side of parking lot) but stopping at each cone planted along the way.  The cones will be spaces at about every other island in the parking lot. Once the final cone is reached we will sweep back to the beginning of the candy cane.  We will run the candy cane 6 times, journeying by the following methods and doing the following exercises.  We will always run back once the cane is finished.

  • Sprint and do 10 Merkins at each cone.
  • Bernie and do 10 Big Boy Sit-ups at each cone
  • Grapevine left and do 10 Star Jumps at each cone
  • Grapevine right and do 10 Smurf Jacks at each cone
  • High knees and do 10 Hello Dollies (4 ct) at each cone.
  • Butt kick and do 10 Iron Mikes (both legs = 1) at each cone.

Mosey to start of Serpentine Sidewalk.  We will do 14s along sidewalk by bear crawling for one light and running for four lights until we reach the perimeter trail.  Then we will do 20 American Hammers.

Mosey to start of Cardiac.  We will run up Cardiac stopping at each of the following to do the listed exercises:

  • First Curve:  20 Flutter Kicks (4 ct)
  • Second Curve:  20 Hello Dollies (4 ct)
  • Third Curve:  20 Decline Merkins
  • Benches:  20 Bench Dips

Mosey to AO

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
14 men, no FNGs
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

One of my good friends in my doctorate program in psychology was a guy named Jim Dupree.  He was about ten years older than me and had already practiced as a therapist but with a master’s degree and was going back to school to get his doctorate.  He sweat like a pig on those hot days in Texas and smoked cigarettes like a bandit, but he was wise, honest, and an excellent friend and counselor.  I remember him and me working on painting a room in his house one time and him saying, “You know John, talk is good but if you really want to get close to a guy you need to do something like move a refrigerator across town with him.”

You know, I think he’s right.  We brothers are close.  Our talks at board meetings are part of the reason but I think a bigger reason is that we work hard and sweat together to accomplish something good.  I have also enjoyed “moving fridges” type moments with some of you guys that drew us closer.  Recently, I enjoyed working with Sparkler, Abscess, Pele, Steam and Curveball to both put up and break down obstacles at Hardship Hill.  I acquired a bit of poison ivy in the process but it was definitely worth it.  I remember a big group of us, including Mr. Jinxy, Hooker, Doubtfire, Pele, and Abscess, sawing and pruning branches in Pinto’s backyard and enjoying the reward of his swimming pool and some brewskis thereafter.  There is something about working together, sweating together, that brings us close.  We face the same challenge and it unites us.  Gents, I enjoy our fellowship and appreciate your willingness to help each other through the grind.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Rooney’s coworker who is currently on ventilator after contracting Covid 19; for Pinto who is recovering from stem cell transplant; for Jared, brother of Corona Weight, who is in prison but had to go to hospital after accidentally cutting off top of finger – may he recover and find God to help him change his life; and, for our country, that we may be united and at peace no matter who ends up winning the presidential election.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
F3 Knoxville 5th Anniversary and Convergence this Saturday

No Choice

THE SCENE: Clear, moony, and hovering around freezing. Perfect beatdown weather!
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
25x SSH IC
15x TN rocking Chair IC
20x Mountain Climber IC
10x Tempo Merkins IC
15x LBAC each way
15x Grady Corns
Run up to the top of the hill and back down, concentrating on getting circulation to the fingers
THA-THANG:
Even though it’s election day, I’m not handing out choices except for one: Do it or don’t.

Head to the pile and pick up a cold murder block – The solid, extra-heavy ones. No counting reps today, concentrate on the heavy weight and form!
Pair up in groups of 3.
One PAX at each end of the parking lot doing reps until relieved by the third running between. At the middle of the parking lot, do one hand-release blockee.
Once each PAX has done both top exercises, run together to the top of the hill to let the fingers warm up.

BBS/Calf Raise
Run
Lunge/OHP
Run
Tricep Ext/Bent Row
Run
Squat/Derkin
Run
Curl/Stepup
Run

MARY:
Less than a minute left… Cash out with Merkins!
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
10 men killed this murder block beatdown.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
No matter who wins the election today, about half the country is saying that will be the worst possible thing that could happen to America. But as we head into today and especially the evening, I want to leave you with encouragement from the Word:

Proverbs 21:1 –
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
Proverbs 19:21 –
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

So what then should we do? 1 Timothy 2:1-4 tells us:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Note that it says “Thanksgivings” for “all people”…. Not for your guy if he wins, but all.

MOLESKIN:
Tried to be a benevolent dictator today and not keep those fingers in contact with cold concrete for too long…
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
RSVP for the 5th Anniversary Convergence and Breakfast on Saturday!

Gibbler Still Smells

THE SCENE: Apparently they ran out of proper names for whichever hurricane this is
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
Jenner warmed us up with tales of the Navy Seals
THA-THANG:
The decision on a morning like this is, do we just get soaked right off the bat, or do we try to stay dry and retain some of our dignity? It’s not cold yet, so maybe manlier men than me would have just worked out in the rain. But we stayed within the friendly confines of the Pavalon. (Anybody seen Walkabout lately?)

We still got some cardio in, just in small, rectangular increments. I added a colony of deadly fire ants as an additional hazard to avoid, just for interest.

Burpee lap doras, Junk Science, Stepdowns, Walkovers, Balls to the Walls, you name it. All in the name of showing up in the gloomiest gloom. We stayed out of the rain but we ended up soaked anyway – y’all fartsackers missed out on some real sweating.

MARY:
ATM, as God intended
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
A story in the gospel of Mark that is puzzling to me, but encouraging.
MOLESKIN:
Praying for our man Jenner!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Lebowski had on a Dude robe yesterday that didn’t get enough credit, FYI.

Help with Faith

THE SCENE: Insert info about the weather, etc.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 Plank Jacks, 15 Iron Mikes, 10 Windmills, 10 Tempo Merkins, 7 Wide Arm Circles Forward and Backward
THA-THANG:
Mosey past stop sign on the southeastern side of the admin bldg.  Run down to the lower parking lot east of the admin bldg.  Divide into teams of two for Doras.  While one Teammate 1 runs up roadway and around corner to do ten merkins , Teammate 2 will start the exercises.  After doing ten merkins, Teammate 1 runs back to replace Teammate 2 on the exercises and Teammate 2 runs up the hill do to the merkins.  Here are the exercises for the Doras:

  • 100 Merkins
  • 100 Big Boy Sit-ups
  • 100 Flutter Kicks (4 ct)
  • 100 Side-Straddle Hops
  • 50 Hand Release Merkins
  • 100 Hello Dollies (4 ct)
  • 200 Baby Crunches

Mosey to semi-circle lane that goes by soccer fields.  We will high-knee for 25 pole lengths then do 3 burpees and continue until done with the semi-circle.

Mosey to parking lot at southern ball fields.  There will be five cones places from one end of the parking lot to the other.  We will run to the first cone, do a listed exercise, run to the next cone, do the same exercise, and continue to the end of the parking lot.  We will run back doing the next listed exercise.  Here are the exercise:

  • 10 Dive Bombers
  • 10 Diamond Merkins

Mosey past outdoor chapel and to grassy area across the street.  We will do 20 American Hammers.

Mosey uphill to the area where we did Doras.  Stop at two inclines along the way to do 10 Wide Merkins.

Mosey to A0.

MARY:
Finish up with 10 Carolina Dry Docks.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
16 men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
My wife, Jan, and I have been watching the TV mini-series The Crown on Netflix.  The shows are based on true stories involving the reign of Great Britain’s current Queen Elizabeth.  One of the recent episodes focused on Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.  He is a man who loves adventure.  He was an officer in the Royal Navy during World War II, loves sports, and particularly loves to fly planes as a pilot.  The episode I am referring to depicted him during the time that the American Apollo Astronauts first landed on the moon.  In the episode Phillip, as a pilot, is fascinated with the mission and highly regards the astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

As a man who must take second fiddle to the Queen, Phillip questions his own life.  He certainly loves the Queen and certainly has privileges as her husband but there is a part of him that has wanted to set his own course vs. follow the traditions and duties of the Royal House.  At about this time, a minister named Robin Woods becomes the new Dean of Windsor. He heads the chapel that serves the Queen.  He asks Phillip for use of some unused Royal Buildings that he desires to be a retreat for ministers.  Prince Phillip is a man who is bored with the Royal church services but he agrees to the Dean’s request as the buildings aren’t being used anyway.

During the buzz of the future moon landing, Dean Woods catches up with Phillip and invites him to the retreat center to listen in on a group discussion of visiting ministers.  The ministers sit talking about problems, something Phillip isn’t that keen on, and discuss the decline in faith and worship service attendance among the people of England.  Phillip sees all this “talk” as nonsense, particularly when there are astronauts out there doing something great, incredible, landing on the moon of all things.  When asked by the ministers to participate in the talk, he tells them to stop bemoaning the decline in worship among the people of England and get off their butts.  What is needed is action, action such as seen by the Apollo Astronauts.

The astronauts, of course, land on the moon and are heroes. They go on a world tour and come to England, even for a short trip to Buckingham Palace.  Prince Phillip asks for and is granted a short personal meeting with the men.  He is overcome in the anticipation of meeting these men who are like Gods to him.  When he does meet the men, they are sneezing and sniffling, fighting off colds they have acquired in the exhausting schedule they have had since their return to Earth.  Phillip wants to know what they “found” on their journey, not the physical moon dust but that special “meaning” they discovered out in space.  These young astronauts have no answer for him.  They didn’t really have time to think about the meaning of the universe on their journey – the were too busy following procedures, doing the things that they had been trained to do.  These astronauts had certainly done something special and to be admired but they were also just three young guys, fighting off colds.  And frankly, what they were more interested in was hearing from Phillip what it was like to live in a place like the Buckingham Palace.

Phillip’s desire to find meaning in science, in adventure, in space, goes awry ands leave him unsatisfied.  And, in his bewilderment and dejection, he returns to the retreat center to meet once again with the Dean and visiting ministers.  He apologizes for his previous behavior.  He is now willing to participate in the “talk” that he previously thought to be nonsensical.  And, in talking to them, he asks for something.  He recognizes that what he has been lacking all along is faith.  Faith in something that goes beyond actions, science, and the privileges of Royalty that he has long known is not enough for him.  And what does he ask the ministers for?  He asks for Help. Help with his lack of faith.

I don’t know what kind of faith Prince Phillip has found in his life.  But, at the end of the episode some words were posted for the viewer.  The notes proclaimed that Prince Phillip and Dean Woods became close friends and have been personal confidants for the last 51 years.

What are you searching for?  Where do you put your energy, your interests?  If your search for meaning leads you to something other than God, it is very likely that you will not be satisfied.  As Faulkner said, it is all sound and fury leading to nothing.  Have faith in something more.  Search for God.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for many.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
5th F3 Knoxville Anniversary on Nov 7.