F3 Knoxville

Enjoy Yourself – It’s later than you think

THE SCENE: Cool, Calm, 16C.  Very nice.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
“I am not a professional”.
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • 20 SSH – IC
  • 20 Rockette – IC
  • 10 Cherry Picker – IC
  • 17 Squats – IC
  • Bear Crawl L+R
  • 10+10 Super Baby Arm Circles – IC

Mosey to bottom of new parking lot.

THA-THANG:
Starting at the new restrooms, Route 66 up the hill (add a rep at each light pole till you get to 11).  At 11 mosey to top of hill, then back, past AO to start next lap.  Aim for 6 laps.  The exercises for each lap are

  • Merkin
  • Big Boys
  • Squat
  • CDD
  • Iron Mike (Each Leg)
  • Flutter

Mosey to AO.

MARY:
10 Sliders 4ct IC, 10 side-to-side Sliders IC waiting for 6 to return from the course.

Sign off with some Boat-Canoe, with a few Capsize incidents thrown in.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
23 PAX faced up to the 666 challenge and came out stronger.

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Abacus gave a Q at the Equalizer a few weeks ago talking about work life balance and family and it really spoke to me.  It made me think of a song:

Enjoy yourself it’s later than you think
Enjoy yourself while you’re still in the pink
The years go by quicker than a wink
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself it’s later than you think

In my 20’s when I heard this song, I thought it meant have a great time – got out to clubs, restaurants, gigs – enjoy yourself externally.  Now I think it also means enjoy your body – internalize it.  Someone once said “Your body is the greatest tool you’ll ever own”, I’m starting to understand that.  In the 6 months I’ve been coming to F3 I’ve found it’s a great way both to enjoy myself but also support enjoyment at other times.  I can play harder with my kids – go on longer hikes & bike rides and do more of that boy stuff with them than I could before.

My wish for you all is that you take the words of the song to heart and Enjoy Yourselves.  Use F3 because running around with sweaty men is enjoyable and also because in making the commitment to being fit/healthy you’ll be able to get the most out of your body and get the most out of all of your life.

It’s later than you think.

MOLESKIN:
I think everyone completed the squat lap today, so fill in your 100 squats on the Monthly challenge.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
TTTP is tomorrow.  See the GroupMe for deets.

Simple but Brutal

THE SCENE:  Cloudy, Breezy, around 72 degrees
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Start with 30 SSH on 4ct

Jog from curb to other end of lot…Michael Phelps with some of this and that jog back

Perform 10 Windmill in cadence jog back to other end of lot perform 10x Rockette jog back

Finish warm-o-rama with 10x Cherry Pickers
THA-THANG:
Had 2 different sets of Exercises

Set 1 Legs/Abs

20 Squat, 20 lunge, 20 BB’s, 20 flutters

Set 2 Chest/Back/Shoulders

20 merkin, 20 CDD’s, 20 Superman, 20 overhead clap

 

Ran a circuit loop with 5 stops from AO around up dragons tail and back.  Perform Set 1 at all 5 stops then loop back and perform Set 2 at all 5 stops.  Goal of getting in 100 reps of each exercise.  Mission Accomplished.

MARY:
Insert information about any additional post-THANG work (if applicable).
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
9 PAX  Hands, Jail Bait, Pac Man, Waffle House, Husker, Crab-legs, Waffle- House, Kentucky, Full House
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
We talk all the time about getting better.  We get better physically and we push ourselves on the first “F”.  I wanted to challenge all of us to focus on a few more “F’s” this week…

Fellowship: Contact a brother you haven’t seen.  Reach out.  Be a friend.  Pursue.  Friendships aren’t easy.  We have to work at them.  Do that this week.

Faith: Prayer is something so simple, but we lose focus often.  Challenge to have meaningful prayer in the morning, in the middle part of your day, and in the evening.  Do that this week.

Added F is Friendship:  Focus on our spouses and the friendship we have with them.  Pursue them.  Court them.  Send them flowers.  Do that this week.

Added and last F is Fatherhood:  Be engaged with your kids.  Put the phone down when you’re at home.  No social media.  No fantasy football.  Say “yes” and don’t be so quick to find a reason for a “no”.  Do that this week.

 

MOLESKIN:
Shout out prayers to Hands son Grant as he heads to Austria for a semester abroad.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:

3 Parking Lot Circus

THE SCENE
70 and light rain

 

Welcome & Disclaimer

 

THE THANG
COP
– SSH x30 (IC)
– Tempo Squats x15 (IC)
– Windmill Merkins x10 (IC)
– Diagonal Lunges x10 each leg (IC)
– Arm Circles Forward x15 (IC)
– Arm Circles Backward x15 (IC)

 

Hill Runs + Tabata
Two Rounds of Tabata (8 sets of exercise, 20 sec on 10 sec off):

  • Rd 1: Jump Squat Jumps
  • Rd 2: Wide Merkins

After each round, run to the top of the hill and do 3 burpees.

Mosey to the new parking lot.  Once there, partner up.

 

Countdown
One person performs the routine while the other jump ropes, then switch.

Routine:
Run to far cone, perform x20 reps.  Run back to first cone, perform x15 reps.  Run to the second farthest cone and perform x10 reps.  Run back to first cone perform x5 reps.

Perform 2 rounds of each of the following exercises:

  • Dry Docks
  • Frog Squats

Flutter Kick until all PAX finish.

Mosey to parking lot at bottom of the hill.

 

Grinders
Partner up with new Battle Buddy.

1st Battle Buddy lunges to the first cone, then sprints to second cone, does 2 reps of the exercise while Battle Buddy 2 is jumping air rope.  Switch. Each round increase by 2 reps until each man does a total of 10 reps.  Two rounds:

  • Rd 1 = Diamond Merkins
  • Rd 2 = Tuck Jumps

 

MARY
American Hammers (4ct) – x20 IC
4ct Flutter Kicks – 20x IC
Rinse and repeat

Mosey back to the SP, run hard up the hill!

 

COT
Number off and Name-O-Rama (18 PAX)

 

BOM
Proverbs 11:25 – Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

This Proverb is a simple reminder that joy and sense of significance comes from giving, not taking.  The world around us pushes us to live as consumers.  Always taking, looking for the next thing that is going to bring happiness.  The problem is that is not how life is meant to be lived.  True joy comes from living with a sense of purpose, and the highest purpose is the welfare of others.  HIMs seek inject purpose in all they do, wherever they go.  Today, keep your heart and mind open for those places where you can bring life.

 

Submitted by Cap’n Crunch

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.

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!