F3 Knoxville

Press On Toward The Goal

THE SCENE: 31 degrees
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

cherry picker, rocking chair, ‘merkins
THA-THANG:
Mohammed Ali, when asked how many reps he could do of an exercise, he said he had no idea – he doesn’t really count. He just goes until he is exhausted and then does an additional set. We didn’t do that…but we did a mini version!

  • Mosey to small rock pile.
  • Shoulder as many as possible your own for 1 min (front raises, lateral, overhead clap) followed by 5 reps together each time.
  • Mosey to coupon pile (with drop 2x burpee / 2 lines)
  • Coupon pile exercises (Each is max out for 1 minute and then do 5x together)
      • (merkins, coupon press, overhead and/or skull crushers)
      • Rows, bicep
      • Squats, calf raises
  • Between each major muscle group: Mosey to hill and Bear crawl up hill w/1 burpee @ top
  • Mosey to flag with 2x burpee drop off lines again

MARY: no time…finished @ 6:15

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
17 present: Guardrail, Erector, 5K, Booster, Wheelchair, Butter Knife, Dart Gun, Footsie, Wanderer, Sty, Gump, Commission, Pool Boy, sos, Mailbox, Spotter, hound dog
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Janus, the Roman God for which January was named, had two faces: one looked forward to the new year and one looked backward to the past year. This morning I related that I am not big on resolutions because most people give up on them by “ditch day,” January 17th. Nevertheless, I do believe in the power of goals. After all, if you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time!

Personal confession: even though I lost about 45 pounds over the last couple years, I put back 10 -15 this year off of a sweet tooth and lazy habits. I hit F3 3x week, but as they say, “you can’t outrun your fork.” How does the weight come back on like that? Slowly…1 pound at a time!

So we have to be diligent. And like physical weight, we might be carrying a few extra spiritual pounds into 2021 too. Ghandi said that the chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. Bad habits come on slowly, day by day. We might have a secret sin or a burden we aren’t willing to unload. How do we overcome? Do what we can, give ourselves over completely, and hand more of our lives over to God each day.

They say that elephants are trained by securing their leg against something strong enough when they are young so that when they are old they remember that they cannot break free. Then, a mere rope and tiny tent peg in the ground is enough to keep them in place. We must break free of the thought that we can do ONLY 20 or 30 or 50 reps. By maxing out in a minute and then “adding 5,” we learned we are capable of more than we thought…or at least I did!

Thanks for letting me lead again…and hope you’re sore tomorrow…’cause I already can’t lift my arms 🙂

Uncle Booster’s 12 Days of Christmas

THE SCENE: 35 and beautiful in the gloom!
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Insert information about the warmup.

  • Baby Arm Circles Forward X 10 followed by Michael Phelps
  • Baby Arm Circles Backward X 10 followed by Michael Phelps
  • Cherry Pickers (IC) 4 CT X 10
  • Tempo Squats (IC) 4 CT X 10
  • Hand Release Merkins X 10
  • Side Straddle Hops (IC) X 20
  • Tennessee Rocking Horse X 10
  • Mosey to the Large Parking Lot

THA-THANG:

12 days of Christmas

We do ascending exercises, with 60 yard runs down & 60 yards back each day.

  • 1st day of Christmas     Burpee
  • 2nd day of Christmas:    Shoulder Taps (4ct)
  • 3rd day of Christmas:    Box Cutters (4ct)
  • 4th day of Christmas:    Jump Squats
  • 5th day of Christmas:    Hand Release Merkins
  • 6th day of Christmas:    Hello Dollys (4ct)
  • 7th day of Christmas:    Smurf Jacks (4ct)
  • 8th day of Christmas:    Carolina Dry Docks
  • 9th day of Christmas:    Flutter Kicks (4ct)
  • 10th day of Christmas:  Squats (4ct)
  • 11th day of Christmas:   Diamond Merkins
  • 12th day of Christmas:  Burpees

Ascending Squats

Lunge, Lunge – 1 Squat

Lunge, Lunch – 2 Squats

Etc…up to 15 squats

100 Calf Raises

MARY: Part of the Q
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

16 enjoyed the fun…Betty, Butter Knife, Commission, Erector, Hound Dog, Judge Judy, Kenjo, Kick-Flip, Mailbox, Pool Boy, Ralph, Spotter, Survivor, Wanderer, Wheelchair & Booster

MoleSkin

This Q was borrowed (and tweaked a bit) from Charmin’s Q at the Quacken on Wednesday

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King.” – “Joy to the World”

“Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day.” — Helen Steiner Rice

“Remembrance, like a candle, burns brightest at Christmastime.” — Charles Dickens

“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” — Mother Theresa

“Your children need your presence more than your presents.” — Jesse Jackson

“The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.” — Henry David Thoreau

“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality.” – Washington Irving

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.” – Agnes M. Pahro

“May your hearth be warm, your holidays grand, and your heart held gently in the good Lord’s hand.” — Unknown

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift.” – 2 Corinthians 9:15

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Sign up to Q/VQ/Co-Q

No Christmas Workout

Here comes another 12 days of Christmas!

THE SCENE: Mid 40s and clear. Perfect Sweatin’ Weather
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH (4ct) IC x 12; Tie Fighters (BAC in lunge position), both directions x12
THA-THANG:
Mosey to Gresham Elementary for a little 12 days of Christmas. We do ascending exercises, with runs in alternating directions between the verses.  Christmas lights were up (though the little lights weren’t twinkling)

  • 1st day of Christmas: Burpee
  • 2nd day of Christmas: Shoulder Taps (4ct)
  • 3rd day of Christmas: Box Cutters (4ct)
  • 4th day of Christmas: Jump Squats
  • 5th day of Christmas: Tempo Merkins
  • 6th day of Christmas: Hello Dollys (4ct)
  • 7th day of Christmas: Smurf Jacks (4ct)
  • 8th day of Christmas: Carolina Dry Docks
  • 9th day of Christmas: Flutters (4ct)
  • 10th day of Christmas: Squats (4ct)
  • 11th day of Christmas: Overhand claps (4ct)
  • 12th day of Christmas: 8 count Bodybuilders a/k/a Man Makers

MARY:
No Mary.  That is one long Christmas Carol.  So we slowsied back to the AO and circled up.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
We are in the 2nd week of Advent.  It is the week of Faith.  The first week was the week of Hope.  The perfect bible verse encompassing each of these concepts is Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

I also re-watched the movie “Wall Street” and enjoyed this quote from Hal Holbrook: Man looks into the abyss.  There’s nothing staring back at him.  At that moment, Man finds his character.  And that is what keeps him out of the abyss.”  How does Man find his character?  Through Hope and Faith.
MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Dr. Feelgood’s mother in law and family as they determine the path forward after another diagnosis of a recurrent cancer.  Also, prayers to uplift our kids and school staff (teachers, aides, etc) as the ongoing COVID crisis has pushed everybody to the limit.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
I didn’t announce it, but please sign up in the coming weeks for the Asylum CSUAP on Jan. 30.

Stay’n Warm in the Gloom

THE SCENE: 30F and Balmy
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Cherry Pickers
  • left over right
  • right over left
  • upward/downward facing dog
  • imperial walker
  • tempo squat

THA-THANG:
Partner up into groups of 2 partners A and B.
A does 10 burpees, B does 20 squats
After completing the first set, switch exercises and decrease by 1/2 count respectively (9 burpees and 18 squats). Continue decreasing and switching to 1 burpee and 2 squats
Take a lap (about 250m)
Repeat the process with:
——-
10 Gas Pumps
20 SSH
Take a lap
——
20 step ups
20 mountain climbers
Take a lap
——
20 BBS
10 Merkins
Take a lap

Start over at the top and repeat until time is up.

MARY:
Arrive back at flag exactly on time.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

This is maybe the only place in scripture where Jesus reveals his heart. What he is all about at his core. What does he choose to share to his disciples?

Gentle – He is not harsh or demanding. Not requiring perfection but welcoming, inviting and gentle. He wants us to come to him.

Lowly – He does not share about his holiness, power, perfection, omnipotence. He doesn’t want us to see he is exalted, dignified, austere, proud. He is accessible and near us. Not far off or removed. He is lowly.

This is encouraging to me because I must come back to Jesus again and again. After failures, after rebellion or just wandering off. He is always ready for us to turn back to him. Always inviting and welcoming.

This is challenging to me because it’s not how I treat others so many times. I’m not gentle but harsh or short tempered and impatient.

To be better we must continually turn back to Jesus.

“Come to me, … and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart”
–  Jesus

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

F3 10 Year anniversary delayed until October 2021. https://f3nation.com/f310year-update/

Brickyard Year 3

THE SCENE: Partly Cloudy, 38°F, Feels like 37°F, Humidity 96%, Wind 4mph from WSW
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • LBAC x10 Each Direction IC
  • Little of This, Little of that
  • Tempo Merkins x10
  • Tempo Squat x10
  • Imperial Squat walker x15

THA-THANG:

  • Mosey to the front curb
    • Brickyard Bear Crawl (ascending bear crawl 1 to 13 merkins)
  • Mosey to back lot
  • Kraken
    • After completing an exercise at the station, full lap to next cone
    • Station 1: Squat, Jump squat, smurf jack x 15
    • Station 2: BBS, LBC, Flutter (4ct), x 15
    • Station 3: Merkin, CDD, Shoulder taps x15
    • Station 4: Mtn Climbers, Peter Parker, Hello Dolly x15 (all 4ct)
  • Ascending Lt. Dan from near cone to far cone (1 squat 2 lunges forward, 2 squats 2 lunges, etc.)
  • Mosey back to AO

MARY:

  • Hurricane Hoedown:
    • Flutter kick with arms up x20 IC
    • Flutter kick incline position x20 IC
    • Flutter kick & BBS, 1 BBS to 4x 4ct Flutter, 2BBS 8x 4ct flutter to 5 BBS and 20x 4ct flutter

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Three years ago Dec. 2, 2017 A-Rod took a chance to start a new AO for F3Knoxville in Powell, TN. In that COT, he stated that as men we were not designed to operate alone. We need a community and to work together. Three years later, the Brickyard AO is still here and we have come together. We have added and lost men over the years, but we are not the same as we were the first day we stepped out. Part of the ideal of F3 is Iron sharpening iron. At the Brickyard, we may not speak in the most politically correct ways but we push and help one another to be better. I know that I am a better man for coming in the gloom and being shoulder to shoulder with these PAX. A-Rod had a prior commitment today (rucking long distance with 60lbs) so he asked if I would share his words as well:

Three years ago I started this AO and knew only one FNG was going to show up. I knew other F3 men were coming from other AOs to support me, but didn’t know if there would be any turnout. I was pleasantly surprised! Not all who helped start Brickyard are still participants, but we have a very strong group that show up and that encourage each other. Thank you for making F3 Brickyard the fun and challenging AO that it has become. Thank you for supporting me and now Herbie as we lead you. Continue to make this AO great by volunteering to lead and bring others out with you.
Brickyard was made by a normal (barely athletic) guy so that other men could find friendship and better themselves physically. It has worked but only because of your involvement. I look forward to steering our way through 2021 as a group and supporting each other through the coming challenges of the year.
Thanks again for your commitment!
Strength and Honor
A-Rod

MOLESKIN:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Jan. CSAUP at the Asylum more info to come.