F3 Knoxville

Tag: Drum Major

Repeat It ’til You Believe It

THE SCENE: Very cloudy, temp in high 60s.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
20 Plank Jacks, 15 Side-Straddle-Hops, 10 Imperial Walkers, 10 Windmills, Leg Stretches, Michael Phelps, Little of This and That
THA-THANG:
Mosey to Stop Sign at Northeastern Corner of Admin Bldg.  Do 20 Hello Dollies.

Next we will go from Cone to Cone along the road that semi-circles around the Admin Bldg.  We will do the following at each Cone:

  • Cone 1.  Do 20 Squat Jumps.  Then, Bernie Sanders to Cone 2.
  • Cone 2.  Do 20 Merkins. Then, Skip to Cone 3.
  • Cone 3.  Do 20 Big Boy Sit-ups.  Then, Bear Crawl to Cone 4.
  • Cone 4.  Do 20 Star Jumps.  Then, Sprint to Cone 5.
  • Cone 5.  Do 20 Squats.  Then Lunge to Cone 6.
  • Cone 6.  Do 20 Bobby Hurleys.  Then run to Cone 7.
  • Cone 7.  Do 20 Dive Bombers, 30 Calf Raises, 40 LBC’s, 30 Bicycle Kicks, 20 Iron Mikes (2 count), 20 Shoulder Taps (2 Count), Rinse and Repeat.

Mosey to main roadway and approach Lyon’s Bend Gate.  Turn left on little road that is close to Power Bldg.  We will do split into teams of two and do Doras.  While partner runs to end of roadway, does one burpee and runs back the other partner does exercise.  Each team will complete the following exercises:

  • 100 Merkins
  • 100 Big Boy Sit-ups
  • 100 American Hammers (2 count)
  • 300 Baby Crunches

Mosey to Area 51.  Then, we will run up hill to roadway where it turns toward Admin Bldg.  First arriving do Baby Crunches until everyone is there.

Mosey to Bat Feeder. Line up on street and sprint back to parking lot. Then go to AO.

MARY:
20 Flutter Kicks
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
14 men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

James 1:17
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

For those of you who read the bible, have you noticed how many lines, particularly in the Psalms, are repeated again and again.  A fellow in my church, Britton Sharp, who does quite a bit of religious study, informed me that one reason why followers often repeated lines was that they felt they should repeat it until they believed it.  They recognized that humans, unlike God, are fickle creatures, subject to whim and inconsistency.  We may believe something one moment and change the next day.  For us humans, our beliefs, our faith, our love is subject to change.  This can particularly happen during difficult times.

Almost every parent has heard their children say at some time in their life, “I hate you.”  Good parents know that is not the case.  Their child may be upset and angry at them.  In that moment they may hate their parents.  But deep down they still love them.  They still need them.  And, over time, when they have had time to cool off or when things settle down, their faith and belief in their parent is restored.

As a therapist, I have often seen spouses say, “I no longer love my wife” or “I no longer love my husband.”  In some cases that is true.  But in most cases, if that very spouse whom they say they no longer love were to leave them, they would go nuts.  They would ache and yearn for the spouse to come back.

I am a Christian.  But my faith in God, unfortunately, can vary.  This is true for all Christians.  Look at Christ’s disciples.  When Christ was taken to be executed, all of his disciples ran, they lost faith.  Even Peter, who said he would never turn against Christ, denied him three times when he was being hung on the cross.  Knowing that our beliefs are subject to change, knowing the fickle creatures we are, I think it is a good idea to repeat verses again and again.  On some days we will believe them more than others.

I encourage you, this week, to find a bible verse and commit it to memory.  Say it again and again during your days of the week.  A bible verse I want to repeat this week is from Psalm 121:

 From where does my help come?
 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

My belief in that verse will likely vary during the week.  But, the idea is to repeat it until I believe it.

MOLESKIN:
Prayer for Junk’s wife who is going for check up one year after cancer treatment. Prayer of praise for Emoji getting his CPA license today and for Pele who was able to workout today after injuring his knee on Monday at softball.

Puddles Galore

THE SCENE: Raining, temp in 60s
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
Mosey to Pavilion because it is raining by golly.  20 Side-Straddle-Hops, 15 Plank Jacks, 10 Cherry Pickers, 10 Rockettes, 10 Little Baby Arm Circles Forward and 10 Backward.

Next, do 20 Picnic Table Pullups and then run around around the Pavilion.  Next do 20 Bench Dips and then run around the Pavilion.  Rinse and Repeat.

Why heck, it’s still raining, let’s get wet.  Mosey down ball field sidewalk to Caribbean parking lot and to the southwestern side of the parking lot.  We will run in a candy cane motion stopping at each island to do the listed exercise.  Those getting to the end of the candy cane sweep all men back to the start.  Then do the same with the next exercise.  These are the exercises:

  • 10 Merkins
  • 10 Big Boy Sit-ups
  • 20 Little Baby Crunches

Next, we mosey on park roadway to the old southern ball field parking lot.  We will start on the southern curb and do suicide, returning back to curb from each parking lot light and northern curb.  The run to the first curb is always a Bernie Sanders while all the other running is a sprint.

Next we mosey to the park perimeter trail just off the pavilion by the old south ball fields.  We will do nickel dime quarter doing the following exercises:

  • Dive Bomber
  • Squat Jump

Next we do double quarters (run 5 lights then do 25 of exercise, then rinse and repeat) with the following exercises:

  • Toe touches
  • Bobby Hurleys

We stop where perimeter trail meets serpentine sidewalk.  We next run on serpentine sidewalk for four lights and lunge for one light until we reach the Caribean Parking Lot.  From there, mosey to Pavilion by northern ball fields.  From there, sprint to the AO Flag with winner (who happened to be Lulu) getting a free breakfast from your Q.

MARY:
Who’s she?  Cross-Eyed Mary happens to be an incredible song by Jethro Tull.  Just sayin.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Ten men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
William Shatner, the actor who played good ol Captain Kirk, flew into space this past week.  At age 90 he is the oldest person to ever travel in space.  He was overcome with emotion when he returned.  He talked about the beautiful blue skies of earth and how, once the space vessel passed through the Earth’s atmosphere, the beautiful blue of earth went suddenly black in space.  It made him think of the preciousness and fragility of Earth, how it can vanish into nothing, and about the fragility of our own lives, about how our bodies will one day just die.  Thankfully, our lives are more than what is spent on Earth.  There is the infinity of God, the Alpha and Omega, who created everything, and the opportunity to live with HIM, forever.
MOLESKIN:
We live on a beautiful planet.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Christmas party at Judge Judy’s home on December 11.  Wives or partners are invited.

Q101 + GrowSchool

F3 Q101 + GrowSchool

  • 9.25.21
  • 0700-0900
  • AO: Asylum

[ The Scene ]

Dark. Chilly. Foggy. The creaks and moans of men arriving are accompanied by the wake up calls of Creation.

[ Welcome/Disclaimer ]

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness-Fellowship-Faith
  • My name is Steam and I am honored to be your Q this morning
  • This will be a Q101 + GrowSchool:
    • Q101:
      • For the next 60 minutes, we will be doing a Q101 — walking through how to lead an F3 workout with tips and tricks along the way. If you haven’t led an F3 workout yet — you have what it takes to lead. This will be a great learning experience and catalyst for your leadership.

      • For those of you that have led an F3 workout, this is not a time to coast, but a time to work and sharpen your skills.
    • GrowSchool: An intentional time of leadership development in the form of an extended BOM after the Q101.

5 Principles of an F3 Workout:

  • Be free of charge
  • Be open to all men
  • Be held outdoors, rain or shine, heat or cold
  • Be led by men who participate in the workout in a rotating fashion, with no training or certification necessary
  • End with a Circle of Trust

Many of these seem self-explanatory but can get lost in the moment:

  • Start on time. Wear a watch. End on time.
  • Be prepared for your lead to be more strenuous physically than you think.  Counting cadence while you exercise can make it harder to breathe.
  • Remember you have help. If for any reason you want someone to grab a part of the workout even while you are out there, speak up.
  • When you screw up or fail, keep calm and drive on… count louder and push forward. As Dredd says, “When falling, dive!”
  • Every man thrashed, no man left behind. To promote “you versus you” but also to keep the PAX together, offer extra credit to the frontrunners via burpees, planks, merkins, etc.
  • Don’t take unnecessary risks or do stupid stuff. The Pax is looking for leadership and will follow often before thinking if they’re getting a great workout.
  • If your region has the Q do the shoutout, think of CoT words in advance.
  • HAVE FUN. F3 groups are always supportive of new Qs. We love to see new people stepping up.

Disclaimer and Notice — From f3nation.com

“F3 Nation, Inc. (“F3”) is a peer-led, zero-cost non-profit workout group. F3 makes no representations with regard to the skill level of workout leaders, the safety of the exercises performed during workouts or the hazardousness of the premises upon which workouts are conducted. The men who lead F3 workouts are not paid to do so and no representations of any kind are made by F3 about their skill level. The premises upon which F3 workouts are conducted are not owned or maintained by F3. F3 makes no representations of any kind regarding their safety. Although F3 workouts vary widely in intensity, all F3 workouts tend to be rigorous and are undertaken upon uneven ground during periods of limited visibility. Therefore, there are certain dangers inherent in participating in an F3 workout. Participants must be 18 or older and are assumed to have made their own reasonable decision as to whether they should so participate. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a father or male legal guardian. F3 disclaims any and all responsibility for any individual’s decision to participate in an F3 workout. By participating in an F3 workout, an individual assumes the risks inherent in doing so. This Disclaimer and Notice is made by F3 on its own behalf and on the behalf and for the benefit of any person leading an F3 workout and/or otherwise acting for the benefit of F3.”

  • Another and way easier of saying this is:
    • Welcome to F3: Fitness – Fellowship – Faith
    • My name is Steam and I’ll be your Q this morning
    • Few things before we begin:
      • I’m not a professional
      • You’re here on your own volition
      • You know your body better than anyone, so if you need to modify anything we do this morning, feel free to do so, but push yourself and the men around you — they deserve it and so do you.
  • FNGs? — always check for FNGs. This helps with identifying them to the PAX so they can help them throughout the Q.

[ Warm o Rama ]

Think of muscles like taffy… when cold, snapping happens easier. When warm, nice and smooth.

This is probably the trickiest part for new Qs. Calling Cadence in the F3 style serves a number of purposes:

  • Creates rhythm which distracts the mind from the task at hand
  • Builds teamwork by synchronizing PAX and creating focus
  • Not knowing the number of reps discourages budgeting of effort; you get used to going as long as you have to
  • Cadence
    • “The next exercise is…” [pause] “Side Straddle Hop!” (or name of other exercise)
    • “Starting Position…” [pause] “Move!”
    • “In Cadence…” [pause] “Exercise!” (begin count 1..2..3)
  • There is not a magic # to hit for how many reps you should do. You’re the Q, you choose the # of reps. But be strategic in this effort as well (i.e. not leading 300 squats right out of the gates)
    • SSH: 25×4 IC
    • Rockette: 20×4 IC
    • Squat: 15×4 IC
    • Baby Arm Circles: 10×4 IC (B and F)
    • Merkins: 5×4 IC

For how to lead a cadence — see here: https://youtu.be/xRTitxnE-mI

[ The Thang ]

KISS = Keep It Simple Superstar

If you’re a planner, “schedule” more exercises than there is workout time. Time will pass faster than usual, most likely.

Usually you’ll want something that’s a time-eater after a warm-up, search for “routine” in the exercise DB and remember the “pearls on a string” concept. You stop, do something, run to another place, so something else.

(1) 4 Corners

  • 2 Points of contact
    • Parking Lot Corners (4)
    • Pavilion
  • Parking Lot Corners: 10 squats
  • Pavilion: 10 incline merkins
  • Run down to the pavilion, do our 10 incline merkins, and come back up here to 1 of the corners and execute our 10 squats. We will rinse and repeat that process until we hit all 4 corners up here.
  • Recover up here in the parking lot after you finish your 4th corner — merkin plank

(20 seconds and talk)

(Mosey to Cardiac Hill)

(2) SlingShot

  • Battle buddy up
  • 3 points of contact
    • Top
    • 1st curve
    • Bottom (light post)
  • The exercises for cardiac hill is the big boy sit-up + mountain climber
  • One battle buddy will run from the top to the 1st curve — execute 10 big boy sit-ups while battle buddy #2 is at the top executing mountain climbers.
  • Once battle buddy #1 is is done with his 10 BBS at the 1st curve, he will come back to the top and now both battle buddies are running to the 1st curve.
  • This time, the BB that was doing the mountain climbers the first time will run from the 1st curve to the bottom and execute 10 BBS, while the other BB stays at the 1st curve and executes mountain climbers.
  • Once his BBS are complete, he will come back to the 1st curve and BOTH BB will run to the bottom and execute 10 BBS and 10 mountain climbers on a 4 count together.
  • Both BB are going down cardiac, but taking turns being the slingshot

(20 count and talk) — Pause for the Cause

  • Huge learning experience with this
  • The failure or success of an F3 workout is ultimately on the Q and his communication and leadership.
  • Halfway through the “Slingshot” workout, it became clear that there was a miscommunication between the Q and the PAX.
  • This is on the Q. Let me say this again — this is on the Q.
  • The Q circled everyone back together and restated the instructions of the workout and the PAX completed the workout all together until the end.
  • After a 20-count, the Q went through the above bullet points with the PAX — learning experience.

[ Mary ]

Post-beatdown, usually some core Xs or cool down, depending on the Q

Core 4

  • Flutter Kicks: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • LBCs: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • American Hammers: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • Cockroach: 25

Run across the lot and back

Stretching with Steam

  • Q led the PAX in light stretches to end the Mary portions before the COT.

Takeaway from the Q101:

HAVE FUN. F3 groups are always supportive of new Qs. We love to see new people stepping up.

[ COT ]

  • # off — start and finish with the same # of guys 
  • Name o Rama
    • Hospital name, age, F3 name
    • 50 = Respect
    • 60 = Double Respect
    • 70 = Triple Respect
    • 80+ = basically immortal
  • FNGs — none
  • BOM (GrowSchool)

The BOM is a time for the Q to share something that’s on his heart with the men. An encouraging quote, a motivational story, something from the Bible, as long as it is something positive, encouraging, and challenging to the growth of the PAX, that’ll do.

The Q shared a few points from the GrowSchool portion at the COT, and then the PAX converged to Coffeteria at Panera to continue.

Q Source: The F3 Manual of Virtuous Leadership

Foundation: Disruption

Socratic Qs // TPQs

  • What do leaders do?
  • What effect does leadership have on the status quo?
  • Is there a common characteristic shared by leaders who leave a legacy?

Disruption = a disturbance to the status quo

The connection between movement and leadership is critical because it presupposes a need for action, a recognition by the leader himself that that status quo is something less advantageous than some other place — a location the leader visualizes and then articulates to his followers.

Because it induces movement, leadership causes disruption, or a disturbance to the status quo.

If a man calls himself a leader but does not cause disruption by initiating movement, then he is not practicing leadership.

Like the agitator in a washing machine, leadership dislodges things long embedded in people’s emotional fabric.

A Leader is a person who influences movement to advantage.

A great leader’s legacy is built on love, because a great leader’s focus is always upon his followers rather than himself.

He views leadership as a craft that must be honed through continual study and application

It is their (the followers) advantage, not his (the leader’s) to which he initiated movement.

Takeaways

  • Leaders influence movement to advantage
  • Because it induces movement, leadership causes disruption
  • A great leader’s legacy is built on love

For everything about your first Q — check this out: https://f3nation.com/q101/

 

Cat’s in the Cradle

THE SCENE: Beautiful! Around 80 degrees, very low humidity. Aaaaaah!

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Check

WARM-O-RAMA:

– 15 Split Jacks L, 15 Split Jacks R (4ct, IC)

– 15 Moroccan Nightclub (4 ct, IC)

–  10 Rockettes (4 ct, IC)

–  10 Cherry Pickers (4 ct, IC)

–  10 Tempo Merkins (4 ct, IC)

THA-THANG:

Mosey to bottom of Everest.  We learned, to our astonishment, that the Great Pyramids are actually not in Egypt, they’re at the bottom of the great Mount Everest!  Who knew???

  • EVEREST PYRAMID:
    • Do the exercise, then run ~1/3 way up Everest 5 times. Exercises will be the following (all single count)
      • 20 Merkins
      • 20 Merkins, 20 Iron Mikes
      • 20 Merkins, 20 Iron Mikes, 20 Bottle Openers
      • 20 Iron Mikes, 20 Bottle Openers
      • 20 Bottle Openers
  • MOSEY to Intersection of Trail and Road (all 4-ct, IC). AB BLASTER!
    • 20 flutter kicks (10 Wide)
    • 20 American Hammers
    • 15 Box Cutters
  • MOSEY to stop sign at northeast corner of Admin building drive.
  • DORAS: Partner 1 Bernie Sanders to end of Guard Rail, then runs to tree, then runs back. Each partner does 3 Burpees during the hand-off. Partner 2 does the exercises, then switch:
    • 100 Big Boy sit-ups
    • 100 Bobby Hurleys
    • 100 Merkins
    • 50 PCMBs (modified to 25 due to time)

AYG to guardrail, Bernie back to Stop Sign, then AYG to bat cave/AO.

MARY:
Homer/Marge.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
13 strong!
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

I heard the song Cat’s in the Cradle the other day.  It’s an incredible song, beautiful, yet sad.  Written by Harry Chapin in 1974, it tells the story of a young boy growing up who’s dad never seems to find the time to spend quality moments with his son.  As the son grows up, as he says in the song, “I’m going to be like you, dad.”  Which at face value sounds like a compliment, but really he’s saying that as he gets older, he will be as ambivalent about spending time with his dad as his dad was to him.  And this comes to pass.  The dad, as he gets older and more frail, wants to spend time with his son, but his son finds excuses of his own, and avoids him.

When I was young, it was actually the reverse for me.  I took my parents for granted, was caught up in my own little world with my friends and activities, and in spite of having loving, caring parents that wanted to be a part of my life, I sort of ignored them, or only interacted with them on a serious level when I wanted something… my allowance, permission to hang out with my friends, etc..  As I got older that changed, and I wanted to spend more time with them and get to know them as people.  Unfortunately, they passed away before I could fulfill that desire.

I wasn’t a great son in that regard.  I’m trying to learn from my mistakes and be a better son to our Heavenly Father.  The temptation is to run to him when we need something… protection, money, salvation, whatever.  But part of the message of the song is that relationships aren’t built on the times when you NEED each other, they’re built on the times when there’s a mutual give and take.  So I’ve tried to be conscientious about really trying to share with God, and not just run to Him when I need something. And God is not like that father in the song.  He ALWAYS has time for us, for hearing us, comforting us, and providing for us.  That’s not how it should work.  In life with kids and parents, or in your spiritual life, with you and your Heavenly Father.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for a friend of Drum Major that is struggling with addiction issues, for Corona Weight’s brother who is doing well and continues to walk the line, and for Sparkler’s friend who’s battle with ALS is coming to an end.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Hardship Hill Oct 2.  Join the Asylum PM team, or make your own!  It’s a great day for a great cause.  We will be needing help building the obstacles in the coming weeks.

 

A yellow jacket is predatory social wasp of the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula

Four hours and seventeen minutes ago our F3 brothers brought forth upon this county park, a Saturday Q, conceived on an index card the previous night, and dedicated to the proposition that sweating ourselves down to a lower weight class is not just for high school wrestlers.

We became engaged in a great natural war, testing whether that Saturday pax, or any pax that goes to Area 51 by the back way can long endure. We were met on a great battle-field of that war. I have come to dedicate a portion of this backblast, as a final resting place for those who there gave their lower calves, and their miserable waspy stingers, that that pax might continue on to meet Jack Webb. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But in a larger sense, we can not kill all the wasps – we can not drink enough diphenhydramine – we can not send Abcess out there with a can of RAID like we did at the Space Ship.  The brave men and wasps, and their stingers and calves who struggled there, have consecrated it, far beyond our poor power to add or detract. Google will little note, nor long direct internet traffic to what we say here, but Scoreboard will probably never forget the new words he heard yelled by Pele. It is for us the sore and sweaty, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought there have thus far so nobly advanced. From these honored wasps and calves we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that this pax, under Lilydipper, shall drink a bunch of Benadryl. And that Saturday Nap of the pax, by the pax, and for the pax, shall happen this afternoon.