F3 Knoxville

Tag: Emoji

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.

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.

 

Heat Wave

THE SCENE: Sunny, HOTt, humid… typical E TN summer day.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Check
WARM-O-RAMA:

-Motivators (5 count, descending)

– 10 Plank  Jacks (4-ct, IC)

– 15 Moroccan Night Clubs (4-ct, IC)

– 15 Overhead Seal Claps (4-ct, IC)

– 10 Steve Earls (4-ct, IC)

– Little of this and that

THA-THANG:

MOSEY to the Bowl area by the Bermuda Triangle.

  • JINXY’S FOUR AND A QUARTER. Start at bottom of hill, run to top of slope and do 25 reps of an exercise, return to starting position.  R&R 4 times, totaling 100 of the exercise.
    • Round 1: Carolina Dry Docks
    • Round 2: LBCs (single count)
    • Round 3: Lunges (single count)

MOSEY to Grassy Area by Base of Everest.

Totem Pole.  Start at 10, do all the exercises, then run to the bench by the road (or to Summit, dealer’s choice), do 10 SSH, and return. Then start at 9, etc.

  • 10 Burpees
  • 9 Mountain Climbers (4-ct)
  • 8 Diamond Merkins
  • 7 Box Cutters
  • 6 American Hammers (4-ct)
  • 5 Imperial Squat Walkers (4-ct)
  • 4 Hand Release Merkins
  • 3 Prisoner Get Ups
  • 2 Squats
  • 1 Star Gazers (10 seconds).  Rabbits R&R

We got about 75% of the way through this.

Go up Summit twice, once must be Bernie.  Do 25 MERKINS, 25 BBS, 25 SQUATS, and 25 IMPERIAL WALKERS somewhere along the way.  Rabbits rinse and repeat the exercises until 6 catches up.

MOSEY TO AO.

MARY:
Ran out of time.  Did some light stretching.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
22 Strong
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Special WORD by Lilydipper, who has been out with an injury for a few months.  Thought it would be great to have him address the PAX as he recovers from hip surgery.  Here are his words:

Gents, I haven’t been able to work out with you guys since mid-March.  Here we are in August, 5 months later.  Your fellowship lifts me up.  Thank goodness I have been able to come to board meetings.  I get to share a beer with you, see my brothers, commune with you.  Man, I need that fellowship.  I know Jinxy has needed it as well and that is why he was hobbling on crutches to the board meetings before he healed enough to join you guys in workouts.  The well-wishes you shared with us and the prayers you prayed for us have meant more that I think either one of us can say.

But what I want to share with you today is the importance of the workout.  I have been thankful to have fellowship with you brothers at board meetings and Coffeeteria.  Yet, I can’t wait to get back to the workouts.  Of course the workout makes us more physically fit.  I must admit that I have gained about ten pounds since mid-March.  But it is not physical fitness that I want to talk about.  It’s the bond created by going through the gloom, the heat, the sweat, the grime, the gasps for breath, the spilling or merlot, the dizziness, the pain, the questioning of self, the suffering through hell with one’s brothers – that is what I want to talk about.

Jetlag and I were conversing about Coffeeteria the other day.  Both of us agreed that part of what makes it so special is the suffering that precedes it.  Somehow that coffee and bagel just tastes better when you have made it through the torture with your brothers. As Crawdad says, “It’s the reward, baby!”   And, believe me, an ice cold beer at the Board Meeting certainly tastes better after suffering through the heat of the Fake Gloom.

Still, what makes the workout even more special is being able to look at your brother and think, “man we have been through this together.”  Each man in F3 has a respect for the other because we know what the suffering is like.  Yeah, Swimmies may run around the Caribbean three times faster than me.  He respects that pain and he knows I am feeling it too.  We each know that we are pushing to get better.  He respects this old man because I am willing to go through the same ring of pain that he is.  I love that about F3.  I also love how we encourage each other.  Doubtfire is one of the best at doing this. “Hang in there, Lily, you got this.  I’ll run with you, c’mon, let’s get over that hill.”  We cheer for each other, pull each other through.  “Leave No Man Behind.”

Bros, I appreciate you allowing me to join you for fellowship after the workouts.  I see you guys drenched and grass-stained after a difficult beat-down and I almost feel guilty for showing up in my dry clothes.  Just know that when I am fully healed (which the surgeon says should be about mid-October) I will be glad to hook shields with you and battle beside you once more.

MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Guppy’s sister, who is expecting.  UPDATE, shortly after the workout, she delivered a healthy baby daughter!  Prayers for those affected by the flooding in Tennessee.  Also, we presented Lilydipper with a ruck sack/plate/patch gift to help him with his recovery.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Iron Pax coming up, food drive continuing for a few weeks, Hardship Hill obstacle construction help needed (contact Sparkler).

No elevator to success, you must use the stairs

THE SCENE: A little cloudy but humid with a temp of 89F.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Welcome to F3, Fitness, Fellowship and Faith. F3 is a free workout program designed to improve fitness, share some camaraderie, and foster male leadership in the community. I’m Jetlag and I will be your Q today.  I am not a professional, and I do not know your fitness level or injury history.  Please push yourself, but modify the workout as necessary to avoid making any existing injuries worse.  The goal is to get better together!


WARM-O-RAMA:

High knees

Shoulder tap x plank jacks

Grady corns

Windmill

Imperial squats

Side straddle hops

THA-THANG:

Workout 1: Space Camp – battle buddy

  1. Stair Burpee: 10x, go all the way up
  2. Skip Jump: all the way up (at least 2 steps)
  3. Grapevine right
  4. Grapevine left
  5. Single log hop (switch foot every 10 steps)
  6. Sprint

Battle buddy: runs around the building 2x then wall sit til partner goes down.

Mosey to colosseum stairs

Workout 2: Colosseum stairs

2 rounds each:

  1. Sprint up
  2. 10x irkins
  3. 10x derkins
  4. Side squats 10x each leg
  5. Split squat 10x each leg

Battle buddy: dealer’s choice: flutter kicks, mountain climbers, or run up the hill

Workout 3: Batcave stairs

Sprint up and down twice

Smurf jacks

MARY:
Squat ring of fire!

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
15 HIMs in attendance.

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
They say that in life “there is no elevator to success, you must take take the stairs”. This is the theme of the workout. In life, we often wish for an easy life or quick success. To reach that goal, we take “steps” and take it one by one. We climb up those steps and all of us have different paths, on different paces and have unique staircases. This is what makes life so beautiful. If we learn to look at only our path and stop comparing it with others, we learn the joy and beauty of the adventure of one’s journey. So take those steps, at your own pace and remember “life is a climb, but the view is great”!

MOLESKIN:
Prayers up for the speedy recovery of Drum Major’s daughter after a successful acl reconstruction surgery.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CSAUP at Dougpound on the 21st

100th Post / 20th Q for Blindside!

THE SCENE: “LOOK AT THAT MOON, YALL!” -Aladdin

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER Done & Done (albeit with a LOT of chatter from the gallery)

WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH IC x 20 | LBAC IC x10 each way | Tempo Squat IC x10 | Tempo Merkin x10

THA-THANG:

The Q might have mentioned to many of the PAX at the CSAUP on Saturday that there wouldn’t be any running during this CSAUP Recovery Q. The Q misspoke and meant that there wouldn’t be a lot of running. 

Mosey to each location and perform 5 exercises, 20 reps, or for 20 seconds each (Five 20s = 100)

  • Flagpole 
    • 20 Dips | 20 Derkins | 20 Squats | 20 Imperial Walkers | 20 Second High Plank
  • Playground
    • 20 Shoulder Taps | 20 Toe-Touches | 20 Knee-ups | 20 Merkins | 20 Second Rocky Balboas 
  • Dock
    • 20 CDD | 20 Skater Jumps | 20 LBCs | 20 SSH | 20 Second Low Plank
  • Rock Pile 
    • 20 Rows | 20 Curls | 20 OH Press | 20 Triceps | 20 Second Jump Overs 
  • Bath House
    • 20 Burpees | 20 Pull-ups | 20 BBS | 20 Australian Snow-Angels | 20 Second Beast Plank
  • Stonehenge 
    • 20 Box Jumps | 20 Lunges | 20 Squat Jumps | 20 BBS | 20 Second Plank
  • Splashpad
    • 20 Flutter Kicks | 20 Hello Dollys | 20 V-Ups | 20 Box Cutters | 20 Second High Knees
  • Basketball Court (missed the turnoff, completed exercises at the Tennis Courts)
    • 20 Diamond Merks | 20 Wide Merks | 20 Right hand forward merks | 20 Left hand forward Merks | 20 Second Butt Kicks
  • Tennis Courts
    • 20 Mountain Climbers | 20 Freddy Mercury | 20 Plank Jacks | 20 Bear Crawls | 20 Second Hold Squat
  • AO
    • 20 Smurf Jacks | 20 American Hammers | 20 Iron Mikes | 20 Broad Jumps | 20 Monkey Humpers 

MARY:

Finished before Mary was an option. 

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

2 for Pre-Ruck

12 for Beatdown 

0 FNGs 

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Today was my 100th posting and 20th Q. While a vast majority of those posts and Q’s have come from the Equalizer, I have also been able to post at Asylum AM, Asylum PM. Asylum Sat., Truckstop Sat., The Dogpound, Shamrock, and the Quacken. I have also was lucky enough to have 2 downrange postings at F3Low Country on Hilton Head Island this summer. I started tracking my Posts and Q’s a while back after noticing a “100 Posts in 2021” patch on the F3 Gear website. 

The HIMs of F3Knoxville will never know their impact on my life in just the few months I have been participating in workouts. Before March 1st, I was in a rut that I didn’t even know how deep. The running workouts I was doing on my own became less and less frequent and when I did run, I pushed myself less and less. Most of my friends had moved away from Knoxville over the past few years, and those that were in town were able to get together with little to no frequency. My faith was waning. I did not have a routine in which I had a healthy prayer life. 

F3Knoxville allowed me to find the answers to all 3 of these problems. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the answers were even in the name! I was struggling with all three F’s and didn’t even know it! Since that early Monday morning on March 1st, all three F’s in my life have grown tremendously. I have a fitness routine that mixes up all styles of exercises that I can always count on a great beatdown, I have men in Knoxville that I can call on for anything and everything, and I now know that I will leave each workout uplifted through the prayer of the PAX. 

Thank you F3 Brothers. I am lucky to have all of you in my life. 

MOLESKIN:

Prayers for: 

Ribbed’s wife and family

Hans’ ankle

Seeking joy and life from God and not the world.