F3 Knoxville

New Year, New Opportunity

THE SCENE: Insert info about the weather, etc.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Side straddle hop in cadence 20
Cherry Pickers
5 Burpees OYO
Arm rotations thumbs up in cadence
Reverse thumbs down in cadence
Tempo squats
Merkins to “Sally Up” song
Side straddle hop in cadence 20

THA-THANG:
Snake run to coupon pile.

  • 20 curls, run steps, 5 pull ups, 20 curls, 10 thrusters
  • Mosey through campus with the person in the back sprinting to the front.
  • Stopping for 20 BBS, 20 Merkins, 20 guard rail dips
  • Mosey to JUCOManjaro
  • Run to hash mark, 20 2-count flutter kicks
  • Run to next hash mark, 20 squats
  • Rinse and Repeat until we run out of hill or time… Today we ran out of time.
  • Mosey back to the flag.

MARY:
Side cruches (I think… Erector was leading while I grabbed my notes for the BOM).
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Use the TAGS on right-side to record PAX (BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOURSELF) in attendance. Be sure to select the AO in CATEGORY above TAGS and then delete these notes!
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
We typically use this time between Christmas and New Year’s as a time of reflection.
As we wrap up 2022, did you accomplish what you set out to do?
Why or why not? Does it even matter, now that you’re looking back at it, or have priorities shifted?

21 Tips for a Positive New Year
Updated for 2023
1. Stay Positive. You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude all things are possible.
2. Take a daily “Thank You Walk.” You can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time. Feel blessed and you won’t be stressed.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less foods manufactured in plants.
4. Talk to yourself instead of listen to yourself. Instead of listening to your complaints, fears and doubts, talk to yourself with words of truth and encouragement.
5. Post a sign that says “No Energy Vampires Allowed.” Gandhi said, “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet,” and neither should you! Watch This.
6. Be a Positive Team Member. Being positive doesn’t just make you better, it makes everyone around you better.
7. Don’t chase success. Decide to make a difference and success will find you. [ Tweet This ]
8. Get more sleep. You can’t replace sleep with a double latte.
9. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
10. Look for opportunities to Love, Serve and Care. You don’t have to be great to serve but you have to serve to be great.
11. Live your purpose. Remember why you do what you do. We don’t get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it.
12. Remember, there’s no such thing as an overnight success. Love the process and you’ll love what the process produces.
13. Trust that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.
14. Implement the No Complaining Rule. If you are complaining, you’re not leading. Download a free No Complaining Kit here.
15. Read more books than you did in 2022. I happen to know of a few good ones. : )
16. Don’t seek happiness. Instead live with love, passion and purpose and happiness will find you.
21 Tips for 2023
17. Focus on “Get to” vs “Have to.” Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.
18. The next time you “fail” remember that it’s not meant to define you. It’s meant to refine you.
19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.
20. Make time for relationships. We are better together and the more we connect with great friends the more enjoyable life becomes.
21. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Convergence 7a 1/7 at Bomb Shelter

Racing Snails

THE SCENE:  32 and clear.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:  Muttered somewhat incoherently…but you all know the drill!
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Projectivator
  • KCP
  • Moroccan nightclub
  • Seal squats
  • Down/up dog
  • Merkins
  • Stretch OYO

THA THANG:

Mosey to the Rock Pile.  Toys are set out in a circuit.  Divide into two teams to play Snail Races.

There are two ways to win.  The first way is to move your team’s baby snail to the finish line (baby snail is two touching cones – you move it by placing one cone in front of the other, always touching).  Perform a set, move your baby snail, move to another station of your choice and begin your next set.  The second way to win is to move the big snail into your team’s slime and do 25 SSH before the other team moves him out (big snail is a large tire on a pallet, pulled by a rope).  Any number of team members can move the big snail (1 by himself, or 2 men or 3…)

Stations were;

  1. 10 Pull ups
  2. 30 goblet squats
  3. 15 ball slams
  4. 40 jump rope
  5. 30 derkins
  6. 20 thrusters
  7. 25 stack squat
  8. 20 cmu swings
  9. 10 blockees
  10. 40 curls

 

Mary Recovery

 

Round 2:  Flip the cards.  Repeat the game.  New exercises were;

  1. 10 cmu lunges
  2. 10 hanging leg raises
  3. 40 jump rope
  4. 15 slam ball launches
  5. 30 OHP
  6. 10 plyo merkins
  7. 20 good mornings
  8. 15 farmer step-ups
  9. 40 triceps
  10. 10 burpee jumpovers

MARY:

Omaha’s version of American Hammers

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

Me and 11 of the best men I know – plus Honkytonk visiting from downrange and two 2.0s!

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Haggai 2:3-9, “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’  “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

How does it look to you now?”  The reflection this morning was about…reflection.  It was an encouragement to do some reflective thinking in the next few days as we close out the year and make plans to accelerate in 2023.

John Maxwell said, “Reflective thinking turns experience into insight.”.

Peter Drucker said something similar, “Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.”

So, reflecting back on your year as a father, husband, friend…  Use those insights to help ponder your acceleration in the New Year and be even more effective in those roles.

Some questions to ponder

  • What was the most enjoyable part of my work (both professionally and at home)?
  • In what area do I feel I’ve made my biggest improvements?
  • What was the most challenging part of this year for me?
  • Who is someone I got to know better this year?
  • Who do I wish I had gotten to know better in the past year?
  • What was the best way I used your time this past year?
  • What was my single biggest time waster in life this past year?
  • What’s the biggest mistake of the year, and the lesson learned as a result?
  • What was the most fun I had this year?
  • What was my best memory of the year?
  • If I could travel back to the beginning of the year, what advice would I give myself?

 

 

As an AO, at the beginning of 2022, we set these goals.  We did pretty well!!!  Soon into 2023, let’s set some new goals for the group…

  • We now have a few metric workouts to measure performance (military fitness PT, and today’s heavy PT baseline).  Let’s re-do those occasionally to see how our performance is trending.  Weekly Push/Pull/Plank challenge on Slack.
  • Consistency in the gloom and chatter on Slack.  Outside of the gloom – Hiking daytrips…  Dinners…  Bonfires…  Spring camping trip…
  • More deliberate discipleship.  Developing smaller shield lock groups within the larger Project group.  Meditating on and committing scripture to memory.  Leading our families in study, prayer, and faith.
  • More men in attendance. More Sad Clowns who need something like F3.  Specifically, more newly married men and new fathers – those are critical points in a man’s life and full of anxiety.  We have a wealth of experiences to share with those men – let’s find ‘em!
  • Family Workout! It’ll be great to get the families together monthly. It’s also a service to the community to we are uniquely gifted to provide.  I think this will largely define The Project’s evolution in 2022.

 

MOLESKIN:

The workout teetered on the verge of being too complicated – but was still kind of fun!

Back to the Future

THE SCENE: A toasty 27 with some residual snow on the ground as a reminder of how cold it COULD be. Thanks nature.

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER: Impartially implemented.

WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH x15
  • Willy Mayes Hays x10
  • Knox Cherries x10
  • Tempo Squats x10
  • Tempo Merks x10
  • FLBAC x10
  • RLBAC x10
  • Seal Claps x10
  • OH Claps x10
  • Hallelujahs x10
  • Moroccan Night Clubs x10 (irony noted)
  • Chatty Cherry Pickers x10
  • Quick Tempo SSH x15

Mosey to the amphitheater.

THA-THANG:
Pax performed a Dora back to 1955. While Marty travels, Doc Brown does exercises.

Exercises were as follows…

  • 100 Shoulder Taps (double count)
  • 150 Merkins
  • 200 LBCs
  • 250 Squats

Travel was around the amphitheater, lunges from cone to cone, then return.

Once the routine was complete, pax had to return to 1985 or be stuck in 1955.

Exercises were in reverse…

  • 250 Squats
  • 200 LBCs
  • 150 Merkins
  • 100 Shoulder Taps

Travel was again around the amphitheater but lunges were in reverse.

Zero pax returned to 1985 and either disappeared from existence and/or had to kiss their mother. Better luck next time, Marty.

MARY:
Outatime! QIC was disappointed not to use the Flux Capacitor. We’ll have to wait for the sequel.

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
A friend and YHC used to discuss the theory of time travel as the rules were written by BTTF I, II, and III. When the world seemed like it was going south, he said, “Is this Biff’s world?” Often times, life can begin to feel like Biff’s world where the bad guys win and life just seem unfair.

Many people try to cope  by escaping reality using drugs and alcohol, TV, Movies, games, daydreaming, etc. It’s important for HIMs to embrace reality as it is. It is also important to be present in the time in which we find ourselves.

Don’t live in the future. People spend a lot of time and energy worrying about the future. YHC’s M was worrying about the exit ramp while driving in the in the snow. “We’re not there yet.”

Matthew 6:34 says

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

 

Don’t live in the past. Ps 103 says,

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

God doesn’t live in the past. We shouldn’t either. The present moment, even in suffering, is a gift and a blessing. Choose this timeline. Choose this reality. Choose to accept the situation as it is. Each moment of suffering is an opportunity to work with the guy next to you. Another moment, alive, no matter how long, sure, is an opportunity to exchange love; to give and/or receive love.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28

God is able to work in the here and now. We should work to see it and trust.

MOLESKIN:

  • Many BTTF quotes were enjoyed.
  • Stetson has been assigned to watch BTTF I and II by next beatdown and is therefore exempt from taking down Christmas decorations until it’s done.
  • Soundtrack included:
    • “Back to the Future” – The Outatime Orchestra
    • “The Power of Love” – Huey Lewis & The News
    • “Marty’s Letter” – Alan Silvestri
    • “Johnny B. Goode” – Marty McFly and the Starlighters
    • “The Clocktower” – Alan Silvestri
    • “Back In Time” – Huey Lewis & The News
    • “Warmed Up” – Alan Silvestri
    • “Beat It” – Michael Jackson
    • “The Wallflower” – Etta James
  • Prayers for Skeletor, Wingman’s 2.0, Bink’s mom, Cardinal’s cousin.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Welcome back Spieilberg!
  • Make America Burpee Again campaign starts in January! Get signed up! Details in Slack!
  • Go30 Challenge restarts in January! Get signed up! See Wingman. Details in Slack!
  • Cardinal’s VQ on Jan 11!
  • Skeletor on Q Saturday; Piston on Monday; Wednesday OPEN!
  • January 7 – Convergence @ F3 Smokies. See Slack for details!

12 Heavy Pains of Christmas

THE SCENE: Cool and misty
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  1. Projectivator
  2. Cherry Pickers
  3. Tempo Squat
  4. Tempo Merkins

THA-THANG:
Run to the hill on ORAU campus. Do the number of reps, run up and down the hill, do the next rep and all below it (just like the song).

  1. Blockee
  2. Elves on the shelf
  3. Thrusters
  4. Derkins
  5. Big Boys
  6. Lunges
  7. Curls
  8. Rows
  9. Diamond derkins
  10. Tricep extensions
  11. Squats
  12. Blockees

Optional light version was also available:

  1. Burpee
  2. Imperial Squalkers
  3. Basilisks
  4. Merkins
  5. Big Boys
  6. Lunges
  7. Side straddle hops
  8. Prone rows
  9. Diamond merkins
  10. Heels to heaven
  11. Squats
  12. Burpees

MARY:
Extra bur-ur-ur-ur-ur-pees!

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
The Jews of the Gospels read and studied the Old Testament Scriptures, but missed the coming of the Messiah because they were too focused on the problems in the world around them.  What are we missing about God’s Word because we are too focused on the world around us?
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Project Christmas party tonight at Pappalock’s.  No shieldlock tomorrow.  Likely no Family Workout on Saturday.

Nightmare before Christmas WOD #2 “Lock, Shock, and Barrel”

THE SCENE: A brisk 25 degrees
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Obligatory, and check.
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH
  • Tempo merks
  • Tempo squats
  • LBAC -F
  • LBAC – B
  • Hallelujahs
  • Moroccan Night Clubs
  • Chattanooga cherry picker
  • Knox Cherry Pickers
  • SSH

THA-THANG:

“Lock, Shock, and Barrel”

1/2 Pax wearing ruck or vest, app pulled sandbags for pull through

  • 10 man makers
  • 50 plank ruck pull through
  • 400m ruck
  • 10 man makers

Cops showed up around here to check on us. Apple Watch thought I had a fall, through all the layers and gloves, I couldn’t get to it quick enough. 911 was called and 5.0 came to check on us. Turned out to be one of Roane County’s finest that ,multiple PAX had been EH-ing. All in all, glad it happened, maybe he will show up to a beatdown soon.

  • 50 ruck press/leg lift
  • 400m  ruck
  • 10 man makers
  • 50 ruck twists (2 ct)
  •  400m ruck

MARY:
Super quick Skeletor’s choice of core burning exercises on the 6
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Everyone read the latest newsletter from Kickflip? If not, he has been releasing them every Sunday morning and I highly recommend that you give them a read. This week I was challenged by what I read to make a few changes in my COT.  

In my COT’s I try to be motivational, encouraging, and point you all to Christ in some way. Today will be different. I am going to share one of my biggest struggles as a man, as a husband, and as a father. I struggle with anger. If I am not careful, I will let it get the best of me, and I lash out at those I love. I am going to use this newsletter as a springboard to be more open and honest with you guys. I think mostly we come here to be an encouragement to each other but we haven’t reached the point where we are honest about our weaknesses. I have more, but today it’s anger that’s on my mind. 

The root of my anger is selfishness. My M will ask me for a favor, the. Another, then another, then another, and before you know it, I blow up. Or, Super Soaker needs some help while I am working on something, or “resting”, and I grumble at him and let him know I am too busy. I have prioritized my needs over theirs, and that isn’t right. It should be God first, others second, and me third. 

The root of my selfishness is pride. My pride gets in the way when I begin to think that my needs are more important, and I begin to prioritize myself or my needs over anyone else’s. 

The goal I should have in my heart is to be more like Christ each day. “He must increase, I must decrease”. 

“‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression,’”

Numbers 14:18 ESV

“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”

Proverbs 15:18 ESV

MOLESKIN:
Couldn’t have been a better day in the gloom. We welcomed THREE FNG’s today. Welcome Slider, Candy Crush, and Baskin!

My 2.0 “Super soaker” was also in attendance.

Proud of these men. Most who were in attendance today earned a niceChristmas patch for completing GORUCKS The Nightmare Before Christmas WOD’s.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Too excited to remember every thing Bobbitt had for us!