F3 Knoxville

Lighting the Arsenal’s Cannons

THE SCENE: Low/Mid 30’s with some sunshine
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
This is F3, Stands for Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith
It is a FREE workout
I am not a professional
You are here on your own volition
I have no knowledge of any injuries or your fitness considerations
It is your individual responsibility to be safe and to modify exercises if you need to, we all do it
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH – 15 (IC)
  • LBAC – F/B – 10 (IC)
  • Air Squat – 10 (IC)
  • Merkin – 10 (IC)
  • BBS – 10 (IC)

Active Warm-O-Rama – Ring of Fire:

  • While Pax are still in circle have everyone alternating between plank and Al-Gore. 1 Pax will run to the center of the circle and burnie back. Once they return to the plank position the next Pax member goes. Rinse and repeat until all Pax have run to the center and back.

** Have Pax number off by 1s and 2s. 1s will go with Drifter to the Baseball Field and 2s will go with Moses to the Football Field.

THA-THANG:

Baseball Field: Bleacher Work
5 Minute AMRAP:

  • Step-ups – 10 each leg
  • Incline Merkins – 10 (4ct)
  • Dips – 10 (4ct)
  • Step-ups – 10 each leg
  • Decline Merkins – 10 (4ct)
  • Dips – 10 (4ct)

Mosey to Outfield:

  • Suicides – 30 seconds
  • LBC – 20 (4ct)
  • Suicides – 30 Seconds
  • BBS – 10 (4ct)

Rinse & repeat until other group is done

Football Field Work

Place cones at 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards. Pax will run to first cone, complete the exercise and run back. Then run to the 2nd cone complete the exercise, run back. 3rd cone exercise, run back. 4th cone exercise, run back. Rinse and repeat.
5 Minute AMRAP

Circuit 1: Legs

  • 1st cone 10 lunges in place
  • 2nd cone 5 burpees
  • 3rd cone 10 squats
  • 4th cone 5 burpees

Circuit 2: Abs

  • 1st cone 10 BBS
  • 2nd cone 10 American Hammers (count only one side)
  • 3rd cone 10 Hello Dolly (single count)
  • 4th cone 30 LBC

Suicides on cones 1-4 until 15 minutes is up.

Q2 and Q1 Groups flap jack and repeat circuits.

Merge Groups and mosey to Shovel Flag and present the flag

The shovel flag is one of the classic symbols of F3. No matter where you are within F3 Nation, the Shovel Flag is the one true physical link that connects us all. Just like we leave no man where we find them, the Shovel Flag is portable so that it can be carried forward and shared with others.

This shovel flag represents Respect: respect for country, respect for those who hae served and currently serve to protect our freedoms, and respect for the other AO’s across F3 Nation where similar flags are planted ever week

It represents Hard Work: it bears witness to the blood, sweat, and tears of the men of F3 who gather together at some obscene early hour to get better physically while finding new mental limits. Men getting stronger, fit, and conditioned to handle life’s challenges – most of which are not physical at all – Hard Work

This flag also represents the lives of men being changed. Men are moving from being passive participants in life, to being present. Present in our families, present in our places of work and worship, and present in our communities.

Mosey to SP (Smuggler leading the way carrying the flag)

MARY:

We returned with a little extra time to spare so we decided to push through a few more variations of Merkins!

  • Regular Merkin 10(IC)
  • Wide Merkin 10(IC)
  • Dimond Merkin 5(IC)
  • 6” Crunch 10(IC)
  • Gas Pumps 15(OYO)
  • Ankle Touches 20(IC)
  • LBC for time!

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
48 Pax! Included (2) 2.0s and (1) FNG – Welcome ‘That Guy’
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

F3 has always been and will always be more than a workout.  We definitely want to push ourselves and each other physically, but we also want to grow relationally and spiritually.  The PAX is unique in many ways, But the one that is most important to remember is that we are not out here to compete against each other, but collaborate together to grow as husbands, fathers, sons, employees, employers, friends, and neighbors.  We are bound together under a high power for a greater purpose. And I pray that this group of men will continue to lead they way in setting the example for others.

MOLESKIN:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Through Imperfection

THE SCENE: Clear skies, about 60 degrees.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

20 Side Straddle Hops, 10 Burpees, Plank Stretches, 10 Windmills, 10 Baby Arm Circles Forward and Backwards
THA-THANG:
Mosey to stop sign at southeastern corner of Admin Bldg.  20 American Hammers.

Mosey to shaded area that is on other side of road from Area 51.  There will be four cones set up.  We will go counter-clockwise to each cone.  We will do so four times and do one exercise at each in sequence.  We go to the next cone by the method listed.  Here are the exercises and way to get to the next cone.

  • Cone 1:  1. 20 Star Jumps  2.  10 Burpees  3. 20 Plank Jacks  4. 20 Smurf Jacks  (Sprint to Cone 2)
  • Cone 2:  1. 20 Merkins 2.  15 Hand Release Merkins  3.  20 Dive Bombers  4. 20 Diamond Merkins  (Bear Crawl to Cone 3)
  • Cone 3:  1. 20 Jump Squats  2.  20 Mountain Climbers  (both feet = 1) 3. 20 Iron Mikes (both feet = 1)  4. 20 Side Straddle Hops  (Bernie to Cone 4)
  • Cone 4:  1.  20 Big-Boy Sit-ups  2.  20 Hello Dollies (4 ct)  3.  20 Bicycle Kicks (4 ct)  4. 20 Flutter Kicks (4 ct)  (Lunge to Cone 1)

Mosey to grassy area by Northshore Entrance to Park.  20 Imperial Walkers.

Mosey on perimeter trail south and then east on Perimeter Trail to benches at south end.  Alternate between 20 Bench Dips and 30 Baby Crunches.

Mosey to Soccer Fields and then to grassy area past roadway.  We will then do sevens going from grassy area to tree in a field that is about 40 yards away.  We will start with 1 set of Shoulder Taps at the roadway and 6 Pinto Twists at the tree.

Mosey to stop sign at southeastern corner of Admin Bldg.  20 American Hammers

Mosey to AO.

MARY:
1 minute run in place and 30 seconds of stretching.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
18 men, no FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Imperfect Leaders and Servants

From 2 Corinthians 12:  9-10:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I consider the brothers of F3, the men I see each week at workouts and through fellowship, and I see so many of you having the true desire to serve others and be leaders among our community.  Yet, we sometimes hesitate for fear of failure.  We fear that we will fall short of our goals, not live up to the people we serve, not speak well enough or act well enough, or just be overwhelmed by the time and nature of the task.  We think we have to be a Captain Crunch, an Abscess or a Judge Judy to lead and serve the way we should.

We need to remember a wonderful truth when our fears and concerns keep us from taking the chance to lead and serve.  God works through our imperfections.  Consider every person besides Christ that is in the Bible.  They were all imperfect but God used them to serve His purpose.  Consider Moses:  a man afraid to speak to others, God used him to lead the Jews out of Egypt and to the promised land.  Consider David:  a man who lusted after Bathsheba and had to be brought to shame to see his sin. God found favor on David and he was a great leader. Consider Peter:  a disciple of Christ who boasted he would never betray Him, yet who betrayed Him three times after Jesus was arrested.  And, Peter became one of the greatest disciples of Christ, spreading the works of Christ after his death.

God will use our imperfections to serve his people.  Why worry then about how imperfect we are.  Like Paul says in Corinthians, for the sake of Christ we can be boast in our weaknesses.  For He will use our weaknesses to make his power perfect.  Go forth, therefore, with confidence.  When you screw up, when you stumble, when you say the idiotic thing, if your intentions are loving, if your intentions are to do good for others, Christ will use you despite your mistakes.  The message:  Get out there and fail because through your failures you will succeed.
MOLESKIN:
Prayers for Speed Flash on his test tomorrow, for Hand’s friend who passed away and the family of that friend, and for Abscess’ friend who has triple-bypass heart surgery upcoming.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AO Launch this weekend in Maryville.  Get copy paper, napkins and 55 Gallon Trash Bags in for service project.

Up 2, Back 1

THE SCENE: Mid 30s, nice and moony.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH x25 IC
Cherry Pickers x5 IC
Cobra burpees x5 OYO
Standard burpees x5 OYO
Crabettes x15 IC
TN Rocking Chairs x15 IC
LBAC x15 each way IC
Alternate cherry pickers for a while
Shake it out
“Warmed up yet?” (no answer from the PAX)
10 burpees OYO
Don’t have time for the PAX to get the question wrong again…

THA-THANG:
Mosey to the light pole by the restrooms. There are cards set up along the path with exercises.
Start with the first card, mosey past the next card and do the third.
Then mosey back to the second card, and so on. 2 forward, 1 back.
So here’s what we ended up doing:

15 Embrace the Earth Burpees (Hand release out to the side)
Run a bit
5 hill sprints
Run a bit less
25 CDD
Run a bit
35 Box Jumps
Run a bit less
5 hill sprints
Run a bit
Bear crawl the parking lot, bernie back
Run a bit less
35 Box Jumps
Run a bit
30 BBS
Run a bit less
Bear crawl the parking lot, bernie back
Run a bit
25 Merkins
Time’s up, run back to the AO!
Got in about 2 miles.

MARY:
15x Seated Heel Taps IC
15x Curious Dollys IC

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
15 today. Just the right amount of crowded on the running path.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”
The way is the thing. Of course, the destination is good, but the way is how we get to know Him. Sometimes it seems the way sucks. Sometimes we won’t get to understand, sometimes we won’t get to see why. Sometimes it seems we’re moving backward. But that’s OK, because the one who is ordering our steps knows best.
MOLESKIN:
I’m not sure which is worse: Hill sprints, or moseying back to the hill knowing you’re going to have to do them again.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Arsenal launch! Sandy Springs park in Maryville, this weekend @ 0700!

TRIP TO COLOMBIA

THE SCENE: 40s and damp
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER👌
WARM-O-RAMA:

OHC, LBAC(f), LBAC(b), Cherry Pickers, Windmills, Temp Merkins, Mountain Climbers, Tempo Squats, SSH
THA-THANG:
Mosey to small Hill on the East side of the Park:

  • COLOMBIAN NECK-TIE: PAX do varying distance runs and back with increasing colombian neck-ties upon each return to start. Each did about 13 rounds on avg.
  • Mosey to Playground for Aiken Legs: 20 Box Jumps, 20 Lunges, 20 Iron Mikes, 20 Squats
  • Mosey to CMU Parking Lot.  4 Corners: sets of 10,15,20,25 of the following exercises with CMU:
    • Merkin Overs
    • Curls
  • Line up on curb and Battle Buddy Up for DORA: 50 Burpees, 100 Flutters (4ct)

MARY:
No time
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
26 Strong
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Proverbs 1: The beginning of wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord.  Do you fear the Lord, or man?
MOLESKIN:
N/A
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Arsenal Launch.

Rainbow Connection

THE SCENE: 50 with a steady drizzle.  Perfect weather (to head to the Pav-a-Lon!)
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER You know the drill.
WARM-O-RAMA:

We get the music started early.  It’s time to celebrate Rainbow taking the shovel flag, so celebrate we shall.  Did you know Rainbow was named after his favorite My Little Pony? I did!  First song:  “Rainbow” by Sia from the My Little Pony, the Movie Soundtrack.  Did you know there was an actual My Little Pony Movie? I didn’t!

Let’s get the burpees out of the way, shall we?  Burpee ladder: SSHx 10; 2 burpees; BAC-forward x 10; 4 burpees; BAC-backerds x10; 6 burpees; ISW x 10; 8 burpees; Rockets x 10; 10 burpees.
THA-THANG:
As Robert Plant belts out “Rainbow” from his Digging Deep: Subterranea album (not exactly Now and Zen), we head climb another ladder: Run a lap around the pav-a-Lon building, perform a table row and dip.  Run another lap, completing 10 laps total.  After each successive lap, add a table row and dip up to 10 reps each.  Enjoy Kacey Musgrave singing her song . . .you guessed it, “Rainbow.”

As we finish the ladder, “Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll” by Rainbow starts blaring.  Freshly energized as only heavy metal can do, we mosey at a fast clip to the Narthex.

At the Narthex, we mellow things out.  We’re descending a ladder of Froggy Squats then regular squats, starting at 10 each, down to 1.  It’s Froggy Squats + Rainbow celebration, so that means one song only:  “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit The Frog.

The Pax wets its feet from the Narthex to the Chapel, finding a dry spot on the floor, for a Hurricane Hoedown.  That’s flutter kicks x7 in seated position with hands over head, flutters x7 in reclining “power T” position, and then regular flutters x 7.  We work our way down from the set of 7 to 6, then 5 . . . .to 1, while we enjoy the pop stylings of Rainbow Kitten Surprise performing “American Shoes” followed by “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by the big Hawaiian Ukulele dude Israel Kamakawio’ole.

Seeing that the far pavilion by the baseball fields was ocupado, we stayed put for some 25s of Merkins and BBS overwhelmed by even more Rainbow “Since You Been Gone.”  We mosey back in the rain to the vocal stylings of even more Ronnie James Dio and “Rainbow in the Dark” to the Pav-a-Lon, where we close out 3 minutes of high knee step ups and then 2 minutes of plank with Elvis crooning “Pocketful of Rainbows” (From the G.I. Blues movie, btw).

MARY:
I guess the planks should be here.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
A conspiracy is an agreement between 2 or more people to act in harmony toward a common end.  While we think of that word in a negative context, being the AO Q has shown me it can be positive.  Many HIMs at the Asylum have conspired to act together to make us all better.  I’ve not been a leader so much as just a part of a conspiracy to lead.  Being part of that has humbled me beyond belief.  Rainbow has been part of the conspiracy for many years.  Now, he’ll be the one directing us.  I couldn’t be more excited for our AO than I am right now.  Thanks to all for pushing me to be better every day.
MOLESKIN:
More from the Q Source:  What is required for men to conspire with each other to move themselves and others toward Advantage?  Trust.  How do we gain trust?

1) Candor (i.e. honesty with ourselves and others);

2) Commitment (toward the common goal);

3) Consistency (showing up regularly so that others know they can count on you);

4) Contentment (demonstration of stability of emotion regardless of the situation);

5) Courage (to do what is uncomfortable – to challenge yourself and your brothers).

We have that in spades at the Asylum, men!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Please bring napkins, 55 gallon trash bags and copy paper for Hope House.  Also, Saturday at Sandy Springs Park, we have a new Maryville AO kicking off!).