F3 Knoxville

Whiskey, Soft Beds, and Buttermilk

THE SCENE: Perfect. Low 70s, nice breeze, sunny

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER Check


WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH, 20 IC
  • Bolt 45s (15 top ½ squats, 15 bottom ½ squats, 15 full squats)
  • 5 PCMBs OYO
  • 10 Plank Jacks (4-ct, IC)
  • 10 Windmills (4-ct, IC)
  • Baby Arm Circles Forward (x10, 4 Ct, IC) and backward (x10, 4 Ct, IC)

THA-THANG:

  • Mosey to grassy field below Admin building.
  • RECTANGLE OF DEATH!!!! (Q was not too original with the name…) Cones set up in rectangle.
    • Run suicides on long sides, but Bernie Sanders back to baseline instead of turning around. Run to ¼, ½, ¾, and full length.
    • Short sides, Burpee Broad Jumps (3 jumps then a Burpee)
    • Do exercise listed at the corner. Do 5 reps of each exercise the first lap, then 10, then 15
      • Corner 1: Mountain Climbers (2-ct), Tempo Squats, Iron Mikes (both legs =1) (5x/10x/15x)
      • Corner 2: Hand Release Merkins, Carolina Dry Docks, and Shoulder Taps (both shoulders = 1) (5x/10x/15x)
      • Corner 3: Star Jumps, Smurf Jacks, Bobby Hurleys (5x/10x/15x)
      • Corner 4: Big Boy Situps, American Hammers (2-ct), and box cutters (4-ct) (5x/10x/15x)

Only did two laps… too many other fun things to do.  Plus these were hard as heck and Q was out of breath.

  • Mosey to CMU pile.
    • CMU Farmer Carries!
      • Line up on Curb. Take turns lugging two CMUs around perimeter of parking lot.  Rest of PAX will be running back and forth across parking lot doing merkins at one end and squats at the other.  5x/10x/15x, rinse and repeat.  Keep repeating until everyone has carried the CMUs.  Tank, Lillydipper, and maybe one other PAX I’m forgetting volunteered to team up and do an extra lap to keep company with the last person to carry the CMUs, exmplifying the sacrifice and No Man Left Behind philosophy of F3.  Tank did it while battling calf cramps.  Beast.
      • Hat tip to Judge Judy!
  • Get a partner. One partner runs straight normal, the other Bernie Sanders up Baby Cardiac.  Switch half way up.  At top do 10 patty-cake merkins.
  • Mosey to AO.

MARY:
No time.  Barely made it back to the AO.

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
13 strong! (J-Lo and Thunderstruck not tagged)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

I recently revisited the book Lonesome Dove, which truly is a Great American Novel, and has countless memorable quotes and words of wisdom in it. It’s a tale of an ambitious (but tragic) cattle drive undertaken by two ex-Rangers-turned-cattle-ranchers, Gus and Call, from Texas to Montana.  During the drive, a woman companion on the trip, Lorie, a gentle soul who has led a difficult life surrounded by men who take advantage of her, is abducted by Comanches and is treated brutally while she is prisoner.  She survives and is rescued, but has many scars, both physically and psychologically.  She decides she needs to strike out on her own and finally realize a dream of hers to travel to California and start a new life.  In a letter that Gus writes to Lorie when she sets off, he says: “You see, life in San Francisco is still just life. If you want any one thing too badly, it’s likely to turn out to be a disappointment. The only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things – like a sip of good whiskey in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself.”

The message is pretty clear… The grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. If you’re always looking ahead, you will miss the enjoyment of the present.  If you are always chasing a dream, you will not realize the simple pleasures of the present that are Gifts from God.

    • Take pleasure in the simple things.  Life is what you make of it.
    • The trap we often fall into is looking at someone else’s situation and thinking that I wish I had what they have.  The reality is what they have may not be as good as it appears as we stand in our field looking across at theirs.
    • Phillipians 4:11-12 And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.

MOLESKIN:
Several members of the PAX have friends and family members battling serious illnesses.  We are thinking of them and keeping them in our prayers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Nope.

2 For Tuesday: Character-Building Festivities

THE SCENE: SUPER cool, like 70s cool. Breezy baby.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Welcome to F3: Fitness – Fellowship – Faith! My name is Steam & I’ll be your Q this evening. I am stoked to be back here Qing with you guys. I am not a professional and you are here on your own volition – which means that you chose to be here this evening, just like everyone else. Let’s rock!

WARM-O-RAMA:

Side-Straddle Hop (SSH): 11×4 in cadence

Steam: “We will be celebrating 2 For Tuesday this evening gents”

Side-Straddle Hop (SSH): 11×4 in cadence

Baby Arm Circles: 11×4 (forward) in cadence // 11×4 (backwards) in cadence

Baby Arm Circles: 11×4 (forward) in cadence // 11×4 (backwards) in cadence)

Cherry- Picker: 11×4 in cadence

Cherry-Picker: 11×4 in cadence

Imperial Walker: 11×4 in cadence

Imperial Walker: 11×4 in cadence

Let’s get on the mosey!
THA-THANG:
[The 2nd part of any 2 For Tuesday exercise can be substituted w/5 burpees if PAX chooses]

  • Mosey towards Cardiac Hill

 

  • Every stop sign PAX passes = 8 merkins (1-count)
    • 3 stop signs = 24 merkins

 

  • “Cardiac Hill 100”
    • 4 points of contact going down Cardiac Hill
    • (1) Top of Cardiac Hill (2) curve 1 on Cardiac (3) curve 2 on Cardiac (4) bottom of Cardiac
    • At all points of contact
      • 10 squats
      • 10 big boy sit-ups
      • 5 incline merkins (facing up Cardiac)
    • PAX holds the plank at the bottom of Cardiac

 

  • PAX American Indian runs to boarded walkway by the river
  • PAX forms battle buddies

 

  • 11s
    • Boardwalk overlooking the river: LBCs (4-count)
    • Left Down the boardwalk 20ish yards: Merkins (4-count)
      • 10 + 1
      • 9 + 2 and so on
    • High-Heels leads PAX in core work exercises until 6 recovers on the boardwalk overlooking the river

 

  • PAX duck-walks up a little hill into the grass about a football field away from the Lakeshore Chapel

 

  • The Slinky
    • PAX gets into 2-man battle buddy (BB) teams
    • Q gives command to run – stop (hold plank)
    • (1) 1st BB team runs until the command “down” is given
    • (2) 1st BB team drops down into a plank
    • (3) 2nd BB team sprints past 1st BB team until the command “down” is given
    • (4) 2nd BB team drops down past the 1st BB team in the plank position
    • (5) 3rd BB team sprints past the 1st and 2nd BB teams, until the command “down” is given
    • (6) 3rd BB team drops down past the 1st and 2nd BB teams, holding the plank position
    • Rinse & Repeat – starting with the 1st BB team – until all PAX reach the edge of the Lakeshore Chapel

 

  • Doubtfire verbalizes the fuel on the fire and PAX rushes through the field in back of the chapel, across the street under a tree
  • Q leads PAX in Monkey-Humpers, in front of soccer moms, kids, and God himself
    • 11×4 in cadence
    • [2 For Tuesday]
    • 11×4 in cadence
  • Q points to an object 40-50 yards away – PAX charges at it full-speed

 

  • PAX are facing a hill
  • Q instructs PAX to get in a decline big boy setup position on the hill
  • 11 1-count big boy sit-ups
  • [2 For Tuesday]
  • 11 1-count big boy sit-ups

 

  • PAX runs up the hill and recovers by two trees close to the road leading to the Asylum PM road
  • Q leads PAX in 11 1-count Pinto Squat-Jump Twists(?) (Jury is still out on the official name)
    • Starting position: PAX facing 1 direction
    • PAX squat –> jump up and twist –> landing facing the other direction = 1
  • [2 For Tuesday]
  • 11 1-count Pinto Squat-Jump Twists

 

  • Pax charges towards the final stop sign
  • PAX charges the final road/hill back up to the AO

 

  • handy.

MARY:

Total Time: 45:20

Distance: 2.2miles

Elevation Gain: 128ft.
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:
Giving Credit/Being Your Own God

I just got a new job, am moving into a new house, have a new relationship with a great girl – things are going great in my life right now. And I feel like I need to hear this more than anyone: I need to realize that my pride is a very dangerous thing and that I am blessed with these things because there is a God above who is working in my life and putting breath in my lungs – to serve Him. None of the seeming success in life that I seem to be a part of has anything to do with “me being the man” or “me crushing it” lately. It’s so easy for me to pat myself on the back and develop a false sense of “look what you did man, you’re doing great.” Sometimes as men I think it’s easy for us to fall prey to our own pride in our work or successes in life, etc, and not remember who woke us up this morning and spoke life into the blessings we enjoy. We were created for so much more than ourselves men! Our story is just a small small part in the great HIStory He’s telling through us.

Keep the Faith & Fight the Good Fight!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Prayer Requests (PRs): Steam’s new dating relationship – struggling/wanting to keep the Lord at the center and working on being a HIM in it.

No B.S. Assessment: Send It!

THE SCENE: 60s, cool, sunrise on the way.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER:

Welcome to F3: Fitness-Fellowship-Faith! My name is Steam and I’ll be your Q this morning. I am not a professional and you are here on your own volition, with means you chose to be here this morning, just like the man on your left and right – so let’s make it count! If you need to modify any of the exercises we do this morning feel free to do so – but push yourselves and those around you. Lets keep the mumble-chatter and the morale at a high today!

[ Q introduces FNG Eric ]

WARM-O-RAMA:

Side-Straddle Hop (SSH): 11×4 in cadence

Windmill: 11×4 in cadence

Hillbilly: 11×4 in cadence

Baby-Arm Circles: Forwards 11×4 in cadence & Backwards 11×4 in cadence

3 burpees on your own

THA-THANG:
PAX formed up 2 lines in front of the AO – mosey’d to Asylum playground

  • 1 For 1 (and so on)
    • Get in battle buddy teams
    • 1 box jump on the bench
    • run down to end of playground parking lot
    • do 1 merkin
    • Rinse & Repeat – adding 1 rep each time
      • 2 box jumps & 2 merkins, etc

About halfway through, Q calls for recover at the playground

Does a morale check with PAX – asks some of PAX for a morale status report: All’s well.

PAX forms 2 lines and mosey’s back to car parking lot/AO area

Q leads PAX in F3 cadence call – Q calls something out – PAX repeats

    • “F3!”
    • “Good For You!”
    • “Good For Me”
    • “HUH!”
    • “HA-HA!”
    • “1, 2, 3!”
    • “I love F3!”
    • “4, 5, 6!”
    • “Pickin Up Sticks!”
    • “7 and 8”
    • “F3 is great!”
    • “9 and 10!”
    • “Let’s Do It All Again!”
    • “HUH!”
    • “HA-HA!”

 

  • Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
    • PAX get’s in new battle buddy teams
    • Bottom of hill by AO: 5 battle buddy sit-ups(BBSs) each
      • BBSs = one battle buddy hold the other’s feet, while they execute sit-ups with fingers interlocked behind their head
    • Top of hill by AO: 5 side straddle hops (SSHs)
    • Rinse & Repeat- adding 5 reps each time until each battle buddy does 25 BBSs at the bottom and 25 SSHs at the top

 

  • Recover at the AO
    • Q leads PAX in 15×4 cherry-pickers in cadence
    • Asks for a 10-count from PAX
    • Q describes what a “No B.S. Assessment” is (See Moleskin at the bottom of this back-blast) and asks various PAX to give one
    • Pusher & Fabio & Umbro give solid No B.S. Assessments
  • Q leads PAX towards the pavilion with picnic tables towards the back of the AO

 

  • The Final Countdown (7 minutes left)
    • PAX gets in new battle buddy teams
    • 1 battle buddy does 5 incline merkins + 1 Man-Maker (8-count merkin) under the pavilion while the other battle buddy runs to a dugout and executes 1 good pull-up/chin-up.
    • Rinse & Repeat – adding only an extra Man-Maker each time
    • Q calls for a 15 count and leads PAX back into the AO

 

  • PAX Circle Up inside AO
    • 15 Side-straddle hops (SSHs)
  • And boom goes the dynamite – that’s it!

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
22 PAX (1 FNG – Eric Alley/Globetrotter)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Talked about an F3 Knoxville HIM, Brandon Rabun/Cupcake, being deployed to Afghanistan this morning, and the Latin phrase “Nil desperandum” = do not despair. If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t always live out of a nil desperandum attitude. And I’m not even being shipped overseas or risking my life day to day.

A verse that came to mind that Cupcake and I have talked about before is Isaiah 6:8 = “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”” Now, not all of us are called to serve in the military, or overseas like Cupcake, but where is the Lord asking you to serve dutifully this week in your own life? I wished I lived more like Isaiah 6:8, being all in. As we try to live life as High Impact Men and humble servants of the most high king, I invite and encourage and challenge firstly myself, I need to hear this more than anyone (funny how that works when you’re delivering a BOM sometimes huh?), and all of us to be all in for the God we serve and live out of a place of “Here I am Lord! Send me where you will have me this week. Send me to those hard conversations, send me to be a better husband, brother, father, boyfriend, send me to be your messenger, help remind of the cross so that I may never forget who it is that sends me into the day.” Men, I pray that each one of us puts the full armor of God on this day and this week as we prepare to be sent where he will have us. I pray for eyes to see His beauty, ears to hear His truth, lips to speak His love, and hands and feet to go and serve Him.

Keep the Faith & Fight the Good Fight!

MOLESKIN:
No B.S. Assessment = Asking someone to give a real, non-sugar coated check-in/assessment about how they really are doing where they are physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, etc. There is a certain intentionality behind a No B.S. Assessment – to not just go through the motions of checking in with other High Impact Men/people in our spheres of influence, but to really ask for a check-in/assessment without the B.S.

Example: “Hey, how are you? –> “I’m good I guess.”

Example of a No B.S. Assessment: “Hey Mac, I notice you haven’t been around in a while man, give me a no B.S. Assessment.” –> “Wow, thanks for asking. I guess I’ve got a lot going on with the family, kids, you know how it is.”

Sometime’s it’s hard to ask for a No B.S. Assessment and maybe even harder to be asked for one. The purpose of No B.S. Assessment is to go beyond the question or even the formality of the question of “How are you” for example – but to intentionally ask and care for the deeper part of the individual and their heart.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Several open Q’s for this week on the website – let’s encourage each other to step up and lead!

It’s High Heels in the End Zone

THE SCENE: If there was a nicer Saturday morning to work out in, I don’t want to know about it
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER Cap’n was there, so I think that covers us
WARM-O-RAMA:

Archie and Cap’n were in cooldown mode after 3 rucking miles…Pusher and Crawdad were pulling in…

10 Windmills IC while waiting for Crawdad and Pusher

25 SSH, but only 5 IC. The other 20 we were supposed to do in our heads. We did not all end at the same time. Could’ve been Q’s fault. 10 Burpees OYO.

BAC forward and reverse, OHCs in between

THA-THANG:

Little Mosey over to the base of Spaceship Hill. Catch Me If You Can with 10 LBCs to the stop sign on the far side.

Another mosey down to Area 51, which has missed us, and which also had an unidentified structure. We took it apart and did some CMU Doras. Pusher found a hole that was hiding, but recovered on the mosey like the badass that he is. 

Indian run over to the FiA parking lot, where Abcess had already delivered baloons. We presented them with a birthday present, candle, and we sang Happy Birthday. Q started us off about two octaves too high but he is not paid for his beautiful singing voice.

Down to the soccer fields to meet Jack Webb! Back in college we used to play Ultimate Frisbee, so we played in Jack’s honor. 2 burpees for everyone if the frisbee touches the ground, 5 merkins for a team that gets scored on. High Heels got the Golden Glove Award.

MARY:
Mary Schmary

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy.”
― Wendell Berry

MOLESKIN:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Standing O for the Sunrise

THE SCENE: Typical July morning. Except it’s May.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

SSH x33 IC
Cherry Pickers x6 IC
TN Rocking Chair x15 IC
Failure to Launch x8
Travoltas x10 IC each side
Mountain Parker x15 IC
Hindurkins x10 IC

THA-THANG:
Mosey to the hill by the boats for 7s:
Bottom of the hill: Diamond Merkins. Top: 4-ct Iron Mikes

Mosey to the opposite side of the loop
Grab a battle buddy for Broken Wheelbarrow – Partner holds only one leg.
10 yards, 5 merkins. 10 more yards, 5 more merkins.
Swap roles with battle buddy for the return trip.
R&R, this time with other leg.

Mosey around and up the hill to the Tavern.
Face the sunrise for 4-ct Overhead Claps x40 IC
Bear crawl back down the hill (including the stairs!)

Battle buddy up again for Dora style: 50 Merkins, 100 BBS, 150 Squats
Moving partner crab walk to the concrete, run back.

Mosey back toward the AO, pausing at the boats to line up for Blacksnake.

MARY:
No time left today, unfortunately!
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
12 HIMs today… No FNGs.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
We took in the beauty of this morning’s sunrise from the high point by the restaurant as we did our overhead claps. God as put beauty in the world all around us, both for our enjoyment and to point to Him. Take time today and look for that beauty, especially in places where you may not appreciate it every day. Really look into your wife’s eyes as she talks about her day. Marvel at the delicacy and tinyness of your baby’s toes as you change a diaper. Check out the rainbow swirls and patterns in the oily puddle of condensation runoff from your car A/C…

MOLESKIN:
Just noticed yesterday that they’ve added FTLs on the Exicon… It’s F3 official!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Prayers for Britt, Jessie, and the Thacker family