F3 Knoxville

What 2403 means to me…

THE SCENE: 35 chilly and clear
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Mosey around the outhouse, battle buddy up, grab your CMU and head to the hockey rink
THA-THANG:
What 2403 means to me…

Dora style

  • 100 Burpees/farmer carry
  • 200 BBS/farmer carry
  • 300 Bent over Row/run
  • 400 Merkins/run
  • 500 Squats with CMU if possible
  • 400 Gas pumps/farmer carry
  • 300 Curls/run
  • 200 Over head press/run
  • 3 Burpees

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Welcom FNG Blowhole
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
On December 7, 1941 American’s on the east coast woke up to learn that the Japanese had lead an unprovoked attack on our country.  It was later learned that in the attack 2403 Americans were killed.  And our country went to war.

The attack caused thousands upon thousands of men to volunteer to go out and defend their country, states, cities, families and ways of life.  Gallantry was seen when these men laid down their lives to save each other during WWII.

In our society we lose sight of that, we live for ourselves, or maybe a few close to us like wives and kids.  We live to make money, buy a house, drive a fast car, or sometimes old car…  But rarely do we live for each other and even more rarely does someone make the sacrifice for another.

The men of WWII laid down their lives for their friends.  Time after time these men jumped on grenades, charged enemy entrenchments, and gave their lives so others could live.  They died for their friends.

That makes me think of F3 and the friends I have made here, but also of John 15:13 where Jesus says:

“Greater love has no on than this; to lay down one’s life for his friends”

Jesus died on the cross for His friends, which means because He died for our sins He knows all of us intimately.  Which means we are all His friends.

MOLESKIN:
If you didn’t get your reps in do them.  Not for me but for the 2403.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Ratchet’s in-laws who lost their home in the fire in CA.

Mayberry’s grandmother who is headed to hospice.  And his Dad and Aunt as they prep for that.

All our brothers who were missing in the gloom this morning.

Fabulous 40

THE SCENE: 50 and clear
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Mosey around the outhouse

Motivator

40 Merkins

40 Squats

40 BBS

THA-THANG:
Mosey back to the outhouse

40 Box jumps

40 Dips

Mosey to the Matterhorn

40 V-ups

40 CDDS

Mosey to the pav-a-lon

40 Pull ups

40 Floor wipers

Mosey back to the rock pile

40 curls

40 tri extensions

40 goblet squats

40 bent over row

MARY:
40 American hammers

40 mtn climbers

40 flutter kicks
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
As you can tell I turn 40 today which means I have had many years to do the things I wanted to do.  I haven’t got them all done, but I have been fortunate to do quite a few.  In the same sense my 90 year old grandmother is currently lying in a hospital and most likely going to hospice.  I do not think she got to do all the things she wanted to do.  I think she has led a good and happy life, but I think there was other things, other adventures, or other experiences that she wanted to do.  Let this be a reminder to all of you do not put off the things you want to do until later.  We are not guaranteed any definite time on this earth, so make the most of it.  Hug your wives and kids, but also get out there and live your life.

 

Also welcome Abscess Jr…. aka Sleepwalker.

Planksgiving Feast

THE SCENE: 32 degrees with starry skies
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Little Bit o’ This

Little Bit o’ That

Michael Phelps

5 burpees OYO

Smurf Jacks x 10 IC

Smurf Jacks at rapid cadence x 10 IC

Smurf Jacks at rapid cadence x 10 IC (again)
THA-THANG:
Mosey to the tennis courts to visit Crazy Aunt Sandy who likes to discuss politics at Thanksgiving lunch

Hold Al Gore for 10 ct. along base line, Bernie Sanders to opposite base line.

2 diamond merkins, Bernie Sanders back to original base line.

Rinse and repeat with 10, 20, 40, & 60 ct. Al Gore. Add 2 diamond merkins each time.

Break the PAX into three groups and head to the main course for Elevens at each of the following stations:

ABB-ETIZERS:

4ct LBCs at the bottom, single count Oblique Merkins at the top.

PLANKSGIVING LUNCH:

Round the Clock Merkins (12,3,6, &9 only) at the bottom, Carolina Dry Docks at the top

DESSERT KICK-ASS-EROLE:

Narrow squats at the bottom, goblet squats w/ CMU at the top

If you finish early, get a second helping of your favorite portion!

MARY:
Lean back in your recliner for 30 seconds. Change channels with right hand and then left hand.

Pickle Pounders x 15 IC

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

The following was paraphrased from this article:

“https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/14/dining/elliot-ackerman-thanksgiving.html”

Unlike most national holidays, Thanksgiving must be proclaimed each year by the President. George Washington made the first proclamation in 1789. He asked that Americans unite in thanks for “the peaceful and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government”.  Lincoln revived the tradition during the civil war when he asked Americans to give thanks “with one heart and one voice”.

President JFK wrote Proclamation 3560 which begins “Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and Massachusetts, far from home in a lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving”. He continues to indicate that they gave thanks for their safety, their fields, their children and “the love which bound them together”.

It is important to note that JFK wrote this to a divided nation. This was after the Bay of Pigs invasion, the first “military advisers” arriving in Vietnam, and only two months after the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, AL where the KKK murdered several African-American girls.

These transgressions largely parallel the atrocities that we see in the news today. Let’s try our best to step back from the trees and take a look around the forest. We have a democratic government that, despite its faults, ensures us incredible freedoms. We have running, potable water. A reliable power grid. Food to eat. A place to lay our head at nights that is warm and dry. There’s a lot to be thankful for, and we tend to overlook the most important ones.

It also worth nothing that Proclamation 3561 was written 19 days after JFK’s Thanksgiving proclamation. It was written by LBJ, denoting a day of mourning for JFK’s assassination. Take a break from your divisions today and be a strong leader, a good friend, and a warm light in a world that can often be dark and cold.

Tallest Tower Wins

THE SCENE:   Mid 30’s….cold!

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER


WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH x 20
  • Burpees x 10
  • OH Press x 10
  • This/that stretch
  • Cherry Pickers

THA-THANG:

  1. Split into 2 teams.  Each team had 4-5 CMUs, 4-5 pee rocks, a 70lb kettlebell and an 87lb steel gas can.  Mosey/ruck as a team to the paved hill by the restaurant carrying all of the team’s weight.  Once we reached the hill it was time to build some towers.  Each team had to climb the hill with all of their weight.  Once at the top they could drop 1 item of the team’s choosing and perform 3 burpees as a group.  Then take everything else back down the hill where the group performed 5 squats with whatever weight you were holding at the time.  Rinse & repeat until all weights have been left at the top of the hill.   Teams competed to stack the weight at the top of the hill into the tallest tower possible….tallest tower wins!  All in all it was a pretty good workout….each team made 11 trips up the hill carrying different amounts of weight.
  2. Mosey/ruck everything back to the AO.
  3. Suicide lottery for the remaining time.  There was a bucket filled with exercises.   PAX choose a ticket lottery style and we do the exercise on the suicide course.  The following were chosen:
    • Bear crawls
    • Nose Wipers x 5
    • CMU squats x 10

MARY:

  • 4 ct Flutter kicks holding CMU x 10
  • 4 ct Slutter kicks holding CMU x 10
  • Big Boys with CMU x 15
  • Peter Parker on the CMU

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
18 PAX:  Mayberry, Frosty, Sparky, Bowflex, Underhand, Zygote, Detention, Slide Rule, Flute Loop, Waxjob, Tank, Peach Fuzz, Booger, La-Z-Boy, Shooter, Smoker, Junk, Bartman

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Ecclesiastes 4:12 talks about a chord of 3 strands and that it is not easily broken.  This is often talked about in light of marriage, which is absolutely correct.  We need a chord of 3 strands (husband, wife, Christ) to have the strength to endure all life throws at us.   But I believe the “3 strand” analogy also applies to other facets of our lives.  Friendships, work relationships, mentoring relationships…I could go on and on.   The question is:  are you allowing Christ to be a part of all of your relationships?  Are you squeezing him out so that there are only 2 strands, or are you letting him in to provide the strength of the 3rd strand?

MOLESKIN:

  • Lots of travel this week…I hope everyone stays safe on the road and enjoys the Thanksgiving holiday!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Roll Your Own Beatdown

THE SCENE:

Insanely warm for min-November.  About 50 with a decent breeze.  Weird overnight conditions – no dew at all.  Will have to rely solely on perspiration for evidence of commitment to the beatdown.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
Standard welcome, 2 FNGs today!

WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Zero Burpees
  • SSH x30 IC
  • 2 Burpees OYO
  • TN rocking chairs x15 IC
  • 4 Burpees OYO
  • Forward Nose Wiper Merkins x10 IC
  • 6 Burpees OYO
  • Al Gore Tuck Jumps IC (I think we might have gotten 6
  • 8 Burpees OYO
  • Windmills x15 IC
  • 10 Burpees OYO
  • LBAC x15 each way IC

THA-THANG:
Blacksnake around the park, long way around to the playground, stopping halfway for 10 more burpees
At the playground: 1 and 1, 2 and 2, etc up to 5 and 5 of pull-ups and headstand pushups
Bernie up the hill and mosey to the soccer field. Partner up for a game of chance.

On a table are two dice, one white and one blue. White one specifies exercise, blue one specifies mode of transportation:
White

  • Squirkins x20 each
  • Pattycake BBS x35
  • Hi/Low 5 Burpees x15
  • Over/Unders x10 each
  • Partner Pistol Squat x15 each leg
  • Partner Leg Throwdowns x25 each

Blue

  • Wheelbarrow
  • Partner Drag
  • Partner Carry
  • AYG Sprint
  • Bear Crawl
  • Leap Frog

Roll both dice (doubles earns 5 burpees immediately – Only happened once), travel 30 yards as specified by Blue die, then do exercise specified by white. Return to the table, switching partner role for transport as necessary.  Plank etc. for the 6, R&R

Right before returning to the AO, we were at 45 burpees for the day (not counting the partner Hi/Low). Everyone crank out 5 more for the even 50, then mosey to the AO.

MARY:

  • Boat/Canoe (no rowing today.  Too hoarse to sing due to a cold last week…)
  • Hello Dolly x20 IC
  • Peter Parkers with Tank
  • Side Crunch x15 IC each side
  • Abbreviated Merkin Ring of Fire (Round of 5, then 4, no time for 3-2-1)

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
15 PAX strong, including 2 FNGs: Welcome to Steve Glenn – Mr. Clean (Respect) and Robert Alexander – Bratwurst
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Last week I had the privilege of chaperoning my daugher’s 7th grade class trip to Washington DC.  Friday morning before we left we were able to attend the changing of the guard and a wreath laying with taps at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It’s one of the most moving things you can witness there in Washington, and if you can watch that without misty eyes and a lump in your throat you’re a harder man than I.  We shouldn’t isolate our thankfulness and gratitude to God and these honored dead to two days a year.  In some countries, the gathering we participated in today could have ended in jail or worse for us.  Let’s try daily not to take what we have been blessed with for granted, and pray for those that are in worse situations.
MOLESKIN:
I hate that everyone wasn’t able to make the GrowRuck, but barring that I can’t think of a better way to spend the morning. I missed everyone this week while I was hacking up my lungs! Hope you men can avoid the crud going around. Big props to Peach Fuzz for rounding out the burpees with an extra effort! Great drive from everyone this morning.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
2.0 Workout this afternoon.