F3 Knoxville

A few rounds in the octagon

THE SCENE: 48* and clear, perfect weather
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

High knees IC
BAC forward and reverse IC
Imperial squat walker IC
SSH IC
THA-THANG: Mosey out of the start point and towards L&N, opposite direction of the usual mosey.  Train horn gives the Q a good panic, as the route crosses the railroad tracks where cones and routine are set up.  Fortunately its just two engines which clear the tracks quickly and we continue our mosey into the Preacher lot.  Eight cones set up in a circle/octagon.  Exercises are mostly still on the cones, as follows:

  • Reverse flyes with rocks
  • Wide merkins
  • Squat jumps
  • American hammers on 4 count
  • Lion kings with CMU’s
  • Lunges on 2 count
  • 8 count bodybuilders
  • Heels to heaven

PAX split up to have groups of 2-3 at each cone.  16 reps of each exercise, then bear crawl to next cone moving in clockwise direction.  Once you arrive back at your original cone/exercise, run to the center of the octagon and plank it up (plank variations until all finish).  Q asks for someone to step into the middle and give one of their biggest fears.  Sneaky Pete steps up, and his fear is being misunderstood.  ALR.

Go back to original cone.  Repeat routine, this time only performing 8 reps of each exercise, and instead of bear crawling to next cone, run a lap around the octagon.  Again, plank in the middle when finished with routine and wait for the rest to finish.  Duggar steps up and admits one of his biggest fears is failure.  Which just happens to be QIC’s biggest fears, and would have been admitted at the end.  ALR. PAX grab cones and CMUs and begin mosey back to SP (dropping 4 CMUs just across the tracks for retrieval later).

Once back at SP, Q asks one more to tell a fear.  The Voice steps up and states letting someone down is his fear.  A.L.R.  Mary begins.

MARY:
Edward scissorlegs x25 on 4 count.
5 sec rest
Edward scissorlegs x25 on 4 count (someone said take them to 100, so we did)
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
18 PAX Strong: Reverb, Swanson, Sneaky Pete, Petey, Operation, Filter, Sipad, Duggar, Midas, The Voice, Cowbell, Cheesesteak, Jenner, Crawdad, Passport, Careless, Scope, Abort
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
Fear.  We all have fears, and we have to deal with fear every day.  Fear isn’t necessarily bad, as fears of things have helped keep us alive up to this point in our lives.  However, constantly giving into fears makes us cowards.  Constantly ignoring fears would make us insane.  The key is to listen to our fears and decide whether to give into them or stand up and turn that fear or hardship into grace.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mend House workout on Monday at 6.  Try to show up and support these men as they hopefully launch their own AO into F3.

4 Corners

THE SCENE: Cool, Crisp morning
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Cherry Pickers IC x 10

Baby Arm Circles IC x 15 each way

SSH IC x 20

Merkins IC x 10
THA-THANG:

  • Mosey the long way around the lake to the ampitheater
  • 7s – Step Up’s at the stage / pull-up’s at top.
  • Hold Al Gore until all are finished
  • Recover with a 10 count
  • Mosey to rock pile and pick a rock
  • Walk with rock over head to the yard area
  • 4 corners of the yard:
    • Corner #1:  Curls with rock x 20 then run with rock to Corner #2
    • Corner #2:  Squats with rock x 20 then run with rock to Corner #3
    • Corner #3:  Merkins so that chest touches rock x 20 then run with rock to Corner #4
    • Corner #4:  Flutter Kicks with rock over head.
    • Repeat all corners for a second trip around.
  • Mosey back to rock pile to deposit rocks
  • Lunge’s from rock pile to the entrance of the Veterans Memorial
  • Spend 1 minute of quick reflection on one name on the memorial
  • Amazon read aloud a quote from the memorial about remembering the past to not repeat it
  • Mosey back to AO
  • Hello Dolly’s IC x 20
  • Shoulder taps IC x 30 in honor of Soot
  • Merkins IC x 10
  • American Hammers IC x 10

MARY:
Insert information about any additional post-THANG work (if applicable).
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:
Romans 12:9-10  “Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honor.”  As we competed at the F3 Olympics we are trying to outdo each other in various competitions.  In life let’s try to outdo each other in showing honor to others.  As Veteran day is approaching, outdo each other in showing honor to those who have served, still serving, and the families of those who gave their lives for our freedoms.
MOLESKIN:
Insert any personal comments, notes, devotion content, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Insert information about upcoming events, 2nd or 3rd F opportunities, and any other announcements.

Spiritually Strong

THE SCENE: Cloudy and cool, temps in low 50’s.
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

20 Side Straddle Hops, 10 Burpees, Plank Stretches, Cherry Pickers, Little of This and That
THA-THANG:
Mosey to parking lot directly across the street from Northern Ball Fields parking lot.  We will break into four groups, one in each corner of the parking lot.  We will perform each exercise listed, first doing 20 of each exercise, then follow directions to go to next corner of the parking lot.  We will rinse and repeat after going around the parking lot once.  Here are the exercises for each corner:

  • Corner 1:  20 Star Jumps.  Bernie Sanders to Corner 2.
  • Corner 2:  20 Diamond Merkins.  Bear Crawl to Corner 3.
  • Corner 3:  20 Plank Jumps.  Sprint to Corner 4.
  • Corner 4:  20 Big Boy Sit-ups.  Lunge to Corner 1.

Mosey to Alleyway that goes to northeast corner of the Admin Bldg.

We will break into teams of two and do Doras.  One teammate does exercise while the other runs to end of parking lot, does ten merkins and runs back.  Each team will do 100 of each of the following exercises with bricks that will be placed by a curb along the alleyway.

  • Overhead presses
  • Curls
  • Rows (with bricks at sides)
  • Tricepts
  • Wings forward
  • Wings up
  • Wings down
  • Wings in

Mosey to roadway in front of admin bldg.  Cones will be set up for suicide runs. We will do suicides to each of five cones laid out ahead.  Afterwards do Baby Crunches until all men finish.  Do suicides again but this time do 15 Squats after returning to start from each cone.  Get bricks that were set up for Doras.

Mosey back to AO to drop off bricks. 

Mosey to Playground.  We will do five sets of Bench Jumps with 20 second rests in between.

Mosey to AO.

MARY:
20 Hello Dollies, 20 American Hammers, 20 Pickle Pounders, ATM’s.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Fourteen men with one FNG, his hospital name is Roman Marshall and his F3 name is “Fozzie.”
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Psalm 46: 1.  God is our refuge and strength, our very present help in time of need.

Our F3 workouts increase our physical strength and stamina.  But in F3 we also focus on spiritual strength.  In fact, it is the Fellowship and Faith parts of F3 that give credence to the importance of increasing our spiritual strength.

Looking into the subject of “spiritual strength” I found some good advice in an article from a website called PowerofPositivity.com.  It listed seven exercises for spiritual strength.  I am listing these below, making my own comments about them, and adding one more exercise at the end of the list.

1.  Spend more time with loving/encouraging family and friends.  I agree that being with family and friends is  important but I also want to put emphasis on the word “encouraging.”  We need to surround ourselves with those who encourage us.  We get enough pessimism from watching the news and listening to people complain, gossip or argue.  We need to get near the type of people who are going to push us forwards, not backwards.  One of the things I love about F3 is being surrounded by men who encourage me to get better.

2.  Go outside as much as possible.  I like this one.  What do we do in F3?   We get outside to workout, whether rain or shine, no matter what the temperature is.  There is something about being outdoors that makes us healthier.  We connect to nature, to God’s creation.  We are in His space, free yet a part of Him.

3.  Reduce distractions (TV, Radio, Internet, Newspaper).  I agree that we tend to spend too much time absorbed with media.  In my church, on youth group trips such as church camps, we have required that students give us their cell phones for the time spent on the trip.  They get them back on the bus ride back home.  We ourselves only use our cell phones for emergency purposes on these trips.  We have found the students (and us adults) are less distracted, more connected to one another and God, and happier when we implement this policy.  We are more free to think about truly important things and to use our minds to imagine and create.

4.  Observe your thoughts about the people around you.  The website article talked about putting away judgemental thoughts and trying to have positive thoughts about others you know or encounter.  Focusing on gossip and judgement does not serve others.  I would rename this 4th exercise “praying for the people around you”.  It is amazing what happens if you start praying about your coworkers, your neighbors, even strangers you happen to meet.  You don’t have to tell them your praying.  Just do it.  You will find yourself having a better connection to those you pray for and even find your prayers coming true.

5.  Step out in faith.  This means getting bold in your faith, being willing to take on challenges and even threats from others in your faith.  You may get sneered at or criticized but push on in the face of adversity.  The website arrticle has some words that I think are powerful in regards to this exercise:  “There may be forces that have an investment in keeping you from receiving your best life, but when you decide to stand up or speak out, knowing that your faith is bigger than your fear, the illusion of fear that’s trying to hold you down will diminish and eventually disappear.”  The other words from the website I want to quote are “Know that the Divine has got your back.”

6.  Be of service to others.  Is a true HIM one that is focused on serving himself.  No, a true HIM is focused on serving others.  Do we grow spiritually strong by focusing on ourselves?  No.  We grow spiritually strong by serving others.

7.  Make prayer/meditation a habit.  Our awesome PAX leader, Cap’n Crunch, talks about making the HC, the Hard Commit to show up in the gloom for workouts in order to make ourselves better as men.  In the same way, to be spiritually strong, to get truly closer to God, to the Higher Power, to the Divine, we need to make the Hard Commit to pray.  It is through this commitment to communicate with God that we make it a habit.  And it is though this habit, this connection to God each day and at least several times a day, that we grow in spiritual strength.  And when you do it, don’t only listen to what you have to say to God. . . listen to what God has to say to you.

8.  Be grateful.  This is not an exercise that was listed in the website article but one that I have added.  We need to recognize, to truly see, and be grateful for what God has given us.  The people that I know who are spiritually strong have this strength of being grateful.  That gratefulness can get people through some mighty tough times.  Gratefulness keeps us positive, gives us hope, helps us focus on the road ahead, and leads us to glorify God.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
F3 Olympics next Saturday at Asylum.  Register online or get to Asylum at 6:30 am to register.  November 17 is launch for Cleveland, TN AO.  Let Abscess know if you can go with us to the launch.

Monday = Tabatas, Bear Crawls and Burpees

THE SCENE
34 and Clear

Welcome & Disclaimer

 

THE THANG
COP
SSH x30 (IC)
Tempo Squats x15 (IC)
Tempo Merkins x15 (IC)

Line up on curb
Run to far curb, stop half way and do 3 burpees, run back
4ct Diagonal Lunges x14(IC)
Run to far curb, stop half way and do 3 burpees, run back
Dive Bombers x15 (IC)
BAC Fwd x12 (IC)
BAC Bkwd x12 (IC)
Run to far curb, stop half way and do 3 burpees, run back

 

Tabata Terror
Divide up into 4 stations.  At each station, complete the exercise listed using at Tabata format (8 rounds, 20 seconds on 10 seconds off).  After eight rounds rotate counter-clockwise all the way around the parking lot and to the next station.

Exercises:

  • Station 1: Merkins
  • Station 2: Froggy Squats
  • Station 3: Dry Docks
  • Station 4: Tuck Jumps

 

Bearway to Heaven
Bear crawl suicides in the parking lot with burpees in the middle of each suicide.

Bear crawl to first line perform 7 burpees, bear crawl back.  Bear crawl to second line, 6 burpees, bear crawl back.  Continue until you get to 7th line, perform 1 burpee and bear crawl back to start.

 

MARY
American Hammers – x20 (IC)
4ct Flutter Kicks x20 (IC)

 

COT
Number off and Name-O-Rama – 27 PAX

 

BOM
“Never mind likes and dislikes; they are of no consequence.
Just do what must be done. This may not be happiness, but it is greatness.”

– George Bernard Shaw

I’m convinced that our culture’s relentless pursuit of comfort and convenience has robbed us of any sense of significance and meaning.  A life lived for self eventually implodes, leaving men empty and filled with regret.  We are not created for comfort, we are created for purpose and impact.  The pursuit of comfort and convenience breeds complacency.  The pursuit of purpose and impact fuels greatness.  We were made for greatness.

The thing is, we’ve confused greatness with success.  Martin Luther King Jr revealed the secret to greatness, “Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.”  It’s not what we get, it’s what we give.

Every day we wake to multiple opportunities to serve, opportunities for greatness.  Keep your eyes and hearts open brothers.  When you see the opportunity…seize it!  If it’s hard, embrace it!  The world is waiting for men of integrity and courage to assume their roles and lead.  You don’t need permission, you have already been commissioned.

 

Submitted by Cap’n Crunch

Leg day at the ball

THE SCENE: 73 or so (I think) and not too muggy
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Tempo squat x10 IC
Tempo merkin x10 IC
Michael Phelps
SSH x21 IC
THA-THANG:
Take a hot lap around the WFP infield.  Upon getting back to the fountains, line up along the edge of the sidewalk.  Lt. Dan (4 lunges, 2 squats) to the cones about halfway across the infield.  Hold Al Gore waiting for everyone else to make it to the cones.  Then all PAX Devin Hester to the far side of the infield and then jail break all the way across.  Recover and 10 count.

Mosey out of the fountains and toward the lots where we park, across the railroad tracks, and to Preacher’s parking lot (at The International).  Five cones set up, routine is the reverse suicide ladder.  PAX line up across the parking lot, run to the furthest cone and perform exercise at the cone.  Run back to the start line.  Run to the furthest cone, again performing exercise and pick up the exercise at the next cone, then return to the starting line.  PAX continue routine, picking up one more exercise set each iteration until they’ve done all five exercises on the way back.  Exercises as follows:

  • Hand release merkins x10
  • Jump squats x10
  • Burpees x10
  • Air squats x20
  • SSH x30

Jack rabbits perform Mary and then instructed to start the regular suicide ladder (going to first cone, perform exercise, run back.  Then pick up an exercise each time going a cone further, but performing half the number of reps at each cone).  Once the six has completed the routine, recover and 10 count.

Mosey back to the fountains and find a bench.

  • Left leg step ups x15
  • Right leg step ups x15
  • Calf raises x15 (on the ground)

Rinse and repeat through again.

MARY:
Flutter kicks x25 IC
Hello Dolly x25 IC
Pickle pounders x20 IC
Boat/canoe and variations (flutter canoes, OH clap canoes) until PAX hates me
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
18 STRONG: Red Writer, G6, Amazon, Passport, Filter, The Voice, Frank, Duggar (Lexington Duggar), Half Caff, Swanson, Wilson, Steam, Petey, Sneaky Pete, Quarantine, Singlet, Purple Rain (FNG), Abort
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
If you believe in Santa Clause for 8 years of your life, you can believe in yourself for 45 minutes.  Or longer.  We’ve all been new guys and we’ve all had to grind through things we didn’t think we could.  Believe in yourselves and see what you can accomplish.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AO challenge workout of the month is the HR merkin.  F3 anniversary party and F3 Olympics will be November 3-4.  Big Ball needs Q’s to sign up for next week, encourage all to sign up and ask for Co-Q if they haven’t led before.