F3 Knoxville

Shamrock – Circle of Fun

THE SCENE: Crisp 52F
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Side Straddle Hops 20-4 count

Cherry Pickers: 5

Mountain Climbers 15-4 count 

Tie Fighters 10-4 count each way

LBCs – 25 OYO

Calf Raises in cadence 

Stretch it out 

THA-THANG:

Mosey to tall sidewalk and line up with 6’ apart

5 Tricep dips, flip over to 5 Merkin – repeat this until we hit 25 each 

Mosey to the pull up bars. 

Each man will try to get 20 total pull-ups in, break them up into 5s, 8s or 10s. 

If you are not on the bars you are holding a squat or plank. 

Mosey to tall sidewalk and line up with 6’ apart

5 Tricep dips, flip over to 5 Merkin – repeat this until we hit 25 each 

Circle of fun 

2 CMUs total for the circle of men. When you receive the CMU, do 5 blockies then pass on the fun. 

For those not having fun with blockies

  • Flutter kicks
  • Twinkle Toes
  • Merkins
  • LBCs
  • Squats

Then we mosey from 06:05-06:13 

MARY:

10 Snow Angels, Super man, swimmers, 25 – 4 count American Hammers

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Dumpster Dive, Honeydew, Mermaid, Waxjob, Pickle Lock, Sparkles, Ribbed, Jenner, Anchorman,
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

I’m pretty sure we have read this verse many times at F3, but it’s one of those that I need to read often. 

Matthew 6:31-34

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[e] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

I’m sure none of us here are guilty of worrying. Our jobs, families, friends, health, money. The Bible tells us over and over that God’s got us.

To be honest, things are not going so well at my work. I’m very busy right now, but overall as a company we have about half of our normal cash flow right now and we really need things to pick back up by early next year or we will all be looking for new jobs. That’s at least 3-4 months out, but it pops into my head about every hour of the day. I start trying to figure out how to fix my situation. Yesterday I was driving to work and running the numbers in my head again, then I just stopped and realized what I was doing and just simply prayed that I would not try to fix this, that I would let God be in charge. 

 

Shamrock – Rejoice and Mourn

THE SCENE: 68F muggy
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

Side Straddle Hops 20-4 count

5 Merkins

Cherry Pickers: 5

5 Merkins

Tie Fighters

5 Merkins

50 Calf Raises 

5 Merkins

THA-THANG:

Mosey to River rocks

Grab 2 small rocks

Tabata 30 seconds on / 10 second break

  • Butterflies 
  • Flutter kicks 

– Three rounds each

  • Rocky Arm Circles
  • LBCs
  • Three rounds each

Mosey to CMU

More Tabata 30 seconds on / 10 second break

*Curls

*Windshield wipers

  • Three rounds each

*Bench Press

*Rocky Balboa

– Three rounds each

  • Alternating CMU Merkins
  • scissor kicks

– Three rounds each

Return CMUs and head to the ditch

Run down one side up the other, mosey to the start and do it again. We did this 5 times. 

Mosey back to AO flag

MARY:
Calf raises

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
Mermaid, Curveball, Dumpster Dive, Trolley, Pickle Lock, Fabio, Titan, Sparkles, Tailhook, Anchorman,
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Romans 12:15

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

I was reading this chapter last week and I really like this short and simple verse. It’s so to the point about how to walk life with people around us. 

If we can set our own selfishness aside for a few minutes each day we could jump in to mourn with those who mourn. 

I think of my daughter who gets pretty emotional about “little things”, but those little things really matter to her and I should mourn with her and listen to why she’s upset. It makes a big difference if she knows that I care. 

When a friend or co-worker receives good news or accomplishes something, we should jump right in for a  high five or send a text to rejoice with them. 

It’s so simple and it can make a huge impact on those around us. 

 

Q101 + GrowSchool

F3 Q101 + GrowSchool

  • 9.25.21
  • 0700-0900
  • AO: Asylum

[ The Scene ]

Dark. Chilly. Foggy. The creaks and moans of men arriving are accompanied by the wake up calls of Creation.

[ Welcome/Disclaimer ]

  • Welcome to F3: Fitness-Fellowship-Faith
  • My name is Steam and I am honored to be your Q this morning
  • This will be a Q101 + GrowSchool:
    • Q101:
      • For the next 60 minutes, we will be doing a Q101 — walking through how to lead an F3 workout with tips and tricks along the way. If you haven’t led an F3 workout yet — you have what it takes to lead. This will be a great learning experience and catalyst for your leadership.

      • For those of you that have led an F3 workout, this is not a time to coast, but a time to work and sharpen your skills.
    • GrowSchool: An intentional time of leadership development in the form of an extended BOM after the Q101.

5 Principles of an F3 Workout:

  • Be free of charge
  • Be open to all men
  • Be held outdoors, rain or shine, heat or cold
  • Be led by men who participate in the workout in a rotating fashion, with no training or certification necessary
  • End with a Circle of Trust

Many of these seem self-explanatory but can get lost in the moment:

  • Start on time. Wear a watch. End on time.
  • Be prepared for your lead to be more strenuous physically than you think.  Counting cadence while you exercise can make it harder to breathe.
  • Remember you have help. If for any reason you want someone to grab a part of the workout even while you are out there, speak up.
  • When you screw up or fail, keep calm and drive on… count louder and push forward. As Dredd says, “When falling, dive!”
  • Every man thrashed, no man left behind. To promote “you versus you” but also to keep the PAX together, offer extra credit to the frontrunners via burpees, planks, merkins, etc.
  • Don’t take unnecessary risks or do stupid stuff. The Pax is looking for leadership and will follow often before thinking if they’re getting a great workout.
  • If your region has the Q do the shoutout, think of CoT words in advance.
  • HAVE FUN. F3 groups are always supportive of new Qs. We love to see new people stepping up.

Disclaimer and Notice — From f3nation.com

“F3 Nation, Inc. (“F3”) is a peer-led, zero-cost non-profit workout group. F3 makes no representations with regard to the skill level of workout leaders, the safety of the exercises performed during workouts or the hazardousness of the premises upon which workouts are conducted. The men who lead F3 workouts are not paid to do so and no representations of any kind are made by F3 about their skill level. The premises upon which F3 workouts are conducted are not owned or maintained by F3. F3 makes no representations of any kind regarding their safety. Although F3 workouts vary widely in intensity, all F3 workouts tend to be rigorous and are undertaken upon uneven ground during periods of limited visibility. Therefore, there are certain dangers inherent in participating in an F3 workout. Participants must be 18 or older and are assumed to have made their own reasonable decision as to whether they should so participate. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a father or male legal guardian. F3 disclaims any and all responsibility for any individual’s decision to participate in an F3 workout. By participating in an F3 workout, an individual assumes the risks inherent in doing so. This Disclaimer and Notice is made by F3 on its own behalf and on the behalf and for the benefit of any person leading an F3 workout and/or otherwise acting for the benefit of F3.”

  • Another and way easier of saying this is:
    • Welcome to F3: Fitness – Fellowship – Faith
    • My name is Steam and I’ll be your Q this morning
    • Few things before we begin:
      • I’m not a professional
      • You’re here on your own volition
      • You know your body better than anyone, so if you need to modify anything we do this morning, feel free to do so, but push yourself and the men around you — they deserve it and so do you.
  • FNGs? — always check for FNGs. This helps with identifying them to the PAX so they can help them throughout the Q.

[ Warm o Rama ]

Think of muscles like taffy… when cold, snapping happens easier. When warm, nice and smooth.

This is probably the trickiest part for new Qs. Calling Cadence in the F3 style serves a number of purposes:

  • Creates rhythm which distracts the mind from the task at hand
  • Builds teamwork by synchronizing PAX and creating focus
  • Not knowing the number of reps discourages budgeting of effort; you get used to going as long as you have to
  • Cadence
    • “The next exercise is…” [pause] “Side Straddle Hop!” (or name of other exercise)
    • “Starting Position…” [pause] “Move!”
    • “In Cadence…” [pause] “Exercise!” (begin count 1..2..3)
  • There is not a magic # to hit for how many reps you should do. You’re the Q, you choose the # of reps. But be strategic in this effort as well (i.e. not leading 300 squats right out of the gates)
    • SSH: 25×4 IC
    • Rockette: 20×4 IC
    • Squat: 15×4 IC
    • Baby Arm Circles: 10×4 IC (B and F)
    • Merkins: 5×4 IC

For how to lead a cadence — see here: https://youtu.be/xRTitxnE-mI

[ The Thang ]

KISS = Keep It Simple Superstar

If you’re a planner, “schedule” more exercises than there is workout time. Time will pass faster than usual, most likely.

Usually you’ll want something that’s a time-eater after a warm-up, search for “routine” in the exercise DB and remember the “pearls on a string” concept. You stop, do something, run to another place, so something else.

(1) 4 Corners

  • 2 Points of contact
    • Parking Lot Corners (4)
    • Pavilion
  • Parking Lot Corners: 10 squats
  • Pavilion: 10 incline merkins
  • Run down to the pavilion, do our 10 incline merkins, and come back up here to 1 of the corners and execute our 10 squats. We will rinse and repeat that process until we hit all 4 corners up here.
  • Recover up here in the parking lot after you finish your 4th corner — merkin plank

(20 seconds and talk)

(Mosey to Cardiac Hill)

(2) SlingShot

  • Battle buddy up
  • 3 points of contact
    • Top
    • 1st curve
    • Bottom (light post)
  • The exercises for cardiac hill is the big boy sit-up + mountain climber
  • One battle buddy will run from the top to the 1st curve — execute 10 big boy sit-ups while battle buddy #2 is at the top executing mountain climbers.
  • Once battle buddy #1 is is done with his 10 BBS at the 1st curve, he will come back to the top and now both battle buddies are running to the 1st curve.
  • This time, the BB that was doing the mountain climbers the first time will run from the 1st curve to the bottom and execute 10 BBS, while the other BB stays at the 1st curve and executes mountain climbers.
  • Once his BBS are complete, he will come back to the 1st curve and BOTH BB will run to the bottom and execute 10 BBS and 10 mountain climbers on a 4 count together.
  • Both BB are going down cardiac, but taking turns being the slingshot

(20 count and talk) — Pause for the Cause

  • Huge learning experience with this
  • The failure or success of an F3 workout is ultimately on the Q and his communication and leadership.
  • Halfway through the “Slingshot” workout, it became clear that there was a miscommunication between the Q and the PAX.
  • This is on the Q. Let me say this again — this is on the Q.
  • The Q circled everyone back together and restated the instructions of the workout and the PAX completed the workout all together until the end.
  • After a 20-count, the Q went through the above bullet points with the PAX — learning experience.

[ Mary ]

Post-beatdown, usually some core Xs or cool down, depending on the Q

Core 4

  • Flutter Kicks: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • LBCs: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • American Hammers: 25

Run across the lot and back

  • Cockroach: 25

Run across the lot and back

Stretching with Steam

  • Q led the PAX in light stretches to end the Mary portions before the COT.

Takeaway from the Q101:

HAVE FUN. F3 groups are always supportive of new Qs. We love to see new people stepping up.

[ COT ]

  • # off — start and finish with the same # of guys 
  • Name o Rama
    • Hospital name, age, F3 name
    • 50 = Respect
    • 60 = Double Respect
    • 70 = Triple Respect
    • 80+ = basically immortal
  • FNGs — none
  • BOM (GrowSchool)

The BOM is a time for the Q to share something that’s on his heart with the men. An encouraging quote, a motivational story, something from the Bible, as long as it is something positive, encouraging, and challenging to the growth of the PAX, that’ll do.

The Q shared a few points from the GrowSchool portion at the COT, and then the PAX converged to Coffeteria at Panera to continue.

Q Source: The F3 Manual of Virtuous Leadership

Foundation: Disruption

Socratic Qs // TPQs

  • What do leaders do?
  • What effect does leadership have on the status quo?
  • Is there a common characteristic shared by leaders who leave a legacy?

Disruption = a disturbance to the status quo

The connection between movement and leadership is critical because it presupposes a need for action, a recognition by the leader himself that that status quo is something less advantageous than some other place — a location the leader visualizes and then articulates to his followers.

Because it induces movement, leadership causes disruption, or a disturbance to the status quo.

If a man calls himself a leader but does not cause disruption by initiating movement, then he is not practicing leadership.

Like the agitator in a washing machine, leadership dislodges things long embedded in people’s emotional fabric.

A Leader is a person who influences movement to advantage.

A great leader’s legacy is built on love, because a great leader’s focus is always upon his followers rather than himself.

He views leadership as a craft that must be honed through continual study and application

It is their (the followers) advantage, not his (the leader’s) to which he initiated movement.

Takeaways

  • Leaders influence movement to advantage
  • Because it induces movement, leadership causes disruption
  • A great leader’s legacy is built on love

For everything about your first Q — check this out: https://f3nation.com/q101/

 

Sham-Rocks (CMUs) and Sham-logs

THE SCENE: The Shamrock, perfect weather. Good humidity to get the sweat going
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

warmup stuff
THA-THANG:

Divide up into teams of 3.

One team member  carries a big  log, smaller log, heavy CMU or a regular CMU to cone. Switching carriers at each cone. Teammates not carrying the item run ahead to the next cone and do the exercise associated with each item.

  • Big log- burpees
  • Smaller log- squat jumps
  • Heavy CMU- Merkins
  • Regular CMU- lunges

once you reach the end, go back the way you came.

depending on time I’m probably going to make stuff up after this. But it won’t be easy.(update: no time for anything but a cone clean up run)

MARY:
You know the drill. Stuff that makes your beer belly hurt.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

12 including one FNG “Utah” (FBI agent)

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
What does Endure mean? What does Enduring mean? What is Hardship Hill and Operation Enduring Warrior? We answered those questions and more this morning.
MOLESKIN:

Apparently the workout is sneaky. It starts off a little slow but gets you in the boo boo by the end……unless you started with the big log and burpees.

Did you know that Boo Boo is also Yogi Bear’s side kick? He is a forever-loyal buddy, always willing to join in Yogi Bear’s exploits and schemes to pilfer the next basket of treats from unsuspecting Jellystone Park visitors. Most importantly, Boo Boo serves as Yogi Bear’s conscience, constantly reminding him of the danger or consequences of their actions.

Yogi Bear is a loyal older brother figure to Boo Boo and accepts him unconditionally, regardless of how much Boo Boo complains or worries. “The Ranger isn’t going to like this, Yogi” is one of his trademark expressions. Boo Boo’s loyalty and concern for authority – and being the cute “straight man” to Yogi Bear the comedian – is what makes him so endearing.

boo boo is also what some parents call an injury to their children. “Did you get a Boo Boo on your knee Billy? No mom, my leg was torn off at the knee by that mountain lion over there. I don’t think that qualifies as a boo boo…but thanks for noticing mom.

boo boo. It’s also what a stuttering ghost says.
Well enough about boo boo, let’s talk about you. How have you been?

hello?….so you’re not going to say anything? Fine then. Don’t say I didn’t try.
I’ll give you another chance. Would you like to join the “I read Tank’s BB club? It’s very exclusive. Today, all you need to do is put a gorilla emoji, no comment just an emoji on the slack post. And just like that you are in.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
HHOCR and Wesley House workouts

Planting Shade Trees

THE SCENE: 68 but pretty humid…it was great!
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:

  • Reach for the stars
  • Let it hang
  • Cherry Pickers (IC) 4 CT X 10
  • Baby Arm Circles Forward (IC) 4CT X 10 & Michael Phelps
  • Baby Arm Circles Backward (IC) 4CT X 10 & Michael Phelps
  • Tempo Squats (IC) 4 CT X 10
  • Tempo Merkins (IC) 4ct X 10
  • Mosey

THA-THANG:

DORAs – one works, one runs

  • Diamond Merkins X 100
  • Big Boy Situps X 100
  • Bobby Hurleys (aka Chris Loftons) X 100
  • Carolina Dry Docks X 150
  • American Hammers X 150
  • Lunges X 150
  • Merkins X 200
  • Hello Dollies X 200
  • Squats X 200
  • Calf Raises (Toe Merkins) X 250
  • Flutterkicks X 250
  • Wide Merkins X 250

MARY:

Part of the Q

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA

!8 men w/ 1 big dog; Titan joined us as well

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:

Dennis Swanberg, The Swan as he is known across the country is a former preacher turned Christian comedian and motivational speaker.  He spoke to us and some donors at KARM not long ago.  He weaved in humor and scripture seamlessly.  He was truly amazing.

He spoke about his immigrant great-grandparents who had to make their way in this vast, new land called America by the sweat of their brow.  And, considering that they settled in Texas, they sweat A LOT.

One day, when his great-grandfather was still a very young man, a neighboring farmer saw him out in front of the family home, meticulously burying dozens of acorns.  The farmer approached the grandfather, laughing, and asked, “what in the WORLD are you doing?”

“I’m planting shade trees,” the grandfather quietly replied as he continued dropping seeds into the warm soil.

“Shade trees?” the farmer exclaimed, “Don’t you know it will take YEARS before these things are big enough to provide any shade? You’ll be long gone before then!” he stated smugly.  The grandfather continued planting–determined.

“I’m not planting them for me,” he said patiently, “I’m planting them for my grandchildren.”

The lesson was about how his grandfather planted shade trees for his property that he never got to sit under. Swan’s father and future generations got to get blessings from those shade trees.

Donors of KARM are planting shade trees for poor, homeless, addicted, mentally challenged.

Judge Judy is planting shade trees mentoring that kid whose father is in jail.  Others are volunteering at the Wesley House planting shade trees.

Volunteer soccer, baseball and softball coaches are planting shade trees by teaching the game, character, teamwork.

Preachers, Sunday School Teachers, youth sponsors all planted shade trees over us in hopes that someday we’d figure it out and live out what they taught us.

The best shade trees you’ll ever plant…Are the ones you’ll never sit under!
None of us are self-made. We’re all sitting under “shade trees” that were planted by our forefathers, by our families, and by our friends. Now, it’s your turn to leave a meaningful legacy by planting your own shade trees for others to sit under.

Not everyone can be a legend, but everyone can leave a legacy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Sign Up To Q/VQ
  • Saturday is Off The Chain CSAUP at the Dog Pound
  • Get ready for the Iron Pax Challenge