THE SCENE: Cool. low 40s, cloudy
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER Check
WARM-O-RAMA:
-20 Side Straddle Hops (4-ct), IC
– 10 Cherry Pickers (4-ct), IC
– 10 Windmills (4-ct), IC
– 20 Tempo Squats (4-ct) IC
– 10 Rockettes (4-ct) IC
THA-THANG:
MOSEY to pavilion by northern ballfields:
- AIKEN LEGS! 20 Squats, 20 Box Jumps, 20 Lunges (10 each leg), 20 Split Jacks (10 each leg forward)
MOSEY to Big loop parking lot south of ballfields:
- Catch Me If You Can!
- Partner #1 Bernie Sanders, Partner #2 does 5 of the exercise then sprints to catch Partner #1. When he does, they reverse rolls. We will run around the parking lot 4 times doing the following exercises:
- 5 American Hammers (2-ct)
- 5 Burpees
- 5 Gas pumps
- 5 Bobby Hurleys
MOSEY to where the path intersects the perimeter trail.
- 20 American Hammers 4-ct, IC
MOSEY to base of Cardiac:
- Cardiac 25’s:
- Run to first turn and back. At bottom do 5/20, 10/15, 15/10, 20/5 of:
- Mountain climber (2-ct) and LBCs
- Run to first turn and back. At bottom do 5/20, 10/15, 15/10, 20/5 of:
MOSEY to top of the hill by benches.
-
- 20 American Hammers 4-ct, IC
MOSEY to parking lot across from AO
- Need to get warmed up for Valentine’s day, so… BUCK 25’s!
- Start at the X. Karaoke to curb to the left. 10 Pickle Pounders/10 Pickle Pointers
- Run back to X, Karaoke to right curb. 10 Pickle Pounders/10 Pickle Pointers
- Run back to X, Bernie Sanders backwards to the curb. 5 Pickle Pounders/5 Pickle Pointers
- Sprint forward to far curb. 100 Side Straddle Hops (single count). Yell out victoriously and with passion: “BUCK 25!!”
MARY:
1.5 minutes of heart-shaped leg lifts.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
14 strong
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
The Man in the Middle
During the last workout, Lillydipper and Steam were co-Qs, and gave their perspectives of F3 coming from a guy in his 20s, who was just starting out on his post-college life and correcting the course a little bit from some challenging times, and a guy in his 60s who has found renewed vigor in the workouts and benefits of male companionship. So I thought I’d add to that and share a bit about what F3 has meant to me, a guy of 47 years, whose age is about in the middle of those two HIMs.
My first F3 workout was in late January, 2018, but F3 for me actually started January 1, 2017. I’m not big into New Year’s resolutions, but I always start the New Year off with prayer and meditation about what I would like to get better at or improve in my life in the coming year. That year, I identified two things that were of importance to me: 1) achieve a higher level of physical fitness, and 2) develop a closer and more meaningful relationship with God.
I felt #1 was necessary because I was at that age when some of your physical abilities start to wane. Hey, it happens. The sports that had always provided me with such joy and pride, as well as being an outlet for my competitive nature and keeping me fit, were becoming more and more frustrating for me, and injuries were becoming more common; thus, I stopped participating in them as much as I used to. Consequently, my fitness and strength started to diminish. I freaking HATE running (unless it’s up and down a basketball court, soccer field, etc.), and although I went to the gym somewhat regularly, I no longer had that avenue for fitness that playing sports 4-5 days a week had provided.
#2 was important to me because I just felt that I didn’t have as intimate a relationship with God as I would like. I had grown up in a wonderful church, and I enjoyed attending either my home church or my brother’s church up in Chicago when I visited, but I hadn’t landed in a church here. I had visited or checked out a few with friends who had invited me to service at their places of worship, but none of them felt like the right match. As a single guy, and a bit of an introvert, I found it awkward to seek out more options on my own, so I had sensed my bond with God becoming a little weaker than I would like, and I resolved to actively seek out ways to strengthen that bond.
Later that same year, I met Lillydipper at a party hosted by a mutual friend. We started talking, found we had many shared interests, and we struck up a friendship. He invited me to the Polar Bear Plunge Jan 1, 2018. There I met Abscess and Jinxy. They gave me the ol’ EH, and after making excuses a few times, I finally showed up to F3 a few weeks later. I thought I was going to be a one and done. I hated it. I was embarrassed by how slow I was (I was frantically searching for escape routes shortly after just doing the WARMUP left me breathless), the lactic acid or something made me nauseous for days (I remember the guys went out for a beer and some food afterwards… I could barely walk into the restaurant, let alone summon the strength to do more than sip pitifully on my water bottle), it was miserable, dark, and cold during the workout, I hardly knew any of the guys… I clearly remember thinking, just get through this stupid thing without throwing up, and you will never have to do it again. Check. Done. Soyonara. Tried it. It sucked. Later guys. Thanks but no thanks.
And yet… and yet…!!
Once the pain and embarrassment faded, I was able to see that F3 offered a unique answer to my prayers. Here was an avenue to better physical Fitness for sure, and the BOM at the end really struck a chord of Faith. How could I turn my back on this gift, this opportunity? How could I quit?? I stuck with it, and grew both physically and spiritually. I started reading backblasts, especially the Word at the end. Someone once mentioned to me that sometimes they get more out of the BOM than sitting in a pew at church, and I couldn’t agree more. I love bonding and learning from guys out here who are more conversant with the Bible than I am, or hearing the non-religious messages about improvement and leadership, or just being a good person. What I DIDN’T pray for back on that New Year’s Day, or count on with my involvement with F3, is the Fellowship. I had had a pretty good group of friends before, but I was caught by surprise at how strong the bonds of friendship are between the brothers that meet together for F3 workouts. There is a unique and unexpected melding of spirits that occurs when you lock shields to get through brutally challenging physical hardship together through cooperation and encouragement of your fellow brother. Through F3, I’ve met men who I not only enjoy having a beer with, but respect immensely and seek to emulate. I didn’t realize I was missing that in my life. And so F3 has literally been an answer to my prayers– both spoken aloud, and in my heart but not on my lips– from that day on January 1, 2017. I am very grateful to the men of F3, and proud of the friendship, commitment to service, philanthropy, and open and accepting community that it provides. I am especially grateful to, and humbled by, the men of the Fake Gloom, who I have the privilege to call brothers and friends. I look forward to the challenges, rewards, and shared times that lie ahead. Let’s GO!!
-Pele
MOLESKIN:
Continuing prayers for Pinto, who is battling a severe illness, and for Thunderstruck and his family. Prayers for Switchgrass, who is dealing with issues at his work.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: