Author: Tom Talbot

It’s been a bittersweet few weeks at YHC’s house, as my 2.0 Thomas has picked his college destination (Boiler Up!) and last Saturday graduated from high school.  As our relationship hits an important transition, YHC wanted to celebrate graduation and provide some life lessons. As an added bonus, my 2.O as well as Cub Cadet’s 2.0 Edward came out for their first F3 workouts.

PAX:  23 (to celebrate the Class of ’23?)  Chunks, Cream Cheese, Cub Cadet, Dinty Moore, Firefox, Focker, Hambone, Legal Eagle, Kat Scan, Princess Aurora, Ranch Hand, Shockdoc (FNG),  Siri, Solocup, Spinal Tap, Steampunk (FNG), Supernova, T-cell,  The Flop (FNG), Toolman, Topps (FNG), Vector (QIC), Wet Wipes 

Conditions:   60 degrees and perfect

Disclaimer given and then start the playlist:  
Pomp & Circumstance to start the day, but sometimes graduation means learning hard lessons . . . cue

Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears
(“Welcome to your life. There’s no turning back.”)

Everyone does SSH until the song title is sung –> 3 burpees.  Song timed at 4 minutes to reflect 4 years of high school.

Graduate – Third Eye Blind
(“Do you live the days you go through?”)
Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
(“Live  your life with arms wide open.”)
Life’s What You Make It – Talk Talk
(“Baby, life’s what you make it. Celebrate it. Anticipate it.”)
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
(“Don’t stop believin’. Hold on to that feeling.”)
Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson
(“But take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway.”)
Wide Open Spaces – The Chicks
(“Room to make her big mistakes.”)
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
(“I hope you have the time of your life.”)
You Get What You Give – New Radicals
(“You’ll be okay, follow your heart.”)
Hey Look Ma, I Made It – Panic at the Disco
(“Think I must be dreamin’, wide awake and dreamin'”)
Celebration – Kool and the Gang
(“So bring your good times and your laughter too. We gonna celebrate your party with you.”)

• Warm-o-rama:    WMH, Good mornings, LBAC x 15, RLBAC x 15, Imperial Walkers x 20

• Thang 1:  GRADUATE

G:  Gorilla humpers x 50
R: Raises of calves x 50 (each leg)
A: American Hammers x 50 a side
D: DIPS x 50
U: Underdogs x 50
A: Air Presses x 50
T:  Tunnel of Love x 2 teams
E: Erkins x 50

• Thang 2:  Partner UP – DORA

50 Pull-ups
150 Squats
250 LBCs

Partner runs around Rec Center

• MARY:

Flutter kicks, Hello Dollys, Boxcutters

• COT

Thanks, HIM for helping Cub Cadet and me celebrate Thomas and Edward and reflect on their graduation.  Those with little ones, realize their graduation day will be here much faster than you want (the days are long but the years are short). While, yes, I did make my 2.0 splash (sorry T!), later that day he said, “Dad, I think I will come out again. When I was doing it, it was no fun, but you feel so much better if you start your day that way.”  Perhaps we have a new convert? We’ll see.  Remember, we all have our graduations, big and small.  Cherish those around you and make in impact in their lives.  You all do that for me and hopefully I return the favor.

SYITG,

Vector

A shy over 5 years ago, I finally relented to Ebola’s prodding and came out to meet a bunch of men, working out, in the dark cold gloom. Led by Hambone, I thought I would (but proudly did not) splash merlot after the WOR.  Flash forward to 2022, and the positive impact of F3 on my life, especially the past 3 years, has been huge (if my biceps are not quite so).  Thus, this morning, I wanted to celebrate all things 5.

PAX:  Black Lung, Focker, Legal Eagle, Michelin Man, Porcelain, Salpal, Supernova, T-cell, Tim the Toolman, Vector (QIC) and Wet Wipes with the dedicated wounded but healing walkers Cub Cadet and Firefox

Conditions:   Pelting sloppy rain, 60s – truly in the words of many PAX “beautiful”

Playlist:  Bands and songs with “5” in the name — a lot of bands with a lot of not so good songs:

I Want You Back – Jackson 5 (inadvertently deleted from playlist at the start by the soggy Q)
Wake Up Call – Maroon 5
Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
White Lines – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
Video Killed the Radio Star – Ben Folds Five
She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer
5-1-5-0 – Dierks Bentley
Worth It – Fifth Harmony
Go Where You Want to Go – The 5th Dimension
Bad Company – Five Finger Death Punch
When the Lights Go Out – Five
Kick Out the Jams – MC5
Glad All Over – The Dave Clark Five (cut for time)
Superman (It’s Not Easy) – Five for Fighting (cut for time)

Disclaimer given and then mosey in the beautiful pelting rain to the McCabe Rec Center for the Sloppy Warm-o-rama (as Q tried to get music started):  

Squats, LBAC, Reverse LBAC, WMH, Good Mornings

The Thang:  5 Exercises, 5(0) Reps, 5 Sets

5 exercises: Merkins, squats, big boy sit ups, DIPs, pull ups

Do 50 reps of each, run around the Rec Center, repeat for 5 sets. Q, in the interest of time, Q reduced reps of a selected exercise to 5 with each set.

Mary:  Flutter Kicks, Ankle Lifts, 10 Burpees, and a few SSH to close us out.

COT:

• Open Tab (or Maybe Tap Out, Tap In – we were confused) tonight — check Slack for deets and come for the beers and more importantly the discussion.
• 30 seconds to listen to the world (and our walkers returning to the COT)
• Sincere thanks to the HIM and F3.  This morning, being grown up dudes basically splashing in the rain, illustrates why F3 is so special.  Reach out to those we encounter who would benefit from F3 as I have — I am stronger physically, emotionally, mentally thanks to all of the HIM who I’ve encountered along this journey.  Keep pushing and inspiring me and each other. #ISI
• Also, I unfortunately failed to send thanks for our veterans on 11/11 — appreciate all of you (including Porcelain and Cub Cadet who were with us this morning).
• Cafe Dose followed and was awesome (complete with Focker looking like he walked out of the sauna at the Y)

SYITG,

Vector

A chilly morning with the season’s first signs of frost greeted 21 HIM on the 4th anniversary of YHC showing up in the gloom, nearly falling out by the time Hambone finished his Warm-o-Rama, and deciding to keep coming out to this rag tag bunch of dudes for the next 4 years.  With many new HIM from the past few years around, I realized we hadn’t had much talk of some of the F3 basics.  So today, YHC (using a highly coordinated playlist) reviewed the 5 F3 Core Principles.  Giddy-up!

PAX:  Bad Boy, Black Lung, Blue Mule, Crablegs, Crawlspace, Cub Cadet, Firefox, Hambone, Hi-Viz, McAfee, Michelin Man, Natural Ice, Porcelain, Pumpkin Spice, Princess Aurora, Right Said, Siri, Spinal Tap, Supernova, Tool Man, Vector (QIC),

Conditions:   Frosty, 32 degrees.

Disclaimer given and then mosey up hill and down to the McCabe Rec Center for the Warm-o-rama:  
LBAC x 10, RLBAC x 10, WMH x 10 OYO, Good Mornin’s x 10 OYO

F3 Core Principles:

#1:  Workouts are free of charge.
Song: “I’m Free” – Soupdragons
Hold Air Chair until the word “free” noted in the song –> then do 1 burpee

#2:  Workouts are open to all men.
Song: “The Man” – The Killers
Stationary lunges until the word “man” noted in the song –> then do 1 jump squat

#3:  Workouts are held outdoors, rain or shine, hot or cold.
Songs: “Blame It on the Rain” – Milli Vanilli (or at least lip synched by them)
“Walking on Sunshine” – Katrina and the Waves
“Heat of the Moment” – Asia
“Cold as Ice” – Foreigner
DORA with partner:  100 Pull-ups, 200 WWIs, 300 Squats

#4:  Workouts are peer led with rotating leaders.
Song: “One Thing Leads to Another” – The Fixx
DIDs on the wall for duration of the song – 20 Dips, 20 irkins, 20 dirkins (repeat)

#5:  Workouts end with a Circle of Trust.
Songs: “Circles” – Post Malone & “A Question of Trust” – Billy Joel
Mary PAX Choice — a lot of goodies including Crunchy Happy Frogs to honor T-cell in his absence

COT:

• Praises for Bad Boy and M 10th anniversary!
• Sincere thanks to the HIM and F3.  F3 has been far more formative for me than I could ever imagine 4 years ago. Being an HIM, inspired by all of you, has made me such a better person and leader. Keep pushing and inspiring me and each other. #ISI

SYITG,

Vector

17 HIM came out to the gloom to make some faces.  In recognition of the long time during the pandemic when we didn’t see many faces but just a bunch of masks, YHC thought we’d workout to a “face” themed Q.  As usual, the playlist was weeks in the making . . . the workout, not so much.

Playlist:  Songs with Facial Features Prominently Featured (and no, all of these aren’t from, like 40 years ago . . . but some are.  They’re good tunes, so expand your music library, folks)

Eyes Without a Face – Billy Idol
Lips Like Sugar – Echo and the Bunnymen
Tongue Tied – Grouplove
World in My Eyes – Depeche Mode
Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
Mouth – Bush
Blood Makes Noise (Ringing in My Ears) – Suzanne Vega
Over My Head – The Fray
Private Eyes – Hall & Oates
Head Like a Hole – Nine Inch Nails

PAX:  Chowdah, Crablegs, Crawlspace, Cub Cadet, Firefox, Hardcover (FNG), McAfee,  Michelin Man, Minus 3, Natural Ice, Right Said Fred, Siri, Solo Cup, Spinal Tap, T-cell, Weezer (Willy Lohman from Memphis), & Vector (QIC),

Conditions:   mid-70s. Not too humid.

Disclaimer given and then mosey up to the McCabe Circle:

“Eye #1”

• Warm-o-rama:   LBAC x 15, Seal Claps x 15, RLBAC x 15, Willy Mays Hayes x 15 OHO, Good Mornings x 10,  SSH x 15
• Circle O’ Merkins: Start with 1 merkin, add by 1 as we go around circle; once gets to Q, start counting down with 1 less per PAX

“Nose”

Get in groups of 3.  1 PAX starts at point 1 with squats, 2nd PAX at point 2 with WWIs, 3rd PAX at point 3 with Burpees. PAX 1 completes 50 squats and then tags partner at station 2, who moves to station 3. Round until all have completed all 3 stations.  Conveniently creates a nice triangular “nose” for our face.

“Smiling Mouth”

Two stations, from one end of path along driving range from stop sign to stop sign.  Sevens with Lt. Dan’s at East end of path, Plank Jacks at West end. Run back and forth, in a nice “smiley face” path.

“Eye #2”

Mosey to circle in front of rec center.

• Squat relay: PAX perform squats (or jump squats or air chair or whatever we felt in the moment) while 1 runs the circle
• Mary:  A range of exciting exercises like Flutter Kicks, LBCs, Boxcutters, J-Lo’s, and the ever so interesting Crablegs Tantric Pickle Pounders (clearly, some pickles don’t punt in as many steps as the HIM from Florida)

COT:

• Welcome FNG Hardcover, a friend of Spinal Tap, who teaches Bible Studies at Belmont, wife is a librarian. Also to Weezer, visiting from Memphis.
• Tonight is the night:  Campout at Cub Cadet’s Place, under the stars, on the river.  Truly an awesome location. Come for the company, the conversation, the bourbon, the BBQ, the beers.  Cubbie states he’ll lead a workout at 0600 — YHC is a bit worried about the risk for splashing merlot among the PAX.
• Q spots are open for Bomber — hit up Michelin Man.  After today’s shambolic Q, hopefully you realize anyone can lead.
• We ended with an F3 standard that had to go away during the pandemic – the Ball of Men. The last one held at Bomber was during my 50th birthday Q the first week of March. At the time, my life was spiraling into what was coming ahead and the stress of what we were all about to face overwhelmed me.  It was an honor to be the Q to bring the BOM back to Bomber.  Thanks to all of you for pushing me to be a better person each and every day. #ISI

Footnote: while the intent of the layout of the workout was to draw a face, it didn’t quite look so accurate in the end:

SYITG,

Vector

21 HIM came out to the gloom with a Q noting YHC 51st birthday on Sunday.  Playlist was the long-anticipated answer to the question “Vector, what songs do you consider the best of the 1980s?”  Basically, if these songs are on the radio in my car, don’t change the channel.  There was mumblechatter from the PAX about “why ’80s? Wasn’t he born in the 70s?” to which I respond, “it’s my birthday. So there.”

Playlist:  
Need You Tonight – INXS
Take on Me – a-ha
Everything She Does is Magic – Police
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) – Eurythmics
Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears
Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode
Head Over Heels – The Go-Go’s
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Blue Monday – New Order
West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys

PAX:  River Dawg, Spinal Tap, Hi-viz, PA, Bad boy, Blueprint, Michelin Man, Softballz (FNG), Right Said Fred, Chowdah, T-cell, Crawlspace, BNB, Freakenomics, Cub Cadet, Hambone, Siri, F3G, Tagalong (FNG), Wet Wipes, Vector (QIC),

Conditions:   Outstanding, mid-60s. Not a long sleeve, cap, or man tight to be seen.

Disclaimer given and then jump right into the Warm-o-rama:  

SSH x 51, LBAC x 12, RLBAC x 12, Good Mornings x 10 OHO, Willy Mays Hayes x 12, Squats x 12

Round 1:   “51s” — 5 sets of 5 exercises x 10 reps + 1 burpee.  Overhead Claps, Merkins, Big Boy Sit-Ups, Squats, Lunges. After each set, do 1 burpee and then run around McCabe Rec Center.

Round 2:  Do it again:  LBACs, Incline Merkins, LBCs, Jump Squats, Pull-Ups. Burpee x 1 and run a lap.

COT:

• Welcome FNGs Softballz and Tagalong!
• Prayers for Chattanooga PAX who lost a new HIM (Night Sweats) in a car accident.
• River Dawg is hosting a session on Human Trafficking on Thursday 3/18 at 6:30am — hit him up for the deets.
• And sincere thanks to the HIM and F3.  I recalled my last birthday Q last March, which happened just as the world was starting to shut down.  I recalled pretty much losing it in the COT (and that that was the last “ball of men” COT we’ve had since).  Thanks to the PAX and especially Cub Cadet, T-cell, PA, Hi-Viz, Crablegs and Pumpkin Spice for the fellowship this year.  Thankfully there is optimism and a vaccine.  Thanks to all of you. #ISI

SYITG,

Vector