Wish That I Was On Ole Rocky Top…

PAX: Bad Boy, Bicentennial Man, Silver Medal, Boone’s Farm, En Fuego

QIC: En Fuego

Conditions: A gloomy 47 degrees

Let’s First Go Inside the Numbers:

  • 11 straight SEC losses
  • 23 months since the last SEC win, spanning 694 days
  • 15 straight losses to the SEC West, with 7 straight seasons of posting an 0-2 record against the West
  • An impressive run of losing its last game against every SEC opponent

All is no mas and never to be quoted again, thanks to some friendly action down on The Plains this past Saturday.  While YHC didn’t get to see a second of it, today YHC and 4 other PAX donned their orange pride and Smokey Grey unis and celebrated such an occasion – Tennessee Tailgate Style.

5:30: A rusty Disclaimer given, reflective of YHC’s recent time on the IR, followed by an invite to get this TN tailgate started in true fashion.  With that, we go straight into Rocky Top (Ozbourne Brothers rendition for all you eager to add to your Spotify mix).  SSH during the song with a burpee at each “Rocky Top”.  YHC left amazingly unimpressed with the fellow PAX lyrical knowledge of this great tune.

We then mosey off campus to neighboring Burton Hills, setting up COP at the top of the parking garage at 30 Burton Hills.  YHC mentions that we want to make sure the Auburn faithful among us (Silver Medal, #where’sfoggy?) are still fully aboard the GusBus, following the recent 7-year, $49 million extension and awarding the Vols their first SEC win in 694 days.  With that, we perform the following IC:

G – Good Mornings x 7

U – Up Straddle Hop x 4

S – Scorpion Stretch x 9 (we’ve now got the 7 years, $49mm)

B – Baby Arm Circles x 6 (F & R with 23 count in-between, for the 23 months since last win)

U – Up Straddle Hop x 9

S – Slow & Low Squats x 4 (we’ve got our 694 days covered – and all are still fully aboard the GusBus)

We then mosey out of the parking garage to the base of the hill leading from Burton Hills Blvd to Covenant Presbyterian Church.  YHC informs the PAX what a long, uphill battle it has been since that last W – so let us commemorate with some hill work.  We break into two teams – Team Vols with YHC, Boone’s and Bicentennial and Team War Eagle with Silver Medal, Bad Boy & #where’sfoggy?.  Final score was 30-24, so team Team Vols will do 30 reps of each prescribed exercise (90 cumulative); Team War Eagle will do 24 reps (48 cumulative).  Once Team War Eagle completes their 48 reps, they plank and hold from the sideline, watching Team Vols get better.  Once all PAX are in, the two teams run together up the hill, where we R&R in varying fashion:

V – V-ups, then run to the top of the hill (hill #1).  After a 10 count, we mosey down the opposite hill, exiting out to Harding Place (hill #2).   All in, we perform:

O – One-legged deadlift, then Bernie Sanders back up the hill to the Church.  After a 10 count, mosey back down hill #1.  All in, we perform:

L – Lieutenant Dan’s, then run back up to top of hill #1; after a 10 count we mosey back to base of hill #2 for some:

S – Single Hand-Release Merkins (modified to 20 count for time); then Bernie Sanders back up hill #2.

5 minutes left on the clock, we mosey back to the friendly confines of #IIIPillars.  Time called and we end with COT.  Continued prayers for Bad Boy and his M throughout pregnancy; prayers for all the people affected by Hurricane Michael.

Strong tailgate effort to each of the PAX – total of 2.5 miles covered, way too much of that being at a steep incline.  Appreciative of the opportunity to lead.

Until next time, hoping it’s not another 23 months…

En Fuego

“How’s Your Heart?”

How’s Your Heart and Leadership

I know. Men don’t typically ask that question. It’s usually saved for the girls over tea at the Puffy Muffin. However, I think when asked from a man to another man, it shows true leadership.

I’m (T-Cell) in the midst of a job transition. And my fellow job-transitioner, Bagger Vance, called me last week to ask me this question. His first question wasn’t, “What the heck are you going to do next?” or giving me advice on what I should or shouldn’t be doing during this time, it was simply, how are you doing? And not a “don’t answer fine”, but really doing.

This was a tough question for two reasons. First, as men, we typically leave the heart stuff to women and we don’t let ourselves go deep with other men. By Sims asking me the question, he becomes implicated. He can’t dissociate from the outcome of the question. If my answer is, “I’m hurting man. I need help”, Sims has to act. This question from Sims showed true leadership. Sims knew that there could be implications from his asking and he wasn’t afraid of the challenge that may await on the other side of my answer.

Second, it’s a tough question for me. When he asked, I was just a day into not having an office to go into and we were moving, so things were still “busy”. And truly, I had not had time to process the change. However, as days would pass and the busyness subsides, my “new normal” changes. Am I anxious? Nervous? Fearful? Depressed? Because Sims asked this question, I now have to be cognizant of my feelings and address them. I can’t hide or medicate. A leader asks questions of other’s that contribute to the flourishing of others.

What did I learn or what lessons were affirmed through Sim’s question?

Leaders care about someone else’s flourishing more than their own.

Leaders ask hard questions.

Leaders aren’t afraid to step into hard situations.

Leaders care.

Leaders listen.

I’m grateful for a friend like Sims and his leadership in my own life and the lives of those in F3.

How can you exhibit these traits of a leader in your interactions today? 

 

KnockOut Q @ Broken Wheel

11 PAX in Attendance: Sterno, NumbTucks, RagDoll, 3rd Degree (YHC, QiC), Barney Fievel,  HushPuppy, CheezWhiz, Netflix, Costa Rica (FNG/Willy Loman “Oliver”), Typo+ & SoccerMom

NumbTucks, Soccer Mom & CheezWhiz @ 5:15 for a pre-party showing with YHC doing 5 pull-ups, 5 Diamond Merkins and 5 Atomic Plank Jacks on the minute for 10 minutes. Strong showing! Playlist = AudioSlave

Sterno circled the parking lot laughing at all the midwifery and infirmary noises coming from the preparty participants.

Warm-Up/Disclaimer:

  • Jog around parking lot x 1
  • 5 Burpees OYO to get warm as some Nancys remarked how cold it is getting 😉
  • SSH IC x 10
  • Tempo Merkins IC x 10
  • 30 seconds GM OYO
  • Explain form for different punches and names: Jab, Cross, Hook & Uppercut, explain Knee Smash and demonstrate each

The Thang(s) 

Tabata Set #1:

20 seconds of following exercises with max output then 10 seconds rest before next exercise: Dodge Squat + Jab + Jab, Side Straddle Hops (instead of jump-rope), Cross + Jab + Uppercut switch lead leg after 5 reps, SSH, Jab + Cross + Knee Smash switch lead leg after 5 reps, Hook + Jab + Uppercut switch lead leg each time. 3 Songs (12 minutes) Still Dre, Smells like Teen Spirit and (fittingly) Rocky Theme

Tabata Set #2:

Break Pax into 4 groups

20 seconds of following exercises with max output then 10 seconds rest before next exercise with Mountain Climbers in between: Pull-ups, Merkins, Rows/Underdoggies on Swings (considered calling these MudPuppies due to ponding under swings), Squats. 2 songs (8 minutes) UpTown Funk and Back in Black

SideCrawl Up/Downs: PAX in High Plank with arms on PlayGround raised barrier. Crawl sideways around the ring, performing 3 Irkins every time Q yelled Up and 5 Plank Jacks when Q yelled Down. We did counter and clock-wise directions. Anyone else’s shoulders/back toasty? Good, let’s keep rolling.

Mosey to Bridge 1/2 way point, Lunge walk to end. Crawl Bear back to other end.

MoM:

  • Laney-Lou held by all in a circle while sequential PAX count to 10.
  • WWIIs x 15

Counterama/Namerama/Christening of FNG/CoT

Moleskin/What we learned today

  • Excited to continue the momentum with F3Nolensville!
  • Angry 3D Q comes out sometimes. Thanks for bearing with me and taking it with a grain of salt.
  • Great to meet “Costa Rica” today. Great job giving it away and EH’ing Netflix!
  • Numbtucks’ Women’s Cycling Q came out early but MC died down as we went along…
  • Explained the theme for the Q today: 1 Corinthians 9: 25-27, we exercise discipline & self-control for a reason, what’s yours?
  • “The Pound”, our newest workout time (Thursdays 5:30-6:15) is set to launch in a week and a half on 10-25-18 @ the Nolensville Park Bark Park (same-ish location as Broken Wheel)
  • Our first F3Nolensville Shirt with custom Logo is nearing completion of development and should be available soon for pre-order. Just in time for the holidays and to show your support of and participation in this great organization.
  • Numbtucks (aka Justin Tucker) will present an opportunity for 2nd F: Fellowship with a backyard Bonfire soon. Details upcoming…
    Lastly, in order to execute the 3rd F: Faith, i.e. the belief and participation in something bigger than just you, I would ask that you all think about and suggest opportunities locally that F3Nolensville can engage in. Do you know of a local school or non-profit that would benefit from some free labor? Is there a PAX or their family in need that we can come alongside and serve? Could we participate in a road clean up or canned-food drive? That sort of thing…
    Reply to Third Degree with ideas and we can get something started…

Great work!

3D out!

No Mercy Mile 10-13-18

7 PAX braved my first solo Q at The Forge on Saturday” Numbtucks, Nimbus, Pocahantas, Lovie, Sprinkles, Altidore, Typo+ (QiC).  No pre-party on this day.

Warm-Up/Disclaimer:

  • Side Straddle Hop (15 count)
  • Arm Circles (12 count front; 12 count back)
  • Sprinkler (OYO) – Extend arms straight out in front of the body. Twist arms to one side of the body while raising and twisting the knee and hip the opposite direction.
  • Stretch Progression:
  • Touch your toes:  Walk your hands out so you are in pike position. Stretch your Calves.
  • Pull Right leg up so your foot is under your knee.  Lean in and stretch hip flexor.
  • Drop Left knee down to stretch groin.  Lean in to it.
  • Straighten right leg to stretch hamstring.  Point right foot up
  • *Repeat for Left Leg.*
  • End with Toe Touch.

Worky-Work:

No Mercy Mile

Pax begin at mid-point of front stretch on a standard track.

Jog to turn 1.

Bear crawl to turn 2.

Jog to mid-point on back stretch. Do 20 merkins.

Jog to turn 3.

Lunge to turn 4.

Jog to starting point perform 25 squats.

Rinse & Repeat two more times.

Progression

Start on End Line.

Broad-Jump 20 yards then do 20 Austin Ass-Kickers: 20 each leg/arm (Down on all fours, kick each leg individually up and back.  If your left leg is extended also extend your right arm and if your right leg is extended also extend your left arm).

Backwards Run 20 yards then do 20s Monkey Humpers.  (A half-squat performed while grabbing the inside of one’s ankles. This restricts movement to a half-squat type exercise but increasing the burn.)

Repeat, going all the way to the other end line.  Sprint all the way back down to starting goal line.

MARY

Gut Busters

Everyone starts in and holds a plank during the Ghostbusters song. Every time they say “Ghost Busters” you complete a burpee. In the “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts” sections do plank jacks in rhythm. Bustin’ makes everyone feel good!!!!

CoT

Just as the fundamental problem of the sinfulness of humanity endures, God’s word endures, ever relevant, ever piercing to the root of our deepest need. Through the word of God, the Holy Spirit brings life where there was death and light where there was Darkness.

PreLaunch Party @ The Pound 10-11-18

4 PAX in Attendance: TVG, Typo+, Barney Fievel  & 3D (QiC)

Barney & YHC @ 5:15 for a burpee-less pre-party showing setting out to do “The Beast” 6 Pull-ups, 6 Clap Merkins and 6 Atomics per round. We did 4 rounds on the minute before modifying to 5 reps of each for the next 6 rounds… Nice & Toasty for warm-up!  Random running music playlist including Colony House

Warm-Up/Disclaimer:

The Thang 

Discount Mini-Cooper

Do 10 reps of the following 3 exercises and take a lap around the 1/3 mile track. Repeat going down by 2 reps each time and then last set back to 10:

  • Blockees (coupon burpees)
  • Coupon Merkins (Merkin with hands on coupon)
  • Squats w/coupon

5 IC Flutter Kix after each round

2 miles total.

MoM:

  • Twisting WW1s 10 each side 1/2
  • Probably some more stuff I don’t remember

Counterama/Namerama/CoT

NMMoleskin

  • Getting Hyped for when we officially launch The Pound AO (Area of Operation) 10-25-18. Numbtucks/Altidore are getting the AO Shovel Flag ready to plant…
  • Make sure to sign up for Q slots for F3 Nolensville on 159.203.165.130/ under Q Sign up (created a link in this sentence)
  • Upcoming 3rd F opportunity in Franklin: Marriage Tune up Series Date: Thurs Nov. 1st Location: 320 Main Street Suite 200 Franklin TN 37064 (above the TN bank on square) Time: 530am
  • Stay Tuned for possible 2nd F at Numbtucks’ backyard for bonfire and BYOB Thursday night 10-18-18

3D, out!

Westeros – 10.15.18 – “Wet Willy”

4 PAX splashed around at Westeros this morning.

Conditions: Steady rain, heavy runoff, and soggy feet

QIC: Princess Aurora

PAX: Bicentennial Man, Porcelain, Right Said

THE THANG:

Took off on a quick mosey to the WEM Gym overhang for one of the three times we’d have cover during the workout.

COP:

  • SSH x 15 IC
  • LBAC F/R x 15 IC
  • SnL Squats x 15 IC
  • Merkins x 10 IC
  • Alt Shoulder Taps x 15 IC

Long mosey to the corner of Marlborough and Fairfax, and it was time for some no frills work. Run up Marlborough to the top of the hill at Acklen. 40 Squats. Back down. 5 Merkins. RnR subtracting 5 from the squats and adding 5 to the Merkins each round until ending with 5 Squats and 40 Merkins.

Indian Run back to the start, making sure to run through every 3″ puddle along the way, and take cover under the bus stop for a little Mary.

  • Bench Flutter Kicks x 20 IC
  • Bench Reverse Crunches x 10 IC

Noticing we’d covered 2.91 miles, YHC took the PAX on another brief mosey over to the new-ish 440 Greenway Map at Bowling Ave. Here we did some planking before a quick jog back to the start for 3.04 miles total.

COT/BOM

MOLESKINE:

As Hi-Viz reminded us all on Twitter, the best thing about rainy workouts is that you only get wet once. If you’re like me, once you’ve stepped in a deep puddle, you begin to relish each time you do it again because it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re just a bunch of grown men reliving our days as dirty, messy, adventuresome boys. Tclaps to those who did the hard thing and got up to brave it both at Westeros and across Nashville.

BULLHORN:

  • You have until this Thursday at midnight to order your shirts. Don’t be caught this winter without some warm F3 swag!
  • Q sheet is looking mighty barren right now. Just because we’re not doin the Ironclad challenge right now doesn’t mean you can’t Q! If you’re looking to Q for the first time, tell somebody. You know you’re ready!
  • Continued prayers for our sick and injured brothers as well as those affected or displaced by Hurricane Michael.
  • Got the Wolfpack at home this weekend and ready to hand them their first loss of the season. Maybe we’ll hand them a few laptops, too. Dude, you’re getting a DELL. Go Tigers!

PA out.

Five for Fighting

Q: TampaLibra

PAX: White Russian, Pop-A-Lock, BoyBand, PSL

Warmup:
SSHx20, WMHx10, BACx10, Shoulder raise x 20

THANG:
11’s under the pavilion: Referee Jumps, Hand-Release Push-Ups
Plank and wait.

11’s on the hill: 8-Count Bodybuilder, Pull-Ups
If finished: 5 Bulgarian Split Squats each leg, 30-sec high plank, rinse/repeat.

Mary – Dealers Choice
Tampa: 10 around-the-worlds each way,
BoyBand: ((15?) Big Boy Sit-up-Ups
White Russian: 20 4-count flutter kicks
Pop-A-Lock: 20 J-Lo’s
PSL: 20 American Hammers

Announcements: Something about t-shirts and IronClad

Bomber – 10.12.18 – “Nippy Out Here”

19 PAX posted on a wonderfully brisk morning for the 6th edition of Friendly Friday at Bomber.

QIC: Princess Aurora

PAX: Hi-Viz, Firefox, Lunch Lady, Trapper Keeper, Wahlburger (FNG), Dutch Oven, Duplex, Pop-A-Lock, Cobra Kai (FNG), Bad Boy, Crablegs, Cunning Linguist, Studio 42, Harvey Updyke, Porcelain, Blue Mule, Bicentennial Man

THE THANG:

After a perfectly articulated disclaimer, we stepped off for a medium mosey out of the main drive, up Sloan, and over to “the Nip” for a COP:

  • SSH x 13
  • SnL Squats x 13
  • WMH x 13
  • LBAC F x 13 – 10 ct hold
  • LBAC R x 13 – 10 ct hold
  • Overhead Claps x 13 – 10 ct hold
  • Air Presses x 13
  • Merkins x 13

Count off 1s and 2s and mosey over to the upper lot where YHC has laid out cones for some team suicides. Starting in single file line, P1 runs to first cone and back to the back of the line. Each successive man runs to the first cone and back until all have gone at which point P1 runs to the second cone. Continue until everybody has run to the last cone and back. Between each round, teams performed the following exercises while they waited.

  • SSH
  • Squats
  • Lunges
  • Jump Squats
  • SSH

Mosey on down to the stone benches in front of Neighbors and pair up for some Bell Cow action. In pairs foursomes, call out an exercise for the rest of the PAX and then Indian run to the roundabout, bear crawl around, and return. Exercises, in no particular order, included:

  • Flutter Kicks
  • Mountain Climbers
  • Carolina Dry Docks
  • SSH

Took the PAX to the playground to knock out a set of max pull-ups whilst the non-pullers planked, and then headed back to parking lot for…

4MOM

  • Dixie Stampede
  • Bridge Sit-Ups
  • LBCs

COT/BOM

MOLESKINE:

Welcome to our FNG’s Eric and Luke, now known as Wahlburger and Cobra Kai. Both were up to the tasks before them, and I have no doubt they are ready for some less “friendly” workouts. Tclaps to Dutch Oven and Pop-A-Lock for getting them out here.

BULLHORN:

  • Prayers for all of those affected by Hurricane Michael
  • Praises for Bad Boy’s M entering her 18th week of pregnancy.
  • Bomber is still very alive, and we are exploring the possibility of a West Park AO
  • Chattanooga Training Day led by YHC was a success with many an FNG and even more muscle failure. Glad to have been a part.
  • Even on a bye week, go Tigers.

PA out.

11s with Friends

PAX: Big Stick, Umbrella, Accounts Receivable, Big Bopper, Venus, Cathy, Magic Mike, Swamp Fox, Black Widow, Offshore, PSL, Black Lung, Prevac, Floppy Disk

QIC: Floppy Disk

15 assembled in the gloom this am at Cruel Hall for a brisk Friendly Friday. YHC dispensed with the disclaimer, explained the 6-count IC Burpee and we were off.

No formal warmup this morning. We moseyed, occasionally stopping for an increasing number of 6-count IC Burpees. The mosey took us around Crievewood Baptist, in between the baseball fields and down towards the playground where we stopped at the rails for some rows and calf raises.

THANG
3 sets of:
10x Rows
20x Calf Raises (each leg)

We finished this with AMRAP Rows to be performed until failure.

Feeling a bit warmer we moseyed to the pavilion for the main part of the morning. 3 sets of 11s with increasing level of difficulty.

Round 1: Merkins/Squats
Round 2: Mt Merkins/Jump Squats
Round 3: Atomic Merkins/Jump Lunges (both legs=1)

With the 11s under our belt we moseyed to the bus hill and did: Broad Jumps to the first speed bump, Bear Crawl to the second speed bump and Duck Walk (proper form emphasized) to the third.

Final mosey back to the parking lot for a quick Mary

Mary
Flutter Kix x20 (IC)
Freddie Mercuries x20 (IC)
Supermans x15 (IC)
Low Plank 1:00

YHC,
Floppy Disk

Nobel Virus Bday Q

Q: Nobel Virus for his 28th

Pax: Aristotle, Iditarod, Scraps, Yosef

Warmup: Mosey, side shuffle, politicians, Hillbillies, imperial Walkers, Daisy pickers, side straddle hops all x11

Indian Run to playground
Bear crawl steps, plank and wait at top, crawl Bear back down the steps.
11’s- merkens and squats across the parking lot
Burpee up downs- each pax(5) called the down 4 times
Lunge back up the path.
Indian Run back to MMC, person in the back dropped for 5 merkens
Partnered up, 100 lbc’s and 150 overhead arm claps, alternated while partner ran sprints
Circle of Fire

CoT, BoM.