Backblasts

Gentlemen,

The Ironclad Challenge is back! For the uninitiated, the Ironclad Challenge is an opportunity to ensure we hold each other accountable during these climatically trying months and continue to engage in the mission of invigorating male community leadership in Nashville and beyond. Should you accept the challenge, you will participate in all three aspects of F3: Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith.

The challenge will run until 3/31/2020, and new to this year’s challenge is the introduction of the Challenger, Pro, and Elite levels. Below are the minimum standards to be met, and each achievement will contribute one point to your total score. On the sheet, you will find the tiers and their associated score ranges.

 1^st F – The Magnet – Improve your Fitness

• Post 26 times, three of which must be in temps below 32 degrees.
• Post at five “AwayOs” (workouts you don’t normally attend)
• Q two times

2^nd F – The Glue – Strengthen your Fellowship

• Attend at least two 2nd F events (lunches, happy hours, etc.)
• Attend eight coffeeterias (or stick around in the case of tailgate coffeeteria)
• Bring one FNG or Kotter (>six months since last post)

3^rd F – The Dynamite - Make an Impact

• Participate in one 3rd F opportunity. This can be a study of religious text, going through Q Source, community service, or some other opportunity that involves thinking outside of your own interests.
• Read one book on leadership (>200 pages) or Freed to Lead.

Additionally, you must complete one CSAUP in the 13-week period. This can be a 5K, triathlon, Spartan race, GORUCK challenge, etc.

THE REWARD:

For successful completion of all requirements of the 2020 Ironclad, you will be eligible to purchase a custom Ironclad shirt* to show off at your next workout. Should you achieve a higher tier, you will have the opportunity to purchase the corresponding shirt color.

*Subject to minimum order requirement of 12. Price will be in the range of $24-27 and likely coincide with a spring F3 Nashville shirt order if you want to combine shipping with other items

TO REGISTER: 

Put your name on this sheet and get to tracking!

A FEW NOTES:

• This challenge will be on the honor system, and you are responsible for updating your standings on the “2020 F3 Nashville Ironclad Sheet.” I would encourage you all as grown men to use your best judgement if you have questions about what does and doesn’t count.
• Though we are already at 1/5/2020, you may retroactively apply any achievements from 1/1/2020 and later.
• Solo Q’s for the Willy Lomans among us count toward your overall post total but do not count toward your AwayO total. Posting at other regions’ AOs do count toward AwayO total.
• You may count up to 10 “Off the Books” workouts (organized runs, rucks, etc. that are not regularly scheduled) toward your post total.  However, rucking or running before a regular workout does not count as an additional post.
• Please share your 3rd F book choice with the group! It’s always good and helpful to know what others are reading.
• Lastly, please use this opportunity to take initiative and arrange your own events for the PAX.

Let’s warm up!

PA out.

This morning’s F3 Nashville New Year’s Day convergence (our sixth) was bittersweet as it marked not only the beginning of what is sure to be a great 2020 but also the conclusion of my time as F3 Nashville’s Nantan (our second). As I reflect on the last 20 months since Bagger Vance passed the baton, I’m amazed by what has occurred in the F3 community in Middle Tennessee.

We have seen the launch and rapid growth of F3 Nolensville. We crossed the river into East Nashville – this time for good – under the leadership of Brother-at-Law and Hot Route, and we are up to 17 AOs in the region proper. We have empowered the likes of Tiny Dancer and Reveille to take F3 to their communities in Spring Hill and Lebanon, respectively. We have run two Ironclad challenges with a third on the way (yes, you read that right), organized a couple of CSAUPs like The Scorpion and TN CAN RUCK among others, and poured into each other through initiatives like the 12th Man and QSource groups. We even got to celebrate our 5th Anniversary with 90 HIM at the place where it all started back in September 2014.

Honestly, I had no clue what this would become on that first day, but I can say I’m extremely encouraged by and grateful for the growth not just with F3 but in myself and the brothers that surround me. I want to give a special thanks to my “cabinet” members and trusted advisors: T-Cell, Bagger Vance, Hi-Viz, Dupree, and Hambone. I also want to thank all of our AOQ’s. These are the guys doing the real work of leading from the ground up and bringing out the leaders in all of us. Thank them when you see them, and then encourage other men to come out and meet them, too.

I know there is still so much more to be done and many more lives to impact, but, having accomplished the goals I set for myself, I am obliged to let another HIM take the reins of F3 Nashville. Rest assured that the revival will continue – this one just might have a little more Creedence Clearwater flavor.

CCR, it’s all yours.

PA out.