Category: The Stronghold

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Warm Welcome

AO: thestronghold
Q: tampalibra
PAX: Decaf, Skeet, Dan and Dave, Dan Tanna, Goodwill, Chunks, Young and Restless, Barney, Red Skull, Pearl (Jonathan Halter), Wham-O, Hipster, Tater, Zumiez, Puff Puff, Finger Tips, Papa Bear, Slurpee, Pom Pom, Torta, Giggity, The Count, Chicken Little, Guppy, Stir Fry, Bedazzle, Sticky Fingers, Nut Spread
FNGs: 15 Zumiez, Puff Puff, Finger Tips, Papa Bear, Slurpee, Pom Pom, Torta, Giggity, The Count, Chicken Little, Guppy, Stir Fry, Bedazzle, Sticky Fingers, Nut Spread
COUNT: 29
Red Skull commented that we saw the softer side of Tampa today :joy:. Nothing too brutal, didn’t harp on cadence, and didn’t start with burpeeapocolypse!

Warm ups:
SSH x 50 (to get the heart rate going, warmup, and stop the complaints about the cold weather)
Squats x 10
WMH x 10 OYO
Air Press x 50
LBAC x 10 each
Finger Bangers x 10

Grab a coupon and mosey to the courts.

Without explaining group 1 vs group 2 here is what we did:
Perfect Merkin x 20
Mosey (either murder bunny or lunge)
Ground to shoulder x 20
Mosey back

R&R 15, 10, and then 5

Then. same pattern with:
We’re Not Worthy x 5
Mosey (no blocks)
Thruster x 5
Mosey back

R&R 10, 15, 20

Back to startex, circle up for name-a-rama, started burpees instead bc everyone wanted to dilly dally getting back to startex.

These men are breaking deeply rooted habits and ways of living/thinking. Pray for them. Pray the Lord gives them the vision to see why they need it, courage to do the hard things, and confidence that they can accomplish it despite the difficulty,

…And we named a dude Nut Spread :peanuts:

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New Years Day Convergence – Welcome 2026!

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Hipster, DintyMoore, Mumbler, Ponzi, Natural Ice, Purple Tiger, hambone, toga, Chunks, Barney, Wolfpack, Tinkertoy, Young and Restless, Tim the Toolman, Decaf, Grape, Pep, Topanga, Take 3, Animal, BTB, Tool Bit
FNGs: None
COUNT: 23
CONDITIONS: 32 Degrees – perfect workout weather!

WARMUP: Mosey to the gravel lot for the usual warm-up: SSH, IWs, Windmills, Squats, Merkins, T-Ups and Scorpion Stretch.

THE THANG:
Mosey to the Auditorium

Part 1: Mental Toughness Week (Tryouts) – Burpee Apocalypse with a run around the building the building in between each round.

Mosey to the North Lot

Part 2: 40 Day Challenge – 6 weeks of work condensed down to six movements: Lt. Dan, Bear Crawl, Crab Walk, Burpee Broad Jump, Crawl Bear and Politician.

Mosey to The Hill

Part 3: The Work Phase – 7’s on the hill with Hand Release Merkins at the top, run down the hill, Jump Squats at the bottom, Politician up the hill.

Mosey back to the flag and time!

MOLESKINE:
4:13 Strong is a great program for men who want to change the course of their life, but it is hard. Only 35% of the men who enroll have what it takes to complete all program requirements. A big factor to success are the relationships that our men build with other men who can show them how to handle hard things. You can make a real difference for the 4:13 Strong guys by showing up, working out with them and modeling how HIM face challenges.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
LeanPax begins on 1/5
The Stronghold is now meeting every Thursday
Struggle Prep is coming in a few short weeks
Young and Restless is the new AOQ of The Stronghold

COT:
A great turnout for our New Years Day Convergence. Thank you all for coming out to join us!

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Struggle 005

AO: thestronghold
Q: tampalibra , Ginger, bigbang, Ponzi
PAX: Sanctions, Pearl (Jonathan Halter), Noble Virus (Mark Britnell) F3 Franklin, Bubbles (Tyler Slaughter), Judy, Half Lyfe, Swingline / Jason Aeverman, Import, Humpty Dumpty (F3 Franklin), Grinder (F3 Brentwood) StoryTime (F3 Franklin), Decibel (F3 Bowling Green), Straight Racket (F3 Bowling Green), Double Dribble (F3 Franklin), White Belt (F3 Franklin), Speed Date (413), Raisin (413), Mosh Pit(413), Toad Stool (413), Cuties (413), Purple Rain (413), Old Maid (413), Road Trip (413), Shred-It (413), Mater (413), Singlet (413), Ziggy (Men of Valor), Jared (Men of Valor), Christopher (Men of Valor), Chris (Men of Valor), Michael (Men of Valor), Courtez (Men of Valor), Hector (Men of Valor)
FNGs: 7 Ziggy (Men of Valor), Jared (Men of Valor), Christopher (Men of Valor), Chris (Men of Valor), Michael (Men of Valor), Courtez (Men of Valor), Hector (Men of Valor)
COUNT: 36
Congrats to Struggle class 005.

This was the largest class to date and by far set the standard for future classes in leadership, grit, striving, suffering, and teamwork.

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A Time for Reflection

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Right Said, Brown Slip, toga, Young and Restless, Wham-O, Dan and Dave, Barney, Hipster, Decaf, Phonics (Franklin), Mater, Dinky, Mosh Pit, Shred-It, Cuties, Speed Date, Raisin, Old Man River
FNGs: None
COUNT: 19
CONDITIONS: 45 degrees…the first chilly workout of the season at The Stronghold.

WARMUP: SSH, Windmills and Willie Mays Hayes. Mosey to the first school parking lot to continue the warm-up with Squats and Imperial Walkers.

THE THANG: Long mosey to the far front lot followed. YHC demonstrated the cadence for 8-Count Body Builders by doing five and then invited each 4:13 Strong (8 in total) to lead the group in a set of five. Before leading they needed to share something that they had learned in the past 40 Days. Decaf jumped in to share and lead bring our total count to 50 8-Count Body Builders.

We celebrated our accomplishment with a mosey to the back of the campus. Then each 4:13 Strong man was invited to share their vision for the future and how that vision is different today vs. 40 Days ago, and then lead us in another set of 5 8-Count Body Builders. Barney jumped in at the end to share some of his wisdom and gave us 5 more 8-Count Body Builders, bringing our total to 95.

We reversed course and retraced our steps making stops at both locations on the way back home. Hipster had the privilege of getting us to 100 and Wham-O got us to 105.

Once we got back to the flag YHC offered another 5 to get the total for the day up to 110 8-Count Body Builders.

MOLESKINE: It was a great morning. Thank you to the F3 PAX for coming out and supporting our men. Winners of the 4:13 Strong shirts were Right Said, Dan and Dave and Phonics

ANNOUNCEMENTS: That was the last workout at The Stronghold for 2025. Please consider spending your Thursday mornings at greenmachine or atlantis for the next several weeks but make sure you come back to thestronghold in January!

Signing Day tomorrow at 11:30am. All are welcome.

COT: Prayers for wisdom, strength and guidance.

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Tortoise & Hare, Final Run…#6

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Wham-O, Hipster, Michelin Man, Dan Tanna, Laces Out, Barney, Decaf, SalPal, Brown Slip, Salami, Mater, Dinky, Mosh Pit, Shred-It, Cuties, Speed Date, Comic Book Guy, Raisin, Old Man River
FNGs: None
COUNT: 20
CONDITIONS: Perfect 61 degrees and dark

WARMUP: Standard pre-run warm-up: SSH, Squat, IW, Stretches, WMH

THE THANG: Partner up and RUN!!!

MOLESKINE: As men get comfortable with routine, they tend to let their guard down and slip into the comfort zone. 4 out of 9 4:13 Strong men were so deep into their comfort zone that they didn’t even hit their past five week average time. These men earned another run tomorrow morning. They will continue to run each morning until they get below their five week average.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Signing Day, Friday at 11:30am. Come join us for a celebration and lunch.

COT: Prayers for wisdom and perseverance.

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Finish strong

AO: thestronghold
Q: Wham-O
PAX: Barney, Dan and Dave, Right Said, Chunks, Hipster, Decaf, Sanctions, Cuties, Dinky, Mosh Pit, Speed Date, Go Fish, Comic Book Guy, Old Man River, Mater, Shred It, Raisin
FNGs: None
COUNT: 18
CONDITIONS: starry and cool

WARMUP: side straddle hop, squat, Willy Mays hays, arm circles, stretches (runners and sky/toes)

THE THANG:
– Indian run to far intersection
– 21s (side straddle hop to 21 self count) PAX must end on 21 exact
– 10 penalty burpees. PAX executed well, however a few were heard “counting cards”, the house called the cheating + 21 burpees
– Mosey to basketball court with coupons.
– Partner timed exercise: 1’s with block, 2’s lunging, timed by lunging person reaching partner.
– Exercise Rounds: curls, over head press, blockees, curls (for the girls)

THE FINISH:
– Indian Merkin “Run”
– all PAX in plank position, back of the line progresses forward up the line by doing 1 merkin with just the PAX directly in front of him. Once he reaches the front of the line, he planks and awaits the next man progressing. The exercise ended when the line progressed across the entire basketball court.

MOLESKINE: word of encouragement was that “Leaders run towards smoke” there isn’t always an obvious fire, but don’t turn your back on the metaphorical smoke in your world. Go stand in the gap, run towards conflict, and address issues before they burn things down.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: the Struggle! Signing day next Friday 10/24

COT: :pray:

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Penultimate Run

AO: thestronghold
Q: Barney
PAX: SalPal, Decaf, Right Said, Chunks, Barney, Brown Slip, Salami, Dantana, Cuties, Dinky, Mosh Pit, Speed Date, Go Fish, Comic Book Guy, Old Man River, Mater, Shred It, Raisin
FNGs: None
COUNT: 18
CONDITIONS: Crisp & clear

WARMUP: Led by Raisin: SSH, Squats, IW, Stretch, WMH

THE THANG: 3 miles on a crisp morning. Early finishers picked up the six or reentered the circle for Burpees & Squats from 10 down to 1 followed by various planks, including alternating leg/arm raised planks.

MOLESKINE: PR set by Raisin: 18:41

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Career Fair & Signing Day next week followed by The Struggle.

COT: Prayed for injuries, families, and safe return of Red Skull.

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Tortoise & Hare, Run #4

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Touchback, Laces Out, DintyMoore, Judy, Hipster, Right Said, Chunks, Barney, Decaf, SalPal, Salami, Wham-O, Bruh Bruh, Mater, Dinky, Mosh Pit, Puppy Chow, Shred-It, Cuties, Go Fish, Speed Date, Comic Book Guy, Raisin, Old Man River
FNGs: None
COUNT: 25
CONDITIONS: Wet, warm and dark

WARMUP: Standard pre-run warm-up: SSH, Squats, IWs, stretches, WMH

THE THANG: Partner up and RUN!! We were teased by the rain this morning…it held off until we got started and then somewhere along the route is started up.

SalPal hosted the After Party this morning, inviting everyone to join him at the picnic tables for some split squats, dips and decline merkins and more spilt squats.

MOLESKINE: Some how we were able to run 3 miles in the rain and attend the SalPal After Party but couldn’t execute the count in the circle. Life can be hard so at least get the easy parts right!

COT: Prayers for focus, consistency and endurance.

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Tortoise & Hare, Run #3

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Wham-O, Judy, Young and Restless, Hipster, Laces Out, Chunks, Right Said, Brown Slip, Touchback, Decaf, Barney, tampalibra, Mater, Dinky, Mosh Pit, Puppy Chow, Shred-It, Cuties, Go Fish, Speed Date, Comic Book Guy, Raisin, Old Man River, Nap Time
FNGs: None
COUNT: 25
CONDITIONS: 64 degrees and dark…perfect running weather!

WARMUP: Standard pre-run warm-up – SSH, Squats, IWs, Stretches, WMH

THE THANG: Partner up and RUN!!! Like usual, half the 4:13 Strong men took off like they were being chased. Several kept the pace up for the whole three miles and finished with sub 25:00 runs. We had four 4:13 Strong PRs this morning plus several F3 PRs. Everyone was so fast today we had five extra minutes of Mary for all!

MOLESKINE: What a great morning at The Stronghold. Thank you to the F3 PAX for strong showing and the great coffeeteria!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Struggle 005 – still time so claim a spot. I promise The Struggle 005 patch will be your favorite patch. Earn it and wear it with pride.

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Don’t let your partner down!

AO: thestronghold
Q: toga
PAX: Red Skull, Dan and Dave, Chunks, Decaf, Laces Out, Wham-O, Right Said, Barney, Dinky, Raisin, Shred-it, Mater, Nap Time, Speed Date, Puppy Chow, Comic Book Guy, Old Man River, Goldfish, Rocket Man, Mosh Pit, Cuties,
FNGs: None
COUNT: 22
CONDITIONS: Glorious!
WARMUP: Mosey to the gravel parking lot for standard warmarama
THE THANG: Pair up with each pair drawing one block then mosey to the parking lot across from STEM.
Rd 1: All P1 hold the block above their heads while P2 runs to the end of the lot and executes 10 merkins as a group and return to P1. Flapjack only when the whole team is ready. Repeato x3
Rd 2: Mosey to the STEM building then all P1 hold the block in a wall sit while P2 runs to the rails along the walk and execute 15 supine rows as a group and return to P1. Flapjack only when the whole team is ready. Repeato x3
Rd 3: The PAX formed up on the side of the road where P1 performs a hair burner to the other side, executes 5 merkins, and mosey back to P2 who is holding a reverse plank. Flapjack only when the whole team is ready. Repeato x3
MARY: LBCs, merkins, flutters
ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Struggle is real. See tampalibra to secure your spot and participate with the men of 4:13.
See BWood General channel for other announcements
COT: All of the jobs these men compete for will require teamwork and reliance on the man next to them. We all have to be dependable for those around us, and we took some steps towards that today.