F3unky

AO: bomber
Q: Vector
PAX: hambone, porcelain, greyalbum, CubCadet, Tim the Toolman, Pep, t-cell, Sherlock, Chunks, Wolfpack, Papa Bear, Crawlspace, @CreamCheese, @Avalanche, @Topps, Waterboy
FNGs: 1 Waterboy
COUNT: 17
Continuing in the tradition of lessons in music history (previous classes included Disco, New Wave Post Punk, Old School Country, and @CubCadet ‘s favorite, Southern California Death Metal), YHC felt a Bomber Friday was the perfect time to teach a lesson on funk music. The playlist consisted of some of the greatest funk songs, but funky also means stinky. So, it’s time to break a sweat.

CONDITIONS: Perfectly funky

PLAYLIST:
Play That Funky Music – White Cherry
Get Down On It – Kool & the Gang
Funky town – Lipps Inc.
Low Rider – War
Shining Star – EWF
She’s a Bad Mama Jama – Carl Carlton
Flash Light – Parliament
Super Freak – Rick James (dammit)
Got to Give it Up – Marvin Gaye
Word Up – Cameo
Jungle Boogie – Kool & the Gang

WARMUP:
Mosey around baseball field to rec center and circle up.

THE THANG:

#1: Get Down On It: Side Straddle Hops while this funk classic plays. Every time the words “get down” are uttered, PAX do a jump squat. Reminder as we start that it’s a 5 minute song.

#2: Upper Body: 100 reps of incline merkins, dips, and underdogs. Run around rec center after each exercise.

#3: Legs: 100 reps (each leg = 1/2) of squats, iron mikes, and mountain climbers. Run around rec center after each exercise.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– Welcome FNG Waterboy, a UF Gator
– Prayers for Yuri and family
– 9 days left for the leanpaxers

Thanks as always for letting me lead you. The mumblechatter dropped off, so I’m hoping folks got funky while we got funky. Appreciate all of you for pushing me.
SYITG,
Vector

Discern the signs

AO: thestronghold
Q: morning star
PAX: Chunks, Skeet, Minnie Pearl, Wolfpack, baggervance, Dan and Dave, Decaf, Shocker (Mark Holmes), Red Skull, morning star, Woodpecker, D Pole, Wookie, Goldie Locks, Army Surplus, Yak, Frozen, Lost & Found, Evel Knievel, Sunshine, Neanderthal, Peach Pie, Prince’s Hot Chicken, Tatter Tot, Iron Flush, Mittens, Mr. Krabs, Long Horn, Bill Dance(?), Dantana, Cat Man
FNGs: 1 Cat Man
COUNT: 29
CONDITIONS: high 20’s and lively

5:30 – disclaimer given … YHC asked men to raise their hands if they were willing to take personal responsibility for their own safety. Modify as necessary.

WARMUP: mosey to the light, circle up … motivator x5, lazy imperial walkers x10, hard style low slow squats x11

YHC taught PAX how to do fast and loose drills (active recovery) … dubbed “Mickey’s” or “Soviet Sprinter Shakes” … the idea is to shake the tension out of your limbs as if you were shaking water off after a shower.

THE THANG: partner up and stay in a circle. 11 seconds of jump squats, then 49 seconds of active recovery …. for 30 minutes. pairs take turns carrying coupons around the basketball counts, completing 5 supermans between the far two goals.

PAX were instructed to transition from jump squats to SSH if they experienced 1 of 2 signs: lots their power on the jump or had trouble singing along/talking between sets of squats.

It was long and monotonous and we passed our time by encouraging each other, signing along with “Lean on me” (which was on repeat). The challenge was to stay mentally engaged the whole time; powerful jump squats and constant movement during active recovery.

Mary: baby crawl, bear crawl, cat crawl, imperial walkers, skipping … all done while moving in a circle.

MOLESKIN: YHC shared the story of when my mom kicked my dad out of our apartment when I was 13. Talked about how that flipped my world upside down. I cried myself to sleep that night, lonely and afraid. Ultimately my parents got divorced and my adolescence was an experience of me being emotionally orphaned; there was not a place in my home for my heart to express itself or grow in maturity.

YHC shared how I used to avoid my past, the painful memories and even grew to despise my story.

However, as I’ve leaned to go back to those traumatic moments, bring them into the light, share them with others … I’ve found the capacity to offer grace, kindness and tenderness to parts of my heart that were frozen in time. As I practice this, I grow in resilience.

Just as we had 2 signs that we used to transition exercises during the workout we also have signs that our heart and body gifts us with: emotions. Each emotion I experience can be a doorway into my story. And if I discern it and go back with curiosity and kindness I have an opportunity to find healing and ultimately grow in maturity.

New approach to consider: we accelerate our capacity to do hard things not by gritting our teeth but by offering tenderness to our hearts.

So, go forth and do the hard internal work … do it with a guide (a trusted friend or mentor or counselor) and see your maturity advance!

YCH blessed the PAX and we ended with “Heart on 3”.

Was wonderful to finally make it out to the stronghold.
– m out!

Cold, Fast Run

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Right Said, Judy, bluemule, Chunks, Hacker (Franklin), baggervance, Decaf, Young and Restless, Hair Band, Crawlspace, Woodpecker, D Pole, Wookie, Goldie Locks, Army Surplus, Yak, Frozen, Lost & Found, Evel Knievel, Sunshine, Neanderthal, Peach Pie, Prince’s Hot Chicken, Tatter Tot, Iron Flush, Mittens, Mr. Krabs, Long Horn
FNGs: 1 Long Horn
COUNT: 29
CONDITIONS: A Cold 30 Degrees

WARMUP: SSH, IW, Squats, WMH, Stretch

THE THANG: RUN!!! 3 mile loop around the 4:13 Strong campus.

A great effort this morning which resulted in an “All In” time of 36:00 and several PRs. We were fast enough today that we had time for a little Mary at the end: Burpees 10, 9, 8, 7 plus some Flutter Kicks and Hello Dollys.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Great work this morning. The 4:13 Strong men appreciate the encouragement and support that the F3 PAX bring to The Stronghold.

BlackLung Monday Mayhem #1

AO: westeros
Q: Black Lung
PAX: Spinal Tap, Crawlspace, Vector, Firefox, Pep, Chunks, Wolfpack, Siri, Natural Ice, Salpal, Grape, Tim the Toolman, Sherlock
FNGs: None
COUNT: 14
Chunks decided that once a month, Westeros is holding a “Monday Mayhem” with intentionally difficult workouts. I was honored to be invited for the inaugural event and did my best to deliver.

CONDITIONS: Cold and dreary
WARMUP: non-existant
THE THANG:
Burpee apocalypse (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3)
Run to tennis courts

Ab blaster:
30 WWIs, 30 4-ct flutter kicks, 20 leg lifts, 100 mountain climbers, 30 WWIs, 25 flutter kicks, 15 leg lifts, 50 mountain climbers, 20 WWIs

Tabata: (40 seconds exercise, 20 seconds rest); 3 sets per round (9 minutes):
Round 1: Jump Squats, Burpees, WWIIs
3 Tennis Court Sideline Suicide Runs

Round 2: Iron Mikes, Hand Release Merkins, LBCs
3 Tennis Court Sideline Suicide Runs

Run back to start just in time for 20 more hand-release merkins (~80 total) and 10 more burpees (~100 total)

Always a pleasure to lead. Thanks to Chunks for the invitation.

Oh, oh, it’s MAGIC

AO: titan
Q: Vector
PAX: Black Lung, Chunks, Detective Pikachu, DintyMoore, Firefox, Freakonomics, Good Morning America, greyalbum, hambone, Natural Ice, Pep, preacherman, Right Said, Salpal, Spinal Tap, Tim the Toolman, 15-Love
FNGs: 1 15-Love
COUNT: 18
As is often the case with a Vector Q, the workout planning involves weeks of theme playlist curating and then a frantic 24 hours of “crap, how do I create a workout to match my super cool playlist?” So, in that spirit:

While many may try to use instant supplements or crazy muscle building ideas to get swole, you can’t rely on magic to get fit. So in honor of Harry Houdini, born 150 years ago in 1874, I present a different kind of magic to get y’all in shape.

CONDITIONS: Damp yet perfect

WARMUP: Mosey around the parking lot to the far side of the Parthenon. Willy Mayes Hayes x 10, LBAC x 10, Seal claps x 10, Overhead Press x 10, Reverse LBAC x 10, and Good Mornings x 10 OHO

THE THANG:
MAGIC #1 – 150 reps of each exercise and a run around the Parthenon between each:
M – Merkins
A – Alabama Prom Dates
G – Gorilla Humpers (which I had to example multiple times . . . hmm)
I – Iron Mikes
C – Carolina Dry Docks
(Fair amount of mumbling that each leg should not count only 1/2 on these exercises . . . I did not waiver).

MAGIC #2: 150 reps but no running in between due to time
M: Mountain Climbers
A: Ass Kickers
G: Great Form Squats
I: Incline Merkins
C: Crunches (Little Baby)

Ended at time – welcomed FNG 15-Love a recently married tennis fan EH’d by Detective Pikachu.

PRAYERS: To Grey Album on impending adoption and associated stress, friend Yuri and family facing pancreatic cancer, and others I forgot (apologies!)

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hunger Games this weekend, Hike/Ruck with 2.0s to give M’s a break – see Slack for deets.

Honored to lead and that you all continue to tolerate my Q-uirkiness (see what I did there?) in leading . . . SYITG
Vector

First Tortoise & Hare of 2024

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: MySpace, Right Said, Chunks, Skeet, Hacker (Franklin), baggervance, bluemule, Decaf, Judy, Woodpecker, D Pole, Wookie, Goldie Locks, Army Surplus, Yak, Frozen, Lost & Found, Evel Knievel, Sunshine, Neanderthal, Peach Pie, Princess, Tatter Tot, Iron Flush, Mittens, Mr. Krabs
FNGs: None
COUNT: 27
CONDITIONS:
Slippery, Sloppy, 46 degrees

WARMUP:
SSH, Squats, WMH, IW, Stretch

THE THANG:
3 Miles loop, Intervals (2 min run / 1 min walk)
All in time of 38:19
45 seconds of Mary

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Great first run for this class!

Winter Wonderland

AO: westeros
Q: Grape
PAX: Chunks, Pep, Black Lung, Red Skull, MySpace, Uke (F3 Geneva, IL), DintyMoore
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
CONDITIONS: cold, but not that cold

WARMUP: 1 mile run to find dry ground
SSH
LBAC F
LBAC R
Seal claps
OH claps

THE THANG: Today was about doing the same thing over and over

Dora 1-2-3-4
100 Squats
200 Newton’s cradle
300 OH Press
400 WWI’s
(Did anyone realize we spelled snow?)
Partner ran up the hill and back down (wouldn’t call it a sprint, too dangerous)

3 minutes of Lt. Dans to end

ANNOUNCEMENTS: hunger games on 1/27
H’ville has @chunks on Q on 1/27 as well
Prayers for Uke and @myspace on their pending children

🍇

Line of Sadness

AO: hendersonville
Q: Sunshine
PAX: Pep, Splitter, Cuban Missile, Hair Band, Chunks, Disc Jockey
FNGs: 1 Disc Jockey
COUNT: 7
CONDITIONS:
Sub-freezing w/ strong winds

WARMUP:
Mosey, Abe Vigodas, Imperial Walkers, SSH

THE THANG:
3 Stations, 3 exercises at each. PAX complete 5 reps of each exercise. After finishing Station 3, return to Station 1, completing 10 reps. Reps increase by 5 each round. Repeat until Mary.

Station 1
-Merkins
-Dips
-Shoulder Taps

Station 2
-Bolt 45s

Station 3
-Big Boys
-American Hammers
-Leg Lifts

Mary
-Ring of Fire (2 rounds, 2 Merkins each)
-Captain Thors (4 rounds)
-SSH
-Plank till the end

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Turn It Up To 11!!!

AO: greenmachine
Q: Toothless
PAX: Focker, Grape, Goose, moneyshot, Chunks, Betty Ford, Topanga, Rocket Mortgage, bluemule, Cowboy, Black Lung, Sherlock, Pedialyte, Esposa, monster biscuit, DintyMoore
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
CONDITIONS: Clear, still dark, crisp like a cold seltzer (definitely not a cold beer these days #leanpax 👀)

WARM-O-RAMA

In lot to catch stragglers
– Side straddle hops x 30
– Willy mays hays
– High knees
– Windmills
– Butt kickers
– Carrot pullers
– Mosey to field

THE THANG

11s V1
– Hand-release merkins
– Squat jumps
– Mosey to 20 yd line, Bernie back

11s V2
– Big boy sit-ups
– Prisoner squats
– Mosey to 20 yd line, Bernie back

4 Corners
Partnered, Dora style, one exercise at each corner, wait for six before rotating to next corner.

Travel exercise was to run out to 50 yd line, side shuffle across field, Bernie back to end zone, then shuffle back across goal line.

– 50 Body builders
– 100 Supermans
– 200 Dry docks
– 400 American hammers

MOLESKINE
The side shuffles were a crowd “pleaser”, with several “compliments” along the way. “That’s where I’m most likely to be sore, in one of those muscles right in here” – Black Lung, as he gestures to his pelvic box 👀

Playlist was a set from the Rock Band video game. Witnessed Grape and Focker reliving their glory days as singer and drummer 🎤 🥁 🎸

CIRCLE OF TRUST
– Grape shared
– Dinty is moving down street to finished renovation, details for moving day to come

Shield Lock
This is a group of 3-5 guys who are consistently spending time with one another, ready to lock shields in support against life’s challenges. Do you have one? Are you investing in those relationships outside the family structure that will be there through ups and downs? I encourage you to build those relationships before you need them, you’ll be glad you did.

f3nation.com/q/shield-lock/

‘24 Kickoff: Discover you have abdominals

AO: westeros
Q: Hair Band
PAX: sooner, Pep, Siri, Chunks, Black Lung, Natural Ice, Tim the Toolman, DintyMoore, Sherlock, CubCadet, bluemule
FNGs: None
COUNT: 13
CONDITIONS: chilly willy

WARMUP:
50 SSHs
Cherry picker-good mornings
Calf stretches
Imperial walkers
Hillbillies
Air presses
Michael phelps

MARY:
5min Hair Band Mary (rest position V sit)
Each exercise goes to 24

THE THANG:
Run to love circle
Stop along the way for

– Marion Barbers on bridge
– 24 Metronomes at top of first hill where grass & gravel is

Do a wrap around love circle

Ascend Love Circle
– plank till all in
– 24 j-los with elbow knee tap

Run back to start-x
WW1s til all in

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– #leanpax is in full swing!
– Brewruck Saturday after Leanpax ends