8-Count Body Builders!

Date: 2026-08-20 AO: The Stronghold Q: Hipster , Red Skull PAX: Young and Restless, Hipster, Red Skull, toga, Barney, Right Said, Decaf, Dr. Brown Slip, Zummies, Gumbo, Micro Soft, Sweet Tooth, Purple Rain, Stick Death, Cuties, Pinto, Blue Cheese, Dory, Krabby Patty FNGs: None COUNT: -15 CONDITIONS: Absolutely Perfect – wet, rainy with a little thunder
WARMUP: Started with a mosey to the front school lot; YHC was unsatisfied with the effort to extended the mosey to the NSA parking lot. The warm up included a Scorpion Stretch to ensure our front side was wet and some WW1 to get the backside wet.
THE THANG: After demonstrating how to count and execute the 8-count body builder movement, each 4:13 Strong man came in the middle, introduced himself and told us one thing he had learned about himself over the past 40 Days. Then he lead us in 5 8-count body builders. That brought our 8-count body builder count to 60.
Mosey to the Smokestack parking lot where each 4:13 Strong man told us about a goal and then led us in another 5 8-count body builders bring our total to 115.
Mosey back to the NSA lot where toga led us in the final 5 to get our total up to 120.
Mosey back to the StartEx and time was up.
MARY: No time for Mary today
MOLESKINE: So thankful for the rain this morning. There is nothing better than getting a man into adverse conditions to help him realize that he can do hard and uncomfortable things. There was a lot of self pity this morning as the 4:13 Strong were feeling sorry for themselves for getting a little wet. The perfect way to end the 40 Day Challenge. Thanks to bluemule for the workout idea and the F3 PAX that joined us.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Signing Day is tomorrow at 11:30am. Come join us.
COT: Prayers for guidance and wisdom as these men transition into the Work Phase of the program.

Tortoise and Hair – Final Run!

Date: 2026-08-18 AO: Tortoise and Hair Q: Red Skull , PAX: Red Skull, Right Said, Decaf, Dr. Brown Slip, Zummies, Gumbo, Micro Soft, Sweet Tooth, Purple Rain, Stick Death, Cuties, Pinto, Blue Cheese, Dory, Krabby Patty FNGs: None COUNT: 15 CONDITIONS: Weather was perfect, attitudes were off
WARMUP: Standard Pre-Run Warm-Up: SSH, Windmills, Squats, IWs, Runners Stretch, Stretch and hold
THE THANG: Run!! The challenge was for everyone to come in under 30:00. The challenge was NOT accepted.
MARY: Purple Rain ran Mary – SSH, Merkins, Flutters, APDs and more SSH to finish
MOLESKINE: The worst time to give up is at the finish line. Overall attitude and effort was poor and 7 of the 11 men chose to coast today, thinking they had already done enough.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Signing Day is this Friday 8/21 at 11:30am. Come join us, encourage this class on to the next phase and enjoy a free lunch of Hot Chicken and Mac & Cheese.
COT: Prayers for patience

Tortoise and Hair – Run #5

Date: 2026-08-11 AO: Tortoise and Hair Q: Red Skull , PAX: Right Said, Decaf, Dr. Brown Slip, Pearl (Jonathan Halter), Red Skull, Zummies, Gumbo, Cat Woman, Micro Soft, Sweet Tooth, Stick Death, Cuties, Pinto, Blue Cheese, Dory, Krabby Patty FNGs: 11 Zummies, Gumbo, Cat Woman, Micro Soft, Sweet Tooth, Stick Death, Cuties, Pinto, Blue Cheese, Dory, Krabby Patty COUNT: 16 CONDITIONS: 73 degree and HUMID!
WARMUP: Standard Pre-Run Warm-Up – SSH, Windmills, Squats, IWs, Stretches
THE THANG: RUN!! 3 miles around the campus
MARY: Dr. Brown Slip started us off as we did some PAX choice ab work in the circle.
MOLESKINE: 9 out of 12 are coming in below 30 mins. We have one more run and three men needing a push to get to 30 mins. The furthest away finished at 33:35 so it is a real possibility.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Signing Day is next Friday, 8/21 at 11:30am
COT: Prayers for endurance, guidance, family and court.

Tortoise and Hair – Run #4

Date: 2026-08-04 AO: Tortoise and Hair Q: Red Skull , PAX: Dr. Brown Slip, Wham-O, Young and Restless, Right Said, Barney, Decaf, Red Skull, Zummies, Gumbo, Cat Woman, Micro Soft, Sweet Tooth, Purple Rain, Stick Death, Cuties, Pinto, Blue Cheese, Dory, Krabby Patty, T-Bone, Top Chef FNGs: None COUNT: 21 CONDITIONS: Unbelievably beautiful August morning – 72 degrees and low humidity
WARMUP: Windmills, SSH, Tappy Taps, Squats, Stretches
THE THANG: RUN!!! We had 7/12 4:13 Strong men set PR’s this morning. What a strong showing for this class at the 4-week mark!
Only 3 men have yet to break the 30 min mark. With two more Tuesday runs remaining, it is looking like a real possibility to have everyone break 30 mins!
MARY: We had a short Mary this morning as we knocked off five minutes early in celebration of the overall strong effort demonstrated.
MOLESKINE: Zummies shared some deep thoughts as he reflected on seeing trash along Foster Ave this morning after this class cleaned the street on Saturday.
COT: Prayers for family, strength and wisdom.

Tortoise and Hair

Date: 2026-07-21 AO: Tortoise and Hair Q: Red Skull , PAX: Young and Restless, Red Skull, Pearl (Jonathan Halter), Right Said, Chunks, Barney, Decaf, Zummies, Gumbo, Cat Woman, Micro Soft, Sweet Tooth, Purple Rain, Stick Death, Cuties, Pinto, Blue Cheese, Dory, Krabby Patty FNGs: None COUNT: 19 CONDITIONS: HUMID!!!
WARMUP: Standard pre-run workout – SSH, IWs, Squats, Windmills, Stretches, WMY and Good Mornings OYO.
THE THANG: RUN!!
MARY: Sets of 21, PAX Choice: Burpees, Alabama Prom Date, WWIs, Merkins, Flutters and Hello Dolly’s
MOLESKINE: 6 out of 12 4:13 Strong men set a new PR today. Five 4:13 Strong men are already below 30 mins. This could be the class where everyone breaks 30!
COT: Prayers for strength, wisdom and guidance

Tortoise and Hair

Date: 2026-07-14 AO: Tortoise and Hair Q: Red Skull , PAX: SalPal, Barney, Dr. Brown Slip, Red Skull, Decaf, Right Said, Hipster, hambone, Wham-O, Pom Pom, Toe Jam, Sweet Tooth, Purple Rain, Zummies, Cuties, FNG1, FNG2, FNG3, FNG4, FNG5, FNG6, FNG7, FNG8, FNG9, FNG10 FNGs: 10 FNG1, FNG2, FNG3, FNG4, FNG5, FNG6, FNG7, FNG8, FNG9, FNG10 COUNT: 25 CONDITIONS: 72 degrees, humid but light
WARMUP: Standard pre-run warm-up with some Windmills thrown in for fun: SSH, IWs, Windmills, Squats, Stretches, WMH, Good Mornings
THE THANG: Find a group and RUN!!!
MARY: Post run party hosted by SalPal. The party had great attendance but not everyone had fun!
MOLESKINE: We have another fast class. Our last man was in at 36:16 today….a great time for the first run. Our first man was in at 22:15. If you are looking for a good Tuesday workout, Tortoise & Hare is the place to be.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: First bootcamp workout this Thursday. Come join us and help name the 10 men who need names.
COT: Practiced the count-off and the namarama. Prayers for open ears, soft hearts, focus and endurance.

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.

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.

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:

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.