4-Stop Neighborhood Burn

AO: the-knoll
Q: El Capitan
PAX: Siri, El Capitan, Malibu, Sooie, Stubs, Wolfpack, Papa Bear, Sparrow, Pebbles, Pitmaster, @FLO, @AAA, @Iowa (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 13
CONDITIONS: Just cold enough

WARMUP:

SSH x25
Bacs & BacBacs
Yes, No, Maybes
Willie Mays Hays
Down Dog
Runners stretch
Back Stretches
Butterfly with deep breathing exercise

THE THANG:

Part 1

Neighborhood Mosey with work at four stopping points.

At each stop: 10 burpees, 15 overhead presses, 20 crunches, 25 squats

Rest :60 after each burn + share the 5 core principles of F3 + mission & credo

Final stop: plank crawl along curb as a group from one lit lamppost to another

Part 2: Cooldown

>From curb, as a group, slow lunge up the hill.

We played three rounds of Bear Crawl Battle Royale (Iowa was the juggernaut!)

Round of MARY

MOLESKINE:

My family has been out with the flu the last week & a half and my wife, unfortunately, has had the worst round of it. It has been humbling as a father & a dad to take care of her and my girls while she’s been sick. I’ve felt incompetent and clueless at times but it’s also been a good experience to grow. I’ve enjoyed the increased time spent with my girls as we’ve recovered together. Embrace those moments of incompetence & grow from them! It’s a good reminder of how much teamwork parenting & running a house requires. :pray:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Joy & thanksgiving for Sparrow’s new little one and for his wife’s healthy delivery!

Mystery V-Q on Thursday!! :party_parrot: :olive:

COT:

Nameorama, Countorama, and coffeteria enjoyed.

Grateful for y’all!

:el-capitan:

Return to Cinder

AO: the-knoll
Q: Half Lyfe
PAX: El Capitan, Lady Liberty, Malibu, morning stār, Pebbles, Stubs, 2 2.0 Iowa, Samwise?
FNGs: None
COUNT: 9
CONDITIONS: Frosty 14 degs.

WARMUP: SSH, BAC, BBAC, High Knees, Good Mornings, WMH’s, mosey to get coupons.

THE THANG: Tribute Sooie with modified exercise challenge. Instead of planks did Cinder block arm extension in front hold until your not able to. Run to tree line and back. First person out (me) did jumping lunges. Did 2 rounds then started various exercises some with and some without cinder block. Push Ups alternating which hand is on block, bent over row, overhead thrusters with block, shoulder press, pull ups, curl/press/tricep, extension, on back leg press towards sky, mosey to concrete bench. Did steps ups with block, box jumps and dips with block on legs. Back to playground. Did some agility with block. Jump over side to side for 30sec, then side to side step ups for 30sec. Ended with more push ups and modified mountain climbers for some abs. Mosey back to return coupons.

MOLESKINE: Getting outside comfort zone. Applies to many areas of life, work, relationships, kids, F3, etc. Good to have routine, but also good to mix it up. Don’t get stuck!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bellevue ADA Playground Equip meeting tonight. Reach out Stubs for details. LeanPax on going. Pitmaster VQ tmrw at Pain Train.

COT: Prayers for those battling and impacted by Cali wild fires, Stubs friend who had a stroke, and Mental health.

Memory Game Part Deux!

AO: the-knoll
Q: El Capitan
PAX: Pitmaster, Sparrow, morning stār, Sooie, Half Lyfe, Stubs, El Capitan, @Bumblebee (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
CONDITIONS: :cold_face:

TUNES: “Lost in the Dream” by War on Drugs

WARMUP:

Climb stretch routine (1.5x speed)
Joint work!
Overhead presses
Seal claps
Moroccan Night Clubs
Motivators to 7

THE THANG:

18 pairs of cards, each with a workout written on them.

PAX will circle around cards & take turns drawing.
If the cards drawn don’t match, all PAX will perform both card’s exercises 5x

If cards do match, no exercise is performed & the drawer can draw again.

Repeat until all cards are matched

Exercises:

happy crunchy frogs
Bulgarian split squats (2 is 1)
Mountain climbers (2 is 1)
Dips
SSH (4 count)
Cherry Pickers
Step Ups (2 is 1)
Flutter kicks (4 is 1)
Elevated Merkins
Burpees
Sky Thrusters
Broken Bicycle
Yerkins (clap merkins)
Lunges (2 is 1)
WW1 Snow Angel
hacky sacks (4 is 1)
Ukrainian hammers
Don Quixotes (4 count)

Welcome the New Year with 25 pull-ups! (Deduct the number of matched cards you found from your total).

MOLESKINE:

Shared how I really enjoyed the Q workout on Tuesday & was excited to create a Volume 2 for today. Sometimes the formula works when you’re Q’ing multiple times – take what works, tweak it a bit, and share it with the PAX!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

LeanPax starts soon!

TClaps to morning stār for writing up a letter to our local government leaders in favor of adding ADA-compliant playground equipment to the-knoll! Thanks also to Stubs for bringing it to our attention. :muscle:

COT:

Nameorama, Countorama, prayers of gratitude lifted up, and :el-capitan: :coffee: enjoyed.

Memory Game 2024

AO: the-knoll
Q: El Capitan
PAX: Half Lyfe, Papa Bear, Stubs, AAA, El Capitan, @TheJudge (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 6
CONDITIONS: Low 40s & overcast

WARMUP:

– Pilates flow stretches
– Run to tree line & back (25%, 50%, 100%)

THE THANG:

18 pairs of cards, each with a workout written on them.

PAX will circle around cards & take turns drawing.

If the cards drawn don’t match, all PAX will perform both card’s exercises 5x

If cards do match, no exercise is performed & the drawer can draw again.

Repeat until all cards are matched

We ended with 4 minutes to spare so waved goodbye to 2024 with 24 pull-ups.

MOLESKINE:

As we begin the new year, who in your life could you reach out to that’s lonely or “broken”? The memory game caused me to remember those in my family that struggle with mental issues or are sick and spend a lot of time alone or only with a caregiver. If every person is an Image-bearer, then every person is worthy of respect & your compassion. Who can you spend more time with in the New Year that could use a friend?

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

LeanPax begins 01/01. Q schedule for the-knoll is open for January!

COT:

Countorama, Nameorama, and closed with a prayer of thanksgiving + supplication for the sick.

Thank you Half Lyfe for bringing the coffee!

Grateful for y’all.

:el-capitan:

Lots of Bear Crawling

AO: the-knoll
Q: Pebbles
PAX: Dr. Stogie, morning stār, Stubs, Wolfpack, El Capitan, Malibu
FNGs: None
COUNT: 7
CONDITIONS: Cool Pleasant

WARMUP: Mosey to collect coupons
BACs
BBACs
Slow merkins
Slow squats

THE THANG:
4 stations
Pull ups
Squats
WWIIs
Kettle bell swings

2:30 of work, 30 sec rest, move to next station
PAX operated in pairs. One bear crawled around playground while other worked.

10 stations completed, 30 min of hard work.

MOLESKINE:
It was awesome to watch everyone push themselves to their own ability. Bear crawls are tough. There was very little rest between sets.
Tclaps to Malibu for starting with a weighted vest
Welcome back Kotter to Dr. Stogie 🔥

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Leanpax starts in 2 weeks. Check any channel on slack.

Bring a gift on Thursday for a fun swap.

COT: Prayers for charity/peace with family and for loved ones nearing the end of this life.

Simplify

AO: the-knoll
Q: El Capitan
PAX: morning stār, Sparrow, Stubs, El Capitan, FLO, Half Lyfe, Papa Bear, Pebbles, Pitmaster, Sooie, @Bumblebee (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
CONDITIONS: damp & foggy; mid-50s

WARMUP:

10 minutes of Pilates Warrior Flow with speed cardio mixed in (mountain climbers, scissor kicks)

THE THANG:

Part 1: Held a 90-30-Run around the Flood Table

Workouts included:
1. Elevated merkins
2. dips
3. Step-ups
4. Elevated shoulder taps
5. Elevated crunches

Work for 90 seconds, rest for 30 seconds, run to backstop & back as a group.

Discussed the F3 Mission Statement, Credo, and what F3 means to us as men during the rest breaks.

Part 2: Light Battle

Split into two teams / three light-up cones per side

Object of game is to change color of all three lights of other team first by hitting the (hard-to-push) buttons.

If you are tagged (two hand touch) by a defender, you must return to your side’s end zone & perform 5 Lt. Dan’s before returning to game.

MOLESKINE:

December is an extremely busy month. I’m grateful for the opportunity to simplify with a straight-forward workout & focus on stretching (something I haven’t had time to do in weeks!). I encouraged the Pax to remember the Advent season with the word “Immanuel” (God with us). The birth of Jesus & His Presence with us through the Holy Spirit is a great comfort in the chaos.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

LeanPax starts in January. Enjoy those treats while you can. 😀

COT: Countorama, Nameorama, and ended with Mountain Mojo + Mochas.

I’m grateful for y’all! :el-capitan:

The freedom of forgiveness

AO: the-knoll
Q: morning stār
PAX: Timber, AAA, Sparrow, Half Lyfe, El Capitan, Étouffée, Papa Bear, Pebbles, morning stār, Pitmaster, Bumble bee (2.0), Shmoltz (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 12
CONDITIONS: chilly and windy

WARMUP: moved all the joints and some SSH

THE THANG: each packed picked up a coupon or two; this was their burden for the pilgrimage ahead.

We spent most of the time in the gloom walking in essential silence reflecting on parts of our lives that were painful.

We paused for body builder burpees, bird dogs and dead bugs with some step ups thrown in there.

YHC then invited each PAX to practice forgiveness through a simple yet practical process.

MOLESKINE: it was a pleasure sharing this sacred space with you all.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– leanpax is coming
– cold plunge battle happening at the-knoll on thursday; bring a down. Your clothes wont’ get wet unless it rains.

COT: YHC shared how forgiving myself for the consequences of my choices around toothcare in childhood has liberated me from regret, fear and anxiety.

May we all grow in the courageous skill of forgiveness,
-m*

Keep it Simple

AO: the-knoll
Q: Wolfpack
PAX: Hair Band, El Capitan, Timber, Sooie, The Banker, FLO, Parka-Eh, Pitmaster, Pebbles, Papa Bear, Malibu, Half Lyfe, morning stār, Link, Bumblebee, Schmoltz, Goliath, Ace, Monkey, Dr.Kitty, Taz
FNGs: None
COUNT: 22
CONDITIONS: Little wet, but temp was right

WARMUP: Jog around the Knoll while the 2.0’s call out various movements to get those joints loose.

THE THANG:
Tabata: 30 seconds on 10 seconds rest. 4 exercises in a round. 4 rounds total:
– Merkins
– Mountain Climbers
– Squats
– High Knees

VCR
Split up into pairs. One PAX is the VHS and the other has the remote. If remote runs backwards, the VHS goes in slow motion. If remote runs forwards, the VHS goes fast. If the remote pauses, the VHS holds it’s current position in the exercise.

4 rounds of Squats
4 rounds of Merkins

5 minutes of Yoga then 10 minutes of Mary

MOLESKINE: Little bit of mumble chatter. Lots of 2.0’s today, which always makes it fun!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: morning stār on Q next week with so get ready for some cold cold ice plunges.

COT: In NoNoiseNovember I have reflected on some of the key writings I find important. I’ve found that these are broken out into three categories that really feed off of each other. So a reminder to PAX to make sure you have a FOUNDATION to build your ACTIONS off of so that you can push into the unknown and GROW. For me, I use the Tao Te Ching for my Foundation, The Four Agreements for Action and Emerson’s Self Reliance for Growth. Find what works for you and take the time to read and reflect

KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid)

AO: the-knoll
Q: G-string
PAX: Stubs, AAA, Pebbles, Timber, morning stār, El Capitan, Sooie, Ex-Pat, Siri, Papa Bear, Sparrow, Bumblebee, the Judge, Rubix
FNGs: None
COUNT: 16
CONDITIONS: Cool and damp

WARMUP:
– SSH
– Seal Claps
– Overhead Press
– Mission and Credo while stretching
– High Plank with 5 merkins for each of the 5 core principles

THE THANG:
– Brief run to the far stop sign with stops
– 10 Burpees
– Politician two houses
– 10 Iron Mikes
– Karaoke two houses
– Wounded Bear Crawl
MAIN THANG: Partner up for a DORA
– 100 Pullups
– 200 Bulgarian Split Squats
– 30 yard Bear-crawl
– One partner crawls while the other does reps. Alternate bear-crawl and crawl-bear

Count the number of sets each pair took to complete the work (35 total). 7 PAX over the HC count (thought it was 8 because I didn’t count the 2.0 HC).
Set out to finish with 8 sets of:
– 35 merkins
– Hill Sprint

T-Claps to Timber, Pebbles, and AAA for completing six sets.

MOLESKINE:
I tried for a long while to come up with a super involved workout that would have taken as much time to explain as it would to do. But then I remembered to just keep it simple. Do lots of just a few exercises, and it’ll work. Sometimes I get so bogged down in the details that I forget simplicity. How often things go better if we do them the straightforward way.
Also, we often say to “modify as necessary,” with the thought of modifying down, but what about modifying up? How often do we challenge ourselves and really try hard? Today I wore a weight vest to challenge myself a bit more, and it was brutal! I felt like it was my first workout all over again. Seek out challenges when they are available.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
none

COT:
-Thankful for our veterans

4 Minutes Ain’t Nothin’

AO: the-knoll
Q: Timber
PAX: El Capitan, Ex-Pat, Sooie, G-string, Sparrow, Pebbles, Papa Bear, Wolfpack, Stubs, Timber, Smoltz (2.0), Rubiks (2.0), Link (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 13
CONDITIONS: Chilly (43 degrees), damp, dark

WARMUP: SSH, Slow Merkins, Slow Squats, Don Quixotes, High Knees (talked about F3 mission, 5 core principles, credo between exercises)

THE THANG: AMRAP; 6 exercises, 4 minutes each, 1 minute rest in between
Exercises:
1. Burpees,
2. LT Dans (10, 15 yard murder bunny w/coupon, 9, murder bunny, etc.)
3. Perfect Merkins
4. Squats (level up option w/coupon)
5. Floor to Ceiling (coupon)
6. WWIIs
*option to jog 50 yrds and back for a break at any point during the 4 minutes

MOLESKINE: Hoping for dry grass, we got wet grass. No worries, the men of the knoll executed instructions with minimal mumble chatter. Everyone layered up nicely, and quickly began to shed layers. El Capitan provided some warm coffee afterwards to warm up the bones. Good push by all.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chiliteria this Sunday @ Shelby Park from 12:30p-2:30p. Sign up docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17_9407aYu87ZAMPuzUaCmJ3WaD7bwOyDyOxLUXz_BP8/edit?gid=0#gid=0!

COT: My youngest’s 4th birthday is today (where is time going??) which has caused me to reflect on slowing down time and reflecting on each day I have. God has gifted us so much, including each day. Whenever I’ve given a gift to someone, I’ve wanted them to cherish it and use it. May we do the same with God’s gifts – show gratitude for our lives, pour into those around us, and not take our gifts and challenges for granted.

Thanks for putting in the work with me this morning, men!
-Timber