Unexpected Birthday

AO: iiipillars
Q: Michelin Man , t-cell
PAX: princessaurora, Pep, Grape, Michelin Man, t-cell, Haggis, Shania, Choo Choo, LorelaiG, Two Face, Priscilla, Harbaugh, Formica, Paw Patrol, Sour Dough
FNGs: 1 Sour Dough
COUNT: 15
CONDITIONS: pumpkin spice drops from Starbucks today y’all.

WARMUP: YHC handed the speaker to t-cell and then gave an unexpected birthday present in the form of my Q. Congrats t-cell. Make it up as you go.

THE THANG: t-cell ran us to the track where we did a lap and then did 46 Side Straddle Hops, followed by various stretches. t-cell then began to come into his own with 3 rounds of DIDs (30/15/10) with one lap around the track between each set.

t-cell followed with 4 rounds of 6 burpees each with a lap around the track between each set.

t-cell continued in fine form by lining the PAX up on the end line and running through sets of 46 of various sets of exercises, starting with drop squats and also featuring merkins, jump squats, lieutenant Dans, wide arm merkins, and other sundries, with a run down the field and back after each set.

t-cell then had the PAX proceed to sprint down the field and back followed by either 4 or 6 pullups to finish. YHC chose 4 pullups of substandard quality.

t-cell then finished his master class on impromptu birthday Qs with 46 perfect form Happy Crunchy Frogs In Cadence. Wow. Even princessaurora stopped partway through.

MOLESKINE: YHC and princessaurora cooked up this surprise birthday present (with no approval from Grape). It just goes to show y’all, “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” Thank you t-cell for the unexpected birthday Q and for introducing me to F3 seven (eight?) years ago.

3 is a magic number

AO: iiipillars
Q: Grape
PAX: YumYum, Swiffer, princessaurora, Two Face, Haggis, Shania, t-cell, wardas1, Canned Heat, Will Norton, LorelaiG, Harbaugh, Tigger, Doogie, Swan Song, Husky of Wall Street, Paw Patrol
FNGs: 3 Swan Song, Husky of Wall Street, Paw Patrol
COUNT: 20
CONDITIONS: love to be with my friends

WARMUP: Good mornings
SSH
Low and slow squats
LBAC
Stretch

THE THANG: Groups of 3

300 squats
300 merkins
Run the field as the timer

One lap as a group

300 American hammers
300 dry docks
Run the field as the timer

One lap as a group

300 dips
300 WW1’s
Run the field as the timer

Sprint-off

Back to circle for 5MoM

:grapes:

III Pillars – 07.15.25 – “Crystal Clear”

AO: iiipillars
Q: princessaurora
PAX: LorelaiG, t-cell, Choo Choo, Haggis, Swiffer, Go Fish, Pep
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
8 PAX were gathered here today to celebrate YHC’s 15th anniversary F3-style. Conditions were just as steamy as they were that hot July night in 2010, but the company left a little to be desired in comparison.

THE THANG:

After a brief disclaimer and a couple of laps around the track while I fumbled with the Bluetooth speaker, we circled up for:

SSH x 15

Shoulder Mobility
– Prone Alternating External Rotations
– Prone Presses

Hip Mobility
– 90-90 Alternating Internal Rotations
– 90-90 Pigeon
– 90-90 Heel/Knee Raises
– WMH x 10

Quick trip to the wall to hit a seated scapula stretch and then it was time for the show.

The traditional 15th anniversary gift is crystal, so I wanted to share that with all today.

PAX perform one set of 15 of each exercise below, followed by one lap around the track. After each lap, PAX drop one rep for the set (14, 13…1) and continue to do so until finished or time.

– Clerkin
– Reverse Crunch
– Y-Raise
– Squat
– Toe Touched
– Ab Thruster
– Lateral Lunge

Just as expectations are often unmet in marriage, so went our routine as most only got down in the 9-10 range.

Mosey back to startex for COT/BOM

MOLESKINE:

Today’s playlist was brought to you by my wife. Some fun facts about it: not only did I play it blind (my only direction for her was that it needs to be 45 minutes), but it was also her first playlist. I believe most would agree she nailed it. Consider yourselves lucky, gentlemen. I know I do.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

CSAUP 50-Miler 8/29. Hit up Chunks with any questions.

COT:

We took this time for everybody to share some piece of wisdom applicable either specific to marriage or to life in general, and wise words were shared indeed. Thank you for that.

Prayers for navigating health issues, familial strife, and relationships.

Always a pleasure to lead and be led at iiiP!

PA out.

Graduation

AO: iiipillars
Q: Will Norton
PAX: Grape, Haggis, Go Fish, Baguette, YumYum, princessaurora, Pep, Harbaugh, Shania, Sherlock, gov’t mule, wardas1, LorelaiG
FNGs: None
COUNT: 14
CONDITIONS: humid

WARMUP: SSH

THE THANG: iiiPillars

1. Academic excellence: 8 burpees, 5 pull ups, 30 BBSU’s, rinse and repeat
2. Passion for Christ: 8 dips, 15 flutters, 20 merkins, rinse and repeat
3. Leadership development: relay sprints

Mary and mosey

COT: prayers for Lorelai with his father passing away a couple of weeks ago, prayers for some of the SPCA teachers who are battling cancer, prayers for summer, and others

Songbirds of a Generation

AO: iiipillars
Q: Grape
PAX: Go Fish, Sherlock, gov’t mule, t-cell, Shania, Black Lung, Pep, YumYum, Swiffer, Haggis
FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
CONDITIONS: good

WARMUP: normal

THE THANG: Tabata workout (1 minute on, 15 second rest), 2 rounds with a lap in between each group

SCOTT (staggered merkins, Caroline dry docks, OH press, twist merkins, tricep dips)
STAPP (squats, Turkish getups, Apollo ohnos, prisoner squats, pulse lunge)
CHAD (crunchy frogs, hollow body hold, APD’s, dead bugs)

:grapes:

April Fools

AO: iiipillars
Q: Grape
PAX: princessaurora, Go Fish, Shania, Canned Heat, t-cell, Pep, Haggis, Swiffer
FNGs: None
COUNT: 9
CONDITIONS: cold again

WARMUP:

While the origins of April Fool’s day are disputed, some believe it traces all the way back to Noah, when Noah sent the dove out from the ark on April 1 while there was still water all around, which was a foolish thing to do.

SSH
5 Burpees
SSH
4 Burpees
LBAC F
3 Burpees
LBAC F
2 Burpees
LBAC R
1 Burpee
LBAC R
Stretch
Mosey, but then stop every so often to do 10 merkins

THE THANG:

Circle up and do Webb Jacks
40 OH press, 10 merkins, 10 plank jacks
36, 9, 9, etc.

Partner up Dora
400 Flutters
300 OH Press
Switch partners midway through
200 O squats
100 Leg lifts
Partner runs backwards down and back on the field

Plank until failure

Mosey back to startex

MOLESKINE: don’t get distressed when life throws chaos at you

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Plankpril, Spring Fling, Brewsday, check slack

COT: prayers for Ms. Webb, Ms. Mullis, Sam Savage, kids’ mental health, wisdom in prioritizing life’s responsibilities

:grapes:

Redemption Tour

AO: iiipillars
Q: Focker
PAX: t-cell, Grape, Harbaugh, gov’t mule, Haggis, Shania, Pep, Sherlock, wardas1, Swiffer, Canned Heat, Young and Restless, princessaurora, Howitzer, Big Bird
FNGs: 1 Big Bird
COUNT: 16
CONDITIONS: near tropical

WARMUP: stretches followed by mental math consisting of pull ups to failure, multiply by 5 and do squats, multiply by 2 and do crunches

THE THANG:
On track do the following:
-5 dive bomber push ups
-15 monkey humpers
-20 WW1
Run around track with straightaway sprints

-5 kick throughs
-15 jump squats
-20 dry docks
Run the opposite way
Broke this up by 2 sets of 10,20,30 DIDS

Mosey to start with one legged burpees and Mary to end it

MOLESKINE: lots of grumbling about the math. Yacht rock playlist really was enjoyed by all. Great way to set an intimate mood for the FNG

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Merlin Madness

COT: prayers for shared sorrow and shared joys!
“Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark” James 3:5
^i was an idiot in my marriage yesterday with my words. Learn from my mistakes

III Pillars – 11.05.2024 – Election Day Special

AO: -f3-nashville-general
Q: princessaurora
PAX: t-cell, Black Lung, Grape, gov’t mule, Swiffer, wardas1, Will Norton, Red Skull, Pep, caprate, Go Fish, Haggis, Baguette, Tackle Box, Two Face, YumYum, Harbaugh, Full Monty
FNGs: None
COUNT: 19
CONDITIONS:
Unseasonably warm, likely due to the hot takes surrounding potential election results

THE THANG:
Today, we’d be campaigning through battleground states to earn the votes needed to win the election. Given we’re a two-party system, PAX were split into red and blue teams, and, thanks to Black Lung showing up right on time (a.k.a. 5 minutes late) YHC was able to remain a neutral election official.

After a mosey to and around the track, our first opportunity to win votes was a “debate” in the form of one lap around the track. PAX were told to select one candidate to represent their party, with Howitzer stepping in for Blue and Formica for Red.

BUT WAIT A SECOND…it’s been determined that both were no longer fit to hold office and, bypassing the primary, selected Red Skull (Blue) and Pep (Red) as new candidates. In a extremely tight race, Red Skull edged out Pep by a stride handing Blue 10 points.

Blue – 10 | Red – 0

Moving on to the battleground “state”ions! Each party’s goal is to get as many votes (reps) as possible in the time allotted.

“State”ion 1 (30 electoral votes)
Ballot Box Jumps – 4:00

WINNER: Blue

Blue – 40 | Red – 0

“State”ion 2 (50 electoral votes)
Handcount Release Merkins – 3:00

WINNER: Red

Blue – 40 | Red – 50

“State”ion 3 (80 electoral votes)
Swing State Ab Thrusters (feet in swing) – 3:00

WINNER: Red

Blue – 40 | Red – 130

“State”ion 4 (70 electoral votes)
Octoburpee Surprise*- 2:00
*if trailing team wins, they steal 10 votes from leading team in addition to earning electoral votes

WINNER: Blue

Blue – 120 | Red – 120

“State”ion 5 (40 electoral votes)
Jane6 Fondas – 3:00

WINNER: Blue

Blue – 160 | Red – 120

“State”ion 6 (90 electoral votes)
Swing State Pull-ups – 3:00

WINNER: Red

Blue – 160 | Red – 210

“State”ion 7 (60 electoral votes)
Abs-entee Ballots (Big Boy Sit-ups) – 3:00

WINNER: Red

Blue – 160 | Red – 270

This election came down to the wire with Blue having the chance to force a runoff, but in the end, Red prevailed and their version of democracy was saved.

Mosey back to flag to wrap up with some Ballot Box Cutters and Alabama Prom Dates until time.

MOLESKINE:
You never know who you might offend when you Q a workout teeming with opportunities for political jokes, but I sure I hope it was someone! Hopefully everyone felt free to put fitness and fellowship over party. It’s also worth noting here that Pep has legs when the future of our country is on the line. Dude was moving faster than I’ve ever seen him go!

Also, here’s a fun fact: given this is being written post-election, I can now proudly say that the PA Election Day Q is 100% accurate at predicting the results of American presidential elections. All eyes on will be on iiiP in 2028…

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– 11/9 – 0600 Tennessee Tussle at #brokenwheel in Nolensville – friendly competition between regions – see Hair Band for details!
– 11/16 – 0600-0800 – AOQ GrowSchool at stonewall

COT:
TAPS for
– Elizabeth Webb cancer treatment
– YumYum’s mother’s health
– Baguette’s trip with/for his father
– The country

God bless America,
PA out

Stages of Labor

AO: iiipillars
Q: Focker
PAX: princessaurora, Foot Drop, Swiffer, Grape, Harbaugh, Black Lung, Tackle Box, Two Face, t-cell, Haggis, Pep, Private Sandman, LorelaiG, Formica, howitzer, Shania, Canned Heat
FNGs: 1 Canned Heat
COUNT: 18
CONDITIONS: chilly

WARMUP: good mornings and that’s it

THE THANG:
Early labor
Dilation 0-6cm
1,2,3,4,5,6 8-count bodybuilders
“Alternate between resting and working to get labor going”
Contractions 5-30 min 15-45 sec
5 merkins, 5 prisoner squats, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. Run between sets to rest

Active labor
“actively work through labor with your birthing team”
“Birth affirmations”
Dilation 6-8 cm
Every PAX does 6,7,8 pull ups while everyone affirms them. PAX are doing lt dans—>monkey humpers—>prom dates to “relax” between “contractions”

Transition
“Burpee coping method”
Contractions Every 2 minutes for 60-90 sec
Dilation 8-10 cm
8 burpees in 60 sec
9 burpees in 60 sec
10 burpees in 60 sec
1 minute plank
8 burpees in 60 sec
9 burpees in 60 sec
10 burpees in 60 sec

Pushing stage!
“Keep breathing and work with your body, not against it”
Dilated 10 cm
Contractions 3-5 min lasting 30 sec
10 sprints with small la mazze breathing session

Placenta delivery
Core work

MOLESKINE: I think we can all say we appreciate more what the moms in our lives have gone through. We totally get it now

ANNOUNCEMENTS: grow school!

COT: lots of prayers today. Thankful for everyone being open and honest. Missed you Zelenskyy. You and your wife were prayed for.

Better Late Than Never?

AO: middle-tooth
Q: Young Pawn
PAX: Go Fish, Oatmeal, sooner, Hanes, Pole Dancer, Black Lung, Zelenskyy, Two Face, Haggis, Harbaugh, Foot Drop, Pep, Grape, Toothless, Betty Ford, Formica
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
Figure I’ll squeeze this in before the end of the month so we all get our PAXminer stats.

Ran several laps of the field and then did a “you vs. you” round where each lap must be faster or face a penalty. Closed with some Sally Up and Sally Down squats (and merkins!) and 5 minutes of mary. Credit to Bad Boy Pole Dancer for inspiration.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6f