We’re Too Saxy for this Q

AO: greenmachine
Q: Firefox , Grape
PAX: Wham-O, Betty Ford, Hipster, Topanga, Esposa, Works for a Guy, Black Lung, Pep
FNGs: None
COUNT: 10
CONDITIONS: Saxy

WARMUP: Grape led us on a long mosey around the block (accompanied by some sweet, sultry, saxy sax songs) and back to Startex for:
– SSH
– Imperial walkers
– Hillbillies
– Good mornings
– LBAC
– Overhead claps
– Seal claps

THE THANG: Today is National Saxophone Day. The Saxophone was invented in the 1800s by Adolphe Sax, who was born on November 6, 1814 and went on to live a life full of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolphe_Sax.

To celebrate National Saxophone Day, PAX moseyed to the football field and partnered up. 1 partner did an exercise in the endzone while the other bear crawled 20 yards and back. Each exercise was accompanied by a true/false trivia question. Wrong answers increased the bear crawl distance by 5 yards (each direction).
– S – SSH; The Saxophone is a woodwind instrument – True
– A – ?; Adolphe Sax was Austrian – False, he was Belgian
– X – X-jumps; Kenny G is best known for playing the alto saxophone – False, he primarily plays the soprano sax
– O – Overhead Press; Richard Nixon was a saxophone player – True, he could play 5 instruments
– P – Pop Squats; A saxhorn is another name for the saxophone – False, it’s another family of instruments invented by Adolphe
– H – Hand-release Merkins; Adolphe Sax invented 8 types of saxophone – False, he invented 14 different types
– O – Ohno’s (skaters); The name of the saxophonist for the Electric Mayhem (from the Muppets) is “Lips” – False, it’s “Zoot”
– N – Newton’s Cradle; The smallest saxophone is only 12 inches long – True, it’s called a soprillo
– E – Elbow plank jacks; The most expensive saxophone ever purchased was made of plastic – True, it belonged to Charlie Parker

The bear crawl stretched out to the 30yard line but by the end had come back to the 20.

PAX did 18 burpees and 46 Iron Mikes (each side is a half) for the year 1846 when the saxophone was patented.

Pax then did 45 merkins for the 45 pound heft of the contrabass saxophone (which is over 6ft tall)

Mosey back to Startex. 2 separate 47 second hollow body holds for the 47 minute world record of the longest note ever held on a saxophone.

MOLESKINE:
– Sadly, I did not get to share one more factoid, the largest gathering of simultaneously playing saxophone players involved 1875 musicians.
– Kudos to Betty Ford for guessing our theme during warm-up
– Props to Pep Esposa and others for throwing out many other saxophone-related names and references
– Grape link that sweet, saxy playlist in the thread, please!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– Check Slack

COT:
– Thoughts prayers to marriages, new phases in life, and safe travels

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:

Birthday CTF

AO: the-castle
Q: hambone
PAX: Chunks, Space Baby, Squatter, Butterfingers, Dilbert, Hipster, Fabuloso, Steely, Livin’ On A Prayer, Barney, Strutter, SalPal
FNGs: None
COUNT: 13
CONDITIONS: just right to play CTF

WARMUP: lol no. Listen to the instructions. If you don’t, be on a team with hambone or make sure you’re listening to the instructions on the card.

THE THANG:
1. North vs South (side of the shovel flag)
2. Teams have 20 minutes to hide the 80lb sandbag in their territory (200 burpee penalty for all team members if all any team members are late getting back).
3. Each team member must touch the bag after it is placed / hidden (no slackers).
4. Bag must travel between .6 and .8 miles before placement.
5. After 20 minutes, teams switched sides and went to find the bag(s). First team back wins.
6. 200 burpee late penalty (not enforced)

MOLESKINE:
Congrats to the South for hiding the bag with camo and fooling the North-siders. Each man got over 3 miles of running / walking. Many thanks to the South team for making a strong effort to retrieve the bag where we failed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: check Slack

COT: Thankful for 38 trips around the Sun. Let’s make this next one even better.

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.

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.

Block Party

AO: thestronghold
Q: tampalibra
PAX: Red Skull, Brown Slip, Hipster, Decaf, Barney, toga, Shocker (Mark Holmes), Dan and Dave, Young and Restless, Mosh Pit, Cuties, Nap Time, Gold Fish, Comic Book Guy, Old Man River, Rocket Man, Speed Date, Shreder, Raison, Puppy Chow, Lace Out, Mater
FNGs: 13 Mosh Pit, Cuties, Nap Time, Gold Fish, Comic Book Guy, Old Man River, Rocket Man, Speed Date, Shreder, Raison, Puppy Chow, Lace Out, Mater
COUNT: 23
CONDITIONS: Ideal

WARMUP: 25 SSH IC w 1 burpee penalty, 10 squats IC w 2 burpee penalty, 10 merkins

I checked in on these guys during mental toughness week so I know they can do cadence! I wanted to stress the importance of it without being an ahole and calling out guys individually on week 1. The guys not doing it great were trying and that was enough for today – we get to week 3 and they’re not matching cadence perfectly you start calling them out though PAX! The standard is the standard, you rise to it not the other way around.

THE THANG:
I’ve got a few different things I try to do for my 4:13 Qs depending on where it lands in their 40-day progress. In week one, I intentionally design a workout that is tough and structured in a way that they won’t be able to fully complete it—at least not yet. It’s not accidental or meant to be over-programmed; it’s intentional. I want them to see the standard, to feel the gap between where they are and what’s possible, and to know that while they can’t meet it now, they can get there if they trust the process. During the workout, I adjust reps or sets on the fly so it’s still achievable, but the impact remains: they get punched in the face by the challenge, yet also discover that even when scaled, they can do hard things. The point isn’t to be a hardass and break them down but to set the tone—that growth takes effort, discipline, and commitment, and they are capable of it. It’s a delicate balance of punching them in the gut a little with a tough workout to both show they can do it but they still have a ways to go.

4 sets of 25 Abolishers (Tampa named) (4-count flutter with two block presses = 1 rep). In between each set of 25 you run to the fence and do 2 burpees (burpees go up by 2 each round)

Some PAX finished 4 rounds, probably 50% made it through 3. YHC called it, talked about moving on bc of time but now they know the standard

3 sets of 15 to-be-named movement (We’re Not Worthy + 2 Block Press = 1). In between each set of 25 perform the same run to the fence and do burpees (burpees go up by 2 each round) – starting where we should have left off last time though (10).

Again made the audible and moved it to sets of 15, 10, and then 5 respectively.

Finisher with the burpee-apocalypse – made it down to 5 and then called it a few minutes early for time bc the first class has the extended name-a-rama!

GRO/Kpop Demon Hunters

AO: titan
Q: Spinal Tap , Natural Ice
PAX: Juicy J (JBowman), Natural Ice, caprate, Choo Choo, Hipster, Pep, Salami, Sherlock, Tim the Toolman, Otis, All Right All Right All right, Ok Derry, Hatchet, Training Wheels
FNGs: 4 All Right All Right All right, Ok Derry, Hatchet, Training Wheels
COUNT: 16
CONDITIONS: Dampish

WARMUP: The usual of SSH, LBAC, etc.

THE THANG:
Natural Ice serenaded us with Green River Ordinance while we did 11’s of burpees and WWI

We became demon hunters and did timed runs around the Parthenon with goal of running faster than the PAX ahead of you with a 5 burpee penalty if you lost and for locals, a chance to Q at Titan.

Fastest time of 33 seconds!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Night moves tomorrow
Grow school Saturday
Chiliteria coming soon
Natural Ice to fill in details

COT:
Prayers for work stress
Thankful that Salami has a job!
Thankful for a community of guys to keep us accountable to work out when we just want to :sleeping:

Tortoise & Hare, Run #1

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Right Said, Crawlspace, SalPal, Salami, Michelin Man, Brown Slip, Young and Restless, Barney, Hipster, Decaf, Demo – F3 NoHo HTX, Speed Date, Go Fish, Puppy Chow, 10 FNGS
FNGs: 1 10 FNGS
COUNT: 25
CONDITIONS: Dark!

WARMUP: Circle Up, Warm Up – SSH, Squats, IWs, Stretches, WMH

THE THANG: Partner up and RUN!!!

MOLESKINE: A fantastic first run for the new class. 5 out of the 13 4:13 Strong men posted a sub 30:00 time. Another 4 finished sub 35:00 and we were “All In” at 41:37. This may be the class where we see everyone hit the 30:00 goal.

Thank you to all of my F3 brothers for such a great showing today. It had a huge impact on the 4:13 Strong guys who found it hard to believe that so many men would be willing to run with them.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Struggle 005 will be 10/24-10/25. Start making plans now to join us for this incredible physical and mental challenge.

COT: Prayers for strength, wisdom and guidance.