Coldest Run of the Year!

AO: tortoise-and-hare
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Judy, Brown Slip, Young and Restless, Barney, Decaf, Dunkin (Waxhaw), Zumiez, Puff Puff, Finger Tips, Papa Bear, Slurpee, Pom Pom, Bedazzle, Sticky Fingers, Torta, The Count, Chicken Little, Guppy, Stir Fry
FNGs: None
COUNT: 20
CONDITIONS: 16 Degrees :cold_face:

WARMUP: Standard Pre-Run Warm-Up: SSH, Squats, IWs, Down and Hold

THE THANG: RUN!!!

MOLESKINE: We had 6 4:13 Strong men set a new Personal Best time this morning. I think the cold must make them faster. Thank you Brown Slip for the extended after run party while we waited for the six to arrive.

COT: There was a lot of moaning and groaning as we took a knee to offer thanksgiving and ask for guidance.

[tortoisehare] Run #1 – The Slowest Run of the Year

AO: tortoise-and-hare
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Chunks, Decaf, Young and Restless, Goodwill, Judy, Barney, Right Said, Hipster, Stir Fry, 12 FNGs
FNGs: 1 12 FNGs
COUNT: 23
CONDITIONS: Brisk 34 degrees….perfect running weather

WARMUP: Standard Pre-Run Warm-Up: SSH, Squats, IWs, Stretches

THE THANG: RUN!!! – One 4:13 Strong man under 30:00, One 4:13 Strong man over 55:00. Lots of room for improvement over the next six weeks.

MOLESKINE: Sometimes we make what should be the easiest parts of the day hard (like getting into the circle for COT). Men who are successful in life do not let the easy things knock them off track.

Hipster called Chunks old and slow and challenged the 4:13 Strong men to beat him next week.

COT: Prayers for strength and courage.

Struggle 005

AO: thestronghold
Q: tampalibra , Ginger, bigbang, Ponzi
PAX: Sanctions, Pearl (Jonathan Halter), Noble Virus (Mark Britnell) F3 Franklin, Bubbles (Tyler Slaughter), Judy, Half Lyfe, Swingline / Jason Aeverman, Import, Humpty Dumpty (F3 Franklin), Grinder (F3 Brentwood) StoryTime (F3 Franklin), Decibel (F3 Bowling Green), Straight Racket (F3 Bowling Green), Double Dribble (F3 Franklin), White Belt (F3 Franklin), Speed Date (413), Raisin (413), Mosh Pit(413), Toad Stool (413), Cuties (413), Purple Rain (413), Old Maid (413), Road Trip (413), Shred-It (413), Mater (413), Singlet (413), Ziggy (Men of Valor), Jared (Men of Valor), Christopher (Men of Valor), Chris (Men of Valor), Michael (Men of Valor), Courtez (Men of Valor), Hector (Men of Valor)
FNGs: 7 Ziggy (Men of Valor), Jared (Men of Valor), Christopher (Men of Valor), Chris (Men of Valor), Michael (Men of Valor), Courtez (Men of Valor), Hector (Men of Valor)
COUNT: 36
Congrats to Struggle class 005.

This was the largest class to date and by far set the standard for future classes in leadership, grit, striving, suffering, and teamwork.

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.

Tortoise & Hare, Run #2

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Wham-O, bluemule, Michelin Man, Chunks, Right Said, Crawlspace, hambone, Young and Restless, Hair Band, Judy, Decaf, Toto, Road Trip, Old Maid, Step Back, Beyonce, Puppy Chow, Purple Rain, Napoleon, 1 Star, Go Fish, Speed Date, Black Jack, Cow Pie, Cool Runnings, Clorox, Big Mama
FNGs: None
COUNT: 28
CONDITIONS: Moderate temps and high humidity created an absolute sweat-fest at The Stronghold.

WARMUP: Standard pre-run warmup routine: SSH, Squats, IWs, WMH and any other body part needing a stretch before running.

THE THANG: Pick your group (Fast, Medium and Less Than Medium) and RUN!!! Thanks to the great showing and encouragement of my F3 brothers, 8 out of 14 4:13 Strong men set a PR today. Thank you for showing up and offering encouragement.

MOLESKINE: Hard things are easier when you do them with someone else. Thank you F3 for such a strong showing this morning. I think this was the biggest run group we have ever had on a Tuesday!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 50 mile CSAUP on Aug 29…get your 5 man team together now. There are several 4:13 Strong men that are interested in participating so if you are looking for a fifth, let me know.

COT: Prayers for wisdom, strength and endurance.

Tortoise & Hare, Run #5

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Right Said, Crawlspace, Judy, Young and Restless, Chunks, hambone, Salami, Barney, Decaf, Wendy’s, Ice Box, Stir Fry, Road Trip, Bobby Hill, Mutt, Singlet
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
CONDITIONS: Beautiful 63 degrees

WARMUP: Standard pre-run warm-up: SSH, Squats, IWs, WMHs, Stretching

THE THANG: Partner up and RUN!!! This morning we had 5 PRs from the 4:13 Strong men and at least 3 PRs for the F3 PAX. A great effort and attitude at The Stronghold today by all. This is the first class that has a real chance at reaching a sub-30 “All In” time.

MOLESKINE: The right partner can make us stronger, faster and better. We have seen some great improvements on Tuesday morning as we set intentional goals and work together to reach them. Thank you to the F3 PAX who have consistently joined us to run with this class. Only one more run to go.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Signing Day is 11:30am next Friday, 6/20.

COT: Bobby Hill closed our group by leading us in prayer.

Tortoise & Hare, Run #4

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Young and Restless, bluemule, Chunks, Right Said, Wham-O, Barney, Judy, Decaf, Wendy’s, Ice Box, Stir Fry, Road Trip, Bobby Hill, Mutt, Singlet, Touchback
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
CONDITIONS: It is starting to get warm and humid. 66 degrees except by the barn where the temperature is noticeably cooler.

WARMUP: Road Trip was tapped to lead our warm up. While he switched up the order on us, he hit all the usual warmup exercises.

THE THANG: Partner up and RUN!! A great morning for a run. The F3 PAX were a huge source of encouragement to the 4:13 Strong men. For the first time ever, every 4:13 Strong man turned in a new Personal Best time! Thank you for all of the encouragement that you provided today.

MOLESKINE: Based on past experience, this is the hardest week of the 40 Day Challenge, not because we do anything different but because this is the week that things start to become a grind. The men have to dig deep and find some source of encouragement to keep pushing. Today, we saw 7 men who have done just that!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Struggle 004 is this week. The 4:13 Strong Clay Shoot is this Friday. Spots are still available for anyone who would like to participate. DM me and I will get. you hooked up.

COT: Everything about the COT went in reverse order this morning, but we got it all in! It was a great start to the day at The Stronghold!

Tortoise & Hare, Run #3

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Chunks, Wham-O, Young and Restless, Right Said, Barney, Decaf, Judy, Salami, Wendy’s, Ice Box, Stir Fry, Road Trip, Practice?, Bobby Hill, Life Saver, Mutt, Singlet
FNGs: None
COUNT: 18
CONDITIONS: Perfect running weather – 66 degrees

WARMUP: The usual: SSH, Squats, IWs, Stretches, WMHs

THE THANG: Partner Up and RUN!! Find someone that will push you to get better and run with them. It worked…5 PRs this morning. Our “All In” time is improving…today we were All In at 34:30 leaving time for a Burpee Apocalypse with some Squats mixed in just for fun.

MOLESKINE: Improvements are a sign of hard work. Please keep encouraging the 4:13 Strong men as they figure out what it means to fight for change in their life.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Struggle 004 is next week. If interested one of the final spots, reach out to tampalibra.

COT: Prayers for continued wisdom, strength and endurance.

Tortoise & Hare #1

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: SalPal, Right Said, Skeet, Barney, Decaf, Chunks, hambone, Judy, Antwaun, Tater (Skeet’s 2.0), Life Saver, Practice?, 7 4:13 Strong FNGS who will be named on Thursday
FNGs: 1 7 4:13 Strong FNGS who will be named on Thursday
COUNT: 20
CONDITIONS: Perfect – daylight, tall grass and cool temps

WARMUP: SSH, Squats, IWs, WMHs, stretches

THE THANG: Run!!! 3 miles around the campus followed by a treat of declining reps for sets of Squats, Burpees and WWIs, working from 10 – 1.

MOLESKINE: A great first effort by class 2025-03! First 4:13 Strong finisher was in at 24:01 and all in by 35:35! For the record, Tater beat Skeet for the first time, finishing with the fastest time of the day at 22:03!

COT: Prayers for family, strength, endurance and wisdom