Derby’s First Race

AO: the-knoll
Q: Derby
PAX: El Capitan, AAA, G-string, Timber, Malibu, morning stār, Sooie, Stubs, Ex-Pat, Papa Bear, Étouffée, FLO, Tebow, @rubix @golddigger @bumbleebee, @Gecko
FNGs: 1 @Gecko
COUNT: 18
CONDITIONS: Perfect

WARMUP: Baby Arm Circles, Big Arm Circles, Back Backs, Moroccan Night Clubs, Shoulder Press, Willie Mays Hayes, SSH

Mosey down the street to loosen up

THE THANG: Pair up DORA – One Runner/One Worker

Set 1 (Accumulating w/ Partner):
200 Merkins
200 Lunges (1 is 1)
200 WWII’s
*Early finishers go back to Merkin’s

Mosey down the street to “catch our breath”

Set 2 (Holds awaiting partner):
2x Low Plank
2x Butterfly Kicks
2x Squat

Ended w/ 5 minute Mary: Berpees, Heel Taps, J-Lo’s, Leg Lifts, V-ups, etc.

MOLESKINE: Reminder not to get caught up in life and lose focus on family. There are plenty of distractions out there that attempt to drive that wedge and sometimes it takes us stepping back to reprioritize what matters most.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Farm campout the last weekend of May. Reach out to morning stār for further details.

COT: Closed out w/ short prayer for families adjustment to Summer.

Thank you for the opportunity to lead the workout this morning!

Partner Up

AO: the-knoll
Q: Timber
PAX: morning stār, Malibu, Timber, AAA, Pitmaster, G-string, Étouffée, Stubs, Gold Digger, Bumblebee (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 10
CONDITIONS: 70 degrees, partly clouded, just right for a sweat

WARMUP: Mosey (covered F3 mission, 5 core principles, Credo here), SSH, Slow Merkins, Slow Squats, BACs/back BACs/shoulder raises, Don Quixotes, good mornings

THE THANG: Partner up
1.Stations X 3: 40 sec on, 20 off
a. Pull-ups / plank
b. Stepups / Merkins
c. Bulgarian split squats / dips
d. Knee raises / mountain climbers

2. DORA (Hero style): walk hands out to plank and execute merkin, walk hands back. 50 reps. One partner does exercise, other runs ~100 yards

3. Vacuum Cleaner (3, 2, 1 rep sets): wheelbarrow position, walk 3 steps, do 3 merkins, walk 3 steps back; do set of 2, set of 1

MOLESKINE: G-string went beast mode and ended the DORA early for everyone, thanks to Étouffée for bringing some great coffee

ANNOUNCEMENTS: farm camp out with family the last weekend of May – see morning stār for more details!

COT: every drop of sweat is a deposit in something bigger than fitness – it’s a deposit into our discipline, integrity, and commitment into becoming better men. This time together isn’t just about reps and sets. It’s about accountability, resilience, and choosing discipline over ease.

Prayer intentions were given, and prayed for. Thanks for joining me this morning, men!
-Timber

What’s next? Hmm…

AO: the-knoll
Q: morning stār
PAX: Pebbles, Half Lyfe, AAA, Derby, Stubs, morning stār, Bubble bee (Q and 2.0), All Start (2.0), Ice box (2.0), Sandlot (2.0), Ninja (2.0)
FNGs: 1 Ninja (2.0)
COUNT: 11
CONDITIONS: nice and wet

WARMUP: you did it at home right?

THE THANG:
Part 1: Dora-ish … 1 partner does excercise, the other runs to the street and back. Excercises: 20 squats, 15 golden burpees, 20 merkins, 20 SSH.

Part 2: Several games of infection.

Part 3: Round the circle, each PAX choses exercise and reps.

MOLESKINE: tag gets my lungs burning every time … welcome Ninja! Thanks for bringing your 2.0s out PAX!

G.A.M.E.S.

AO: the-knoll
Q: morning stār
PAX: The Banker, Timber, Étouffée, Pebbles, Sooie, El Capitan, Derby, morning stār, AAA, Ex-Pat, Bubble Bee (2.0), Rubix (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 12
CONDITIONS: lovely

WARMUP: mosie on the street with pauses for merkins, jump squats and imperial walkers … mosie to the flood memorial bench

THE THANG: 5 seconds of work; 25 seconds of active recovery
power erkins, jump squats … then switch to dips and jump squats

Practiced G.A.M.E.S. during active recovery.

– Gratitude of what is or what’s happened recently
– Anticipation of something to come
– Memories from the past that bring joy
– Experiences you can create that will put a smile on someone’s face
– Song to sing

COT: read a quote that’s been hitting me deeply lately …

““You cannot live well without a friend, and if Jesus be not your friend above all else, you will be very sad and desolate. Thus, you are acting foolishly if you trust or rejoice in any other. Choose the opposition of the whole world rather than offend Jesus. Of all those who are dear to you, let Him be your special love. Let all things be loved for the sake of Jesus, but Jesus for His own sake.” (Thomas a Kempis)”
YHC encouraged the PAX to reflect on who their friend, special love was and to reorient if needed.

Stay thirsty my friends,
-m*

The Pack and the Long Wolf

AO: the-knoll
Q: Wolfpack
PAX: Pebbles, Siri, morning stār, Stubs, Timber, El Capitan, Derby, Half Lyfe, Bumblebee(2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 10
CONDITIONS: Perfection.

WARMUP: We don’t do warmups.

THE THANG:
The Pack and the Lone Wolf.

A tight circle of 15 cones were presented to the PAX.
Cones alternated between: Merkin, Squat, Alternating Exercises of: Bent Over Rows, Curls, Kettlebell Swings, Dips, and a Ruck.
Exercises preformed Tabata style 60 second work/20 second rest and then transition one cone to the right for next exercise.
Exercises performed slowly with a 4 count down and 4 count up.
When completing the ruck… PAX were asked two questions and asked to respond with a one word answer upon returning: What brings you back to the Pack between F3 workouts? What do you bring to the Pack each workout?
We completed the full circuit twice and ended precisely at 6:15:07.

MOLESKINE:
Bumble Bee was an absolute beast today!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Come join our Monday Morning Edwin Warner Rucks!

COT: Come to the well and drink long and often, but never wait for it to fill itself, come bringing gifts of your own accord to fill it for others.

Stations of the Cross

AO: pain-train
Q: G-string
PAX: DintyMoore, Timber, Pebbles, Sooie, Cheeks, Half Lyfe, morning stār, Wolfpack, Siri, Grizzly, FLO, Pitmaster
FNGs: None
COUNT: 13
CONDITIONS:

WARMUP:

THE THANG:
1 Jesus is condemned to death: Jesus is wrongfully judged by Pontius Pilate and sentenced to death. 
Warmup: 5 minutes of stretching and active warmup
2 Jesus carries His cross: Jesus is given the cross and begins his journey to Calvary. 
Lap around the track with logs
3 Jesus falls the first time: Jesus, burdened by the cross, falls for the first time. 
25 Burpees over log
4 Jesus meets His mother: Jesus encounters his mother, Mary, during his suffering. 
Mary: Twenty-Five Leg raises, Heel Taps, Hollow Hold
5 Simon helps Jesus carry the cross: Simon of Cyrene is forced to help Jesus carry the cross. 
To the stage and back
6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus: A woman named Veronica wipes Jesus’ face with her veil. 
1 minute Rest
7 Jesus falls the second time: Jesus falls again, struggling under the weight of the cross. 
25 Burpees over log
8 Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem: Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem who weep over him. 
21s 3 sets
9 Jesus falls the third time: Jesus falls a final time, nearing the end of his journey. 
25 Burpees over log
10 Jesus is stripped of His garments: Jesus is stripped of his clothing before being nailed to the cross. 
WLS to the cones and back X2
11 Jesus is nailed to the cross: Jesus is nailed to the cross, suffering the ultimate sacrifice. 
Rows 2X15
12 Jesus dies on the cross: Jesus dies on the cross, fulfilling his promise to redeem humanity. 
 Ring of Fire shoulder press 1/2/3
13 Jesus’ body is removed from the cross: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take Jesus’ body down from the cross. 
Buddy Carry
14 Jesus is placed in the tomb: Jesus’ body is laid in a tomb, awaiting the resurrection. 
Drop weight and recovery lap

MOLESKINE:
Taking time to think through the individual moments of Jesus’ passion is a great way to start off Good Friday. Old school covenants required the two people entering the covenant to walk between the halves of animals who had been sacrificed. This symbolized the promise to uphold the covenant lest they suffer the same fate as the animals. When God made His covenant with Abraham, he was the only one who passed between the animals. Abraham never did. This means that from the beginning, God promised that if we ever broke the covenant, He would bear the penalty. Only the sacrifice of Jesus could satisfy justice while also offering immeasurable mercy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

COT: prayers were offered up

Thank y’all for letting me lead!

(B)Easter Egg Hunt 2025

AO: the-knoll
Q: El Capitan
PAX: Wolfpack, Derby, Papa Bear, AAA, Sooie, El Capitan, Ex-Pat, morning stār, Pebbles, Timber, Half Lyfe, G-string, Pitmaster, Étouffée, @GoldDigger, @Rubix (2.0), @Schmaltz (2.0), @Bumblebee (2.0), @Grizzly (TBD)
FNGs: 1 @Grizzly (TBD)
COUNT: 19
CONDITIONS:

Mid-50s, lovely sunlit clouds at 6:15

TUNES:

Young & Heavy

WARMUP:

Climb routine
Back stretches
Willie mays hays
Good mornings!

THE THANG:

– Circle up around the lamp in field
– 22 eggs to find in playground, each with an exercise & follow-up hold exercise
– Each PAX will search for an egg with the lamp, all PAX will perform the exercise upon opening & perform hold exercise while next PAX searches.
– Wash, rinse, repeat

Ended with MARY: a 3-round Ring of Fire & American Hammers

MOLESKINE:

Life is constantly changing & you change and grow as a man each passing year. I asked the PAX to take some time to reflect, with a moment of silence, on one aspect of change in their lives and one aspect that has stayed constant. I then asked everyone to think of one person (spouse, mentor, friend) who has been a source of strength & stability in their lives. Ended with a prayer of thanksgiving for these individuals.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

– Tax Day got moved to November 3rd(?!)
– Check slack for upcoming Night Moves & extra free workouts!

COT:

Countorama, Nameorama, coffeteria.

It was a pleasure leading y’all this morning, men!

I’m ready for a nap. :yawning_face: :el-capitan:

Good Grief

AO: the-knoll
Q: morning stār
PAX: Pebbles, Sooie, Stubs, AAA, Pitmaster, Half Lyfe, El Capitan, morning stār, Papa Bear, Derby, Malibu, clay hoover, Phillip Lee, Gold Digger, She told me, Sardine
FNGs: 2 She told me, Sardine
COUNT: 16
CONDITIONS: Chilly yet spring-like.

WARMUP: Mosey to tree line and back. Ground movements on the way. Avoid the puddle (YHC wasn’t in the mood to get wet this am), avoid posts. Circle up for low slow squats and SSH.

Mosey to 2010 flood memorial bench.

THE THANG:
31 rounds of 15 seconds of work, 45 seconds of active recovery.
Exercise one: 3-2-1 ladder of power erkins and dips
Exercise two: 3-2-1 ladder of jump squats and squats

Modify up option: finish the ladder instead of stopping at the timer.

Each PAX took turns walking around the back stop with a 30# ruck and 30# kettle bell while considering a loss they have not grieved.

Mosey back to the startex for an extended COT.

MOLESKINE:
If we keep the momentum up we the knoll may be ready to spin off another AO … which on one hand, I don’t look forward to because of the great connections we have growing here. And yet, this is how we grow and provide more opportunities for men to accelerate.

Welcome to She told me (formerly “My wife told me”) and Sardine!

Well done welcoming the new men, PAX! Hospitality is one of my favorite things about F3 and we excel at it.

I used to try to come up with a new, creative BD every time I Q’ed. I’m enjoying not having to think much about it and intending to run the “power rounds” for the rest of my days. Let’s see how long that lasts.

Here’s a quote on the danger of not facing our sadness that I didn’t share:
“”Sadness does not sink a person; it is the energy a person spends trying to avoid sadness that does that.” “- Barbara Brown Taylor, From theplacewefindourselves.libsyn.com/17-what-it-looks-like-to-actually-grieve-your-wounds of Adam Young’s “The Place We Find Ourselves” Podcast: “What it looks like to actually grieve your wounds”.

I pray we all find the courage and space to face the losses of our past and present.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: skipped them; check slack or come back Thursday.

COT:
YHC shared that learning to grieve what is, what was not (or what has not come to be) has been the most effective way to grow as a man.

Shared about the 4 achetypes of masculinity: Warrior, Lover, King and Sage. Each has an entry emotion … anger for warrior, sadness for lover, joy for king and fear for sage. In YHC’s experience growing as a lover has helped mature as a King.

YHC read the an account of the passing of Eric Liddel’s life from For the Glory (by Duncan Hamilton). This is a gut wrenching account as Lidell died withough meeting his youngest child.

When I was growing up, I chased after many things. Now, at 41, I am to live in the moment and pour out as much delight on my family and those close to me as I can.

Stay curious my brothers,
-m*

A Few Merkins More

AO: the-knoll
Q: The Merchant
PAX: Half Lyfe, Lady Liberty, Étouffée, Pebbles, Stubs, morning stār, Sooie, Gold Digger, Bumblebee, Derby
FNGs: 1 Derby
COUNT: 11
CONDITIONS:
A little chillier than Tuesday, but dry and clear skies

WARMUP:
10x SSH, 20x BACs, WMHs, 5x Motivators

THE THANG:
Dora: Split up into pairs
One person ran a lap from the playground to the baseball diamond and back, while the other repeated an exercise until they returned, then the two swapped

Repeat until each duo finishes 200x each of:
Alabama prom dates
Merkins
Lunges

Everyone went in a circle and picked an exercise for the group to do 10-20 of, then we ended with a ring of fire.

MOLESKINE:
We briefly contemplated the importance of rest

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Spring Fling
The Merchant’s Hot Buns Spicy Wing Challenge

Another Round of Merkins

AO: the-knoll
Q: The Merchant
PAX: AAA, El Capitan, Sparrow, Sooie, Stubs, Pebbles, Wolfpack, Étouffée, Parka-Eh, morning stār, G-string, Half Lyfe, Timber, Papa Bear, Ex-Pat, Bumblebee, Rubiks, Gold Digger
FNGs: 1 Gold Digger
COUNT: 19
Warm-up:
SSH, BACs, WMHs, Motivators

The Thang:
HIIT Workout
20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest
6 exercises in a round, 75 seconds between rounds

Exercises:
Merkins
Sit Ups
Imperial Walkers
Merkins
Crunches
Squats