There and Back Again: The Labors of Charles Sanders Baggins

Date: 2026-05-28 AO: The Knoll Q: Sooie , PAX: Sooie, Pebbles, AAA, morning stār, The Banker, Malibu, Bumblebee (2.0) FNGs: None COUNT: 7 CONDITIONS: ““All the heaven seemed covered with a quite vivid and palpable plumage; you could only say that the sky was full of feathers…” — G.K. Chesterton” And verily, beneath such an empyrean did seven sojourning souls assemble for the morning’s labor. The sky hung draped in impossible colors: violet, mauve, pale green, and faint blushes of red spilling upward from the eastern horizon. The kind of dawn that almost convinces a man to become poetic against his will. Naturally, we began with the disclaimer: the sacred legal incantation shielding the Q from responsibility for any questionable life choices about to unfold.
WARMUP: We opened in the grand F3 tradition with Side Straddle Hops. Unfortunately, YHC briefly forgot how cadence functions and nearly resigned in disgrace as the PAX began chuckling at the unfolding numerical catastrophe. Order was restored before mutiny could take hold. – Side Straddle Hops – Walkout Merkins x3 – Low Slow Squats x10 – Imperial Walkers x10
Then came: Shoulders Into Boulders / Keep ‘Em Up / Freed to Lead The PAX rotated through arm and shoulder exercises, calling cadence for 10 reps apiece until either creativity or musculature failed us. Included among the torment: – BAC – BBAC – Shoulder Taps – Air Presses – Moroccan Night Clubs – Put the Glasses On – Seal Claps – Overhead Claps By this point the shoulders were sufficiently awakened.
THE THANG: Now fully prepared, we commenced the trials of Charles Sanders Baggins. One PAX at a time selected an exercise for the group to AMRAP while he proceeded to repeatedly hurl a sandbag approximately 28 yards across the playground in a variety of increasingly questionable fashions. The throw variations included: – Clean → Press → Full Body Chuck – Battering Ram Chuck (Right Side) – Battering Ram Chuck (Left Side) – Kettlebell “Granny” Chuck
Just as we were about to commence morning stār added a mosey to his warmup. Jogging back to his house to retrieve Bumblebee’s sandbag since the 60# behemoth would’ve proven to be unwieldy. He returned in time to participate in the first round of chucks.
As one might expect, chaos blossomed quickly. Merkins accumulated. Squats multiplied. WW2s were inflicted with reckless abandon. Shoulders deteriorated. Grip strength evaporated. And lo, no muscle group escaped taxation.
MARY: Having thrown sandbags to our hearts’ content and our rotator cuffs’ dismay, we concluded with a Ring of Fire up to five merkins. Then finally, one minute of deliberate breath work.
MOLESKINE: Reflected on meaning in the midst of futility…maybe.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Summer Bash TBD
COT: Prayer’s lifted. Sooie Brewie flowed once again. Enjoyed the post workout mumblechatter as The Banker shared his newly discovered passion for bird finding. Reminded me of a post/quote I came across: “As you age, it’s ridiculous how fast bird-watching creeps up on you. You spend your whole life being pretty indeifferent to birds…and then one day you’re like: “Dang, if i’m not mistaken, that’s a yellow-rumped warbler””

The Knoll

Date: 2026-05-21 AO: The Knoll Q: AAA , PAX: AAA, Pebbles, Étouffée, The Banker, Malibu, Juicy J, G-string, Timber FNGs: None COUNT: 8 CONDITIONS: warm
WARMUP:jumping jacks -slow squat -slow merkin -baby arm circles -jog stop sign and back
THE THANG: 100 pull ups 100 push ups 100 sit ups 100 squats Partner runs to stop sign and back, alternate exercise until each partner does 100 of each
1 minute squat jumps 1 minute dry dock 1 minute iron Mike 1 minute bench Merkin
MARY: leg raises, American hammers, flutter kicks
MOLESKINE: Grattitude, take a moment of silence to think of a few things we were grateful for.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: spring fling this weekend
COT: prayers for squatters wife, G in his job transition,
PLAYLIST: classic rock

The Knoll

Date: 2026-05-14 AO: The Knoll Q: Half Lyfe , PAX: Pebbles, Roadkill, Chains (Ryan Johnson), Half Lyfe, Juicy J, Malibu FNGs: None COUNT: 6 CONDITIONS: perfect Thursday morning. Clear skies, birds a chirping.
WARMUP: SSH, WMH, Windmills, Michael Phelps.
THE THANG: Dora Partner Up (see image)
MARY: Ring of Merkin Fire completed 4 rounds.
MOLESKINE: A little ambitious for workout today, but good to push yourself. PAX did awesome today.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: F3 Dads, Spring Fling, check slack
COT: count off, name-o-rama, prayers, coffee.
PLAYLIST: Various.

The Knoll

Date: 2026-05-12 AO: The Knoll Q: Pebbles , PAX: Pebbles, Half Lyfe, Juicy J, AAA FNGs: COUNT: 4 CONDITIONS:
Warmup: SSH, BACS, Slow Merkins, LSS, Indian run the hill
The thang: Team Murph 2 Move the weight. Every group is exercising while one group is moving weight to and from the back stop. Once total weight is moved, rotate.
Once the weight arrives from Playground at the backstop and rotation happens, group doing merkins carries weight back. Once weight arrives back at playground and rotation happens, group finishing pull-ups moves weight back to backstop.
All SBs / coupons piled together separate into (4) groups To start: Group 1 (bars) pull ups Group 2 MOT Group 3 (Backstop) merkins Group 4 (playground) squats
Leave room For Indian run to finish. Depending on group you can adjust weight, length of run, etc.

WARMUP:
THE THANG:
MOLESKINE:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:
PLAYLIST:

[Pain Train] Presidential Fitness Test

Date: 2026-05-08 AO: Pain Train Q: Pebbles , PAX: Pebbles, Derby, Cheeks, Roadkill, Half Lyfe, Wolfpack, Shakira, FLO, G-string, Siri, Étouffée FNGs: COUNT: 11 CONDITIONS: Cold – stings the hands
WARMUP: Side straddle hops Bacs Back bacs Windmills Slow squats Slow Merkins
THE THANG: Get Up x 10 (sit up with block to overhead press) Human Up X10 (absolutions) Walkers x 10 ( Lt. Dan’s holding coupon) Body ups x 6 Pull ups
Run around playground
Repeat for 30min
MOLESKINE: Exercises spell out George Herbert Walker Bush Reps add up to 41. He’s the 41st president Today is my 41st birthday
We talked about the Presidential Fitness Test that fell out of favor because kids felt shame. It’s important to test yourself to know where you’re at. Where your strengths are, where other’s strengths are.
ANNOUNCEMENT Let’s go Juicy J half marathon!
COT: Prayed us out
PLAYLIST: Random

The Knoll

Date: 2026-05-07 AO: The Knoll Q: Étouffée , PAX: Pebbles, Roadkill, Half Lyfe, AAA, Parka-Eh, Malibu, Stubs, Shakira, Timber, Sparrow, Lady Liberty, Étouffée FNGs: None COUNT: 12 CONDITIONS: just right
WARMUP: SSH, BAC, WILLIE Mayes Hayes, squats, 1/4 mile Indian run
THE THANG: 4 group rotation; 24 minutes 1)angry bears 2)Squats 3)Merkins 4)Pull ups
1 Mile Indian Run
Sprints, Mary
MOLESKINE: there’s no i in Team. “Remain in my love”
it’s easy to get trapped in discouragement, despair, and despondency. When we’re isolated we are vulnerable. However, the truth is we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. We have all faced brokenness of some kind. Whether we feel it in those moments or not – we all matter. With the pax or with other bonds of brotherhood, choose to lean in rather than the settle into the temptation for isolation. Encouragement to lean in, and not to fave the battle alone. Encouragement to check in on those we know may be struggling
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:
PLAYLIST:

The Knoll

Date: 2026-04-23 AO: The Knoll Q: Pebbles , PAX: Juicy J, Half Lyfe, Pebbles, morning stār, Roadkill, BumbleBee FNGs: COUNT: 6 CONDITIONS: Cool and clear
WARMUP: Standard warmup things
THE THANG: Split up into 2 teams of 3. Relay race!. 1 PAX performed MOT for 50yds while other PAX planked. Bear Crawl Duck Walk Crawl Bear Crab Walk Broad jump Burpee broad jump Imperial walkers
Ended with 5min of Mary
MOLESKINE: BumbleBee crushed it Juicy J tested the limits of a fart
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Juicy J half marathon
COT: Prayed for health
PLAYLIST: Free bird!

The Knoll

Date: 2026-04-21 AO: The Knoll Q: Pebbles , PAX: AAA, Pebbles, Papa Bear, Roadkill, Sparrow FNGs: COUNT: 5 CONDITIONS: Warmish
WARMUP: Side straddle hops Bacs Bac bacs Windmills Slow squats
THE THANG: Sandbags were available
Curls X10 Overhead press X10 Dips X10 Square X10 Bent over rows X10 Lt. Dan’s X10 Step ups X10 Russian twists X10 Run 100m
Repeat until you puke. Nobody puked
MOLESKINE: My college coach would end every team meeting by saying “Take care of yourself first, then take care of others.”
At the time I thought it selfish but now realize it’s the proper order of things. You can’t be effective unless you have you have your own act together.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Check slack
COT: Prayed for the PAX
PLAYLIST:

The Knoll

Date: 2026-04-16 AO: The Knoll Q: Pebbles , Shakira PAX: Pebbles, Lady Liberty, morning stār, Shakira, Juicy J, AAA, Pyro, bumblebee FNGs: None COUNT: 8 CONDITIONS: Perfect
WARMUP: Various exercises Shakira bounced for work and left us with instructions
THE THANG: Warm up (5 minutes)
Tabata Core (18 minutes) — 3 sets (45 seconds on, 15 off) of: Flutter kicks American hammers Shoulder tap planks Reverse crunches Mountain climbers Prom Dates
Squats + Sprints (10 minutes) Run around the field together and stop after 20-30 seconds of upbeat or hard running. Do 30 seconds of squats and continue. Switch between:
Normal squats, Sumo squats (wide stance), single leg/pistol squats, low slow (in cadence), and jump squats.
Tabata Arms (9 minutes)
3 sets of 45on/15off
Merkins Bench tri dips Carolina dry docks
Last thing: Burpee burnout (or another excise of group’s choice. 5 burpees on the minute for 5 minutes.
Mary if needed for time
MOLESKINE: Shakira double booked himself for work and to Q. He wisely chose work. Instead of just ghosting us, he showed up, took accountability, and left us with a detailed plan. Thanks for your example of good leadership.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:
PLAYLIST: Lots of mumblechatter

The Knoll

Date: 2026-04-14 AO: The Knoll Q: Shakira , PAX: AAA, Roadkill, Shakira, Sparrow, Half Lyfe, Timber, Pebbles, Juicy J FNGs: None COUNT: 8 CONDITIONS: Ideal
WARMUP: Arm circles, side straddle hops, slow merkins
THE THANG: Murph Dora.
Groups of 4: 400 pullups, 800 pushups, 1200 squats, 4 mile run.
Interspersed with some bonus moseying. Capped off with lunge lines, plank lines, and Mary.
MOLESKINE: Often, our brain is the first thing to give way. When we are tempted to give up, it’s helpful to remember that there’s always a little more to give than we think. Today, find an area of your life to endure and persevere a little longer than you think you can.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT: Prayers for a security guard with cancer and for all those in need of healing of any kind.
PLAYLIST: Originally a Moroccan Mashup but when things got tough we switched to an All-American medley to comfort Roadkill.