Tag: toga

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New Years Day Convergence – Welcome 2026!

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Hipster, DintyMoore, Mumbler, Ponzi, Natural Ice, Purple Tiger, hambone, toga, Chunks, Barney, Wolfpack, Tinkertoy, Young and Restless, Tim the Toolman, Decaf, Grape, Pep, Topanga, Take 3, Animal, BTB, Tool Bit
FNGs: None
COUNT: 23
CONDITIONS: 32 Degrees – perfect workout weather!

WARMUP: Mosey to the gravel lot for the usual warm-up: SSH, IWs, Windmills, Squats, Merkins, T-Ups and Scorpion Stretch.

THE THANG:
Mosey to the Auditorium

Part 1: Mental Toughness Week (Tryouts) – Burpee Apocalypse with a run around the building the building in between each round.

Mosey to the North Lot

Part 2: 40 Day Challenge – 6 weeks of work condensed down to six movements: Lt. Dan, Bear Crawl, Crab Walk, Burpee Broad Jump, Crawl Bear and Politician.

Mosey to The Hill

Part 3: The Work Phase – 7’s on the hill with Hand Release Merkins at the top, run down the hill, Jump Squats at the bottom, Politician up the hill.

Mosey back to the flag and time!

MOLESKINE:
4:13 Strong is a great program for men who want to change the course of their life, but it is hard. Only 35% of the men who enroll have what it takes to complete all program requirements. A big factor to success are the relationships that our men build with other men who can show them how to handle hard things. You can make a real difference for the 4:13 Strong guys by showing up, working out with them and modeling how HIM face challenges.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
LeanPax begins on 1/5
The Stronghold is now meeting every Thursday
Struggle Prep is coming in a few short weeks
Young and Restless is the new AOQ of The Stronghold

COT:
A great turnout for our New Years Day Convergence. Thank you all for coming out to join us!

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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.

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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!

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90’s Summer Morning Beatdown

AO: thestronghold
Q: Hipster
PAX: Tebow, Pearl (Jonathan Halter), tampalibra, Red Skull, Dan and Dave, Right Said, Barney, toga, Chunks, Natural Ice, Purple Tiger, Young and Restless, Decaf, Wham-O, Napoleon, Step Back, Cowpie, Blackjack, Puppy Chow, Big Mama, One Star, Clorox, Cool Runnings, Beyonce, Purple Rain, Old Made
FNGs: None
COUNT: 27
CONDITIONS: Pleasantly Moist

WARMUP: Classic WOR, grab a coupon

THE THANG: Name That Tune – 90’s Hip Hop Hits

Blockey buy-in (10 I think?), start the music

Each song we are moving around campus, carrying the coupon.

At each stop – Around the Worlds waiting for the 6

Once all in – 413 PAX has the chance to name artist and title. Correct answers reduce # of blockeys, incorrect answers add more.

There were 8 or so stops around the Stonghold, with a smattering of correct answers, averaging about 7 blockeys per stop, with some WW1’s mixed in for good measure.

Back to the startex for the blockey/WW1 finisher.

MOLESKINE: Lively PAX this morning, decent showing with Name That Tune considering most of these pups hadn’t yet been born.

Thanks to the F3 guys who added some extra support and encouragement for the slower PAX, great group effort all around.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 50 miler coming up

COT: Prayers for 413 families going through some stuff, and the current class to stay focused and persistent. Always an honor to lead!

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Look Back and Look Forward

AO: thestronghold
Q: Chunks
PAX: toga, Purple Tiger, Shocker (Mark Holmes), Right Said, Red Skull, Decaf, Barney, Young and Restless, Tater, Wendy’s, Ice Box, Stir Fry, Road Trip, Bobby Hill, Mutt, Singlet
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
CONDITIONS:

WARMUP:

Indigenous peoples run with Q setting the pace to first parking lot.
13 SSHs and the explanation

THE THANG:

Indigenous peoples run with Q setting the pace to next parking lot.
Each 4:13 HIM told the PAX what they were proud of they overcame during the last 40 days. Then lead the PAX in 5 eight count bodybuilders.
Indigenous peoples run with Q setting the pace to first parking lot.
Each 4:13 HIM told the PAX what are their goals moving forward. Then lead the PAX in 5 eight count bodybuilders.
Red Skull & Decaf & YHC lead 5 eight count bodybuilders with words of encouragement
Indigenous peoples run back to StartEx
Circle up for some Mary to wrap it up

MOLESKINE:

This is not the end it’s just the start.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

COT:

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Welcome Back Struggle 004

AO: thestronghold
Q: SalPal , Chunks
PAX: bluemule, Dan and Dave, Wham-O, Sanctions, Papa Bear, Chunks, greyalbum, Crawlspace, Not-a-Sport, catfish, Penny Loafers, Shocker (Mark Holmes), Barney, toga, Decaf, Bobby Hill, Ice Box, Pick Me, Pope, Road Trip, Wendy’s, Stir Fry, Ambassador (F3 Annapolis), Mutt, Stage Dive
FNGs: None
COUNT: 26
CONDITIONS: Slightly moist.

WARMUP: A lot of side-shuffle hops and burpees, as it ought to be. Thanks to Chunks for getting the ball rolling.

THE THANG: 3 Groups rotating through sprints, burpees, and planks on a 1 minute timer, with 5 seconds to rotate. T-Claps to Dan and Dave for decreasing sub-30 second splits on all his sprints.

10 burpee salute to the Strugglers as they rolled in at 0600 hours.

Close with planks/”watersplashers” for Mary.

MOLESKINE: Great chatter and attitude today, and glad to be out in support of the men doing this latest Struggle. High concentrations of HIM on the 4:13 campus today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Struggle 005 date TBD.

COT: Lift up the men that took on the Struggle the last 16 hours.

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Leadership Opportunities

AO: thestronghold
Q: tampalibra
PAX: Red Skull, Chunks, Dan and Dave, Skeet, Right Said, Barney, toga, Decaf, Young and Restless, Purple Tiger, AWD, Poker Face, Hoop Dreams, By Design, Richie Rich, Hello Kitty, Hot Wire, Fresh Start
FNGs: None
COUNT: 19
CONDITIONS: Perfect conditions for a preruck. YHC, Red Skull, Right Said and 5 4:13 pax for a 45min/2.5mi+ preruck with a shared 60# sb

WARMUP: SSHx30, Squatsx10, Merkinsx10

THE THANG: Grab a block or ruck / mosey to courts

5 G2S / 5 Burpee over block
10 / 10
15 / 15
20 / 20
25 / 25
20 / 20
15 / 15
10 / 10
5 / 5

4:13 guys were asked to step up and lead each evolution. We have to be prepared and postured towards leadership. Learn from those before you, adapt, overcome, stay aware of those you’re leading, etc.

MARY:
On your 6 in a circle, F3 guys take turns calling out 10-15 reps of a mary exercise utilizing the weight/block

MOLESKINE:
Always so proud of these men finishing their first phase. Prayers and encouragement for them heading out with a weekend pass, finishing job interviews, and moving into the work phase.

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Progress, progress, progress

AO: thestronghold
Q: Wolfpack
PAX: Red Skull, Skeet, Young and Restless, Chunks, tampalibra, toga, Purple Tiger, Dan Tanna, Decaf, Assange (DR), Poker Face, Hello Kitty, By Design, All Wheel Drive, Hot Wire, Greyhound, Fresh Start, Hoop Dreams, Richie Rich
FNGs: None
COUNT: 20
CONDITIONS: Light rain in the warm air

WARMUP: SSH, WMH, Low Slow Squat, Low Slow Merkin, Mosey to the parking lot with the loop

THE THANG:
PAX had two things to alternate between.
1 – If you can do 1 you can do 10! PAX Paired up to complete a set exercise taking turns scaling it up from 1 rep, then 2, then 3 then 4, all the way up to 10 (55 reps total). Then took a lap around the loop.
2- Up 2, back 1. PAX lined up at ten cones. Different movements to get to the end, going up 2 cones, back one, up 2, back one until the end.

Round 1
1-10: Lt. Dans
2-1: Up Bear Crawl, Back Crawlbear

Round 2
1-10: Merkins
2-1: Up Broad Jumps, Down Backwards Bunny Hops

Round 3
1-10: 4 Count Flutter Kicks
2-1: Up Sprint, Back Sprint

Mosey on back for some cool down merkins

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 2 weeks til signing day. Lets go!

COT: Life can be hard and there will always be something to set you back, whether that’s a mistake you’ve made or an external force acting against you. It’s important to keep pushing forward… if you can take the first step, you can take the second, if you have what it takes to take two steps… why not 10!? And whenever something pushes you back a step, change your movements and take two more forward. Most importantly though… If you are struggling reach out for help and if all is going well, remember to look back and make sure you’re pulling others along with you.

Thanks for letting me lead!

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Burpee Bonanza

AO: thestronghold
Q: Natural Ice – CBO
PAX: Chunks, Red Skull, Skeet, Dan and Dave, Purple Tiger, Barney, greyalbum, Decaf, toga, Young and Restless, Natural Ice – CBO, Freshstart, All wheel drive, Richie Rich, Fulton, Hotwire, Hoop Dreams, Hello Kitty, Poker Face, Grey Hound, By Design,
FNGs: None
COUNT: 21
Backblast: Burpee Bonanza
Conditions: Perfect in the low 40s.
Warmup:
Pax got the blood flowing with:
– 40 Side Straddle Hops
– A short shoulder burn of Arm Circles, Seal Claps, and Air Presses
– Some light stretching to loosen up
The Thang:
We took off on a mosey, dodging holes in the dirt path, and stopped at a random parking lot in front of a business—just in time to wave at the security cameras.
Since consistency is key, I chose my favorite kind of misery: 5 burpees on the minute, every minute, with a “resting” exercise between rounds. It’s only 5 burpees—how bad could it be?
Round 1:
– 10 minutes, 10 rounds of burpees
– “Rests” of LBCs, Lunges, and Squats
After our first set, we moseyed back toward the Startdex, stopping in another parking lot for Round 2. Rinse and repeat for another 10 rounds.
With time still on the clock and some gas left in the tank, we kept pushing. 5 more rounds of burpees, swapping in some core-focused rests to balance out the burn.
At this point, we’d hit 125 burpees, but why stop there? We added 5 more. No big deal. And then another 5 just because we could.
Final Count: 135 burpees.
Moleskin:
Sometimes you have to trust the process and do hard things. The hardest thing you’ve ever done is only the hardest thing you’ve ever done—until you do something harder. Grateful for my brothers who push me to that next level.
COT:
– Prayers were lifted!
– Announcements: Some crazy 50-mile ruck coming up, and the Spring Fling on April 6th!

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Valentines Shuffle

AO: thestronghold
Q: DintyMoore
PAX: Mullet, Barney, Dan and Dave, Young and Restless, Decaf, Chyna, Skeet, Red Skull, toga, Yessir, BigRig, Toots, Toadstool, Airball, DPole, JackieMoon, Square Root
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
CONDITIONS: Brisk and Wet

WARMUP: SSHs, Willy Mays, Good Mornings, Slow and Low Merkins

THE THANG:
Mosey to front 🅿️

Partner 1 – hold plank for partner when done
10 Burpees
20 Iron Mikes
30 Merkins
40 Lunges
50 Mountain Climbers

Partner 2
Run across 🅿️ and Bernie back

Once everyone completes all five sets then mosey to baseball diamond

Break into four groups at each base.
10 Merkins and 10 SSHs before Bear Crawl to next base.
Repeat at each base until one full circuit.

Mosey to Back Hill
Partner 1
Low Plank Hold
Ohio Prom Dates
V-Ups
Elevated Leg Holds

Partner 2 sprint down and bear crawl back up

Mosey back to Start ⭕️ for 4:13 Selected Mary

MOLESKINE: One week left in this class, stay strong, encourage each other, take ownership of your opportunity.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
No BrewRuck on 2/15 :rain_cloud:

COT:
It was a pleasure to lead and encourage the men of 4:13. Thanks for having me.