1/24/2022 – Couponicus Maximus

AO: Lightning Rod

QIC: Danish

PAX: Bob Evans, Free Lunch, Kiwi, Lumbergh, Steak Juice, Steamy Nicks, Stray Cat, Walkman

Conditions

30F. Frigid, freezing and finger fracturing.

Warm up

FSH x 25

Halos x 15

SSH x 25

Hill Billies x 12

Imperial Walkers x 12

3rd Grade Exercise x 12

Mosey to field

The Thang

NEVER DROP YOUR COUPON is the name of the game.

  • 10 thrusters
  • Run out and back across the width of the field
  • 10 Dead Rows
  • Run out and back across the width of the field
  • 10 Coupon Curls
  • Run out and back across the width of the field
  • 10 Coupin Swings
  • Run out and back across the width of the field
  • Increase by 10 each set and keep going until time is called

COT

Today was about checking in with everyone to see how things are going in this new year.  Walkman talked about being off the wagon in terms of his diet but has enjoyed it and intends to lean back into a good routine again. Lumbergh shared how signing up for some races has helped him to stay on track even though work has been getting in the way of his participation at F3 the past few weeks. Free Lunch shared about going through a period of his life right now where death has been prevalent in his life. That was a deep and moving share and we’re all here for him if he needs us.

01/17/2022 – Jail Break

AO: LightningRod

QIC: StrayCat

PAX: Herbie, BobEvans, Kiwi, Danish

Conditions

It was in the 30s and dry.

Warm up

Run along the road in front of the school

SSH x 20

Third Grade Exercises x 10

Oil Derricks x 5 (both sides)

Windmills x 10

Halos x 10

Slow High Knees x 10

Mosey to north side of school

The Thang

Jail Break

Decline Merkins x 20

Rows x 20

Pistol Squat x 10 (each side)

Leg Raises x 20

Face Plant x 30 sec

Run 800m

Repeat for time

Mosey to LR

20 scissor kicks

COT

1 year of F3 for StrayCat

I’ve done 1 year of F3 now. I first came in January 2021 and went to a beat down lead by @walkman. I spilled merlot on my first day and a few times since then.

I’m grateful for F3 and all the changes in multiple areas of my life. It has benefited my family, my career, my mood, and my general impact on the world around me. I’m grateful for all the men who keep showing up every week. I’m so much healthier now than I thought I ever could be and am looking forward to my first 5k in February.

StrayCat Out

(1.15.22) I’ve Missed these Hills


AO: > Lightning Rod

QIC: > Walkman

PAX: > Kiwi, Bob Evans, Steamy Nix, Free lunch



CONDITIONS

43 and mostly dry. A few PAX had to take off early but everyone gave a great effort to end their week the right way!

Warm Up (Circle of Pain)

Warm up

  • Neck Roll x 10, Scissor Arms x 10, Windmill x 10, Imperial Walker x 10, Third Grade Exercise x 10, monkey humpers x 10, hammy stretch x 10. Mosy to the tiered hill.

The Thang

3 Rounds. Each round with a different exercise on the tiers. Tier 1 – 5 reps, Tier 2 – 10 reps, Tier 3 – 15 reps, Tier 4 – 20 reps.

Round starts with 5 pull ups on a bar, Run up the hill backwards to tier 1, complete the movement, come back down, 5 pull ups, run backwards up to tier 2, repeato.

Round 1: Jump Squats

Round 2: Merkins

Round 3: Froggies (plank position, jump legs forward to tucked position, extend them back, repeato)

Mosied to the bigger hill. Run up the hill, 10 burpees, run down, run up, 9 burpees, run down…repeato.

6MoM

  • LBX x 25, American Hammer x 15, 6 inch lift x 20, Plank x 20, Side planks x 10.

COT

I shared a recent big perspective shift that has happened in the last two weeks for me. For years I’ve adapted to my right knee – it doesn’t handle lateral movement well and has knocked me out of beatdowns and basketball at different times. For the last 2 months I’ve been doing PT on it, and last week I played my first basketball game in about 4 months, and my knee was rock solid. I was moving on the court with so much more confidence and ease than I have in YEARS.

I’d just assumed that this condition was my ‘new normal’. That I just had to settle for no more hoops, no more lateral movements. I’d done PT on it before, but my new guy had a totally different approach and it worked! I am so excited to be able to move like that again.

Steamy Nix shared that this perspective was helpful and may apply to some sleep/inflammatory issues he’s dealing with.

Well done Men!

-Walkman

01/15/2022 – Fitness Class

AO: LavaField

QIC: Danish

PAX: Houdini, Stray Cat, Slash

Conditions

Very foggy and cold. Low 30Fs and finger shattering frost on the field.

Warm up

400m mosey

SSH x 25

SSJ x 25

Lateral Lunges x 16

Forward arm circles x 10

Backward arm circles x 10

Scissor Arms x 12

The Thang

Holding our blocks, we go through various routines all to the beat of the music and focusing on the following areas:

  • Biceps
  • Triceps
  • Core
  • Quads
  • Hamstrings

COT

Action before Mood.

We had a good conversation about how we can take action to change or shape out mood when we need to. The action of getting out a starting a run can get you through a time when you’re contemplating not doing anything and creating excuses not to exercise.

Danish is DONE!

01/12/2022 – Four on the Floor

AO: LightningRod

QIC: Slash

PAX: FreeLunch, Walkman, Herbie, BobEvans, SteamyNix, Kiwi, Danish

Conditions

An almost balmy mid-50s. Light sprinkle at first but mostly dry. We all needed less layers than we thought!

Warm up

Plank walks x12 (alternate moving each foot forward and outside your hand while in plank)

Cliffhangers x12 (pulse shoulders over hands while in plank)

YTW x10

Bear birds x12 (in bear hold with knee 1-inch off the ground, extend right hand and left foot out and away from each other in a straight line; alternate hand/foot)

Squat jacks x10

Mosey to north side of school

The Thang

Four on the Floor

1st Set (4min total)

Wall sits (60seconds) with shoulder circles forward, reverse, halos 

Bear crawl to box jump to crawl bear (then repeat) (2min) 

Decline merkins (60seconds) 

Repeat 4-rounds (with modifications/progressions to each movement: big arm circles during wall sits, 1-leg wall sits, diamond decline merkins, wide grip decline merkins, squat before box jump, burpee before box jump)

Mosey to LR

2nd Set (4min total)

Reverse planks (60seconds) 

Saws (2min) 

Burpees (60seconds) 

Repeat 4-rounds (with progressions/mods each round: burpee with jump tuck), made it through the 4th round of reverse planks before time.

COT

Process Over Outcomes

I’m reading the book Atomic Habits and highlighted a few meaningful points that stood out, that apply to our go30’s and acknowledge of progress overall. Don’t focus on goals if you want to get things done. Goals set the North Star of what we want to head to. But process is how we execute – building routines that become autonomous. Process means having a time/place/duration of behaving – and having a process over time become habits. Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. If we get 1% better each day, that’s 37% better each year. I told the story of the British cycling team that focused on 1% improvements to their entire training routine and went from losers to a global powerhouse in less than 10 years.

But it takes time to see big outcomes. If we focus on process improvements, the outcomes will come. It takes time to hit big thresholds/goals (e.g. freezing an ice cube only happens at 32degrees, but you need to energy to take the temperature down from 72degrees. You only hit a remarkable threshold after 40degrees of work). The score/outcome will take care of itself. I pointed to the way Steamy Nix is paying attention to his 1% gains.

Herbie brought up the importance of consistency. Bob Evans talked about recognizing the 1% improvemnts but not beating yourself up if they don’t happen daily – don’t 1 rep extra when you can adds up to a lot over time. Walkman talked about the power of iteration (vs ideation) in manufacturing to optimize the process. Danish talked about recognizing gains in a workout even if you think think the workout didn’t go well – there’s always something to take away.

Rock on, Slash!

(1.10.22) Left, Right, Left


AO: >Lightning Rod

VQIC: > Samurai

PAX: > Danish, Bob Evans, Kiwi, Walkman, Steak Juice, Free Lunch, Stray Cat



CONDITIONS

35 degrees out. Overcast but not raining!

Warm Up

We did the whole warm up in cadence.

  • Side Straddle Hop x 25
  • Daisy Pickers X 20
  • Slow High Knees X 10
  • Fast High Knees X 20
  • Forward Small Arm Circles x 15
  • Reverse Small Arm Circles x 15
  • Side Straddle Hop x 25

The Thang

PAX formed into two columns and ran 1/2 mile in cadence with Q calling cadences. We are going to need some music lessons to improve our singing. Ended our run down at the track.

Beatdown Part A:

  • 1 Minute of continuous Merkins
  • Big Boys x 10 in cadence (hard count)
  • 1 Minute of continuous Merkins
  • Squats x 20 in cadence (hard count)
  • 1 Minute of continuous merkins

Beatdown Part B:

On the track, on your own. Lunge Walk x 30 (hard count) and then run the rest of the lap back to the starting line. All PAX completed 3 laps and some did more.

PAX formed into two columns and ran in cadence back to the flagpole. Our singing was slightly improved this time around.

6MOM

  • Flutter Kicks x 30 in cadence
  • 1 Minute Low Plank
  • Freddie Mercury x 20 in cadence
  • Reverse Freddie Mercury x 20 in cadence

COT

Q shared about personal journey and the power of fellowship to transform lives. Reach out to your brother next to you and offer your help. It could make all the difference!

With Love,
Samurai

(1.7.22) Battle Buddies


AO: >Lightning Rod

QIC: > Walkman

PAX: > Herbie, Danish, Kiwi, Samurai, Bob Evans, Lumbergh, Slash, Steamy Nix



CONDITIONS

Thank the lord it was 50 degrees because it was WET. Poured on us the whole time but the liquid sunshine provided some great cooling for the beatdown.

Warm Up (Circle of Pain)

Warm up

  • Mosy to the track with our coupons, set the coupons on the goal line. Pax lined up for a six man run with one coupon. The coupon starts at the front, and is passed down the line until the last man has it, then the last man runs it to the front. Completed 2 laps then circled up for: Windmill, Third Grade Exercise, hammy stretch, Halo’s all x10.

The Thang

Partnered up and lined up on the goal line with one coupon per team. The team was responsible for moving the coupon to the other goal line.

Round 1: Lunge walk with coupon handoff every 5 yards. Every 20 yards stopped and the team completed 10 merkin squats (wheelbarrow position as a team, one member is doing merkins and the other is doing squats)

Round 2: Murder bunny (partner doing broad jumps) with coupon handoff every 5 yards. Every 20 yards, stopped and completed 10 merkin squats.

Round 3: Rifle carry (partner just walking) with coupon handoff every 5 yards. Every 20 yards, stopped and completed 10 Thrusters or squats. Raised the stakes – if a team missed a handoff, walked passed a line, or forgot to switch, they owed 5 penalty merkins. This increased communication on the teams and we only had 1 set of penalty merkins across all teams.

Round 4: Bear crawl with coupon drag, coupon switched every 5 yards. Every 20 yards, completed 10 big bois with coupon handoff. Penalty merkins in effect but the pax did great and nobody earned any.

We were tight for time, so started COT on the mosy, sorry everyone.

COT

YHC shared the adventures at The Grizzly – detailing the physical and mental challenges of the event and talking through the teamwork, external focus, and grit required to push through. Bob Evans and his physical preparation helped carry a lot of people, and Samurai’s attitude and mental toughness shined throughout the night. Great event that taught us a lot and I encourage everyone to consider one, and to prep for it accordingly.

Great work Men!

Walkman

(01.03.22) – Faster than Rain

AO: Lightning Rod

QIC: Lumbergh

PAX: Bob Evans, Walkman, Herbie, Kiwi, Free Lunch

Conditions

Wet, wet, wet but north of 40 degrees, which was a nice change of pace lately!

Warm up

  • SSH x 20 IC
  • 3rd Grade Exercise x 15 IC
  • Slow High Knees x 10 IC
  • Monkey Humpers x 10 IC
  • Windmills x 10 IC
  • Scissor Arms x 15 IC
  • SSH x 20

Mosey to track

The Thang

7 of Diamonds – Track Style (Burpees, Big Bois, Squats, Merkins)

Round 1 – Burpees

PAX Runs 400m (complete 7 Burpees) x 4

Round 2 – Big Bois

PAX Runs 400m (complete 14 Squats) x 4

Round 3 – Squats

PAX Runs 400m (complete 21 Big Bois) x 4

Round 4 – Merkins (not enough time to complete)

PAX Runs 400m (complete 28 Merkins) x 4

COT

3 tricks for setting–and sticking to–your New Year’s resolutions, according to career coaches

  • Ask Self Reflective Questions (What am I doing? Who am I with? How do I feel?) –> “Values are the bedrock on which you make decisions, when you rank these values – community, authenticity, faith, whatever they are – you can set goals based on those values.” – Susan Peppercorn
  • Focus on Smaller Goals
  • Find an accountability partner

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/31/how-to-crush-your-goals-in-the-new-year-according-to-career-coaches-.html

So Long, and thanks for all the Merlot!


AO: >The Gauntlet

QIC: > Walkman

PAX: > Stray Cat



CONDITIONS

mid 20’s but dry snow on the ground!

Warm Up (Circle of Pain)

  • Mosy two laps and circle up for Halo’s x 10, Squat x 10, Third Grade Exercise x 10, Imperial Walker x 10, mosy to the playground.
  • Pull up x 5, Swing extensions (stand in front the swing, hold it with your arms, push it out as far as you can, supporting yourself with it and your core) x 10. repeato x 2. Mosy to the stairs.

The Thang

5 rounds: 5 burpees, 5 step up high knees (HC), run top of stairs, 5 decline merkins on the benches.

Mosy to the bike racks and stairs.

3 rounds: Sprint down one lane of bike racks (length wise), 5 squats, spring back, 5 squats, repeato down each lane, run down the stairs, 5 decline merkins, run up the stairs.

Mosy to the football field. Lunge walk 20 yards, broad jump 20 yards, repeato till end zone. Mosy back to starting spot.

6MoM

  • Penguins x 25, LBC’s x 25, Frozen Freddies x 25.

COT

We talked about the end of the year, closing of things and the opportunity to reset and declare new purposes, and intentions for the new year. YHC also shared how critical the fellowship is in my life. I’ve been injured, sick, or out of town largely for the last 8 weeks, and though I kept up my workouts, even my M commented on me being off. I need the group. This has been the best week of the last 8 because of it. Thanks!

Great work men!

Walkman

12/24/2021 – O’ Swoly Night

AO: LightningRod

QIC: Slash

PAX: FreeLunch

Conditions

Wet and cold!

Warm up

SSH X25

3rd grade x15

Squating arm circles x15 forward, x15 reverse

Hillbilly x20

Mosey to goal line

The Thang

O’ Swoly Night

Start at goal line

Get the present (coupon) to the kids around the world.

Start at goal line in a straight line behind. Santa carries the present down the field 100yds while his elves follow in flying formation.

When Santa needs a break, he yells “Kringle’s gonna tinkle” while all the elves do burpees to energize Santa until he’s ready to continue. When he’s ready he yells ho ho ho, let’s fucking go.

If Santa gets to the 100yd before the elves, he pulls up the 6 doing whatever movement they are.

When everyone gets to 100yd, with another man becoming Santa and taking the present.

1st delivery –

Santa: tempo overhead presses (start overhead then slowly lower down for 5 seconds taking 5 steps, then raise for 5secomds taking 5 steps forward)

Elves: monster walk

2nd delivery –

Santa: murder bunny

Elves: crab walk

3rd delivery –

Santa: present/coupon hop overs, facing long ways

Elves: inchworms

COT

Free Lunch and I talked about tomorrow, celebrating family and remembering the amazing stuff our parents/grandparents have done.

Rock on and merry Christmas, Slash!