(07.02.21) – Tour de Lightning Rod

AO: Lightning Rod

QIC: Lumbergh

PAX: Herbie, Danish, Free Lunch, Whitney, Stray Cat

Conditions

Cloudy and cool start to the day. PAX was amped to close out the week right.

Warm up

  • SSH x 20
  • 3rd Grade Exercise x 10
  • Scissor Kicks x 10
  • Windshield Wipers x 10
  • Scissor Arms x 10
  • World’s Greatest Stretch x 5 (alternate to other leg)
  • Alternating Shoulder Taps x 10

The Thang

Mosey to the track

  • Start at midfield
  • Broad jump to the endzone
  • 50 merkins
  • Run up the hill to the back of the school
  • 50 tricep dips
  • Run back to midfield
  • 50 LBCs
  • Repeat

Mosey back to the LR

6MoM

  • 20 Dead Bugs x IC
  • 10 Outlaws x IC (both directions)

COT

Disturbance To The Status-quo

Leaders influence movement to advantage

A leader is a person who can influence people to do things that they would not have done otherwise. Put another way, but for the influence of the leader, the things done by his followers would not happen. The leader is the agent, the impetus and the proximate cause of his followers’ movement toward the doing of those specific things that he identifies as advantageous. Without him, they would remain static and focused on maintaining the status quo. In the heart of man inertia will reign–absent a Disruption .

The connection between movement and leadership is critical because it presupposes a need for action, a recognition by the leader himself that the status quo is something less advantageous than some other place, a location the leader visualizes and then articulates to his followers. Only then can the leader begin to persuade them to follow him to the new place. He must describe it to them first because people will only overcome their inertia and follow someone if they believe that he knows where he is going. They won’t leave the known for the unknown, no matter how charismatic the leader is.

That’s a wrap

-Lumbergh

6/23/2021 – Breathe in….

AO: Lightning Rod

QIC: Walkman

PAX: Danish, Giggles, Kiwi, Samurai, Beach Bum, Quads, Ghost

Conditions

A balmy 65 as YHC made it just in time due to some gastrointestinal distress.

Warm up

We started with an eleven minute guided Wim Hof breathing exercise. Then we Bear Crawl Batoned to the tennis courts. This is a six man run where everyone is bear crawling, and the last person stops to do 5 burpees before running to the front of the bear crawl train. I blame beach bum for bringing this into our local exicon.

The Thang

We split into two groups on each side of the tennis court. We fish boned our way down and back. Completed a set of cave dwellers (gorilla walk or bear crawl with 5,10,15, and 20 merkins at each court, no standing up) on the way down and on the way back Frog Jumped with (3) squat jumps at each line. YHC had initially though of 5/10/15/20 squat jumps but it runs out (3) was plenty! Then completed another set of high intensity fish bones down and back. Mosied slowly back to the rod as we caught our breath.

Mosey to LR

Completed another 11 minute guided Wim Hof breathing exercise.

COT

I shared that I had been in Denver the weekend before, attending the memorial of my friend who took his own life recently, Tom Zimmer. We also helped clean out his house alongside his family. It was an intense, emotional, and hard weekend that was cathartic for many. At the memorial, many people shared stories and perspective on Tom. One thing stood out to me that I wanted to share with the PAX. Tom worked with a guy named Townsend Warlod (one of the coolest names ever yea?) in a program built around creating your exceptional life. Townsend learned of Tom’s death and reached out to his parents, and shared with them a ‘Declaration’ that Tom had written, affirming himself and his unique talents/perspective. It was shared openly at the Memorial and was title ‘On Becoming Tom Zimmer.’ It was deeply moving, and while I don’t feel comfortable reposting it online, I will share my two favorite take aways as I did in the CoT:

  • No one should be expected to know exactly what I want or need. So tell them.
  • I don’t owe a long term duty to what doesn’t serve me.

Big thanks to the PAX for letting me share something deeply personal and moving, loved the support.

Walkman

(06.14.21) – Here be dragons…

AO: Lightning Rod

QIC: Stray Cat

PAX: Danish, FreeLunch, Giggles, Kiwi, Lumbergh, Samurai, Walkman

Conditions

Puddles, but it didn’t rain!

Warm up

  • SSH x 20
  • 3rd Grade Exercise x 10
  • Derricks x 8 (per side)
  • Arm circles (forward and reverse) x 10
  • Mosey
  • Fish bones (run up and down along the parking slots)

The Thang

Mosey to the Field

Rows with raised feet (8)

Decline Merkins (15)

Benjamins:

  • 25 yd lunge walk
  • 25 Merkin-Jacks
  • 25 yd lunge walk
  • 25 Thusters
  • 25 yd lunge walk
  • 25 Big Boys
  • 25 yd lunge walk
  • 25 Merkins Walk (one hand on Coupon and switch back and forth in plank)

10, 20, 30 yd Gasser

10 yds of Dragon Walk

Mosey Back

10 Windshield Washers

20 Big Boys

10 American Hammers

10 Double Crunch

10 Leg Lifts

10 Scissor kicks

COT

We discussed the benefits of Beat Downs in fighting anxiety. Going to the workouts has enabled me to take on many more projects and more stress in my work and home life. F3 has enabled me to pick up other peoples burdens and has enabled me to have a greater positive impact on the communities I’m a part of. Most of the PAX participated with the discussion and shared how important going to the Beat Downs is to having a good week.

StrayCat out.

(06.12.21) – Round and Round, Up and Down

AO: LavaField

QIC: Lumbergh

PAX: Slash, Danish, Houdini, and Slumberkins

Conditions

Warm up

  • SSH x 20
  • Imperial Walkers x 10
  • 3rd Grade Exercise x 10
  • Scissor Kicks x 10
  • Windshield Wipers x 10
  • Monkey Humpers x 10
  • Scissor Arms x 10
  • Alternating Shoulder Taps x 20

The Thang

Mosey to the parking lot

  • Station 1 (Track Lap)
  • Station 2 (Rifle Carry Up the Bleachers – Backside of the stadium)
  • Station 3 (30 Block Curls, Racked carry, down the opposite side, return block to start)
  • Station 4 (Lunge walk to Station 5)
  • Station 5 (Run to the parking lot gate, Nur back, 50 Merkins)
  • Repeat

Mosey to the endzone

  • Bataan Bear Crawls
  • Q drops first, 5 Burpees, PAX Bear Crawls
  • Q runs to PAX and taps next HIM
  • Repeat till the PAX has done 1 round a piece

6MoM

  • 20 Dead Bugs x IC
  • 10 Outlaws x IC (both directions)
  • LBCs x 10 IC
  • CBLs x 10 (reverse crunch)

COT

Planned to go with the below but thru the grind of the workout, the continued feeling of gratitude washed over me. Shared the following personal updates:

  • Update on my best buddy’s brother, who recently was quickly diagnosed with brain tumors and immediate surgery took place. Prognosis was rough to begin but following surgery was extremely optimistic, to the point where full recovery is expected within a year.
  • My mom’s surgery was a success and healing/recovery is underway.
  • Lastly, and so minorly, the issues with my car persisted and somehow the issue was tracked back to an error on the side of the dealership, unfortunately it happened but by the hand God, they identified the issue and owned it. The entire head gasket replacement cost will now be covered.

GRATITUDE IS AT A TIME HIGH and needed to share it and give thanks to where it come from, my God, Jesus Christ. Went around the circle and several of the PAX shared similar life updates. Today was a good day.

Disturbance To The Status-quo

Leaders influence movement to advantage

A leader is a person who can influence people to do things that they would not have done otherwise. Put another way, but for the influence of the leader, the things done by his followers would not happen. The leader is the agent, the impetus and the proximate cause of his followers’ movement toward the doing of those specific things that he identifies as advantageous. Without him, they would remain static and focused on maintaining the status quo. In the heart of man inertia will reign–absent a Disruption .

The connection between movement and leadership is critical because it presupposes a need for action, a recognition by the leader himself that the status quo is something less advantageous than some other place, a location the leader visualizes and then articulates to his followers. Only then can the leader begin to persuade them to follow him to the new place. He must describe it to them first because people will only overcome their inertia and follow someone if they believe that he knows where he is going. They won’t leave the known for the unknown, no matter how charismatic the leader is.

That’s a wrap

-Lumbergh

6.7.21 – Fit and Friended Men look outward

AO: Lightning Rod

QIC: Walkman

PAX: Danish, Bunny, Giggles, Ghost, Kiwi

Conditions

Light overcast and 49 degrees as six Pax showed up right on time to kick things off. YHC was coming off a week away and botched the disclaimer a bit on our way to a mosy.

Warm up

Mosied down to 62nd and looked for ‘Good Morning Merkins.’ Bunny was confident in his first ‘Good Morning’ and was rewarded when some random guy down the street hollered back, as well as his intended target. Pax completed 20 merkins on the Mosy and stopped into the tennis courts for Slow high knees x 12, Gradycorns x 12, Windmill x 12, Merkins x 11 (HC). In between each movement we ran (60-80% pace) to the end of the courts and back. Then mosied to the hill

The Thang

Need a name for this type of workout…the pax lined up single file at the bottom of the hill and all held plank. The first person in line ran up the hill, completed 10 merkins, and bear crawled back down and then held squat until the last man was in. When the first man was done with the merkins, the second person in line followed suit, repeating until the entire line was reformed at the bottom of the hill, all holding squat. Then the first person ran up, completed 10 squat jumps, and ran back down, forming a new line holding plank. When the first man’s squat jumps were completed, the second person followed suit, and repeated until the PAX was back to the original line. We repeated this sequence 6 times before heading back to the LR.

6MOM

Potty Breaks x 12

Outlaws x 12

Box Cutters x 12

Superman x 12

Big Bois x 15

COT

Fit and Friended Men look outward

I found this quote from ‘Freed to Lead’ incredibly valuable over the last month or so. I saw evidence of it in myself over the last year, and the pax opened up and shared some perspective on how it applied outside of fitness and into our marriages, children, and the mentality of abundance. We shared that when F3 first started several people came up with ‘pet projects’ that were initially considered distractions – helping a charity, building homes, etc. But it turned out these ‘distractions’ were the result of the men being fit and friended, and they ended up becoming the goal of F3 – to reinvigorate male leadership in communities. As our pax grows, we’ll begin to see these ‘pet projects’ and YHC highly encourages us to embrace them as strong second and third F opportunities.

Great work today – Walkman

(05.28.21) Morning Merkins with Big Ben


AO: > Lightning Rod

QIC: > Lumbergh

PAX: > Bunny, Samurai, Face Plant, Kiwi, Walkman, Free Lunch, Murse, Danish, Giggles, Stray Cat, Slash



CONDITIONS

> What a day, what a day. Revved up the lungs, arms, and legs to wrap up to week. 12 strong to start the day, perfection!

Kicked off the workout walking thru the 5 Core Principles of F3:

Warm Up (Circle of Pain)

  • Mosey to the Track
  • SSH x 20 IC
  • Windmill x 15 IC
  • Scissor Arm x 15 IC
  • Third Grade Exercise x 15 IC
  • Slow High Knees x 15 IC
  • Butt Kickers x 15 IC
  • SSH x 20 IC

The THANG

As many rounds as possible before mosey back to LR for COT. Goal is 6 rounds.

  • Start on the track, run around the track to the away stands and up to Franklin statue
  • 25 merkins
  • Run back to track
  • 10 Burpees
  • 20 Squats
  • 30 Big Bois
  • Repeat!!!

Mosey back to LR!

6MOM

> Finished on the 6,

  • LBC x 20 IC

Moleskin

How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain
New research is starting to explore how gratitude works to improve our mental health.

I recently read this article and found it’s insights fascinating. The link is posted in the backblast for you all to read deeper but the highlights of the study found these 4 results rang true:

  1. Gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions
  2. Gratitude helps even if you don’t share it
  3. Gratitude’s benefits take time
  4. Gratitude has lasting effects on the brain

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain

And with that, I’m grateful for each of you and the effort you’ve been given over this last year. Whether it was helping me or the man next to you thru a dark or thru the best and brightest of days, I know I count on you. You are men of character. Keep laying bricks.

> That’s a wrap, Lumbergh

(05.17.21) UBB Day


AO: > Lightning Rod

QIC: > Bunny

PAX: > Giggles, Free Lunch, Danish, Lumbergh, Walkman, Stray Cat, Face Plant



CONDITIONS

> 8 PAX to kick off the week right. About 57 and dry – no hoodies today!

Warm Up (Circle of Pain)

  • SSH x 20 IC
  • Third Grade Exercise x 15 IC
  • Windmills x 15 IC
  • Donkey Kicks x 10 IC (each leg)

Its a great Monday – some chatter about the weekend and the fact that it’s my last Q.

The THANG

Everybody picks up their coupons and fast walks to the football field. Pick up coupons and mosey down the field, every 20 yards hitting 2 exercises at X number of reps until the touchdown line, completing 5 sets. Turn around, and start the next exercise. 10-20 count between sets.

x10 curls & x5 skull crushers

x10 squat to shoulder press & x10 incline merkins

x10 kettle bell swings & x10 rows (5 on each side)

x10 deadlift & x10 mountain climbers

Lumbergh finished early and was hitting some merkins. Looked like a good idea to me.

x20 Merkins as a group IC (hard count)

6MOM

  • x15 Merkins as a group IC (hard count)
  • x50 LBC IC
  • x25 plank IC
  • x10 shoulder taps IC
  • x10 Merkins IC

Moleskin

Appreciation and Gratitude for F3

Discussed how much F3 has meant to me during the last year with the pandemic and being laid off etc. It truly motivated me and gave me purpose during a stagnant and bleak period of my life. I thanked everyone for giving me the opportunity to Q and grow as a leader. It hasn’t always been perfect, but it has really pushed me to keep getting better and improve. F3 has, as simple, as it seems given me the 3 Fs. Obviously fitness, but also faith in something bigger than myself, and fellowship with a great group of guys I hope to keep in contact with long into the future. It has been awesome watching F3 Portland grow, and now new pax are stepping up to Q. I am excited to help contribute to their success in any way I can and continue posting hard as I get ready to leave the country. Moment of silence for appreciation and gratitude for F3 or anything else on your mind.

> Over and Out for the last time as Q in Portland (at least for awhile),

Bunny

(05.10.21) Coupon Day


AO: > Lightning Rod

QIC: > Bunny

PAX: > Giggles, Herbie, Kiwi, Samurai, Free Lunch, Ghost, Danish, Lumbergh, Walkman, Stray Cat



CONDITIONS

> 11 PAX to kick off the week right. About 47 and dry – great conditions.

Warm Up (Circle of Pain)

  • SSH x 20 IC
  • Third Grade Exercise x 12 IC
  • Windmills x 12 IC
  • Slow High Knees x 15 IC
  • Donkey Kicks x 10 IC (each leg)
  • Monkey Humpers x 15 IC

The THANG

Everybody picks up their coupons and fast walks to the big hill. Leave coupons at top of the hill, and partner up into groups of 2 at the bottom. While 1 partner is running up hill and doing x25 of a coupon exercise, other partner waits in plank. Partner doing coupon exercises finishes and runs back down hill, partners then switch. This is done until 200 reps are completed per team, 100 for each partner.

x200 Coupon Swings

x200 Curls

stationary partner switches planks for popping a squats or regular squats for next set of reps

x200 shoulder press

6MOM

  • No time

Moleskin

Being able to learn from others

Discussed how easy it is to get set in our ways as we get older, thinking we have it all figured out, and stop learning from others. Talked about the importance of being willing to learn new things, and open to criticism and advice. Meeting and learning from new people is so important to continued growth in life. We are lucky to have this amazing fellowship, with guys that really want to grow. As we grow in numbers, I think it is important to recognize the benefits of new perspectives and voices. I challenged all pax to be open to learning from others in their daily lives. The Pax shared some stories and perspectives. Walkman talked about staring up the NE AO. Moment of silence for prayer/positivity to end it.

> Over and Out, Bunny

5.3.21 – Charge!

AO: Lightning Rod

QIC: Walkman

PAX: Danish, Lumbergh, Giggles, Kiwi, Bunny, Ditka!, Herbie, Ghost, Samurai, Free Lunch

Conditions

49 clear and dry. 10 Pax arrived on time with one more straggling in (nice job) and another who showed up but missed us (also nice job!).

Warm up

Mosied down to 52nd and down to division, circling up for:

SSH x 15

Windmill x 12

Slow high knees x 12

Third Grade Exercise x 12

Monkey Humpers x 12

Side Lunge x 12

Then mosied to the hill by the track.

The Thang

Started at the bottom of the hill. The Pax ran up, starting the exercise immediately at the top, and once the six was in we performed the exercise in cadence. Jogged down the hill, and started pull ups immediately. Once the six was in, performed 10 pullups in cadence. Repeated for:

Merkins x 10, Jump Squats x 10, Plank x 10, Lunges x 10

Ran up the hill backwards and completed the same for:

Merkins x 15, Jump squats x 15, Plank x 15, Lunges x 15

Broke the group into two groups and completed a lap of a six man run.

Pulled up at the wall and completed wall sits w/ Cherry Pickers x 15, Morrocan Night club x 15, OHP x 10.

Went back to the hill and repeated the above for:

Merkins x 5, Jump squats x 5, Plank x 5, Lunges x 5

Ran up the hill backwards for

Merkins x 10, Jump squats x 10, Lunges x 10

Mosied back to the Lightning Rod.

6MOM

Box Cutter x 15

Big Bois x 25

Frozen Freddie x 10

Plank, L/R side plank x 10ea

Superman x 15

LBX x 10

COT

I shared that I’m currently reading ‘freed to lead’ and am finding it hitting home. In particular, the need to work every single day to become who I want to be is hitting right now. I’ve had this mental block on the need to push myself every day, feeling like 2-3 days a week ‘should’ be good enough. The funny thing is, it obviously isn’t. I keep telling myself I don’t want to do this 5 days a week, particularly as we’re looking to launch NE, but I have all of this evidence that I really do want to do it more: I’m happier, more present, a better husband/father/friend, I see massive cognitive gains, I eat/drink better, i read more, walk my dog, etc. All the evidence in the world, and I still have a mental block on it being ‘required’ to push it every day. The story of F3 is doing a great job of breaking that down for me.

Good work today – Walkman

(04.26.21) DOD Zombie edition


AO: > Lightning Rod

QIC: > Bunny

PAX: > Giggles, Herbie, Kiwi, Samurai, Free Lunch, Ghost, Danish



CONDITIONS

> 8 PAX to kick off the week. About 45 and dry – great conditions.

Warm Up (Circle of Pain)

  • SSH x 25 IC
  • Third Grade Exercise x 12 IC
  • Windmills x 15 IC
  • Slow High Knees x 15 IC
  • Donkey Kicks x 10 IC (each leg)
  • Arm Circles x 20 IC

The THANG

DOD. Hearts/Merkins (easy count), Diamonds/Incline Merkins (easy count), Spades/Squats (hard count), Clubs/Lunges (hard count), and Jokers/ 12 burpees.

Since we have some VQs this month, and more to come soon, I wanted to give all pax a chance to try out calling exercises IC and getting a feel for the Q. The person that draws the card calls cadence. It went great – I think that every one of the pax present today will eventually lead a kickass Q.

Tried to get through it all, but time and burpees kicked our ass – we left off with 4 cards remaining and a minute to spare.

6MOM

  • LBC x 25 IC

Moleskin

Stepping outside your comfort zone to get where you want to be

Discussed the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone/taking risks, and trying to do at least one thing truly uncomfortable everyday. Every single one of the pax today did this by coming to F3 and continuing to grow as HIMs. Talked about taking some risk in life – without risk there is safety, but no reward. All pax had some good insights/stories/examples to share.

I am really impressed at how this group has grown and retained a sense of fellowship, with everybody adding something different and positive – just a great group of guys. Really makes getting up at 5am worth it.

> Over and Out, Bunny