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8 PAX @ R4TJ

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FNGs: None.  Another, crazy 60 degree, balmy, foggy morning in January!  Shorts and short sleeves!

Warm Up:  Volunteered to Q at the last minute at this AO I had never attended.  Came up with a route only to find out later I had the wrong starting point.  This AO meets at Ting, not Womble.  Thank you Pikachu.  Took some playful heat/banter on social media.  Was not falling for it.  I screwed up and owned it.  Adapt and overcome.  Went back to the maps and planned out a route.  Luckily for me, I had seven PAX who were very familiar with the area.  I shared my plan of running a 5K with some hill repeats.  After our pow pow, we began warming up when the clock struck 0530.  15 SSH, 10 Don Quixotes, 10 Daisy Pickers, 10 Frankensteins (OYO), static leg stretching (L/R).  Light vests and head lamps were turned on and we began our run.  Felt good not having to wear stinky gloves for my normal boot camp workout.

The Workout:  PAX stayed together throughout the entire run.  Maybe they were worried about the Q getting lost.  Terrific mumble chatter along the way.  So impressed with the support for the six throughout the 5k.  The route I planned was changed and there is no way I could recreate it on the map.  It would look like a John Madden explanation of a play by the time I got done with it.  As mentioned on FB, Valdez had to depart and head home halfway through the workout – thanks for letting the Q know.  Anchor Creek Way hill was repeated – again great support cheering on the six. Finished the 5k with a sprint up the ramp.  Excellent job PAX!

Mary:  Cool down as we headed back to the planted shovel flag.  PAX completed gate openings, Frankensteins and karaoke.

Announcements:  ATT long ass run; look on Slack/FB for some other social/volunteer opportunities.  LED is looking for volunteers.  Great movie last night – one continuous shot (incredible).

T-Claps (Recognition):  PAX for coming out in the gloom this morning and supporting each other.  We were definitely not fast, we gave 100% and got better.

Prayer:  Crab legs, Noah’s Ark wife, Nemo’s distant family member that passed away, UNSPOKEN.  Thank you Fanny Pack for taking us out.  It’s hump week; take a look at your day.  Look at your priorities.  Evaluate how much time you are spending in things that really should matter.

 

I got to meet some new guys and have some good discussions with folks I normally do not see.  Thank you for your help today.  An honor to lead you men!  -Dauber

How could I forget?!!

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FNGs: 1 But Shredder asked we save his naming until Groupounder – Colt45
Warm Up: Standard ShamWow! U-Turn: SSH, Frankenstein, Imperial, Hillbilly, Daisy Picker
The Workout: The U!
Mary: Nope
Announcements:
T-Claps (Recognition): Nemo, Maybelline, Skidmark – 4 Mile EC in the rain and cold!
Prayer: YHC took us out

Abe Gets Hot for Teacher

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YHC rolled up to the spot rarin’ to go. So much so that YHC locked his keys in his car. Doh! Oh well, F3 starts on time and ends on time, so let’s go!

FNGs: none (I’m pretty sure)
Warm Up: Ran down to Kelly Rd Park, circled up in the parking lot for:
SSH x 25 / Imperial Walkers x 10 / Hill Billies x 10 / Windmills x 10 / Good Mornings x 10
The Workout: Planned on using the baseball diamond for 7 of Diamonds, but Cataracts informed me that the field is probably closed. Modify as needed, so we did 7 of Diamonds around the parking lot. It went a little something like this:
Round 1: 7 Shoulder Taps at each corner, bear crawl on the long stretch, crab walk on the short stretch
Round 2: 14 Pistol Squats at each corner (7R/7L), lunge walk on the long stretch, frong jump on the short stretch
Round 3: 21 Merkins at each corner, lunge walk long stretch, bear crawl short stretch
Round 4: Copperhead Squat at each corner, lunge walks all around
This ate up most of our time, so we moseyed back to start.
Mary: YHC called a plank hold while waiting for the 6. It was apparent that we might be waiting awhile, so an audible for more Merkins was called. Ended up with 3 sets of 10.
Once the 6 was in:
American Hammers x 10
WWIIs (in cadence, ended up with 20)
LBCs x 10
Homer 2 Marge (SW style) x 10
Announcements: Ruck, CPR
T-Claps (Recognition): Slapps for buying me some post-game java.
Prayer: Kingsley for recovery from illness, Yahoo for travel abroad / adoption, praise for Queequeg promotion

Thank you Carpax HIMs for giving me the opportunity to spend some quality gloom time with you. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Throwback 5 – Day 5 – Riding the Murphy-Go-Round at Cletus

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46 PAX IN THE GLOOM!  Way to end the week HIM!

EC: Norm, ShamWow!, Martini, DawgPound, Skidmark, Maybelline, Redenbacher, Pablo, Buford, Cowboy, Mr. Terrific

FNGs: NOPE

Warm Up:  YHC felt a little odd Qing the final Throwback of the week.  I wasnt here when these fine AOs were established.  I needed some star power…  I needed CrabLegs!!!

No, not those delicious buttery delicacies… This HIM!

I reached out and luckily enough he was available. CrabLegs was wrapping up some vacation in New England and he made the push to get back and join in on the fun.  Crablegs put the PAX through their paces in the warm-up.

  • SSH
  • Runners Pose
  • Pigeon Pose
  • Overhead Stretches
  • Daisy Pickers
  • Good Mornings

The Workout:

41 PAX were present when we started the workout with an initial count-off.  YHC watched as a few men filed in at various moments but was unable to get the count.  This called for 6 Burpees OYO!

PAX had counted off 1,2,3,4 and broke into 4 groups.  We were headed to the Murphy-Go-Round.  Most Murphs would last about an hour and we would have enough room for everyone to grab some pull-up bars.   We didn’t have that today and with 41 (later 46 PAX) there were some logistical challenges.  YHC had his heart* set on some sort of Murph-like event today so a contingency plan was in place to make it happen.

*One of my earliest memories of attending Cletus was when a Murph was announced instead of the normal workout.  As a new PAX at the time, I was intimidated and I remember being pretty shattered the day after.  It was brutal and humbling and oddly it now made me feel nostalgic and happy…  this F3 really changes a guy.

The Actual Workout…  Finally…

We mozy’d to the railing on the greenway between the pond and the baseball fields.  The railing would serve as our pull-up bars, strike that Inverted Row bars.  Group 2 was dropped here and told to get started AMRAP until they were relieved by Group 1.

We mozy’d to the parking lot beyond the baseball diamonds.  As we entered the lot, we dropped off Group 3.  There job was to do AMRAP Merkins until they were relieved by Group 2.

We mozy’d down the lot to give some space and dropped off Group 4 off.  AMRAP Squats until relieved by Group 3.

From there, Group 1 set off on a Run around the Baseball diamonds until they got to Group 2.

The Murphy-Go-Round was set in motion and continued until time was called.

Mary:

Back to the tennis courts…

  • 6 inch leg holds
  • Boxcutters
  • Superman Ws and Ts
  • LBCs

Announcements:  Check Slack because my memory don’t work so good…  here is a round-up

  • Paradise City starts at 5:30 from now on
  • U-Turn launches from Panera from now on
  • Support a local Eagle Scout and the food pantry.  Donations happening now, building out a greenhouse later
  • Dumbo has setup a FREE CPR class at Hope next week – sign-up and show-up, you could save a life
  • Dad’s Workout 1/4 @9am Womble

T-Claps (Recognition):  To the OGs that set South Wake in motion.  Great representation this week from some of the earliest PAX including Howard.  Amazing leadership and great whetstones to reference as we push forward with the 2020 vision.

Prayer:  Those PAX that are working on physical and mental battles among us.  For our service members that keep us safe and guarantee our freedoms.  CrabLegs took us out.

Throwback 5 – Day 4 – Disney

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Throwback 5 appears to be working just as planned.  End the decade and start a new one with 5 convergences at the “Original 5” Southwake AOs.  Today was Disney’s turn.  YHC turned to Kid Cracker to co-Q with me as we were the Site’s initial Qs.  I always loved Q-ing with Kid Cracker as there would be diversity in the body parts worked and lots of good mumblechatter.

It was a cloudy, 37 degree Thursday morning as YHC approached a gathering crowd in the Middle Creek Park parking lot.  The glows of at least one (Redenbacher) Pax member finishing EC could be seen.  The original Southwake Shovel Flag was planted, fists were bumped and Kid Cracker got us going!

FNGs: None
Warm Up: Short fellowship jog (0.33 miles) around the dark soccer field – we continued this mosey to the small parking lot adjacent to the baseball field house – where we circled up

  • SSH x 20 I.C.
  • Good Morning x 20 I.C.
  • Downward Dog (left and right rocking)
  • Runners pose stretching (Left and Right)
  • Pigeon pose stretching (Left and Right)
  • on your feet to mosey to the High School student parking lot – Pax instructed to partner up on the run

The Workout:

Round 1:  Kid Cracker

  • Partner1 partner carry Partner2 the long distance up the hill in the parking lot.  Resting or alternating as needed
  • Disclaimer was issued by Kid Cracker “if you have back problems, knee problems or are on your (menstrual) cycle – you can lunge walk”  Classic 🙂
  • Alternative to partner carry was lunge walk half way then catch up on the run
  • At top of hill series of exercises were done (too gassed to remember)
  • Mosey back to bottom of the hill
  • Rince and repeat with alternating pax member
  • Fellowship run back to the park toward the Abyss (7 flights of stairs)

Round 2:  Deadbolt

  • Keep your partner – half the partners would go to bottom of the stair (but stay with your partners) and half stay up top
  • DORA with runners going up/down the stairs.  The DORA was
    • 100 Merkin
    • 200 LBC
    • 300 Squats
    • Ab exercises until the 6 gets up
  • Clockwise and Counterclockwise Indian runs (50-50 split) from the Abyss to the concrete area at the bottom on the half pipe
  • Jailbreak to Flag for Mary

Mary:  Alternating Abs by your Co-Qs

  • American Hammers x 20
  • Exaggerated Low Slow Flutter x 20
  • Freddy Merc x 20
  • Wide Grip Merkins x 20
  • Heels to Heaven x 20
  • Good Morning stretches
  • Michaels Phelps to close

Announcements:

  • Final Throwback 5 tomorrow- Cletus – it will be special
  • Carpex – Southwake Q Swap next 2 weeks
  • Dawgpound assisting Eagle Scout with fund raising opportunity and support – details on Slack

T-Claps (Recognition):

Prayer:

  • Wallaby, Crablegs, US Military Forces, some I may have forgot
  • DB Took us out in a ball of man

Throwback Day One – Baby Come Back

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Day 1 of our Throwback week. I had the honor of leading 25 PAX from Holly Springs and the Quay in bringing back and taking care of Baby.

FNGs: None
Warm Up: SSH, Fazio Arm Circles, Windmills
The Workout: Our goal was to not drop Baby (the football) throughout the workout. If she is dropped, a 3 Burpee discipline

  1. Combo exercises included: step-ups and irkins, wide merkins and plank jacks, rinse, repeat
  2. Quarterback / receiver drills while other PAX were in line doing planks, squats, high knees
  3. Two Rock Shakur: Colt 45s and Tricep Extensions
  4. Split in to two groups. Bear Crawl around circle drive holding Baby from the inside and passing to the next PAX to reach the outside circle
  5. Mosey to playground: Split in to 4 groups for pull up, swing planks, and a game of Hot Potato
  6. Two Rock Shakur repeat

Mary: Around the Horn starting with those who have been in F3 the longest down to two years…and a few Respects
Announcements: Throwback week. Hope to see everyone at the next workout at Kenny’s Grave. Shield Lock starts Jan 1.
T-Claps (Recognition): Those PAX that have stuck with F3 for multiple years!
Prayer: H1N1 sports hernia, Quiver’s wife uncle with cancer

2nd F at Starbucks!

 

Planning on Livin’ 3rd in 2020

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You saw the 2020 Leadership update from Pikachu, the 3rd F job desciptions, the pre-blasts about a meeting for 3rd F 2020 planning.  So… what happened?

TL;DR

  • We are going to make 3rd F work like 1st F – Site Qs, Q sheets, AOs, schedules, backblasts, flags, trackers, and shirts
  • We are going to create more opportunities to lead and serve
  • Our goal is to make F3 South Wake synonymous with community outreach and support
  • We aim to rival Fitness as the hook, EHing HIM along the way
  • Site Qs named for our 4 new AOs The Heart, The Mind, The Cloud, and The Accelerator
  • Site Qs are (in order of AOs) YHC, Shredder\Tetanus, ShamWow!\Dovetail, and Dhamer\Abe
  • Next Meeting January 17th, 5:30AM @ Dunkin’ Donuts – feel free to join us!

The Meeting – 12/18/19

Dahmer, Shredder, and Dumbo were the very first to answer the job ads for new 3rd F Site Qs.  We started chatting and figured out that the best time to meet was going to be during the normal operating hours of the gloom.  We set the date, the time, and the place.  I opened the meeting up to the rest of the PAX so that we could get as much brain power and muscle on this as possible.

10 HIM answered the call to sacrifice 1st F and help kick-off 3rd F for 2020.  The same names tagged in this BackBlast.  Others sent their regrets and since the meeting more HIM have approached me with ideas and an eagerness to get involved. :heart warmed:  This crew is astounding!

During the meeting, I threw down the vision that I prepared for the South Wake Leadership team for all in attendance to hear.  I wanted their feedback and to start us off.  This wasn’t a plan set in stone and for us to launch 2020 I needed everyone at the table.  You can page through this awesome and ever-changing PowerPoint OYO – It has changed a bit since the meeting and will likely continue to change as we continue building this thing.  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14rcT2XZDKsv2jIorN85W474V0xJVa9p-V8wzzSx7ijw/edit?usp=sharing

At the conclusion of the slideshow, the conversation started and everyone talked about their ideas.  It became pretty clear where everyone fit in terms of their AOs.  If you don’t recall from the job descriptions there is a slide called “AOs High Level” and one called “Site Q job descriptions” that go into detail.  For this post the quick and dirty is that there are 4 AOs to start.  The Heart (Community Outreach), The Mind (Q Source and Small-group internal reflection), The Cloud (tools of the trade and the media front-end to this operation), and The Accelerator (This group will be finding new ways to push us all in 3rd F and driving focus to things we already do for race support)

New 3rd F Site Qs

These are the guys to look to in key areas of focus as described above and in the slide deck.  I will be supporting all of these efforts but these leaders will own their AOs and drive the agendas as they see fit.  Like any site Q, they won’t do it all.  They will be EHing South Wake PAX to take Q through the course of the year at specific dates and times.  They will be creating the schedules and looking for HIM to help.

  • The Heart – YHC will lead this effort for now but technically the position is still open for someone to come on “full-time”.  I think there are a few interested parties and Dumbo has already said he wants to lead up our efforts around the Food Pantry.
  • The Mind – Shredder and Tetanus will be taking point as Co-Qs.  Good ideas already flowing from these guys and I cant wait to find out more at our next meeting.
  • The Cloud – ShamWow! and Dovetail, ShamWow! is very excited to bring the sales skills that you can’t see on TV to 3rd F.  Dovetail knows his way around the a Cloud and is ready to bring those skills to the 3rd F cause.  Updates will definitely be headed to the website and expect our Social Medias to get a bit more attention.
  • The Accelerator – Dahmer and Abe, Dahmer and Abe are already collaborating and putting up ideas on this one.  One of which includes a charity running event.  Nothing is baked but this is another exciting area of focus for 3rd F in 2020 and one to watch with anticipation.

What’s Next

Everyone is hard at work thinking through what 2020 should look like.  A list is being generated of past and new 3rd F efforts.  We are making an effort to focus on South Wake exclusively but some exceptions will be made.  We’ll aim to build a pre-arranged schedule that will include weekly activities (AO Mind Group Meetings perhaps), monthly activities (service outreach), quarterly (not sure yet) and yearly (race support stuff like CSAUPs or Wrightsville).

We’re going to bring all of that back to Dunkin’ on January 17th and aim to get it on the website around that time.  Our meetings will be open so please join us if you would like to listen-in or contribute.  We’ll be happy to have you.

Cletus gets a UTI (╬ ಠ益ಠ)

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It’s been a spell since Yogurt EH’d me for this Q.  I want to thank him for bringing me this opportunity.  I’m again very humbled by the turnout today.  Whether it was for me specifically or Cletus was just the place you wanted to spend your Friday in the gloom – I thank you.  So close to Christmas with all of the things I know we collectively have going on, it is awesome to share the morning with you guys.  I feel humbled to have been the Q this morning and to witness it.  I hope you got your money’s worth.  The year isnt over yet!!!  SYITG <3 UTI

EC: Nemo, Mookie, 187, Pikachu, Redenbacher, LED, Maybelline

YHC hit the olde snooze button this morning and barely made EC.  In fact, I was late.  I chalked up nearly 2 miles in the time allowed and barely got to see any of the HIM that actually made it out there on time.  Good work PAX!

FNGs: No Sir

Warm Up:

  • Mozy from the flag to the lot formerly known as the Ivan lot
  • SSH ~25 IC
  • Hillbillies 14 IC
  • Imperial Walkers (In Honor of Star Wars) 14 IC
  • Daisy Pickers – 14 IC
  • Fozio Arm Circles – 14 Forward 14 Back, IC

The Workout:

Thing 1

  • Groups of 5ish PAX line up in Indian Run formation.  Move to Bear Crawl position.  Indian Bear Crawl to mid lot and Jailbreak.  5 burpees.  Assume formation again and return to other side in exact same way.
  • Repeato 1x

Thing 2

  • Mozy to Amphitheater.
  • Dips, Erkins, Derkins – 20 each
  • Split PAX in 2, half on the wall for People’s Chair, half complete 20 Box Jumps and switch
  • Half on the wall for Balls2Wall, half complete 20 step-ups (10 each foot) and switch
  • Dips, Erkins, Derkins – 15 each
  • Split PAX in 2, half on the wall for People’s Chair, half complete 20 Box Jumps and switch
  • Half on the wall for Balls2Wall, half complete 20 step-ups (10 each foot) and switch
  • Dips, Erkins, Derkins – 10 each
  • Split PAX in 2, half on the wall for People’s Chair, half complete 20 Box Jumps and switch
  • Half on the wall for Balls2Wall, half complete 20 step-ups (10 each foot) and switch

Thing 3

  • Mozy to hand rail near baseball fields
  • Split PAX in 2, half on the hand rail for pull-ups, half complete Prisoner Squats to 20 and Switch
  • Split PAX in 2, half on the hand rail for pull-ups, half complete Prisoner Squats to 10 and Switch
  • Return to the flag

Mary:

  • Dying Cockroach 14 IC
  • Box Cutters 14 IC
  • Homer to Marge – 14 IC
  • Pickle Pounders – ~10? IC – Time caught us

Announcements:

  • 24hr Run Supporting Healing Transitions this weekend – Sat 3pm to Sun 3pm
  • AGS needs a Q – Mookie is suggesting that instead of AGS, make the 24hr run your target
  • Good things coming from 3rd F
  • Call out from DoubleD to take 3rd F seriously – it has an impact on your life and its ok to miss 1st F to make 3rd F a bigger part of your life.
  • Get up with Pikachu about the Emergency contact registry (esp Site Qs so you know how to access it quickly)
  • Be on the lookout for some emergency response training.  Good session in 2019 with the Holly Springs FD

T-Claps (Recognition):

  • The PAX that kept compressions going for Sgt Pepper.  They saved his life an made sure the EMS team had a patient when they arrived.  Way to be!

Prayer:

  • SlideRule and family – new baby TBN (to be named)
  • Sharapova and family – new baby
  • Sgt Pepper and family – suffered a heart attack during a workout
  • Safe travels to all this weekend if you are heading out – be safe

Great 2nd F at Harvest Moon today guys!

High Quality H2O

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Aquaman left the dark side and came to the hood to Q R4TJ this week and with him came the rain. 5 HIM showed up to get some wet miles in.

FNGs: I thought we had one when I stepped out of my car, but then I realized it was Travis….you know that guy “Lipsync”

Warm Up: 12 X SSH, 12 X Frankensteins, 12 X Hillbillies all exercises in cadence

The Workout:

The rain was coming down pretty good when we arrived and Aquaman had a great route planned for this morning. The route included a run by kiss to his M (hello to the FIA group for the rest of us) at Womble, mild heckling of the “not so determined boys” (hiding under the picnic shelter) as we ran by and proceeded around the soccer fields. We then moseyed on over to the newly constructed parking deck to exchange some friendly banter with the 5 Onnit group. By this time the rain had let up and everyone picked up the pace and headed back to Ting for CoT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary: Still M.I.A.

Announcements: Christmas Party this weekend. Rumor has it they will playing a fun game called…where’s midget?

T-Claps (Recognition): Everyone for picking up the 6 all throughout the route.

Prayer:  Jenn and her recovery from surgery, Wallaby and his family, Unspoken

Aquaman took us out.

Accountability

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FNGs: Mr. Terrific (aka: Quitter)
The Workout:

We worked out, it was hard.  Not a lot of mumble chatter to be heard.  I tried to mix up legs / core / shoulders / chest.  Got a bit more than a mile in, but I know my heart rate was up the whole time.

More importantly, though.  Twice during the workout, instead of a count-hold, I asked the PAX to share.  Why do you do F3?  What makes you keep doing F3?  What do you need from your F3 brothers during the holidays?

A quick sample of popular responses:

  • “Family is my biggest stress during the holidays (and also what I look forward to the most during the holidays)”
  • “I need / look forward to accountability from my F3 brothers.”
  • “I want to pray for a lot of close friends struggling with mental health / family issues (but don’t want to really admit I have the same stuff going on)”

Accountability in Fitness is why we keep coming back.  I hope we take a few moments to think about what Accountability would look like outside of a workout.  I’m glad that I’m 20 pounds lighter, a few minutes faster, a lot of pullups stronger after 3 years of F3.  I’m more thankful that I’ve got a group of guys who are helping me be a better husband / father / son.  In 2020, my goal is to make it easier for the whole of f3SouthWake to find that if they’re looking for it.

Announcements: Christmas Party; Oakwood 24
T-Claps (Recognition): Great to see Shredder back in the Gloom, especially FNG in tow
Prayer: Oakwood 24; Family burdens; Quiver; Mental Health; More Family