Tag Archive for: SoftServe

F3 U.T.I. turns 9 and other cool stuff…

/in /by

The Friday prior I attended Gump’s 12 Year Anniversary Q at Cletus.  As we worked out Gump asked each of us “How many years with F3?” and “What’s kept us coming back?  What does it mean to you?”.  With my anniversary a week away, I had already started thinking about what F3 meant to me and Gump challenged me to really dig deep and think back on my almost 9 years.

Well that just took me down a rabbit hole.  I started looking at our F3 PAX album, going back to look at backblasts, and recalling all of the people and the things I had experienced.  I started to realize how many classes of F3 PAX had come and gone.  There are still some guys around from 9 years ago but some of them had left for different reasons – family, work, moving to other locations, injury.

How many of them still looked back on their F3 glory days?  Would they come back?

I made a list of names based on the backblasts and photos.  Not comprehensive, somewhat random.  That Friday, I put up a pre-pre blast with my intention to reach out to this list and asked PAX to come up with their own lists and reach out too.  I started to text…

Venkman, Oyster, Lawn Dart, WebEx, R-22, Coal Ash, Tetanus, Yoshi, Soft Serve, Kosher, Straight Cash, Genie, Huggies, Bobby Boucher, Fanny Pack, Sprinkler, Axe (with an E), Martini, Oh Yeah, Cowboy, Aquaman, SlideRule, Warbucks, Lipstick, Skidmark, DawgPound, M4L, Emeril, Redenbacher, Bernie, Wallaby, Stubs, Leftovers, Stickers, Skittles, Particle Board, Pacman, FedEx, Peeping Tom, Wiggly, The Natural, Blue Hen, Flanigan, ShamWow, Dahmer, Master Shake, Snap, Shredder, Fonzi, Lipsync, Patch, Crosby

By Monday, I had about 25 HCs/SCs from the list and another 9 HCs on the post (fitting).  I didn’t get to the whole list, I didn’t have all the contact info, but I did what I could.  I had Gemini make me a little teaser image without the names and updated the pre-pre-blast post.

By Thursday, I had a few extra names from the list.  Some SCs had become HCs, some had to drop.  The Pre-blast launched and it was a flurry of comments and emojis.  By the end, 22 PAX had HCd on Slack.  Some overlapped with my Kotters list, some didn’t.  This was going to be big… Like 30 guys!?  I planned from the start to pay homage to my first FNG workout Q’d by Emeril and CHIPs.  I reviewed it and it checked out as appropriate for this sized group.  Emeril and CHIPs had 33 PAX that morning…  The table was set, the coffeteria plans were ordered (thanks again Pikachu, Gizmo, BnB, Abe, Rico, and Wild Turkey)

BTW – Hit up Rico if you want to order those pastries he brought.  They were amazing and he’s pledged to support my requested 3rd F cause for the day with a portion of any proceeds.

Rico’s Store – https://adoroportugal.com/shop-our-products/ols/products/pastel-de-nata-12-frozen-prebaked

3rd F Cause – https://secure.alsohio.org/site/TR/Endurance/General?pg=team&fr_id=1181&team_id=6540

Oh wait… one last minute addition.  Downrange and Full House are calling for EC…  As Full House reminded me “Go Big or Go Home”  FML ok fine.  I set my alarm for 4:20.

EC: Full House, Gillette, and Downrange for 2 miles

We returned to a packed Cletus parking lot with an overwhelming number of faces and the cars kept rolling in.  Peeping Tom, one of my original EHs from WoodCreek had traveled from JACOGA to be here as promised.  Fanny Pack!  SlideRule! Stickers!  Wiggly!  TomTom (Thanks Bumblebee)!?  Dahmer!  Shredder!  Fonzi too!

There were more but my head was spinning and I felt like I was at a wedding.  So many people I wanted to catch up with and only time for a quick hello but we’d have to wait for coffeteria.

We did a count-off…  50 PAX counted!!!  WHAT!?!?

FNGs: Welcome 404 (Wed Developer), Yooper (Formerly from norther Michigan but not the U.P.)

In my haste to get moving and get this crowd away from the residential, I forgot all about our FNGs.  As the group started their mozy to the back lot.  Someone shouted to remind me and I ran back through the crowd to give em the disclaimer.  9 years of F3 hadn’t prepared me to manage this workout but heck most of my smaller workouts I get the checklist a little twisted.  And we mozy’d on.  TO THE BACK LOT!

Oh hey!  It’s CROSBY!!!  walking the trail to catch up with us for the workout.  51 PAX is now the count

The Workout: Thang 1, Parking lot – B O M B S
Partner up, similar to Dora 1-2-3 but more exercises. Partner up. Pax 1 does exercise while Pax 2 runs to from the back of the lot to the entrance and back. Swap out and continue the exercise until each amount of reps are complete. The exercises and reps are: 50- Burpees / 100- Overhead Claps / 150- Merkins / 200- LBC’s / 250- Squats.

^^^This text was ripped almost exactly as it was written from my FNG workout backblast which was originally posted to our Facebook group on 7/24/2017.  Slight details changed since the original venue was Paradise City.

I did get the chance for some cool exchanges with this crew as we passed each other through the workout.  Fives, fist bumps, and mumblechatter.  It was pretty awesome.

Warm Up: good morning, windmills, willie mays haze, SSH

Once again, I was all mixed up.  We never did a warm-up so I decided to put this in the middle as a palette cleanser.

The Workout: Thang 2, Catch me if you can

Same partners, partner 1 does 2 burpees while partner 2 takes off.  Once burpees are done, partner 1 runs after to catch partner 2.  Once caught, they switch and continue until back at the flags.  The route was from the back lot, around the baseball fields by way of the parking lot entrance, back around to the bridge, right at the shelter passing the playground on the right, around the Soccer fields and back to the main parking lot.

Mary: Despite Lipstick’s prediction based on my first ever Q, the workout filled the whole time and there was nothing left for Mary.  COT began immediately on the tennis courts.

Announcements:  What a amazingly crazy morning with all the PAX at Cletus.  I wanted to post here to put some emphasis on a surprise/not surprise NANTAN announcement this morning.  the surprise… Breach ran along side me on the way back to the flags and said something like “seems like a good time to announce you as NANTAN”  the not surprise, I asked for the job.  I want to thank Breach for his leadership.  He took charge post-covid as we were looking to re-energize South Wake and has done an amazing job navigating tough conversations and building on our already awesome community.  As long as I’ve known him, he has always lived in all 3 Fs.  The Marine in him has given him some special skills in 1st F | For 2nd F, he’s always down for coffee, beer, and a good time.  Especially if there are costumes involved. |  You wouldn’t have had to be around long to know how big of a 3rd F heart Breach has in his charitable giving, his leadership with Travis Manion, road side clean-up, and the list goes on.  Thank you Breach and I look forward to turning to you for your guidance.

T-Claps (Recognition):  All of these men for beating the fartsack to join me on this crazy spectacular morning.  I had a bunch of fun and loved seeing the band back together.  52 PAX in all for a single workout.  So much brotherhood and support felt.

A separate shout out to Crosby for his loving donation of a kidney and his willingness to join us during his recovery.

Prayer: X-Rays mission trip safety and success.  Flip Phone’s family as they mourn their loss.  All others spoken and unspoken.

From my FNG backblast, CHiPS provided —

Proverbs 17:17 – A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in face you are doing.

 

My first attempt to get the whole group

Breach got ’em all

 

Coffeteria was so cool

 

My original clown car – Peeping Tom and Lipstick

Six PAX Worked our LEGZ and Got Stronger Together

/in /by

Better Late Than Never – Backblast Disney January 8, 2026

Warm Up: Step ups rotating with wall sits until it burned.

The Workout: Dora style goblet squats 50, reverse lunges 100, and mountain climbers 150 with bear crawls on the turf. Finally, John Cusack those blocks back to the cedar den and Mary.

Banana Seat got the shirt memo, Best in Show brought burpees and Spider Man, SoftServe brought 2.0 Chief and looks forward to trimming the cedar den, and F3 veteran @Blue Crush just moved in the neighborhood and can’t wait til the next Disney workout. 

Prayer: Gratitude and Trust

Memorial Day Murph

/in /by

FNGs: Aaron Bass (Small Mouth)

Warm Up: Took a few moments to stretch and warm up with Side Straddle Hops, Sir Fazio Arm Circles, Willie Mays Hayes, and Daisy Pickers

The Workout: The Classic Murph WOD (1-mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 merkins, 300 air squats, 1-mile run)

Mary: None

Announcements: Fence Painting at Sugg Farm this Friday. UFO moving to Womble for a few months starting in June 

T-Claps (Recognition): Everyone who pushed and picked up the 6s. 

Prayer: Loafer, Timberland, other injured PAX, our country.

Murder at Disney

/in /by

FNGs: None

Warm Up: SSH till Emeril got to the circle because he was late. 5 burpeee penalty for Emeril being late, Lots of whining while Emeril tied his shoes in his car because he was late.
Mosey to soccer field, GM & Daisy Pickers I/C (Mission Statement), First PAX to DM me the word Backblast because they actually read the BB gets a 6 pack on me. Plank hold while core values were stated. 

The Workout:

Stations:

  1. Seated press /Seated Rotations 35lbs
  2. Standing Rotations & Single Arm clean press 65lbs
  3. Weighted Gorilla Squat 25lbs
  4. Sliders bear crawl push (blocks)
  5. Woodsman Chop (block)
  6. SB Burpee
  7. Curls 4 Da Gurls 40lbs
  8. SB Triceps extension 40lbs 
  9. Block pinch in middle.
  10. Block toe touch

Murder bunnies is timer.  80lbs and (block) one halfway. Run to sideline grab opposite.

Mary: Carry Coupons back to circle

Announcements: Road Clean-up, FRAM FORM FRIDAY at Sheepdog

T-Claps (Recognition): Yellow card Graduation from College, SoftServe M Pregnancy

Prayer:Mohawk Mom, Flipphone family friend, Fram Father-in-Law

Designer

If It Burns For 7 Years… Should You See a Doctor?

/in /by

FNGs: Friendly, not new

Warm Up: SSH, Daisy Pickers, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Willy Mays Haze 

The Workout: 

  • Running lap around the outside of the field – talk about how Pikachu are electric Pokemon but for some reason are OK swimming and surfing.  Not fire Pokemon though, swimming is a no go.
  • Grab Blocks and head to the soccer field.  1st, take a walking lap around the field with your block.
  • Head into the gate between both fields, drop your block for 5 burpees.  Talk about Pikachu’s Pickle.
  • Pick up blocks and follow the outside line of the field until you reach a corner.  Uneven burpees on the block, 3 each side.
  • Farmer carry the block to the next corner, switching hands half-way.  Talk about Pikachu’s Eggplant.
  • Partner up and set both blocks shoulder-width apart.  Partner 1 completes negative Merkins AMRAP while Partner 2 runs the length of both field end-zones and back.  Switch and complete 2x.
  • Carry blocks to next corner.  Talk about how Gizmo was named after Pikachu’s little soldier.  Also reflect on how much Downrange and Cancun love sausage.
  • 15x Skull Crushers
  • Carry blocks overhead to half-field, recover, carry blocks to the next corner.  Not sure what we talked about here….
  • Run a victory lap around the field.
  • Get back to last corner and partner up for Explosive Merkins.  Setup blocks accordingly.  Partner 1 does Merkins AMRAP, Partner 2 runs one of the two soccer end-zones.  Each completes 1x
  • Go to soccer field endzone and sprint to opposite endzone 1x.  Return mozy.
  • Return Blocks to their home and head to Mary

Mary:  Homer to Marge, Low Slow Flutters, Poop Eaters, Pickle Pounders, Squats

Announcements:  F3 Dads Camp Seagull – https://www.ymcatriangleregister.org/personifyebusiness/default.aspx?TabID=1502&ProductID=80481896&Subsystem=MTG

T-Claps (Recognition): Support from the PAX on my 7 years.  Thanks Fellas.  Can’t say enough this group means to me.  It’s always awesome to know that I have you all.

Prayer: For those still trapped at the airport, Cancun’s wife see MealTrain https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/dn5z0l

LORDY LORDY

LORDY LORDY

/in /by

FNGs: Not a one

Warm Up: Side Straddle Hops (Thanks Skid), Windmills, Daisy Pickers, Franks, Imperial Walkers and Hillbillies

The Workout:

  • Grab the blocks
  • Go to the disc golf practice hole
  • Partner Up
  • Partner 1 does an exercise AMRAP while Partner 2 travels from one side of the circle to the other.  Then Switch.  Repeat 3x
    • P1 Explosive Merkins P2 Army Crawl
    • P1 Skull Crushers P2 Bear Crawl
    • P1 Abyss Merkins aka Negative Merkins P2 Lunge Walk
    • P1 Curls for the Girlz P2 Crab Walks
  • Return Blocks

Mary: Homer to Marge, Boat Canoes, Low Slow Flutter, Pickle Pounders, Big Boy Sit-ups

Announcements:

  • Lipstick Anny Q / Convergence at Disney on Thursday
  • Christmas Party
  • Suggly Sweater
  • Davis Run
  • Q-Sheet

T-Claps (Recognition): 

  • Happy Birthday UTI – Thanks dudes for showing up!
  • DownRange – He made it!

Prayer:

  • Holiday Travel and Safety
  • Lipstick gets whatever died up there removed… 
  • Survivor – new meds, let that settle and get him back out with us
  • SoftServe’s brother
  • Stubs – new treatment

Yeehaw’n through 1985

/in /by

FNGs: none

Warm Up: side straddle hops, daisy pickers, windmills, sir fazio arm circles

The Workout: Supposedly there was some large rotating storm in the area, thankfully it was a nice breeze and some drizzle for us. Nevertheless, a shelter workout was planned and that’s what we did. 

Tabata style rotation- Three sets of 4 exercises (30 seconds on, 15 seconds off) for 4 rounds. First set- mountain climbers, split lunges, erkins, and dips (RIP triceps). Second set- star jumps, dry docks, wall sit, plank jacks. Third set- LBCs, WW1, box cutters, saw plank. ~5 minutes left so we cooled down with some stretching, felt great. 

In celebration of my birthday we listened to the top hits from the year of my birth (’85). There was also a “yeehaw” sound on the timer that played around every 30 seconds. The music and the yeehaws got some laughs early on but were soon replaced by groans. The commercials from my free version of Spotify (like Lebron) were icing on the cake.

Mary: covered in the third tabata set

Announcements: Lots of events coming up- watch slack for updates and opportunities to serve.

T-Claps (Recognition): none specifically

Prayer: P.S.I. and family for safe travels

Broken strap on

/in /by

FNGs: No

Warm Up: The usual

The Workout: 7’s on the hill, squats & star jumps.  Then PAX grabbed coupons, headed to the parking lot and set up Six stations: merkin, lbc, dips, curls, lbc, shoulder press.  

6 PAX exercised while 7th pax was the timer – pulling Quadzilla from a predetermined start line, to a predetermined turnaround (approx 30 yards), and finish at the start line.  3 full rounds were completed by each PAX.  Fun times

Mary:  side hip raise, then some others that ive forgotten

Announcements:

T-Claps (Recognition):

Prayer:

Mushy Ground, Dark Stairs, Hard Blocks, Good Dog!

/in /by

YHC on back to back Comeback Q’s took to the famous grounds of Disney with 8 other good dudes and a precious pup (Poopeater 2.0). Figured I’d try something different over on the half pipe…I’d say 75% effective, the gound was very muddy, mushy, and soft. We’ll keep working on it.

EC: The one and only Nemo!

FNGs: Welcome Komatsu! (works for Caterpillar and we already got John Deere and Kubota))

Warm Up: Good Mornings, Sir Fazio’s, Moroccan Night Club, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Frankenstein.

The Workout: Short mosy over to the half pipe hills for a sideways up and down merkin side crawl (crawl sideways, with each movement ends in a merkin). Again, ground mushy…mixed results.

Blocks: 25 Tricep Press, 25 Curls for the Girls. We started making out way to the Abyss, blocks in hand. We traveled about 50 meters of each (Cusack, Murder Bunny Hops, Grave Digger Walks, Regular). We needed 2 rounds of this to get to the Abyss.

Abyss: 1 trip up and down. At the top, 50 Chest Presses. 2 Trips up and down. At the top, 25 triceps/25 Curls for the Girls. 3 trips up and down. At the top, 25 Rut Rows, 25 LBD’s (Little Baby Dips), 25 Shoulder Press.

Travel Back: We once again traveled back to the beginning with various intervals of Cusack, Murder Bunny Hops, Grave Digger Walks, and Regular.

Mary: 10 Nice Good Mornings!

Announcements: Reach out to guys who struggle. YHC shared at COT that it can make a fellow PAX’s day when someone reaches out. It certainly has impacted me tremendously as I’ve been slow to return from a long IR. There are guys who deal with mental health stuff and find themselves in ruts, let’s help each other out of those ruts. You can do more than you think. Great time to bring this up with an FNG today! We are more than a workout. We are a fellowship and friendship…and we also embrace the suck and push each other!

T-Claps (Recognition): Welcome Komatsu…you made it through your first F3 workout!

Prayer: YHC continued progress. Pumpkin Spice M looking for part-time work as she finishes Graduate School. Bobby Boucher’s M got a new job starting…good stuff! SoftServe took us out.

In Memory of Cardinal (F3 Knoxville)

/in /by

FNGs: none

From F3 Knoxville: “With heavy hearts we share this news: tragically and sadly, we lost our F3 brother, Cardinal (Taylor Phelps), during a workout this morning. He had a big smile, bigger heart, and we loved having him at our Rampart AO. He leaves behind a wife and two young children, and was the Senior Pastor at Caney Ford Baptist Church (Harriman). He was a High Impact Man and we mourn his loss deeply. Please keep his family and the men that were with him yesterday morning in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

To help support Cardinal’s family, a GoFundMe has been created. All of these funds will be given to his wife.”

https://www.gofundme.com/…/in-memory-of-taylor-phelps…



Warmup:

 

SSH x15 IC

Tempo Merkins x10 IC

Low Slow Flutter x10 IC

Sir Fazio Arm Circles x10 IC Forward/Reverse

Hallelujahs x10 IC

Samson Hold 20 secs

MICHAEL PHELPS

Knoxville Cherry Pickers x10 IC

Willie Mays Hays x 10 IC

 

Workout – “Card’s Run and Repeat”

 

3 rounds of exercises. Do set at one end of field/lot, run to other end, repeato. Then go to next round.

 

Round 1 – Burpees, Big Boy Situps, Heels to Heaven x5 each

Round 2 – Burpees, LBC IC, Mountain Climbers IC x10 each

Round 3 – Burpees, Squats, Freddie Mercury IC x 15 each

 

Squat hold for the 6 when you return until all PAX have finished

 

As a group if there is time: (and there was)

 

Burpees x 20, run to other end of field/lot and repeat

 

Mary:

 

Popcorn consisting of WW2, box cutters, alphabet soup, homer to marge, pickle pounders, shoulder taps, LBC, heel taps, and some yoga/stretching.



Notes:

 

Tempo Merkin – 1, 2, 3 lowering. Up on 4.

Knoxville Cherry Picker – aka Daisy Picker

Hallelujahs – Hands up at ear level. Raise up to full extension. 1 up, 2 down, 3 up, 4 down.

Samson Holds – Arms straight out like you’re pushing against two pillars (hence name). Hold until complaining from PAX is sufficient.

Announcements: MLK day of service – opps to serve

T-Claps (Recognition): Abe for HSFC drive

Prayer: Cardinal, F3 Knoxville, his family, sick and injured PAX

Breach took us out.

Honor to Lead.