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3-Alarm Fun Run ā€“ 2021 Year in Review

ā€œHow did these runs with 3-Alarm get started?ā€ ā€œWhat are 3-Alarmā€™ conditions?ā€ ā€œWhy does it burn when I pee?ā€ Hereā€™s the answers to your burning questions.

First of all, shout out to everyone who posted in 2021!!! As you know, 3-Alarm wants to meet everyone in F3 SouthWake. Hereā€™s our start: 16-Bit, Banana Seat, Bobby Bouche, Bobby Dall, Bondo, Cancun, Cash Roll, Cupid, Dawgpound, Dumbo, Emeril, Fanny Pack, Forceps, Full House, Gillette, Go-Gurt, Gump, Lipstick, Martini, Maybelline, Midget, Pikachu, Slide Rule, Snooze, Sprinkler, Swisher Suites, TomTom, U.T.I., Wild Turkey, Woody, Yogurt, Yoshi and 2.0s 3rd Down, 4th Down, Flower, Isabella, Slash, Sketch, Vader. That is an awesome start! Good times are in the attached photos. Who did I miss?

How did all this begin? My daughter (F3 Slow Pitch) and her boyfriend (F3 Go-Gurt) were friends with 3-Alarm from high school. One night in the fall of 2019, they were Facetiming with 3-Alarm and he got wind that I was in F3. I had never met 3-Alarm before. They handed me the phone, introduced me, and 3-Alarm immediately said his classic, ā€œHeeeeeey!ā€ and ā€œLetā€™s go run!ā€ Thatā€™s all it took.

Pure Joy – 2019 November 1st Run. I invited Pikachu and Go-Gurt on that first run. It was cold and dark and drizzly and I was definitely overdressed. See photo. I knew nothing about pushing a running chair and barely knew 3-Alarm. But I quickly learned, this kid is excited about running! He would yell out, ā€œWeeeeeeeeee!ā€ and ā€œIā€™m happy!ā€ What a blast! Pikachu remembers: ā€œMy just overwhelming memory from the first run, and really all the runs, is just pure joy. Every time I run with 3-Alarm it doesn’t matter what kind of day I’ve had or what mood I’m in – he has a contagious joy that has the ability to just completely turn my day around!ā€ Wild Turkey has expressed this same sentiment. He looks forward to leaving the work behind and enjoying 3-Alarmā€™ enthusiasm for life.

Time Lapse – 2021 Spring. Covid had been around for a year or so. I hadnā€™t seen or heard from 3-Alarm in a looooong time. While dropping off my 2.0 Zumba at Holly Springs School of Dance (HSSOD), I pulled into a parking spot, looked to my left, and lo and behold, thereā€™s 3-Alarm. ā€œDavis!ā€ I shouted. We were both glad to see each other. I asked Davis is he had been running lately. His joy quickly turned to dejection, as he answered NO. Sensing this urgent need, I said, ā€œLetā€™s go run!ā€ Thatā€™s all it took.

2021 Tuesday Runs – Pure Joy. Since early June 2021, F3 has been running with 3-Alarm every Tuesday. Why do we do this? Pure Joy! So much fun. I asked 3-Alarm what he likes most about our Tuesdays together. He says: F3 feels like family. Everyone welcomes me with open arms.

3-Alarm has impressed me in so many ways on these Tuesdays. He has an infectious enthusiasm that resonates with everyone. He literally has fans everywhere. During our runs, weā€™ve had fans stop their cars, shout out from their porches, stop us on their dog walksā€”just to say hello. In the summer, this happened over and over. What do you remember about your first meeting with 3-Alarm?

Tuesday Splashes. We were settling in on Tuesdays and more and more PAX kept trickling in. Early supporters included Bobby Bouche, Cancun, Dawgpound, Fanny Pack, Go-Gurt, Martini, Maybelline, Pikachu, Wild Turkey, and more. To sweeten the draw and to make things more fun for 3-Alarm, we added a splash down at the end of the run. By the time we reached August, we had a record turnout in the record heat. See photos.

FNGs. 3-Alarm has a keen ability to make friends and did his own recruiting for the Fun Run. While out walking with Mama Hope, one of his nurses, he met people and got busy. He texted me and was so excited to announce that he had an FNG coming. The following Tuesday, we dropped by Coleā€™s house. Cole wasnā€™t completely ready, but joined us for his first F3 workout. He was wearing very thick sweatpants in the August heat and I know he was roasting! We named him Snooze because he loves to chill and sleep. 3-Alarm also recruited Charlie, a 7th grader, who lives in Holly Glen and rides BMX and MTBs. We named him Cash Roll after a BMX trick created by BMX champion Daniel Dhers

911. Things were not always peachy on our runs. 3-Alarm has several conditions (Polymicrogyria, Dandy-Walker Syndrome, and seizures). In late September, the seizures were serious enough that Pikachu, Wild Turkey, and I followed our procedures for this situation. We timed the seizures and called Davisā€™s mom, then 911. Davis spent a few days in the hospital undergoing extensive diagnostic tests. For the next 3-4 weeks, we had second F instead of running. If we ever have to call 911 again, 3-Alarm wanted to request the specific medics who he had befriended on his ride to the hospital šŸ˜Š.

ā€œOut of the Goodness of His Heart?ā€ In October, Bondo organized a special treat for 3-Alarm and all of usā€”A visit from Mr. and Ms. Wuf. See photos and separate backblast Wuf Sighting on Acorn Falls, October 26, 2021. Davisā€™ mom asked me this question during the October visit from Mr. and Ms.Wuf. The answer of course, was YES, Bondo did this out of the goodness of his heart. Certainly a highlight for 3-Alarm and all of us. Woody: Donā€™t take that picture without me!

ā€œThatā€™s a big catā€ In October the Halloween lights and yard decorations were in full bloom. Wild Turkey did not wear his glasses on these runs or was hallucinating. A giant Rudolf looked like a cat šŸ˜Š This was followed by many Christmas light runs through Hilly Glen. Again, lots of fun, see photos. Wild Turkey says the neighborhood lights runs were among his favorites of the year. See my favorite in the BONUS FOOTAGE below. What your favorite 3-Alarm memory of 2021? Reply below.

Christmas Party 2021. Mr. Ambitious requested an F3 Christmas party at his house. I explained that it would be a little challenging to organize given the short notice, Covid surge, and busy schedules. But, all the F3 brothers came through. We had a party of at least a dozen PAX and 2.0s. Pikachu brought the magic hot cocoa maker and we showered 3-Alarm with some additional F3 swag and coffee gift cards (like he didnā€™t have enough!). See photos.

Whatā€™s next? 2022 brings another 52 opportunities to experience the Pure Joy for yourself. Are you ready?

BONUS FOOTAGE

2019 HS Half Midget, Pikachu, Snap. Midget lined up Pikachu and Snap to push 3-Alarm. Pikachu remembers:Ā  I remember hearing I was recruited with Snap and knew we were gonna have fun flying through the springs! The joy that Davis has on race day is on a whole other level. And at Holly Springs Half that day the grit that he showed was on a whole other level too – the bumpy course definitely didn’t do him any favors but he persevered and definitely gave me one of my best HS Half memories (and there are plenty of great ones over the years!). Note that Pikachu also ran 3-Alarm in The Quay, where many of you met 3-Alarm on his way to the finish line.

2021 HS Half Banana Seat, Wild Turkey, Yogurt, and 3-Alarm plus Midget, Matt, and Wolfie. 3-Alarm called out this event as one of favorites in 2021. Banana Seat helped Matt push Wolfie. Wild Turkey ran 9 miles EC. I was feeling good but did not push 3-Alarm until around mile 7 of the race, which was mile 16 for Wild Turkey! Forceps, Cancun, Wild Turkey, Mama Hopeā€™s son, YHC, and others joined 3-Alarm and his dad for Second F at 3-Alarmā€™s favorite coffee shop, Our Moments in Time.

ā€œErin, Erin, Erin!ā€ A chance meeting at the FV Christmas parade. This is probably my favorite outing with Davis in 2021, maybe because it was completely unplanned and unexpected.

Davisā€™s sister and my 2.0 F3 Zumba were among the hundreds of dancers from the Holly Springs School of Dance performing in the parade. We had both dropped off our dancers early and by chance walked up the hill together to select a prime spot to watch. Davisā€™ dad (Dan), Davis, and I joined a woman who was sitting on one of the built-in benches in front of town hall, poised to see her kids and grandkids pass by in their 4-WD Jeeps and such. ā€œKathyā€ shared her bench with Dan and I while Davis positioned himself front and center on the curb to wait. I must admit, sitting on that bench had a real Forrest Gump feel to it. I had a blast just sitting there hanging with Dan, who I had only met once or twice. Kathy watched and listened to our interactions with Davis and was intrigued. By the time it was over, our new friend Kathy was a big fan.

Watching Davis interact with the parade was amazing. For once, I grabbed his phone and took photos from there. Everyone was friends with Davis.

ā€œIā€™ll email you!ā€ About halfway through the parade, a convertible rolls up among the elected officials waving to the crowd. Suddenly, 3-Alarm sounds the alarm. He starts bobbing up and down and yelling, ā€œErin, Erin, Erin!ā€ over and over again. Dan and I looked at each other like, What? Davis kept yelling. Finally, the legislature representative Erin turned our way and saw Davis. She was so excited! Davis, how are you? Great to see you! And as she is rolling away, sheā€™s pointing at Davis, twiddles her thumbs like sheā€™s texting, and exclaims, ā€œIā€™ll email you!ā€ It was the craziest thing I had ever seen. Dan and I were flabbergasted. And I was so impressed. This just showed the range of Davisā€™ influence. All the way to the Legislature in downtown Raleigh!

Kicking Off the Holiday Season

FNGs: N/A
Warm Up: SSH, arm circles and seal claps
The Workout:

Twelve Days of Christmas

1 – Burpee

2 – Ground pounders

3 – 30 second plank

4 – Squats with coupon

5 – Merkins

6 – Hip swings

7 – Low slow flutter in cadence

8 – Ruh Rows

9 – LBCs in cadence

10 – Curls for the girls

11 – Squats

12 – SSH in cadence

Mary: Some Yoga stretches and have a nice days
Announcements: Holiday Party
Prayer:Ā Travel mercies for several brothers that are traveling

Feelin’ S.C.R.A.P.P.Y at TBD

FNGs: BonBon – Came to us by way of HollyFest

Warm Up: 5 Burpees for the late guy, FredricoĀ – He announced himself with confidence, slotted right in, no questions asked

Windmills, Daisy Pickers, Fazio Arm Circles, Seal Claps, Overhead Claps, SSH

The Workout:

Inspired by this random article that hit my newsfeed….

https://lifehacker.com/12-bodyweight-exercises-that-will-actually-make-you-str-1847903062/slides/12

Mozy around the soccer fields – Sprint the length of the Ivan lot and continue Mozy to the shelter

  • Single Leg Squats – Each leg x6
  • Copenhagen Planks – Each leg x6
  • Reverse Nordic curls – x10
  • Australian Mountain Climbers – x10 IC
  • Poop Eaters – x10 IC
  • Pike Merkins – x10
  • Yogi Boo Boos – x20 IC

Repeato 1x

Mary: One last lap/sprint around the soccer fields – this is when the mumblechatter uncovered that Fredrico was not an F3 name but an FNG name.Ā  OUR LATE GUY WAS AN FNG!?Ā  The disclaimer was provided as we made our way to COT which launched straight into naming.

Our FNG spoke of his athletics in his college years but how he favored the couch since his son came along.Ā  Ā There was a consistent request for BonBon among the PAX (one in particular) and so he was named.

Announcements:

  • Get those food purchases ready for the Food Cupboard!!!

T-Claps (Recognition):

  • PAX for your help at HollyFest.Ā  We got an FNG and we renewed our rental of the fields at Ting for Ultimate – 1 more year

Prayer:

  • YHCs, Uncle in the ICU with Covid
  • Twins on the way to Swisher Sweet’s sister – family growing from 2 kids to 4 kids
  • BonBon and family are looking to buy a house – Prayers brother

Wally World is closed… Let’s bring the Woody to Cletus!

EC: Kosher and YHC – we got lined up with some of the PAX from Ivan.Ā  Good work by Kosher applying the headlock to get me out for EC.

Through all of my tagging and marketing the night before I snagged very few of my intended targets.Ā  Thankfully, I secured some reliable PAX that showed up for the beat down – at COT I promised to include them in future campaigns.Ā  Apparently, 1 PAX was brought in by my powers of persuasion…Ā  WOODY!!!Ā  Although, he didn’t seem super excited about it “It’s supposed to be my rest day!”, he mentioned more than once in the gloom.

YHC is rarely around on Fridays and they are typically my rest days as well (among others) but I was in the Springs and saw a call earlier in the week from Abe about Qs for Cletus.Ā  LET’S GO!!!Ā  Abe’s pre-blast before I secured the Q-spot promised no leg work.Ā  I BRR’d last weekend so why not take it easy on the legs and keep that pre-blast somewhat honest.Ā  On arrival from Flojo and Hardy, they seemed keen on having me keep that promise.Ā  Good thing, the plan was already settles…Ā  Hope they like burpees!!!

FNGs: Nope

Warm Up:Ā  Good Mornings, Fozio Arm Circles, Windmills, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies

Mozy over to the bars along the path by the baseball fields and hung a right through the wooden fence between 2 of the fields.

The Workout:

11s

  • Burpees and Inverted Rows, transportation was switched up along the way.
  • Partner up
  • Transportation included Broken Wheelbarrows, Wheelbarrows, Lunge Walks, Skipping, Walking Backwards, High Knees, Carioca and Bear Crawls
  • YHCs counting was on point.
  • Hardy kept lying about the count and attempting to trick the Q.
  • YHC is horrible at counting and prefers to have Excel do it for him under normal circumstances.
  • If the zombie apocalypse comes and math is somehow required to reverse it and/or survive – YHC will surly die.
  • Hardy is a good dude.

Mary: Supermans, LBCs, Ys, WWIIs, Ts, WWIs, BoxCutters, Have a Nice Day!

Announcements:

  • Abe will be organizing a ruck to benefit the Holly Springs Food Cupboard
  • Go checkout the post in 3rd F about Meg’s Smile Opportunities
  • Run the Quay is this weekend – YHC has a bib if anyone wants it send me a message

Prayer: Silent – Swisher Sweets took us out

Red Trail of Tears (8/31/21)

YHC had a very late ask in the evening if I wanted the Q spot as it was open…Sure I said why not. I’d been kicking around a plan in my head for Prison Yard for the past month to shake it up a bit.Ā  So 12 PAX gave it a “try”.

FNGs: None but we had a new guy for some EC…will continue to EH him.
Warm Up: Disclaimer on not really having a plan…but only kind of a plan. Mosey on the red trail to the twin peaks. 7 min jog. SSH 20 I/C
The Workout: 5 modes of conveyance up the first hill past the pond. At the top 2 squats with stack’ems (finished with 10 reps) each time to the top.Ā  Ā Mosey to the bottom do LBC until six is in. Rinse and repeat 5x.Ā  Jog-up, Backwards jog, Bear crawl, Crab Walk (See Facebook post on whether is was ruled as cruel and unusual punishment) and Jailbreak.
Mary: 4 rounds.Ā  Heel taps, half dead cockroach then with each leg up, butterfly, Freddie Mercury.
Announcements: Iron Pax Challenge, 9/11 hero’s run
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: American’s in Afghanistan, Country, Leaders

Tennis Courts Beatdown at TBD

YHC pre-blasted a no running option for those not hitting R4TJ. We stayed on the tennis courts for the entire workout.

EC: Dahmer, Warbucks
FNGs: Nope
Warm Up: Walk to tennis courts for ssh, merkins, squats sir fazio arm circles
The Workout:
BTTW Bear crawl tunnels.
We held BTTW on the fence, pax bear crawled through the ā€œtunnelā€ to the front, then next pax went. We did this until failure.

Tiny 11ā€™s:
Lunge walk to other the baseline
10 squats, Reverse lunge back to start, 1 WWII
This continued in normal 11ā€™s fashion until 1 squat and 10 WWIIs were done.

Bear Crawl Ring of Fire – PAX crawled in a circle until Q called it. Each pax does 10 merkins in succession while remaining pax hold plank. After this, we crawled in a circle until Q called it and each PAX did 5 merkins while PAX held chill cut plank

Mary:
Rosalita, Homer2marge – hold in up position for 1-3 count, down on 4 (thanks Dahmer)
Flower by Moby – Squats on down and hold then back up on the ups
Thunderstruck – SSH w/ burpee each time you hear ā€œThunderā€

Announcements:
Derek Davis 5k and HSHM coming up.Ā  Check Slack/FB

T-Claps (Recognition):
Hardy is a beast, Swisher Sweets for signing up for HSHM

Prayer:
FloJoā€™s brother with prostectemy for good results, FloJoā€™s wife has a job!, death in Swisher Sweetā€™s family, Cancunā€™s wife with potential job opportunity, Hardy for his trip to Vegas for Ninja completion.

YHC took us out.

“Let this be your outlet”

FNGs: None
Warm Up: EC- YHC, Dahmer, Cancun, Yogurt, Swisher Sweets for a 2 mile EC. Also, Java & Warbucks on their bikes.Ā  Nice work & the guys pushed me to the 2 mile PR 9:18 pace.

SSH (20), Frankensteins (10), Good mornings (15) & Willie Mays Hays (10).

The Workout: I decided not to over plan & not print out a sheet. This was a good idea & I didn’t think too much about it. It was time to dive in & focus on my weak points.

Indian run over to the dreaded hill towards Bass Lake/Greenway.

We paired up in twos. 5 rounds of hill sprints (what a rush).

Indian run back to the rock pile. Curls for the girls (20 X 2), tri-cep ext (20 X 2), Ruh Rohs (20 X 1), Bus drivers (20 X 1), shoulder press (20 X 2) & shoulder raises (20 X 1).

Pavilion area- Erkins (20 X 1), Derkins (20 X 1), Dips (20 X 1).

Mary: Call arounds at the tennis court. Cancun got us at the end!

Announcements: Run with 3-Alarm (Davis) every Tuesday at 6pm. Lookout for Yogurt’s posts.

My message at the end was “Let this be your outlet”. Tomorrow it will make one year that my family & I have been in HS. Prior, I did not have an outlet, was stressed out, angry & bitter. I would take things out verbally at times on my family. F3 has changed my life in so many ways. Thank you Pax for your friendship! It was an honor to lead this morning!

T-Claps (Recognition): Pumpkin Spice for not backing down & focusing on his weak points too. Boss Hog, Cyclops & Fireball for pushing through it.

Prayer: Cyclops wife, Shredder & many more for their mission trip to Mexico. My M & FIL on their trips home. Safe travels.

A Toby Keith ‘Murica Celebration

YHC picked up the Q and since it was the lead in to the 4th weekend, I put together a playlist for ‘Murica. Little did I know Toby Keith was such a polarizing figure. Maybe next time I’ll go with something a little more safe like Chris Brown and Elton John.Ā  We sweated, we swung heavy weights and started the July 4th weekend off with a bang.

FNGs: Nope

Warm Up: Quick warmup exercises

The Workout:
Broke up into 2 teams of 4.Ā  Each partner completes each station, then go to next exercise
P1: Ab exercise
P2: Farmers carry (2 KBs) – timer
P3: KB exercise 1
P4: KB exercise 2

Rnd KB 1 KB 2 Ab
1 KB Swing Pistol Squat LSF
2 Thrusters Cookie pouch Heel taps
3 Overhead press Figure 8s American Hammers
4 Lunge Plank drag LBCs
5 Renegade Rows KB hinge Windshield wipers
6 Single leg deadlift Goblet Squat Chill cut plank hold
7 Wonderbra KB snatch Freddy mercury
8 KB Windmill Back lunge Pickle pounders
9 Sumo squats KB clean Homer 2 marge
10 Midget Love Handle Tricep ext Dying cockroach

Mary:
Light stretching.

Announcements:
See Slack.

T-Claps (Recognition):
Good work men.

Prayer:
Injured PAX, Traveling for the 4th.
YHC took us out.

Some local favorites

Before today, I had never Q’d at Nutcracker, so my Q was inspired by some of the local favorites: bullfrogs, jack webbs, and the rock pile.

FNGs: Nope

Warm Up:
Warm up lap + good morning, SSH, sir fazio arm circles, moroccan night clubs

The Workout:
Traveling Jack Webbs. Mosey’d around school with stops for Jack Webbs 1:3 to 10:30, ending in side parking lot of the school

Partnered up for bullfrogs. Partner 1 bullfrog/wheelbarrow to first island, then switch to 2nd island.

Rock DORA: Partners together completed 100 ground pounders, 200 situps with rock, and 300 rut rows. 1 partner exercised while other partner took a lap around the lot, switching on the runner’s return.

Mosey back to flag for Mary.

Mary:
Bring Sally up. Legs up on up and 6 inch hold on down.

Announcements:
Golf Friday, see social media for others

T-Claps (Recognition):
Good work by all on a very muggy morning

Prayer:
Bob, Mary, Martin family, unspoken. YHC took us out.

We did a lot

FNGs: Welcome FNG Paycheck (Gavin)

Warm Up:
Mosey by soccer fields to half pipe for SSH, merkins, sir fazio arm circles, seal claps, OH claps.

The Workout:
1. 7’s on the half pipe
Squats on 1 side, lunges on the other, 1 merkin on sidewalk each time.

Mosey to parking lot by playground

2. Partner merkins
Partners ran opposite directions. 1st meeting 5x brokeback derkins, 2nd meeting 5x pattycake merkins. 4 rounds were completed.

3. Step-ups/knee tucks
Partner 1 did 10 step ups while Partner 2 did knee tucks (hanging or on swings). 3 rounds were completed.

Mosey to soccer fields

4. Indian bear crawl across soccer field
PAX lined up head to feet and held plank position in 1 line. PAX in back bear crawled to front until we made it across the field.

5. Evolution of man (crawl, walk, run)
Inch worm to 1st blue line, crab walk to center field. 21x LSF, 21x pickle pounders. Sprint the remaining half field.

Mary:
Alphabet Abs and popcorn exercise: homer 2 marge, heels to heaven, LBCs,

Announcements: See social media, Bondo’s retirement Q next week

T-Claps (Recognition):
Fram for rocking the 30lb vest all week, including EC.
PAX for their donations to UNC last week.

Prayer:
Fram’s co-worker Tim, Swisher Sweet’s family member
YHC took us out.