Thankful 36’s

Thankful 36’s

Thankful 36’s

As it seems to happen every year when approaching another birthday, it inherently becomes a time of reflection on the past year: the wins, the losses, the growth, or sometimes lack thereof.  When YHC began thinking about this morning’s Q, the time of reflection took over the focus from a planning session for a workout.  2020 has no doubt been a hell of a strange year, and for YHC’s family, this year has shined a spotlight on just how much our life has changed over the last few years.

Five years ago today, YHC was catering a weekend long bachelor party (I used to cook BBQ for a living believe it or not) and had igniter fail in my cooker and took a stout propane explosion right to the face.  That marked the beginning of the end of a three-year run trying to get a company off the ground my wife and I had poured everything we had into…literally everything.  We put all our eggs, and a lot of other people’s eggs into one basket, the company born as the result of our wedding favors (another story for another day).  Our company started struggling financially, and when it crashed, it took everything we owned with it.  Then I burned my face off.  The next week we had both my truck and my wife’s van repossessed.  By the end of the year, our company had sunk, and it took everything we owned to Davy Jones’ Locker.

There are two good things I’ve learned about being at rock bottom:

1. It is a hell of a strong foundation from which to build
2. There is no where to go but up

So what does this have to do with a Q for The Brave on a Friday morning you might ask?

For YHC, this morning’s Q was a reminder of the power of F3 and the men who it is comprised of.  My involvement in F3 is approaching 2 consistent years, and the impact it has made on mine, and thus my family’s life is worth reflecting on.  Looking at where I was physically, mentally, spiritually when I re-discovered F3 in October of 2018 is not where I am today.  We were still feeling the residual effects that tend to linger long after the explosion of failed venture, and I can honestly say I probably was not in the best head space – definitely not in the best physical shape.  Enter the High Impact Men of F3:  you have the option to accelerate or quit coming.  The speed at which I chase you fools around SCLT has not improved much, but then again, it is not a race against everyone else.  It becomes a race against yourself.  You get out what you put in.  I am thankful for the leadership, the banter, and the community this group of men has given me.   Days like today put the many blessings of my life into perspective as we comfortably now celebrate another birthday.  So, for everyone who has talked shit, circled back to pick me up on long run, pushed me to the point of throwing up, THANK YOU.

In honor of YHC’s 36^th trip around the sun, I dedicated this workout to Thankful 36’s:

WARM-UP

Right at 5:30 I was on the verge of a disclaimer (that I now realize I never properly delivered), Soft Pretzel came in on 2 wheels just in time to justify waiting around for him.  Light mosey past AAA and circled up in the office parking lot.

-15 SSH

-15 Imperial Walkers

-5 LSS (figured we would be doing enough of these in the workout)

Active warm-up as we threw in some high-knees and butt kicks as we made our way across Community house behind Cabo Fish Taco to the Wells Building

THE THANG

Starting in front of the Wells building behind the parking desk, we pushed hard up parking lot road in front of the 4 Ballantyne buildings stopping at each of the 6 crosswalks/speed bumps for 6 squats.  Plank at the top to wait for the 6, giving the pax a dose of one more thing Taco Stand is thankful for on this birthday.  Inquired to fellow Pax to join in.  At the top of the entrance to the sidewalk leading behind the buildings, we would start a series of 6 reps to then be completed in at each building and also at the end of the sidewalk, equaling to a total of 36 reps.

Lap 1: Derkins

Lap 2: Step-ups

Lap 3: Big Boy Sit-ups

Lap 4: Burpees (ladder down counting from 6 down to 1)

Upon completion of the 4^th Lap, we made our way to the parking deck for a 3 sets of incline sprints.  Gruden’s college legs made an appearance and smoked us on the 3^rd and final sprint.

Mosey back to launch where I’m going to claim we hit the 4 mile minimum off fellow pax device. Wild Tukey, Kirby and others all clocked 4+ miles while YHC only hit 3.9.  It’s my birthday, I’m going of their watches today.

Moleskin: Honored to lead today’s workout.  It has taken a few years to get comfortable being able to verbalize my past life and thankful for this group of men with whom I can be raw and honest with.  It’s not the easiest thing to find a group such as F3.  Pax pushed hard this morning.  Solid showing by all.  Sweetwater and Soft Pretzel absolutely crushed it this morning.  Teddy claims he’s had surgery in the last few weeks, but I’m calling bullshit based on how quickly he’s been moving the last couple workouts.  Gruden looked bright-eyed despite taking the reins of the 4:00am feeding.  Wild turkey and Kirby are consistently accelerating.

In closing – my boss happened to send out some words found in an old journal of his father’s and have become a great message to hold close.  YHC is committing to these words daily as I navigate through this next year.

THE OPTIMIST

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come to life

To think only of the best, to work for only the best, and to expect only the best

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble