The Men Who Show Up
When thinking through the idea of The Whole Enchilada, I was thinking a very surface level challenge – one that got me out of my comfort zone for a week, just a brief test of personal durability, commitment, and execution (hopefully). It had been a while since I had been in a head space where I had to stretch, dig, and give myself a good gut-check. A challenge that could be inserted into the daily routine of a ‘normal’ week. Taking the lead to Q 7 workouts over 6 days seemed like a perfect case study. This challenge didn’t require extend months of training/planning/preparation. A few hours of planning on a Sunday morning, a few text messages to site Q’s requesting to the reigns on a specific day, and viola – it was planned. Now just time to get my head right and execute.
Now that I’m on the other side, having just completed the 7th Q in 6 days, the outcome of this week was wildly different than what I had expected. What I did not expect was the men who consistently showed up day after day in support. The text messages from guys towards the end of the week checking on how I was holding up. The encouragement from guys at every workout. The men of F3 showed up this week. I constantly found myself thanking guys for ‘showing up’, and never once was there a request for it. This is what we do when we know someone is taking on a challenge (in this case a good, ridiculous physical challenge) – we show up without asking.
Now let’s zoom out. Remove The Whole Enchilada challenge and insert real life. Maybe it is a family member going through an unexpected sickness, a job loss, a rocky point in your marriage, or a financial struggle. You may be the one picking yourself up every day, but YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You may be the one doing the heavy lifting, the one who must get out of bed and lead but use your brothers around you for support and encouragement. They will help you get to the finish line. This could not have been done without you. Had I said to myself quietly, I’m going to show up to 7 workouts in 6 days and didn’t mention a word about it, it would have been really easy to fart-sack out on a day. By verbalizing the commitment (or hardship), a portion of the burden immediately was spread to the men who showed up. You guys helped carry some of that burden this week allowing me to remain focused and committed on the next Q. The same goes for life – when you are the one with your back against the wall, let us know. Let us shoulder a portion of the burden for you. Let us share the stress with you. This is what we are here for.
About two years ago, my wife and I were faced with some uncertainties surrounding her health, and I was struggling to find any sort of clarity amidst the chaos of the moment. I had heard F3 Agony on a podcast and blindly reached out for any sort of guidance. We met for a coffee and little did he know I was about to unload a symphony of fears/struggles on him, and this was the first time we had ever met face to face. I think Pastors have a way of extracting that out of people – or maybe it’s the sticky note on their forehead that says, “tell me everything”. He turned me on to a verse in the bible I have found a lot of strength in the last few years. The scene is the last supper and Jesus looks to Simon and says:
Luke 22: 31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, That your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
The message is the prayer is not to relieve you of the struggle, but rather the strength to get through it. When you feel you’re being put through the sifter of life, getting ground like wheat, you will have the strength to come through the struggle stronger. And then it becomes our calling “and when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers”
With every hardship we grow.
You guys showed up for me every day this week. You guys helped me pull through these last few workouts to make sure this did not go unfinished. Now it is time to go out into the world and show up for those around us who need it most. Make sure those men in your life who’ve got their back against the wall aren’t alone. Make sure they know someone is there to lean on for support.
-Taco Stand
Brief recap of workouts below
Monday: Firestarter
Mosey across street to circle
Warmup
20 SSH
20 IW
20 LSS
20 Planjacks
Reverse ladder around triangle counting down from 15
Corner 1: Big boy sit-ups
Corner 2: Lunges
Corner 3: Burpees
Partner work down office building stretch. P1 called exercise while P2 runs to stop sign and back
Combined counts:
50 russian dead lifts (each leg)
100 merkins
200 squats
Stretch 2:
100 plank jacks
200 shoulder taps
300 LBC
—
Tuesday: Bushwood – upper body day
Mosey around circle to parking lot
Warmup
20 SSH
20 IW
50 Moroccan Night clubs
20 Mountain climbers
4 corners x 4 laps
5 diamond merkins
5 wide-arm merkins
5 hand release merkins
5 exploding merkins
Grab lifting (smaller) rock
20 curls – run lap
20 overhead presses – run lap
20 tricep extensions – run lap
20 rock squats – run lap
Repeato
Mary w/ rock
Corner 1 – hold rock up and flutter
Carry rock overhead to next corner
Corner 2 – Russian twist w/ rock
Lunge walk short side
Corner 3 – big boy sit-ups w/ rock
Carry rock overhead to next corner
Corner 4 – lay out flat and bring rock to meet toes
Back to bus parking lot for partner exercises
P1: lap
P2: called exercise
shoulder taps
LBC’s
squats
—
Wednesday: The Maul
Mosey past theatre to Jersey Mikes
Warmup
20 SSH
20 IW
50 Moroccan Night clubs
20 Mountain climbers
BLIMPS behind Target
5 Burpees
10 Lunges (each leg)
15 Imperial Walkers
20 Merkins
25 Plank Jacks
30 Squats
Up-n-over the hill
Mosey to Elmstone drive
Stop at first street for partner work – run opposite directions, 10 hand-slap merkins when you meet. Complete 3 laps
Down muderhorn and up to pool for Mary
3 rounds of exercises
20 dips
10 pull-ups on playground
20 Heels to heaven
Base of Murder Horn
First light backwards – stop at each light and add 5 merkins all the way to the top
—
Thursday: Nightmare on Elm
Mosey past theatre to Jersey Mikes
Warmup
20 SSH
20 IW
15 Plank Jack
15 Mountain climbers
Mosey to Chipotle and partner up
P1: lap around buildings
P2: called exercise
Combined counts:
100 step-ups
200 squats
300 LBC’s
Mosey across street to Brown Bag
Run up steps to back of parking deck and 5 Mike Tyson’s
Back down for 5 jump squats
Repeato x3
Garage exercises:
Lunge walk across and 15 LBC’s
Bear crawl back and 15 heels to heaven
Repeato x3
Mosey back to Launch
—
Friday: The Brave & Snooze Button double header
Mosey past AAA
Quick warm-up
15 mountain climbers
15 Imperial walkers
15 SSH
Warm-up suicide
-high knees and jog back
-butt kicks and jog back
-side shuffle down and back
-sprint down and back
————————————
Building loop decreasing ladder
4 rounds decreasing by 5 reps each time
1st bldg: dips
2nd: 20 step-ups
3rd: 20 merkins
4th: 20 heels to heaven
Mosey to parking deck
Jog flats
Sprint inclines
Called exercise at top of each ramp
Mary at top
Snooze Button:
Mosey pas AAA for warm-up
-15 SSH
-15 Imperial Walkers
-5 LSS
Make our way to the Wells Building
Head up parking lot road stopping at each crosswalk for 6 squats
At top start first of 6 exercises at 6 stops down the path w/ 6 reps each
-Step-ups
-Big boy sit-ups
-Burpees (ladder down from 6)
Mosey back to launch w/ Mary along the way
—
Saturday: DaVinci (culmination)
Mosey past Best Buy for warm-up
10 SSH, 1 burpee
10 IW, 2 burpees
20 Moroccan night clubs, 3 burpees
10 Hilliybilly’s, 4 burpees
10 LSS, 5 burpees
Mosey to Old Navy side for some shopping – Stop at each storefront for called exercise
Round 1: Big Boy sit-ups
Round 2: Merkins
Round 3: Russian Deadlifts
Mosey to circle for AMRAP:
Stop 1: 5 Mike Tysons at Banana Republic
Stop 2: loop up steps followed by 5 pull-ups on bars
Stop 3: 10 step-ups at fountain
Across the street to circle fountains for some shoulder clock work. Long mosey back to launch wrapping up with some mary until time expires
Comfort Zone – how many times have we found ourselves trapped here?
This was a question YHC found myself asking a few weeks ago. Life for us has been, well…comfortable as of late. This is not a bad thing. Years of being wildly uncomfortable forced YHC into a 7 year grind to achieve this status. Work was great, my M and 2.0’s were in a solid routine, and in early 2021 after some much needed reflection, I found myself in a state of comfort I had not known as an adult. And now it scares me. It scares me to become complacent, too settled, too OK with the current status quo. This fear of being on cruise control is a feeling I’m wrangling with and not yet been able to identify as a good thing or a bad thing – the jury is still out.
For now, the only way I know to solve this riddle is to go back to being uncomfortable. Thankfully there happens to be a crew of men who will have no problem making sure this endeavor does not go unfinished.
After much thought and attempting to talk myself out of a full-fledged commitment, it’s time to put pen to paper and commit. Taco Stand is bringing an original OYO CSAUP – The Whole Enchilada Challenge. YHC will be taking the reigns for the week of 3/22-3/27 and will Q 7 workouts in 6 days. I have not posted more than 4 times in any week since the ‘Rona set in. Schedule as follows:
Monday 3/22: Firestarter
Tuesday 3/23: Bushwood (proper attire required)
Wednesday 3/24: The Maul
Thursday 3/25: Nightmare on Elm
Friday 3/26 Double Feature: The Brave & Snooze Button
Saturday 3/27: DaVinci
I put this out to the Pax for accountability, as keeping this to myself would make it too easy to cop-out. Excited to lead you guys that week and who knows…maybe Taco’s will show back up at DaVinci on 3/27. Show up to find out…
SYITG
Taco Stand
Every now and then, a casual conversation sparks an idea that eventually takes on its own personality. Most ideas such as these I’ve found tend to fizzle out never having the opportunity to come to fruition, but every once and a Bethlehem Star, these ideas get the support they need and become a memorable day. As was such with F3liz Navidad Christmas Eve Convergence.
A couple weeks back, that casual conversation of unknown origin took place with Brexit as he was trying to determine course of action on plans for Christmas eve. To converge or not to converge, that was the question? YHC threw out the offer to Q if said convergence took place. A few days later and after being ghosted from other site Q’s, Brexit made the executive decision and called for the convergence whether they wanted to or not. Leadership at its finest. A second conversation took place and with neutral location established the convergence was a go.
Christmas eve brought a threat of rain, so the range of numbers was across the board of expectations. Not knowing what to expect, YHC had a Covid ready Wienke to ensure proper distancing and hopefully keeping every together but not together together. As the cars rolled up, YHC was immediately welcomed to see a great balance of Pax from Area 51, Waxhaw, SOB, and even a crew from Rock Hill. A quick disclaimer and we were off.
Warm-up:
Mosey to opposite end of field and circle up
-15 SSH + 1 burpee
-10 IW + 2 burpees
-10 mountain climbers + 3 burpees
-10 LLS + 4 burpees
-10 plank jacks + 5 burpees
That Thang:
Split the grass pad into two groups to ensure proper distancing.
Group 1:
Run 2 trees up, 1 Mike Tyson (increasing with each tree)
Bear crawl back 1 tree
Repeat until first sidewalk
Group 2:
Run 2 trees up, 1 Russian Deadlift (increasing with each tree)
Lunge-walk back 1 tree
Repeat until second sidewalk
Flap-jack
Mosey to far end of grass pad and lined up in plank position on sidewalk. Pax at end did 3 plankjacks and ran to opposite end and got back in plank. Ran through until every Pax moved to the end of the line.
Mosey to Lifetime Parking lot and spread across width of parking lot
Bear Crawl to first island and 20 merkins
Lunge walk to second island and 15 jump squats
Sprint to the end and 10 burpees
Mosey back to main street of Rea Farms for some partner work. P1 took lap around building while P2 knocked out called exercises. Combined counts for:
100 WWII’s
200 Merkins
300 Squats
Back to launch to wrap up with one final lap around the grass pad stopping at 6 stations along the way for a combination of merkins, mary, and legs.
Back to launch for COT by the Christmas Tree. T-claps to Rea Farm on the stellar tree.
Moleskin:
As 2nd-F Q for SOB, that role this year has been about as important as a lifeguard for the 4 x 100 swim relay in the Olympics. Covid has been a complete buzz kill and every time we start to have a notion of normality, it has quickly diminished. A Holiday Party? Completely out of the question. Regular events that bring around much needed camaraderie and fellowship? Keep waiting. Well with the reigns of the Christmas Eve in my hands, YHC believe it was time for the Taco Stand name to earn its keep. Now here is where the magic of F3 starts to happen…
A few more casual conversations take place, and with only a mention of perhaps a holiday surprise bringing tacos for a post-workout snack, the men of F3 step up to make this one hell of a memorable morning. War Eagle jumps in with cooler of water’s and dozens upon dozens of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Brexit helps with coordination/promotion and bringing folks together. Periscope’s M knocks it out of the park with custom bags of F3 decorated home-made sugar cookies (T-claps to Periscope and your M. Solid Work!) One Star shows up and does what One Star does best – kick up the party a notch. With Bluetooth speaker in hand and the bottle of Fireball ready, a post-workout snack was quickly taken to full-on morning Christmas party. Meatloaf moves launch site for Devil’s Turn from their normal location to join in with our convergence. The list goes on…
What was the result? 32 men and 2.0’s for bootcamp and an unknown number of runners (I’m guessing another dozen or so.)
This right here is what makes F3 special. What started out as a conversation quickly turned into a full-blown South Charlotte/Northern Union county impromptu holiday gathering. And no one person had to carry the burden of making yesterday morning happen. Men stepped up.
As F3 men, we are called to step up without being asked and make it happen.
Now take this and change the setting. That is what I believe we are called to do in our homes, our communities, our places of work. We are a part of a conversation; identify a need, identify a way we can contribute and make a difference before we’re asked too. If we can listen with the right ears, I fully believe we will hear the calling of those in need. It may be the calling of our kids or M to unplug, put down our phone, and be present with them. It may be a neighbor or friend dropping subtle hints reaching for help without directly asking. It may be a co-worker or friend who needs a coffee and a candid conversation. I challenge every one of us to listen for the call and step up to make it happen in 2021.
This is what we do.
I fully believe we are at the tip of the iceberg of the impact we will make in this city. Keep EHing guys, bring them out, get them plugged in and accelerating. This is a special group of men, I’m humbled daily by the men of F3, and honored to have lead you fellas yesterday.
Note: Don’t rule out that call may be from one of your F3 brothers. This year has been tough, be there for each other. If you’re a guy that needs an ear or help, reach out. If you don’t know where to start, I’ll be happy to be listen.
T-claps to my M for rocking out Tacos at 5:00am and to Periscope’s M for the badass cookies.
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:
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 36th 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 4th 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 3rd 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
As the sun rose on a crisp spring morning, you could feel the relief of all of those who have yet to file the tax returns. Except Madame Tussauds…he was tossing all night thinking about the continued storm of clients who have yet to get their crap together. Wait..where was MT this morning?
18 Pax including three 2.0’s enjoyed a few extra zzzzz’s for our lax starting time of 6:30 before walking out to the garage to post. If I had to guess, I’m would put money on the number of pax who opted to not brush their teeth was north of 50%…just a guess.
The chatter was brief to start the morning and jumped right into our warm up:
SSH x 20
Squats x 20
Imperial Walker x 20
Mountain Climbers x 20
Quick 2 minute run out and back to get the blood flowing and we were ready for that thang:
We began the first of three sets. Each set repeated three times:
Set 1:
Merkins x 15
Jump squats x 20
LBC x 30
3 minute run
Set 2:
Wide arms merkins x 15
Single leg Russian dead lift x 20 (10 each leg)
Flutter x 30
4 min run
Set 3:
Diamond merkins x 15
Lunges x 20 (10 each leg)
Heels to heaven x 30
4 min run
The finale:
Incline merkin/dip ladder
10 down to 1
5 Burpees OYO got us right to stopping time.
Solid work was felt on my end. Can’t speak for the rest of the pax, but at times have trouble gauging the intensity of a largely standstill workout. Hope your shoulders are feeling it today!
AYE!
14 Brave souls ventured out this morning for half-mile repeats as we crawled across 485. Fitting considering how many of us spend so much time there in the afternoon, it only made sense to crawl across it this morning.
As we started our short mosey past AAA for a quick warm-up, I was already hearing grumblings about the lack of proper disclaimer and starting prior to 5:15. I guess my ultra-fancy Casio might keep time a little quicker than you fellas with the Garmin satellite’s on your wrist. Nonetheless, always good to hear some initial complaints coming from Fire Hazard’s direction. So once circling up, appropriate disclaimers for our seasoned out-of-town guests were made, and got to our brief warm-up:
15 mountain climbers
15 Imperial walkers
15 SSH
Knowing the direction the morning was going, I thought it to be prudent for an extended warm-up, so we (well I – this was not a democratic decision) decided on an easy suicide across the parking lot to ensure folks were actually awake before beginning that Thang.
Warm-up suicide
-high knees and jog back
-butt kicks and jog back
-side shuffle down and back
-sprint down and back
That Thang
Light mosey to the end of the parking lot past the office buildings and across from Potbelly’s and Cabo’s. Started half-mile repeats down to the stoplight at Endhaven Lane. To mix it up, upon reaching the bridge crossing 485, we lunge-walked across the outer loop and bear-crawled across the inner loop. I always think bear-crawls are an excellent idea when planning a workout but was cussing myself before completing the first set. Need to remember I hate bear-crawls – maybe not as much as burpees, but certainly neck and neck. Back on your feet to get it down to the stoplight. Finish off with 10 merkins.
30 second breather and same thing back to start. Repeat loop 4 times.
Mosey back to launch for a couple sets up Mary before hitting our hour mark.
Solid work by all 14 guys there this morning. Fire Hazard and Mario pulled out front and finished in time for some additional Mary before heading back to launch. I thought Cam Newton had shown up for the workout, but after closer inspection, it turned out just to be Frehleys Comet sporting a leopard print headband a signature bar towel hanging at the waist. I left feeling spent, so hope the rest of the Pax got as good of a sweat in today. Certainly helped me justify my breakfast burrito on the way to work this morning. PSA – if you’ve never been to the Shell station at the corner of Ballantyne Commons and Providence Rd, you’re doing yourself a dis-service. Stop by one morning, say hello to the lovely ladies in the back and enjoy. My go-to is the rice, beans, avocado and her homemade hot sauce – solid way to start your day when you’re feeling your inner Tarahumara. Thanks to Saigon Sam and Yogi for joining us on their work travels.