Dear PAX,
As you begin to plan your new year, on behalf of my family, I am asking that you consider including the Joe Davis Run for Recovery on March 9th in your plans.
It is hard to believe, but the 7th installment of the Joe Davis Run for Recovery will take place on March 9, 2019. My family and I invite you to join us, as we gather once again, to celebrate my brother Joe’s life and bring awareness to a very real problem facing our society right now, Addiction. Joe lost his 16-year battle with Addiction in the form of an accidental heroin overdose on October 4, 2009 at the young age of 28.
Unfortunately, chances are that Addiction has touched your life, either affecting your friends or your family. Our family has chosen to turn the tragedy of Joe dying into a triumph in the form of spreading a message of HOPE. There is help for those who struggle with Addiction and other mental health issues. The race benefits Keystone Substance Abuse Services, York County’s authority on substance abuse.
F3 and FiA support has been the cornerstone of this race’s success and most of you know that it has been on one of the coldest days of the year most years when it was held in January. It was so cold last year that my family and I made the decision afterward to try a new race date. Our message of HEALTH, HOPE and HEALING needs to be far-reaching and to include the youth, which we felt the cold has kept home when the weather is not favorable. So, we chose March 9. It will likely still be cold, but bearable.
The race will offer 1 Mile Fun Run, 5k and 10k options. The course is the same as in recent years and it will be held at Walter Elisha Park in Fort Mill, SC.
Please help spread the word.
I believe that we are making a difference, slowly but surely. I know the race has directly impacted the PAX and I want to ask that, if you feel led to share your story, please let me know. I believe the impact of a first-hand story would be incredibly helpful to show our mission is working.
Sign ups are at www.joedavisrun.com
We are also seeking sponsors. If you know of someone this cause may be close to, who would like to get involved, please message me.
With gratitude,
Rock Thrill
10 Men opted to join YHC for Joe Davis Run for Recovery simulation workout. We needed 3 things-cold weather, hills and speed. We got ’em all.
After a disclaimer that ALMOST got missed, here is what we did.
The THANG-
Warm Up – Fellowship pace of almost 1 mile via Ballantyne Commons Parkway to the Bull Ring. We need to be good and warmed up for this one.
At the Bull Ring, 4 sets of dynamic warm up exercises with strides.
Toy Soldiers, High Knees, Butt Kickers, Walk on your toes
Main Event-
3 x 1 Mile at 5K Pace/Effort with 800m recoveies. 3 full cycles will get us 4.5 miles.
The Mile segment is an out and back from the Bull Ring up Ballantyne Corporate Place to 3 orange cones at approximately the Dana Radar golf school lot. This mile is “rolling.”
The 800M recovery is a counter-clockwise trip around the Bull Ring.
Focus 1 is to concentrate on turning the legs over on the downhill back when they are fatigued. Even pacing over rolling terrain is always a challenge.
Focus 2 is to try to run each mile slightly faster, so don’t burn all your matches out of the gate.
Pick a guy to work with who pushes you or chase someone faster.
Cool Down-Fellowship pace back to COT the short way due to time.
10k done. BOOM.
MOLESKIN-
Thin Mint was out front all morning with Hairball not far behind and then a large “chase pack” on their heels. It is really cool to run in a format like this where you can see the guys up front and how they make hard work look so effortless. Inspiring. I was the 6 today and was just thankful to feel that cold air in my lungs! Cobains for not having 100% to give after being sick the last several days, but I will ready come race day! Special thanks to Atlas and Moneyball for circling back for me on the recoveries.
On the run back, we all agreed that getting pacing just right is a challenge, especially on that second mile! Everyone seemed to close strong on Mile 3, though!
Special credit due to Bunker, Atlas and Fire Hazard for a pre-run. T-claps. Fire Hazard is having some hamstring issues and went the Bagpipe route to make sure he is race ready in 2 weeks!
As always, thanks for letting me lead. It is a privilege. I appreciate Bratwurst directly asking me. There is a lot of power in that. Having been sick the last few days, I was nervous yesterday about trying to run, but accountability is the magic of F3. If it were not for you guys, I would have missed another day. Instead, I feel the best I have in days. Thank you!
Also, I would like to express my gratitude for those joining us to fight Addiction on 1/6/18 at the Joe Davis Run for Recovery. There is still time to sign up at www.joedavisrun.com and code F3FIA gets you $5 off!
Here is a link to the Pre-Blast for more information-
Be a better man today than you were yesterday.
RT out.
Announcements-
Pray for Bout Time’s family.
What-
The 6th Annual Joe Davis Run for Recovery
When- 01/06/2018 at 8:00 AM.
Where-Walter Elisha Park in Fort Mill, SC
Please join my family again this year as we celebrate my younger brother Joe’s life and continue our efforts to #breakthestigma associated with Addiction. All proceeds of this event go to benefit Keystone, York County’s authority on substance abuse and their unwavering efforts to help those fighting Addiction in York County. This event is family-friendly and will offer a 1 mile Fun Run, a 5k Walk/Run and a 10k Walk/Run. Ruckers welcome! It focuses on HOPE!
Why-
Because my brother Joe died on October 4th, 2009, of an accidental drug overdose, at the age of 28 with most of his life still ahead of him. That is tragic. Joe struggled with Addiction from the age of 12, but had gotten sober in conjunction with turning his life over to Jesus Christ in October of 2007. In the end, though, this battle was one that proved too strong for him to fight alone, unfortunately. Our family was unaware of Keystone as a resource for Joe to get help until after it was too late. So, in the wake of his death, we felt a call to serve and we decided to take action to get the word out. With my sister and I both being involved in running, we felt a race was a great way to not only get the word out about Keystone as a path to Health, Hope and Healing, but also to bring awareness to what our family already knew was becoming a serious problem in our society now.
This is an issue we need to face head-on. it affects and is affecting more people in our community than you realize. Think about these realities-
Action-
Last year, F3, FiA and their family members accounted for at least 275 of our almost 1000 participants! If you are unable to run or walk, we can always use volunteers and there is also a Sleep In option to support the cause from afar. To date, we have successfully raised more than $125,000 for Keystone to fight the awful disease called Addiction. These funds are primarily used to support the Men Under Construction program.
In appreciation for the continued support of F3 and our sisters of FiA, we have arranged for a $5 discount code, F3FIA, that will apply to whatever the current price is for the 5k or 10k races at time of registration, for as long as online registration is open. It will not stack on top of any other discounts, however. Please help spread the word at COTs!
Register HERE.
Final Thoughts-
Joe spent a lot of his adult life as a lonely man. I firmly believe F3 could have helped change his course. While this event does benefit Keystone from a financial aspect, it is also allows for an incredible opportunity to let our communtity know what F3 and FiA are all about, so let’s take advantage of that. Wear your gear, let’s get the F3 flags and tents up, bring the business cards and let’s EH some folks while we fight Addiction. Aye?
I am especially excited for this year’s race as we will be hosting Speed for Need to kick off 2018. If you know of someone who would like to ride or you would like to push in the 5k, please reach out to myself or Dark Helmet. Check out this amazing effort that goes hand-in hand with ours at Speed for Need!
With gratitude,
Rock Thrill
23 Men gathered this morning for a morning full of hills and hard work. Goal was to design a workout that would let me lead from behind and let the boys run while keeping the group together with some camaraderie . I think everyone got a good workout and most covered 5-6 miles with some good body work mixed in, too.
Disclaimer was made and approved by our Nantan.
Warmup–
All in cadence ( rusty)
SSH x 15
Windmills x 15
Imperial Walker x 15
Mountain Climber x 15-h0ld high plank, hold plank, honey-mooner
Butt-kickers x 25 yards
High knees x 25 yards
The Thang
Line up in 2 lines at Woodfox for Native American Run. Goal is to keep warming up some more, so run 75% effort to the front.
Go Right on Rounding Run and stay left towards Woods End.
Transition to group mosey when Rounding Run comes in on the right, but continue forward another .25 miles to “Home Base,” which is at the top of Woods End. There is a board there with 3 sets of exercises. They are-
Round 1
Merkins x 20, Squats x 20, LBC x 20
Round 2
Wide Arm Merkins x 20, Reverse Lunge x 10 each leg, Freddy Mercuries x 20
Round 3
Diamond Merkins x 20, Calf Raises x 20, American hammers x 20
Partner Up with someone of like speed.
Instructions were given to run a 1 mile loop consisting of Woods End, Old Spice and Autumn Leaf. Each guy goes opposite ways, both UP HILL around the loop. Meet up at the mid point, do 5 burpees and head back the way you came. Follow the chalk. At the bottom of the loop, run together UP HILL back to Home Base and complete a round of exercises. Regroup and run loop again. This time, go opposite way you went before to change it up. Repeat as many rounds with your partner as you can by 6:05. Goal is complete at least 3 rounds.
Head back- Mosey as a group back the way we came till we go left on Woodside. Then All You Got home.
Time’s Up.
Moleskin–
Awesome to be back out for the second week in a row at Fast Twitch and honored to be asked to lead. I was a little rusty, but it was a blessing to Q. I ran the Chicago Marathon a few weeks ago and it was a long day. I spent a lot of time reflecting and I realized how much I miss the Iron Sharpens Iron aspect F3. It really cannot be duplicated. Hopefully everyone felt the accountability I did today, working with my partner and not wanting to let them down, trying to get further up and around the hill each time before we met. I appreciate each of you being out there today. Awesome to see everyone working hard. I think most got 4-5 rounds in and covered 5-6 miles.
Utah and I also were able to EH our co-worker, Kyle Kichhoff, now known as Astro! He crushed it and I think I held him back as his partner! Welcome, Astro! A great #HIM to have amongst us!
Announcements–
Benny announced that he is Qing “The Mermaid” next week at FT, so eat your Wheaton’s! Who can make it to CCHS and back by COT?
I owe 50 burpees due to 5 men signing up last Tuesday for the Joe Davis Run! Thanks Mermaid, Utah, Alf, Turkey Leg and Tolkien! Maybe before and after next week!
Area 51 Holiday Party-see Alf
https://f3southcharlotte.com/?s=Christmas+party
Turkey Drive-see Mermaid
https://f3southcharlotte.com/?s=Turkey+drive
Charlotte Marathon with Speed for Need-this Saturday, several FT guys running the relay and pushing
Joe Davis Run for Recovery-01/06/18-see Rock Thrill. Pre-blast coming.
www.joedavisrun.com
Thanks for the opportunity to lead,
RT
WHAT
The 5th Annual Joe Davis Run for Recovery 5k/10k
WHEN
01/07/17 at 8 AM
WHERE
Walter Elisha Park in Fort Mill, SC
WHY
To remember the life of Joe Davis and to save lives. Specifically, those who struggle with Addiction.
REGISTER
HERE
The 5th Annual Joe Davis Run for Recovery 5k/10k Run/Walk, benefiting Keystone Substance Abuse Services, is scheduled for Saturday January 7, 2017 at 8:00 AM at Walter Elisha Park in Fort Mill, SC.
This family-focused/family-friendly event has special meaning to my family because it is in memory of my brother Joe, who died in 2009, at the young age of 28 from an accidental drug overdose. This event was established to capture the hope that Joe always held onto, even when he struggled most. He was often quoted as saying, “Hope…never lose this.”
First, on behalf of my family, please allow me to thank everyone from both F3 and FiA for both past participation and for considering participating again this year as we stand together to fight the awful sickness and disease that is Addiction. This event would only have a fraction of the #IMPACT that it has had if it were not for you!
In 4 Years, the race has raised over $95K for the Keystone Substance Abuse Center! Total participation has grown from 400 in 2013 to 700+ in 2016, including almost 200 F3 and FiA participants. This year’s goal is to expand to 1000 runners, including 250+ F3 and FiA participants! This is achievable if everyone just invites one person! #1KSTRONG
The course is up and down by design. It represents the ups and downs that an addict’s life experiences.
#HILLS4HOPE
We need you, your spouses, your 2.0’s, your family, and your friends to please sign-up and join us in this fight! What a way to start the year!
We will make it fun and will track participation and speed for bragging rights!
If you can do a bootcamp, you can do a 5k! And there are plenty of running workouts and willing PAX to help you get ready!
Here is the link to sign-up now, while prices are lowest!
Register HERE
In the “Team” field, please indicate “F3” or “FiA” (as appropriate) and if you invite friends or family, please affiliate them as well.
Please share on Twitter and/or Facebook, when you sign up, and use the hashtags #1KSTRONG and #HILLS4HOPE.
THE WHY
Unfortunately, the odds are that each of us will be affected by Addiction in some way in our lifetimes, whether it be personally, a family member or a friend.
Every day in life, we talk about the “What.” In this case, a running race. But, the “What” matters only because of the “Why,” right?
The “Why” is to spread awareness that there is help available for those struggling; hope that our family wish we had known about. Help and support saves lives.
For our family, we hold tight to Romans 8:28, which reads,
“We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”
It is so difficult to lose a member of your family or a dear friend and, unfortunately, there are many within our group who have experienced this. However, we all have a choice to make when faced with that reality. Our family has chosen to do our best to make an #IMPACT because we believe God saves lives through earthly resources when we align with Him. We believe this race is God’s purpose for us and we want Joe’s life to continue counting for good. So many times, when we are out at a restaurant, or in a race, or anywhere, someone recognizes us and tells us that they suffer from addiction or know someone who does, and that the race has impacted their life in a positive way. Those times serve as confirmation that the race is making a difference!
It will be tough, but isn’t it a great reminder of how tough it must be to get free of Addiction?
I hope you will join us as we celebrate Joe’s life on January 7th!
In Him and on behalf of the Davis-Boyd Family,
Rock Thrill (Chris Davis)
1. Proceeds raised from registration fees and donations go to support Keystone Substance Abuse Services, whose mission is promoting health, offering hope, and restoring healing to those impacted by substance abuse and addiction.
2. This is a great event to kickoff your 2017 fitness and commitment goals! Each year we have SEVERAL guys run their first 5K if not for the VERY FIRST TIME… at least in a long while! The PAX always step-up and provide great support for all runners… young, old, fast, not-so-fast, first-time, long-time… it is just a great event for getting 2017 started in the right direction!
3. Finally, by your participation, you encourage others in MANY ways… some ways you may never know…. You encourage neighbors with abusive addictions… You encourage your M’s, 2.0’s, friends and family to also participate… You encourage your PAX to push themselves to achieve something they might not thought was possible 6 months ago… You encourage a community to see what F3 and FiA are all about!!
There will be more information as we get closer and Event Q’s are named… the main thing now is to get signed-up!!
The 4th Annual Joe Davis Resolution Run took place on January 9, 2016, and, for the first time in the race’s 4 year history, the temps were not only not bone-chilling, they were perfect for racing!
As I have come to expect, a whole bunch of you #HIMs joined my family again this year to fight Addiction. We had 723 registered participants and at least 143 of those noted they were part of F3 Nation. (59 ran the 5k, with the Top 5 averaging 19:58. 64 ran the 10k averaging 39:39. #FAST) That is almost 20% and, combined with the 36 women from FiA, makes almost 25%! That spells IMPACT, men, and believe me, the community notices. In fact, they have come to expect a sea of black to descend on Walter Elisha Park one Saturday morning every January to lock shields and honor Joe’s memory by spreading awareness that a battle with Addiction does not mean the loss of Hope!
With your help, we raised just over $30,000 for Keystone this year, bringing our 4 year total to just over $97,000!!! No way this happened without the support of F3 the last 3 years. I am truly humbled.
You guys won’t ever know what your participation means to our family. I love seeing the leadership in motion and one of my favorite moments this year was looking out, as the sun rose, and seeing The Fort’s Worldwide Leader leading a COP/warm-up that was filled with race participants of all kinds in the circle! That is a great picture of what we need to do as #HIM.
WE NEED TO LEAD. If we do, others will follow.
Addiction is a monster and, even with the help of facilities like Keystone, those who struggle need YOU and ME. I wish I could tell you every story of when someone tells me, my mom, or my sister that this race matters. Many of you have told me. That is why we do it every year. We know it saves lives. If you were not there, or left early, the highlight this year for me was having a gentleman named Sean speak after the race. Keystone literally saved his life. He was at rock bottom and got his life back on track with Keystone’s help. It is hard for me not to think that could have been Joe, but Sean’s testimony helps us understand why we had to lose Joe. It was for God’s good.
Please know and be aware that Addiction is everywhere. You have no idea who is struggling. It could be a family member or a friend or a guy doing bear crawls beside you. Be there if you are needed. I hope everyone knows they can come to me if they are struggling. Anytime, anywhere.
So, some of you ran, some slept in for the cause, some volunteered, some prayed. YOU ALL MADE A DIFFERENCE!
Thank you and we hope to see you next year!
If you missed this event, I truly hope you will join us next year. You will no doubt see God’s work being done in a BIG way.
Special thanks to Slim Fast and Bushwood for Qing the event this year and to all the workout Q’s who supported it.
Special thanks also to The Fort Pax who have truly embraced this event on their home turf.
Special thanks to the men of Outland for their “virtual run” and gracious donation.
Special thanks to Subway in Metro and Riptide in Harrisburg for their constant RTs.
Special thanks to our sisters at FiA for their support.
In Him and with gratitude,
Rock Thrill
Please feel free to post comments about your experience below!
The VSF was planted and 15 hearty men showed up for YHC’s Virgin Q. When Honey Bee asked if I would take the lead this week, I knew it was time. After nearly 9 months of enjoying all the ways F3 has helped make me a better man, there was something missing and it was leadership. Today, I am thankful to these men who gave me the opportunity to lead them in a workout that hopefully left them feeling like the got their money’s worth.
With BRR, local races, mud runs and such right around the corner, YHC thought that it might be nice to change it up a bit today and incorporate a little running in with the normal KB routine. With a pre-F3 background in running, it just made sense to play to my strengths.
We did. 2.4 miles, actually, according to Champagne.
Much of the workout was inspired by a Hops Q at Skunkworks in early February.
Here is what we did as best as I can remember-
The Thang
COP
SSH x 15
IW x 15
MC x 10 each leg
Reverse Lunge x 5 each leg
H-R merkins x 10
Mosey out of parking lot and line up single file. Leave the KBs. We don’t need ’em yet. Huh?
Let’s get warmed up!
1 Mile Indian Run to disc golf clubhouse and back to KBs. #crowdpleaser
Grab your KB and mosey to the soccer field and line up on the end line.
20 KB swings, 10 Burpees OYO
Sprint 100 yards to end of field and back
Repeato
5 Push Press each arm, 10 Goblet Squats, 10 Mtn Climbers each leg
Sprint 50 yards to midfield and back
Repeato
20 curls, 20 tri extensions, 10 deadlifts with high pulls
Sprint 100 yards to end of field and back
Repeato
10 Renegade Rows per arm, 10 Upright Rows
Sprint 50 yards to midfield and back
Repeato
5 Burpees OYO
Mosey to midfield and circle up for KB Mary
Louganis x 15 with KB
Flutter x 15 with KB
Russian Twist x 15 with KB
Dolly x 15 with KB
LBC x 15 with KB
COT
Moleskine
It was a fanrastic morning and the short sleeves were back out for the mid 50’s weather. We had a great crew of men this morning and a larger group than normal which was awesome, so I think ther may have been a few Foxhole FNGs! Keep coming out, fellas! Also great to see The Worm back coming off IR and special thanks to Honey Bee. He showed up on site with with 2 kettlebells for any FNGs per my request, despite needing to go back home to see his daughter’s reaction to her first visit from the tooth fairy! T claps for being a great Dad, HB! #iamthird
We did a bit more running than is normally done at Foxhole this morning, but all the PAX were pushing it and I think everyone left satisfied.
We did not get too far into the Indian Run and the mumblechatter started and after the first round of sprints, YHC heard some chatter about this being “Kettle Twitch.” But, there were a lot of Larry Birds out there, but I expected that. Foxhole draws a strong crew. If you have not been out to Foxhole, please join us.
And finally, I can now say from experience, that if you have not yet had the honor of Qing a workout, do it! It gives a new sense of completedness within the brotherhood and, after all, isn’t leading what F3 is about?
Thanks fellas, for the opportunity to lead you this morning. I appreciate you all.
See you in the gloom.
COT
Announcements-
BRR- still need 7 or 8 guys. See Baracus
GoRuck- still spots open for those want a dose of good livin’