7 pax (plus 5 future FNGs) converged at the 2020 Charlotte Turkey Bowl. No Marathons or bootcamps for us. Instead we got a healthy dose of all 3 Fs, as we tossed around a pigskin, built camaraderie over hours last minute scrambling to come up with plays, and were treated to a fun filled day hosted by Unpackin’ It Ministries.
A big shout out to Blue Screen for pulling this team together. He and I have been trying to get on the same team at this even for the past few years and it finally came together. More kudos to Surge for stepping up and being our coach and co-captain after injuring his leg earlier in the week.
The Thang
Team F3 Waxhaw started a little slow out the gates and dropped our first two games. Not by much, mind you, but it was clear the talent was there and we just needed just a little time to gel after an off season with no practices. Even a dream team needs time to discover its identity.
Starting off 0-2 wasn’t how we drew it up but it just made us hungrier for our first win starting game three in the single elimination playoffs. And boy did we feast. After dropping over 30 points in our first win we found a 40 burger in win number 2!
What’s this? We’re in the championship? Phone calls start going out to the Ms saying “baby, don’t wait up”.
It was a hard fought game with a full field TD scamper by our QB Eli. But alas, it wasn’t to be and the other team took home the turkey. Not to worry though because Team F3 Waxhaw will be back next year with our sights set on revenge.
Oh yeah, Easy Button was there too, but he joined some other team so forget him.
There was a discussion on the Waxhaw side whether to hold a boot camp today. Some wanted to keep all boot camps closed to force guys into the running only option. I’m glad we did as 17 guys who would have otherwise fart sacked came out to get some first and second F in. We also had 3 FNG’s!
The decision was made on Wednesday/Thursday to close all Waxhaw Boot Camps and converge with Da Vinci at Kohl’s. C3PO was on Q for Da Vinci and since I was the loudest voice screaming that we needed a Boot Camp option in the Waxhaw region, we decided to co-Q this mornings workout. C3PO gave me a peak at his Winkie on Friday and it seemed rather long (Damn I love a good winkie joke) at least the running part, so I decided I would keep mine low on running and high on exercises. DiCC’s given. C3PO decided to arrive right after I confirmed the C’s of DiCC’s – Cell Phone and CPR. He had me worried I was going to have to stretch my 30 minutes into an hour. Hard to stretch a winkie that far (Hey oh!?). Let’s Go.
WARM UP
Lap around the Kohl’s parking lot. Bad planning. Lots of cars. Cut it in half and inside the islands to avoid cars. Circle up for:
THE THANG
Short mosey (apparently too short for Brutus as he had his galloping legs ready) to parking spaces for the return of Bruce Springsteen’s (unlike Paula Abdul’s which are two steps up and 1 step back, Springsteen’s are the opposite with 1 step up and two step back). Bear crawl 1 parking spot for 10 Merkins then Crawl Bear backwards for 10 in/outs. Repeat until you reach 50 Merkins and In/Outs.
Another short mosey to a parking lot island. On the overhead map there are islands at each end of parking rows. On one side do 5 Burpees. Run across parking lot to opposite island for 10 jump squats. Zig (or zag) back to the other/next parking lot island. I believe we got in 30 Burpees and 60 jump squats. Stopped shorter than I had planned due to parking lot traffic increasing. LBC’s waiting on the 6.
I had one thing left on the Wienkie, but the watch check indicated still more time to kill before getting to it. Mosey to back of Kohl’s and get on the wall for 20 seated air presses in cadence. To the pure joy of all pax, I then called balls to the wall with a couple hand walks to the right and left. Ok, that killed enough time. Now time for the final part of the Wienkie. Mosey to side of Kohl’s and find some elevated curb/sidewalk. Jack Webb with Russian Get Up’s as the 1 and Squats as the 4. A Russian Get Up is where you squat down, roll onto you back (thus the elevated sidewalk) and roll back onto your feet and squat/hop up. So here we go – 1 Russian Get up and 4 squats. 2 Russian Get ups and 8 squats…..I get to 5 Russian Get ups and 20 squats and I start to wonder if we can make it to 10/40. 6/24 – yeah, this is starting to burn. Brutus suggested we jog to the other curb and back to freshen our legs. Good idea, lets do that. Cool – 7/28……and I’m done. 3 minutes to burn so I called a run back to the other curb for 10 Merkins. Back to starting curb for 10 Dry docks. Repeato (that ones for you Chastain) and I’m out of time. Dough Boy was visibly upset we didn’t finish the Jack Webb, but was quickly beaten down by other pax when he asked if we were going to finish it. Torch handed to C3PO.
(Written from memory by Fuse Box). Mosey past Starbucks weaving in and out of traffic and marathoners. Hit a muddy trail towards a pond where we circle up and attempt to count off (attempt as we struggled a little bit here). Ok, 4 teams picked, lets mosey again…..through even more mud. (Damn you C3PO!!! – I’m kidding). We reach a play ground where we separate into teams. C3PO hands out cones with exercises on them and we get to work. My group got through 3 of the cones and they included step ups, irkins, dips, inch worms, squat pull ups, a run up a steep wet grassy hill with burpees at top, and lots of other stuff. Time getting short with a long mosey back to COT ahead of us. Off we go….BACK THROUGH THE MUD!!!! Dang it! We arrive to some fake grass and C3PO instructs guys to do some Mary while waiting for the 6. The 6 arrives and with it brings the realization that that isn’t just fake grass, but a dog pee pad. (I can laugh because I turned back to bring the 6 in and never got on the grass – suckers! Proves your better off going back for the 6.). 30 Seconds left so we closed out with a few more Merkins. Time!
MOLESKIN
ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTED BY MERMAID FOR SABLE
The Thang:
13 started off at Centurion today. Group was disclaimed and took off as Fargo was driving up so the group stopped for him to join. Mosey across Hwy 51 toward McMahan Dr. and stopped at the intersection of McMahan Dr and Little Ave.
COP:
Low Slow Squat x 13
Side Shuttle Hop x 13
Mountain Climbers x 13
Peter Parkers x 13
Sharon Towers x 13
Triple Set:
Start at the intersection and run towards Hwy 51 stop short of next intersection and do 13 merkins, run back to starting intersection and do 13 plank jacks. Run towards Carmel Rd and stop at Sunshine House Daycare and do 13 diamond merkins. Run back to starting intersection and do 13 plank jacks. Run towards Johnson Rd and stop at enters to Catholic, do 13 wide arm merkins. Run back to starting intersection and do 13 plank jacks. Repeat x 3.
Mary and planks while waiting for all Pax to finish. Mermaid with a 30 count, then mosey to parking deck.
Run parking deck ramps and stop at every landing to do 13 calf raises. Hold plank on the top deck while waiting for group to finish.
Run down stair way 1 to the ground level, run over to stair way 2 all the way to the top, run over to stairway 3 and back down to ground level. Wait on Pax to finish while walk sitting on the fence by the stadium.
Mosey back to launch. Protractor back and forth 45 between and 10 degrees for a few minutes, then 5 burpees on your own to end.
COT
Great effort by everyone this morning. Thanks to Mermaid for giving me the opportunity to lead this group of men. Chastain joined us from Waxhaw as he completes the passport challenge, visiting as many different AO’s as possible for the next couple of months. Chastain also shared with us that the guys in Waxhaw have made a solid effort to wear headlights and/or reflective vests. Centurion should start this practice given the high traffic area and crossing Hwy 51.
Thanks to Lorax for taking us out.
No long BB for me. Way too busy today……..Only 5 guys this morning for Swarm. Guess everyone was resting up for the big race this weekend.
Warm up
Sprint mosey around to the front of the middle school and continue to run back past COT and towards the back of the school. I started to get worried when Hurry and Ice 9 were comfortably running at a 7 min pace for this opening sprint mosey. Circle up once we reach the stadium parking lot.
20 x SSH
15 x imperial walkers
Various stretches.
The Thang
Start at the stadium and run to the entrance of Champion Forest. Stop at every streetlight for jump squat w/180 twist when you jump.
Start at Entrance of Champion Forest and run to first intersection (Waynewood and Dobson). Stop at every streetlight on the way for 5 burpees.
Run the mile loop in Champion forest. Stop at every intersection and complete 10 hand release merkins.
Leave the neighborhood and mosey as a group back to the middle school. And as a group I mean Hurry had to keep circling back for the rest of us.
At the middle school. 400m lap around the island at the front and complete the following exercises: 10 mike Tyson, 15 squats, 20 American Hammers (2 is 1). Rinse and repeat x 4.
Another round of 400m laps x 4 with the following exercises. 10 merkins, 10 Bobby Hurley’s, 10 heels to heaven. Got through 3 rounds of this one before time expired.
The Moleskin
Great group of guys this morning! Hurry and Ice 9 pushed the pace and had no urge to throw up at all during the workout so I failed again!! Damn it!! Next time Ice 9. Dasher, Halfback and myself went into survival mode and tried not to let the other two get too far ahead of us.
Announcements:
See Impromtu backblast
What a great morning to meet up with a bunch of PAX. I arrived early as normal to find Doughboy already waiting to get started. What great enthusiasm and an amazing way to set an example for Breadbowl. Wait, What? Diesel starts at 5:30? Aw Crap! Literally, crap. Doughboy jumped back into his car and made a last-minute deposit at home. Breadbowl was heartbroken when he found out that he missed out on 15 minutes of sleep.
PAX are now steadily arriving and arriving and arriving and arriving. I know I’m MIA lately, but was there a surprise convergence planned at Five Stones? Amazing turnout. Good thing I planned out today’s activities in back of my Sorento minutes before we started.
Everything is going to be TABATA style today, so let me explain how that works to the group. I love the TABATA program because it opens the door for all kinds of mumble chatter. (40 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest)
DiCCS were given (Disclaimer, Cell phone, CPR, Safety)
WARM UP
SSH’s, Squats, Moroccan Night Club, Merkins, Calf Stretch
THE THANG
1st Group – Front Raise, Lateral Raises, Shoulder Presses, Reverse Flys – 3 rounds
2nd Group – Standard Curls, Hammer Curls, Wide Curls, Overhead Triceps Extensions – 3 rounds
3rd Group – Coupon Bench Press, Big Boi, Skull Crushers, LBC’s, Crab Dips – 3 rounds
4th Group – Squats, Speed Skaters, Monkey Humpers
5th Group – Curls until time was up
MOLESKIN
Crazy fun today with all kinds of 1st timers to Diesel. Doughboy was on fire today with all kinds of Poop conversations. We were about 5 minutes in and Glidah was already telling me that there is plenty to go into the BackBlast. Someone asked Doughboy about toilet paper in the car and he said only Kleenex. Then someone explained that is exactly why you wear socks. I cannot help but laugh every time I think about grown men wiping with their own socks. Going forward, I think I will only wear long socks in case of an emergency.
Doughboy’s dinner carried the day. During the Monkey Humpers, Centerfold mentioned that it may look like a Moose Dumped in the parking lot. Great times. I cannot thank everyone enough for coming out this morning. I had a great time.
Shoutout to One Star for recruiting Smuggler to post at Diesel for the 1st time and then fatsacking. Excellent work.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Post 50 year rainfall event and still having some light rain. Would anyone show to the hottest Thursday night meal ticket in town? Well, the big dogs still have to eat.
8 pax and 2.0s decided against table scraps and came to the big boy table for a full helping of all the goods and all the trimmings.
DiCCS were given (Disclaimer, Cell phone, CPR, Safety)
Warm-up:
The Thang:
Mosey to the breezeway:
Finished!
MOLESKIN:
You’ve seen the reviews on Yelp, Open Table, Zagat, and Google. The perfect reviews across the board speak for themselves. We have yet to have someone leave hungry and unsatisfied.
Floppy Disk enjoyed the fixins so much we may have to consider branded bibs.
C3PO and T1000 were so eager for larger portions they left Johnny 5 at home so they could get more.
Baio may be a cheapskate and continually taking advantage week after week of the “kids eat free” with Guinness but the results are paying off as both father and son are looking healthy and well fed.
Wrigley has taken the role of calling out patrons who order more food than they can eat and is about to start charging for leftovers.
The more Speedbump eats the more he talks. If you’ve been there lately the eatin is good.
Chatterbox and Ruckin were missed tonight, they’ve been regulars lately but if they miss another week their standing reservation might get cancelled.
Blue Screen was also absent tonight. Maybe he’s upset dinner is being served after 4pm or maybe he got lost on the way there with his 2008 Rand McNally special. A silver alert has been issued and we hope to see you back next week.
Early Sunday morning, I received a call from my Dad. My Mom stopped breathing and he had called 911.
When I arrived at their apartment in Blakeney, I could see the ambulance and fire truck were still there. Not a good sign.
I walked into the apartment to find a number of EMTs performing CPR, desperately trying to revive my Mom.
There was my Dad watching it all in disbelief. They had just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on November 1. They have been together for nearly 60 years. My Dad adored my Mom.
But I saw my Mom’s coloring. I saw the laptop that showed no pulse. I knew she was gone. But maybe I was not seeing something right and they would bring her back. But it never happened.
I had to comfort my Dad, make the calls to the family, manage the medical personnel and police officer who were in the living room of their apartment and the rest of the day was spent trying to figure things out.
I wanted to isolate. I wanted to hide my grief and sadness. But that was not really an option anymore.
The Sad Clown slowly went away after my first post in SOB. Over the next 5 years, I developed authentic relationships with other men. They had allowed me to walk with them thru some tough spots and it would be selfish of me not to provide them the opportunity to do the same.
So I began to reach out and they responded with the type of support you would expect from F3 brothers.
The next morning, I posted at Blakovery because I needed to feel like things were normal. A hug from one of the PAX and comforting words from others greeted me as I got out of my car. At the COT, Flipper talked about the importance of the Shield Lock. Little did he know there was a tangible example happening right before him.
On Tuesday, I didn’t want to post. But it was Rousey’s VQ. I don’t know him, but I wanted to provide him support. That is what we do. Instead, Rousey helped me. His energy and enthusiasm made me smile. The mumblechatter that ensued allowed me to laugh. Little did Rousey and the other PAX know, that sometimes, all it takes is to show up to form a Shield Lock.
Today was different. After launching from Devil’s Turn my legs felt like concrete, although the rest of my body felt good. I stopped and started to walk. The PAX running with me circled back to make sure I was OK. There was nothing wrong with my body, but my mind was somewhere else. In the still of the gloom, I realized things have been so hectic since Sunday, I hadn’t had time to grieve. On a dark, rainy morning, I found the space to grieve and the F3 brothers recognized I needed time alone. A Shield Lock takes many forms, one size does not fit all.
To all the men who have provided direct support, thank you.
To all the men who have provided support by just showing up, thank you.
So I post, show up, and intentionally develop relationships with other men so I can be part of the Shield Lock that has meant so much to me.
My hope is that you will do the same because what we do makes an impact in the lives of others because, sometimes, I don’t realize the importance of the Shield Lock until it shows up to help me.
11 PAX ignored the forecast by Brad Panovich and decided to brave the rain and advertisement that YHC had the Q today. 6:00 hit, disclaimers were given, and we were off.
COP
We moseyed around the backside of OP Elementary, dodging puddles, and circled up in the bus lot:
Mosey into Olde Providence neighborhood to the corner of Windyrush and Knightswood. 5 Merkins at each street light heading down Knightswood until you hit Bedfordshire.
Half Pipe tour of Olde Providence
Once on Bedfordshire, we faced our first half-pipe straight on:
After planking to wait on the 6, we moseyed down Bedfordshire and turned on Queensberry – Wouldn’t you know it? Another half-pipe on that street!
Gather the 6 and mosey down Queensberry to Foxworth. This is YHC home field, and I think the PAX was getting the idea by now as we faced our third half-pipe:
A few LBCs waiting on the 6 and then we slow moseyed back down Foxworth to Windyrush. A quick run up Windyrush with 10 Squats at each Speed Bump and we were back to the bus lot at the school. The brand new picnic tables were too tempting not to test out. So, a quick 20 step-ups and 10 inclined merkins (twice through) should break them in and let some of the PAX know they are there for future use.
Mosey back to launch and time.
Moleskinny
Announcements
Thanks to Gummy and Sprockets for the opportunity to lead and trusting us so much they felt they didn’t even have to show.