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.
What does that even mean? 2% effort? Showing up 2% of the time?
13 pax decided to live the 2% life and came out to Pursuit. 5 Ruckers and 8 Runners
DiCCS were given (Disclaimer, Cell phone, CPR, Safety)
Warm-up:
The Thang:
The Big Dipper: Start at the traffic circle and run to the end of Millbridge Parkway until it dead ends on Lynn Cover. Take a right and follow back to Millbridge Parkway and back to the traffic circle. Loop is a little over a mile. Next time run the loop the opposite direction. If you look at your Strava map it kinda looks like the Big Dipper.
Continue running the loop in a clockwise then counter clockwise direction until 6:05 and then meet back at the traffic circle to group mosey back. Most everyone completed 4-5 Big Dipper loops.
MOLESKIN:
Rainy day workouts are my favorite. Why? Because you have to commit to them the night before not truly knowing what the morning will bring. That’s life. So many times you plan for something to go right and it goes wrong or you plan for something wrong and it goes right. The challenge in life is to not let your external circumstances dictate your internal decisions and choices and who you are. This morning may have ended up being rain free and only “wet and moist” but these men decided last night that regardless of the 98% chance of rain in the morning they were going to post. That makes them part of the 2% today and well done. Stay part of the 2% because it defines you as a leader and makes you stand out among other men. Also, encourage and push others to join you in the 2%.
Tonight was the first Clyent Dinner post Daylight Savings so would be getting dark shortly after we started. The goal was to keep the runs shorts, activity level high, and keep off the vehicular areas with the 2.0s.
19 pax w/ their 2.0s came out for Candlelight Dinning.
This is a late post so I can remember everything. I know we did a Merkin, Donkey Kick, Big Boy web counting down from 10 to 1. Mike Tysons were served along with squats and LBCs. Dips, Derkins, and Step Ups were served for dessert with a side of Burpees
The main takeaway from tonight was the TEN 2.0s out there. That’s right, the 2.0s outnumbered the pax. That’s awesome. Clyent Dinner did not set out to be an evening 2.0 friendly workout but with pax schedules and responsibilities it sort of evolved that way and it’s great. The pax get a great workout and get to bring their 2.0s along for the ride.
Having your 2.0 seeing you out there working out and working out with you is a huge bonding moment. A lot of our 2.0s have probably seen a lot more sedentary time than normal this year and Clyent Dinner is another way to get them out there moving. Personally, Clyent Dinner is one of my most looked forward to workouts of the week due to the time I get to spend with my 2.0 and the meal we grab together afterwards.
8 PAX gathered in the parking lot next to Seaboard, AKA Peak 51’s temporary/permanent home, for some #DownPAINment is spite of the wet forecast and their comfortable #Fartsacks. The PAX were properly disclaimed and we were off at 0530.
COP
We moseyed over the stage at Stumptown park stage for COP
MARSOC Short Card
With the Pax properly warmed up, we proceeded with the main event, the MARSOC Short Card. We completed two rounds of the following, which amounts to the full number of reps for the MARSOC Short Card.
We finished up just in time and moseyed back to the start point to find our Sparta Pax waiting for us.
Mary
Moleskinny:
Announcements:
7 Pax plus the Q showed up for a beautiful Saturday morning. Posse had been hitting me up for months, so I finally gave in to the pressure. We had just recently turned the clocks back, and the sun was already rising, so it was nice not having to wear headlamps for the morning workout.
Warm-up:
The Thang:
Moleskin:
First time I’ve actually written a BB in over a year! Almost forgot how it works, but since I got this far I would say it’s a win. Immediately following launch the rain picked up getting us nice and wet during COP. I don’t know if its experience or an older and wiser thing, but immediately most veterans (**cough cough**, @frehleys_comet) took shelter under trees and awnings leaving the rest of us to enjoy the extra rain. Hearing lots of suggestions to go to some parking garage, I made sure to head the opposite direction of this unknown garage to squash all hopes of staying dry. I was impressed with all 12 who joined and gave it their all. Lots of great exasperated sounds were heard, letting me know that my mission was successful. I only got to half of what I had planned so will need to sign up for another Q to finish the rest… Until then, stay dry my friends.
Announcements:
CPR Training next Monday and will be the last one for awhile so sign up now
Passport challenge is under way and is a great way to check out other AOs that you don’t normally get to. We are blessed to have so many AOs to choose from and should take full advantaged up this!
Would you believe me if I told you I use to be a site Q at the 87th worst site in Waxhaw? This was before it was known as the 87th worst site. Would you also believe that after leaving Floater 2.5 years ago to start Chiseled, I was never asked back to Q The Floater again (technically I wasn’t asked this time, I volunteered….but lets not get facts get in the way of a good come back story)?
So here I am, rain threatening, lights flickering on the old water tower, and nothing but mashers in the parking lot. It was quite the scary site. Then slowly but surely a few started trickling in. All but the two site Q’s that is.
DiCCs given. Special mention of crossing Providence Road twice. Slippery Bridge. And cars can’t see you, but they especially can’t see you in the rain. I reminder for gazelles to go back and get the 6. Announcements first because we thought it was going to pour on us right at 6:15….Posse ran long so I started the mosey and asked him to keep announcing as we went.
WARM UP
Mosey down to the vet (circling back for 6). Circle up for:
(For those that skimmed that was 50 merkins and 100 mountain climbers).
Some stretching and we are off.
THE THANG
Across Providence to that long road to Dream Chasers with lights for 25 merkins as each light I’m kidding. You should have seen the look on Posse’s face. (That SOB has been needling me the last few workouts so it was time for my revenge – evil laugh). For real, alternating 10 jump squats and 10 speed skaters (2 is 1) until you get to stop sign. Pick up 6.
Mosey to bridge and get into teams of 3. P1: alternate 10 Derkins/Irkins. P2: Runner/bear crawl. Crawl bear backwards up bridge incline round 1. Straight bear crawl flat part of bridge round 2. Bear Crawl down the bridge decline round 3. P3: alternate 10 Foot release squats/step ups. Once relived, run long way around and take over for P1 doing Irkins/Derkins. It sounds really complicated, and apparently to some pax it was as I found Baio and Chatterbox doing dips at some point???
Once everyone has done three rounds we cross Providence together again and do three different sprints with collector exercises in between until we are at the bottom of Keith Jong Hill. About 7 minutes left (less time that I expected) so we closed out with suicides up the hill. Recover for a short walk only to Jail Break back to COT.
MOLE SKIN
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
And going and gone,” said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of the Master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game — and he travels on.
He is “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
Warmup
Quick mosey to the entrance followed by side stradle hop, imperial walkers, and moroccan nightclub.
The Thang
Started with 5 blockys at station #1 rifle carried to the 2nd station. Took a quick mosey around mt chiseled. 10 curls with the coupon at the 2nd station. Rifle carry to station 3. Another mosey around mt chisleled. 15 Derkins at station3. Rifle carry to station 4. One more mosey around mt chiseled. 20 weighted squats at station 4. Rifle carry back to station #1. Repeat stations 1 -4.
Partner up and do 100 curls and 100 military presses combined. Partner ran around mt chiseled did 10 Bobby Hurley on the backside of mt chiseled and return to tagout with partner.
Rifle carry coupon back to station one. 5 more blockys at station 1. Rifle carry to station 2. Take one last mosey around mt chiseled. 20 speed skaters at station 2. Rifle carried back to station 1. Lunges to the curb of the parking lot. Finished with a couple squats as time expired.
Moleskin
First Q went smooth. Didn’t catch too much flack from Fuse Box or Chastain…..yet. I was impressed how Bread Bowl stuck with it and kept moving forward never giving up, keep it up young man!!!!! Shout out to all branches of our military thank you for service!!!! Thanks to F3 for giving me the honor to lead this group today…….Hope I didn’t botch this first post too bad.
Announcements
CPR training next Monday last one for a while sign up now
Passport challange, Waxhaw is killing it, dont forget to log attendance
Failing to realize that today is a bank holiday, YHC agreed to Q Meathead earlier this week and the dream of sleeping in was dashed. The one upside to this prolonged house arrest period however, has been the discovery of the post F3 nap. Knowing that the blissful 6:45-7:30 am slumber awaited, five Pax tackled a strength and conditioning workout in the friendly confines of Calvary’s hotbox, since the Q had less than zero interest in standing around swinging kettlebells in the rain. Today’s playlist had the potential to be controversial for an 11/11/20 workout, but seemed to be well received. I decided to go with Christmas music this morning even though normally I am in the not before Thanksgiving camp. With all that has happened this year, the opportunity to spread joy and good cheer needed to be seized. Also, my Spotify Christmas playlist had already been created years ago and required no additional effort.
Warmup: Not a fan of them
Round 1: Alternating Swings & Merkins from 10 reps down to 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 then 25 LBC to catch our breath
Round 2: Alternating Swings & Squats from 10 down to 1 then 25 LBC
Round 3: Alternating Swings & Wide Arm Merkins from 10 to 1 then 25 LBC
Round 4: Alternating Swings & Deadlifts from 10 to 1 then 25 LBC
Round 5: Alternating Swings & Diamond Merkins from 10 to 1
That got us to 275 swings. Or 265. Or 250. Or 270 depending on who you asked. After Ernst & Young verified the results we did the remaining 25 swings to get to 300. Next up was three rounds of split squats and dips and we were joined briefly by the Anvil Pax led by Ductwork and his eight tiny reindeer. One minute of elbow plank and we were finished and now we can move on to naptime.
Now for the part you people actually care about…the Christmas playlist clocks in at 3 hours and 35 minutes and is chock full of auditory presents. The elves of random shuffle gave us The Royal Guardsman’s “Snoopy’s Christmas”, The Jackson Five’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, The Angelic Whitney Houston’s “Do You Hear What I Hear”, Robert Earl Keene’s “Merry Christmas from the Family”, Bryan Adams’ “Christmas Time”, Billy Squier’s “Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You”, The Ramones’ “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”, Alan Jackson’s “Please Daddy Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas”, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and of course Mariah. This is the time of year where Mariah awakens from her yearly slumber ready to dominate the next month and a half. Some of the gems we didn’t get to include “Mamcita Donde Esta Santa Claus”, “Dominick the Donkey”, “Christmas in Hollis”, “Mele Kalikimaka”, and Weezer’s version of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”. The weather may be warm and muggy, the trees may still have most of their leaves, and the Big 10 may not have had their front-runners drop games to lesser teams in embarrassing fashion, but this morning we officially rang in the Holiday season. It’s been a pretty messed up year, so in YHC’s opinion we should go nuts for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. If something is worth doing, it’s worth overdoing. Buy too many presents for your family, cook a second turkey, break out the good wine, play Christmas music, put up more lights than are tasteful and necessary. Let’s make the next seven and a half weeks memorable.