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Social Distancing in Soddy

QIC:  Red Tees

Date: 3/19/2020

PAX: U-Turn, Ducktales, Geek Squad, Milkman, Friar Tuck

AO: Huey

Conditions

Nice warm morning. I I was running late.

COP

We warmed up with some SSH, a little stretching and a little mosey to Roxanne

The Thang

We made our way to the pavilion after our Roxanne mosey and broke up into pairs. We completed 100 dips, 100 monkey humpers, 200 flutter kicks, 200 squats and 100 incline merkins between partners. While one partner exercised the other partner did 10 step ups on the picnic table benches and the we switched. We did stop briefly during the Dora to do burpees to “Bleed it Out” by Linkin Park (one burpee every time Chester sang bleed it out). After we completed the Dora we did a Native American jog to the parking lot and back and then moseyed back to the pavilion. There we fought COVID-19 by one partner sitting on the wall and punching while the other partner defended themselves by doing 30 Freddy Mercury’s and then switched. We ended with a round of merkins while the group held plan and then werkins while the group help plank and then Captain Thors but only up to 5 (1 big boy set up and 2 American Hammers, multiply the reps by the number you are on).

COT

It’s a crazy time, but I keep reminding myself of Philippians 4 where we are commanded to not be anxious about anything but to rely on the Lord. He is all sovereign and all good. As we practice social distancing let’s use the time to get closer to Him and our families and work on the parts of ourselves that need tending to. If you can support a local business, do it. People are going to be hurting for work and income and if we are able to help others we must.
BALL OF MAN: There were lots of prayer requests for loved ones going through everything from cancer treatment to treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis and for the men who aren’t able to be near their families because of where they live and just the age and risk group loved ones are in.

Moleskin

It was a good workout all the way around. I love the normalcy of seeing the guys and us struggling through this first part of our day. The spacing in the name-a-rama was bit excessive and the no touch fist bumps were a bit odd (actually just made me feel like a lame white dude who isn’t coordinated enough to land a fist bump, but it’s all good).

News

We are on hold with officially sanctioned F3 workouts until the 30th. Tough call, but keep working out, hitting each other up on Slack and keep each other in our prayers.

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    The W Road, Fog and Mud…Oh My!

    QIC:  Red Tees

    Date: 2/25/2020

    PAX: Holy Kiss, Prosciutto, Gusher, Whittler, Pediasure, Burrito

    AO: Smackdown

    Conditions

    It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…nah just kinda foggy but pretty comfortable for February. I did pick the muddiest and most uncomfortable places to do our workouts in an AO with pretty good facilities overall…That’s me, I could screw up a rock throwing contest.

    COP

    SSH’s, Forward Folds ham string stretches and Willy Mays Hayes as well as some planks and merkins on a track that was not made for planks and merkins, but our guys were tough. Arm circles forward and reverse as well as cherry pickers.

    The Thang

    We started with an Indian Run and burpees around the track. Then we partnered up and moseyed to the bleachers. The good men of Smackdown had some coupons for us and while one pax did 2 rounds of box jumps up the bleachers the other pax did their share of 100 dips, 150 monkey humpers, 200 flutter kicks 250 squats and 200 curls all utilizing the cinder blocks. In the middle of the Dora we stopped to do the Roxanne shuffle made popular by Free Candy and burpees to I Won’t Back Down, because it popped up in the playlist I made, and it’s a great way to know\ck out 19 burpees a man toward our million burpee challenge. We ended with Mary which included crunches heel touches and Freddie Mercuries.

    COT

    The Good Lord gives us new mercy and blessing each day. The men who came out to push themselves and each other were a blessing to me. Friar Tuck needs to be lifted up for healing his knee and just encouragement to keep coming out and modifying. We love ya brother, We want to remember Laces Out and his mission in Uganda and the transition in leadership happening there. We want to pray for the man or woman that God has in line to take on the leadership of that mission. God is all good and he works all things for good for those who love Him. It’s in his time and for his purposes, we just have to have faith and follow Him. Also keep Pro’s mom in our prayers as she is having another medical procedure on her road to recovery. The transition of going from being cared for by your parents to caring for them is odd and a learning process for us all I would imagine, but from what I know of Prosciutto he will handle whatever comes with grace and care.

    Moleskin

    I was late because the Q should be there to welcome everyone and I was the last there. I took us to the muddy spots of the workout area, had us doing push ups on the roughest part of the track and I think the lady walking on the track may have called the neighborhood watch because of the loud music I was playing. Luckily all the guys gave me grace for my missteps, worked their butts off and were really encouraging one to another. I can’t wait for Pediasure’s VQ (you will do great, my wife and I were in Kenny Hammontree’s Sunday School class with you and your wife a few years ago, we have to get him out there at some point) and it was awesome to see Whittler and meet Gusher and Holy Kiss. Burrito as always it’s fun posting with you and Prosciutto you are a machine.

    News

    Join the bone marrow registry. Issac Miller needs a match in the next month. Go to Bethematch.org to get a kit and get on the registry.

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      Wait…Which Pole Are We Running To?

      QIC: RED TEES

      Date: 02/24/2020

      PAX: Jabooti, Early Bird, Toe Tag, Snow Patrol, Money Ball, Swing Set, Fast Lane, Mayhem, The Count, Cold Play, Sparky, Oiler, Peanuts, Home Alone, Best in Show

      AO: BEAST RIDGE

      Conditions

      It’s shocking how the rain stops at 5:29am

      COP

      It was a warm up like most Beast Ridge warm ups I’ve been involved in. We started with side straddle hops and I had to try a 21 which I thought we might fail once I got the group to “2” in the out loud count and we were a bit off beat and I KNEW we were going to fail at my silent count of 20 and at least two of the Pax proudly exclaimed “21”! 5 burpee penalty enforced.

      The Thang

      I’m like a cat in may ways. Nimble, love milk, aloof at times and hate getting wet, so I moseyed us over to the pavilion to do our thang even though it wasn’t really raining. We paired up, shockingly I think this is the first time at Beast Ridge that Peanuts and I were not paired up, (team Red-Nuts is a formidable duo), and we embarked on a musical Dora. One pax ran 20 yards and did 5 merkins and back to the pavilion while the other pax did their share of 100 dips, 150 monkey humpers, 200 flutter kicks, and 250 squats. Money Ball did more than his fair share of our Dora because I had to keep monkeying with the music…I owe you brother.

      After that each team did 30 crunches while the other partner sat on the wall (rinse and repeat x 3). The group then did the burpee dance to I Won’t Back Down (19 burpees) in honor of The Count being there because Tom Petty’s mom used to work at the police department he worked at in Florida (I think that is the story he told me once any way). We then did an Indian Run in which we did two merkins before we sprinted to the front of the line for a couple of rounds and finished up with a merkin/plank/ab beat down.

      COT

      I am so thankful for the men the Lord has brought into my life through F3. The accountability, fellowship and support in doing life is a true blessing. I am so thankful for the grace and mercy the Lord shows me each day and the prayers I see being answered for the men in our groups. I encourage all of our guys to put their faith in the Lord and give their worries and anxiety to Him. No matter what is going on here we destined for heaven and an eternal life beyond what we could ever imagine here if we just follow Him as our savior. EB’s wife is having some surgery and the Count’s brother is still in need of our prayers.

      Moleskin

      Nobody knows which light pole to stop at in the parking lot at Beast Ridge when doing any exercise and I know it’s not just when I am Q 🙂 The Count tried to shame all of us by saying he and Home Alone finished the Dora first with a combined age of 77 and Money Ball was quick to do his mental math and realize ALL the rest of us had a combined age for the most part beyond 77 (He and I were 85 for instance). Sparky never stopped…keep it up brother. Peanuts was right on time at 5:34. Giving Back Pew a run for his money on that Gloomy for 2020.

      News

      Join the Bone Marrow Registry guys. Keep Isaac Miller in your prayers. Sign up for the 3rd F service and please go donate blood to support our 100 gallon challenge. The group code is 9004117.

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        Q Turned Out to Be a Jerk in the End

        QIC: RED TEES

        Date: 02/05/2020

        PAX: Chief, Blind Side, Burrito, Fissure, Pebbles, Pay Load, Roomba, The Count, Friar Tuck Moneyball, Sidekick, 1 FNG (Footloose)

        AO: Lion’s Den

        Conditions

        It was wet and rainy, like all of 2020

        COP

        Moseyed to the side of the school and knocked out the usual SSH, stretching and warm up.

        The Thang

        I’ve been inspired by the recent musical workouts and tried to be original in the soundtrack and how it was used (sometimes unsuccessfully though). We began by doing burpees to U Can’t Touch This by MC Hammer. Each homeboy did a burpee every time U Can’t Touch This was sang. We did arm circles and kept moving in between the verses. We then did a Dora where one Pax bear crawled down and Bernie’d back about 20 yards while the other partner partook in dips, curls, overhead press and squats.

        I then tried to use How You Like Me Now in place of Roxanne for the mosey/Bernie trot, but it failed because most of us ran too fast to hear the music. We then did a burpee breakdown to Tom Petty’s, I Won’t Back Down and then moseyed back to the flag for some Mary.

        COT

        I took a minute to talk about being content and thankful in whatever our circumstances as Paul wrote about and how blessed I felt to be a part of this group of men and the accountability that is so important to me.

        Moleskin

        I was very humbled at how many guys showed up in such crumby conditions. I laughed when during our mosey/Bernie run Blind Side got stuck in a puddle and just had to keep going forward and backward in it for what seemed like a minute. Pebbles was raised by some sort of animals based on his bear crawling prowess and I unintentionally was “that guy” when I took us from the dry I worked hard to keep us in so we weren’t we and miserable during the gloom to the parking lot for Mary where we just got soaked…That’s on me. Welcome Footloose!

        News

        3rd F every Tuesday, check Slack and the Tough Mough is coming up in a couple of weeks.

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          Skitch Was Safe at Home Plate

          QIC:  Red Tees

          Date: 01/07/2020

          PAX: Skitch, Sunshine, Hobo, Ramos, Care Bear, The Count, Blindside, Moneyball, Clampett, Goose, Cowbell, Dog House, Pink Panther, Uncle Fester, Lanyard, Swingset, Sherlock, Countdown, Back Pew, 

          AO: Hill City

          Conditions

          We must be living right because it quit raining right before we got rolling and was warmer than I expected.  It was still very wet and slick in some spots as Skitch can attest to. Someone did say that our rocks smelled like fish…could have been worse.

          COP

          We moseyed across the field and under the bridge, circled up and began the workout with something new…side straddle hops x10. That was followed by a Mayhem Merry-Go-Round (side straddle hops in a rotating circle) which is the most fun exercise ever. We stretched our back and legs, arms and did calf raises along with calf stretches.

          The Thang

          We then went to the walking track and did a 20 man Indian run with burpees x2 (I should have broken that up into two, 10 man Indian runs, but it worked.

          We then partnered up for a Dora with coupons chosen from the river banks (that’s why they smelled like fish I guess).

          100 Curls, 200 Overhead presses, 300 squats while alternating with a partner who was either doing lunges, monkey humpers (x50) or Bernie Sanders for 30 yards (3 light poles)

          We finished up by jogging to the blue rhino for some Mary which included pickle pointers, burpees (x5), push ups, monkey humpers and flutter kicks.

          COT

          I read 2nd Corinthians 9:6-8 to the group which is about giving with generous and happy heart in everything we do. Whether it is tithing to our church, giving our time to preparing to be Q, participating in a workout, or how we spend our time and resources with our family, friends, work, whatever, if we do it with all our hearts, minds and spirit God will bless it according to His plans.


          BALL OF MAN: We want to remember our military and our country in our prayers as well as those who are struggling with depression and loneliness this time of year. Skitch encouraged us to reach out to those who are not attending regularly and work to bring them back to the group and support one another. The Count asked for prayers to bless the work he and I are doing and to also to please donate blood if you are eligible, the need is great across the country.

          Moleskin

          The number of guys who came out was really an awesome thing. Skitch made sure to keep the Indian Run exciting (best Pete Rose slide I have seen in a long time) and my man Back Pew was right on Back Pew time 🙂 The Count’s GI issues stayed in check and I appreciate Pink Panther partnering up with me.

          News

          Gloomies on the 13th, if you need some help with paying for the meal reach out and if you don’t have a date, please still come. If you have a chance sign up to help hand out warm clothes to the homeless on Tuesday evenings (check the 3rd F on slack) and please bring any close or other goods you have to any AO and we will get them to the right place.

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            A Block Party at the Police Station…or Jail House Block

            QIC:  Red Tees

            Date: 01/03/2020

            PAX: The Count, Fastlane, Peanuts, John Doe, Vaccine, Escobar, Moneyball

            AO: Hacksaw

            Conditions

            The rain had just stopped and it was in the 50’s. MUCH nicer than we had anticipated. We had to move across the street to the police department’s parking lot due to flooding over at the usual spot (The Count scouted that out during his scuba-ruck.

            COP

            We warmed up with SSH x 20, the most fun warm up ever, the side straddle hop merry-go-round, and some stretching to include little baby arm circles forwards and reverse, Morracan Night Clubs, and then a mosey across the police station parking lot to the farmers market and back.

            The Thang

            The group partnered up and together we used coupons to complete a Dora

            100 Curls, 200 Overhead presses, 300 Squats and 400 single count flutter kicks. While one partner Bernied 100 yards and ran back the other partner cranked out the reps.

            Once that was finished we gathered at the pavilion and while one partner did 30 SSH the other did a little wall sit boxing. We did 3 rounds, switching each time the partner reached 30 SSH.

            We finished with Mary which was a Pax choice and ended with either 1 minute and 30 or 1 minute and 35 seconds of plank (John Doe and Escobar are still sorting out the official times.

            COT

            My verse for the morning was Hebrews 10:24-25. “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh. As I read that the evening before, I reflected on what we have in this group in terms of shared accountability and fellowship. Coming together each week is not always easy due to other commitments, fatigue, weather, etc., but you guys keep coming back and it motivates me to do the same and gets easier every day.

            Moleskin

            The only modification I made to my original plan for the workout was I called an audible on doing the monkey humpers after I realized we were in the police parking lot and there were 4-5 police officers watching us. I just didn’t have the guts to go there and deal with the questions of us all being taken in for lewd conduct at the Collegedale police department.

            News

            The Gloomies are coming. Pay Fissure by the 6th and please sign up to assist with handing out clothing and supplies to the homeless on each Tuesday. Check out the 3rd-F on slack.

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              Veterans Day beginning in Veterans Park…yeah that feels right.

              QIC: Red Tees

              Date: 11/11/2019

              PAX: U-Turn, Hasboro, Ducktales, Burrito, Couch Potato, Milkman

              AO: Huey

              Conditions

              Cold and Clear (Ducktales mentioned the best part of this kind of weather is we can’t smell the dumpster in the parking lot).

              COP

              • Side straddle hop x 20
              • We moseyed from the flag over to the parking lot and knocked did perform
              • Willie Mays Hayes
              • Forward Fold
              • Little Baby Arm Circles X 20
              • Reverse X20
              • Moroccan Night Club x20
              • Cherry Pickers x 20
              • Merkins x 20

              The Thang

              Indigenous Peoples Burpee Run (keeping it politically correct) each Pax did 3 rounds. We then picked out some coupons I stole from my neighbor’s scrap pile last night and partnered up for a Dora. 100 curls, 200 overhead presses, 300 squats and 400 little baby crunches. We then moseyed over to the pavilion and while one partner did 30 leg lifts the other partner practiced their best Fight Club moves while sitting on the wall for a couple of rounds. Upon completion we bear crawled back to the flag with no time to spare.

              COT

              Today is Veterans Day. It is not lost on me that we are blessed to be able to gather, fellowship and practice our faith in this country freely how and when we see fit. There are places in this world where bowing your head around a flag is not allowed. We owe a lot to our Veterans and let me encourage everyone to take a moment and thank the people in their lives who served in the military for doing so in whatever capacity they did. My dad was drafted during Vietnam and served in the Army and my brother served in Iraq and Afghanistan in the Air Force. I love them very much and am proud I can give them a buzz later today.
              BALL OF MAN: Milkman asked for prayers for the young marine’s family who took his own life last week. Couch Potato made a point of encouraging us all to look out for those guys who are struggling after their service. Let’s get headlocks on those guys and get them out in the gloom with others who can help encourage and pick them up when life gets hard. Hasboro’s grandmother is recovering from a heart attack over the weekend, but is in good spirits.

              Moleskin

              It was a good morning all the way around and my first time to Q at the Huey. Milkman runs faster backwards than forwards I think, and Ducktales and Couch Potato may or may not need to be tested for PED’s. Burrito insisted we bear crawl to finish the day off (he’s an animal), and I got my gloves all wet, which is a bummer. I have my suspicions U-Turn may be a CIA assassin (he is a quiet guy who I am pretty sure is holding back and could make Couch Potato look like me if he kicked it up to a 10). I’ll bet his body count is prolific. For that matter Hasboro may be one too.

              News

              Convergence in Brainerd on the 16th

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                Bunch of dudes celebrating a Dora themed birthday before dawn at Hill City…nothing to see here.

                QIC: Red Tees

                Date: 10/22/2019

                PAX: Skitch, Juice, The Count, Goose, Blind Side, Ramos, Fissure, Hobo, Cowbell, Sinai, Free Time, Peanuts, Curfew, Milkman, Sunshine, Sherlock, Callahan, Iron Butt, Cheech, Back Pew

                AO: Hill City

                Conditions

                A cool 40 degrees and a bit damp from the much needed rain the night before

                COP

                Mosey down to the Great Hall

                Side straddle hops x 20

                Little baby arm circles x 10

                Reverse LBAC’s x 10

                Cherry pickers x 10

                Moroccan Night Club x 10

                Forward fold x 10

                Quad stretch x 10 each leg with a partner

                Wall sit while partner does flutter kicks x 40 and switch

                The Thang

                We kept our partners and moseyed to the river to grab a coupon to share for our Dora party

                .
                Dora Party

                Each team did a set of coupon exercises that had us working together to complete 100 curls, 200 shoulder presses, 300 squats and 400 LBC’s while also doing a rotation of  40  yard combo sprints of Bernie Sanders, and step slides and then a 40 yard sprint.

                We moseyed back to the Blue Rhino after we picked up a brother from South Carolina (Juice) who was running in the park and saw a bunch of guys with coupons doing a Dora and knew what was going on 🙂

                Back at the Rhino we did 7 minutes or so of Mary (LBC’s, Leg lifts, American Hammers, Side Straddle Hops, Heal touches, forward fold to wind down) and ended right at 6:15am.

                COT

                I am a truly blessed child of God.  I turned 40 at 5:03am and was able to spend that time leading some great men I’ve come to know over the last few months for the first time as a Q.  I really enjoy doing workouts in which we work together to accomplish a goal in the gloom so that was the reason for the Dora.  

                 I thought  and prayed a while about what to share.  Our pastor has been working through  the Bible, verse by verse, and we happened to be at Philippians 4:4-20 a Sunday or two ago.  I’ve told some of you  before, I  struggle with being a selfish person.  I like doing what Christopher feels like doing.  It’s also easy for me to give my best to  others at work  and in public but I can see where I am less patient with my family sometimes (I take their love for granted if I’m being honest sometimes).  That’s not right.  I am praying to love Thea the way Jesus loves the church every day, and that I think is a great way to measure if I’m being the husband God wants me to be. 

                The other great message in that chapter is that Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything and to bring everything to the Lord.  That’s a huge comfort to me. Our Lord is all sovereign and all good.  He loves us and if we ask anything according to His will he will grant it.  His will is the part I struggle with sometimes.  It’s not what I want, but what He wants.  

                Moleskin

                It was a great morning for me personally.  I got to work out with 20 guys who are all interested in getting the most out of each day, and that is a great group to be a part of.  As I thought about the group, one PAX baptized my oldest daughter a few years ago (Blind Side), another is a man who the Lord sent to lead me professionally (The Count) and a bunch of other guys who I count as friends.  It was cool to have Juice recognize a bunch of guys with coupons working out together as an F3 group and come join up.  Fissure and The Count, thanks for taking the time to have a pre-Q meeting with me to make sure I didn’t let everyone down.  Back Pew, love ya brother and thanks for being on time (early for you :)) 

                News

                There will be a convergence for the 3 year Chattanooga F3 anniversary on 11/16/19 at Brainerd Baptist (on the soccer fields).

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