Disclaimer and Warmup:
Warm up lap around the parking lot with some dynamic stretching – Tip Toe, Heel Walk, Alternate Leg & Arm kick, Side-step hip flex squats
– Double Merkin Burpees x 10 (single count)
– IW x 15 IC
– Prisoner Squats x15 IC
** Enter Burner & FNG, fashionably late. Disclaimer was abbreviated and provided once more
– Hillbillies x 15 IC
– High Knees x 15 IC
– Butt Kickers x 15 IC
– Good Morning Abby x 10 (single count); these were well-liked!
The Thang:
Worked through a new acronym to the Chattanooga PAX. Homegrown here at the Dreadmill on account of YHC missing his 4 alarms for the scheduled Tuesday workout earlier in the week. My loss was the PAX’s gain. So, with that said, YHC gives you the A-L-A-R-M (Arm, Leg, Abs, ‘R’ Exercise, ‘M’ Exercise)
ALARM 1:
– Shoulder Press x 10 (single count)
– Lunge x 10 IC
– LBC x 10 IC
– Run to “Room with a view”
– Merkin x 10 (IC)
ALARM 2:
– Shoulder Taps x 15 IC
– Squat Jumps x 15 (single count)
– Peter Parkers x 15 IC
– Monkey Humpers x 10 IC
– Makhtar N’Diayes x 15 IC
ALARM 3:
– Burpees x 10 (single count)
– Jump Squat Punch x ?? (struggled with the cadence/count on this Pinterest find…); may never want to try this one again
– Mountain Climbers x 12 IC
– Run to boat ramp
– Pattycake Merkins x 10 (single count)
*Grab rip rap rock and circle-up again for final ALARM
ALARM 4:
– Carolina Dry Docks x 10 IC
– One-legged squat x 15 (single count) – holding Rock overhead
– Knee-ups/V-Sits x 12 (single count)
– Overhead Press w/ Rock x 12 (single count)
– Mike Tysons x 10 (single count)
Circle up with rocks and complete the three following exercises in cadence and without stopping:
– Curl from waist to mid-section x 15 IC
– Curl from mid-section to chest x 15 IC
– Full curl x 10 IC
Set rock down
– Move to the rock to your right and repeat the above, but each exercise x 10 IC
– Move to the rock directly across and repeat the above, but each exercise x 5 IC
Mosey back to shovel flag
Perform Wall of Fire:
All pax line up on a wall, do a wall sit while waiting for 1 of the pax to complete the 3 following exercises:
– Pull Ups x 5
– Merkins x 10
– Squat x 15
Mosey to sunny, grassy place for plank-o-rama:
– 45 second elbow plank
– Moon Gods x 5 (right side)
– Moon Gods x 5 (left side)
– 30 second elbow plank
– Moon Gods x 5 (right side)
– Moon Gods x 5 (left side)
– 15 second elbow plank
– Moon Gods x 5 (right side)
– Moon Gods x 5 (left side)
Ab-o-Rama:
– Leg Lifts x 20 (single count)
– Hello Dolly x 15 IC
– Heel Taps x 12 IC
– Speed LBC x 35 IC
– Freddie Mercuries x 12 IC
Audible to Gus for final ab exercise with less than 30 seconds remaining
Lazy Boy until time ran out
COT:
Laces Out son, Steam Engine travels, Burner’s friend
BOM:
Choices and decisions shape our lives, large and small. Trust in your relationship with our Savior and trust the direction that relationship affords you. As men, control isn’t an easy thing to relinquish. Good things come from letting Him take the wheel.
“Is Everybody Wearing Running Shoes?”
As a general rule, YHC does not like to surprise the PAX with exercises for which they might not be prepared or equipped. But as is the case for all general rules, there are exceptions. Driving to the Hill City AO, I was feeling froggy and knew it might be time for an Omaha. When I pulled up to see three steely-eyed veterans waiting on me, the Weinke stayed in the car.
Conditions: Cool and partly cloudy – 49°
Shovel Flag — Planted
Disclaimer — Delivered with enthusiasm
Warm-up: Knee-and-ankle rotation, which elicited some giggles from the PAX.
With our joints sufficiently lubricated, the PAX set off to execute the Merkin Mile. This took us to roughly the halfway point of the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge.
Front lunges / Side lunges / Power skips to the end of the Bridge, where the PAX executed an impromptu 6MOM on the southern shore of the Tennessee River
Three-block loop around some overpriced condos, then up a hill back to the Bridge
Power walk headed due north toward the AO while banging out a Ratchet Shoulder Blaster (for the ladies) / Run to end of the Bridge
Powered through some squats IC on the street corner, then returned to the Shovel Flag
With approximately 8 minutes remaining, we broke out the CMU coupons to get a good burn.
Bent-over row
45° front press
Bench press
– Normal 20, narrow 20
– Normal 15, narrow 15
– Normal 10, narrow 10
– Normal 5, narrow 5
20 CMU merkins
Shoulder blaster to close
COT
Continued prayers for Steam Engine’s travels and the Laces Out’s son
BOM
I Am Third.
MOLESKIN
I am constantly encouraged by the men of F3 Chatt. Attitude and effort are always there. I’m not sure they enjoyed running 2.5 miles this morning, but sometimes they need a surprise.
The ROT
Conditions: Clear Skies and Slightly chilly
Disclaimer
Gave the dislaimer on the run and welcomed to Alter Boy in town on business. Glad you could make it to Hill City.
Mosey to the Blue Rhino
The River Of Tears
This is an ode to the pax from North Augusta, SC where YHC first experienced The ROT. This is a bit of a modification but still sucks nonetheless. Begin workout at the first bench and proceed to repeat exercises at every bench along the river.
Exercises are as follows:
– Burpees x 10
– Step ups x 10 (one leg)
– Squats x 15
– Step ups x 10 (other leg)
– 20 Merkins
Repeat at every bench along the river front until time expires. If you make it to the end (about 15 benches) with time to spare, sprint back to the beginning and begin again. Each full lap = 1 token.
Pax report tokens earned at COT.
Mosey back to the Shovel Flag for quick aborama.
– American Hammer x 20
– Flutter Kicks x 20
– Box Cutters x 20
COT
BOM
The Great Bambinooooo
Conditions
60 Degrees and no rain
Welcome and Disclaimer
YHC welcomed an FNG and ran through the full disclaimer
The Thang
Six faithful pax mosey to the River in the dark
Stretch-o-rama / COP
Each stretch held for a 20 count to get the muscles loose, YHC mumbles something about yoga.
– Toe Touch
– Loose Hang
– Baseball stretch
– Quad Stretch
– Upward Reach
– Tricep
– Across Chest Arm Stretch
After much peace and tranquility observed by the river watching the sunrise, there was a whole lotta mumble of fear about the impending doom this must mean.
COP all excercises done IC
Focus on Legs
– Imperial Walkers x 20
– High Knees x 20
– Wide High Knees x 20
– SSH x 20
– Ass Kickers x 20
Focus on Arms (keep those arms up!)
– Merkins (4 count) x 20
– LAC x 20, forwards and backwards
– Chinooks x 20, 1 way
– Moroccan Night Club x 20
There was much mumble chatter after that shoulder busting warm up. Keep those arms up.
Mosey to the Top
We hit the swingset for a little Modified Wooleyworm. Grab a buddy.
1 Pax sets up for wooleyworm by placing feet in the swing and arms in plank position while holding the feet of the buddy who is in position for Big Boy Sit Ups, try to stay together. 20 Reps and swap. Rinse and Repeat One more time.
This had most pax mumbling.
Mosey to the Ball Fields
Pit Stop at the dug out for a quick wall sit. hold for 1 minute. Pax had some mumble going on trying to cut time short.
Proceed to the Diamond for something special.
The Great Bambino
After the Colossus of Clout the Sultan of Swat this exercise gives every pax the opportunity to feel like the great bambino by rounding the bases. This is a good opportunity for all pax to work hard to make the exercise as easy or difficult as they choose.
All pax congregate at homeplate in a single line and perform an exercise AMRAP while 1 pax at a time runs all the way around the diamond. Each runner returns to the end of the line and resumes the exercise. The pax are encouraged to run fast, because the faster they run the fewer reps they will have to perform. Or run slow and make it suck. Once each pax has run a lap they proceed to the next exercise. Exercises performed: Merkin AMRAP, LBC AMRAP, and Plankjacks AMRAP.
10 count from FNG. The pax were thankful this guy knew how to perform a solid 10 count.
Mosey to the Boat Ramp
Each pax grabs a rock and circles up near by. Gus instructed the pax about proper rock picking technique. After all rocks had been picked YHC instructed pax that they should be pick a rock they could part with because there will be a modified conveyor belt.
Rock BLOCK:
Each pax holds there coupon and performs the exercise as instructed then passes it to the right. Exercises performed should spell out the word B-L-O-C-K.
B – Bent over rows x 5
L – Lunges x 10
O – Overhead press x 15
C – Curles, Top Curl x 5 Bottom Curl x 5, Full Curl x 10
K – Kettle Bell Swing x 25
YHC handed over the reins to Gus to bring it home.
Indian Run
Indian Run to an undisclosed location. We proceeded until we reached near the entrance of the park when Gus called a Free Willy to the shovel flag. All pax proceeded to sprint and yell and spit and huff their way back to the shovel flag.
Countorama
Nameorama
Welcome to FNG Burner. Made it through with flying colors. We’re glad to have you and we look forward to seeing you back during the week.
BOM
Laces out son is doing much better, Gus has had some great progress in the job environment, Angus is thankful to have the pax, and Burner’s friend has been having some health issues.
Proud to see this group of men work hard and continue to get better. We are continually pushing the rock up the hill and while it might not get any easier the view sure does improve.
Angus Out
A Big Leap for F3 Gear: MudGear Shirts to be Built in the USA
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Rainy Bridge Run
– Tip Toes – walk ~10 yards and back
– Heel walk – walk ~10 yards and back
– Alternate Leg and Arm kicks – walk ~10 yards and back
– Side-step hip flex squats – ~10 yards and back
Warmup:
The Thang:
– 10 Single leg step-back squats OYO x 2 (alternate legs)
@ Museum steps perform jacobs ladder:
– 20 Thumbs down arm/shoulder raise OYO
COT
Turning Pain Into Purpose-The Final Wrap on the First Annual Operation Sweet Tooth Toy Drive
When my wife and I had the idea to create Operation Sweet Tooth to honor our daughter’s memory, we had no idea of how our initiative would be welcomed. We are just a simple, mourning family, wanting to honor our daughter’s memory and do some good for other children, and their families while trying to find some healing during the process. As Pastor Rusty of Camino Church said, “We are turning our pain into a life of purpose.” When we enlisted the help of our brothers from F3 (f3nation.com) and sisters of FiA (FiAnation.com), the response and support was overwhelming. Friends, strangers, co-workers and family were eager to help support, honor our daughter and have a positive impact on children within our local communities. Receiving all the texts, tweets, emails and pictures of all the trunks filled with toys and gifts was just absolutely incredible to see. Moreover, receiving the numerous thank you letters, hugs and condolences for our loss was equally impactful. We cannot express our gratitude enough for everyone’s generosity and support and we are truly humbled and blessed that you played a significant role in making a difference.
During this time, we were invited to Christmas parties, asked to give speeches, guest workouts, helped deliver the donations to many of the institutions we supported and were honored for our strength and vision at a nearby Church. This experience only fortified the belief that through our grief, we could muster up enough strength to help others in need.
Together, with all your help, Operation Sweet Tooth was able to collect over 2500 presents, personal items, clothes and gift cards. In addition, we raised over $3000 dollars in cash donations to be used for future initiatives and projects in the upcoming year and beyond. $205 was graciously donated in the memory of David Lacivita. The foundation has been set and we welcome the opportunity to continue to provide hope and lift the spirits of those children who need it most.
The institutions we were able to help are listed below. There may have been some we left out and if so, we do apologize.
Levine’s Children Hospital
Camino Church
The Children’s Attention Home
Boys and Girls Club
Birthday Blessings
Duke Hospital
UNC Hospital
Betty H Cameron Women and Children’s Hospital
Toys for Tots
McLeod Hospital
Ada Jenkins Center
Church of God Orphanage
Thompson Children Home
Sojouner Truth House
Lydia’s Loft
Alexander Youth Network
Individual Families
Nassau County Hospital
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Although 2016 was the worst year imaginable for us personally, losing our precious daughter, we do recognize that Operation Sweet Tooth has provided us with a small amount of comfort and peace. We are excited to continue with our efforts in 2017. Please continue to follow our website www.operationsweettooth.org, and social media to learn more about upcoming initiatives beginning in the Spring and how you can help make a difference.
*This write up is also available on the website under “Blog”. Please visit and check it out as we have some of the pictures everyone shared with us during their respective toy drives.
PRE BLAST The F3 Darby Challenge Feb 1-28
Think you can run 565 miles #notanotherBRRx2? What if you had a month #notovernight? What if you could do it on a bike #gears? Want to try and help those that have deployed more times in the past 15 years than any other unit #tipofthespear? Then welcome to the F3 Darby Challenge.
The F3 Darby Challenge is F3 Nation’s contribution to Run Ranger Run, an event to be held this upcoming February (2017) throughout the country. Run Ranger Run is GallantFew’s annual fundraiser, and it is the collective goal to raise as many funds as possible to do the work we do to transition veterans to civilian life and benefit the communities they live in. Don’t care about history, purpose or why and just want to know how to participate just scroll to the bottom. #justsignmeup.
The History:
One of the GallantFew’s core programs is the Darby Project. The Darby Project’s mission is “to facilitate a successful transition for Army Ranger veterans from active military service to a civilian life filled with hope and purpose.” Rangers have been at the forefront of every major conflict since their advent in the Revolutionary War. Major battles include:
Normandy – Rangers scale the cliffs at Point-Du-Hoc to eliminate German coastal guns that threaten the success of the Normandy invasion.
Philippines – The Great Raid. 6th Ranger Battalion infiltrates 30 miles behind Japanese lines to rescue 500 POWs sent to a prison camp after the Bataan Death March in 1941.
Vietnam – Rangers conduct deep reconnaissance missions, often without support, to seek and report on troop movements.
Battle of Mogadishu – Black Hawk Down. Rangers, along with other special operations units, conduct a daylight raid that turns into the largest firefight since the Vietnam War. At the end of the raid the following day, elements of the assault units are forced to exfil on foot an entire mile in full gear under fire, soon dubbed the Mogadishu Mile.
Objective Rhino – Rangers conduct a daring nighttime jump in the early days of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) to seize an airfield and destroy local al-Qaeda elements.
Haditha Dam – Rangers assault and secure the strategically important Haditha Dam (Iraq) and hold for 9 days while repelling multiple attacks from much larger, elite Iraqi
armored forces.
Since the events of September 11, 2001, the Ranger Regiment has deployed more than any other unit in the U.S. military, with some Rangers being down range for over 15 deployments.
The Purpose:
GallantFew’s mission is to prevent veteran isolation by connecting new veterans with hometown veteran mentors, thereby facilitating a peaceful, successful transition from military service to a civilian life filled with hope and purpose.
GallantFew does this by creating and supporting a nationwide network of successfully transitioned veterans that engage locally with new veterans with the same military background now going through transition, and by motivating communities all over the nation to take responsibility for veterans returning; welcoming, connecting, and including.
GallantFew believes this will prevent veteran unemployment, homelessness, and suicide.
As part of the GallantFew, the Darby Project is a network of networks that synchronizes the efforts of veteran support organizations to lead revolutionary transition services for the elite Army Rangers! We are not waiting for the next war to figure this out.
Three Pillars of The Darby Project:
- RESILIENCE: Educate active duty Rangers still serving of the programs available to them now and after leaving the service.
- REINTEGRATION: Coordinate Ranger education programs and available resources before the Ranger exits active duty.
- REDIRECTION: Provide assistance to those Ranger veterans and families that need additional care and assistance after Rangers have entered civilian life.
Why F3?:
Why not. The Darby Project is headed up by one of our own, Bryce Mahoney (aka Darby #realoriginal), who served in 3rd Ranger Battalion. During his time as a Ranger, Darby deployed 4 times to the Middle East. The mission of the GallantFew and the Darby Project ties into the F3 mission of reinvigorating male community leadership. What better way than to help to integrate proven leaders, whose motto is Sua Sponte (referring to the Rangers’ ability to accomplish tasks with little to no prompting), into our communities.
What is the Event?
A team of up to ten individuals will pledge to walk, run and/or ride bicycles a combined total of 565 miles in the month of February (usually 28 days). Teams may be formed from anywhere in the world and your miles can be logged from the comfort of your own home.
What Can I Do?
There are 3 ways to participate:
- Join the F3 Nation team. Register at Team F3Nation.. There are currently 8 spots left on the team. Don’t make Darby and Coop Dog do all 565 miles by themselves #Icantfeelmyquads
- Form your own Team: Think you can do more than the F3 Nation team? Form your own team in your region or sub-region. Use your BRR or Palmetto 200 team #yourealreadyrunning. Team with the most donations raised will receive a one-of-a-kind F3/Darby Project Challenge Coin.
- Donate to a team. Whether it’s the Nation team or one of the regional teams that you support the funds all go to the same great cause. If you are interested in donating go here RunRangerRun2017 and make sure to select your team.
Questions
For more information on the GallantFew and the Darby Project visit https://gallantfew.org/ or https://darbyproject.org/.
Still have questions email [Bryce Mahoney] at [Bryce.mahoney@darbyproject.org].
Through The Eyes of an M
‘Twas the night before the weekend, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except for my spouse.
His compression socks were hung on the towel rod with care
In hopes that gloom soon would be there;
His F3 shirt laid out, oh so neatly pressed
Teenaged girls don’t take as long to get dressed.
He finally came to bed. “Would he be the man that I need?”
Nope! He just got busy with his copy of “Freed to Lead”
Then at 0430 there arose such a clatter,
I rolled over an muttered, “What the hell is the matter?!”
All I could see was his disgusting plumber’s crack
As he threw off the sheets and yelled, “I beat the fartsack!”
I asked’ “Why do you wake so early each day?
It only takes a moment to dress and be on your way.”
“Because,” he replied , “I gotta check Twitter,
and it take some time while I sit on the… toilet.”
At 0515, he sped off in the dark
So I figured I’d follow; tailed him to a park.
From the bushes I saw fist bumps, and heard something strange;
None of his friends called each other by their actual names.
“Yo! Hootie! Stinky Cheese! Wojo, J-Love, Sacked!
“Hey! Gunny! ‘Sup, Daphne? #Cotter… welcome back!
Then someone yelled, “Men! No time to get cozy”
“I’m no pro, please don’t sue. Now, let’s go for a mosey.”
I watched from the bushes, still in my pajamas.
They ran, circled up and yelled, “Warm-o-rama!”
I knew the exercises, but the names were all stumpers:
“Sun Gods & Merkins, Hillbillies & Monkey Humpers.”
And that is when the morning really went south…
One of them broke wind; I almost threw up in my mouth!
And yet, I maintained, my cookies were not tossed.
The men formed two lines; something about, “applesauce”
For the next 30 minutes I was thoroughly confused
As I watched them run amok, their bodies, abused.
Burpees & pull-ups. No gym, just the Earth
As the one they called, “Wicked” led them on “the Murph.”
One guy, he puked right on his partner’s toe!
They even had a name for THAT, “Tossing Merlot.”
I was convinced that my husband joined a cult.
Then they called for, “Mary!”, the final insult.
I’d had enough, it was time for me to end it!
But what happened next had me completely suspended.
As the men circled up, my husband, he spoke.
He began with a quip, a really lame joke.
But then opened up about a concern that he had
How a friend lost a job, how he hoped he was a good dad.
Another man wept, asked for prayers for his wife
Then they all took a knee and gave thanks for their life.
Better husbands, better fathers, better friends, they all prayed.
“Amen!” they ended and ’round the shovel flag stayed.
They spoke about how to help our own town
Feed the hungry, clothe the cold, put a tree in the ground.
Repair houses, Judy’s Chair, Book Studies & fund-raising,
What these guys have accomplished is truly amazing.
So I snuck on home, I hadn’t known what to expect
These men of all ages had earned my RESPECT!
Although it’s annoying to be married to F3
I can see why they do it; for brotherhood, for community.
And as they sat at Panera, coffee the preferred drink,
I remembered just how bad, the family wagon would stink.