CONDITIONS/FORESKIN
Slightly cloudy, ~37 degrees, but felt a bit warmer than that. It seems to always be warmer than you think once you get to working out. A lot of us were shedding outer layers only a few minutes in.
I’m getting ahead of myself, however. When the Q arrived about a minute late, all of the PAX were shiny, happy, and ready for action. Waste Management was on point today as well, making their way down the road just behind YHC, also eager to start their days.
Even before all that; however, in late 2020, when the 2021 Q sheet opened up, our boy STH signed up to Q roughly 1 day/month. Since his passing others have picked up those Q’s including Crash, Moose, Darla, Stagecoach, Lumbergh, and YHC. This cool December day marks the final Q that STH signed up for.
STH loved F3 and always excelled when there was a good mix of exercises and running, so that would be the theme today.
WARM UP
After some heckling by the crowd about YHCs lateness, we did a quick disclaimer were down to the business of warming up.
Some Depot classics, x 12 reps in cadence for each below:
- SSHs
- TTTs
- IW’s
- Hillbillies
- Windmills
Jumping into the Hillbillies right after IWs with no recovery was a #CrowdFavorite.
Take a lap around the track and grab one of the #UTP blocks and bring it to the track until we are surrounded by the 21 remaining blocks.
THE THANG
Part 1 – Starting at 12 reps do the following exercises with/on your block.
- Overhead Press
- Curls
- Rows
- Squats
- Merkins
After a set of the above, run a lap around the track (~0.25 miles) and grab another block from the #UTP pile then begin the exercises again, but drop 2 from the total (i.e. 10/8/6/4/2) and run a lap following. Make sure to spread the love around and knock some dust off all of the #UTP blocks. Flutter kicks or some block work of your choice on the six.
T-Claps to Pol Worker, Flash Dance, and Lunch Lady for leading the pack and setting the pace!
Part 2 – Grab a #UTP block that is not your own and ideally not someone who is present at BC today. Your goal for part 2 is to do the exercise that STH was best at, the STH (formerly Cusack). For this routine you tote the block over your head as far as you can around the track. When you get smoked (and most of us did save one) drop the block and sprint around the track until you encounter a dropped block. Pick it up, rinse and repeat until all blocks are back at the start.
T-Claps to Flash Dance for being the only PAX (I think) to complete a full lap. A feat only completed by STH himself and Lumbergh, as far as I know.
Time up, blocks up, BOM, COT, Announcements, Prayer Requests, Devo
MOLESKIN
As part of the workout today, we all took a look around at the #UTP blocks and marveled at who was present (and who was not) on this fine morning. Our band of merry #HIM consisted of 5 PAX who completed the August 2020 challenge (Soccer Mom, Moose, Lumbergh, Lunchlady, and YHC), 4 PAX who are relative newcomers to F3 ~1+ year or less, but have been killing it since they started (Pol Worker, Forever 21, Bird Strike, and Flash Dance) and one OG Depot veteran (in all senses of the word) TNT.
23 PAX who completed the 2020 August Challenge
Our 2020 version of the August Challenge culminated with a party at Stagecoach’s and parting gifts for those 23 men who completed the challenge (see below). These gifts came in the form of custom, limited edition, one of a kind blocks supplied by Joanna and painted, stenciled, and epoxied by Pothole.
STH’s block resides with his parents, given as a small token of what he meant to us and what F3 meant to him. I’d like to think he would have enjoyed the workout today. I can still see that shit-eating grin he would have as he passed me carrying the block with ease, high over his head, saying something like “you need to step it up old man!” or “c’mon, you can do it!”.
I miss his wisecracks, encouragement, and just shooting the shit with him about F3, being a dad, and life in general.
Today’s “devo” was a bit an ad hoc culmination of thoughts related to STH. While he’s no longer with us, his memory remains and the memory of him presents a somber opportunity for all of us to not take our time (or each other) for granted. This time of year is especially difficult for some. Let’s take some time, reach out, and check on our brothers, particularly those we haven’t seen in a while.
Maybe they are in hibernation, invoking the so called “Coppertone Rule” until the mercury rises. While we all (most?) agree this is “weak sauce” (see the people v. Buddy Love’s shorts, winter 2020), to each his own. Maybe they are struggling and there’s more to it than the cold. You never know the impact a kind word or a friendly ear can have on a guy who’s in the ditch. Let’s all make the effort to check in.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Our boy Double Mint is moving to Birmingham and is looking for help on 12/30/21. See Lumbergh for details.
- Moose has the Q on Thursday followed by Joanna on Saturday (Christmas Day)
- Sandwiched in between the above on Christmas Eve is basketball at Depot, starting at 0630
- F3LM150 is about to get crackin’ on Saturday 1/1/22. Give me or Socrates a shout if you want in on this, don’t be left out.
- Regional convergence at Strut to kick the year off in style on Saturday 1/1/22. Make plans to be there or be square.
- Summer is just around the corner so you want to look good in that speedo. The 2022 Biggest Loser event (unrelated to my time in high school) will also kick off on 1/1/22. HC to YHC if you want to participate and I’ll add you into the uber-exclusive, bougie, chat.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- Lockbox as he recovers from surgery and his dad as he goes into aggressive cancer treatment
- Speedo as he works through some injuries
- PAX that are traveling this time of year
- Any other PAX on the IR or who have succumbed to the power of the #fartsack
- For Bill and Ashlee….hold it together for the twins.