• When: 03/05/15
  • QIC: Say What?!
  • The PAX: Shank, Yellow Cake, Slim Jim, Pep talk, Meltdown, Say What


Mountain of Memories with Merkins & Blocks

WEATHER:  Balmy 66°

It’s always great to be amongst the PAX, but today was a little more special as it marks YHC’s 1 year (+1 day) anniversary of being a part of F3 Nation; 3 months, to the day, from hip surgery; and first Q back since November – but more (much more) about that in the #moleskin.

6 faithful ventured out on a glorious 66 degree morning to join YHC to get better and be better.  Hopefully the PAX were satisfied with their mountain top experience.

THE THANG:

Slowsey to the Cinder Blocks

  • Slowsey w/ Little Baby Arm Circles
  • Through the Tunnel x 20 IC
  • Walking Imperial Walkers x 25 IC
  • Windmill x 20 IC

Grab a Cinder Block

  • John Cusaak to the wall
  • SSH x 20 IC

Up the Mountain

  • Curls for the Girls w/ CB x 20 IC
  • Bent Over Rows w/ CB Right Arm x 20 IC
  • Bent Over Rows w/ CB Left Arm x 20 IC
  • Chest Press w/ CB x 20 IC
  • BBSU x 20 OYO
  • Leg Extensions x 20 IC
  • Crunches w/ Feet on the Wall x 20 IC
  • Bridge w/ Feet on the Wall x 20 IC
  • Declined Merkins x 15 IC
  • Dips x 20 IC
  • Inclined Merkins x 20 IC (TOP)

Back down the Mountain

  • Dips x 15 IC
  • Declined Merkins x 10 IC
  • Bridge w/ Feet on the Wall x 15 IC
  • Crunches w/ Feet on the Wall x 15 IC
  • Leg Extensions x 15 IC
  • BBSU x 15 OYO
  • Chest Press w/ CB x 15 IC
  • Bent Over Rows w/ CB Left Arm x 15 IC
  • Bent Over Rows w/ CB Right Arm x 15 IC
  • Curls for the Girls w/ CB x 15 IC

Return Cinder Blocks

  • John Cusaak to the Pile
  • Flutter Kicks x 20 IC
  • Russian Twists x 15 IC
  • Merkins x 10 IC
  • Slowsey High Knees
  • Slowsey Butt Kicks
  • Slowsey Overhead Claps x 50 IC

 

DEVO:

Ecclesiastes 4:7-10,12 (http://goo.gl/V544bV)

The life of a #SadClown is summarized in verses 7-10; while F3 Nation is summarized in verses 9-12. YHC opined that being a #SadClown is like a cultural addition, and that it’s too easy to slip back into that “senseless and miserable life”. Whether it be because of an injury, work travel, or other demands that separate the PAX from his brothers – we need to be mindful to engage and encourage them back into the fold. The most popular verse in this passage (12) reminds us that “A rope made from three strands of cord is hard to break.” and so is the brotherhood made of three strands: Fitness, Fellowship & Faith – #unbreakable

 

MOLESKIN:

Not sure the #moleskin is the place for all this, but this morning was a pretty noteworthy day for YHC and there’s an overflowing of gratitude that may not be easily squelched.

Today marks YHC’s 1 year (+1 day) anniversary of being a part of F3 Nation; 3 months, to the day, from hip surgery; and first Q back since November. Pondering the significance of today, YHC would be remiss if he didn’t admit that there has been a number of days when he was weary & weak and was ready to give up (and that was even before surgery). Recently there have been many fears that #F3 was only going to live as a memory of things done and YHC couldn’t or possibly just wouldn’t ever get back. Could it really have been just 9 months of mumble chatter, stories, and sweat or was there more to it?

The answer – as we all know – is there is a lot more to it than that!

Fitness, Fellowship & Faith were just three words until YHC had the opportunity to live and experience them over this last year. The number of men that have encouraged YHC from day #1, to get better and be better, are too numerous to count but that won’t keep YHC from highlighting a handful or two.

The insistent #EHing from Floppy Disk, Ken Doll, Good Hands and Ranger made it clear these men had something YHC did not. But YHC was satisfied with life, driving to Ballentine at 0500 sounded really early, and YHC was doing perfectly fine without it – right? But “fine” and “satisfied” have never really been YHC’s goals. So on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, YHC posted at @F3Graveyard for the first time (being too skeered to post at the Big Bang; God — along with Floppy Disk and Ken Doll — made it clear it wasn’t an option to wait any longer).

From the very first workout, experiences like Nakita coming back to the end zone to encourage, motivate and run the 100 yard LBC/sprints w/ YHC. Another one of those early workouts stands out when No Show encouraged YHC not to stop after running Cemetery Hill (and numerous times since). Then there’s Ken Doll and Treadmill who somehow drug YHC up the Old Cherokee hill during our first #Stride out and back/l. Meatball always pushing YHC until we broke 4 miles and then 5 miles for the first time at #Stride (now he’s #Crusade’s AOQ). Field Goal, Malfunction Junction & Freon welcomed YHC to join team Misfits for the October Mud Run and demonstrated such teamwork and brotherhood (if you’re not signed up to do the Mud Run – do it, you will only regret it if you do not).

YHC could tell stories for days (exceeding the limitations of the backblast), calling out a lot more PAX that have inspired, encouraged or even provided a swift kick in the pants (when needed/aka a lot) – to show that there is something special about this thang we do.

But this day was even more special as YHC stood in the #COT, reflecting on a year of memories and 3 months of setback. There was Fracture (the @F3Crypt Q for today), who will always be appreciated for taking time to visit YHC pre-op and confirm he would be observing the surgery (which was oddly quite comforting to have a brother making sure the doctors did everything right) and then checked in afterwards, reporting that the doctor did an exemplary job. Just to his right stood Breakfast Club, who joined 9 other PAX to deliver AND SETUP a Christmas tree for YHC and family the weekend after surgery (which had a significant impact on YHC’s entire family, both near and far). A little further around the circle stood Blindside, who took YHC on a field trip to speak with his Run for God group about injuries and overcoming them (it was sure nice to have some #2F and get out of the house). Then there was Blue Screen, Thumbs Up, Freon, No Help, Yellow Cake, Slim Jim, Melt Down, Detour, CoPay and others representing just a portion of the texts, phone calls, and tweets of encouragement (sometimes in the form of pictures of old people using walkers, lift chairs, and a number of soupped up electric scooters) have been humbling. And that was just around the Crypt/Boneyard COT this morning – YHC could easily do this at every AO in Lexington and most of the ones in Lake Murray and Columbia as well.

This past year has been one heck of a ride, attempting things never imagined (ie. The Cottonmouth, numerous 5K’s, the Mud Run, etc.) and accomplishing more than thought possible. NONE of which would have been possible without the men of #F3. If it were not for you, there is no doubt in that YHC would have given up and given in so many times over the last three months.  Instead, YOU were there to lift YHC up, encourage a healthy return, and even attempt to caution when YHC may have been a little over-exuberant to be back.  It is because of YOU that YHC is able to post, return to Q, and will continue to get better and be better.  The only way to repay this gift is to strive to share it with other men that post with us or join us in the future.

So, it’s March 5, 2015 (and you actually read all the way to the bottom) – where do we go from here? YHC feels we all OWE it to those you know and love (or even just like a little) to invite them to be a part of this brotherhood we call F3 Nation. Don’t be wishy washy nor pushy, but speak the truth and share with them why it’s important and how it has affected your life. There is no better time than a big convergence and there’s no better big convergence than the one coming up this weekend.

See you, and a friend, Saturday!

Aye!

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