Author: Mr Rogers

This was a wet one folks.  Only 6 Die Hards made it out to Dog Pile today.  Through moderate rain, some driving rain, and a few lightning strikes – this is what went down: 

COP: 
arm circles, cherry pickers, DQs, SSHs, mt climbers, WWIIs, and Merkins.  

The Thang: 

Valley of Swampy Despair (11s):
At the top we did 10 burpees, then tried not to bust our butts sliding down the hill, ran into the swamp at the bottom, and then to other summit for one 2-count American Hammers, then 9 Burpees and 2 AHs, and so on.  In the midst of this exercise is when the workout got its name, which is taken from Metallica’s album Ride the Lightning, because we almost did.  After thunder roared just overhead, Handshake said, “If you’re trying to make a point, you’ve made it”.  His point was taken, so we moved to the sanctuary of the stage to modify this one and finish it out.  

Triple Check on the stage.  P1 Bear Crawls the width of the stage and is the timer.  P2 Ball Dips.  P3 SSHs.  

After the lightning moved on (the rain never did), we left the relative safety of the amphitheater and ventured out.  We did a Dora and Partnered up.  P2 got a coupon.  P1 touched 2 trees while P2 did 100 coupon curls, then 100 squat thrusts, 100 kettle bell swings, and 100 bench presses (for this one, we were back on stage, the Penny Stage, for a little less laying in the mud).  

Walk Like an Egyptian – 
This was like a Native American run, but with lunges while the last man jailbreaked to the front, done along the length of the Carillon.  

Getting back to the other side of the Carillon, same idea, but we crab walked, hopped and bear crawled.  

SSHs Plus – 
We circled up and did SSHs (OYO).  Members of the Pax were called on to initiate a core exercise.  15 were done.  Then return to SSHs.  And so on.  

BTTF. 

COT:
Numbers, names, announcements, prayer requests and prayer.  We prayed for Lighthouse and the safety of his family in Kiev, Ukraine as well as a couple other gentlemen in F3 going through family problems.  

Moleskin: Thank you to the men that braved the weather to share in fitness, fellowship and faith today.  It is appreciated.  

SYITG!

COP:
arm circles, cherry pickers, DQs, side-Straddle hops, mt climbers, WWIIs, and Merkins.

The Thang:

Love Triange –
Shout out to Garbage Plate for this one. P1 runs around the triangle while P2 Bear Crawls. Switch. Then P2 Lunges and then Broad Jump Burpees.

20 American Hammers OYO.
20 Side Straddle Hops OYO.

5 Jump Squats OYO.
Another 20 American Hammers OYO.

Doozy’s version of Sheldon Coopers – These are a Cooper with WWIIs tacked on. We did
10 – Burpees, 10 – Squats, 10 – Merkins, 10 – WWIIs and then ran around the loop, next round 9 for each and run, and so on.

Mt Climbers Plus –
We circled up and did mountain climbers. Then randomly selected members of the PAX to pick a core exercise to do 20 Xs. Back to Mt climbers between. Bone Thugs’ Crunchy Frogs ’bout did me in.

Animal Crossing –

To the Carillon for crossing the field width-wise like a bear, a crab, something that hops and then a backwards bear.

BTTF with a Native American (not a PC term, just accurate, as Indians live in India) run.

With time to burn we did some SSHs and lastly, we took 3 huge inhales and exhales – because why not.

COT:
Numbers, names & announcements: Gypsy is leading an unboxing of donations at VA Home for Boys and Girls on Saturday, 2/26/22 and still needs about 5 pax members to help. Ms and older 2.0s welcome. The boxes contain lots of toys so little 2.0 might hinder the process. Please remember to sign up for Breaking Bread. UpChuck reports that many have signed up thus far this year, but there are still spots available.

Prayer requests: Up Chuck asked for the Pax to pray for an employee that lost a brother, who was only 41, to pancreatic cancer.

And YHC took us out in prayer.

Moleskin:

If you don’t know what a finger crotch is, or what Handshake has to say about pee sitting, or Seymour‘s take on putting ping-pong balls in the toilet – you clearly need to post more at the dog pile. But seriously, it’s always an honor to Q. Thank you all for allowing me the opportunity. You all remind me of the blessing of being able bodied, to continue to grow, and how fortunate we are just to be alive (prayers to your employee and his family Up Chuck).

SYITG!

COP: Arm Circles, Cherry Pickers, DQs, SSHs, Mt. Climbers, WWIIs & Merkins.

The Thang:
Burpee Back Mountain – I wanted to pay homage to DTH with this one. Without his push, I would have never stepped up to Q. I’m grateful for that push to step outside of my comfort zone. And the time he did Burpee Back Mountain, after I laughed at the name, I thought it sounded impossible (another push for growth). It’s a Dora of 100 Burpees. P1 does those while P2 runs up and down the amphitheater.

To get out of the amphitheater, at each level, we did 3 dips, box jumped to the next level and 3 LBCs. Somewhere in there Handshake taught us that where a Turkey is cooked determines if a man or a woman made it (grill vs. oven).

Coupon Pyramids –
We formed 3 teams. Each team needed to assemble a 10 coupon pyramid in 3 places: in the base of the Valley of Ill Repute, at the Rusty Cage, and at the Penny Stage. Oyster showed us how to adroitly carry two coupons at once. In the midst of this exercise, Winehouse, out of nowhere, slid (tripped) across the ground in the Superman position, making a grand entrance after being gone for about a year. Welcome back Winehouse!

4X4 Run – We partnered up. P1 ran around The triangle. Meanwhile, P2 did 4X4s (4 single count lunges followed by 4 Merkins). Switch duties. Rinse and repeat 3 times.

BTTF
COT: numbers, names, announcements (Hitch expressed his gratitude for F3), prayer requests, prayer.

Moleskin: It’s always a blessing to be well enough (we missed you Up Chuck, heal up fast) to get outside, run around a bit, watch the sun come up, connect with buddies and pray. Let’s all work to focus on all that we have, even beyond this holiday week. We are so fortunate.

COP:
Arm circles, Cherry Pickers, DQs, SSHs, Mt Climbers, WWIIs, & Merkins.

The Thang:

Bermuda Triangle –
Bear crawl, run (past a dead squirrel), 5 Burpees, Burnie Sanders, 20 LBCs.

7 of Diamonds –
Handshake pointed out, quite expertly, that it appeared that I wanted everyone to get into 2 groups, instead of groups of 2. It was an appreciated point. At each corner we did 7 Merkins, then 14 Mt Climbers, 21 American Hammers, 28 Side Straddle Hops, 21 American Hammers ,14 Mt Climbers, & lastly 7 Merkins. We ran the length of the field and moved across the width in any manner conceivable with the exception of walking or running. This one looked shorter on paper. I think the new name for this exercise is The Clock Burner.

Coupon Fun –
Plank and Pass – Everyone grabbed a coupon. As a bunch of coupons lay scattered about, we used exactly 2 of them. With little time remaining, we broke into Team A and Team B. We planked shoulder to shoulder. P1, at the 1st position, passed a coupon to P2, and so on. The man at the end of the line picked up the coupon and ran to the 1st position. We Rinsed and Repeated until P1 was back in the 1st position. Team A won.

We kept our team and lines, all stood and faced the same direction. P1 passed the coupon over their head to P2, who was behind them. P2 passed it behind them, but b/w their legs. P3 did an overhead pass to P4, and so on. The final man ran to the 1st position. We Rinsed and Repeated until P1 returned to the starting position. Team A won again. YHC was not on Team A.

Native American Run BTTF.

COT: Numbers, names, announcements (the shoe drive is still on), prayer requests for a couple of the gents’ mother-in-laws regarding physical and mental health concerns. YHC took us out in prayer.

I’m truly grateful to be given the opportunity to lead this group of men in the strengthening of our bodies and spirits. May we all continue to push each other to grow and to develop into the men we are intended to become.

17 men met in the morning gloom. We made fun of each other. We encouraged each other. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

COP: Warmuparama started with arm circles, then cherry pickers, don quixote’s, side straddle hops, mt. climbers, WWIIs and rounded out with some merkins.

The Thang:

Quarter Pounders – Jog to the 1st quarter of the field, do 25 merkins, then sprint back. Jog to the center for 50 squats, sprint back. Then 75 LBCs at the 3rd quarter mark…100 side straddle hops before sprinting back the length of the field.

Valley of Ill Repute for 11s – It might have more aptly been named the Valley of Ill Communication. Apparently, the instructions were super clear-ish. 17 men strong, in mostly dark clothing, before the sun was up, ran into the valley and up the hill for 10 burpees and some of us then went to the other side for one 2-count lunge, then 9 burpees and two 2-count lunges, etc. Wilson, what could go wrong?

Coupon Sit Up Pass – Partners sat facing one another in the sit up position, one did a Coupon Sit Up while his partner did a WWII, then the coupon was passed between them, as they then switched duties.  Each man did 25 WWIIs alternating with 25 Coupon Sit Ups.  Bodos and Bacon Bits seemed to crack the code on this one by locking feet.  But then they went and (I believe) did double the amount.  They’re gonna feel that.  

Triple Check – Murder Bunnies was the timer while partners Flutter Kicked and Monkey Humped.  Also, GP taught us the proper way to Murder Bunny.  I’d share his method, but it’s inappropriate.  

BTTF:
Native American Run – The Pax paid homage to the original Americans while moseying in unity BTTF.  

2 min of various Merkins, selected by each man, around the shovel flag, wrapped it up.  

COT:
Numberama. Namearama.
Announcearama: There was a GP-led Sit & Sip last night (hope it was a good time), Upchuck shared that there is an opening spot for Breaking Bread after Thanksgiving that needs filling and DTH informed the group of the passing of F3 member Joe Ferguson, known to F3 as Chisel.  
Pigskin was not present, but please be aware of his announcement on Slack: “I set up a new channel, Freed to Bleed, for the next blood drive.  
1 We need donors. ?
2 We need people to announce at the AOs about the blood drive.
3 We need volunteers the day of the blood drive to setup, sign people in and to return the site better than we found it.
Details: Wednesday, October 20 at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Midlothian (off 288). The same place as back in the spring. (FYI edited to correct the day of the week.)
There is always a need for blood.
Sign up at http://redcrossblood.org donate blood, find a blood drive and enter “F3” as the sponsor code.
Thanx!”

Prayer Requests were followed by a truly-moving Prayer by Probation.  Thx buddy!  

Moleskin:
I left the AO feeling grateful to be a part of this brotherhood, grateful for another day of life and grateful to get through my VQ without completely embarrassing myself.  This F3 thing is truly special and I’m honored to be a part of it.  

Coupon