Tag: Circus Maximus

Godwin

  • KB Curling?!?!

    11 noble warriors came in at different points over the course of the workout, just ready for a jailbreak.  Here is how it went down:

    • COP
      • SSH
      • IW
      • Ukrainian soldiers
      • Helicopters
      • Arm circles
      • DMH
      • Merkins
      • LBC
      • Penguins
    • Lucky bus loop, sort of – just using the covered and non-icy bus drop-off zone to do 15 reps of an exercise, carry your KB to the other side and add another exercise with 15 reps
      • 135 lawnmower pulls, each arm
      • 120 high pulls
      • 105 curls
      • 90 tricep presses
      • 75 squats
      • 60 sit ‘n presses
      • 45 presses
      • 30 swings
      • 15 halos
    • Mary with a set of LBCs
    • COT with YHC taking us out

    There are limited spots to workout and remain safe.  There was also talk from Whitesnake of using our KBs to have a curling competition.  KBs slide on the ice, but inconsistent at best.  It was also interesting to see the various choices of dress, both outwear and boots/shoes.  All in all, grateful to have the PAX together.  Prayers of thanksgiving for getting us there and for safety in the days to come.  Kids are not going back to school anytime soon.

    T-claps to Mr. Rogers for brewing coffee. Suck that Starbucks that does not open!

    God is good all of the time!

    Attila

  • Gumbo with a Coffee Chaser

    15 kettlebell and/or hammer wielding studs poured into the CM parking lot knowing they not what they were in for entirely but knowing it was a first course of Gumbo followed by a coffee chaser. YHC has been reacquainting himself with his kettlebells and the confines of the Circus, and it was great to get back on the Q sheet there. More to come this year!

    Mosey – yes move swiftly without your bell – around the bus loop and back to the parking lot for COP, starting with 8 burpees for the 8 sets of knees covered up and not abiding by the SOP protocols. Other exercises included some stretches, some typical non-KB exercises and some questionable, unnamed KB exercises (possibly made up).

    THANG:

    Carry your weight to the bus terminal cover and partner up for a Triple Check (NOTE to Ronnie – YHC noticed in COP we had a perfect 15 so we hit the Triple Check first). Runner/Timer had a choice – either wall sit holding your weight for a 60-count or walk your weight, waiter carry style, to the end of the cover and back. Other PAX did sit and press and merkins – again merkins had a choice (I’m a benevolent Q) of offset merkins or merkin pull-throughs or mix and match…just get to work!

    Lindsay’s – in Jville’s honor we did Lindsay’s. 30 goblet squats and 10 swings, then carry any way you’d like across the parking lot to the flag, and do 25-15, then 20-20, then 15-25 and then, ouch, 10-30.

    Circle up for about 7 minutes of Mary finisher with some weighted flutters, boat and canoe, american hammers and shoulder taps, among others.

    Numbers, Names, Announcements, Prayers and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    • The Bridge is on and Pigskin has the Q and the clown car – this Saturday. Beat the snow and ice and get all 3 F’s in one morning.
    • Frozen Triangle 2/7. Get Ready

    YHC is thankful for all the various options of AOs and groups and workouts we have to choose from. Whether we decide to show up to swing some KBs, hit SCCC for an exclusive foursome, get up extra early for some ruck miles or to stand FirstWatch, hit a run AO or whatever the h___ WTH is, or just go to the closes bootcamp – we have options and variety and always welcoming faces and men ready to get after it and motivate each other (again in different ways). It is great to be able to do this and keep things interesting and keep the relationships building. Keep up the great work men. Get to a new or different AO, or like me, return to an AO you haven’t been to in a while and take the Q. Keep pushing!

    Thanks, Offshore, for the coffee. Good stuff my friend and great 2nd F. PS – Wegmans did have chicken and milk – phew!

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • We were able to feel each other’s bells

    17 PAX arrived in the windy confines of Mills Godwin HS ready to work on their physiques for pool season in just over 4 months. It was a relatively quiet and odor free crew.

    COP: DQs, 1 burpee OYO, Helicopters, 2 burpees OYO, Jazzercise – 3 burpees OYO, merkins – 4 burpees OYO, Freddies – 5 burpees OYO little bit of stretching. Head to bus loop

    Quadruple triple check with Squat Thrusters, chest press, curls for the ladies and the pacer runs to the end of bus loop does 1 burpee and then runs back. Stay in bus loop

    Death crawls for a couple hundred feet, lunge for a couple hundred feet, rifle carry and then halos each side. The halos got really tough (or my shoulders are week or both). mosey to nearby wall.

    Tried a new exercise which was wall sit, pass someone’s bell do two curls pass it to your buddy to the right. This took awhile and we were able to handle/touch everyone’s bell. Some bells were large and heavy, some not so much. You do the best you can with the bell that you have. Add in 10 donkey kicks. Go to side of school for Dora time.

    Dora: 50 burpees, 100 coupon American hammers, 150 coupon calf raises.

    Finished with a DMH for a minute.

    Bridge on 1/24 – talk to Pigskin if you are interested. If you have not been yet, please strongly consider attending. Good cause and a good time in one. Frozen triangle – 2/7 – see slack for details.

    Prayers for Fudd’s sister, Handshake’s niece, Gypsy’s father n’ law and all those who are suffering or recovering from the flu.

    Thanks for letting me lead!

    Fireman Ed

  • HIMs Who Brought Kettlebells and Questionable Judgment

    Warm-Up Shenanigans

    Either burpees are Mariner’s and Joey Chestnut’s favorite exercise, or Whitedeer chose the wrong morning to call Mariner “Sauce,” so we kicked things off with 10 burpees. Conveniently, Fudd arrived shortly thereafter to knock Whitedeer onto his whitetail.

    Warm-up continued with merkins, dead man hang, helicopters, LBCs, and a mosey around the bus loop. (This also marked the end of the early chatter, so apparently Joey and Mariner did something right.)

    The Beatdown

    Joey Chestnut led PAX on a short rifle carry to the covering at the bus loop where we broke down the man-maker:

    • Plank rows

    • Merkins

    • Squats

    • Overhead presses

    PAX started at 10 reps of each, followed by a mosey to the end of the covering and back, continuing down the ladder through 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. (This was typed out since Attila later claimed he couldn’t perform a 10-count… maybe he can read though.)

    Following completion of the man-makers, Mariner led PAX through Four Corners x2.

    Round 1:

    Lunge walk to each corner with 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 KB high pulls at each respective corner.

    Round 2:

    Rifle carry to each corner with 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 two-count American Hammers (KB).

    Finisher

    PAX returned to the parking lot via rifle carry led by Joey Chestnut, followed by in-cadence:

    • 25 KB flutter kicks

    • 25 LBCs

    • 20 KB sumo squats

    • 9 KB swings (Attila skipped the 10-count)

    • 10 Don Quixotes

    • Ended with a dead man hang

    COT Announcements/Prayer

    • The bridge 1/24
    • Joey’s hotdogs next Tuesday 1/13 (unfortunately Joey Chestnut has school and is unable to attend)
    • The Healing Place 10k training team starts 2/7 at 7:30
    • This was Joey’s and Mariner’s second QIC and second of the week, to those who went through either of these workouts congratulations you’ve been “Marinutted”

    Prayer

    • Grateful for this group of men bettering ourselves and each other. Prayers for Mr. Rogers’ mom, Seymour’s patient, UpChuck’s friend, and anyone else in need of healing or extra strength. Encouraged PAX to take this positive energy, connection, and community beyond the AO—it could make a difference in someone’s day.

  • First Workout of the New Year

    4 Circus regulars and a man known on the streets as Gumbo showed up 5.5 hrs after the ball drop to show 2026 what’s up.

    With much mumble chatter scattered between, the Pax went through 7 rounds of overhead presses, high pulls, curls for the cougars, swings, sumo squats, sit ‘n’ press and American hammers. We did 21 of each, then 18, 15, 12, 9, 6 & 3 – with a lap run between each round.

    I learned a lot about Gumbo today. His mother is of Spanish descent, he grew up in Louisiana, his father started Q94 and as a former regular of Circus, he plans to return with a classic KB Lindsay that he’s dropped on the CM clowns before. Great having you today Gumbo and good to get to know you better.

    We wrapped things up with 10 overhead curb pulls, 15 Flutters with chest press (IC) and ended w/ a 60 second leg hold. Recover. Well done men.

    Numbers and names.

    Announcements:

    0700 Convergence today. Of course these 4 beasts that joined me today promptly left CM for Dog Pile’s NYD Convergence and doubled dipped.

    Dry January is upon us. It’s not too late. Jump on this train – you won’t regret it.

    Salt Lick is the only bad ass I know that’s already knocking out burpees for MABA (Make America Burpee Again, 100 burpees a day for all of Jan). He’s done it 3 years in a row. So far he’s moving forward solo this year. Don’t leave him hangin’. Who’s with him?

    The Bridge needs a Jan Q.

    Breaking Bread – you know the deal – sign up!

    Happy 15th B-Day F3. I’m deeply grateful for you.

    YHC took us out. Prayers for a fantastic new year. May God lead all of us men, day by day into 2026, to grow ever closer to the men we were designed by God to be. As Fudd recently reminded me (thx Fudd, I needed it) there are plenty of service opportunities around. Pick one and do it. There are lots of problems in the world to solve. What is your part to do? You can’t solve all of them, but you have been designed by God with certain strengths. Put them to use and make your small corner of the universe a little better. I mean, think about it, a couple of dudes showed up in a park to work out together on 1/1/2011 and 15 years later look at where this amazing thing called F3 is. You never know how your actions will ripple out, for good or for bad. Leave the results up to God, but you are responsible for the actions. Let’s go make 2026 all it can be, one day at a time.

  • Merry Christmas

    Thirteen KB warriors greeted the gloom of Christmas morning at Circus Maximus.  Here is how it went down:

    • COP
      • SSH
      • Ukrainian soldiers
      • IW
      • Helicopters
      • Arm circles
      • DMH
      • Merkins
      • LBC
      • Penguins
    • KB 12 days of Christmas (had to combine the last 2 rounds due to time)
      • 12 lawn mower pulls (each arm) – 132 total
      • 11 overhead pulls – 110 total
      • 10 sit ‘n presses – 90 total
      • 9 curls – 72 total
      • 8 high pulls – 56 total
      • 7 KB swings – 42 total
      • 6 2x KB FK – 30 total
      • 5 squat thrusters – 20 total
      • 4 2x KB hammer – 12 total
      • 3 halos – 6 total
      • 2 figure 8’s
      • 1 run of the bus loop
    • COT with YHC taking us out

    A PAX of 13 for Christmas and 2nd F, which included 2 teenagers.   No AO has more momentum than Circus.  Plus One started with the cannonball, but thankfully bailed after 3 rounds.  Great way to start Christmas!

    Prayers up for those sick, dealing with addiction and job loss. 

    God is good all of the time!  A savior is born!

    Attila

  • We had a Festivus miracle!

    Eighteen volunteers for the Human Fund (money for people), met in the back of Godwin for a kettlebell workout. After setting up the the pole that requires no decoration (I find tinsel distracting) we did some warmups.

    After that we did the airing of grievances. We went around the circle to do 20 reps of whatever exercise each pax declared they did not appreciate. I got a lot of problems with this exercise and now you’re gonna hear about it! We did some terrible ones including waiter carry squats, teapots, WWIII’s that involved a sit and press and a regular press, some weird double squat thing, kettle bell swings where you stopped and then did it again, pull throughs, and death crawls. It was chaos. 16 exercises with 20 reps, one run around the loop and a waiter carry walk later, the grievances were complete.

    So far this new holiday was scratching me right where I itch!

    Partner up for some odds and evens. Explaining this was tough last year but I was prepared for the tinsel-like questions this go around. I did a quick tutorial, yelled my displeasure, and then ignored the mumble chatter. Some people learned how to count up to 4 for the first time, some were still confused, but most understood how to do it. Best 2 out of 3: losers ran the parking lot and did 5 burpees, winners did curls. Three rounds.

    Now it was time for the feats of strength. We split into two groups based on who was odds and who was evens from the prior exercise. Odds went first: duckwalk on the grass area with hands behind the back. Goal: knock over your opponent or push them out of bounds, you fall down or go out of bounds and you are out. Round one winner: Handshake. Evens were up and Pinto outlasted the rest of the pax. Handshake vs Pinto for the championship and before the rest of the pax could circle them, Handshake was down. Handshake ended up crying. Pinto is this year’s winner! I made a donation to the Human Fund in his name. He even got a certificate as proof!

    It was time for a little Mary, numbers and names. Then coffee with some chocolate Babka as our meal.

    The last and most important part of Festivus is observing a Festivus miracle and we had one this morning. We never had a moment where Attila’s gas caused the circle to break up! Festivus cured Attila’s stinky anus for one morning. It’s a Festivus miracle!!!

    Thanks for letting me lead. I hope you found my belief system fascinating.

  • Pre-Festivus

    Twas the week before Festivus, and you know what?

    There were 21 hombres, in the parking lot.

    Soon we would be, the coffee a drinking,

    And in anticipation, I had been thinking.

    We were short on grievances, so to Google I went.

    To find more Kettlebell exercises, was my intent.

    We began with the Issuance of the standard disclaimer:

    • I am not a professional.
    • Feel free to modify.
    • Push yourself but don’t hurt yourself.
    • You vs You
    • Don’t leave here with more injuries than you came with. 

    Warmup:

    • 20 SSHs
    • 20 IWs
    • 20 Ukrainian Soldiers
    • 10 Don Quixote
    • Stretch: Right foot, Right Hand
    • Stretch: Left foot, Left hand

    Mosey to the closest end of covered walkway: Divide up into 8 groups beside each of 7 printed out exercises laid down in a line parallel to the road plus one place in front of the first printed out exercise. Everyone advances to the next station when the timer returns to the beginning of the line.

    • Timer rifle carries or waiter carries KB to orange cone and returns to the beginning of the line of exercises
    • Thruster
    • Snatch
    • KB Clean, Squat and Press
    • Clean and Press
    • Skull Crushes
    • KB Goblet March
    • Goblet Clean

    Run around Circus Maximus:

    Turn over printed out exercises to reveal exercise on back. Repeat groups.

    • Timer rifle carries KB to end of covered walkway
    • KB Swing Changing Hands
    • KB Push Press
    • Overhead Squat
    • KB Single Arm Deadlift
    • KB Good Morning
    • KB Goblet Thruster
    • Clean

    Run around Circus Maximus:

    Ring of Fire: Your favorite KB exercise: I started with 15 Triceps.

    • Each person calls an exercise for the group.

    We got all the way around the group and went back to the flag for the following in cadence

    • 20 KB Swings
    • 20 KB overhead presses
    • 20 KB pullovers
    • 60 count 4-inch leg lift

    Announcements

    • December 20: Pinto’s Party
    • December 25: Circus Maximus 5:30
    • December 27: Fireman Ed’s end of cancer treatment party
    • December 27:The Bridge: contact Kubota

    Prayer’s Request

    • Gypsy’s Stepfather: Chemo
    • Banjo: check on him, cheer him up
    • Mr. Ed in Denver, death of dad and stepmom, tough holiday season
    • Pax members looking for jobs

    COT

    The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. Epictetus

    You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:17

  • Flatulent Flutters

    19 PAX said I am not fartsacking on this cold morning and pursued a more sculpted body for the holiday. While they did not fartsack, they sure did their best to create warmth for others.

    COP: DQs, Helicopters, jazzercise, arm circles, merkins, Freddy Mercuries. Mosey to bus loop.

    Triple check with run to end of bus loop and back (gotta do some cardio), coupon squats and curls for the ladies. Mosey to curb.

    20s which are lawnmowers and swings need to equal 20. Did a bunch of sets with a run around the loop in the middle. Mosey to courtyard which is 30 feet away.

    Triple check with rifle carry around the courtyard, coupon flutters and pole smokers. This generated a symphony of hot air; the temperature is certain spots was 5 degrees warmer. This group is pretty skilled at this “art” but today seemed more frequent and at times more potent.

    Lunge back to home base. 30 bench presses and some stretching, numberama.

    Prayers for a family member of Gypsy’s named Kelly who is starting treatment for prostate cancer. Speaking of treatment I finish mine in two weeks and will be in remission.

    Pinto is having an F3 party on 12/20 (as Pinto for more details. It is at his house, starts at 5 and goes into late in the PM). I am having a gathering at my house on 12/27 to celebrate remission. More details forthcoming. Kubota is heading up the Bridge on 12/27; let him know if you are interested. Breaking bread needs someone for Sunday 12/28. Lots happening my friends.

    Thanks for letting me lead!

    FIreman Ed

  • Trail of Divots

    Eighteen KB warrior assembled for a weighted journey today at Circus Maximus.  Here is how it went down:

    • COP
      • SSH
      • Ukrainian soldiers
      • IW
      • Helicopters
      • Arm circles
      • DMH
      • Merkins
      • LBC
      • APD
    • KB carry to the band/practice fields for a KB beast:
      • Rifle carry & sit ‘n presses
      • RH waiters carry & high pulls
      • LH waiters carry & curls
      • Death crawls & overhead presses
      • Lunge walks & tricep presses
      • Back carries & lawnmower pulls (each arm)
    • Jog the field
    • KB carry back to the flag for COT with YHC taking us out

    Great to see some familiar faces back at Circus Maximus today and solid work all around.  Mumble-chatter was intense for COP, but it dissipated as the workout progressed.  The biggest challenge of the KB beast is being under weight for so long.  Plenty of divots were left on the turf as KBs were dropped in fatigue. 

    Convergence next week at Mary for Thanksgiving.  Workout starts at 0700. 

    Prayers up for those dealing with sickness/injuries, job searches and family member next week.  God is good all of the time!  Lots to be thankful for.

    Attila