Tag: The FORGE

At 5:30 am Huguenot High School welcomed an eclectic mix of Forge regulars, visitors, and a special lady smoking the chronic in her car. The stage was set for an epic beatdown that was sure to be enjoyed by all.

Mosey to the lower circle for warmups that included the following: Don Quixotes, helicopters, cherry pickers, dead man hang, Russian Soldiers, LBC’s, hand release merkins.

Exercise 1:
Using the lower parking area that is divided into 3 sections:
Broad Jump Burpees, Broad Jumps, Broad Jump Burpees.
Turn around and complete: Plank walk, crab walk, plank walk.

A late arriving Hardywood infused the group with energy and propelled us to the finish line.

Exercise Two: At the base of lower grass hill: Bear Crawl up the hill, reverse bear crawl down. Repeat x 5.

Exercise 3:

Mosey to the big hill and partner up. Partner one does a suicide style run using 3 no parking signs as the turnaround points. Other partner does WWII sit ups.

Audibled to 2 parking signs for the second and third set. Partners alternated between running and doing flutter kicks then hello dollies.

Exercise 4: At the school: Rotate between Tooth Fairies, 20 count chicken peckers, 20 count dips until time was called. Back to the flag!

Names/Numbers

Announcements: Celebrate dry January by getting your drink on at Kindred Spirits in February. See Slack for details.

Greenbow took us out. Specific prayers for Last Call’s MIL and all those battling COVID.

Final Thoughts:

It was great to have Fin stop by this morning. He is part of F3 in Greenville, NC and was in town for a couple days for a swim meet.

Also happy that Greenbow’s comeback tour reached our neck of the woods.

Glad we got this workout in despite all of the uptick in COVID cases. Stay safe out there!

There’s a lot to love about being outside early in the morning: the crisp cold air and the crunching of the frost beneath our feet can be magical at times. But there is no better treat than running through a cloud of ganja smoke in route to the warm-up circle.

It was an honor to lead!

Eight mighty men looked into the eye of mortality, and chose the hard way. While 27 degrees in the gloom would normally evict the cheer of men, these hearty souls radiated 70 and sunny, rays of light and love piercing the darkness. What follows outlines a reasonable method for submitting the flesh to supernatural remediation, a proven tactic for seizing the day:

The THANG:

COP #1:

• Short mosey down the parking lot and circle up (keeping close for possible FNG’s)
• Welcome & F3 Disclaimer
• Rapid fire variable Warmerama IC

Mosey down and back a couple parking lanes, with variable caraoke, high knees, butt kickers, and closing with an uphill sprint to the school wall. Complete x10 reps of “Hoedowns” (seated in people’s chair, slap ankles then wall above head IC), then x10 Hip Slappers IC in BTTW position. 

COP #2:

• Mosey down to Handicap Rails
• Partner up to complete x3 sets of:
• x10 Jerkins each
• x10 Cliffhanger Merkins each
• x10 Dips each
• Lt Dans OYO for the SIX

COP #3:

• Mosey up to 2nd Lot Grassy Hill
• TRIPLE NICKLE:
• x5 Burpees at the Bottom
• Bearcrawl to the top
• x5 Heels-to-Heaven
• Run back down
• x5 Rounds total 

COP #4:

• Mosey to Amphitheater for a DORA:
• Moving partner performs the TOOTH FAIRY up the stairs then Crab Walk down amphitheater steps back to partner performing:
• x100 WWII
• x200 Squats
• x300 SSH’s

Mosey BTTF for a few remaining minutes of stretching and Mary.

COT:

• Counterama # 8
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Comments)
• YHC took us out in Prayer

NMS:

• The first Forge of 2021 followed in the path of expected Forge excellent and was well attended – special appreciation to Hardywood making the long track from God’s country, Draper accepting the headlock, and thanks to Fresh Prince to break from his all-night Call of Duty vigil, to give us an even 8 PAX, perfect for the planned partner routines. The rest of you were equally appreciated and special. The highlight of the morning (at least for YHC) was being entertained by a barrage of Hardywood’s repertoire of jokes. Ask him sometime about the Pickle Slicer – good stuff. Thanks for permitting me to lead gentlemen – let us decide to make EVERY DAY count. Get out there today and stealthily serve someone’s needs without being asked or expecting anything in return. SYITG, YHC, DTH

Two superheroes and a boat anchor successfully alluded the fart sack, but bore witness to the absolute murder of cadence and numbers in general. So according to Arnold’s goldfish Gilbert, it went a little something like this:

The THANG:

COP #1:

Mosey to the top of Mount Forge
Welcome & F3 Disclaimer
To warm up we pulled a Chappy (except not as hard): run down to the ticket booth, stopping at each parking lot to perform warm ups: 3x 5’s and 10’s, DQ’s, helicopters, imperial walkers, scorpion kicks.

Staying in the final parking lot for :
Round 1: ThunderCats (cat crawl on a parking lot line)
Round 2: 20 hydraulic planks
Round 3: 20 Jerkins

COP #2:

Back to the top of the mount, making stops at each parking lot for:

25 LBC’s or WWII’s
50 V-up’s
75 American Hammers

COP #3:

Mosey to the commons area for a box jumping Triple Check:

P1 (timer) box jumps then runs around the Amplitheater
P2 does Freddie Mercury’s
P3 does Donkey Kicks

25 Copperhead Squats and 3 SOJ Squats

COP #4:

Back to the flag for a Hot Potato: Ring of fire
(Person randomly calls out an exercise and count, while the packs does invisible jump ropes.)

COT:

Number-rama #
Namerama
Announcerama (see Comments)
YHC read a poem: (see the video at the top)
We each talked about what we learned from 2020.
YHC read another poem:

How Did You Die?
by: Edmund Vance Cooke

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what’s that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It’s nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there — that’s disgrace.
The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts,
It’s how did you fight — and why?
And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he’s slow or spry,
It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts,
But only how

Prayer Requests:

Pray for my parents who have COVID-19.

Comments:

YHC seemed to have had quite a bit of difficulty counting today, and I thank DTH and Fresh Prince for their patience.

I was asked the question: if liberty and optimism could coexist, and I say yes more strongly than Meg Ryan did in “When Harry Met Sally!” It started with a comment from Flatline, which led to a text to Hardywood, which led to an encounter and run with TYA, which led to running with Hardywood, which led back to TYA and Swirly bringing me to the point where I can catch a glimpse of my full potential — liberating me from the sad clown and presenting me with the gift of a more positive future. All I ever had to do was reach out and accept it. My life is living proof that liberty and optimism can coexist!

As my 45th birthday approaches, for the first time in over a decade, I am off cholesterol medication. My pants size went from a size 42 to a size 38. I am happier than I have ever been, because I know that I am not alone. It was important for me to end this year by saying thanks, and I want to say it to all of you! You all have made a difference in my life, and I look forward to going bigger with you in 2021! Happy New Year!

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

The gloom was a little extra glooming this Christmas Eve. Six brave souls stood to preemptively burn the calories to be consumed on Christmas Day. Starting with a quick warm-up run and some stretches, the switch was flipped and the real fun began. While one partner ran two laps around the parking lot, the other partner completed 10 inverted merkins, 15 merkins, and 20 air squats. This circuit was completed three times. Next, the Pax ran down to the bottom, completed a three minute plank and then prepared to take on the next task. Using the light posts along the route, the Pax completed four suicide sprints, completing 10 additional merkins for each additional light post they reached and completing 15 WWIIs each time they reached the baseline. The pax then sprinted to the top of the hill where they finished the morning strong with several sets of bear crawls and other additional ab exercises.

It was an honor to be able to Q while home on leave. Keep pushing, make yourself and those around you better, and be there for one another. These are the things I love about F3, its one big family.

The bad boys of Bon Air gathered in the gloom to rock out for a workout. DTH pumped the Classic Rock tunes and the PAX kept warm head banging to the following beatdown:

The THANG:

COP #1:

• Short mosey to end of lot and circle up
• Welcome & F3 Disclaimer
• 4×4 Musical Warmerama
• Variable DTH Mary, all IC

Long mosey around perimeter to back of school, periodically stopping for mini-COP sets of Carousel Planks, Sprints, and Curb Calf Raises.

COP #2:

• Mosey to Amphitheater
• Partner up for Dora 1-2-3:
• x100 Derkins
• x200 Donkey Kicks
• x300 Dolly’s
• Moving partner box jumps each step, stopping to hump x5 monkeys at each landing, returning via steps

COP #3:

• Mosey back to top of Mt Chaplain
• Descend together, stopping each landing for x10 Merkins IC
• Ascend, x10 Squats IC ea landing
• Decend, x10 WWII’s ea landing
• Ascend, x10 CDD’s

Mosey BTTF for COT:

• Counterama # 5
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Comments)
• YHC took us out in Prayer

NMS:

• A slightly less cold/wet morning greeted the Forge Pax, but YHC kept the pace moving for every one of the sacred 45minutes and generally stuck to the hardtop. The OYO warmup 4×4’s to the beat of classic rock felt definitely got the blood and spirits moving. Good mumble chatter today and a solid effort on all the exercises. Quads and shoulders definitely got a decent whooping. SYITG, YHC, DTH

4 Sharp Dressed Men and 1 furry companion emerged from the warmth to battle the frozen conditions of The Forge to make themselves better men. The cold was bitter but the comradery and conversation was hot. This is how things went down

Party of 3 (and Cooper) took the slow Mosey around the bus loop looking for any late arrivals and to warm the bones ending at the flag poles for Warmarama.

COP 1 included SSH’s, Helicopters, Deadman Hang, 1 legged merkins, Arm Circles. Limbs toasty, lets mosey

Mosey to the middle parking lot for Lindsay of Hand Release Merkins and WWII’s. Audible was called after 2nd round to Merkins after mumble chatter from PAX. YHC was happy to oblige. Fresh Prince joined in making a quartet. Al Gore for the 6.

Mosey down the stairs for AMRAP circle with blocks. 7 stations set up including chest press with block, squats with block, rows with block, shoulder press with block, peoples chair & dips. Timer was the lap around lower parking lot. 3 sets of each exercise with additional running as required.

PAX carried blocks back to the pile followed by a sprint BTTF.

Numbers, Names & Announcements. YHC took us out.

NMS: Cold morning the culprit in reduced numbers but the faithful arrived. HR Merkins are brutal after 10. DTH commented Merkin Challenge was over and YHC happily audibled to avoid a mutiny. Great block work and conversation during the AMRAP. Fresh Prince reminisced on IronPax Wheel of Despair Challenge. Snuff and YHC still recovering form Murder Bunnies. Appreciate the help in bringing the blocks back to the pile.

Not in the Holiday Spirit? Rosie’s 12 Days of Christmas at No Toll on Tuesday will put you in the Jingle Mood.

HDHH – Wednesday at Hardywood West Creek – Check Slack for details.

“A society that puts equality—in the sense of equality of outcome—ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom. The use of force to achieve equality will destroy freedom, and the force, introduced for good purposes, will end up in the hands of people who use it to promote their own interests.”

“The most harm of all is done when power is in the hands of people who are absolutely persuaded of the purity of their intentions.“

–Milton Friedman

11 warriors answered the call of duty without force or coercion, driven by their own self interest to improve the quality of their lives and support those who voluntarily answered the same call. According to legend, it went a little something like this.

Mosey to parking lot for a little COP

SSH, DQ, Lunges, WWII, Merkins X 20 IC

BASICS

Mosey to the bottom of the hill to gently gaze upon 4 light posts between the bottom and top. Perform exercises at each light post, wait for pax at the top after the completion of each round.

Round 1 – 25 Merkins at each post

Round 2 – 10 Burpees at each post

Round 3 – 5 decline merkins, bear crawl, 5 incline merkins, crawl bear, 5 more decline merkins at each post.

Mosey to school for some Triple Check

TRIPLE CHECK

Find your two besties to complete the trifecta and complete the following exercises for a triple check: American Arm Circles, Donkey Kicks, run down the stairs to the ticket booth and hoof it back up the stairs.

Mosey back to the flag for 5 Minutes of Mary

Start it off with a little Burpee Shuffle (each pax pics 1, 2 or 3 burpees) and wrap it up with American Hammers and LBC in cadence.

Namerama, numberama and Doozy took us out.

News: YHC may have tuned out a bit from oxygen deprivation and seeing Bone Thug twerk, but pretty sure that the them at Dogpile this weekend is Gidget or Hawaii 5-0 or something like that. Think you are supposed to wear a hula skirt and a mullet. Perhaps there is a dolphin involved, no one really knows.

Prayer requests for Fresh Princes’ family as he has a few family members dealing with some health challenges. Here’s to good health and a speedy recovery.

Mole-freaking-skin

Ohhhhh baby. YHC wanted to get in a workout very bad and did not realize that what was needed was a good Q. Kudos to DTH for the kind suggestion last night.

YHC is wildly disillusioned with the crap on TV and social media. Even If we are all honest with ourselves, it’s mostly mental Doritios. Some times you crave it and you promise you’ll have just a little, then the next thing you know you’ve consumed way more that you had intended and you feel like crap.

To do a little continuing education, I revisited the timeless works of Milton Friedman. He was a Nobel prize winning economist in the 1970s who spoke so simply about the power of personal freedom and individual liberty to improve the quality of peoples lives. It’s a refreshing counter narrative to the constant patronizing by well intentioned people dead set on improving the world by forcing others do think, believe and act as they do. Even the most noble of intentions are bound to end in brutality if they require coercion to be fulfilled.

I was able to find a few of his old lectures on the interwebs and his talks reminded me so very much of this wonderful group. There’s no force or coercion to get you to show up at 0 Dark Thirty. We’ve created an environment in which you can voluntarily choose to improve the quality of your life at your own pace. The common thread isn’t that we are all equal in our abilities or backgrounds. It’s that we’ve decided that in order to improve the world, we first had to improve ourselves. We decided that is was nobodys job but our own.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Dig a little deeper, get it all out and be super.

Your pal,

Hardywood

6 high flying hoop aficionados ignored the 28 degree temperatures and embraced a basketball themed beatdown. According to the PAX, the NBA draft was last night, so it all tied together nicely.

Cold, quiet mosey to the lower circle as our bodies adjusted to the weather.
Warm up:
Don Quixotes, Cherry Pickers, Dead Man Hang, Russian Soldiers, LBC’s, Alabama Prom Dates .

Exercise One: PAX count off. One man dribbles out 5 light poles, right handed out, left handed back. All others do exercises together for the duration. Rotate dribblers each time. The following exercises were completed:
Jump Squats, Hand Release Merkins, Hold Plank, Lunges, Bear Crawl, Side LBC’s, Calf Raises, Copperhead Squats, Plank Jacks, Flutter Kicks, Ball Dippers.

Exercise Two: Indigenous Peoples Run to the front of the school. Man in the back dribbles while weaving through the PAX, then passes to the back of the line.

Exercise Three: Form a circle and complete WWII sit-ups while passing the ball back and forth. We stopped when the first person got to 50. Luckily Fresh Prince burned through them.

Exercise Four: Elevens. Up and down the grass hill completing Merkins and Hello Dolly’s.

Mosey back to the flag. Circle up and complete one minute of jump squats while passing the ball around.

Numbers/Names

Announcements: See Slack for details on Thanksgiving and Black Friday events.

Prayers for those impacted by COVID.

YHC took us out.

3 puddle jumpers ignored the hysterical weather forecast to find a perfect morning. 66 degrees, periodic drizzle, and a slight crosswind of tsk tsk for those who were not able to join us. To be fair, water from the sky can be terrifying.

Warmups: side straddle hops, Don Quixotes, cherry pickers, imperial copperhead squats, copperhead merkins, etc etc.

Triple check: tooth fairies up the stairs, jerkins on the bar and some wet concrete flutter kicks.

Fire on the mountain: climbing Mt. Chaplain with lunges across the flat parts.

Triple check: run the loop, flagpole smokers, elbow plank hold.

11s on the lightposts: Merkins and jungle boi squats.

Circle up for some special stretching to find muscles not currently known to the scientific community.

Prayers for the the strength, the patience and the wisdom to navigate the decisions we make each day – and gratitude for all the brothers, both wet and dry, who hold us accountable.

An even eight honorable HIM’s escaped the fartsack to give the Forge something to remember. Wearing nothing but a Guy Fawkes mask and his M’s black neglige, Dr Tryhard led the rebellious colonials into treasonous history – as follows:

The THANG:

COP #1:

• Mosey to Culdesac
• Welcome & F3 Disclaimer
• SSH, DQ, CSquats, RSoldiers, Merkins, DRW, The Kim Special

COP #2:

• Mosey from Culdesac back up around school front via TRAVELING ELEVENS: 
• Stop at every light pole alternating Groiners (1-10) and Heels-2-Heaven (10-1)

COP #3:

• Mosey to the Amphitheater 
• TRIPLE NICKEL: 
• x5 Decline Merkins
• Box Jump up
• x5 Dips
• Jump back down
• Complete x3 Rounds

COP #4:

• Mosey to school front loop
• BEARMUDA TRIANGLE:
• Bearcrawl between three corners
• 1st Round – x11 WWII ea corner
• Plank for the SIX then Hold Plank x1 minute
• 2nd Round – x5 Burpees ea corner
• Flutter Kicks for the SIX then Variable Protractor
• 3rd Round – x20 Squats ea corner
• Lunges to close

COP #5:

• MOUNT CHAPLAIN: Run top to bottom, completing x5 Merkins ea hardtop traversed, then reverso return to knoll top, completing dealers choice Mary for the SIX

Mosey BTTF for Final COP:

• PUSHERAMA DRILL: High knees, drop on command to complete x5 specialty merkins:
• x5 Drivebombers
• x5 Chuck Norris
• x5 Werkins
• x5 Ranger
• x5 Staggered Left
• x5 Staggered Right
• HOLD DEEP HELIX x1 MIN

COT:

• Counterama # 8
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Comments)
• YHC took us out in Prayer

NMS:

• In celebration of the Guy Fawkes Nov 5th holiday, the PAX performed a lot of 5’s and 11’s. For those counting, it also appears we completed 135 merkins. Missing the animated wit of both Bone Thugs and Hardywood, it was a quieter PAX focused on achieving F3 greatness. BUT, YHC was personally uplifted by the presence of SPIT, traveling DAYS to reach our beloved domain to check off the Forge as he nears completion of ALL AO’s within a month! (Or something like that) YHC mused about the meaning of the Guy Fawkes history and where Americans have stood as rebels in the history books while now faced with our own terrorists and rebellions in many forms. We closed in prayer for our country – may we grow stronger together through this tough season instead of being torn apart by divisions. May we as F3 HIM’s be a light of reconciliation, setting the example in selfless acts of love. Thx for permitting me to lead brothers. SYITG, YHC, DTH