“R” as in Arms

Disclaimer and Warmup:
Warm up lap around the parking lot with some dynamic stretching – Tip Toe, Heel Walk, Alternate Leg & Arm kick, Side-step hip flex squats
– Double Merkin Burpees x 10 (single count)
– IW x 15 IC
– Prisoner Squats x15 IC
** Enter Burner & FNG, fashionably late. Disclaimer was abbreviated and provided once more
– Hillbillies x 15 IC
– High Knees x 15 IC
– Butt Kickers x 15 IC
– Good Morning Abby x 10 (single count); these were well-liked!
The Thang:
Worked through a new acronym to the Chattanooga PAX. Homegrown here at the Dreadmill on account of YHC missing his 4 alarms for the scheduled Tuesday workout earlier in the week. My loss was the PAX’s gain. So, with that said, YHC gives you the A-L-A-R-M (Arm, Leg, Abs, ‘R’ Exercise, ‘M’ Exercise)
ALARM 1:
– Shoulder Press x 10 (single count)
– Lunge x 10 IC
– LBC x 10 IC
– Run to “Room with a view”
– Merkin x 10 (IC)
ALARM 2:
– Shoulder Taps x 15 IC
– Squat Jumps x 15 (single count)
– Peter Parkers x 15 IC
– Monkey Humpers x 10 IC
– Makhtar N’Diayes x 15 IC
ALARM 3:
– Burpees x 10 (single count)
– Jump Squat Punch x ?? (struggled with the cadence/count on this Pinterest find…); may never want to try this one again
– Mountain Climbers x 12 IC
– Run to boat ramp
– Pattycake Merkins x 10 (single count)
*Grab rip rap rock and circle-up again for final ALARM
ALARM 4:
– Carolina Dry Docks x 10 IC
– One-legged squat x 15 (single count) – holding Rock overhead
– Knee-ups/V-Sits x 12 (single count)
– Overhead Press w/ Rock x 12 (single count)
– Mike Tysons x 10 (single count)
Circle up with rocks and complete the three following exercises in cadence and without stopping:
– Curl from waist to mid-section x 15 IC
– Curl from mid-section to chest x 15 IC
– Full curl x 10 IC
Set rock down
– Move to the rock to your right and repeat the above, but each exercise x 10 IC
– Move to the rock directly across and repeat the above, but each exercise x 5 IC
Mosey back to shovel flag
Perform Wall of Fire:
All pax line up on a wall, do a wall sit while waiting for 1 of the pax to complete the 3 following exercises:
– Pull Ups x 5
– Merkins x 10
– Squat x 15
Mosey to sunny, grassy place for plank-o-rama:
– 45 second elbow plank
– Moon Gods x 5 (right side)
– Moon Gods x 5 (left side)
– 30 second elbow plank
– Moon Gods x 5 (right side)
– Moon Gods x 5 (left side)
– 15 second elbow plank
– Moon Gods x 5 (right side)
– Moon Gods x 5 (left side)
Ab-o-Rama:
– Leg Lifts x 20 (single count)
– Hello Dolly x 15 IC
– Heel Taps x 12 IC
– Speed LBC x 35 IC
– Freddie Mercuries x 12 IC
Audible to Gus for final ab exercise with less than 30 seconds remaining
Lazy Boy until time ran out
COT:
Laces Out son, Steam Engine travels, Burner’s friend
BOM:
Choices and decisions shape our lives, large and small. Trust in your relationship with our Savior and trust the direction that relationship affords you. As men, control isn’t an easy thing to relinquish. Good things come from letting Him take the wheel.

“Is Everybody Wearing Running Shoes?”

As a general rule, YHC does not like to surprise the PAX with exercises for which they might not be prepared or equipped. But as is the case for all general rules, there are exceptions. Driving to the Hill City AO, I was feeling froggy and knew it might be time for an Omaha. When I pulled up to see three steely-eyed veterans waiting on me, the Weinke stayed in the car.
Conditions: Cool and partly cloudy – 49°
Shovel Flag — Planted
Disclaimer — Delivered with enthusiasm
Warm-up: Knee-and-ankle rotation, which elicited some giggles from the PAX.
With our joints sufficiently lubricated, the PAX set off to execute the Merkin Mile. This took us to roughly the halfway point of the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge.
Front lunges / Side lunges / Power skips to the end of the Bridge, where the PAX executed an impromptu 6MOM on the southern shore of the Tennessee River
Three-block loop around some overpriced condos, then up a hill back to the Bridge
Power walk headed due north toward the AO while banging out a Ratchet Shoulder Blaster (for the ladies) / Run to end of the Bridge
Powered through some squats IC on the street corner, then returned to the Shovel Flag
With approximately 8 minutes remaining, we broke out the CMU coupons to get a good burn.
Bent-over row
45° front press
Bench press
– Normal 20, narrow 20
– Normal 15, narrow 15
– Normal 10, narrow 10
– Normal 5, narrow 5
20 CMU merkins
Shoulder blaster to close
COT
Continued prayers for Steam Engine’s travels and the Laces Out’s son
BOM
I Am Third.
MOLESKIN
I am constantly encouraged by the men of F3 Chatt. Attitude and effort are always there. I’m not sure they enjoyed running 2.5 miles this morning, but sometimes they need a surprise.

The ROT

Conditions:  Clear Skies and Slightly chilly
Disclaimer

Gave the dislaimer on the run and welcomed to Alter Boy in town on business. Glad you could make it to Hill City.
Mosey to the Blue Rhino
The River Of Tears
This is an ode to the pax from North Augusta, SC where YHC first experienced The ROT. This is a bit of a modification but still sucks nonetheless. Begin workout at the first bench and proceed to repeat exercises at every bench along the river.
Exercises are as follows:
– Burpees x 10
– Step ups x 10 (one leg)
– Squats x 15
– Step ups x 10 (other leg)
– 20 Merkins
Repeat at every bench along the river front until time expires. If you make it to the end (about 15 benches) with time to spare, sprint back to the beginning and begin again. Each full lap = 1 token.
Pax report tokens earned at COT.
Mosey back to the Shovel Flag for quick aborama.
– American Hammer x 20
– Flutter Kicks x 20
– Box Cutters x 20
COT
BOM

The Great Bambinooooo

Conditions
60 Degrees and no rain
Welcome and Disclaimer
YHC welcomed an FNG and ran through the full disclaimer
The Thang
Six faithful pax mosey to the River in the dark
Stretch-o-rama / COP
Each stretch held for a 20 count to get the muscles loose, YHC mumbles something about yoga.
– Toe Touch
– Loose Hang
– Baseball stretch
– Quad Stretch
– Upward Reach
– Tricep
– Across Chest Arm Stretch
After much peace and tranquility observed by the river watching the sunrise, there was a whole lotta mumble of fear about the impending doom this must mean.
COP all excercises done IC
Focus on Legs
– Imperial Walkers x 20
– High Knees x 20
– Wide High Knees x 20
– SSH x 20
– Ass Kickers x 20
Focus on Arms (keep those arms up!)
– Merkins (4 count) x 20
– LAC x 20, forwards and backwards
– Chinooks x 20, 1 way
– Moroccan Night Club x 20
There was much mumble chatter after that shoulder busting warm up. Keep those arms up.
Mosey to the Top
We hit the swingset for a little Modified Wooleyworm. Grab a buddy.
1 Pax sets up for wooleyworm by placing feet in the swing and arms in plank position while holding the feet of the buddy who is in position for Big Boy Sit Ups, try to stay together. 20 Reps and swap. Rinse and Repeat One more time.
This had most pax mumbling.
Mosey to the Ball Fields

Pit Stop at the dug out for a quick wall sit. hold for 1 minute. Pax had some mumble going on trying to cut time short.
Proceed to the Diamond for something special.
The Great Bambino
After the Colossus of Clout  the Sultan of Swat this exercise gives every pax the opportunity to feel like the great bambino by rounding the bases.  This is a good opportunity for all pax to work hard to make the exercise as easy or difficult as they choose.
All pax congregate at homeplate in a single line and perform an exercise AMRAP while 1 pax at a time runs all the way around the diamond. Each runner returns to the end of the line and resumes the exercise. The pax are encouraged to run fast, because the faster they run the fewer reps they will have to perform. Or run slow and make it suck. Once each pax has run a lap they proceed to the next exercise. Exercises performed: Merkin AMRAP, LBC AMRAP, and Plankjacks AMRAP.
10 count from FNG. The pax were thankful this guy knew how to perform a solid 10 count.
Mosey to the Boat Ramp
Each pax grabs a rock and circles up near by. Gus instructed the pax about proper rock picking technique. After all rocks had been picked YHC instructed pax that they should be pick a rock they could part with because there will be a modified conveyor belt.
Rock BLOCK: 
Each pax holds there coupon and performs the exercise as instructed then passes it to the right. Exercises performed should spell out the word B-L-O-C-K. 
B – Bent over rows x 5
L – Lunges x 10
O – Overhead press x 15
C – Curles, Top Curl x 5 Bottom Curl x 5, Full Curl x 10
K – Kettle Bell Swing x 25
YHC handed over the reins to Gus to bring it home.
Indian Run
Indian Run to an undisclosed location. We proceeded until we reached near the entrance of the park when Gus called a Free Willy to the shovel flag. All pax proceeded to sprint and yell and spit and huff their way back to the shovel flag.
Countorama
Nameorama
Welcome to FNG Burner. Made it through with flying colors. We’re glad to have you and we look forward to seeing you back during the week.
BOM 
Laces out son is doing much better, Gus has had some great progress in the job environment, Angus is thankful to have the pax, and Burner’s friend has been having some health issues.
Proud to see this group of men work hard and continue to get better. We are continually pushing the rock up the hill and while it might not get any easier the view sure does improve.
Angus Out

A Big Leap for F3 Gear: MudGear Shirts to be Built in the USA

 

MudGear Built in the USA
 
MudGear is a company born from the F3 experience. In 2012, a FEBA-filled Malkovich and a small crew from F3 Charlotte Metro stepped up to take over F3 Gear ordering responsibilities from OBT, who had grown weary of handing out shirts from the back of his car.
The operation nearly failed to launch when the first print order under Malko’s watch arrived with a huge 7 inch F3 on the front. (These misprints have since become OG collector’s items.)
The team quickly recognized that gear sales would be an important part of the F3 growth strategy and began adding a few bucks to each shirt to fund operations. After a few successful orders, sharp legal minds advised that reselling shirts would require collecting and remitting NC sales tax to keep F3 out of trouble. Malko offered to set up a separate legal entity to manage the gear sales and remit a logo royalty to F3. He had always dreamed of starting a small business anyway, so Malko filed papers with the state and county and MudGear was born.
The first big leap for MudGear happened later that year. Still filled with exuberance and unhappy with the existing choices for fitted performance shirts, we decided we could manufacture our own version, specifically crafted to withstand the abuse of a mud run and the daily pounding of an F3 workout. After months of fabric testing and fit prototypes, “The Horse” in Charlotte helped to bring this to life with his industry background and production capabilities in India.
Sundancer in v1 MudGear
F3 Sundancer in vintage v1 MudGear
 
In Dec 2012, we launched our first web store that allowed PAX to make individual orders rather than collecting money, and we figured out a fulfillment system to ship orders to each customer instead of requiring a guy to tote shirts around to each workout.
The first F3 Gear Store circa Dec 2012
 
In 2013, MudGear moved all printing and embroidery for F3 Gear to Mooresville, NC where F3 Chief owns a full-service screen printing company. (Yes, we can definitely help you with shirts and gear for your non-F3 companies and groups!) Malko moved the entire inventory of F3 Gear in Rock Hopper’s 18 foot open trailer. There may still be a few F3 shirt boxes in the woods off the highway.
 
F3 Chief and Screenprinting
F3 Chief hard at work on the heat press and an F3 Crossroads logo screen
 
F3 Gear had become (and still is) the largest source of funds fueling F3 Expansion. We were blown away by the number of F3 logos and regional teams we were seeing at the Ultimate Challenge Mud Run convergence in Columbia. The photo that year underscored the growth and potential.
 
F3 takes over the Ultimate Challenge Mud Run
 
MudGear was growing in its own right as well. MudGear socks were designed and produced in Hickory, NC to combat the nasty gashes that our guys were suffering at the mud runs that year. The socks took off and soon the sales on the MudGear website started to outpace the F3 Gear sales. A MudGear Pro Team of professional Spartan Racers was launched and the social media buzz of MudGear on the race podiums fueled additional growth.
 
MudGear Pro Team
MudGear Pro Team Members Laura Lunardi, Brakken Kraker, and Robert Killian
 
Things were going great, but this is where we veered off course. We chose to follow the well-worn path of the sports apparel industry to Asia to learn how to make inexpensive gear for import. We navigated a production round of v2 MudGear shirts from China that arrived by boat smelling like gasoline. We had to unpackage and air-dry every shirt for a couple days to get the smell out. Continued communication problems and delays caused us to break ties with that factory and begin a new search for manufacturing closer to home.
 
We found the difference between working with Asian apparel manufacturers and US manufacturers to be striking. Chinese factories, especially government-owned ones, value full employment, so they have lots of manpower, including many account reps working to get and keep your business. It seems they will do and say anything to get your orders in the door then figure out how to make it work afterward by changing some small details you may not notice like um… sewing quality. American manufacturers, on the other hand, have been in survival mode for the last couple decades. The remaining ones are only in business because they have been ruthlessly efficient and extremely selective about who they’ll work with in order to not waste resources. Luckily, many of these survivors are here in North Carolina where the history of making quality apparel in the USA runs deep.
 
With our past order history and proven market of loyal F3 and MudGear customers, we were finally able to get the attention of two NC-based manufacturers and have reached an agreement to make the next round of MudGear shirts, boxer briefs and arm sleeves here in the USA. This will bring us to over 95% of all MudGear products being made domestically. We’re incredibly excited about the quality of the new prototypes and love having the production closer to home.
 
MudGear shirt development in USA
v3 MudGear shirts currently in development in North Carolina
 
What does this mean for F3 Gear?
We think this move is a long-term gain for F3 Gear with some short-term pain. We expect to run out of stock of several sizes of v2 MudGear shirts before the next version arrives. We are already out of stock of the MudGear boxer briefs and most sizes of the padded arm sleeves. We apologize for these delays and will have other brands of gear available for F3 shirt orders to fill the gap. Additionally, we’ve had to consolidate our fabric purchase to a single color dye lot which means we will be going back to all bad-ass black in MudGear shirts for most of this year. With continued growth, we hope to be able to pick up other colors of American made MudGear soon. Nothing else is changing at this time. Our high level of customer service for F3 PAX and expert F3 printing by Chief and crew all stay the same.
 
What does this mean for MudGear?
A high-quality US manufacturing partner is a huge deal for our growth. Better communication and faster turn times should help us build great gear that is responsive to the needs of our customers. The future is bright. After 4 years of plugging away, Malko has left his day job to pursue growing MudGear full time. MudGear was recently the Official Sock of the OCR World Championships in Ontario, Canada and we just announced several new sponsorship deals including becoming the Official Sock of Savage Race for 2017. We’re looking to push into specialty running stores and hybrid gyms this year as well. Our socks continue to pick up accolades and were voted the 2016 product of the year by Mud Run Guide.
 
Finally, with this milestone, I want to take the opportunity to again thank all of you in the F3 community for your support and patronage of the F3 Gear Store. Your support (and purchases!) have been incredibly meaningful and allowed us to fuel lots of F3 expansion activities. MudGear would never have been created without the power of F3 to reinvigorate dormant leadership abilities and foster the iron-sharpening of many brothers along the way. A huge FEBA to you all.
 
As always, you can reach us with any concerns or questions at support@mudgear.com.
 
Aye!
Malko
 
Shop F3 Gear

Rainy Bridge Run

Dynamic Stretch Routine:
– Tip Toes – walk ~10 yards and back
– Heel walk – walk ~10 yards and back
– Alternate Leg and Arm kicks  – walk ~10 yards and back
– Side-step hip flex squats – ~10 yards and back

Warmup:

– 20 SSH IC
– 10 slow temp squats IC
– 10 Merkins OYO
– 19 Imperial Walkers
– 30 second elbow plank, 15 second side plank, 15 second other side plank
The Thang:
Mosey to Bridge:
@ 1st bench
– 10 Incline Merkins OYO
– 10 Single leg step-back squats OYO x 2 (alternate legs)
Mosey to 2nd Bench (avoid dinosaur landmines):
– 10 Decline merkins
– 10 Single leg step-back squats OYO x 2 (alternate legs)
Finish mosey to other side of bridge:
@ Museum steps perform jacobs ladder:
1 burpee at bottom, run to top of steps and back
2 burpee at bottom, run to top of steps and back
…. finish at 7 burpees
Mosey back across bridge
@ 1st bench
– 15 Carolina Dry Docks OYO
– 15 Bench dips OYO
Mosey further along bridge…
@ 2nd bench
– 15 squats OYO
– 20 alternating lunge jumps OYO
Mosey even further…
@ 3rd bench
– 10 Incline merkins (Inclerkins?)
– 10 Decline merkins (Declerkins?)
Mosey back through Coolidge
– 15 more Carolina Dry Docks for good measure
Mosey back to Shovel Flag for the Mary:
– Bay City Scissors (8 count, flutter kicks 1-4 count, right over left, left over right 5-8 count) – x 10 total reps
– 20 American Hammer OYO
– 15 Pickle Pounders OYO
– 10 Peter Parker OYO
Repeat mary once more
Finish up last 90 seconds with some #RatchetShoulderBlaster
– 20 Thumbs up arm/shoulder raise OYO

– 20 Thumbs down arm/shoulder raise OYO

– 20 Overhead press OYO
– 20 Overhead cross OYO

COT

Turning Pain Into Purpose-The Final Wrap on the First Annual Operation Sweet Tooth Toy Drive

When my wife and I had the idea to create Operation Sweet Tooth to honor our daughter’s memory, we had no idea of how our initiative would be welcomed.  We are just a simple, mourning family, wanting to honor our daughter’s memory and do some good for other children, and their families while trying to find some healing during the process.  As Pastor Rusty of Camino Church said, “We are turning our pain into a life of purpose.”  When we enlisted the help of our brothers from F3 (f3nation.com) and sisters of FiA (FiAnation.com), the response and support was overwhelming.  Friends, strangers, co-workers and family were eager to help support, honor our daughter and have a positive impact on children within our local communities.  Receiving all the texts, tweets, emails and pictures of all the trunks filled with toys and gifts was just absolutely incredible to see.  Moreover, receiving the numerous thank you letters, hugs and condolences for our loss was equally impactful.  We cannot express our gratitude enough for everyone’s generosity and support and we are truly humbled and blessed that you played a significant role in making a difference.
During this time, we were invited to Christmas parties, asked to give speeches, guest workouts, helped deliver the donations to many of the institutions we supported and were honored for our strength and vision at a nearby Church.  This experience only fortified the belief that through our grief, we could muster up enough strength to help others in need.
Together, with all your help, Operation Sweet Tooth was able to collect over 2500 presents, personal items, clothes and gift cards.  In addition, we raised over $3000 dollars in cash donations to be used for future initiatives and projects in the upcoming year and beyond. $205 was graciously donated in the memory of David Lacivita. The foundation has been set and we welcome the opportunity to continue to provide hope and lift the spirits of those children who need it most.
The institutions we were able to help are listed below.  There may have been some we left out and if so, we do apologize.
Levine’s Children Hospital
Camino Church
The Children’s Attention Home
Boys and Girls Club
Birthday Blessings
Duke Hospital
UNC Hospital
Betty H Cameron Women and Children’s Hospital
Toys for Tots
McLeod Hospital
Ada Jenkins Center
Church of God Orphanage
Thompson Children Home
Sojouner Truth House
Lydia’s Loft
Alexander Youth Network
Individual Families
Nassau County Hospital
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Although 2016 was the worst year imaginable for us personally, losing our precious daughter, we do recognize that Operation Sweet Tooth has provided us with a small amount of comfort and peace.  We are excited to continue with our efforts in 2017.  Please continue to follow our website www.operationsweettooth.org, and social media to learn more about upcoming initiatives beginning in the Spring and how you can help make a difference.
*This write up is also available on the website under “Blog”.  Please visit and check it out as we have some of the pictures everyone shared with us during their respective toy drives.
 

PRE BLAST The F3 Darby Challenge Feb 1-28

Think you can run 565 miles #notanotherBRRx2?  What if you had a month #notovernight?  What if you could do it on a bike #gears?  Want to try and help those that have deployed more times in the past 15 years than any other unit #tipofthespear?  Then welcome to the F3 Darby Challenge.
 
The F3 Darby Challenge is F3 Nation’s contribution to Run Ranger Run, an event to be held this upcoming February (2017) throughout the country.  Run Ranger Run is GallantFew’s annual fundraiser, and it is the collective goal to raise as many funds as possible to do the work we do to transition veterans to civilian life and benefit the communities they live in.  Don’t care about history, purpose or why and just want to know how to participate just scroll to the bottom. #justsignmeup.
 
The History:
One of the GallantFew’s core programs is the Darby Project.  The Darby Project’s mission is “to facilitate a successful transition for Army Ranger veterans from active military service to a civilian life filled with hope and purpose.”  Rangers have been at the forefront of every major conflict since their advent in the Revolutionary War.  Major battles include:
 
Normandy – Rangers scale the cliffs at Point-Du-Hoc to eliminate German coastal guns that threaten the success of the Normandy invasion.
 
Philippines – The Great Raid.  6th Ranger Battalion infiltrates 30 miles behind Japanese lines to rescue 500 POWs sent to a prison camp after the Bataan Death March in 1941.
 
Vietnam – Rangers conduct deep reconnaissance missions, often without support, to seek and report on troop movements.
 
Battle of Mogadishu – Black Hawk Down.  Rangers, along with other special operations units, conduct a daylight raid that turns into the largest firefight since the Vietnam War.  At the end of the raid the following day, elements of the assault units are forced to exfil on foot an entire mile in full gear under fire, soon dubbed the Mogadishu Mile.
 
Objective Rhino – Rangers conduct a daring nighttime jump in the early days of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) to seize an airfield and destroy local al-Qaeda elements.
 
Haditha Dam – Rangers assault and secure the strategically important Haditha Dam (Iraq) and hold for 9 days while repelling multiple attacks from much larger, elite Iraqi
armored forces.
 
Since the events of September 11, 2001, the Ranger Regiment has deployed more than any other unit in the U.S. military, with some Rangers being down range for over 15 deployments.
 
The Purpose:
GallantFew’s mission is to prevent veteran isolation by connecting new veterans with hometown veteran mentors, thereby facilitating a peaceful, successful transition from military service to a civilian life filled with hope and purpose.
 
GallantFew does this by creating and supporting a nationwide network of successfully transitioned veterans that engage locally with new veterans with the same military background now going through transition, and by motivating communities all over the nation to take responsibility for veterans returning; welcoming, connecting, and including.
 
GallantFew believes this will prevent veteran unemployment, homelessness, and suicide.
 
As part of the GallantFew, the Darby Project is a network of networks that synchronizes the efforts of veteran support organizations to lead revolutionary transition services for the elite Army Rangers!  We are not waiting for the next war to figure this out.
 
Three Pillars of The Darby Project:
 

  1. RESILIENCE: Educate active duty Rangers still serving of the programs available to them now and after leaving the service.
  2. REINTEGRATION: Coordinate Ranger education programs and available resources before the Ranger exits active duty.
  3. REDIRECTION: Provide assistance to those Ranger veterans and families that need additional care and assistance after Rangers have entered civilian life.

 
Why F3?:
Why not.  The Darby Project is headed up by one of our own, Bryce Mahoney (aka Darby #realoriginal), who served in 3rd Ranger Battalion.  During his time as a Ranger, Darby deployed 4 times to the Middle East.  The mission of the GallantFew and the Darby Project ties into the F3 mission of reinvigorating male community leadership.  What better way than to help to integrate proven leaders, whose motto is Sua Sponte (referring to the Rangers’ ability to accomplish tasks with little to no prompting), into our communities.
 
 
What is the Event?
A team of up to ten individuals will pledge to walk, run and/or ride bicycles a combined total of 565 miles in the month of February (usually 28 days). Teams may be formed from anywhere in the world and your miles can be logged from the comfort of your own home.
 
What Can I Do?
There are 3 ways to participate:
 

  1. Join the F3 Nation team. Register at Team F3Nation..  There are currently 8 spots left on the team.  Don’t make Darby and Coop Dog do all 565 miles by themselves #Icantfeelmyquads
  2. Form your own Team: Think you can do more than the F3 Nation team?  Form your own team in your region or sub-region.  Use your BRR or Palmetto 200 team #yourealreadyrunning.  Team with the most donations raised will receive a one-of-a-kind F3/Darby Project Challenge Coin.
  3. Donate to a team. Whether it’s the Nation team or one of the regional teams that you support the funds all go to the same great cause.  If you are interested in donating go here RunRangerRun2017 and make sure to select your team.

 
Questions
For more information on the GallantFew and the Darby Project visit https://gallantfew.org/ or https://darbyproject.org/.
 
Still have questions email [Bryce Mahoney] at [Bryce.mahoney@darbyproject.org].
 

Through The Eyes of an M

‘Twas the night before the weekend, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except for my spouse.
His compression socks were hung on the towel rod with care
In hopes that gloom soon would be there;
His F3 shirt laid out, oh so neatly pressed
Teenaged girls don’t take as long to get dressed.
He finally came to bed. “Would he be the man that I need?”
Nope! He just got busy with his copy of “Freed to Lead”
Then at 0430 there arose such a clatter,
I rolled over an muttered, “What the hell is the matter?!”
All I could see was his disgusting plumber’s crack
As he threw off the sheets and yelled, “I beat the fartsack!”
I asked’ “Why do you wake so early each day?
It only takes a moment to dress and be on your way.”
“Because,” he replied , “I gotta check Twitter,
and it take some time while I sit on the… toilet.”
At 0515, he sped off in the dark
So I figured I’d follow; tailed him to a park.
From the bushes I saw fist bumps, and heard something strange;
None of his friends called each other by their actual names.
“Yo! Hootie! Stinky Cheese! Wojo, J-Love, Sacked!
“Hey! Gunny! ‘Sup, Daphne? #Cotter… welcome back!
Then someone yelled, “Men! No time to get cozy”
“I’m no pro, please don’t sue. Now, let’s go for a mosey.”
I watched from the bushes, still in my pajamas.
They ran, circled up and yelled, “Warm-o-rama!”
I knew the exercises, but the names were all stumpers:
“Sun Gods & Merkins, Hillbillies & Monkey Humpers.”
And that is when the morning really went south…
One of them broke wind; I almost threw up in my mouth!
And yet, I maintained, my cookies were not tossed.
The men formed two lines; something about, “applesauce”
For the next 30 minutes I was thoroughly confused
As I watched them run amok, their bodies, abused.
Burpees & pull-ups. No gym, just the Earth
As the one they called, “Wicked” led them on “the Murph.”
One guy, he puked right on his partner’s toe!
They even had a name for THAT, “Tossing Merlot.”
I was convinced that my husband joined a cult.
Then they called for, “Mary!”, the final insult.
I’d had enough, it was time for me to end it!
But what happened next had me completely suspended.
As the men circled up, my husband, he spoke.
He began with a quip, a really lame joke.
But then opened up about a concern that he had
How a friend lost a job, how he hoped he was a good dad.
Another man wept, asked for prayers for his wife
Then they all took a knee and gave thanks for their life.
Better husbands, better fathers, better friends, they all prayed.
“Amen!” they ended and ’round the shovel flag stayed.
They spoke about how to help our own town
Feed the hungry, clothe the cold, put a tree in the ground.
Repair houses, Judy’s Chair, Book Studies & fund-raising,
What these guys have accomplished is truly amazing.
So I snuck on home, I hadn’t known what to expect
These men of all ages had earned my RESPECT!
Although it’s annoying to be married to F3
I can see why they do it; for brotherhood, for community.
And as they sat at Panera, coffee the preferred drink,
I remembered just how bad, the family wagon would stink.

Music City Q in the Nooga

20 degrees of fun awaited the PAX of Chatty.  YHC hits the head for a lil post mortem from last night’s Tombstone and we’re off.
DISCLAIMER
Slaughter Starter:
10 Burpee’s, nine squats, eight Burpee’s, seven squats, six Burpee’s, five squats, for Burpee’s, response, to Burpee’s, one squat, 10 Burpee’s.  Ripped from OBT and a Q he and DREDD performed recently.
Mosey with coupon, reverse mosey, high knees, butt kickers, side shuffle right, left,
Circle Up
WOR:
Side straddle hop x 22, GMA x 22, Imperial Walker x 11, hillbilly x 11, Willie Mays Hayes with baby arm circle right side and RBAC left side x 11
Hand off to blue mule
Mosey with coupon down to parking lot by boat ramp
PAX perform designated exercises
PAX 1:Burpee Broadjump X7 out and back
PAX 2:Overhead claps
PAX 3:Overhead press with coupon
PAX 4:Squat with coupon
PAX 5:Flutter kicks
2 moves to BBJ, 3 to OH Claps, 4 to OH Press 5 to Squat and 1 to F Kix
Rinse and repeat
200 m sprint replaces Burpee Broadjump
Hand off to BV
Curb crawl 12s with Merkens
Feet on curb 12 Merkens bear crawl 20 m 11 Merkens, crawl mayor 20 m 10 Merkens and so on down to zero
Indian run with coupon back to a Caballo Blanco
BTTWX5 with Merkens
Mosey to the light pole for some light pole BLIMPS
5 Burpees LP 1
10 Lunge walks LP2
15 Iron Crosses
20 Merkins
25 Plank Jax
30 Squats
Indian run back to Caballo Blanco
PAX leapfrog around half of building
Insert dissertation on meaning of F3
10 pull-ups at playground for good measure
MARY:
Flutter kix, hello Dolly, World War I sit ups, kick outs, 20 Squat jumps, crunchy frog, American hammer
BOM
Welcome FNG : Willy B an IPTAY’r that we lovingly named after Cocks Stadium Williams Bryce
NM:
Work was put in down at Rivermont Park this am.  T Claps to Blue Mule for Co-Qing this small but hearty band of men.  T Claps to Steam Engine for buying my cup of Joe this am.  Incidentally, cup of Joe comes from the Secretary of the Navy who pulled alcohol from naval ships back in the 30’s…Joecephus Davis…look it up, it’s true.
Bullhorn:
This region will be strong one day.  Lots of bearded millennials, outdoor stores and craft beer in Nooga to recruit to.  Always be EH’ing men!
Be sure to get a copy of Freed to Lead and learn the real meaning and story of F3.  Probably more factual than YHC’s diatribe this am.
YHC,
Out