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  • 8.22.23 – 3 x 3 x 30

    AO: The Oakery

    QIC: Ghost

    PAX: Fishman, Output

    Conditions

    65 degrees, dry

    Warm up

    • SSH x20IC
    • Leg swings x8OYO forward and sideways
    • imperial squat walkers x8IC
    • reachers x 8IC
    • Jog around forest trail. Stop for 5 minutes of ivy pullin

    The Thang

    • 3 exercises 30s, 10s rest, 3x
    • bridge reach, side plank thrust, shoulder press w/ coupon
    • rows, burpees, reverse lunge, calf raises
    • merkins w/ coupon drag, goblet squat, burpees

    6MoM

    • Frozen fredz x20, danger zones x20

    COT

    Ruts – sometimes they are good. Sometimes they are bad.

    Getting in a rut can be a good thing because it is a habit that makes our life go smoothly, but ruts are mostly thought of as bad habits. I’ve been struggling to break out of some patterns and habits that I’ve developed, mostly around addiction to task completion and a feeling that I need mental escape from my thought patterns, so I dive into a word puzzle or game for a “brain break.” I don’t think it has the desired effect.

    Ghost out

  • 8.15.23 – 3 x 3 x 30

    AO: The Oakery

    QIC: Ghost

    PAX:

    Conditions

    65 degrees, dry

    Warm up

    • SSH x20IC
    • Leg swings x8OYO forward and sideways
    • calf raises x20s OYO
    • Daisy Pickers x 10IC
    • scissor arms x 8IC
    • Jog to coupon area
    • 3 exercise 30s, 10s rest, 3x
      • bridge reach, side plank thrust, shoulder press w/ coupon
      • rows, burpees, reverse lunge
      • merkins w/ coupon drag, goblet squat

    The Thang

    6MoM

    • Frozen fredz x45, slow negative (15s) merkins x5, danger zones x50

    COT

    Can’t make a circle with one person

    Ghost out

  • 8.14.23 Killer B’s Redux

    AO#ao_lightningrod
    Q@Stray Cat (Portland, OR)
    PAX@Red Curry @Rip @Sketch , Ratchet
    FNGs: 1 Ratchet
    COUNT: 5

    WARMUP:
    SSH x 20IC
    Toy Soldiers x 10 IC
    Third Grade x 10 IC
    Halos x 10 IC
    Forward Arm Circles x 5 IC
    Backward Arm Circles x 5 IC
    Jane Fondas x 10 IC (both sides)

    Mosey to Field
    Rows x 25 IC
    Decline Merkins x 25 IC
    Rows x 15 IC

    THE THANG:
    Killer B’s:
    Line up on end zone
    10 yds broad jump
    10 burpees
    10 Bonnie Blairs (HC)
    10 Big Boys
    Repeat above 3x
    Bear Crawl back
    Repeat until out of time
    MARY:
    Rows x 15 IC
    LBCs x 40 IC
    Flutter Kicks x 30 IC
    Big Boys x 25 IC
    Superman Hold 30 IC
    Mosey back to Lightning Rod
    ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    COT:
    I’m struggling with some internet addiction.  We had a lot of mumble chatter about this.  Generally people recommend technology to limit access and turning off notifications.  I’m going to try this and maybe make a GO30 in September.
    StrayCat out

  • Exit Stage Right


    DATE: 2023-08-11
    AO#ao_lightningrod
    Q@Rip
    PAX@Red Curry
    FNGs: None
    COUNT: 2

    WARMUP:
    Side Straddle Hop
    Halo’s
    Don Quixotes
    Toy Soldiers

    THE THANG:
    Start with five Mirkens to buy in each round
    With coupon on the side of the 50 yard line start with 5 reps each:
    Squirrels – go to first marker across the field
    Bent over row – go to second marker
    OH Press – go to far side of field
    Press
    Proceed to jog around the goal post back to your coupon and start with 5 Mirkens to buy in and repeat by adding 5 reps as you cross the field

    MARY:
    NA
    ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    NA
    COT:
    You come home from a hard day at work feeling like you could use a stiff drink.

    You contemplate sleeping in and skipping your morning workout because you stayed up a little later than usual last night.

    Your kid is throwing a tantrum in a store because he wants you to buy him a toy.

    When deciding what to do next in these kinds of situations, we often think only of factors salient in the short term: What am I in the mood for? Can I afford it? How much patience do I currently have for dealing with discomfort?

    But no decision is ever entirely singular. Each decision reverberates. Each generates a bit of momentum in a certain direction. Each etches a shallow groove that makes it easier to travel the same path the next time around.

    Every enduring habit began with a momentary choice.

    This is true whether a behavior is desirable or not. The first time you open your Kindle app instead of TikTok when waiting in line or turn to porn when feeling lonely makes it more likely you’ll do it again the next.

    It’s true for establishing general norms in your life. Splurge for the upgraded airplane seat once, and it becomes harder to tolerate the economy version on subsequent flights.

    And it’s true for determining interpersonal standards. How you allow a boss or significant other to treat you at the start of a relationship will establish a trajectory for how they treat you ever after.

    Of course, there’s plenty of room in life for occasional indulgences and one-off decisions.

    But in circumstances that will repeatedly arise, when you sense there are greater stakes at play, don’t just ask yourself, “What do I want to do right now?” but “What pattern do I want to set for the future?”

    The post Sunday Firesides: What Pattern Do You Want to Set? appeared first on The Art of Manliness.

  • Pain Poker


    DATE: 2023-08-09
    AO#ao_lightningrod
    Q@Rip
    PAX@Red Curry @CK @Sketch
    FNGs: None
    COUNT: 4

    WARMUP:
    Side Straddle Hop
    Daisy Pickers
    Imperial Squat Walkers
    Arm Circles
    Halo’s

    THE THANG:
    Draw from a deck of cards:
    Diamonds: Mike Tysons’
    Hearts: Big Boys
    Clubs: Squats
    Spades: Inverted Rows

    A, 2, 3, 4= bear crawl up bank
    5-10= reps
    Jack=15
    Queen=20
    King=25
    Joker= 1 lap around track

    MARY:
    LBC’s
    Leg Lift

    ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    AO Clean up date 8/12 from 9-12

    COT:
    The world can be divided into agents and objects.

    Things that make stuff happen, and things that have stuff happen to them.

    The shaper, and the shaped. The mover, and the moved. The driver, and the screw.

    No one is ever entirely one or the other, and you should be open to allowing positive influences to work upon you.

    But an individual, who wishes to be an individual, should aim to live a life in which he is primarily an agent rather than an object.

    Becoming an agentic being requires the adoption of three key principles.

    The first is to strengthen the borders of the self. He who is unsure of his values, who is pliable and porous, will absorb whatever the countervailing currents of the time happen to be and get molded into whatever tools institutions, corporations, and legions of schemers find most suitable.

    He who lacks a clear end, can be used for anyone else’s means.

    The second principle for gaining agency centers on acquiring skills — of every kind: the ability to express your mind, and change another’s; fix an appliance, and your eye on an aim; lift a physical weight, and carry an emotional burden.

    The more skills you amass, the more power you gain to be a cause rather than an effect — to control circumstances rather than be the product of them.

    Finally, agency rests on the principle of action itself — the recognition that unless you’re at least treading water, you’re going to be swept downstream.

    If you don’t decide what to fill your head with, where you want to go, and who you want to be, those decisions will be made for you by the entities and individuals who are exercising their agency.

    Such is an inviolable law of this world: you either act, or are acted upon.

    The post Sunday Firesides: Act or Be Acted Upon appeared first on The Art of Manliness.

  • 7 of Diamonds

    Backblast! 7 of Diamonds
    DATE: 2023-08-07
    AO#ao_lightningrod
    Q@Rip
    PAX@Goon @Red Curry , Sketch, Winger
    FNGs: None
    COUNT: 5

    WARMUP:
    Side Straddle Hop
    Don Quixote’s
    Hillbillies
    Arm circles
    Arm stretches

    THE THANG:
    7 of diamonds

    Performed on a large diamond (i.e. a square); we use the football field at the goal line; 40 yard line; cross to the other side; back to goal and back across . For the first round, do 7 reps of an exercise. First exercise are 7 Mirkens with a mosey (or sprint) in between corners. Second corner-air swats; third corner Mountain Climbers; fourth corner Lunges. Each round, increase by 7 reps each round. Round 2, 14 count. Round 3, 21. Round 4, 28. Then go back down.

    MARY:
    LBCs
    Flutter kicks
    Bridges

    COT:
    Leadership can be lonely-from LOTR: when the elf queen tells Frodo that a ring bearer is alone. We are fortunate to be together as F3 men – let’s not lose the fellowship of what has brought us together, but don’t forget as leaders we are alone by taking responsibility for our lives, families, and community.

  • 8.01.23 – Slow Negatives

    AO: The Oakery

    QIC: Ghost

    PAX: Fishman, Coinage

    Conditions

    60 degrees, dry

    Warm up

    • SSH x20IC
    • Leg swings x8OYO forward and sideways
    • calf raises x20s OYO
    • Daisy Pickers x 10IC
    • scissor arms x 8IC
    • Jog to coupon area
    • Complete 4 exercises 2 reps, but at least 10s slow negative. Then Jog
    • rinse, repeat – AMRAP
    • Four exercises are kind of up to you. Choose one of three each round
    • Goblet squat, lunge, squat jump – choose 1
    • Merkin, Sherkin, Shoulder press – choose 1
    • Big boys, breakdancers, J-lo’s

    The Thang

    6MoM

    • no time

    COT

    Reason not always the best way of “knowing.”

    Just finished Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina.

    The character Levin, was Tolstoy as he saw himself. Read these three quotes.

    816 – …he had been horrified, not so much at death as at life without the slightest knowledge of whence it came, wherefore, why, and what it was.

    817 – “he felt vaguely that what he called his convictions were not only ignorance, but were a way of thinking that made the knowledge needed impossible.”

    828 – Reason could not discover love for the other, because it’s unreasonable. ‘Yes pride…and not only the pride of reason, but the stupidity of reason. And above all – the slyness, precisely the slyness, of reason. Precisely the swindling of reason.’

    Levin despairs of life, because he doesn’t know why he exists. But he realizes that his hyperrational bent perhaps prevents him from knowing the deepest truths. He begins to suspect (like moral psychologists are learning today) that our reason can be quite deceptive and isn’t the only guide or even the best way to arrive at certain truths. I encouraged the PAX to be open to other ways of knowing truth.

    Ghost out

  • 07.31.2023 – Ladder & COUPON Carry

    Backblast! Ladder & COUPON Carry
    DATE: 2023-07-31
    AO#ao_lightningrod
    Q@Goon
    PAX@Red Curry @Stray Cat (Portland, OR) , Sketch, Link, Paris
    FNGs: 1 Paris
    COUNT: 6

    MISSION | PRINCIPLES | DISCLAIMER
    F3 is a community of men holding one another accountable to become better.
    Fitness is what brings us together,
    Fellowship is what creates long lasting relationships, and
    Faith is what motivates us to serve and improve our communities.

    WARMUP:
    SSH
    Grandpa Jacks
    Imperial Squat Walkers
    Daisy Pickers
    Toy Soldiers
    Arm Circles Forward
    Arm Circles Backward
    Partner Arms

    THE THANG:
    DO 1 REP OF EACH EXERCISE.
    DO A SIDE TO SIDE (STS) CARRYING COUPON.
    THEN ADD 1 REP FOR EACH ROUND.
       1 reps of each exercise. STS.
       2 reps of each exercise. STS.
       3 reps of each exercise. STS.
       4 reps of each exercise. STS.
    EXERCISES
       PERFECT MERKINS
       JUNGLE BOY SQUATS
       BLOCKEE

    CARRY options = GRIP, Farmers/Luggage, Rifle, Front Rack, Shoulder

    MARY:
    No time for Mary

    COT:
    You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
    Why did you spill the coffee?
    “Because someone bumped into me!!!”
    Wrong answer.
    You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea. Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.
    Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It’s easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
    So we have to ask ourselves… “what’s in my cup?”
    When life gets tough, what spills over? Joy, gratitude, peace and humility?
    Anger, bitterness, victim mentality and quitting-tendencies?
    Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.
    Today let’s work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, resilience, positivity; and kindness, gentleness and love for others.
    Source: Austin Tang

    ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    CSAUP @ Ghosts was awesome.
    August CSAUP = Timberline Trail this weekend
    Expansion happening!!
    Upcoming random 2nd F events:
    – Brewery Series Runs
    – Obstacle Course Races
    – Cyclocross

  • 7.26.2023 Health is Wealth

    AO#ao_lightningrod
    Q@Stray Cat (Portland, OR)
    PAX@Red Curry
    FNGs: None
    COUNT: 2

    WARMUP:
    SSH x 25IC
    Third Grade x 10IC
    Scissor Arms x 10IC
    Imperial Squat Walkers x 10IC
    Toy Soldiers x 10IC
    Don Quixote’s x 10IC
    Halos x 10IC
    Jane Fondas x 10IC (both sides)
    Mosey to Track

    THE THANG:
    Rows x 10IC
    Dips x 12 IC
    Repeat above 3x

    30 YDS Broad Jump Burpees
    30 YDS Bear Crawls
    Repeat above 3X

    50 Big Boys
    Run all bleacher stairs
    Repeat above 2X
    Return to Lightning Rod

    MARY:
    Flutter Kicks x 25IC
    Superman’s x 10IC (two times)

    ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    Saturday at @Ghost (Eagle Creek, OR)

    COT:
    Went to the Doctor yesterday for the first time in 10 years (not recommended).  I’m grateful for F3, since I would definitely not enjoy the health I have without all of you helping me get in shape.

    -StrayCat Out

  • 7.24.23 Ex-Girlfriend V2

    AO#ao_lightningrod
    Q@Stray Cat (Portland, OR)
    PAX@Red Curry @Output (Eagle Creek, OR) , Hatch
    FNGs: None
    COUNT: 4

    WARMUP:
    SSH x 25IC
    Don Quixote x 10IC
    Toy Soldiers x 10IC
    Daisy Pickers x 10IC
    Halos x 10IC
    Forward Arm Circles x 10IC
    Backward Arm Circles x 10IC
    Mosey to Playground
    Plank on Merry-Go-Round (rotate together)
    Dips x 12IC

    THE THANG:
    10 Man Makers
    Rifle Carry Down Hill
    30 Coupon Swings
    Murder Bunny Uphill
    Repeat above for time

    MARY:
    Plank 20 sec
    Side Plank 20 sec
    Side Plank 20 sec other side
    Flutter Kicks x 30IC
    LBC x 30IC
    Box Cutters x 25IC
    Jane Fondas x 10IC (each side)

    ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    CSAUP

    COT:
    I saw some people on Twitter discussing if Sleep should be the other half of “The Queen” (in addition to diet).  I think sleep is very important for health, and I’ve struggled getting good sleep in summer.  Here are some tips:

    1. Invest in a better mattress and bedding
    2. Block out light
    3. Minimize noise
    4. Set Thermostat to 65 to 68F
    5. Get at least 7 hours sleep
    6. Set your alarm for the same time each day
    7. Keep naps around 20 min
    8. Relax for 30 min before bed
    9. Disconnect devices 60 min before bed
    10. Get 30 minutes of natural light exposure
    11. Exercise for at least 20 minutes each day
    12. Limit caffeine after 2pm
    13. Limit alcohol 60 min before bedtime
    14. Eat Dinner a few hours before bed
    15. Limit nicotine use and smoke exposure
    16. Reserve your bed for sleep and sex only
    17. If you can’t sleep, get out of bed after 20 minutes and so something without screens or much light
    18. Keep a sleep diary

    -StrayCat