14 PAX showed up to Rameses on this humid morning. OBT was visiting Churham at #TheBigHouse so YHC expected small numbers to post. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see a solid group. Most aren’t on Slack so they had no idea anything special was going on this Wednesday. Turns out we had our own special event, at least to YHC. Today is my 3 year anniversary with F3. I will come back to that later. I was torn today on how to lead the group. I have the WV Spartan Super this weekend so I am in the middle of a taper week. Do I honor my taper and take it easy on the PAX today or do I step it up to properly honor the anniversary? In the end, I remembered that the PAX drug themselves out of bed early for a workout. They want to get stronger today and I can rest later when I am dead. Let’s hit it hard:
Warmup:
SSH, Squats, Windmills, Mtn Climbers, Merkins, Slow Merkins
The Thang:
Given the ridiculous number of burpees I will do this weekend, I figured we should practice them now. The PAX lined up on the first line in the parking lot. Do 5 burpees at each line. There are 18 lines so we eased into this workout with 90 burpees.
Mosey to the sand. PAX will complete 5 pull-ups, 5 Top Guns, 15 merkins, 20 squats, bear crawl across the sand pit and jog back. That is one round. Repeat x 5. The humidity mixed with sand was a terrible combo. One piece of advice is not to do top guns after a sandy bear crawl as you will kick sand all in your hair. I figured the PAX just gets to take some of the workout home with them today.
Mosey to the bottom of Tarheel Warrior Mountain. Run to the top top – tree line
Mary: time for only one exercise so Ski Abs x 20
COT:
Hard to believe it has been 3 years since Dunphy dragged me out to F3 for the first time. I am now forever indebted to him as I can’t imagine my life without F3 now. I do love the fitness but I would love any form of exercise out there so I know the workouts aren’t what keeps me coming back. When I am feeling sorry for myself and am tired or sore or just lazy, all I need to do is to think of the numerous guys who are pulling themselves out of bed, too. Doesn’t matter if you will kill today’s workout or ease through it. The point is you made the first positive decision of the day. You showed initiative and discipline and you should be rewarded for that regardless of the intensity of the workout. Also, you showed another PAX you were there to struggle and fight through a challenge with him and that could mean a ton to him even if it didn’t to you that day. We all need accountability to make ourselves stronger and better and the PAX starts with you individually. F3 begins with motivation to show up and improve on a daily basis but then morphs into a support system we didn’t know we need. Whether it is in fun or in all seriousness, you quickly recognize a lot of people have your back and I can’t stress the importance of this. It is easy to feel alone as you age and face the pressures of work and family so there is extreme comfort in knowing you aren’t alone.
Thank you to all of the PAX as you provide support to me whether you know it or not. I couldn’t be more impressed with the growth of F3 and specifically F3 Churham. Given the excellence of this group, it can only continue to grow as FNG’s will come to experience what we all have been enjoying since we were an FNG. Keep up the good work and continue to make yourself and those around you better each day.
SP