Tobacco Road is sort of my home field, being that it is so close to where I live. Naturally, it is the AO I selected to celebrate turning 30 (woot woot!) even though that is not until tomorrow (plus it is close enough that if I over sleep I still might make it in time, a real fear for a rookie Q). Birthday Q’s always seemed to be themed around the age or something significant, so that gave me plenty to ponder and reflect on in preparation. Looking back, it is easy to see God’s grace in my life in the good times and in the times I needed to grow (aka, the bad). Looking forward, I envision where I think I want to go and think about what I need to do now to get there. And in the middle, I try and take on what is in front of me, completing it, investing in it, improving, cutting away, or stepping up. All of this reflection can lead to some depressing thoughts (evil around us, illness, my own short comings, things I wish I did or didn’t do), but then can quickly turn into encouraging thoughts as I recognize the many blessings I have been graciously given (growing family, good job, solid relationships in church and F3, etc.). With all of that in mind, I aimed for a well rounded work out.

Warmup

• Lap around the peanut loop with high knees and butt kickers peppered throughout
  • After the warm up lap, you try not to screw up the intro if there is an FNG, but I was too amped up and could hardly talk. Sorry, OPEC! Thanks to Floyd and Boucher for picking up the six there.
• Then, some Good Mornings, LBACs, Imperial Walkers, and Merkins which were followed up with a small stretching sesh (butterfly stretch, pretzel-glute stretch, and calf stretches) since I am getting older and always need more stretching. PAX seemed to respond well to the stretching. In my head: Yes! Winning them over!  Lol

The Thang

• Mosey to the soccer field for some Dora 1-2-3. Exercise numbers to be completed as a team, moving on to the next as soon as each exercise total is complete. First partner runs the length of the field while the other partner is starting on 50 burpees, 100 LBCs, and 150 body weight squats finishing each as a team.
  • Solid way to get the blood pumpin and to show some major muscle groups some love. Also, PAX were amazed by two huge meteors that lit up the Tobacco Road sky. Pretty cool.
• After PAX finished up, we took a lap, and at the half way point started an Indian Run just to make sure the PAX were getting their monies worth.
• Moseyed to the rock pile for some 30 Rock! (Had to work in the birthday count in somewhere!). Instructed the PAX to look for small to medium, but mostly medium sized rocks. A heavy rock would have made some of the moves difficult. Then, in a circle, single count to 30, we hit: Bent Over Rows, Front Raises (rock at waist, lifted out front to eye level), Overhead Presses, and then Overhead Tricep Extensions. Upper body was burning but lower body had cooled down so we took two laps up to the baseballs and back. Rinse and repeat the rock exercises.
  • However, it was here that the PAX made YHC smile! On what should have been the “hault,” PAX said “Happy Birthday!” Awww! Thanks guys! Y’all know how to make a Q blush!

Mary

• Finally some Mary to round it out.
  • Homer to Marge – focusing on activating glutes since my PT buddy said that’s why I have knee and hip pain after long runs, IC to 15.
  • WW2s – OYO to 30 (F3 Pro Tip by Floyd (which could be a podcast!) if you have to do any more than about 30 WW2s, look for grass or a softer surface to avoid butt rash! lol – Thanks, Floyd!)
  • Then finally, Flutter Kicks – IC to maybe 29 or 30, depending on who counted the loudest.

COT

• Prayers for Floyd’s (and I think Riggs’ and Doogie’s) work friend, Daphne, who has been taken off chemo – recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer but is now preparing for the worst.
• Prayers for Elizabeth Hicks, an elderly friend of Boucher, who is dealing with various health issues
• Prayers for those whose marriages need help.

Naked Moleskine

• I am thankful for the PAX who showed up and followed my lead. I’ve been incredibly blessed by F3 as I have found it to be another place that you don’t simply come for what you can get out of it, because you quickly realize all the ways you need to contribute to see this network flourish. That’s because we are all in this thing called “life” together. We all need to improve and maintain our fitness. We have goals and even make it a hobby to push ourselves to get stronger and compete. But we also show up for the guy next to you. He has goals and aspirations. He has a family and a job. He has trouble at home and else where. And as we grow in our fellowship through fitness, we get to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We get to be in these other men’s lives and we get to invest, encourage, and challenge them so that they grow in all of these areas. I hope I continue to keep others in mind more than myself in the days to come. I hope you do too. Aye!