Let’s be honest: leading an F3 Q can be intimidating. Heck, participating in a workout can feel that way, too. We want to portray an image of having it all together. We don’t want to screw up in front of our peers. We don’t want to fail or fall short.

Yes, we all have a bit of bravado when we get out there because, hey, we’re men. And we want to be tough. We want to be strong. We want to do and be our best. We often have something to prove, mostly to ourselves. And that’s all part of what gets us out of bed in the morning.

But I bet if you polled the PAX, the number one reason we’re out there in the gloom is because we’ve got one another’s backs. We challenge one another. We encourage one another. We pick up the six and deep six the ego to ensure that every man out there feels valued and supported. Sometimes we even need to cover for one another in unexpected ways.

Truth time: YHC flubbed a Q a few weeks ago — signed up for The Skunk and forgot to put it on my calendar. Booked a work trip over it and didn’t realize until 5:23a that the driver’s seat was mine. Embarrassed, YHC Slacked the site Qs and let them know the situation. “Slacker.” “Failure.” Those were some of the (printable) words going through my mind. Let the mental self flagellation begin. Not the first nor the last Q to do it, but felt the sting for sure. And guess what? The PAX figured it out and had a great time.

And that’s kinda what happened on Thursday morning. So there YHC was on the other side of that equation, learning what it means to be a site Q. Freaking out a bit because (a) no coffee, (b) Myers-Briggs J planner and (c) paragraph 1. So I stalled with SSH. I hemmed with WMH. And I hawed with Overhead Claps. But when it was time to (finally) get down to business, guess what again? The PAX had it covered. Sal Pal called out an idea. Knope clarified. And off we moseyed to another morning adventure. Intimidating? Sometimes. Inspiring? Always.

THE STALL

• 250 SSH (okay, it was only 30)
• 10 WMH IC
• 10 Good Mornings IC
• 15 Overhead Claps IC
• 10 LBACs IC
• 5 burpees OYO

Impromptu planning, mosey to the big circle at Central Park.

THE THANG

“Bet on Yourself” – Solo runner picks an exercise + count that PAX must complete before he finishes a lap.

• Examples: 17 Burpees, 25 Merkins, 40 SSH, etc.
• Needless head start award: Assisi sneaking to the circle while already being the fastest PAX in Churham
• Biggest cajones of the AM: Green Egg challenging the crew to beat him, then besting all but one (see needless head start award winner)
• Most curious scene: Monkey humpers being performed in cadence while wondering woman walks by with tiny dog
• Penalty for PAX whose number was…slightly exaggerated: Bear crawls for all down the hill

Mosey back to ReCity.

MARY

• Freddie Mercuries x 28 IC
• Shoulder Taps x 2 IC per PAX
• Squats x 28 IC (led by Sweatervest)

PRAYERS

• Crockett’s friend’s dad who is battling cancer
• For Justice (and all of us) just trying to juggle it all