YHC advertised today’s festivities in the pre-blast as a “butt-kicker,” but of course that depends on whose butt you’re talking about, doesn’t it?
It’s an interesting challenge to lead a group of varying fitness levels, wanting to ensure the studlier among us at least break a sweat while giving the rest of us a good push that can, of course, be modified as needed.
Have thought a lot about the F3 origin story, which is worth a read if you haven’t yet. (Co-founder OBT wrote it, and his chops as a former newspaperman are evident.) F3 actually started as a splinter group, separating from an original core over whether this thing was going to be for everybody or only for an elite few:
My main takeaway, reading it 10 years later (and the thing readers may find most head-scratching about the original backblast) is the letter from Gx to the new pax. It captures his particular passive-aggressive (or maybe just aggressive-aggressive?) ambivalence about what Dredd and I were doing — the ambivalence that would lead a few months later to a split and the creation of F3. Lines like, “Qrusaders (if you last),” and, “If you don’t care, we won’t care either,” are very on-brand for Jeff.
Gx believed passionately in earned membership, in gaining a seat at the table by what he refers to here as “Blood, Sweat, Toil & Beer.” When the Campos 7 a.m. Saturday workout got too big in the spring of 2010, his initial response was to start a second workout at 6 a.m. that he called “Segundo.” If you posted to a certain number of Segundo workouts (I think it was 10), you earned the right to come to the “main event” Campos workout at 7 a.m. I think that system lasted 5 or 6 weeks before he simply declared the Campos closed to new members completely.
That more than anything set me and Dredd on our path to AG and 1/1/11. It’s why the first core principle of F3 has always been “F3 is open to all men.”
To me that aspect is sacrosanct. F3 is not F3 without the mix of high-fliers and those trying to get somewhere close to that level. That’s what makes this group not only about fitness but about building community and leadership. The stronger guys lead by example and encouragement, helping others to improve and be in a position to inspire new PAX as they come into the fold, and the beautiful cycle continues. “Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you found him” and all that.
All of that means, IMO, that the goal when leading an F3 workout should be to strike that balance between inclusiveness and pushing at least the vast majority to a place of discomfort and then growth. You also have to know your own limits. If you can’t do it, don’t Q it, as a wise man once said.
ANYWHO, that’s what YHC was after today. You can ask the 17 other PAX as to how well it went.
This week’s theme of 38, a nod to the current number of Churham AOs, came in particularly handy.
YHC joined Botched and OPEC for EC Manmakers but bailed 10 minutes early to make sure there was enough left in the tank to lead the ME effectively.
Warm-up
- SSH x 10IC
- 8 burpees
- Good morning x 10IC
- 10 burpees
- Imperial walker x 10IC
- 10 burpees
- LBAC and reverse X 10IC
- 10 burpees
Voila, 38-burpee warmup
Mosey to bottom of first hill
Thang
- 10 burpees at the bottom, run to circle for 9 burpees, run to top of hill for 9 burpees, run back to bottom for 10 burpees = 38 – PAX absolutely CRUSHED this
- 19 Merkins at the bottom, backwards run to circle for 19 merkins, to top for 19 merkins, regular run to the bottom for 19 merkins = 38 X 2
- 38 jump squat together, then bear crawl to circle, 38 jump squat oyo, crawl bear back, 38 jump squats
Mary
38 WWII together, crab walk (back first) to circle, 38 WWII, walk crab (feet first) back down, 38 WWII
Just enough time for 18 burpees at base of hill, run back to start, 20 burpees for another set of 38.
Fin.
COT
TBL workout tomorrow to celebrate passing of Nantan torch from Riggs and Adolphus to Te’o. YHC took us out but apparently needs to speak up because most couldn’t hear me say “Amen.” Still catching my breath from the burpees.
Moleskin
Felt like we worked hard, but there was still a good amount of mumble chatter throughout, so must not have been TOO much of a butt-kicker. Will try a little harder next time. Aye!
