This past Saturday at 0654 YHC stood in the gloom reminiscing of days gone by and thinking of the last 5 years. Ah yes, he remembered it like it was yesterday…(pan to dream sequence). It was March 2014 just hours before the start of the Palmetto 200 relay. There YHC (the slightly nervous FNG) was, standing in a circle on a lawn in Columbia S.C. with 8 other guys that referred to themselves by nicknames like Abraham, Taz, Chaser, Okra, Fountain Head, Subprime, Dos Equis, and Termite. Suddenly and like a bolt of lightning (added for dramatic effect) one of them stuck a shovel, with an American flag attached to it, deep into Chasers lawn. “Whoa! What is that thing? That’s pretty cool!” YHC thought to himself (Hey, you never forget your first shovel flag plant). Then Chaser said “Okay we are going to give you a name now. Tell us a little something about yourself”…(end dream sequence). As YHC’s wandering mind snapped back to reality it was 0655 and PAX were coming into Expresso strong. The pre-ruckers, pre-runners, POHr’s and other PAX who posted on this bright March day were there for one reason, to celebrate 5 years of F3 in Hickory N.C. So at 0700 they circled up and it went like this…
Conditions: 50F and clear. Perfect convergence weather.
The Thang:
Circle up for warm up (IC) – Dilbert
SSH x 20
Merkins x 10
IST X 20
ATT X 20
PAX numbers off 1-4, divide into 4 groups, then mosey to their respective group locations. Each group rotates every 15 min so that all four groups are completed.
Group 1 – HBC – Viewmont East
One lap indian run around the track then circle up at mid field for The Spoke
5 X Burpees, run to each corner for exercises, then back to mid field for 5 X Burpees
C1 – 10 X Squat Jumps
C2 – 10 X Merkins
C3 – 20 X LBC’s
C4 – 20 X Peter Parkers
Rinse and repeat as necessary until time expires
Group 2 – Cropduster – Corinth
Wheelbarrow – flip flop
Partner Carry – flipflop
Bear Crawl
Crab walk
Tunnel of Love
Bridge of Happiness
High/Low planks
Block Squats
Block Lunge
Block Burpees
Ab work as needed
Group 3 – Taz – The Quad
Pull ups
Tricep Dips
Incline Merkins
Decline Merkins
Brick work:
Curls for the Girls
Overhead Press
Skull Crusher
Overhead Squat
Goblet Squat
Lunge
Breach Press
Chest Fly
American Hammer
Tabata:
Flutterkicks
High Plank/Low Plank
Group 4 – Markup – Viewmont South
5 X Burpees OYO
Arm Circles
Prison Squats
Flutter Kicks
Shoulder Taps
American Hammer
Humpers
Merkin/RBC Pyramid
Overhead Claps
All PAX mosey back to Expresso for COT/BOM
Moleskin
It was fantastic to see 56 strong, including one FNG, post for a great workout this morning. YHC knows that he speaks for the other Redwood Originals when he says that it was truly an honor to lead you men. During that P200 weekend in March 2014, as YHC was experiencing the 3 F’s for the first time, Abraham said “We need this in Hickory. The men of Hickory need this.” Almost a month later YHC was standing on a field at CVCC with Abraham, Taz, Markup, Cropduster and a few other men as F3 Hickory took root. We could not have done this alone. F3 Hickory owes much to the men from F3 Columbia, Statesville, Charlotte, and to men like OBT and Dredd, who posted with us during those first few weeks and showed us the way.
In the 5 years that F3 Hickory has existed we have grown from a handful of guys doing a Saturday workout at CVCC to 7 AO’s in Hickory, Granite Falls, Taylorsville, Lenoir, Mountain View, Conover, and Bethlehem. We now have 28 workouts each week that include 24 weekday workouts, 4 Saturday workouts, 3 run workouts, and 2 ruck workouts. We also have 279 subscribers to our newsletter and have participated in numerous CSAUP and community events. As we look forward to the future, we want to continue to plant, grow and serve our community by continuing to invite other men to experience what F3 offers. YHC wants to encourage you to continue to EH that friend or that co-worker to join us because, and you know this, they will truly benefit from what this brotherhood has to offer. We’ve had guys come and go. Don’t give up on them. Continue to lead by example and invite them to what could be a truly positive influence on their life.
As we completed our 5th year anniversary, Taz stepped forward and handed over the reins of Nantan to Cousin Eddie. Taz, thank you for servant leadership to our PAX for the past 5 years and for living out the 3 F’s by example. We appreciate you, Brother. Cousin Eddie, you’ve been a driving force behind much of what has been accomplished in F3 Hickory so far. We look forward to working with you as we journey into the future together.
COT/BOM
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another
Thanks to Cropduster for leading our devotional and prayer this morning and for pointing out that the fellowship, 2ndF, is the glue and the thing that keeps us coming back. The workouts and fitness are great, but it’s the encouragement, accountability, caring, and friendships that keep us sharp spirtually and relationally, and this is the real reason that we do what we do in F3 Nation.
Honorable mention to those who prepared the breakfast for us:
John Everley (Boyardee) – Served our country in the U.S. Coast Guard, retired from IBM, serves St. Lukes UMC and our community by cooking awesome food.
Bill Roberts (Sparky) – A brother in Christ, War Eagle, Engineer for Duke Energy, Scout leader and just an all around good guy.
Kim Taylor (Lil’ Kim) – YHC’s M and his rock. She does not get up to cook breakfast…for anyone. But she knows how special the men of the F3 Hickory region are to YHC.
Flex Seal – When YHC asked for help in the kitchen, Flex didn’t hesitate. He said yes and then he said “I love to cook and serving these guys makes it even better. These fellas have done more for me than they will ever realize”.
Like Flex I am truly thankful. Thankful for that day on Chasers lawn and for the men that introduced me to F3. Thankful for Dredd and OBT for articulating the vision, for showing us how, and for giving it away to us. Thankful for my Redwood Original brothers and the special bond that we share. And last but not least, thankful for you men who I’m blessed to workout with day to day. I’m proud to call you my friends and my brothers. I am a much better man because of you.
Aye!
HBC
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