The 7-Year Itch!

Preamble:

7 years ago today was one of the worst and best days of my life.  While having a few beers over at my friend Ben Shoemaker (Boomer)’s house, he convinced me to try this Christian workout group that he had found.  Several beers in, I was completely motivated to work out even though I couldn’t walk up 2 flights of stairs without being completely winded.  I completely forgot about it until I got a text the night before the forthcoming Tuesday BD at the Rubicon saying “meet you at 5:30.”  Ugh…what do I?  I said I would go, so I’ll do it once and then figure out how to get out of it.  When I arrived, I met another PAX named @NachoLibre, who was the Q for the day.  8 or 9 PAX picked up coupons and ran across the park where we started some partner exercises with one partner doing exercises and the other sprinting up the hill on the back side of Wills Park.  After one trip up the hill, I would have given away all of my earthly possessions in exchange for the ability to leave, but I continued on, praying for a swift conclusion to the misery.  When it finished, I was certain that it was the last time I would ever post, until I got another text from my EH’ing friend.  “Man – that guy who led this morning is CRAZY!  He’s a wrestling coach…you should come back Thursday.  It’s usually not that bad.” OK, maybe I’ll go back for an easier workout and see what that’s like?  Hook was set, returned for an equally miserable workout on Thursday.  Again, planning my exodus when all of the PAX started talking about how fun the Saturday workouts were because we all go to breakfast afterwards.  HMMM…that might be worth a try?  Even worse because it was 60 minutes instead of 45.  But with 3 workouts in the books, why would I quit?  Fast forward 7 years…

Warm-O-Rama:

Pouring rain and suspect conditions gave way to many victories for the FartSack this am, but 9 PAX headed out to the Gloom.  Props to Snowman and Corn Dog who pre-ran regardless.  Well done, men.  Off we go to the crossroad for warm up, all IC.

SSH

Imperial Walkers

Sun Gods forward/ reverse

Willie Mays Hayes

The Thang:

After many PTSD therapy sessions, YHC was able to remember that first BD, so I attempted to reenact it.  Partner up and grab a coupon:

Partner A:  Amrap the following:

7 Burpees

14 Overhead Press with Coupon

21 Lunges – Alpha count with coupon

28 LBCs

Partner B:  Run up the Hill to the 3rd sign and return

After completing 7 rounds for each PAX, we moved on to what I likely consider to be the most painful F3 Alpha exercise…Racoon crawls.  This is basically a bear crawl, but on a short fence that’s about 6 inches wide, for about 75 yards.

Afterwards, we headed to the kidney bean for a descending burpee lap, stopping at every other light post starting at 7 burpees and working our way down to 1.  Arrived at the flag at exactly 6:15.

COT:

Prayers for upcoming events:

FIA/ F3 Alpha Convergence – 8/6 at the Norseman

2nd Annual Darth Visor Memorial CSAUP – 8/27 at Big Creek

Naked-Man Moleskin:

7 Lessons learned after 7 years in F3:

1. You never reach cruising altitude.  You get up, come out, and work hard.  And then you do it again, and again, and again, and again, etc.  The phrase is “it doesn’t get easier, you get stronger” is true, but you don’t get there and stay there without continuing to work at it.
2. Do not lose heart when you know you’re on the right path.  As one of the first PAX in what is now the F3 Cummming sub-region, there were numerous times that I posted with only one or two other guys.  If not for those who kept coming, we wouldn’t have the often 14- 15 guys who are there now
3. Post for the guy next to you – if you make the decision solely based on how you are feeling, you may miss an opportunity to offer something that someone really needs on any given day
4. Sign up for challenges and then figure out how to prepare for them.  If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll cheat yourself out of many chances to accelerate.
5.  Make coffeteria a part of your AO – Cookie lit the torch with brewing coffee for PAX and having that fellowship time after the BD really strengthens relationships
6. Mix it up – in addition to boot camps, try running, rucking, kayaking, etc.  Variety keeps things interesting and organizations like GoRuck can help to further build skills, interests, and personal development
7. Make an effort to get to know the guys who post with you – it will enrich your life.  One of the great things about F3 is that there are no barriers based on age, ethnicity, profession, etc.  You’ll develop friendships with great people that you may not have ever encountered otherwise