23.02.20 – Coronado

AO – Coronado

Q – Ketchup And Steven

PAX – In Person: Tea Party, Bobsled, Lemu, Bogey, Pain Killer, Boji, Carusoe, Woody, Predator, Flanagan, Speed Bump, Fine Print, Lite Bright, Ozark, Doppler, Mulligan, Gator, Yodel, Patton, Obi-wan

Spirit Battle Buddy – Caroline, Debbie, Warren, Jared, Dorothy, Tom, Marty, John, Bruce, Carmen, Jim, Jack, Pat, Bob, Nate, Norma, Conner, Elizabeth, Jerry, Sandy

5:30 – The Q promptly called a start to the morning at 5:30 AM, introduced himself explained the following:  F3 stands for Fitness, Fellowship and Faith.  F3 exists to plant serve and grow small work out groups for the invigoration of male community leadership.  F3 has five core principles – we are open to all men, we are free of charge, we always meet outside, we are led in a rotating fashion and we always end in a circle of trust.  It was also at this point the Q mentioned that here at F3 we never leave a man behind but we will never leave a man where we found him.  Q asked if there were any FNG’s…where there weren’t…and stated the disclaimer. 

It was at this time that the Q explained that today he wanted each and everyone to think of someone that they have lost in their lives.  It could be someone that has passed away or it could be a good friend that they have lost touch with that is important in their lives.  Pick your person and keep them in your heart cause they are going to be your battle buddy today.  They are going to be the one you think about when it gets tough…they are going to be the one to push you to keep going.  And afterwards…everyone is going to get a chance to mention their names. 

Q went on to say that today…I want everyone to suffer a little bit and I want you to suffer for that person you are carrying with you today.  Push yourself beyond what you think you can do.  If you feeling it in a workout…and you want to modify…try and push one more rep.  Do more than you think you can without getting hurt.  And rely on that memory of the person in your heart to help you get there.  Once everyone had their name…we moseyed to the parking lot to the east of the school.    

Warm – A – Rama – Parking Lot East of the School. 

• Side Straddle Hops – 10 IC
• Cherry Pickers – 10 IC
• Tappy Taps – 10 IC
• Yodel Thrusts with Eye Contact – 15
• Michael Phelps – 10 IC

Pre-Thang – Same Place – In circle – Slow cadence

• 8 count Merkins – 10
• 6 count Burpees – 10
• 4 count box cutters – 10
• Take a lap

• 8 count Merkins – 10
• 8 count squats – 10
• 8 count leg raises – 10
• Take a lap

• 8 count Merkins – 10
• Single leg calf ups – 20 each side
• 8 count windshield wipers – 10
• Take a lap

Thang – 4 Man Grinder

One Pax grabs a coupon and rifle carries 25 yards – does 10 Thrusters – Rifle Carries back

Partners do exercises while waiting and switch off when the partner gets back.  Once everyone has coupon carried…then move to the next exercise on the list.  Go SLOW…FULL RANGE of MOVEMENT…GOOD FORM!!!

Exercises:

Ketchup called for 6inches of madness and 1 round of hammers and we were done. 

NOR

For Nam-a-rama Q called an audible and instructed the PAX to say their F3 name, age and the first name of the person they had in their hearts this morning.  The remaining PAX were instructed to say the name of each battle buddy…not the F3 name. 

COT

Within the last 18 months though personal experience…I have truly bought into the idea that we are where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there.  So, when I signed up to Q for this morning two months ago…I had no idea why…I just knew that I wanted to do and the event of the last 4 days have really brought that into focus. 

My battle buddy today was Steven B Longacre.  He passed away last Friday at the age of 67 years and 21 days and he was my Uncle.  He was born mentally handicapped in a time where programs, educations, acceptance, support etc…didn’t exist.  And sadly, a lot of people born like him were often put in hospitals or asylums or a room in the basement and just forgotten.  But not him.  Thanks to the herculean efforts of my grandparents Steve lived a fulfilling and active life.  And it wasn’t without discrimination and unkind people and difficulty…but he lived…and the people around him made sure he got to live.  Some of things he accomplished in his life:

• He had a job for the majority of his life and it was only recently due to health issues that he stopped working. 
• He lived on his own in an assisted living facility from his mid 20’s up until about six months ago. 
• He loved to bowl and golf and even got the opportunity to compete in the international special Olympics and he medaled. 
• My grandpa told me yesterday that they started a special needs scout troop that he participated in with other kids as well. 
• He loved Elvis Presley for whatever reason…
• He always had an AM/FM radio with him.  No idea what he listened to…but we would all be together and you would look over and he would have that thing up to his ear listening to something…
• And if you ever needed a schedule for women’s volleyball or men’s football in Lincoln…he was your guy.  And in fact as we were moving things this weekend cleaning out his place…we found 6 schedules under a recliner that has fallen out of his pocket at some point in the last year…so that was a fun little wink. 
• He enjoyed watching old westerns and my grandpa could set his watch by the times he would call just to say hello. 

As I look back and I think about who Steve was and I think about my life at this moment and why I am here this morning…Steve epitomizes what F3 teaches us…and that is the world needs the six…The world needs people like Steve.  Someone who is capable…smart…interested in thing…they just need help getting there.  They need our support and our commitment and our unselfishness to help them…cause they can’t do it on their own.  And when we do that…and we see them succeed…it is the greatest feeling in the world.  And that isn’t because we feel accomplished…but it is because we get to see their joy and their happiness. 

And for Steve…it was walking in the door…seeing him light up…shuffle over…throw his hand out and say HEY BIG GUY!!  It didn’t matter what you had in your life at that moment…you had to be there because you were the most important thing to him at that moment. 

So, my charge to you for the week…I want you to share something about your battle buddy with someone you haven’t ever shared it with.  Cause part of picking up the 6 is honoring them and what they stood for…and who they were…and they aren’t here anymore…the only way we can do that is by talking about them.  So go forth this week…and share.  Honor their memory. 

Ketchup then led us in a silent prayer and we departed the gloom.