Heavy Metal AO | Wednesday, August 3 2022| Stinson Park, Aksarben | 5:30 AM | 77 degrees
PAX: Swiper, Romeo, Doll Face, Spacebar, Irish Car Bomb, Folsom, Stapler, Pig Pen, Hoo-Ha, Black Flag, Mahomes, Golden Pike, Black Lung, Wentworth, Zee-bo, Troy Bennett (FNG—Bobsled)
QIC: Q-Tip
It was a steamy morning at Stinson Park. YHC call the PAX together UN-promptly at 5:31 AM, (I apologize). I welcomed the PAX, recited the Mission, Core Principals, Credo, and Disclaimer. Today was my 1 year F3 Anniversary, and I was grateful that 16 other men showed up to help me celebrate. A few of the exercises today recalled what we did a year earlier when Swiper EH’d me at the Cornhusker Handicap at this same location.
WARM-O-RAMA:
PAX moseyed to the stage, circled up, and performed the following:
SSH x 20 IC | Tappy Taps x 12 IC | Cherry Pickers x 15 IC |
PRE-THANG:
We moseyed to the benches at the opposite end of the park for the following:
20 Step ups |20 Dips
We then made the short trip to the Obelisk for 10 Chicken Peckers in cadence. Swiper performed these at my first beat down, and I recall thinking – at that time, “ This isn’t a real exercise—He’s making this shit up.” And also “I could never do that.” One year later, I proved to myself that I CAN do that.
THANG:
PAX moved to the play area for the Thang. We performed 20 reps of the following exercises:
Chest Flies| Chest Presses| Merkins| Curls| Triceps Kick Backs| Overhead Triceps Extensions| Goblet Squats| Lunges| Shoulder Shrugs| Curls—again| Werkins
The PAX took turns leading each individual exercise. We rinsed and repeated twice + until YHC called “Omaha” at 6:03 AM.
6MOM:
Alphabets A through Z | American Hammers Rancid Style x 11 IC
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Wentworth encouraged the PAX to sign up for the Brush Up Omaha project. We need volunteers. Please see the 3rd F channel in Slack to sign up
We welcomed an FNG, Troy Bennett, now known as Bobsled).
PRAYERS.
There were a few prayer requests today, including :
Lisa, Girl Dad’s M, who is receiving cancer treatment
Mad Dog will be traveling extensively over the next few months. We pray for his safety.
Blank Lung will be making a speech this month at his Alma Mater, York College. We wish him strength to deliver a message of encouragement.
COT.
It was 1 year ago today that I showed up at Stinson Park for a “workout” with Swiper and “a few guys.” Swiper didn’t tell me that this workout was a THING. He made it sound like an informal gathering. I had no idea what that decision to show up here would lead to.
I recall a couple of things about that first workout
- Since I didn’t realize F3 was a thing, I thought it was kind of funny when Swiper was leading exercises with that funny cadence.
- Chicken Peckers—I thought to myself “He’s making this shit up. I’ll never be able to do that.”
I got the name Q-Tip, because I had recently retired from my real career, and had started a side gig detailing cars. Credit to Two Step for tossing out the name that has identified me since.
I’m not sure what happened that morning that attracted me, but later that afternoon, I bought a pair of workout gloves, and made plans for my next workout, which was an Oscar Mike at the Oracle. It was the Oscar Mike that hooked me on the 2nd F. PAX like Wentworth, Safe Ride, Rollbar, Spacebar and many others were so welcoming. I hadn’t realized it before but I was starving for male companionship.
In the past year, I’ve learned I was capable of many things I had told myself I couldn’t do:
- Workout early in the morning before I had breakfast and 2 cups of coffee.
- That I would be willing to workout in cold weather and pouring rain.
- That I could improve my body to withstand these types of workouts. That’s why we did those f’ing Chicken Peckers today.
I want to thank each of you for the support and encouragement you have provided me this past year.
- I want to thank every PAX who said to me “Good work,” even when I knew I wasn’t doing good work. Your positive reinforcement kept me going.
- I want to thank the HIMs who showed up at Oscar Mike These men really embody the 2nd F and made me feel welcome week after week.
- I want to thank every PAX who picked up my Six when I was lagging behind. I especially recall a couple of bad days when Superfly, Sparty and Slow Pitch helped get me to “Omaha.”
- I want to thank Swiper for using subterfuge to get me here in the first place.
- I especially want to thank each one of you for being here this morning, for the encouragement you’ve given, for the great conversations, and for the awesome sound of men laughing.
THANK YOU ALL
Q-Tip