February 14th, 2023
PAX (13): Beans, Baby Shark, Swiper, Double Dip, Knobs, Lite-Brite, Busser, Lady Bug, Rayban, Uncle Jesse, Fun Dip, Duracell, Hard Hat
Q: Hard Hat
Weather: Feels like 37 degrees, the wind and rain kicked in shortly before the workout, so it was a wet one.
Welcome: At 5:30 the PAX were welcomed and we went through the typical intro spiel. Then we frolicked on down to the field. The PAX were greeted at the field by a nice bright light, a boom box, and another large box. The music was turned on, the PAX gathered around the large box to await directions.
Thang: Valentine Box: The large box is a standard size for adjustable height box jumps, and has two handle slots cut in the ends. The PAX circle around the box and do an exercise AMRAP while one guy bear crawls down the field to the light (approximately 50 yards). That guys finds a valentine on the ground around the light, then bear crawls back. He jumps or steps up on the box to inform the group of the next exercise (written on the valentine), then another guy bear crawls down, etc. until we run out of time.
Exercises completed include, but were not limited to: Side Straddle Hop, Diamond Merkins, Pickle Pointers, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Sumo Squats, Makhtar N’Diayes, Heart Shaped Box Cutters, Alternating Booty Taps, Rosalitas, Low Dollys, Ass to Grass Squats, and Clap Merkins.
Valentines we didn’t get a chance to complete: Flutter Kicks, Pickle Pushers, Oh Yeahs, Horn Dogs aka Dive Bombers, Cherry Pickers, Crab Cakes, and Workin’ It Merkins.
We had quite the load to bring back up the hill to the parking lot, but the PAX divided and conquered that task. We met back up at the flags and completed Rancid style Sarpy Slammers.
We closed things up with announcements about the Gradoville Scholarship event coming up on Thursday, the pre-run challenge, Freed to Bleed on Friday, APEX on Thursday at Stinson Park and Monday at Hickory Hill Park. We had prayers for Yogi and Rowdy’s family, prayers of thanks for good results with Uncle Jesse’s kid, and general prayers for injured PAX.
I thought about a super sappy COT, but chose to go a different route. Friday I had a COT about my F3 journey, and it really got me reflecting about how I was went I got into the group and how I’d progressed through. When I started in F3, I wasn’t the six, but I was also far from being out in front from a fitness standpoint. I really did not ever want to be the six, but I also struggled with many of the exercises, and had to push hard to complete the reps with good form, etc. As I continued on, the exercises got easier and I was really accelerating from a fitness standpoint. I’m at a point now with an injury that has me being the six often, and although this isn’t my first time doing the workouts with a boot on, it’s been hitting me different. I notice and value more when guys sacrifice some of their workout to pick up the six. Whether it’s me they’re picking up, or someone else, I see it and appreciate it. Although I don’t ever think I need anyone to come pick me up, and will definitely say things as such, it does still mean a lot to have someone come hang out and walk or whatever to get to where everyone is going. I appreciate my boot brother, Lite-Brite for making the journey to Sanitarium for his first time there. I was also reminded this weekend of the value of sacrificing my time and desires for someone else. I helped my kids make their valentines boxes for school, and I also made one for myself for this workout. Over the weekend though, I helped my daughter with hers before I did much with mine. Her box took so long to make, and was a big pain in the ass. Thankfully I didn’t complain much while building it. She enjoyed the process of making it, and was happy when it was complete. The big moment for me though, was the next morning, as soon as she woke up, she rolled out of bed, gave me a huge hug and said thanks for helping build my valentines box. It was a heartwarming moment, and really helped remind me of how great things can be if we just take some time to serve others before serving ourselves.
Happy Valentines Day!
Hard Hat