Friday, DEC. 23rd | The Combine | Kiewit Middle School | -29 degree wind chill, tit bit nippy.
I was beyond excited when Kill Switch reached out with some open Q slots at Combine. Granted at the time I didn’t have an accurate weather forecast to reference but that’s not here nor there. I was excited for a couple reasons. The Combine was one of the first AOs I started regularly posting at last summer. Before I was familiar with the lexicon and the little nuances of each AO I just remember always getting my teeth kicked in at every beatdown there. It seem like who ever was on the Q always turned the volume up a little past normal. Oddly enough I loved it (after it was done, not during…). Eventually I realized the moniker or tag of the hardest working AO in Omaha and it started making sense. Not to cast shade because every AO in F3 Omaha is hard working I just think people to add a little extra sauce when they Q at Combine. Second because I have really looked up to Kill Switch and appreciated his leadership and fellowship since I started. I knew a small number (like 1.5) of PAX and he was honestly the first person outside of that bubble who I connected with and made an effort or interest in helping me accelerate and feel included. We pre-rucked a couple times together and while it was probably no big deal to him at the time but it meant a lot to me. For that I am forever grateful and want to pass that on to the next FNG.
PAX (7): Kill Switch, Beaver, Tight Lip, Armando, Toto, Al Borland, Motorboat
QIC: Motorboat
Welcomed the PAX to F3 – Fitness, Fellowship and Faith – Reminded PAX of the mission statement: Plant, Serve, and Grow small men’s workout groups for the reinvigoration of male community leadership.
Covered the 5 core principles of F3.
1) Open to ALL men.
2) Free of charge.
3) Always held outdoors (always).
4) Lead in a rotating fashion.
5) End with a Circle of Trust (COT).
Breezed through the Credo: Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you found him.
Finished with the disclaimer that I am not a professional and to modify as needed. Verified all PAX looked adequately dressed for the conditions. Made mention of spare gloves and hats if anyone needed a loaner for the post. Everyone was prepared. It should be mentioned that Beaver had on an incredible display of Christmas spirit in the form of large bulb lights in a battery powered necklace of sorts around his neck. Note these were safely stowed away before exiting the lot.
Let’s go… 5:17AM…
Started with a mosey from the flags to the south side of the school. Made it 12ft and saw a late arrival… Toto (my EH OG) was coming in hot like a Kansas Twister after missing the 156th street exit. Did the old U-Turn at 168th and put him back 6 min by his estimate. We called an audible and started SSH x 20 IC letting him park and throw on the necessary layers. 20 SSH IC eventually turned into “Let’s… Go… Toto…”
And then we moseyed on the original path. No harm no foul. I’d wait 30min for my favorite K-State fan if I had to.
5:22AM… Arrival at south side of KMS.
Warm-a-rama:
- 15 SSH IC
- 15 Big Ones
- 15 Tappy-Taps
5:24AM… Departure from south side of KMS and mosey off to very confusing neighborhood to start the String Of Pearls (SOP)
Managed to pre-ruck the planned route for the String of Pearls beatdown with Beaver and Site Q extraordinaire Kill Switch in the -25deg weather. I went from “not confident at all” about my ability to navigate the neighborhood to “with some luck we might not get lost.” Good enough for government work.
Halt called out at the first house with admirable Christmas light display and:
- 10 Alt Shoulder Taps
Mosey to next house with nice Christmas light display and:
Halt
- 10 Alt Shoulder Taps
- 10 Merkins
Mosey to next house with nice Christmas light display and:
Halt:
- 10 Alt Shoulder Taps
- 10 Merkins
- 10 Alt Lunges
Mosey (got tired of counting and solicited help of PAX):
Halt:
- 10 Alt Shoulder Taps (Kill Switch)
- 10 Merkins (Tight Lip)
- 10 Alt Lunges (Toto)
- 10 Imperial Walkers (Beaver)
Mosey (was kind of unsure of where we at – verified with Kill Switch we were on the right street – he said “ya sure… I think so… we’re fine.”
Halt:
- 10 Alt Shoulder Taps (Kill Switch)
- 10 Merkins (Tight Lip)
- 10 Alt Lunges (Toto)
- 10 Imperial Walkers (Beaver)
- 10 Air Squats (AB)
Mosey:
Halt:
- 10 Alt Shoulder Taps (Kill Switch)
- 10 Merkins (Tight Lip)
- 10 Alt Lunges (Toto)
- 10 Imperial Walkers (Beaver)
- 10 Air Squats (AB)
- 10 Bobby Hurleys (Armando)
Mosey:
Halt
- 10 Alt Shoulder Taps (Kill Switch)
- 10 Merkins (Tight Lip)
- 10 Alt Lunges (Toto)
- 10 Imperial Walkers (Beaver)
- 10 Air Squats (AB)
- 10 Bobby Hurleys (Armando)
- 20 Merkins (Motorboat)
OMAHA @ 5:48 at the residential circle just west of the school track. Took the pedestrian path back through the parking lot back to the flags. Mover 6MoM to a wind break behind someone’s Jeep.
American Hammers IC Rancid style 3 times through. Finished on 21…
Name-A-Rama
Announcements
Prayer Requests
COT:
Planning for this COT I had every intention to talk about slow and steady progress. All too often we forsake steady long term growth (hard work) for instant gratification (easy button). However feeling tired, freezing cold, and a little vulnerable I just started rambling about the last couple weeks and some personal struggles I’ve had. It’s a busy time of year. And the expectations at work and with family are almost limitless with the holidays. I explained my relief valve and saving grace has been the opportunity to wake up at 4:30AM and spend 90 minutes with some incredible dudes. No doubt in my mind without the F3 Omaha PAX to lift me up and push me through this time I’d be right back at my sad clown cycle and missing so many great blessings and memories in light of the stress and circumstance of the holiday rush. And for that I am ever grateful.
Toto was kind enough to take us out in prayer.
Aye!
Motorboat