“Never Better” was my answer when you asked me how I’d been.  A lyric from Perpetual Groove’s (my favorite band of all time) song “It Starts Where it Ends”.  I’ve thought about that song and lyric a lot lately and I ask you to do the same.  I can truly say “Never Better” is the answer to how I’ve been.  6 months ago, we started this F3 thing in Greenwood.  I was recovering from an Achilles tear and subsequent surgery, overweight, and generally unhealthy.  I was fortunate to be there the first day (May 9), and honored to Q this morning as several of our members ventured down to Augusta to launch their very own F3.

13 PAX attended today’s workout which was a repeat of our very own BigBang.  A mere 6 months ago, this workout kicked our collective asses.  I remember looking at the soon to be named Posh during the original COP, as we struggled to knock out 10 Merkins IC, thinking there was no way we were going to make it for an hour. I was so sore the entire next week, I took all I could do to get out of bed.  Today, it was a great workout, but the change in myself and abilities was readily apparent.

Now on to some lyrics from the song that I think are very telling with respect to where we are today:

“This point in life is not a segue, but in fact this is the act, where the plot thickens”  —  Here we are 6 months out from our BigBang.  My life has changed dramatically for the better.  I’ve lost 15 pounds, my blood pressure has dropped from 135/99 to 120/80, I look a lot better, and I’ve got a great group of friends (some old, but many new) that have my back.  But we cant stop here, the plot must thicken as we continue to get better, push ourselves, and lead in our community.

“I’ve got my towel packed and ready, I’m all set to hitch a ride, I don’t know my destination, but I’m sure it’s on the far side”   —   I think about this every morning when I get in my car to venture into the gloom.  I do not know what’s in store, but I know it’s going to be awesome.  Think about the Mudrun – that was definitely on the far side.

“So I try just to take it and face it with a grin, and I try to remember that it’s all in the master plan.” – All you can do is put a grin on your faces when you post for a workout and it kicks your butt for 45 mins to an hour.  Still today, I think during some of our workouts that I’m not going to make it the full distance, then when I do, I know it’s part of the master plan.  We often talk about the 3rd F.  I’ll just say that there is a master plan, and F3 is part of it.

“Still you try and try, but you know, some things in life will never go your way” – Even with the great things that are happening around us, some things are going to pop up that challenge your thinking,  I ask that you keep pushing and understand the PAX are there for you through anything.

“You Live.  You Love.  You Die.” – How true is this?  Make the most of it gentlemen.  Be better men, husbands, fathers, etc and leave a legacy that will stand the test of time.

I hope you can truly answer “Never Better” when someone asks you how you’ve been.  (And if you don’t like this song, you are probably a communist, and that’s okay too.)  -Signed Uncle Jesse

The Thang:

COP – Field – All exercises in 4-Count Cadence:

· Merkins x5

· SSH x25

· Imperial Walkers x25

· Little Arm Circles x20 each Forward and Back

· High Knees x20

· Squat x15

· Merkins x10

· Flutter Kicks x25

· Mountain Climbers x20

· LBC x20

· Merkins x10

· Freddie Mercury x20

Mosey to sideline

Ark-Loader

· Bear crawl across and back

· Crab walk over an back (plank)

Mosey to the Benches

· Step-ups – 10 each leg

· Incline Merkins – 10 (4ct)

· Dips – 10 (4ct)

· Step-ups – 10 each leg

· Decline Merkins – 10 (4ct)

· Dips – 10 (4ct)

Find a line:

· Ski hops side to side – 30 seconds

· LBC – 20 (4ct)

· Ski hops front and back – 30 seconds

· LBC – 20 (4ct)

Mosey Back to Field – with Modification for Stadium Stairs entire length of EHS stadium home side.

Field Work –  Cones at 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards

5 minute AMRAP Circuit 1: Legs

· 1st cone 10 jump lunges in place

· 2nd cone 5 burpees

· 3rd cone 10 squats

· 4th cone 5 burpees

5 minute AMRAP Circuit 2: Abs

· 1st cone 10 Big Boy Situps

· 2nd cone 10 Russian twist (count only one side)

· 3rd cone 10 Homer to Marge (count only one side)

· 4th cone 30 C-LBC

Mosey to Shovel Flag.

COT

Ball of Man

Great to have Lighthouse with us again and props to Posh for his return appearance.