F3 Greenwood

My, my, my I’m so happy…

…I wanna join the band
We gonna sing and dance in celebration
We are in the promised land!

REDFridays always seem to be special, but as YHC rolled up to Old Glory waving in the wind, the air seemed a little more crisp, like this day was just a bit more special than most. Turns out, Sour has exited the land of #Hate and is now the big 4-0! Welcome to the club, brother! Your hair doesn’t look a day over 17. It’s also Inspector’s birthday. He is turning 32, so we still hate him (not really), but it is always awesome to have his hard-charging, never quit attitude around.

Hulk shot YHC a text late yesterday evening noting that duty had called and members of his flock were in need, so he was off to the ER to provide his sheep with peace, comfort, and, hopefully, a whole lot less of whatever lit is he coughs up during workouts. At 0458 this morning, YHC got another text from Hulk (who, it should be noted, coerced YHC into giving away the workout the night before by threatening excommunication from the church. When that didn’t work, he threatened excommunication from REDFriday. This was a bit too much to bear, so I gave in to the AOQ’s abuse of power.) stating he would be there. Savage stylee. Maybe it’s #BeardPower.

“Collin” was the WOD chosen, mostly for its ability to level the playing field between us fat boys who like to move lots of weight and all those runner dudes who leave us in the dust. This WOD requires the running – a mile and a half of it, cumulative – be done with the coupon.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Collin Trent Thomas, 33, of Morehead, KY, assigned to a Navy SEAL team based out of Little Creek, VA, was fatally shot on August 18, 2010, during combat operations in Eastern Afghanistan.

He is survived by his fiancée Sarah Saunders, his parents Clay and Jean Thomas, and his sister Meghan Edwards.

“Collin”

  • 6 Rounds For Time (RFT):
    • 400m run with coupon
    • 24 OH press (good ones, with the head through the window)
    • 24 box jumps
    • 24 sumo deadlift high pulls
  • Times
    • BenGay – 33:22
    • Hulk – 34:02
    • Juggernaut – 34:29
    • Sour – 34:45
    • Inspector – 34:51
    • Trojan – 35:15

While we were headed to secure our coupons, Sour and I chatted about the necessity of being mentally prepared for workouts and how easily one can get hurt if he is not engaged mentally in the workout. Thanks for bringing that up, Sour, since it flows so nicely into what Hulk refers to as the “Manvotion.”

Sugar, UncleJesse, Meatloaf, Metermaid and several others are big advocates of having an event on the calendar that you have to get ready for so that it is easier to maintain motivation. It is also easier to get prepared mentally for a workout and stay focused throughout it if there is a tangible goal. These guys (and numerous others) enter events with tons of confidence that they can execute at these events. Why? Because preparation yields confidence. They prepare themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally for these events during their regular workouts. Knowing that the preparation is key helps prepare them mentally for each workout. It’s not just an item to check off the list for the day; it is an opportunity to learn about themselves and get sharpened.

They then take those same concepts into other areas of their lives. And it shows.

If we are only applying these concepts to our physical training, then we are missing out on the things in life that can bring us true joy. Are we preparing our full selves for the day the same way we prepare our bodies?

Sadly, for me, the answer has been “no” for far too long.

So, I changed my approach in hopes of being a better man, husband, father, friend, and leader. My preparation for each day now begins in the Word. That bit of preparation gives me the confidence to show up around other people and interact with them (not always very well, but interacting nonetheless). That is a confidence that I have rarely seen most of my life. The confidence continues to build and build. Each successful bit of preparation bearing its fruit in its time.

The problem is that it is hard to change perceptions, which change habits, which change behavior,  which ultimately change who we are. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, right?

Many times that equation has to go backwards. It’s nearly impossible to think our way into new acting; we typically have to act our way into new thinking. How does that happen? With the confidence that comes from preparation.

We can’t be haphazard husbands, fathers, or leaders, hoping that we can lead our families and communities in the right direction. We must be confident leaders. Confident leaders are prepared leaders.