F3NWInd

F3 NorthWest Indiana

Einstein

BACKBLAST 11/28/24 Thanksgiving Clover Leaf

24 PAX came out to start their Thanksgivings with a ruck and some good ole fashioned beatdowns. It was a chilly, windy morning, but it went quickly. We had 9 sandbags for the event, and everyone had time under weight. This will be an imperfect backblast.

PAX: 2005, 4howa, Beaker, Bert, Boo Boo, Class Act (QIC), Crash, Dr. Freud, Einstein, Heisenberg, HHH, Kato, Lug Nut, Mufasa, OCB, Optimus, PacRat, Peyton, Rusty, Scarecrow, Solo (downrange), The Mick, Yogi, Zombie.

QIC: Class Act

Round 1 (0600 – 0700)
The 15 early risers began with a quick mosey around the square to meet back up at the flag on the pavilion on the east side. We launched into the usual: good mornings (10ic), windmills (10 ic), perfect squats (10 ic), perfect lunges (10 ic), perfect merkins (10 ic). We performed some other exercises, including I think step ups with 20 on each leg. We performed a circle of death with some PAX on the bags and some just using rucks. We rocked out some curls, deadlifts, and rows. Then we saddled up, got in formation, and took a circuitous route to Wheeler/Bulldog Park. At Bulldog Park, PAX broke into groups of 2. One PAX ran to the sandbags, did three sandbag toss burpees, and tagged their partner. The other partner was doing AMRAP big boy situps for a total of three rounds. PAX took the same route back to conclude round 1.

Round 2 (0700-0800)
Second round, we did more warmups, such as SSH with rucks on. We lunged out of the pavilion, to the corner, and back to make a little square. Boo Boo had to move his truck at some point. We did a circle of death in which I had a few PAX choose a ruck exercise and a sandbag exercise. We did some ruck pushups and I forget what the other PAX picked. We got under weight again and headed north on the bike trail, then did a loop back to one of the parks nearby. There, we grouped up again. One PAX ran to the bags and did three cleans while the other PAX did AMRAP squats for three rounds. We had more time, so PAX performed three rounds of rows while the other PAX held high plank. We took the same route back to the square to meet up with PAX.

Round 3 (0800 – 0900)
Third round it was more of the usual. I do remember we did pinky pies. For the third movement we rucked to the south entrance of St Mary’s School. There, PAX partnered up again and did a DORA of 50 pushups and 150 squats, while the timer did 5 deadlifts. We rucked back to the square and PacRat closed the morning with some much needed yoga.

Moleskin
Despite the lack of details in the backblast, Thanksgiving morning was jam packed. It never felt like there weren’t a lot of us. Each round had a solid number of PAX. Shout out to PacRat, HHH, Beaker, Yogi, Boo Boo, Mufasa, Peyton, OCB, Optimus, and of course the Q for toughing out all three rounds. This is one of my favorite events of the year, and I’m glad we could pull it off again this year. I am extremely grateful for this group and all of you. Love you, men. See you next weekend at the Christmas party!

BACKBLAST 10/18/24 – The Mick’s 65 at The Hub

BACKBLAST 10/19/24 –The Mick’s 65 At The HUB

Weather – 60 deg F and perfect out – fall at its best

Pre-Ruckers – The Mick, Boo-Boo, Heisenberg, Mufasa, and Scarecrow running 11 miles (!!!!)

Pax – (15) The Mick (Q), HHH, Bert, Editor, Dr. Freud, Mufasa, Scarecrow, Heisenberg, Lights Out, Class Act, Boo-boo, Peyton, Einstein, Rocky Road, Rusty

Warm-up

10 Bean Picker

10 Abe Vigoda

10 Hillbillie

10 IST

10 Arm Circles Forward/Backward, Seal Clap, Michael Phelps

10 Apollo Ono

10 Bonnie Blair

First Thang – Merkin/Burpee Complex – 6 Merkins IC + 5 Burpees …. 6&5

We went around the parking lot and down the entrance stopping at each light poll – TEN total.  At each poll we did a set of 6 merkins IC, followed by 5 burpees.  Total of 120 Merkins, 50 Burpees.  Each set of Merkins was different. 60 Merkins IC and 5 burpees … my “65”

1. Merkin

2. Mike Tyson

3. Hand Release

4. Navy Seal

5. Right Hand high

6. Left Hand high

7. Right Leg up (I think leg up merkins are the hardest)

8. Left leg up 

9. Knuckles

10. Fingertips

Second Thang – Bear Crawl (65 yards) with Jack Webbs every 13 yards

Bear Crawl about 11 yards (6 times), stop and do 5 Jack Webbs – 65 yards and another 6 & 5 Rep set

Third Thang – Suicides – 6 lines 5 Bonnie Blair Squats each line

We did a 6-line suicide.  At each line we did 6 count Bonnie Blair with a squat, 5-reps.  Bonnie Blair IC (1-2-3-4) and a squat (5-6) 5 times.  6 & 5 again

Forth Thang – Leg Wrecker – Lung Walk 65 paces, 5 Prisoner squats each 5 lunges

Lunge across the parking lot 5 lunges, pause 5 prisoner squats.  Took about 13 sets so 65 lunges and 65 squats.

Parking lot lap

Fifth Thang – Mary – I hate leaving time for Mary … rather go all out until the end

10 Low Flutters

10 WWII’s

10 Low Dolly’s

10 Bay City Scissors

10 Freddy Mercury

10 side crunches each side

Moleskin

Well, that Beatdown felt like it was everything I hoped it would be.  It had merkins for upper-bodyterrorism, Bear Crawls for mental fortitude, suicides with prisoner squats for endurance (I liked the prisoner squats – a Troy favorite that forces you to go slower, or at least makes me go slower) and lunges for that boost of lactic acid to promote soreness.  In the end you should have felt 65, just like I turned Saturday.  At least I hope you now “respect” 6 & 5 or 65 a little more.  Hopefully, everybody’s body weight, our low rep counts, and our high set counts resulted in a great start to a Saturday.  

I did not have WOW prepared, did not really think about it and clearly was neither eloquent nor profound.  I did say I used to strive to be first to finish exercises and lead the pack in the APFT.  After more than 7 years of this, I (1) can no longer come close to leading the pack but, (2) have matured to push myself and not hurt myself and worry about me.  Its best to let you do you as they say.  But it is also best to just show up and get a rush from trying to be better or stronger than you were the week before.  

It’s amazing what this group can do for the whole person.  The brotherly love and camaraderie in NWI have generated amazing results in personal confidence, family relationships, substantial weight loss, andeven leanness.  It has also helped brothers fight back from injury or serious illnesses.  I could name names and want to, but don’t want to leave anyone out.  Each one of you has done something to elevate your stature in my eyes.  I find each of you to have a little something in your character that I truly admire.  As I said in my WOW, your care and concern for me is what draws me in and along with that little something I admire in each of you, that may be the atomic force that keeps me returning for the next beatdown.  I can tell you for sure, I admire the men of faith in this group.  Your commitment in your belief in a higher power and saving grace inspires me.

Well, enough rambling. I’ve probably said it all before.  Time to publish this since (1) I am always late with it and (2) not sure it always gets read by more than a couple of PAX.  But it is our duty to Backblast, and it is our honor to share our thoughts for the record and those who do chose to read it. I am honored by mycreator and Savior to have made it to 65.  Many humans do not make it this far.  I am honored to have found F3 NWI.  I am honored and humbled to be known by each and everyone of you.  May God richly bless you, your fitness and health, your family, and friends, F3 and our great nation.  

All the best, until I have to come up with a beatdown in a year that features 6 & 6 (hopefully not 666 …😊),  

The Mick

10 Year Convergence @ The Hub

Saturday July 13th 2024 @ The Hub 7am to 830am 10 year anniversary bootcamp.

Pax:

We had 66 Pax including 5 Pax from Indianapolis, 6 Pax from the Southside and 2 FNG’s. Welcome BooBoo & 10k. T-Claps to Antman and Bob Villa for joining us from Colorado and Florida.

We had 2 Pax who rucked from 5am to 7am around Bethel for a couple of hours; Mufasa and Atticus. We had 3 additional Pax join in at 6am; Trader Joe, Editor & Heisenberg.

Warmup:

7am to 710am: T-Claps to Crash for the opening message of motivation, sharing the disclaimer and getting us going with the warmup!

The Thang:

710am to 805am: T-Claps to HHH, Gummy Bear, Optimus, and OCB for leading our efforts at the stations! They worked together to ensure we had diversity in the workouts, appreciate you fellas.

Mary:

805am to 815am: T-Claps to Campbells for stepping in and leading us through 6 minutes of Mary.

WOW:

825am to 830am: T-Claps to The Mick for sharing his words of wisdom; see below:

Fitness, Fellowship, Faith … For me the magic of F3 is FAITH

  • Faith that God led you to this
  • Faith that you might get more Fit
  • Faith that you might lose Weight
  • Faith that you might become a Stronger Leader
  • Faith that your family may benefit from.  Your marriage may grow, your kids may look-up to you more.
  • Faith that “doing the harder thing makes you stronger” (in more ways than one)
  • Faith in F3’s principle of Fellowship than can be summed up in “Leave no man behind, Leave no man where you found him”
  • Faith in accountability, that belief that when you acknowledge someone on a -10 degree F morning in January in NWI that it may be the acknowledgement they were looking for, the acknowledgement that gives them reassurance for the day ahead
  • 2 Corinthians 12 says: “God’s power is made perfect in weakness” and “When I am weak, I am strong” (because of God’s power and love)

Have Faith as your first F and the other 2 F’s, Fellowship and Fitness, will follow, and you will be blessed!

Also, thank you to all previous and current Nant’an(s) Fonzie, Ironman, Barricade, Scarecrow, HHH and Peyton

Moleskin:

10 years! Fonzie, we are grateful for you, I know there were many single digit Pax workouts in the early days – our sincerest thank you for holding steady and building this into what it is today!

This year’s leadership team started planning this in February; respect to Crash, Dr. Freud, HHH, Gummy Bear, Optimus, OCB, Coors, Pacrat, 2005, Atticus, Class Act, & Mr. Incredible for your suggestions and participation in making this all happen!

Also, thank you to all the Pax that brought canopies, chairs, and tables; HHH, 2005, OCB, Campbells & Heisenberg (anyone else I missed)! T-Claps to 2005 for hooking us up with his brother (Nomad) & Clearly Canadian – this was great! I know many Pax are drinking Clearly Canadian all weekend. T-Claps to Crash for getting us the 1 through 4 flags and the airhorn. T-Claps to Optimus for the music playlist and T-Claps to Zombie for filming and putting the video together. T-Claps to Dr. Freud for the F3 chocolate cake!

To add, I want to thank Class Act for getting our 10-year celebration started with a 10-mile ruck; we had 8 Pax; Rusty, Atticus, Optimus, Mufasa, Mickey Tints (the longest he has ever rucked!), Scarecrow, Class Act & Peyton who all participated!

Scarecrow for planning and leading our Pax with a 10-mile run; we had 9 Pax; 45, Fat Tire (the longest he has ever run!), Mr. Brown, HHH, Destro, Heisenberg, Pheidippides, Scarecrow & Peyton who all participated!

We have a couple of more events planned; bags, cards and tacos @ Peyton’s on July 20th and Movie Night (Twisters) with Groening on August 3rd @ the AMC in Schererville

Lastly, looking forward to sharing a national F3 Anti-Trafficking event that I will encourage all of us to participate in come October as a part of our 10-year celebrations, more news to follow!  

Now, as far as the day – what a day and what a workout! The music was pumping – the Q’s were rocking – the Pax were sweating and looking for water (gave up on the rhyme). I know Dr. Freud said one of his friend’s woke up sore on Sunday, not him … but one of his friends, lol. When I got home my boys were talking about their favorite station and the hardest station, I loved them going back and forth … they did not agree about any of the stations, great sign!

We had 14 RESPECT Pax. The over 60 RESPECT RESPECT Pax; Heisenberg, Come Back Kid, Lights Out, The Mick, and 4howa. We had 14 HATE Pax. The under 20 HATE Pax … Rocky Road, Einstein, Zombie, Bump, Goon, Mad Max, Slug, Curious George, and Shaggy. How about that!

Flyer success story … one FNG – we named him Booboo. It turns out, Bozo and Booboo are buddies from back in the day. I think Bozo has some stories.

Rusty brought an FNG – we named him 10k! He had a nice message to share, and I think we inspired him to come back!

If I am following the socials properly, one of our pax .. All In … is all done with his military duties – it was great to see him getting after it with his old man, Federali. We have to get All In on Band and hope to see him in the gloom soon.

It was great to see some of our newer 2024 Pax; Wide Birth, Mickey Tints, & Pheidippides – we appreciate you and look forward to spending more time with you in the gloom or eating tacos, does not matter to me – we just want to see you!

The Come Back Kid, Deacon, Mike Brady, Faceplant, Style Bender, Tank & Jaws all in the house! Man, it was great to see all of you too and I encourage you to keep coming out – you make us better – although we see Tank from time to time for a ruck, I see him all the time at the Y – you got that bootcamp in bro, appreciate you and good work! Mike Brady and I are talking triathlons and looking forward to the next Ultimate game.

Destro, Mop Bucket and I grow up together – we spent a lot of time playing basketball, going to clubs, and partying – glad we turned the page and finally started working out. Mop Bucket is F3 Southside – glad he came out and joined us for today’s celebration. By the way, one of those parties was at 2005’s house and that is how we met him!

Now, the F3 NWIND OG of all OG’s Class Act is celebrating 10 years this upcoming week … not sure if you knew that – congrats brother.

Random observations: Fat Tire’s mustache is bad ass and makes me jealous … Al Gore did the whole bootcamp with a weight vest, you crazy bro …  I saw Roadshow rocking out and singing some serious lyrics with the tunes we had going, did I miss the air guitar … Kato had the nicest black & red Nike sneakers on during the bootcamp … Trader Joe is looking strong, noticed him on the murder bunny hill, keep it up bro … Groening had the coolest aviator shades on during coffeeteria … Gummy Bear has the coolest nameorama move and now the boys and I have to figure out what they will be doing to try and match it. It so nsync. Goon can throw a disc, I saw him catch one with his neck, for real … we need to get him out for Ultimate!

It was great to connect with the Pax from Indy & Southside, their Pax helped push us over 50 Pax.  In speaking to them, they were impressed with each rotation/station and the quality beatdown they received, well done!

The Mick’s message; Faith leads to the other 2 F’s of Fitness and Fellowship … the blessings will follow! Here is how I look at it … in many instances, Faith (Hope) leads to purpose, and his message is a reminder for me to keep the Faith … it is critical to purpose – consistency in messaging is important, thank you Mick!

I only heard good news about Coffeteria and the time spent in fellowship; several Pax appreciative of the F3 stickers Scarecrow provided, did you get yours?! The breakfast sandwiches were provided by Saturday Sangria Bakery & Café in Winfield – I did notice all the non-meat sandwiches were left for last, I’ll remind future leadership to avoid that in 2029 and 2034.

Editor & Atticus we missed you in the video but you were not forgotten in conversation, thank you for posting even when you had a long road trip and wedding to attend.

Per Muck’s suggestion … Pax of the Day for the longest commute … Antman. I think Bob Vila is too far North in Florida as a result too close to Indiana but either way gets the silver. Also, thanks for all the gloves I have been passing out!

I know we had many Pax out of town, I know you would have posted if you could – we missed you!

As for me, the only ask HHH had for me when he passed the Nant’an duties over was to ensure we got the 10 year celebration event(s) right!  HHH and Fonzie both told me not to get stuck in the planning process – to live in execution and to make decisions. Thanks for all the guidance brothers! I think it worked out well, we had a great leadership team who picked it all up and executed!

Lastly, I believe my 3 boys will remember 66 men of all ages getting after it at 7am on a random Saturday morning in July – I think it will inspire them toward incorporating the 3 F’s for the rest of their lives.  I don’t remember my Dad having friends the way I do at my age and I want them to know how important these friendships are as you get older. My Dad suffered from depression most of his life and I truly believe if F3 was a thing back then, F3 would have absolutely made a difference in his life. I have no doubt, he would have loved it. Zombie is now in college, and he has been attending bootcamps since he was 13 … almost 7 years now, to him … this is normal. Einstein and Rocky Road, they will be 16 here soon and they don’t know a life without F3 either … they have been attending bootcamps and Christmas parties for almost as far back as they can remember … they know many of you only by your F3 name and if you ask me, I think that is pretty cool. I want them to know how important this is for my mental, physical, and spiritual health. You all demonstrate that for them, thank you!

Men, I love you all … I am so proud to be a part of this group and to call all of you my friend – to another 10 years!

Aye’

Peyton