Tag: Thumb War

  • The Bert Fallen Hero WOD – from Fracsac

    Mr Rogers did a great thing by bringing the Fallen Hero theme to El Diablo. YHC signed up for the Q, or got signed up, but whatever. Getting to the AO early, the only other pax in the gloom was Mahatma. YHC was not alone, gonna be a good day! Wait, is that HG strolling down the path with his morning Joe? Three is good, then Channel Mullet and ThumbWar make it a handful.
    Mosey to the field for a warmup. Regular warm up stuff. Another Pax joined, so that’s probably it. Head to parking lot for the WOD.

    The Bert – Modified to fit 45 minutes

    50 burpees – one pax does the cadence for 10 x burpees, next pax counts a 10 or 20 second rest then counts 10 IC until we go around to 50.

    The last of the Pax showed up during the burpees making us 10 strong.

    100 ‘mericans – Go around to each pax IC x 10 taking a rest at each set of 25.

    100 walking lunges – same concept of 10 each pax IC but no rest.

    100 squats – same concept with no rest

    Now back down to walking lunges, ‘mericans and burpees.

    Stopped right at 6:15

    CoT

    NMM

    – YHC can take credit for not only introducing Hawgcycle to the IC burpee but for him actually calling the cadence. Unlikely story being in F3 for 10+ years but ok.
    – Mr Rogers is not good at cadence. I mean, he can count, I think, just not well. He was wearing a weighted vest so there’s that. Both Dale and Frito Lay had amazing cadence. Oh, and Mahatma wanted to hear a clap at the top of his IC burpees, just gonna leave that sit for a bit.
    – The Bert has a 400 M run after each evolution. We cut the lunges and squats short too. This was mentioned mid way through and HG became very upset. He kept saying we need to run the 400s. We ran around the parking lot once but that didn’t help.
    – Thank goodness a nice lady was walking by and took our pic, sweat and timers apparently don’t mix
    – Post CoT YHC hears “See ya Frac”, and HG is off on his 400m run. He really did want that.
    – 2 years ago YHC would do 400m runs and a certain Pax would complain about it, not naming names but now he loves them. The power of F3!

    Thanks for posting with me today. You make me better!

    SYITG

  • Local Legend 100 Meter South – from Fracsac

    It was 0530 and YHC was all alone. “Why?! Why must I be alone this day?! Have my F3 Brothers forgotten about me!?”
    The call was answered by Hawgcycle, Vagabond and Thumb War. It was hot, it was humid, but we were not alone.

    SYITG

  • Frac Field Day – from Fracsac

    YHC looked at the last few BBs for the Renni and saw a steady 5 to 6 Pax. This would be the perfect number to try something new.
    When 11 pax posted, YHC considered a reset but figured why not just go for it. Here’s how the fiasco went:

    Warmup facing the bacon with a Mr Rogers playlist blaring. Did regular stuff.

    Obstacle course/Stations:

    Tug of War
    Bear crawl
    Football toss
    Mayhem Merkins
    Jump rope
    Sandbags stuff
    Kettle bell swings
    Burpees

    One evolution.

    Grab the football and frisbee and head for the singing oak. Ring of fire with one pax throwing to make the oak sing. No song = 3 burpees.

    Mosey to back of museum tossing football and frisbee with 3 burpees per drop

    Sunday Mornings x 4

    COT

    PLC – IYKYK

    Good Times! SYITG

  • Merkin Math is Hard – from Mayhem

    75 degrees, 95% RH, 0 mph wind
    It was wet and not from rain

    Travelling from the East and not wanting to catch the train, High Rise was the first to arrive sometime before 5:20. YHC pulled up next and started running through the plans in my head. From 5:27 to 5:29 the PAX just kept coming with Thumb War bringing up the rear. 5:30 disclaimer and backwards down the track we went.

    After 150M total backwards mosey and 100M total mosey we ended at midfield.

    Quick Warm-A-Rama included GG, MMP (finally correctly demonstrated), IW, FM, PP, Crab Cakes (for Vagabond).

    First exciting effort amidst the mumble0chatter was Motivator-Merkins. Start with 10 motivators then 10 merkins. Count down from there to 1. Only 55 of each when completed. Zero sympathy.

    Next effort was the bear crawl inchworm. Two lines, planked, facing the playground. Last man bear crawls to the front and planks. Everyone goes twice. Boo-hoo the stickers… get over it. No complaining today.

    At the playground, we did the Rail Shuffle. Plank on the rail. We shuffled counterclockwise led by YHC . DOWN = merkin. TUCK = hop forward/back. Once the clock struck 12, all PAX took a turn performing 5 pull-ups.

    Next effort took place on the west side of the gym. Wall Plank with hands ICx20, Wall Plank with feet ICx20, Wall Sit & air presses. Rinse and Repeat, replace air presses with overhead claps.

    Next effort was on the baseball diamond. Circle up. Plank-o-rama. Alternating plank exercise and core exercise IC.
    Hip Slap – LBC
    Shoulder Tap – Freddy Mercury
    Merkin – Flutter Kick
    Put it all together and you get… MAYHEM MERKINS. One PAX at a time. One rep at a time. Twice around the circle of 13. Rest of PAX planking. This amazing exercise is still extremely difficult for some. I assume it is because they have to count all the way to 10… looking at you Mr Rogers, Kennah Brah, Rudy…

    All PAX spread out in the infield of the baseball diamond. A few PAX (Frac?) had to ask where the infield was located. Duck Joust… Duckwalk, arms crossed, knock fellow PAX down. Vagabond cheated… I mean won.

    Mosey back near the flag. Circle up because we ain’t done yet.

    Big Bang. Hold plank then explode up and do the exercise as fast as possible once I call it out. 3 burpees, 10 jump squats, 10 big bois. End with 15 Plank Jacks IC.

    COT
    Announcements – Greek Fest
    Intentions – Boo Boo’s SIL and Mess Hall’s MIL

    Enjoyed leading.
    SYITG!

  • Beat Down Vaggy Style – from Vagabond

    Back of museum wall work

    Moseying

    Benches at Roosevelt
    15 step ups 5 burpees
    15 dips 5 burpees

    Hill
    Derkins and ring of fire

    Sunday morning

    Mary

  • Rocky Balboa Returns (2-Year Manniversary Edition) – from Mr Rodgers

    Backblast: Rocky Balboa Returns (2-Year Manniversary Edition)
    QIC: YHC
    PAX: Too many to name, one less after Mustard’s ankle called it quits
    Conditions: Dry skies (for once), humidity set to “drenched”

    At 5:29 AM sharp, YHC gave a lightning-fast disclaimer (no actual lightning this time), and we were off to the rock pile. I instructed each PAX to choose a partner and a rock wisely—because no one wants to get stuck with a pebble… or a boulder.

    Warm-Up? Nope.
    Due to distance and time management (and possibly because warm-ups are overrated), we skipped tradition. Instead:

    Pax 1: 10 Side Straddle Hops

    Pax 2: Rifle carry the rock to the beatdown zone
    Switch and repeat until arrival. By the time we got there, Vagabond dropped a rock on Mayhem’s head, giving us a preview of the punishment to come. Shoulders were smoked. Mission accomplished.

    Exercise 1: “Rocky Balboa Returns”
    Pax 1: Run bleachers with your rock

    Pax 2: AMRAP — 5 Burpees, 10 Merkins, 15 Squats, Big Boys

    x3 Each

    💬 You’re the champ… until you drop the rock.
    Spoiler: several PAX were dethroned early.

    Exercise 2: “Stairway to Suck”
    Pax 1: Burpee broad jump at base, sprint up next stair set

    Pax 2: AMRAP — 5 Burpees, 10 Rock Thrusters, 15 SSH, LBCs

    x3 Each

    💬 It looks like a stairway. It feels like doom.
    Colonel Mustard’s ankle tapped out here. Respect.

    Exercise 3: “The Crawlinator”
    Pax 1: Bear crawl up ramp, run stairs, crawl to next set

    Pax 2: AMRAP — 5 Hellraisers, 10 Rock Squats, 15 Rock Shoulder Presses, Flutter Kicks

    x1 Each

    💬 Now featuring puddles of sweat to make bleacher crawling extra sketchy.
    Even YHC took off the weight vest. That says it all.

    Wrap-Up:
    Kid Rock blared. Sweat flew. Rocks were dropped. Bodies collapsed. Intentions were lifted to the Lord Almighty, and we dispersed knowing we earned this manniversary.

    Two years in, and still standing. Barely.

  • Cat Herding at El Diablo – from Fracsac

    The Double Nickel week continued with 8 Pax joining YHC.

    Hokie arrived with an FNG, adding to the already eclectic atmosphere at the flag. Thumb War was assigned to get to know the FNG throughout the workout and tell us about him at the COT.

    Disclaimer given and mosey to the field for a warmup. Lots of confusion over the Star Wars themed movements. Hand Grenada and Bogey thought they were already at coffee with all the mumble chatter. YHC was losing the pax and somewhat disappointed but faith was restored when the pax properly identified the greatest exercise ever created. YHC completely recovered with the Squat Twist. That really seemed to get Bogey back in the game. HG seemed lost, probably looking for Mayhem. Opportunity was taken to throw in some Catalina Wine Mixers. Aquanet really liked those and was telling Kilo how they truly were the 2nd best exercise. Kilo simply responded that he could fly a plane now. CWMs have that effect.

    Mosey to the corner of the field. YHC turned to see where the FNG was and realized he already shook Thumb War. He somehow sent him back to the flag. With HG looking for ghosts, The Architect was being drawn to the Bogey side. We quickly did 5 burpees at 11 different stations. Hokie pointed out that we did them at the cones and he was certain we did 55. Yes, yes we did.

    Mosey to the rock pile. YHC told the pax there was a theme coming.

    We did U-Hauls with the rock, followed by Rows. HG was mumbling to himself, the Architect and Bogey were sparring over Star Wars knowledge, and Hokie was looking for more cones. Aquanet and Kilo were making engine noises, not sure what that was about. But Thumbwar was back, which seemed to make our FNG a little disappointed.

    Mosey to the playground for Pull Ups. This was turning into Cat Herding. Somehow got the pax to do 3 rotations of 3 x pull ups with planking.

    Mosey to the KNOT steps. No sign of those guys.

    First we did Everest, which is a lunge up the step and a squat, alternating.

    Next was Elf on the Shelf.

    YHC asked for the theme.

    Burpees
    U-Hauls
    Rows
    Pull-ups
    Everest
    Elf on the Shelf

    It took a while but we got there. Mosey back to the flag for COT.

    Thumbwar did manage to get some info on the FNG. Marine Veteran and aspiring Chef. Welcome Mess Hall!!

    Thanks for joining me and for the brotherhood.

    SYITG

  • Franklin Classic – from Swingline

    BACKBLAST: Franklin Classic
    DATE: 4/30/25
    Q: @swingline
    AO: #El Diablo
    PAX: Mr Rogers, Thumb War, Bogey, Kilo, Hand Grenada, Vagabond, Mayhem, The Architect, Fracsac, Rudy, Padner, Aquanet, and Swingline
    FNG: 2
    TOTAL: 13
    CONDITIONS: ripe for a beatdown

    YHC had the HIM of Pontiff gathered in the field and the mumblechatter begins. Heaven forbid we start out somewhere new! Ornery PAX have to walk a few feet from their comfortable space between the fences. Mr Rogers rolls up with a weighted vest on thinking we are going for a stroll thru the park. Time to prove him wrong!

    (all present tense from here down – picture yourself in wet dewy football field)

    Warm-o-Rama:
    I am Swingline. I am DR from Franklin, TN and not a professional. This is El Diablo. I will bring the heat and I also brought 2 FNG’s today. I ask you HIM to help show them the ropes. Push yourself don’t hurt yourself. Modify as necessary to avoid injury but not to avoid putting in the work.

    We will start with some SSH’s. 30 because it is the 30th of April.
    In Franklin, we start every workout with the mission of F3 to remind ourselves why we are here. Mission stated – especially key for our FNG’s.

    BAC’s x 10, Back BAC’s x 10, Hill Billy Squats x 10 = 30
    Down in plank position 5 core principles and our credo x 5 each = 30.

    Time to heat up the warm up.
    10 burpees.
    Now 9.
    And 8.
    Trend continued: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Thang 1:
    Lets mosey north to the playground. Line up and grab some slippery ledge. In high plank, shuffle counter clockwise. When I say down it’s one merkin. Keep shuffling. When I say tuck its toes to ledge. Went around about half the park with several ups and tucks. Recover shortly. Now back CW.

    Thang 2:
    Mosey toward the hill. Stop for some filler work – tracers in the parking lot tracing out the lines of the spaces sprinting forward, shuffling left, politician back, shuffle, and repeat the length of the lot. Had to stop at the corner because the Q can’t figure out angles. Plank for the 6. Now mosey over to the hill for 4/30’s. 30 reps total. 5 burpees at base of hill. Crawl bear (bear crawl backwards) up the hill. 20 derkins or merkins at/near top. Bear crawl down. And 5 burpees at base of other side of the hill. Low plank for the 6. That’s 1 round. Rinse and repeat for 4 rounds. Mayhem only wanted to do 3 rounds but it’s 4/30 so no-go.

    30 jump squats for a little break and we are headed back.

    Thang 3:
    Mosey back toward the field. Tracers to even it out and get some shuffles to the right. Mosey to the goal line. 30 gorilla crawls – 15 each side. Then mosey back to the startex.

    Mary:
    10 “Franklin” Absolutions: 8 count – start in squat position, down to plank, down right elbow, down left elbow, plank jack, right up, left up back to squat – that’s 1
    Captain Thors: incremental 1 big boy to 4 American hammer combo. 1 BB + 4 AH, 2 BB + 8 AH, 3 BB + 12 AH…. all the way up to 9 BB + 36 AH. Was shooting for 10 + 40. Maybe next time boys!

    COT:
    This ding dong could not get phone to work, “recorded” a video of you HIM’s name-o-rama Franklin style – appreciate the adjustment.
    Named 2 FNGs that I work with. Welcome!!
    * Podner
    * Aquanet
    Moleskin: El Diablo on your shoulder. When I ok’d to Q El Diablo a few weeks back the first thing that came to mind for a moleskin was the idea of the devil on your shoulder. That thing there tricking you into negativity – like negative self talk and believing lies about yourself and telling yourself stories that might not be true. I’m not ____ enough: good enough, smart enough, don’t make enough money, etc. I encourage all to find ways to battle those lies with truth and confidence. F3 is an amazing organization that can help by surrounding yourself with other men that can pour into you and help you grow in your leadership. I asked the existing PAX to be there for the FNGs (hopefully they keep showing up!!). Remember who you are, you’re true identity and who you are called be as a leader!!
    We squeezed in together with an arm up for a Franklin style ball of man – prayers lifted up – and LEAD on 3!

    PLC was enjoyed by all! A few PAX felt I didn’t prescribe enough burpees so they did some extra credit. I will remember that for next time (or maybe tomorrow :))

    Thanks for letting me lead this morning! You HIM crushed it! And I truly am grateful for the southern hospitality shown this morning!! Thanks brothers!!

    Swingline out.

  • Life is a Grind @ the Mothership – from Triple Shift

    “Life is a grind” is an informal expression meaning that life can be difficult, routine, and tiring. It suggests that much of daily living involves hard, often monotonous work or tasks that can be emotionally or physically draining.

    Anyone that knows what I’ve been through the past year or so understands that phrase. I’ve prayed that this cup would pass but the good Lord doesn’t see fit that it passes anytime soon. So, the next best option is for me to get stronger. With that in mind, I get to work with 16 other pax members as they push me to get better.

    Warmarama – Head to the Peristyle for Slow (sometimes low) cadence exercises.
    10 LSS, 10 Tie Fighters (front and back) 10 Merkins, 10 Peter Parkers, 10 Shoulder Taps, 10 Floyd Mayweathers IC. Finished with 15 burpees IC (loved the audible grown when I hit ten with no voice inflection).
    The Thang 1 – Genuflect on the great lawn up to 10 genuflects / 20 lunges. Reverse plank for the 6.
    The Thang 2 – Run to the Children’s Museum and partner up for a modified dora with coupons. 50 blockees and 100 straight leg deadlifts while the partner runs up the ramp and does a pull up on the metal rails overhead and head back.
    The Thang 3 – Run to the baby foundry to perform 60 seconds (10 seconds on and 20 seconds off) of flexed arm hang while the other pax members held an Al Gore.

    Time is running out so we Indian walk while the last pax member sprints to the front and reach the flag at 7:31 am.

    Countoff, Namerarama, and COT – Welcomed FNG Nightingale (ICU nurse).

  • In Honor of Fr Kapan – from Mahatma

    The morning was crispy and after a long train 4 pax crossed the tracks to find Bogey in the cage doing a solo warm up as the clock was now 5:35 so no time to waste. All pax to line up on the goal line for a Red Barchetta – run the field 100 SSH, run back then 3/4 field 75 BBSU yet with the stickers in full bloom we all suffered a little pence then YHC modified to a square dirt patch to finish out – 50 air squats, 25 merkins and only 5 burpees.
    Followed by a short 3/4 track Indian run with the boom box baton – stopped at the pull up bars 3 rounds of 3 PU short run 5 merkins.
    Transition to several rounds of Mary
    Now 3 rounds of 3 PU short run 3 burpees.
    Transition to several rounds of Mary
    Head to the rock pile to grab a solid rock of choice for several rounds of: sitting over head hold, curls, chest press, squats, rows, pistons (thanks Rudy for the intro Handgranada said his back felt them from Monday) curl/sqaut/press, TriCep ext, and finished with curls again.
    Indian Run Back to pin.
    COT – Bogey threw out LQCO reminder for 2026 (better luck to Scantron, Uptown team, Frac/Triple and of course Handgranada)
    Prayers for intensions as well focus on Pride and Humility which Fr Kapan helped his troops endure while in Korean prisoner of war camp.