Gloom! No word in the F3 lexicon is more recognizable than Gloom. We associate it with the pre-dawn in which we gather to prepare for a workout while the rest of the world snuggles up tight in their fartsack and only dreams of progress. It’s mornings like these when the world is covered in a sheet of 2″ thick ice and temperatures that will never make it out of the single digits that the word Gloom finds it’s true meaning. There are a million and one small reasons to stay in the fartsack, but there are also many important reasons to face this type of gloom and build your mind and body with the other men around you. As YHC walked out of his house to make the journey down to the AO, he questioned those important reasons as he shut the warm house behind him and came face to face with a cold he had not felt since, well, maybe never. When you’re alone in this type of gloom you have so many questions. What kind of workout can we do on ice? Can we bear crawl on this stuff? Will there be other PAX members there? Have my life choices really come to this? Did I lock the door behind me? As YHC crested the hill at Great Meadow the fog from his breath parted and 2 men appear walking up the opposite side of the hill and their voices sounded familiar. A pair a headlights turned towards what now is a 3 man march towards the Thicket. A movement is happening, men are gathering. We circled up at the AO. We stared at each other. We understood why we were there. We got to work.
Warm Up
SSH
IW
Arm Circles
X wing jumps
Thang
After warm up under the overhang at the entrance of Woods, which was the only ice free spot within eye shot, we walked over to the play ground for some starter pull ups. Boyardee stated that he felt like he may have overdressed and packed himself into his clothes like his mom used to stuff him inside his snow suit to a point at which he had trouble walking. Time for pull ups. Sets of 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 were completed and it felt like our hands would stick to the cold metal bars like that kid’s tongue in a Christmas Story stuck to the metal flag pole. Searching for ice free spots, like Kevin Costner searching for dry land in Water World, Link found some under the gazebo and we did step ups, dips, derkins, repeato. As we were finishing off the gazebo routine, headlights approached, questions were asked, headlights turned into the parking lot, more questions, car parks with headlights pointed towards us, more questions were asked. Who could it be? Who’s driving around in this stuff? Why won’t the dark figure running towards us answer our calls? Is this just some nut job out for a run in our area? Are we going to have an Anchorman style fight right here? Is this an FNG? Should we EH this guy right here? So many possibilities. Finally, words come from the mystery man. ‘My car wouldn’t start’ says the man who we now realize is Stickman. It’s good to see you out here brother. Without hesitation he jumped right in to the next part of the workout as we jogged up into Briar Chapel stopping to complete a bear crawl, merkin, crawl bear, merkin to the top of the hill. Boyardee again makes another clothing announcement as he wished he had ordered those water proof gloves sooner. We all agree. Again, we’re back to searching for that illusive ice free oasis, and we come close when we find the gazebo at Great Meadow. Time for some Usain Bolt’s under the roof. Crab walks, lunges, squats, planks and a plethora of F3 exercises that can be completed in a 15×40 sqft area. Time was running out so we headed back to the AO for some more pull ups in sets of 10,8,6,4,2 and time was up. Here’s to Stickman for fighting through car and time issues to make it out to the workout. He understands how important it is to himself and the rest of the PAX. All of us that come out to F3 realize it’s not just a workout, it’s a way of bettering yourself and the men around you in mind, spirit and body. It’s hard to understand, but once you get it, you get it. The meaning of Gloom is far more than a time of day, it’s a state of mind.
Mary
Out of time
Announcements
Team meal cook for the Ronald McDonald House on 2/7 at @6pm. Boyardee will be the head chef. Money donations will be collected soon.
COT
Good work! Let’s get the hell out of here.
EC
Stickman stuck around to complete the dips, derkins that he missed earlier. Stickman, you are a beast my friend!
Strong Q this morning Link in the ice. This is Gloom! Aye!
