I’m moving to Greenville for a variety of reasons, but leaving F3 Summerville/Goose Creek is one of the toughest things to leave. When we started the AO in May of 2016 we had about 75 guys come for a convergence and we rocked the Creek for over an hour that Saturday. It was truly a spectacle. We did the full Murph that day and ran all the way to the muni to do our exercises and had random people join us because of the mass of people we had.  It took 20 minutes to name all the FNG’s. We named that pour guy Walk on. He ran all the way back to the Casey center but his car was still at the muni.  It was a good day but the challenge still lay ahead.

Today, it was very moist, it poured here yesterday and all the wet just hung about 5 feet off the ground. I like to do the Murph still on anniversary just to remember that workout, it sucked.

Warmup: Don quixote 10ic, Imperial Walker 10ic, Flutter kicks 10ic.  We counted off and seperated into 4 groups

You need more than 45 minutes to do a full murph and with 23 guys we had to modify. So we ran to park (about .5 mi) to do 4 exercises instead of 3. 5 Pullups, 20 situps, 20 merkins, and 20 squats. I think we got in about 4 revolutions before we heard a train. And in true Goose Creek fashion, 11 burpees on q cadence.

We ran back to the flag and held plank for the six and commenced mary

Mary: 10 seal jacks ic. Then we did an oldie but goodie. The elephant walk. This may be frowned upon in some societies but I do it because everyone laughs. I was about to call it when the peanut gallery aka Stringbean, said you have to do your signature exercise. Seal situps, with a small command at the top and bottom: Attention to detail, teamwork is key.

I got pretty sentimental a few times because I knew things were going to be different after today. Greenville is only 3 hours away but I still intend to come back for workouts occasionally and I expect some of you to post up there. But the grind will never truly be the same. I’m going to miss it. That challenge that I had, day in and day out posting and grinding and leading qs never got easier. I got stronger. Leadership is a burden, and all who carry it know that no matter how right you do it, it’s never quite right. As I reflect on where I was when I started and where I am now, the challenge has molded me into who I am today. I am now a person who embraces challenge rather than run from it. I can choose the harder thing and I know i have brothers there next to me doing it with me. Metal is forged in a furnace of intense heat and pressure, and I believe F3 is that furnace.

We did our pledge and announcements and prayer. And for devo I spoke a little on this, and charged everyone to say yes to this challenge. Had I not said yes to leading the Ditch I wouldn’t be the man I am today. And every single man I had contact with played a part in that. Every encounter, every fist bump, every encouragement, slap on the back, joke, every grimace in pain, struggle for breathe, sweat, blood and anguish, were all put to use.

So long F3 Summerville/Goose Creek, thank you all. I will miss you.

For the preblast I let on that this would be my last Q as AO Q and would be naming another AO Q. I didn’t tell them who so they had to show up to find out.

Weather 36 and damp.

Warmup 20 Merkins, 20 Squats, and 20 Freddie Mercury IC

We indian ran down to the park which is 1/2 mile away for a modified Murph. Even Mona Lisa thought the workout seems easy. That’s why I love this workout, simply to understand but hard to execute.

We circle up by the swingset and broke into 3 groups of 3, 1 group on the monkey bars for pull ups, 1 next for squats and 1 down for merkins. 10 Pullups, 20 merkins, 30 squats. AMRAP

There started out with plenty of chatter but as the rounds kept turning, less and less were talking and more were sucking air. We as an AO do very few pull ups so this was a tall order. However the men never stopped trying and as a group we completed 7 rounds for a total of 70 pull ups, 140 merkins, and 210 squats. Then we formed up for the indian run back. We were gassed and our arms were numb.

A couple of stragglers and pax fell out to walk so those who made it back did an 8th round but only completed merkins and squats.

Then for mary, one of my favorites, seal sit-ups. As we lay there in the cold damp grass I reminded the men what F3 was about. It’s more than just a workout group, we’re a brotherhood. We lock arms with one another and that supports ourselves and each other and this makes us stronger men for our community.

Then after the pledge and devo, which was about bold faith, and daring to step out to believe God for something that seemed unbelievable, I began the ceremony.

I called Redo into the circle, (he knew it was coming because I had spoken to him over the weekend), and several of the guys gave a “yes!” I began to talk about why I chose him and that he sets a great example in all 3 areas of F3. It’s more than being great in one of those areas, but rather about leading men into what F3 truly stands for. And he embodies that fully, he will be an outstanding AOQ.

I’m not gonna lie, I choked up a bit when I handed him the flag. You see, F3 has seen my best and my worst days. I’ve been bitten by the foo, and I’ve ran circles in the rain. I’ve fallen many times and had several brothers there to pick me up. I’ve had devo’s hit me right between the eyes, and I’ve seen what our community has become in disaster and F3 ALWAYS rises to the occasion.

I’m proud to be apart of this special group, I’m proud to learn to lead in it. I’m proud just to know guys and to say I’ve met them much less poured my guts out during events. You really get to know a guy when you’ve got nothing left to give, and give anyway. As Goose once said, “Nothing pulls men together like going through something that really sucks”. I’d lock arms with everyone of you, and I’m blessed to say you’re my brother.

The air was cool with a slight bit of humidity ~65 degrees. The men were anxious to hear about my Goruck event from the weekend before but there was little time for that. There was a beat down the needed to be had.

Disclaimer: don’t hurt yourself but push to the edge.

Warmup: 25 ssh, 20 don Quixote, 30 flutter kicks

Thang: Mosey to bball courts for 4 corners. 1st exercise 40 squats, bear crawl to next corner, 30 big boy situps, bear crawl to corner, 20 Merkins, bear crawl to corner, 10 6 count burpees. Lastly balls to the wall for 20 seconds. Then a lap around the building. Rinse and repeat.

We also did 15 seal situps along with 20 hello Dolly, 10 seal Jack’s, 20 lbc, 25 flutter kicks

Nameorama, pledge, bom

Devo: step out into leadership, as a q as more than what you’re doing. The Goose Creek region is growing and the team needs men to be groomed and ready to lead. F3 is a perfect development system to learn the skills needed for effective leadership.