Q School – A Beautiful Morning

One thing you learn by participating in F3 is that when we work out in the gloom, we can still be fathers, husbands, and productive members of our community the rest of the day. The other thing we realize that is this time of year, we workout in the gloom which is slowly transformed by the rising of the sun. Today, we experienced the beauty of that rising sun after learning yesterday that Papa Smurf passed away. Papa charged us to “…press on” so we figured out a way to do that.

25 men gathered in the gloom at Boyd Lee. The mumble chatter happened and there was a lot more F3 hugs than normal. You see an F3 hug is different than a “man hug” because a man hug is that testosterone filled back pat. You see, in F3 a man can hug full body and know that it’s OK. That is the type of love that Papa showed so many of us and now we continue to show each other.

We started with a prayer for Papa, Denver-style. In Littleton, CO, the men circle up before the workout with arms around the waist of the next. Today, we either honored Papa by saying his name out loud or telling a story about what he meant in our lives. It was an appropriate way to start.

Warm-up: This is Q school, so we started with the mission of F3 and got right into different ways to count cadence. Bono led squats in the following ways: a) standard 4 count; b) double count; c) slow count; d) up or down count. YHCs brain was still in the prayer circle, so the inflection to signal the Halt wasn’t there, neither was Recover. Guess that means that each of us has the responsibility to hold the Q accountable – today T-Bone and Abu were reminders.  After that Abu led different versions of the Merkin. He also focused on making sure “eyes were on the Q” and to wait for the “Recover” call before relaxing.

The Thang: We then moseyed around the circle to complete Wimpie Legs. Bono started with Mule Kicks; Jump Lunges; and then the Jump Squats. Many of our “Soon-to-Q” guys took turns and started learning what to say with practice. Will Smith talks about failing forward, by learning from our mistakes. Our guys did that and our legs were smoked.

Abu then took the Pax on a run with three options: full lap for the Mustangs, half lap for the Thoroughbreds, and to the umbrella and back for the Clydesdales. The two biggest challenges of Qing are making sure everyone (all fitness levels) gets a high quality beatdown and the PAX stays together, or at least somewhat together.  When running from one spot to the next, it is important to give options so the group arrives around the same time.  Tempo is key and you want to have minimal standing around.  As the one and only Closed Hand says, “You can rest after the workout.”  For those that arrived at the flag first, they led exercises IC.  Lloyd led us in a yoga stretch, the Butterfly.  Not only do we rest after the workout, but we stretch after as well.  He will learn.  Once the 6 arrived, the “Soon-to-Q” guys led different versions of Merkins. This is where personalities started to show.  Battleship got stoked with “Q Juice” and led with passion and authority, even getting in a call of “I…can’t…hear…you” in cadence. O-town learned what the Ranger Superman Merkin was and counted out that complex movement and Cinder realized that it really sucks to Q when you are out of breath…still he pressed on.

We then rinsed and repeated at our best pace.  Bono called an audible this time and called on some experienced Qs to lead cadence the proper way. The idea was to unleash a burpee ladder for every mistake made, but our experienced guys led in perfect style. Tonka would have been proud of Wimpie, String Bean, and Mayhem.  Mayhem took the lead, as leaders do and finished us out with 23 Smurfjacks. 23 for LeClair and Smurfjacks for Papa – our ALS champions.

F3 is all about invigorating male community leadership.  There are no shortcuts to being an effective leader.  You need to do it, and do it, and do it.  And as we learned from GrowRuck, you learn more from your failures than your successes.  Site Qs are in charge of getting Qs and this happens by way of PAX volunteering and by the more common shoulder tap.  It is the start that stops most people.  Think about that.  What is holding you back from Qing, or Qing more often.  I encourage everyone take the leap and step up to Q.  Get past your fears because it is an amazing experience and after doing it I guarantee that you will want to do it again.  If asked, understand that you are not alone.  We are all in this together so say, “Yes,” ask for help, and deliver a beatdown.  If you happen to have a cluster Q, so what.  Learn from it, and Q again. Aye!

COT/BOM: The PAX lifted up Mary Ann, Jefferson, Bailey, and the entire Coop family. Also Angus for his upcoming heart surgery and Ahmed’s family (the 2nd grader from Wintergreen). Splinter suggested that we finish out the COT with “Oh what a beautiful morning” because Papa used to belt that out – not always in tune – to make us laugh and smile. San Fran captured it on video.

Announcements: Papa’s visitation will be 5:00 – 8:00 pm tomorrow at Wilkerson Funeral Home, 2100 East 5th Street.  The Celebration of Life will be on Sunday at 2:30 pm at Oakmont Baptist Church, 1100 Red Banks Road with a reception following.  

http://m.wilkersonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/events?obituaryId=1835854

Moleskin: Today was tough. Today was needed. Today was uplifting. Maybe YHC needed to be surrounded by his brothers to realize the beauty of today. The Collateral Beauty of losing a loved mentor and friend. Maybe it’s knowing that 48 men posted today. Giuliani, our mayor, took time out of his schedule of hosting mayors from across the state to stop by and pay his respects. Maybe it’s knowing that Papa poured his energy into F3ENC for so long and willingly gave it away before he learned about his ALS. He gave it away to let it grow, to invigorate male leadership in the community. YHC isn’t sure about all the guys at Q school today, but Battleship has taking the DRP and will be ready to Q very soon…YHC can’t wait…Papa would be proud a “Soon-to-Q” guy is ready.