January 30th, 2020 By Dutch Boy

When I arrived in The Gloom 364 days ago, I knew two things: it was early and it was cold.

When the first guy approached me and introduced himself as @Powerball, I learned a third: I had no idea what I had gotten myself into or was about to happen to me.

I survived that first beatdown, and came back for a second. Then a third. Then a Cruise, and then a Speed. Then I Q’d. And I Q’d again.

17 men, all of whom have inspired me over the past year, joined me in The Gloom to celebrate the end of my first year with F3. And what a hell of a year it has been.

5:30 came and a disclaimer was given, then off we moseyed toward the bus lot with high knees, butt kickers, and @stoli skips thrown in. Then we circled up for…

Warmarama (IC)

• SSH x19
• IST x17
• Mountain Climbers x15
• Cotton Picker x13
• Merkins x11

We again moseyed toward the portable buildings and partnered up for…

The Thang

Partner 1 went to get a cinder block, while Partner 2 did 5 burpees and held plank.

When I walked into that first Gloom a year ago, I tipped the scales at 230 pounds. That was the precursor for my arrival. Now, I’m down to 200. To celebrate that, this wasn’t going to be a standard cinderblock beatdown. This was going to be us carrying my old weight around. Luckily (or not, depending on your point of view), cinder blocks are 30-35 pounds (on average).

Partner 1 carried the block from the portico to the playground and did the first exercise, while Partner 2 stayed behind and did the other until their return, where they switched. We did each thrice (TM Murdock)

• 5 Burpees (jumping over block after each) / LBC
• Diamond Incline Merkins on block / Lunges
• Sumo Squats / CDD

Partner 2 then returned the blocks, while Partner 1 caught up on the 5 burpees they missed the first time.

We moseyed over to the rail, and a did 3/6/5 (get it) ladder in cadence of

• Incline Merkins
• Dips
• Derkins

Mosey down Shelley to the Parkway, where we did 10 squats (IC).

Back into the lot via the rabbit hole and head to the bike racks. Partner-assist merkins and dips x10. Repeato.

Head in the direction of Mary, stopping at the gate. To fulfill some promises, we stopped at the gate and did a five-count Welsh Dragon before continuing to circle up for…

Mary (honoring some Highlands #HiM with their signature Mary exercise)

• Homer-to-Marge (h/t @barrister)
• Poutine Low Flutter (h/t @poutine)
• The W (h/t @disaster)
• Brinkley Bend (h/t @brinkley)

COT

BOM

Moleskin

• What can I say? It’s been a life-changing year for me. A year ago I was the proverbial #sadclown, going about my day-to-day without much purpose, without much fellowship, and with zero faith. Now, I’m a better father, a better husband, and a better friend, and that’s all because of the brotherhood I was welcomed into a year ago. Hell, now I have friends. When I showed up, I expected to see a bunch of half-way in shape guys doing some stuff. This isn’t that, it’s so much more. I’m forever thankful for the brotherhood of everyone who posts and what each of you mean to me. I could go through and name names and give examples, but I won’t. Just know that I’m thankful for you all. Never take this for granted, and keep spreading the word. We are the exception, and there are loads of other men that could benefit from what we have. I know I have, in more ways that I can count.
• Winter Gala this Saturday. Time running out to vote for awards (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7p0WJ1pU1dSlgIbd8u2pCjdqXquXVOYuq9cnebE3iwF483Q/viewform?usp=send_form) and to RSVP (https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8lSfcxzUmv)
• TIME LAPS(E) is only 106 days away and teams are starting to come together. @barrister has the Q.
• According to @disaster, the welsh dragons “are easier when you’re on your knees.” We all agreed to bypass the low-hanging fruit, but on a different day that’d be the title of this here backblast.
• Tomorrow on The Iron Q: Come get your heart rate up with limited amounts of actual running. Best minute(s) of your life!

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