AO: The Ridge
When: 07/18/2022
Number of Pax: 16
DR Names:
Number of FNGS:
FNG Names:
QIC: 5-Putt
Introduction
The first post-GrowRuck post. When I signed up for this Q, I assumed there would be a VERY low turnout because everything in F3 Plainfield has felt like GTE for the past several weeks. But I was wrong. We had a bunch of HC’s…16 PAX for this workout, 15 of whom did not participate in GTE. I guess it is the classic 80/20 rule…20% of the people make up 80% of the chatter. With each HC, I became more and more excited for this Q. I was looking forward to being around non-GTE-ers and getting back to a bit of normalcy.
Warm-O-Rama
SSH (25)
Tappy Taps (10)
Abe Vigoda’s (10)
Imperial Walkers (10)
Arm Circles (10/10)
The Thang
Mosey to the small park by the pond (0.25 miles), in the neighborhood across from the clubhouse. There is a small area with a valley between two hills. 10 incline merkins, 10 decline merkins…bear crawl across the valley to the other hill. 8 incline merkins, 8 decline merkins…bear crawl back to the first hill. 6/6…bear crawl…4/4…bear crawl…2/2.
Indian run east along the pond path to the small pavillion (0.25 miles). 40 dips.
Prisoner Indian run to the park in Dunmoor (0.25 miles). Lt. Dan’s for 25 yards, 10 burpees, 10 sit-up-ups. Lt. Dan back 25 yards. 10 burpees, 10 sit-up-ups.
Mosey back to small pavillion (0.25 miles). 40 dips.
Indian run back to the hills and valley (0.25 miles). 10 incline merkins, 10 decline merkins…bear crawl…8/8…bear crawl…6/6.
Prisoner Indian run back to the flags (0.25 miles).
Mary: American Hammers (25), LBC’s (25), merkin ring of fire until 6:00am.
Circle of Trust
I didn’t do Grow Ruck. I never wanted to do Grow Ruck. I remember watching a Go Ruck video when I started F3 and I thought it was the most insane thing I had ever seen. But I found myself surrounded by the event this past weekend because we hosted the welcome dinner and Saturday breakfast. I met all the PAX, the cadres, and I felt their energy…and yet I still had no interest in joining them for the event. Then I watched the live stream at night and saw my friends making tremendous accomplishments…and still, at no point did I wish I had participated.
Something about Grow Ruck turns me off. It doesn’t sound like F3 to me. I know mine isn’t a popular opinion amongst our PAX, in fact there are certain PAX who have been eager to argue with me about it—I don’t have the desire or the energy for those arguments. And I am not trying to convince anybody that my opinion is right—I am sincerely excited for those who love the event. And I genuinely could not be more proud of our fellow PAX who completed the event.
But, while I had no FOMO, I found myself feeling like a lesser part of F3 because of my lack of desire to participate in Grow Ruck. This was hard for me to handle. I spent the entire weekend struggling to understand my feelings about the event and it’s impact on our region. I haven’t yet found my answer, but I did realize one thing. Even though parts of the event do not seem representative of F3 to me, there is one major characteristic that is distinctively F3. I met a lot of people this weekend who had completed Grow Ruck events before, and every single one of them spoke about the importance of looking out for the man next to you. Being there for others—that is more important in Grow Ruck than looking out for yourself. Stories of Happy Camper pacing Pi during the PT run…stories of Bedpan taking the 120lb bag from Happy Camper in the middle of the night. Those are the stories of F3 that are familiar to me. We all start F3 wanting to workout, and we quickly realize the thing that keeps us coming back is our connection to others.
It’s being there for others during workouts—not just picking up the six, but pushing the PAX in the middle and pushing the PAX in front. We leave no man where we find him—that is more than just picking up the six.
It’s being there for others as friends—talking with somebody new during coffeteeria, asking questions and listening intently to their answers.
It’s being there for others socially—inviting somebody out for a beer because they need that small break from life, or they need a jolt of friendship during a down time.
It’s being there for others by reaching out to someone you haven’t seen in awhile and checking in—letting them know they aren’t forgotten. Letting them know they are missed. Reminding them that they belong.
It’s being there for others by sending a personal message to a PAX to congratulate him on some small or big achievement in his life—letting him know that you have a personal connection that is deeper than a heart emoji on a Slack post.
Looking out for others, being there for others—that is what makes F3 great. You are there for others when you are under the log with them at Grow Ruck…but we can choose to be there for others on the other 364 days of the year too.
Naked Man Moleskin
I had fun today! Great job Snuggle…only his third workout and he killed it!