Never Take Anything For Granted

THE SCENE: A chilly, moist 44F

F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER

Disclaimer given.  Today marks 2 years since my brother, Eli Brock Grow passed.  Today we remember and honor a HIM who unknowingly embodied the 3 Fs (Fitness, Fellowship, & Faith).

WARM-O-RAMA:

Eli would have been 20 this year, therefore, we performed 20 reps of each:

• SSH x 20 IC
• Imperial Walkers x 20 IC
• Arm Circles x 20 IC (CW & CCW)
• Finkle Swings x 20 IC (each leg)
• Mosey around the lake and back to the turf field (0.6 miles)

Some PAX were lagging behind, so the front circled back for the 6….remember: No man left behind! Eli took this to heart and always pushed his teammates and others around him. It’s not about you!

THA-THANG:

Speed & Agility

Three sets of cones were set out in a row starting at the goal line over a distance of 5 yards.  Then a space of 10 yards, followed by an agility ladder over the distance of 5 yards.  Another space of 10 yards, followed by 5 cones staggered out over 20 yards.  Then another space of 10 yards, followed by a tractor tire.  All PAX lined up single file at the goal line.  One by one, PAX performed side shuffle in and out of the three sets of cones, then sprinted 10 yards, performed the agility ladder 2 feet in each hole, then sprinted 10 yards to the first cone.  At the first cone, PAX sprinted to the diagonal second cone, then back-pedaled to the third cone, then sprinted again to the fourth cone, and then back-pedaled to the fifth cone.  PAX then sprinted to the tire and performed one tire flip and then moseyed back to start.  Rinse and repeated 8x.  Repeated 8x because Eli was #8.

100-yard Relay

PAX split into two groups.  Each PAX grabbed a CMU (concrete masonry unit = 30-35 lbs) and lined up shoulder to shoulder on the goal line, 1 group on one side, 1 group on the other.  The PAX at each end raced each other to the other side of the field  (100 yards), touched the goal line and raced back.  Then the next set of PAX went.  Remaining PAX performed weighted (holding CMU) squats, curls, lunges, merkins, side lunges, tricep extensions, calf raises, and Carolina dry docks ( a different exercise for each set of PAX) until every PAX had run.

MARY:

YHC was out of breath from being the last to sprint, so Four Eyes took the Q on the first Mary exercise:

• Flutter Kicks x 20 IC (at 6″, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees; no rest in between)
• American Hammers x 20 IC

COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
34 PAX (1 Walking Wounded; 0 FNGs): Bruce, Gus, Soybean, Cowbell, Pirtle, Teacher’s Pet, Cheesesteak, Tree Hugger, Moneyball, Bootheel, Rabbit, O Positive, Blart, Bad Credit, Zima, Bob Ross, Dodgeball, Backseat, Reboot, Shoestring, Speaker, Green Monster, Anklet, Moneybags, C-lo, Captain Obvious, Billy Blanks, Four Eyes, Choker, Beauty Shop, Slicnut, Woody, Mama’s Boy, and Slots

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
YHC recanted the story of Eli.  Who he was, what he was like, what he became, and how he passed.  YHC reflected on where he was and the exact time he found out about Eli’s death and how it impacted him over the next year.  YHC shared some memories, a few of the last times he saw Eli and focused on one memory in particular.  YHC was on a 5-mile run with Eli and we all know how much I hate running.  About 2 miles in, Eli was way ahead and out of sight. At the 3 mile mark, Eli was already circling back and heading for home.  Instead of leaving me in the dust, he joined me, encourage me the rest of the way, and pushed me to finish.  I was always used to being the bigger brother, the one that was always first and leading the way. Here I was, the oldest being led by the youngest.  I knew he was going somewhere, but did not expect the Lord to take him so soon.

To the PAX that posted this morning, Eli was the ideal HIM and embodied everything that F3 is about. YHC shared some notes from Eli’s workout journal which included what it took to be a QB (for us, a QB of our own lives) and recited the 7 traits of a QB (most of which apply to all of us).

Today, YHC wanted to leave a message that we don’t talk much about and that is multitasking. We all do it; day in and day out, at home, at work, in the car (tsk tsk), etc. But this is something that possibly took Eli’s life.  Eli reflected in his journal that he is at fault for multitasking while driving and that he has almost wrecked multitasking.  To emphasize the point that nothing is so important that it can’t wait, YHC read scripture from Matthew 6:28-34. YHC emphasized  that today focus on one task at a time and do that task well.  Like we say in F3, you will always accomplish a task quicker by slowly chipping away at it and doing it right vs. doing multiple things at once and doing them halfheartedly.

YHC finished up COT quoting Eli’s favorite scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean no on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will direct your paths”.

MOLESKIN:
34 PAX put in work this morning in honor of a true HIM! Shout out to O Positive for taking photos and providing the tire and ladder.  PLC was had by all following the workout.  Visit eligrowfoundation.org