YHC was feeling festive today with our annual F3 Nature Coast Christmas Party later on. I knew it would be important for us to practice a proper white elephant gift exchange beforehand. The PAX were in for a treat with a Christmas Tree surrounded by gifts for all to be found out in The District. The Mission of F3 and 5 Core Principles were stated at 6:30 a.m. to start things off.
We warmed up at the Flag with the following:
SSH x 20 IC, burpee x 1 OYO
Frankentstein x 10 IC, burpee x 2 OYO
Windmill x 10 IC, burpee x 3 OYO
Tennessee Rocking Chairs x 10 IC
Plank hold, half way, up, touch nose, up to hold plank – repeat twice
Burpees x 5 OYO
Mosey down to the far corner of the Soccer Complex: All PAX on their six for LBC x 10, X Factor x 10, LBC x 5, X Factor x 5
Mosey down to the next far corner park: All PAX perform Merkins x 10, Shoulder Taps x 10, Merkins x 5, Shoulder Taps x 5
Mosey continues around the block over to the Tree Circle…
Upon entering the large tree circle PAX could see a small charlie brown Christmas tree lit and surrounded by many different gifts for all to enjoy. However, we all had to earn our gifts and be sure to be on the nice list, to do so we did the following:
1) Mosey around the Tree Circle (total of 12 trees) alternating 1 burpee and 1 squat at each tree while going around.
2) Mosey to Hill of Pain: Start in the middle, bear crawl up the large hill, SSH x 5 at the top, mosey back down to the middle, then crawl bear down the other side hill towards the baseball fence, perform SSH x 5 and mosey back to the middle. This routine was rinsed and repeated 3 times, hold plank for the six.
Alright now we’re all off the naughty list and head back to the Christmas tree for a white elephant gift exchange.
White Elephant Gift Exchange:
Below are the various gifts around the tree. We circled up and did a count-a-rama to determine selection order. We had a total of 14 PAX, with Hitchhiker starting us off with the first pick. Surprisingly he picked the jump ropes, but not surprising is that it was the ropeless version. Each PAX continued in order and were able to steal an existing gift, however, a gift could only be stolen twice. PAX did not know what the exercise was but only the coupon gift to start. All pax still waiting to pick a gift would repeat Merkins x 5 and Peter Parkers x 5 each round up to that point. Once you had your gift you would repeat the same exercise at each selection round.
GIFTS:
60 lb sand bag – Squats x 10
40 lb sand bag – OH Press x 10
26 lb kettle bags (2) – Shoulder Shrugs x 10
35 lb kettle bag – Swings x 10
30 lb ruck sack – Ab twisters x 10 easy
30 lb cindy – Man-makers x 5
20 lb ruck plate carrier – Triceps x 10
20 lb medicine ball – Thrust Slams x 10
Cones – if selected Q to place cones out for suicide drills (total of 3 separate stations were created based on selections)
Agility hurdles – placed for high knees over each hurdle and a burpee at each end, r/r twice for 4 total burpees
Jump Rope (with rope) – 20 jumps
Jump Rope (without rope) – 20 jumps
There were several steals throughout the exchange and lots of painful joy to be had. Once the exchange was complete, YHC reminded all that this is the season of giving so we would all share in the gifts. All in a circle, PAX would complete the exercise with each gift, when done hold an Al Gore. YHC then calls out “switch” and we move clockwise to the next gift station, PAX help each other out by reminding them what the rep and exercise is for each gift. Q calls out when to start the exercises together, rinse and repeat until all PAX make it around the 14 different gifts.
Time to head back to the flag, everyone grab items mosey back. At the Flag, wall sit, then down to 45 degree hold, back up to 90. Balls to the wall, perform 5 merkins. Wall sit again hold for 30 seconds. Mosey over to the parking lot to finish out the last 5 minutes doing suicides with the trees, 4 total rounds reducing the tree count by one each time. TIME
CoT: YHC recently posted DR at The Berg region where a veteran PAX named Birdhole was on Q. He had been around for 13 years and did a great job bringing focus to what F3 is all about. He ended his CoT by highlighting a PAX to give a quick minute on how they were started with F3, nickname inspiration, and how F3 had impacted them. Today YHC had the privilege to ask HAKA to provide the same feedback. Haka has brought so much to the Nature Coast as a long time veteran and leader of men, also one of our best emotional headlockers and is the reason YHC is part of the group. Haka did a great job telling us about his connection and impact.
***Prayers of gratitude for our health and guidance in influencing others. Prayers for a fun and safe fellowship tonight for the Christmas Party.
Moleskin: It was great having Golden Shower as a DR Pax this month, he also brought two 2.0s Gwazi and Tonka. They did a great job keeping up with us and he’s doing a great job setting example as a father.