Although this morning was a chilly 43 degrees with a slight wind chill on top 11 PAX @Night Light @Pancreas @Soul Glo @Tijuana @Three’s Company @Tiny Dancer @OPIE @Buckeye @Bubba Gump @Slow Pitch  Q-@Hot Mic (Tribute) showed up because they didn’t want the stigma of being known a Fartsacker.

Today we honored the fallen from the 2009 Fort Hood terrorist attack with “Lumberjack 20”On Nov. 5 2009 at 1:34 p.m., a terrorist named Major Nidal Hasan attacked fellow soldiers and civilians at Fort Hood, Texas. When the shooting ended, he had killed 12 soldiers and one civilian and wounded 43 others. Four of the slain soldiers and 11 of the wounded were active CrossFitters in the 20th Engineer Battalion, home to Lumberjack CrossFit.

To honor these soldiers, CrossFit HQ is created a Hero WOD, and on Dec. 5, one month after the murderous rampage, fellow Fort Hood affiliate Centurion CrossFit Fort Hood hosted the Fort Hood Massacre Memorial WOD in an effort to raise money for those affected by this tragedy.

The Lumberjacks deployed to Afghanistan in January 2010 in defense of this great nation and the freedoms we all enjoy. We would like for their parting memory to be one of hope and inspiration and not of the horrific carnage that so tragically befell them.

The Thang:

Because there were only 7 stations and 11 HIM 4 of us partnered up at a station and started with the run of that exercise.

At the end there were several comments about how the weight was appreciated. We need to try and figure out more of this. Thanks @Ginsu for the Barbell, plates, Dumbbells and Box.

Mole Skin:

Todays beatdown at points was difficult, it was one of those long grinders but still fun. Those DB Squat Cleans were no joke. Part of why we workout with F3 is that while it will challenge us physically sometimes it is the mental fortitude we build by continuing to press forward when all we want to do is quit.

In life at times we face the similar challenges. There are parts that are easier and everything seems to be smooth sailing and there are times that WILL challenge us, sometimes to the point where we may just want to give up because it is too hard or look for an easier way to get through and manage the pain.

Part of what we learn in the workouts when we need to dig deep and just keep grinding is the mental toughness that this is going to end and it’s only for a period of time.  We need to keep stepping forward even if it is slow and improve just 0.05% everyday. We are all at different places in our ability and we can all improve but we don’t look down on others because they cannot do as much as someone else but encourage them to give and push to what they are currently able to do.  And sometimes we will step in and help them complete their work.

In life it should be no different. I feel that I could go to any PAX and ask for support regardless of what that looks like and know that they will have my back. The biggest thing that COVID taught the world is that we cannot do life alone, we need others to walk with us. F3 provides that resource for us, the ability to connect with other men who we know we can trust.

We can also turn to a much higher power than any HIM can provide and that is Jesus Christ himself. He is very familiar with he struggles we face and wants us to ask Him to walk through both the good and bad times of life.  Psalm 50:15 reads, “Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”  That does not mean it will be easy, it may get harder but He will help you through and sometimes maybe use a another PAX to walk the road with you.

All this to say, if you are in the gloom and it seems that you are the only one that is facing what you are currently going through, know that is not the case. Reach out to a fellow HIM and allow us to support you in the struggle you are facing, allow us to serve you because just as you might need to be the one that is being served right now you will have the opportunity to serve someone else in the future.

As always, it is a pleasure to serve you guys.

SYITG – Hot Mic out!