Foundry @ the County
PAX:
Honey Do
Lotus 1-2-3
Fungi (R)
Dauber (R)
Jolly Rancher
Jerry Maguire (R)
Abacus
Valdez
Kitty Litter (R)
Jack Horner
Aslan
Giselle
Bulletin (R)
Pelican
WILD Flower
Tea Party
McCarthy
Rip Van Winkle (R)
Cochran
It was a swampy morning for some heavy work at the Foundry. We had big numbers with 19 showing up, and we started with some DORA. I utilized the Foundry’s two most famous landmarks, and had Partner One lunge walk from the Portico to the Dumpster. Partner Two started reps. We did 100 Merkins, 200 Dips, and 300 Calf Raises.
Thang Two was a (Double) Triple Nickel. Part One was Money Moves and Air Presses, Part Two was Merkins and American Hammers. We spelled out “Mama” because our boy loved himself a Triple Nickel.
I ended the workout a few minutes early because this week dealt us a painful reminder that F3 is about much more than the workout. Some of the guys showed up as a sort of tribute to Mama’s Boy. Some were there to support the guys who were hurting. And some of them probably didn’t have any idea what they’d signed themselves up for! As absurd as it sounds, after hearing that we’d lost Mama’s Boy, I knew exactly where I needed to be at 5:30 the next morning. The word “nostalgia” comes from combining the Ancient Greek words for “home” and “pain.” For this workout, in one form or another, we went home to hurt with our brothers.
Everything we hold close to our hearts is so fragile—no matter how fiercely we may cling to it. We don’t even have complete control over all aspects of our fitness and fellowship. And that’s a good reminder to take time to appreciate those things before they’re gone. Mama’s Boy was a special part of F3. He never met a stranger, and he loved to laugh. He hadn’t been in the gloom very often the past couple of years. In that sense, I already missed him before he was gone. But even if he wasn’t posting at F3, I’d still get to hear his voice from the bleachers drowning out the PA system as he screamed words of encouragement to middle school basketball players (or maybe offering unsolicited helpful guidance to Coach @Pelican). I’d still get the occasional moment of seeing him hanging halfway out of his car to wave and yell at me when I was walking out of a grocery store. I’d still have plenty of opportunities to text him about something fantastic that one of his wonderful children had done. I’ll miss all those things and so much more.
I went through my phone, and found a very old picture I took for him with Gavin (@Goat) for Donuts with Dad (Gavin is a head taller than me now, and probably grew another inch while I was writing this back blast). We all have special people in our lives. This week reminded us that we don’t get to have all of them forever. Give someone an extra hug, grab lunch with them, or even just pick up the phone to talk to them for a minute. I love you guys.
-Cochran
F3 Louisville 