“Welcome Brother”
Posting Downrange With F3 Suncoast
The mission of F3 is to plant, grow, and serve small workout groups for the invigoration of male community leadership.
“Welcome brother” are some of the first words we heard as we stepped out of the van and into the humid Florida air Monday morning at 5:45am. My father-in-law (aka Big FOB), brother-in-law (FNG — Friendly New Guy), and I were pumped to workout with the F3 Suncoast men to start the week. We were down in Siesta Key on family vacation and naturally, I looked up where the closest F3 workout was. A quick 12-minute drive from our condo and we were in business.
Monday Morning — Ashton Trailhead
To start off the week, we went to F3 Suncoast’s bootcamp workout at the Ashton Trailhead. As men started to show up in the gloom of the morning, we exchanged F3 names and learned more about the PAX of the region. After the disclaimer, we were introduced to the Legacy Trail for a 1-mile run as the Warm-o-Rama 🏃
The workout was steady and challenging, and by the time we were in the COT numbering off and executing the Name-o-Rama, we were smoked. Tip of the hat and TCLAPS to Tooltime for not only leading a tough workout, but also his VQ (first time leading an F3 workout!).
My brother-in-law (Keith) was an FNG (Friendly New Guy), which means it was his very first F3 workout. Before we prayed it out, he got an opportunity to make the long walk into the middle of the circle as thousands of men have done before him, and share a little info about himself, so his official F3 name could be bestowed.
And bestowed it was — in terms of F3, Keith was no more and Heartthrob was born! Welcome to F3 Heartthrob 💪
Thursday Morning — Q’ing at The Beehive
I was hoping to post with the Suncoast men at least one more time while down in Sarasota, and I had the opportunity, privilege, and honor to Q at their Beehive AO on Thursday!
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One of the cool things I learned that the Suncoast region does is something called “No Site Q November.” Essentially, the Site Q is not supposed to Q, or lead the workout, in order to intentionally create space for other men to have the opportunity to step up and lead. This is the heart of F3 — empowering other men to lead. I really liked this approach! So I was asked to Q on Thursday, and I was stoked. I had posted at other F3 regions before, but never Q’d at another one while traveling. This was a very cool experience for me! I checked the box for Q’ing while downrange ✅
The Suncoast PAX also does something called “The 6th Man,” in which the literal 6th man in the COT at the end of a workout will share a couple of things:
- (1) How they became connected with F3
- (2) What F3 means to them
I had the opportunity to be the 6th man on Thursday and shared a brief overview of how I came to F3 during my last couple of years in college at the University of Tennessee, and how it has been one of the top five Gamechangers in my life. 6 and 1/2 years later, F3 still continues to impact and influence my life in incredibly positive ways. I am a firm believer that God graciously allowed me to become acquainted with F3 in my early 20s, and used it to course correct and mold me in my late 20s.
I will always be grateful for F3, our Mission, Credo, and network of thousands of men across the globe who tenaciously invigorate leadership through the context of small workout groups. Without F3, I probably would have done a few runs with my wife, maybe done some push-ups, or just phoned it in and let my fitness efforts fall by the wayside while on vacation. Because of F3, I was able to locate and connect with some incredible High Impact Men down in Sarasota, FL, see my brother-in-law be welcomed into the F3 brotherhood as Heartthrob, and sharpen iron with other men who are united under the F3 banner. The F3 Suncoast men were fantastic hosts, and I know they will continue to change lives in Sarasota, FL. Keep up the great work men! Showing up to a workout makes a difference. It did to this F3 Knoxville guy, and the men in my family while on vacation.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17
Keep the Faith + Fight The Good Fight!
-Dan Henson, 29, Steam
🌅 To get connected with F3 Suncoast, check out their website here.
📍To learn more about F3 and the impact it is having on millions of lives around the world, and to find a workout location near you, check out the F3 Nation website here.
