Billy Madison – the man, the movie, the farewell

Sorry for the delay – we literally moved for 2 straight days after I finished this Q and I was without internet (or home) until this week. Sidenote: back to back Qs after a month off from workouts was a VERY BAD idea before moving. My M (Veronica Vaughn) laughed at me when my legs were so shaky while carrying furniture. I cried.

The Thang:

Side Stradle Hops x 10 IC

Pledge

Farewell Q was a recreation of the movie (my namesake) Billy Madison! Cinematic beauty ensued (there was sweat and tears everywhere) and it went like this….

• As the movie begins with an aimless Billy (sad clown syndrome) in a drunken stupor, eagerly awaiting “nudey magazine day” he spots a Penguin walking around….
  • Exercise = Penguin Walks (Duckwalks, but with arms at side) to end of parking lot and back
• Just like many PAX when we join F3, Billy accepts the challenge to become a better man and encounters obstacles when he returns to school…
  • Exercise = O’Doyle-Rules-Inspired, Banana Peels (ab workout – full situp, lift leg and touch toes) x 25
• Time for a spelling bee! “R…..you going to the mall later?” We must help Billy spell the word “Couch”…
  • Exercise = 
    • C = Captain Thors x 10 situps x 40 American Hammers
    • O = Outlaws x 10 each direction
    • U = Up Downs x 10 pushups on Q’s count, fast chop feet in between
    • C = CDDs x 25
    • H = Hail Marys x 25 each partner 
• Just like Billy, it’s time to find out what these PAX are really made of….time for the Academic Decathlon!
  • Exercise =
    • 100 meter sprint
    • Merkins – 1 minute of AMRAP (in place of shotput)
    • 200 meter sprint
    • Situps – 1 minute of AMRAP (in place of discus throw)
    • 400 meter sprint
    •  Pullups – 1 minute of AMRAP (in place of javelin)
    • 1500 meter run
    • LBCS – 1 minute of AMRAP (in place of hurdles)
    • Jump ups x 20 (in place of high jump)
    • Squats x 20 (in place of long jump)
• Think we’re done? Wrong! “Now you’re all in big, big trouble!”
  • Exercise = DODGEBALL! (F3 Style – plank/LBC while you’re out. Losing team has to run laps. Winning team laughs!)
    • As an aside, being a true HIM and demonstrating humble leadership, I gracefully allowed the other team to win – as a way of saying goodbye and picking up Gastone’s confidence. He had a sad look in his eye and I didn’t want him crying on my last Q.

COT:

Thanks for the chance to share our story (His story)…

Remember that you never know which fellow PAX you are ministering to just by locking shields and pushing one another in these workouts….

3 years ago, my wife was given a terminal cancer diagnosis. She had stage 4 ovarian cancer that spread to her heart. 2 days later, the company I worked for, was sold and I was laid off. With 2 toddlers at home and no insurance, and the prospect of losing my wife – our world was collapsing.

We left our dream home in Florida, broken (I remember being unemployed for the first time since I was 12 years old, and pushing my wife in a wheel chair with my 4 & 5 year old dragging bags behind us through the airport) to seek help….after a year of countless chemo sessions and nights sleeping in a bedside cot in the hospital, and 4 high-risk surgeries my wife defeated cancer!

After her battle, we moved across the country to NC and our biggest fear came true – my wife’s cancer returned. We had purchased a new home in a new state where I knew no one, but I started attending workouts at F3. I found the PERFECT support that I needed. In my darkest, most depressing time, I found a group of men to lift me up and make me better. F3 gave me something to look forward to and gave me the fellowship that the male soul needs. This group of crazy dudes with weird names would place hands on me in prayer after kicking my butt working out. My wife had a much easier battle that 2nd go around and she is now 2 years, cancer free!

We are moving back to Florida, with our health and a new perspective and an appreciation for life, love and joy that we never would have had before.

You are all so much more than just a PAX to me, you are my friends and you were there for me when I needed it most. Remember the power of this ministry as you raise men up for the betterment of the community and future generations of men to lead others.

I’m excited to keep posting with the F3-Jacksonville crew – who I will undoubtedly shame by comparing them to the “men of Gashouse” and I’m happy that I can reuse some of my jokes and workout ideas for some new laughs. 🙂

Thank you all, and please stay in touch!

“Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.”
– Henry David Thoreau

Your friend,

Tully (Billy Madison)