5 men stood at the ready. Beginning workouts in cadence at 0530. 5 men stood in COT at 0615. But legend has it, there was another. A very thorough warmorama led us to mosey towards the playground where we recited the Pledge. It was at this time while our focus was drawn, the Q noticed something wasn’t quite right. 2 beams of light silently moved through the parking lot behind us.
After the pledge was over I directed the Pax to change directions to pick up the stragglers. They looked back at me puzzled. Roadie questioning in protest or perhaps to see if I was okay. “Stragglers? But there’s no one…” Indeed he was correct as we moved back to center there was no one in sight. No vehicle either. I turned to him and asked “am I trippin’ I might just be trippin” he agreed. But a moment later, after we had all but confirmed the Q was in fact hallucinating a man could be seen rummaging through the front seat of a small suv that seemingly just appeared before our very eyes. Then Lone Star came running towards us.

We mosey’d to rock pile. But upon each lap up to the stop sign Lone Star remained, as if his spirit was bound to the grounds of westMoreland ball park. Tantrum and company rucked by us and they seemed not even to notice him there as they passed. Rocks back and we were off. Taking the scenic route through Alexander chase to the large retaining wall at the south end of the park.
As we rounded the wall approaching our destination it was very dark. To the Q’s horror a mangled heap of flesh lay contorted and moving unnaturally on the ground. Fearing some demonic possessed creature it resembled, yours truly bravely pressed on. It wasn’t until only feet lay between them i noticed it was Axel doing alternate side pretzel crunches. “Phew, you scared the heck out of me, you didn’t look like a human they way you were on the ground like that, hey where’s Lone Star?”, I said..

“Lone Star?” He replied, as if it was his first time recalling such a name in decades. “He had to go to church” he said. Or was it that he had to go on to see the Lord himself after his time here at the ball park was done. 

The 5 of us finished a good workout, quietly. Still spooked and unable to put into words the feeling we had about our visitor in the gloom.

-The maintenance guys turned on the stadium lighting and it really ticked off all the birds and squirrels in the neighboring trees, was pretty funny. 

Quiet COT. Prayers for western NC. Gratitude. Amen. 

guys I’m super grateful for the opportunity to Q with F3. I’ve learned so much doing it and grown in the process. Learning from your example and from my own trial & error. The added layer of accountability has to be one of my favorite parts. I 100% wouldn’t have made it out this morning if it weren’t for my name being on that calendar. And I’m so glad I did. It really is the best way to start your day. I implore you, EH someone, Step up to Q.

Have a great day yall.

—Qbicle