Since planting the first shovel flag on October 28, 2017, F3 Austin has been accelerating the lives of men across the region one beatdown, one COT, and one shared sunrise at a time.

The Gloomistory is a living tribute to where we’ve been, who’s led the charge, and the AOs that have helped shape our region. Whether still thriving or now resting in the eternal fart sack, each AO played a role in building something bigger than any one workout.

Below you'll find a timeline of AO launch dates, a roll call of past Nant'an's who’ve carried the flag, and a snapshot of how the mission continues to grow across Central Texas. This isn't just a history lesson it's a reminder that the gloom we step into each morning is part of something lasting.

F3 AUSTIN: Nant'an Roll Call

 (Pictured left to right - Aaaayyyy, Sketch, P.O., Golden Pinky)

History of F3 Austin:
From Gloom to Growth

The Launch: The Long-Distance Starfish

F3 Austin officially launched on October 28, 2017, when a HIM named Star Fish planted the Shovel Flag at Zilker Park ...the heart of Austin, TX and a perfectly reasonable place to do burpees in the dark. That first beatdown in the early morning gloom marked the beginning of what would become one of the most vibrant F3 regions in the country.

Like all great F3 stories, the roots were humble: a few men, an alarm clock that went off way too early, and a mutual agreement to suffer together for a good cause. Word spread slowly at first, but those early workouts set the tone for what F3 Austin would become a brotherhood built on grit, laughter, shared misery, and a whole lot of encouragement.

Expansion and Defining the PAX

The first AO, known as The Festival, began drawing in men who wanted more than just a workout, they wanted connection, accountability, and someone to notice if they disappeared for three weeks. Growth was steady and grassroots, fueled by good old-fashioned EH’ing (that’s inviting people, not yelling at them… usually).

A few years later, a HIM named Golden Pinky (originally from F3 Churham- Chapel Hill & Durham) relocated to North Austin and launched F3 NATX (North Austin, TX). As both areas grew, it became obvious that Austin was stronger together. The regions officially united under one banner: F3 Austin. Golden Pinky took the helm as Nant'an and laid a foundation for long-term growth.

Then 2020 happened. The pandemic hit, workouts paused, momentum slowed, and the region faced some real challenges. But F3 men don’t quit they adapt, complain a little, and then keep going. Slowly, workouts restarted, new AOs popped up, and the spark returned.

In February 2022, Golden Pinky passed the Shovel Flag to Aaaayyyy and Newton during an event fittingly called Reboot because sometimes even a reboot needs a reboot. Growth continued, momentum came and went, and then… chaos entered the chat.

The Great Archive of 2023

Enter P.O., the newly minted ComzQ for F3 Austin. Seeing a cluttered Slack workspace, he decided it was time for some digital spring cleaning. Channels were archived. Some probably needed it. Some… maybe didn’t.

What is now lovingly referred to as The Great Archive of 2023 unintentionally woke the entire region up.

The Nant'an, Aaaayyyy, and P.O. soon connected (in what they like to call a “not-so-secret secret meeting”) and agreed it was time to rebuild intentionally. With no formal SLT (Shared Leadership Team) in place, the first mission was clear: find the right men to help lead F3 Austin forward.

Thus, the idea for a Site Q Summit was born,  a convergence of leaders to cast vision, realign the region, and probably drink too much coffee.

When word got out, PAX started asking, “Do you have to be a Site Q to attend?” That simple question changed everything. The event opened to any man hungry to lead, grow, or simply understand F3 better. That gathering, now known as Q Summit, became a major turning point.

Leadership reawakened. Energy surged. The region united around a shared vision to plant, grow, and serve.

In May 2024, at the launch of AO The Mill, Aaaayyyy passed the Shovel Flag to P.O., continuing the mission to unlock more men across Central Texas one beatdown at a time.

The POD Era: Organized Chaos

As F3 Austin continued to grow across Central Texas, it became clear that managing the region with one central structure was no longer enough. With AOs stretching from Dripping Springs to Georgetown, TX, the region needed a better way to stay connected, communicate effectively, and develop more leaders without losing the brotherhood that made F3 Austin special.

In June 2025, under the leadership of Nant'an P.O., F3 Austin implemented the POD system, a structure designed to group nearby AOs together under shared leadership. The POD concept was introduced to create tighter communities, improve communication, and empower more PAX to step into meaningful leadership roles (while still embracing a little organized chaos).

The result? A stronger, faster-responding, more connected region that can grow without losing that brotherhood feel. From one Shovel Flag in Zilker Park to a city-wide network of leaders, F3 Austin continues to live out the mission of planting, growing, and serving the men of Central Texas  with a lot of sweat and a surprising amount of laughter.

New Wave of Growth: Depth Through Discipline

On January 17, 2026, P.O. passed the Nant'an shovel flag to Sketch in front of 108 PAX at Q Summit V, the largest F3 Austin gathering to date. It wasn’t just a leadership change; it was a statement.

In his vision speech, Sketch challenged the men of F3 Austin to pursue not just growth in numbers, but growth in depth. He called on the region to build stronger relationships, increase accountability, and commit more fully to one another while still remembering to enjoy the ride and not take ourselves too seriously.

Multiple new AO launches were announced for the first quarter, sending the region into its fastest pace of expansion yet. Momentum is at an all-time high, and the foundation is set for a season defined not just by how big F3 Austin becomes  but by how strong it grows.

Stay tuned. The Depth through Discipline era has begun… and the gloom is about to get even busier!