F3 COLUMBIA SURVEY METHODOLOGY

 Objective: Engage F3 Columbia PAX to gain insight about boot camp

attendance
 Online survey tool: Direct mailed to F3 Columbia mailing list
 204 RESPONDANTS (closed 5/24/18)
 17 Questions with logical “If yes” follow-ups
 F3 COLUMBIA SURVEY SUMMARY
 Overall PAX are satisfied but notice the decline in numbers and have concerns
 Growth may be limited by geography / outreach
 Areas for improvement:
 Bootcamp intensity level and consistency
 Q training / Focus on form
 More bootcamp fellowship / event opportunities

 Diversity and barriers to entry were listed as concern

 Attrition due to life changes was a reason for not attending bootcamps along with
focus on running
 There is cross-over between running and boot camp groups but factions of either who
do not or rarely cross over
 More bootcampers don’t run (33% of bootcampers) than runners who don’t bootcamp
(14% of runners)
Q1: PLEASE CHECK THE AOS YOU REGULARLY POST AT OR HAVE
REGULARLY POSTED AT IN THE PAST (REGULAR MEANS AT
LEAST ONCE PER WEEK); CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
THUNDER 21.29% 43
AMBLE 20.30% 41
 The AOs with the largest number of
THE BULL 14.85% 30 attendees are geographically in the same
STUMBLE 14.36% 29 part of Columbia – particularly Shandon and
WOODSHED 13.37% 27 Southeast
BRICKPILE 12.87% 26
DAWNSTRIKE 11.39% 23
RAMBLE 10.89% 22  If F3 is centered around certain areas and
BATTLE 10.40% 21 people hear about it from friends
HAMMER 10.40% 21 (Question2), the potential for new recruits
THE CASTLE 9.90% 20
SCRAMBLE 8.91% 18
reaches a saturation point
LEGION 8.91% 18
SAWMILL 8.91% 18  Run groups are very popular, in many cases
SCORE 7.92% 16 more so than boot camps
SWAMPFOX 6.93% 14
SPUR 6.44% 13  Based on data there is heavy crossover from
THE MISSION 5.94% 12
Boot Camps to Run Groups
BLUE FALCON 5.45% 11
SMACKDOWN 4.46% 9
IRONYARD 3.96% 8
BLADE RUNNER 1.98% 4
SANDLOT 1.98% 4
Q2: HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT F3?
 The large majority of PAX heard about F3 from a friend or neighbor.
 The potential for new recruits decreases and PAX exhaust potential FNGs if F3
Columbia only grows through friends and neighbors. If F3 Columbia wants to continue
to grow the circle it must find a way to bring in new PAX other than word of mouth
and existing relationships
Q3: HAVE YOU ATTENDED AN F3 COLUMBIA
BOOTCAMP STYLE WORKOUT IN THE PAST
3MONTHS?
 163 PAX said that they had attended a boot camp in the past few months, but boot
camp numbers are far below that.
 F3 Cola must work on keeping a higher consistent attendance while growing through
FNGs
Q4: WHY HAVE YOU NOT ATTENDED AN F3
COLUMBIA BOOTCAMP STYLE WORKOUT IN
THE PAST 3 MONTHS?
 The largest reason given was focus on running
 Life events were listed as the second largest reason
 It is not clear if injuries reference occurred at F3 Bootcamp

Prefer running or focusing on running 42.86% 15

Life event – job change, schedule change, birth of child, or similar 37.14% 13
Time of day 17.14% 6
Injured 17.14% 6
Lost interest 14.29% 5
Moved away 8.57% 3
Too challenging 5.71% 2
Too easy 0.00% 0
Other (please specify) 7
Answered 35
Q4: WHY HAVE YOU NOT ATTENDED AN F3
COLUMBIA BOOTCAMP STYLE WORKOUT IN
THE PAST 3 MONTHS? (OTHER)
 too far out of shape to jump in at that level
 Unrelated health issues
 Weather
 Attend a different AO
 I found many of the exercises led to injury. Either no demo on the exercise or it was
just a range of motion not good for me.
 I post in Lexington
 Early work on Tuesdays/Thursdays
Q5: HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK ONE
AVERAGE DO YOU ATTEND AN F3 COLUMBIA
BOOTCAMP STYLE WORKOUT
Q6: HAVE YOU ATTENDED AN F3 COLUMBIA
GROUP RUN IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS?
Q7: WHY HAVE YOU NOT ATTENDED AND F3
COLUMBIA GROUP RUN IN THE PAST 3
MONTHS?
 “Prefer other activities”
was the largest reason
selected for not attending
a run group
 12 selected “time of day”
which may be worth
investigating
 9 listed “injured” –
unclear if this happened
at F3
 QUERY 1: HAVE NOT ATTENDED BOOT
CAMP, HAVE ATTENDED RUN GROUP
 Only 17 of 204 are runners
who do not attend bootcamps
anymore
 163 Total PAX said they DO
 76% of runners who have not
attended a boot camp recently
gave “focus on running” as a
response
 Other reasons included “Lost
Interest” and “Life Event”
QUERY 2: HAVE ATTENDED RUN GROUP +
NUMBER OF TIMES PER WEEK BOOTCAMP
There is heavy crossover between boot camp and run groups. More bootcampers don’t run
than runners who don’t bootcamp
 Have you attended an F3 Columbia Group Run in the past 3 months? = 125 (100%)
 Have you attended an F3 Columbia Bootcamp in the past 3 months? = 108/125 (86%)
 Of 108 PAX who run and bootcamp, 61% attend boot camp more than twice per week
QUERY 3: HAVE ATTENDED BOOTCAMP
(100%) +HAVE ATTENDED RUN GROUP?
There is heavy crossover between boot camp and run groups. More bootcampers don’t run
than runners who don’t bootcamp
 Have you attended an F3 Columbia Bootcamp in the past 3 months? = 163 (100%)
 Have you attended an F3 Columbia Run Group in the past 3 months? = 108/162 (66%)
 Of 108 PAX who run and bootcamp, 61% attend boot camp more than twice per week
 QUERY4: HAVE NOT ATTENDED BOOT CAMP +
HAVE NOT ATTENDED RUN GROUP
 19 PAX have not attended run or bootcamp in the past 3 months
 Reasons listed are primarily schedule or life change
 5 are injured, it is unclear if related to boot camp
BOOTCAMPS ARE SEEN BY SOME PAX AS TOO INTENSE
OR LACKING BALANCE FOR ALL FITNESS LEVELS
“Need to find the good balance between the long-time participants and the beginners. This is a constant
issue.”

“I think we need to refocus our group effort on being inclusive of all fitness levels. There is a perception
that you need to be in shape to attend a workout and the intention is that you don't need to be. I've noticed
that some workouts, though, tend to leave some behind.”

“A recommitment to the dredd model of the workout as described … No one left behind. Even the big slow
guys. ”If you're first to the next station, great...why don't you go back and get the last guy?” “

“Have days or AOs that are FNG friendly. “

“There should be a distinction between AOs that Qs follow to designate them as less hard / hard / awful
so you can choose based on your fitness level “

“Some of the men take the boot camps way too serious. I no longer attend any Columbia boot camps. I go
to Lexington…Life is too short to feel committed to work out with men who don’t put life in perspective.”

“These are workouts and not hazing sessions. The Qs should make them hard and challenging instead but
remember that form is important.”

“Sometimes they’re just too much! I’m too old to get hurt doing 800 Burpees. Also the language and crass
humor has turned me away!”

Q8: What do you think could be improved about F3 Bootcamp Style

workouts in Columbia?
BOOTCAMP QS MAY LACK STRUCTURE AND IGNORE
OR ALLOW POOR FORM
“That the Q (should) spend the workout helping encourage the others to do the
exercises correctly so people don't injure and so that they get maximum
benefit”
“More structure in the workouts (emphasis on warmup and cooldown and
form)”
“Is there a structure like some run groups have? Example: Tuesday is about
day, Thursday Arm and shoulder day, etc”
“Structure. I focus on running so I don't want to show up to a bootcamp and end
up doing 100 squats and 20 hill sprints since it will screw up the next days run.
If I know that Tues. was legs and Thurs was upper body or whatever, I could
plan accordingly”
“I’d like to see more consistency with the intensity. I’m not looking for Battle
when I post to Thunder but I would appreciate getting a good workout in.
There’s nothing worse than showing up at 5:30 for something that doesn’t meet
expectations. “

Q8: What do you think could be improved about F3 Bootcamp Style

workouts in Columbia?
Q TRAINING AND COMMITMENT ARE IN QUESTION
“Bootcamps rely on the Q. Some are top notch workouts and creative, others
call it in. “
“Some Qs are really focused on specific muscle groups and others seem hap
hazard. I much more prefer the Qs that work everything equally so that I get a
solid full body workout, not just a day of legs, arms, etc. “
“Need Q school to be a more regular thing to share ideas and promote
consistency across Aos”
“It is noticeable when a Q has a well planned boot camp…If this was the
standard and AOQs coached their pax on what it means to Q that could be
helpful.”
“Exercise video demonstrations. I found a few, but no channel”
“Guest Q's with new ideas!”
“More Guest Qs from other Aos”
“maybe to Q training class more often.”

Q8: What do you think could be improved about F3 Bootcamp Style

workouts in Columbia?
MORE FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS
WOULD POSSIBLY MAKE BOOTCAMPS MORE EXCITING
“we need to find an event, in addition to P200, to rally around. It’s not going to be
a go ruck event. That, too, has run its course wii most pax. Most are disinterested in
the mud run too. We need to find or create something else. Something for all 3 F’s.
“ (Question 10)

“I think the issue with our Bootcamps is that they don't offer enough opportunity for
fellowship. In the past we were doing events such as the mud run, goruck, etc that
were centered around the bootcamps. In the last couple of years that has switched
and now all of our fellowship opportunities are centered around the run groups.
Running by it's self is a great time to talk with another guy, then we have Friday
coffee after each run group. We don't do anything like that after bootcamps. I'm
not sure I have an answer exactly but I firmly believe that fellowship is the glue that
keeps us together, if we want our bootcamps to grow we have to find ways to allow
guys to connect with each other. “ (Queston 8)

“Fellowship & faith “

DIVERSITY AND BARRIERS TO ENTRY ARE A CONCERN
TO SOME PAX
“We need to open our gates and recruit more diversity. F3 is for every man, but the demographic is still
mid-aged white men… meet and greet at River Rat a few months ago was stupid because beers are $5
cheapest and it creates a barrier of entry for people that have a tighter wallet. If we want to expand our
reach, we need to have ZERO barriers of entry like we say we do. “

“solicit feedback from the pax, especially minorities, on possible ways to make F3 more appealing to the
entire male population of Columbia. To be clear, I have never known any pax to be anything other than
welcoming, supportive and friendly to any FNG. However the Columbia group as a whole seems to be
majority white / middle class - is there an outside perception that this is who F3 is? That would be
unfortunate - can we do anything differently that would increase the approachability diversity of the
group? “

“Do more to encourage diversity of members, as it relates to ethnic and spiritual background.”

“Look to expand into areas where we aren't represented... In the morning or any other time…Our next
launch should be in MLK park or eau Claire hs...” (Question 9 response)

“how can we diversify a bit more?”

“We must make an overall effort to gain more 22-35 year olds. “

“I've noticed we aren't reaching younger demographics. The average age of the AOs I've attended has
slowly increased. “
Q10: Is there anything else you would like to tell us that you think would
help us to better serve the men of F3 Columbia?
HOLDING PAX ACCOUNTABLE AND GETTING BACK OUT
MAY ENCOURAGE THEM TO RETURN
“a phone call from a long time pax inviting me back out really made a
difference. I think re-EHing some of our pax who may feel like they have
been left behind is a good start. “
“need to set up a buddy system, to hold each other accountable”
“Following up with old Pax searching for new.”
“The message to all should be “your commitment/your time/your
pace/your benefit(s).” F3 Amble is a great example. Focus on enjoying
F3.”

Q9: What could F3 Columbia do in the near future to reengage your

attendance at either a run group or bootcamp?
Q11: WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING AS A NEW OR ALTERNATE
TYPE OF AO? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
 There is strong interest in other
activities
 Ultimate Frisbee was the most
popular choice
 “Other” listed on next page –
includes negative comments
regarding this question
 Yoga, kickball, flag football,
2.0 events, golf, cycling were
also mentioned
Q11: SOME RESPONSES WERE NEGATIVE
MENTIONING DIVERSION FROM FOCUS AND
RISK OF INJURY
“None of the above. While I wouldn’t have tweeted it like someone else
did, I don’t think games are what we need. As a 2ndF impromptu
gathering, sure. As an AO? No. “
“All terrible ideas. Everyone got hurt at F3 football, Clamdigger jacked
himself playing Bball, and Boris doing Ultimate. Most of us aren't young.
These seem like injuries waiting to happen. Maybe a corn hole league.”
“No- F3 should be a workout group, not a rec department”
“Negative, I come to F3 early in the morning to workout. There are other
vehicles by which to play ultimate frisbee. I want to work out to push myself
and push those around me - you don't get that in handball. “
 CONCLUSION – IMPROVEMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
 Look at new ways of finding FNGs other than word of mouth
 Focus on diversity and growing in new areas of Columbia
 More fellowship opportunities would benefit boot camps
 Qs need better guidance and training on workout planning
 Qs and PAX need better guidance on proper form and injury prevention
 Reach out to wandered PAX to hold them accountable
 Some new activities would be good 2nd F opportunities