F3 Keystone Convergence 2024
An upcoming event may include “pain stations” and “beatdowns,” but organizers assure, it’s going to be fun.
F3, a worldwide fitness and community-building initiative for men, will host its annual Keystone Convergence in Harrisburg for all Pennsylvania-based groups on June 27 and 28.
The weekend event, which will bring men from F3 chapters across the commonwealth to City Island, will include events that center around F3’s namesake—fitness, fellowship and faith.
“Fitness is what it starts with and then there’s these other aspects of it,” said F3 Harrisburg’s fellowship coordinator Bruce Bortree. “I could tell you a bunch of stories about guys who F3 saved their lives.”
F3 has groups that meet across the world to participate in free, peer-led, bootcamp-style workouts for me. The initiative also works to build friendships and support and combat what the group calls “sad clown syndrome,” where men appear happy on the outside, but feel isolated or disconnected, Bortree explained.
Locally, the Harrisburg area has a group that meets for workouts and hangouts every week at locations like Reservoir Park and City Island, as well as in nearby Grantville, Mechanicsburg, Hummelstown and New Cumberland.
The Keystone Convergence will bring all state groups together for dinner at Duke’s Bar & Grille, an overnight 12.5-mile ruck (backpack), a two-hour sequence of seven “pain stations” or mini bootcamp workouts and a service project at Logos Academy in Harrisburg, along with other events.
It may sound intense, but Bortree said that anyone is welcome to join.
“You could’ve never worked out a day in your life and you can come on down,” he said. “We just ask that you push yourself.”
While the convergence is just a two-day event, the group welcomes participants year-round for rain or shine workouts and outings that range from coffee meetups, trivia nights and even family get-togethers. When men first join the group, they’ll be termed a FNG or “friendly new guy,” but will quickly earn their own F3 nickname and will be included in post-workout “circle of trust” check-ins, where men can share life updates and encouragement.
Bortree has seen how F3 helped him build community when he first moved to Harrisburg and has also seen the group’s impact on men who have struggled with depression, substance abuse and other challenges.
“What we are trying to accomplish is getting the word out about F3 and what it has to offer,” Bortree said. “The people who are in F3 are just genuine people. I just know a lot of people could use that.”
For more information about F3’s Keystone Convergence, visit their website. If you are new to F3 and want to attend the event, email [email protected].
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