F3 New Orleans

Author: Bushwacker

  • 1 Year Into My F3 Addiction

    Do not count the days. Make the days count

    -Muhammad Ali

    That being said, it has been around 365 days since Ben Todd showed up to the Mandeville lakefront to see what this F3 thing he had been told about was exactly.  Uncomfortably out of place and uninitiated, he stood there , hands in his pockets just waiting for, he knew not what. When an older gentleman offered his hand and introduced himself as Captain Sparkles (RESPECT), he wondered what he had gotten himself into. That day he was pushed and, in turn, pushed himself. He heard all the nicknames and still had no clue. A burly bruiser of a man called Shooter chatted him up here and there throughout the “beat down” extending just enough extra welcome that a return the following week seemed like a slightly less uncomfortable idea. At the conclusion of the sweaty soreness-inducing session, he was given his own nickname, Bushwacker, and the social and physical discomfort slowly began to dissipate. YHC has been hooked on F3 ever since, and has love, gratitude, respect and appreciation for each one of his brothers.

    If you’re still with me, this is how it went down today…

    WARM UP

    Toe Touches x20 IC

    Scorpion Kicks x20 IC

    Air Presses x20 IC

    ACTION

    Mosied to Marigny for: Dora 1, 2, 3 – partner up, cumulative 100 merkins, 200 LBCs, 300 squats, p1 exercises while p2 runs up the block and back, switch

    Next, on to Lamarque for a roll of Dice of Doom – 20 putins IC

    On to Foy for another roll – 5 freak nasties

    Beachbound for Ring of Fire : 4 stations/4 groups – 3 exercises per station – rotate stations until all exercises have been performed by all groups for 1 minute (FNG Duck Sauce sealed his nickname with banter of foul fornication as it related to some of our sandy spastic movements and exercising efforts)

    Indian Run back to the Flag (T Claps to Tiny Tim, who didn’t have the juice to enjoy the full beatdown, but was awaiting our return, having never stopped moving in active recovery)

    MARY

    Crunchy Frogs x10 IC

    Freddy Mercuries x10 IC

    Superman/Banana

    Naming of FNG: Duck Sauce

    Tiny Tim prayed us out with heartfelt thanks.

    One year down, the rest of my life to to go! Many thanks for following my lead today and for y’alls friendship

     

  • F3 Thursday, Take 1

    There we were, gathered in the 73 degree gloom, preparing for pedo-strata combat like a small band of wearily tremulous skirmishers, ready to embark on Part 1 of, what would be for some, a 2-part F3 kind of day. The insights were keen, though the conversations garrulous as, with the under-the-wire arrival of Chewy, we were off without so much as side straddle hop or imperial walker.

    Perseverance was the battle plan of the day along the scramble route. For some it was giving it their all to keep up and catch up, while for others it was the sporadically concerted effort to not far out-pace the rest of the illustrious PAX. And for yet at least one other it was keeping his bowels under his own power.

    For those of us who are acquainted with the mastery of skill over his craft that Chewy has, there is a respect, admiration, and appreciation. Having tweaked his back in the arduously entertaining ultimate frisbee beatdown of his own design last Saturday, Waterpik, was quick to accept the grace of physical therapy-on-the-go that YHC, among others, have been the the recipient of. Further proving his worth, Chewy was tapped by YHC to take us out with 10 minutes of ballistic stretches and yoga, but not before Garfield and Coconuts were initiated into the Dice of Doom fraternity with 10 putins and 15 side straddle hops.

    For part 2, a Maverick-induced 8:00pm beatdown followed by F2 will be a fun change of pace this evening.

    YHC prayed us out with a disjointed rambling of appreciation and acknowledgement for the influence that we all have in others’ lives and they in ours, and how we are all held in one set of almighty hands.

    Thank you, gentlemen, for another rousing scramble!

     

  • Drowning in Pools of Iron Sweat and Tears

    Some of us have the God-given ability to sweat rivulettes of salty, man-musky, liquid WORK. For others, to reach such epic proportions of perspiration it requires a beatdown from above…or at least a little further north – say, South Carolina and the Iron PAX Challenge. As a disclaimer, there was a Monday modification called by YHC shortly after beginning. Instead of 50 reps of varying exercises after the BBJOs, we previewers of this weeks challenge reduced the number to 25.

    WARM-O-RAMA

    15xs IC:

    Toe Touches

    Forward Arm Circles (golfballx5, basketballx5, beachballx5)

    Same in reverse

    Windmills

    THANG

    This weeks Iron PAX Challenge (with slight modification):

    15 down to 1 Burpee Block Jump Overs, each set followed by 25 reps of a rotating choice of hand release merkins, goblet squats, and leg raises with coupon in extended chest press position, followed by broad jumping out 10 yards and back 10 yards….AMRAP for 30 minutes! Pre-administered T Claps to Shooter (the sweetest sweatiest swamp beast this side of the Marsh) who will be leading Covingtons finest and subjecting himself to the full version at the Gipper wednesday.

    MARY (kinda)

    Coconuts took the reigns, sharing duties with The Wackiest Wacker (nod to our absent brother Steve) for his VQ! With little time and less energy remaining at the Marsh, the PAX eagerly anticipated some time on our sixes, only to be lead to the playground. Alas, Coconuts was to bring it proper for his first time in the lead.

    While the PAX planked, each man individually did 1 pull up. After all had accomplished this, each man returned to the monkey bars for 2, then 3, and, running out of time, 2 more before wearily returning to center court for COT

    Many thanks to Shooter for praying us out, with special intentions for our own Captain Sparkles.

    Congrats to the weekday-warrior Coconuts for poppin his F3 cherry! We look forward to following your lead often.

  • Mandeville Zoo

    It Always Seems Impossible Until It’s Done.

    -Nelson Mandella

    It was this sentiment that was permeating the air like vapors of a scent distinctly from times gone by, whilst I was pondering the unlimited possibilities for Saturday at the Lakefront. It had YHC reminiscing about slightly less than a year ago when a freshly minted Bushwacker spent almost the entirety of the weekend beatdowns feeling pure misery and little faith in his ability to see the thing through to completion. It was only the strength that he absorbed from his F3 brothers, as if by osmosis, that allowed him to finish, realizing that impossible really was possible! The pain and misery faded and was quickly replaced by feelings of exuberance and satisfaction.

    In an attempt to reignite and recapture that feeling, as well as spread it amongst the PAX, it was high time we returned to Animal Planet. In homage to our esteemed brother Butt Splice, who by sheer coincidence happened to grace us with his presence, our tickets were purchased, our bags were packed, and we prepared to go on a safari of sorts.

    WARM-O-RAMA

    21s – SSH in cadence with reps 1-5 out loud and 6-21 in silence. After a failed 1st attempt, we hit 10 burpees. After a 2nd failed attempt, 50 LBCs

    High knees/Air presses –  simultaneously, IC x20

    Annie – in plank, alternate “scrubbing the floor” with right or left hand

    Abe Vigodas – x10 IC

    THANG

    QIC passed the baton to Barely Legal

    After a brief westward mosey PAX circled up for…

    x20 IC:

    Putins, LBCs, Freddy Mercurys, mountain climbers & very slow flutter kicks ( hence for to be known as Sputter Kicks)

    Back to Bushwacker with a mosey to the nearest corner (perhaps LafayetteSt)

    Welcome to ANIMAL PLANET!

    For the 1st block we bear crawled and finished with 10 burpees

    2nd block we crab walked followed by 20 merkins

    (returning to lakefront)

    3rd block was duck walk and 5 burpees

    Last block was bunny hop with 10 merkins

    More from Barely Legal

    The PAX headed back towards the shovel flag, but pulled up to the sea wall slightly short of said destination.

    Aiken Legs was on BL’s agenda:

    R1 20 squats, 20 box jumps, 20 lunges

    R2 5 derkins, 20 squats, 20 box jumps, 5 derkins

    MARY

    To be perfectly honest, YHC was so worn out and oxygen deprived at this point that I can only summon vague recollections of Peter Parkers before the golden dawning of glorious 7:30!

    COT, FNGx2, Ocho closed out our sacramental sacrifice of blood and sweat with a prayer of appreciation for all that we are blessed with.

    Many thanks to Barely Legal for bringing the pain, and to all the PAX for following our lead and embracing the suck!

     

  • Helping Hands

    There have been many times that QIC has thought about coupons to spice up a beatdown. Honestly there has also been a  lot of forgetfulness or unpreparedness that has spoiled such ideas. Not this time! Gentlemen, we have garbage bags! Turning the scramble into an easter-egg hunt of sorts, the PAX was prepared to rid our 5k route of every scrap of litter it spied.

    Beginning in a more intentionally subdued manner:

    10 deep inhalations and exhalations (eyes closed IC)

    15 toe touches IC

    Off we went! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who you asked) YHC didn’t grab quite enough garbage bags, and so Chewy and Sprocket mosied empy-handed, more able to focus on their run. The rest of the PAX, upon entering the stretch of road leading to the vaulted, though never close, gates of sunset point, were scrambling at every wayward piece of refuse the eye could detect.

    Upon Pelican and my later-than-the-rest return due to a little Wacker gimpiness, there was  just enough time for 1 throw of the Dice O Doom by The Pelican himself. Much to the PAX’s delight, 25 putins were all the Dice demanded of them. Waterpik prayed us out, and cold water was had by all!

    As some altruistic professionals are never off-duty, Chewy took the time to do a little diagnostics on YHC’s leg issues. I’ve always been quite impressed by the glimpses I’ve had of his knowledge, as well as the true passion he has for his craft. Final diagnosis: there’s a broken Bushwacker who has a lot of “pre gametime” work to do.

    Many thanks, gentlemen. I appreciate you all more than you could know.

  • R.I.P. 10k Friday

    He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.

    -Henri Maisse

    YHC has been like a ghost in the wind for the last 2 weeks, as some physical issues needed to be resolved as best as 2 weeks would allow. Between the need to start training for the Northshore Half Marathon in October, not wanting to fall too far out of F3 habits, and, of course, missing my F3 brothers, The Cove was the perfect place to make my return…. to run 5k (admittedly abbreviated) alone. The fact of the matter is that Friday does not call to the average F3 participant as it consists of a 6.2 mile run. Add tho that the fact that, as early as we meet the day when we all gather, 4:45am is especially early. I suppose the label of seal team 6 was apropo!

    In the spirit of F3, this guy suggests opening the floor to ideas for a Friday beatdown (same place or not) that appeals to more brethren in both starting time and content. I’m looking for input, but would be glad to Q a grand reopening to a northshore friday beatdown. If, as in past ideas (new f3 names on anniversaries), this is met with a multitude of good-natured rejection, let the sparcely attended Captain’s Cove remain in tact.

  • 1 More time…Northshore Core

    The morning had a distinctly humid feel to the air, surprising because of the winds that have been gusting for the last 2 days, not surprising because this is southeast Louisiana. The accent was drab, and the dialect of a quiet tone. The beginning of another manic monday was of a more sullen nature, and the only way to change the pace of the day was to get cracking on another beatdown at the Marsh.

    WARM(er)-O-RAMA

    20 each IC

    toe touches

    SSH

    imperial walkers

    butt kicks

    windmills

    merkins

    THANG-THANG

    PAX moved to the monkey bar area to rip some triplicate exercises:

    The numbers varied between  and 50, most lying somewhere in the middle.

    Pull ups, squats, LBCs

    chin ups, lunges, twist crunches

    aussie pull ups, sumo squats, 100s

    hanginging knee raises, 1 leg squats, twist punch crunches

    hanging leg raises, calf raises, freddy flutters

    As the memory of YHC fades in accuracy of order, let it simply be known that there were also freak nasties, merkins, one arm aussie pull ups, toes out calf raises, toes in calf raises, and oblique crunches.

    The PAX jogged the perimeter of the park, and hit 50 LBCs in honor of Waterpik’s 41st birthday a couple of weeks back.

    COT with a prayer of appreciation for the simple things taken for granted, and a puddle of sweat for the Marsh to remember Shooter by

  • What the Heck Happened Here? (Can We Say Heck?)

    Home is the place where, when you have to go there they have to take you in.

    -Robert Frost

    So Thursday at the scramble there was no Ocho. Other than that, I don’t remember too many specifics. Now I know why there’s a lot of back blasts that never get written – because, after being delayed for a day or 3, the Q can’t remember what went down… no excuse!

    THE THANG (I THINK)

    25 merks

    20 hi knees

    25 merks

    20 windmills

    THE SCRAMBLE

    As we ran our traditional route, I was observant of a few things. Number 1, The Hermitage subdivision, otherwise known as “the loop”, has become a very busy pre-dawn venue for fitness-minded nonresidents, especially random F3  brothers who ambush you during your run (not Capatin Sparkles this time). Number 2, If you want a premier example of what being consistent with F3 can do, look no further than our brother Sprockett. Although he had already been crowned with his F3 moniker by the time I first met him, he was fresh to the scramble. He has made serious progress in his performance levels. T claps to Sprockett! Number 3, though the tide may ebb and flow, no matter how much we F3 attack the refuse that lay in our paths, we will never eradicate the litter problem of Old Mandeville.

    POST SCRAMBLE

    Upon completion of our mighty 5K, it was core time. YHC has decided to bring back the ab assault to the people. Now as for this day, it’s already been mentioned that memories can fade quickly, and this is being written a full 39 hours after the end of the glorious beatdown of which YHC speaks, but there was a strenuous count of twist crunches, a lovely series of supermans and bananas (a la P90X/Chewy), and finally a run of putins.

    COT

    Many thanks to Burgundy for your solid message to send us out to face the day (Better late than never).

     

  • Cool with a Southern Dose of Humidity

    “If a path be beautiful, ask not where it leads.”

    -Anatole France

    What can I say? We met, we warmed up, we ran, we exercised. We did quite a few merkins throughout the run. Oh, and it was a cool yet typically humid morning on the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain in southeast Louisiana. All hail F3 Northshore!

    “Well done is better than well said”

    -Benjamin Franklin

  • Merk Fest

    As a late entry to this month’s team edition ISI, there was a need to start strong. Though truth be told, I had been eying this beat down for a few weeks now.

    WARM UP

    20xs IC:

    Windmills

    Imperial Walkers

    THANG

    Deck O Death merkin style –  J-11, Q-12, K-13, A-14

    416 merks in da books

    Round 2 – LBCs – no count kept, but we only made it through about 1/3 of the deck.

    Grundy is still getting hate

    Shooter put Lake Cooley on da map

    and now we know why Steve is an out of work hair dresser

    Thanks to the Editor-and-Chief for praying us out

    GO TEAM EI!