Author: Hawgcycle

  • Virtual Workout For Monday 4/6/2020

    Warm-up

    • SSH x 31
    • Imperial Walkers x 25
    • Peter Parker Peter x 20
    • Good Morning x 10
    • Tempo Merkins x 15
    • Low Slow Squats x 15
    • Mountain Climbers x 25
    • Windmills x 10

    The Thang

    Tabata – 20 seconds all out followed by a 10 second rest. 

    • Diamond Merkins, Prisoner Jump Squats, Flutter Kicks, Burpees – Repeato

    510 Stomp – 10 burpees EMOM for 5 minutes

    Elevens

    Find a stretch of street, yard, neutral ground, etc. that is about 30 – 40 yards.  Start at one end and take 30 nice long steps to the other end.  Start with 10 Bonnie Blairs (2 is 1) run to the other side for 1 Hand Release Merkin, continue until you finish with 1 Bonnie Blair and 10 Hand Release Merkins.  Plank when you finish.

    510 Stomp – 10 burpees EMOM for 5 minutes.

    Tabata – 20 seconds all out followed by a 10 second rest. 

    • Diamond Merkins, Prisoner Jump Squats, Flutter Kicks, Burpees – Repeato

    Mary

    • Flutter Kicks x 20
    • Big Boi Sit-ups x 20
    • Dying Cockroach x 20
    • Little Baby Twists x 20

  • Immune Boost

    Four F3 Nola pax checked in at 0530 this morning for a virtual Q. Hopefully others will find the time to do it later.

    The Thang

    • Imperial Walkers x 19 (IC)
    • Merkins x 19 (1 is 1)
    • Mahktar N’Diaye x 19 (IC)
    • Up-Downs x 19 (1 is 1)
    • Nolan Ryans x 19 (IC)
    • EMOM (10 burpees EMOM for 9 minutes)

    Do the above set 3 times.

    NMM

    • Total of 270 burpees and 57 Up-Downs, which are pretty much burpees without the tiny little hop most of us do at the end.
    • It was rough, but I felt better knowing a few other guys were doing it with me at the same time, albeit from different locations.
    • I tried to post a Video Backblast on GroupMe, but I froze the app.  I thought a Video BB would be appropriate for a Virtual workout, but GroupMe sucks for posting large files, or at least it does on my phone.
    • I got caught before my 50th burpee in the 3rd set, so death by burpees does happen.  I took an extra minute break and then got caught before my 70th burpee.  Twice dead.
    • This took me 50 minutes.
    • This was very reminiscent of losing a bet to Da Parish, except I didn’t have to wear those horrible colors while I was doing it. 
    • The ISI is up for March and Beyond.  Find the link I posted in Mumblechatter if you want to join.
    • Some guys are kicking around a Meal Support Plan to help our local medical community and some our F3 brothers in the restaurant industry.  There is a link to join the discussion posted yesterday in Mumblechatter.
  • A Predictable Workout

    22 Pax

    Conditions

    Clear, 53 F, Feels like 55 F, Humidity 84%, Wind 6mph from SSW.

    Warm-up

    SSH x 25; Peter Parker x 25; Windmills x 15; Merkins x 25; Squats x 25

    The Thang

    Four Corners:  NE corner = 20 burpees; NW corner = 30 merkins; SW corner = 40 Squats; SE corner = 50 Big Boi Sit-ups.  Pax can attack the corners in any order they choose.  We finished, run back to the middle and line up in plank in the order you finish.  T-claps to Mahatma for finishing first.

    Rarajipari:  YHC counts off 5 teams for a game of Rarajipari.  Each team has one baseball that they must kick to their destination.  No rules other than it must be kicked there.  First destination is The Foundry.  T-claps to team #4 for winning – YHC, War Eagle, Triple Shift, and Willie. 

    The Foundry:  5 stations:  Pull-ups; Squat Jumps; Dips; Dying Cockroaches; Imperial Walkers x 25 IC.  Imperial Walkers were the count.  All pax except Team #4 could not touch the ground at anytime during pull-ups.  If so there was a penalty.  Penalty:  More pull-ups while everyone else stretched their hamstrings.

    Rarajipari to the practice field by Diagonal Avenue.  T-claps to Team #2 for winning.  I don’t know who that was, because it wasn’t me.

    Bear Crawls:  Bear crawl to the far end zone, then turn around and come back. When the lead dog (or bear in this case) reaches you on his way back, turn around and come back with him.  Penalty = 30 merkins every time you drop to your knee or stand up.  Team #2 was exempt from the penalty.  T-claps to King Kong for being the lead dog.

    Rarajipari to the fountain without a fountain in front of NOMA.  Team #2 finished first again.

    Ledge Work:  Incline Merkins x 7; Dips x 7; Channing Tatum x 7; Tatum Channing x 7; repeato.

    10! – A set of 10 Squats, 10 Merkins, 10 Big Boi Sit-ups, then a set of 9, then a set of 8…finished with a set of 5. 

    Mosey back to the flag for COT

    NMM

    • No one broke an ankle during Rarajipari, making this work out hugely successful.
    • A ball was lost in the sculpture garden.  This is the first time a team has managed to lose a ball. 
    • King Kong was the hero of the workout, taking one for the team and bear crawling the entire 200 yards.
    • T-claps to Green Screen a faithful muscleship attendee who is apparently not plugged into any of our various communication methods.  He was prepared for Muscleship and got Rarajipari.  T-claps to him for seeing it through. 
    • Roots seemed highly disappointed that I ended 10! At 5.  Roots is a finisher. 
  • Me and Jim

    Conditions

    Heavy Rain, 58 F, Feels like 58 F, Humidity 96%, Wind 15 mph from NW

    The Thang

    0515

    Me:  Good morning Jim.

    Cantore:  What are those? I thought we were running.

    Me:  Kuch calls them my Mandals.  They are a pair of overpriced flip flops with a fatal design flaw.  I duct taped them, so we should be good this morning.  What is that you are wearing?

    Cantore: Gortex…HERE WE ARE ON THE FRONT PORCH OF CRAIG PARTEN, KNOWN TO HIS F3 BROTHERS AS HAWGCYCLE.

    Me:  Why are you yelling?  You’re going to wake my kid.

    Cantore: CAN’T HELP IT.  I’M EXCITED.  EVERY THURSDAY THE HEARTIEST SOULS IN THE NEW ORLEANS REGION MEET AT PONTIFF PARK, RAIN OR SHINE, FOR WHAT THEY CALL THE WALLY RUN.  IT’S A 4+ MILE JOG THROUGH THE AFFLUENT SUBURBAN STREETS OF THE OM.

    Me: Let’s go before you wake the neighborhood.

    0525

    Cantore:  THE RAIN IS REALLY COMING DOWN.  THIS IS CERTAINLY A MULTI CELL CLUSTER AND WE ARE BEING POUNDED BY ONE OF THE STRONGER CELLS AT THE MOMENT. 

    Me:  We are a little early and I’d rather not stand around by ourselves in the rain.  Let’s jog round the parking lot then run by the pumps to see if they are on.

    Cantore:  THE PUMPS WILL PROVIDE AN AMAZING CAMERA SHOT.

    Me:  …

    0530

    Cantore:  ARE YOU SURE THIS IS WHERE EVERYONE MEETS?

    Me:  This is it.  I expected to see everyone running out of their cars to meet us, but I don’t see any cars. 

    Cantore:  ARE THEY SKIPPING THE RUN BECAUSE OF THIS MODERATE MULTI CELL CLUSTER THAT IS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA?

    Me:  No.  No way.  Not these guys.  These guys can handle a little rain.  It’s got to be something else.  Boo Boo has to go in early to work sometimes.  Hobbs has a trial going on, so he probably had to head to work early.  It’s possible the rapture happened, that would explain Rev Sox and War Eagle not being here.  Pai Gow obviously has an addiction to Asian games of chance, so he might be at the Treasure Chest. Last time I saw Triple Shift he was Tuesday at City Park. He was talking to SFx about home schooling, vaccinations, and proper squat form…there is a chance he still there.  Tua’s wife just had twins, so I he’ll be out for the next 18 years. Fracsac randomly moves to the Westbank every now and then.  I fully expect Jingle Vader is sporting a tank top at Okwata as we speak. Two Yutes has some issues when it comes to dirt, so I’m guessing the debris in the rainwater might keep him away.

    Flashback to Monday at work.

    Me:  What’s up Jeff?  Why are you throwing your shoelace in the trash?

    Two Yutes:  It came untied and part of it touched the bathroom floor.  Can’t have that.

    Me: Where’s your belt?

    Two Yutes:  It touched the outside of the urinal. 

    Me: …

    Back to Pontiff

    Me:  There’s Mahatma, but he told me to my face that he hates running with me.  I respect his honesty.  Rudy….hmmmm…I don’t even know where to start.

    Cantore:  SO IT’S JUST US?

    Me:  Yeah, sorry.  We should have gone to Okwata.  They usually have 20-30 guys post there.  I’m sure this morning will be epic.  Do you want to go home?

    Cantore:  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  I LIVE FOR THIS.  LET’S GO.

    0537

    Cantore: WHAT’S THAT HOOLIGAN DOING?        

    Me:  I think he is just a teacher at Country Day going to work.

    Cantore:  GET BEHIND ME.  IF HE TRIES ANY FUNNY BUSINESS I’LL NINJA KICK HIM.

    Me:  I think we’re fine.

    Cantore:  EXCUSE ME SIR.  WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THIS TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR?

    Country Day Teacher:  I’m heading into work early.  I have to prepare my Chemistry Lab.

    Cantore:  WILL THE SCHOOLS NOT BE CANCELLED TODAY.  THERE IS A MODERATE MULTI CELL CLUSTER THUNDERSTORM IN THE AREA.

    Country Day Teacher:  I certainly hope not.  Today my students are scheduled to turn in their group project.  They will be using tribal African Dance to explain the exothermic reaction produced by mixing Sodium Hydroxide and Sulfuric Acid.

    (Cantore knees him in the groin and we continue on our way.)

    0545

    Cantore:  LOOK AT THE PLYWOOD ON THAT COFFEE SHOP.  EXCELLENT PREPARATION.  YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ONE OF THESE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN MODERATE CELLS FROM THE CLUSTER MIGHT MOVE THROUGH. 

    Me:  A car ran into it.  It’s been like that for weeks.

    CANTORE:  THAT’S NOT PREPARATION FOR THIS STORM?

    Me:  Sorry to disappoint.

    0555

    Cantore:  THESE HOUSES ARE HUGE.  WHAT DO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE DO FOR A LIVING?

    Me:  Amass debt, I assume.

    0600

    Cantore:  WHERE ARE WE GOING? THIS IS NOT ON THE MAP YOU GAVE ME.

    Me:  Some extra distance.  I’m calling it the Lagniappe Loop.

    Cantore:  WHAT’S LAGNIAPPE?

    Me:  I don’t know.  I hear people say it a lot.  I like alliteration.

    0610

    Cantore:  ARE YOUR NIPPLES ON FIRE?!?

    Me:  Yes.

    0620

    Cantore:  I THOUGHT THIS ENDED AT 6:15.

    Me:  Normally, but this is Run Ranger Run and some kid on the Northshore has been running continuously for the last 5 days.  We have to catch him. 

    0630

    Cantore:  IT WAS A PLEASURE RUNNING WITH THE MEN….ER, ONE MAN OF F3 NEW ORLEANS THIS MORNING.  REPORTING FROM GROUND ZERO OF THE MODERATE MULTI CELL CLUSTER STORM WE HAVE UNECCESARILY NAMED WALLY, THIS IS JIM CANTORE SIGNING OFF.

    Me:  Bye Jim.

  • The Wis

    The Wis

    Conditions

    Overcast, 63 F, Feels like 63 F, Humidity 90%, Wind 8 mph from the South

    The Thang

    27 Pax tried a new route today, crossed the Cabrini Bridge and then went over and back on the Wisner overpass.  We ended up on the back side of the track and ran laps for the 6.  Distance ended up being about 3.5 to get to the track.

    NMM

    • T-claps to the Ruckers that got started at 4 am and got in close to 8 miles – Hokie, Gideon, and Thumbwar
    • Good to see SFx this morning.  He also rucked.  Will rucking become a thing in NOLA? 
    • I like that this route involves the Wisner Bridge, but it’s a little short.  Maybe next time we do it we will add another small loop that involves the Bridge a second time. 
  • Smoked Stack

    Conditions

    Mostly cloudy, 67 F, Feels like 68F, Humidity 100%, Wind 6 mph from SSE

    Warm-up

    Imperial Walkers x 30; Peter Parkers x 20; Windmills x 10; Moroccan Nightclub x 40 Hold it…. Forward Arm Circles x 10 Hold it…..Backerds Arm Circles x 10

    The Thang

    Bear Crawl to the 6th tree and hang a right, bear crawling to the cone (total of 100 yards or so).  Then recovery walk to the cone (down a level) and crab walk across (40ish yards), drop a level and side lunge left, drop a level and side lunge right, drop a level and crab walk backwards, drop a level and crawl bear back to the start. 

    Stack – use coupons for squats, shoulder presses and curls

    • 10 eight count body builders
    • 10 eight count body builders, 20 squats
    • 10 body builders, 20 squats, 30 shoulder presses
    • 10 body builders, 20 squats, 30 shoulder presses, 40 curls
    • 10 body builders, 20 squats, 30 shoulder presses, 40 curls, 50 dying cockroaches

    Unstack

    • 50 dying cockroaches, 40 curls, 30 shoulder presses, 20 squats, 10 body builders
    • 40 curls, 30 shoulder presses, 20 squats, 10 body builders
    • 30 shoulder presses, 20 squats 10 body builders
    • 20 squats, 10 merkins
    • 10 merkins

    NMM

    • The crowd seemed pleased with the Moroccan night clubs followed by the arm circles
    • I’ve never asked for as many count downs as I did today.  I had to have asked Tool and Kenner Brah to countdown from 20 or 10 at least 15 times.  I was toast.
    • Thanks to Tool for keeping the energy up and pushing us to get down the mountain.  We had to take the ski lift down by swapping the body builders for merkins.
    • Kenner Brah, never one to shy away from making things awkward at the end of a workout, came through again by quoting Ed Sheeran lyrics as we started the COT.
    • COT got much better from there.  I had a really neat experience where for some reason, I felt compelled to pray for a young man from our church who recently got a job at Acropolis on Feret.  I’m rooting for this kid that he will stick with this job and get some good life experience.  Not sure why I felt compelled to share this with the guys but as soon as I did, Kenner Brah asked me his name.  He knows the kid and will soon be in-laws with the woman that owns Acropolis and give this kid his opportunity.  I walked away knowing that God is very much in control of this situation. 
  • The Loop

    Conditions

    Overcast, 66 F, Feels like 67 F, Humidty 97%, Wind 5mph from SSE

    The Thang

    Run the two mile loop around Lafreniere stopping for occasional Circles of Pain

    • COP 1 – SSH x 20; Imperial Walkers x 20; Copperhead Squats x 20; Peter Parkers x 20; Windmills x 10
    • COP 2 – Bear Crawl 150 yards.  Turn around, 40 lunges, Forward Crabwalk as far as you can, Bear Crawl what’s left of the 150 yards back to the start.
    • COP 3 – Outdoor Gym.  Bernie Sanders (L-hang on the rings as long as you can).  Do 10 squats, then dead hang as long as you can.  10 more squats. 
    • COP 4 – Little Baby Crunches x 20
    • Along the way we stopped to do 10 Merkins in cadence as we waited for the 6.  Did 4 sets.

    NMM

    • After the bear crawls War Eagle let it be known that he believes I come up with my Qs on the drive to the AO.  Seemed like an insult.  I assured him nothing could be farther from the truth. 
    • Upon hearing that we were going to run the two mile lap, Hokie peeled off to work out solo at the outdoor gym.  He’s been dealing with knee pain and just received a cortisone shot.
    • I had a tough time coming up with a plan for this Q.  On the drive to the AO was when it hit me, let’s try to complete the loop.  Once I heard about Hokie’s cortisone shot, I should have modified my plan, but I didn’t.  That was a Q fail on my part.  It bothered me for the rest of the workout.
    • Luckily, things worked out.  The Disclaimer was late and hooked up with Hokie and they worked out together.  Still doesn’t excuse my poor leadership, but I’m glad it worked out.
  • Crazy 8s

    Conditions

    Mostly cloudy, 65 F, Feels like 66 F, Humidity 93%, Wind 8 MPH from ESE.

    Warm-up

    Imperial Walkers x 31; Shoulder Taps x 31; Arm Circles: Forward x 16, Backerds x 15; Windmills x 10

    The Thang

    Grab your favorite rock and circle up for the duration.  Crazy 8s with a Deck of Death.

    • Hearts – Ground ‘n Pound con roca.  Reps = card value (2-14)
    • Spades – Squat Thrust con roca.  Reps = card value (2-14)
    • Diamonds – Curl to Press con roca.  Reps = card value (2-14)
    • Clubs – Core Exercise on the card sin roca. Reps = card value + 10 for numbers; 25 for face cards, 50 for the ace
    • Jokers – Repeat the last exercise
    • 8s – Do 8 eight count body builders each time an 8 is drawn

    NMM

    • Apparently I walked in hot and late.  Thought I had perfect timing to coolly stroll in at 0530 and give the disclaimer flag in hand, but the mumblechatter revealed that it was 0531.
    • War Eagle continues to be a non-conformist with his rock selection.  In spite of all of his peers selecting the traditional Pontiff drainage rocks, he continues to use a man-made cinder block.  Will War Eagle’s non-conformity lead to amazing success like Bill Bradley’s granny shot free throws, or will he always be viewed as a nut job like the guy that works out barefoot with F3 Nola?  Only time will tell. 
    • Mahatma taught us all an important life principle today.  Mahatma had a misshapen rock that was not easy to handle for some of the exercises.  After a round where some of the Pax traded rocks, Mahatma ended up with Frac’s rock.  Those of you that have posted at Rock City or The Uptowner may be familiar with this beast of a rock.  It appears to be a nice oblong shape that would be easy to handle, but once you start with it, you learn that one side weighs about 35 pounds and the other side weighs 15.  Remember kids, whatever your struggles are in life, there’s always someone else out there that has it harder than you. 
    • I suggest we start naming rocks.  I imagine that the aforementioned rock did not take kindly to our talk about its one-sided girth.  I can hear it protesting “It’s not a toomah!” like Governor Arnold in Kindergarten cop.  Therefore this rock shall henceforth be known as Schwarzenegger. 
    • Strava had my total mileage today at 0.18 miles.  That’s a successful Uptowner in my book. 
  • Hawgcycle’s Running New Year’s Eve

    The Thang

    Run as far as you can in 22:30 and then turn around and come back. The goal was to try and run farther than you ever have at the Stomp. Some accomplished that. Shuffles, who doesn’t have a watch, ran to where he always does, the other side of the bridge, and turned around. A few saw the top of the bridge for the first time. Kuch garnered 18 achievements on Strava. YHC earned one.

    Another year in the books. Here’s to continued acceleration in 2020.

  • 2019 Rock City Review

    Conditions:  A cool 50 degrees and clear.  Dark.

    For our last 2019 Rock City we looked back on the year that was.

    Warm-up

    We hit the most popular RC warm-up exercises of 2019 according to those that write backblasts:

    • SSH x 19 – Still the popular starter.  We did 19 for the year 2019.
    • Hillbillies x 20 – A surprising replacement of the customary IWs.  Hillbillies seem wildly popular at RC.  We did 20 because I forgot to stop at 19
    • Grass Grabbers x 19 – I’m sure the popularity is based on the name.  The clap at the end feels silly, but it doesn’t keep us from doing them. 
    •  Windmills (aka Abe Vigodas) x 10 – Lots of Qs find these to be a warm-up staple, but you will have to do them prior to 5:30 anytime Spartacus is on the schedule. 

    A Sea of Crimson

    Our first Rock City Workout of 2019 happened on July 7th.  That just happened to be the day of the College Football National Championship.  War Eagle must have been feeling good that morning as he delivered a brutal beatdown, on par with the beating his Crimson Tide took later that night. 

    We paired up for a quasi-dora with the following exercises:

    • 250 curls
    • 200 squats
    • 150 rows
    • 100 shoulder presses
    • 50 burpees

    While pax #1 did the exercise, pax #2 ran 40 yards and back.

    Iron Pax

    This morning we paid tribute to the Iron Pax workouts of 2019 by reenacting Week Zero.  This time we did one round instead of six and we did the reps together. 

    • 24 squats
    • 24 merkins
    • 24 Lunges in cadence
    • 400 meter run

    Sgt. Bovia Tribute

    We saved my favorite Rock City Workout of the year for last.  It was the tribute Boo-Boo Qd for Marine Sgt. Joey Bovia.  Sgt. Bovia was killed in Afghanistan on August 31, 2010.  The Tribute consisted of 31 reps of 8 different exercises.  This morning, we did as many as we could in the allotted time.

    • 31 merkins
    • 31 Big Boy Sit-ups
    • 31 Squats
    • 31 Push Presses

    Time ran out before the 31 burpees.  We brought our rocks back to the pile and moseyed to the flag for the COT.

    NMM

    • Smallest numbers at Rock City all year. 
    • The 5 guys that posted were there to work though.  We made it through a lot more than I thought we would.  I honestly expected that I would have to cut the Iron Pax or Bovia workout, but that was not the case.
    • Looking back on the National Championship themed workout that started the year, who would have thought that LSU would be playing those same Clemson Tigers for the Natty after the 2019 season. And who could have forecast the Alabama program falling off the face of the earth like they did.  I don’t even think they made a bowl game this year.  Seems like the end of an era.