F3 New Orleans

Author: Reluctant Yankee

  • Rise of the Q

    El Wire couldn’t Q this AM – has been getting his butt kicked at work! So I decided to take the Q for him. I haven’t been taking the DAILY RED PILL the last few glooms. After some nudges from Tinkles and Angie’s List – I knew 4 misses were too many in a row – so I was back out in the GLOOM.

    We started with a heckle from Swamp Cock to quit talking and get to work. We mosey’d over field across from the zoo. Here we had our first COP:

    SSH x 20, Slow Squats x 20, Dying Bugs x 20, Mtn Climbers x 20 and Morning Glories x 10.

    Mosey’d over to the FLY. On the way we got crushed by the stench of dead crawfish.

    Circled up by the RIVER – beautiful view of the Mississippi.

    Here we did IC Merks x 20, Walking Planks x 20, Wife Pleasers x 20, One leg left wife pleasers x 15, one leg right wife pleasers x 15, fire hydrants each leg x 20, Donkey Kicks x 20 (supposed to switch at 10, Bartman forgot now one butt cheek is bigger than the other!)

    From here we Mosey’d over to Monkey Hill. At Monkey Hill we did MONKEY HUMPERS 20 on one side, climbed over and did 18, then back for 16, and bounce 14,12,10, 8. At 8 we stopped.

    We lined up for some head to head sprints: Tinkles vs I Love You Man – I love you man won. Yankee vs Stubing – Yankee lost, Stubing won but it was close, Sandbar vs Saban, GSpot vs NipTuck, etc I didn’t check in to see who the victors were but I definitely ran faster bc I was running against another human. I plan on bringing more of this type of thing – I need this kind of pressure.

    After our sprints we did the long mosey to the labyrinth. PAX was required to PINGPONG back and forth to sweep the SIX. Before the mosey we did 20 LBT and PICKLE POUNDERS to catch our breath – then we took off.

    At the labyrinth we did 20 dips IC on the benches, 20 dying roaches, 20 lbcs, 20 Russian twists, and 20 low country crabs. After that we did some backward bear crawls, sideways bear crawls.

    After this we mosey’d back to the FLAG. At the FLAG we did a plank rotation to fill the last 2 minutes.

    Always a pleasure to lead, thanks for the nudges aka mini headlocks to get me back to the gloom. I usually resist the wake up but I have NEVER regretted posting in the gloom.
    See you in the gloom every Mon, Wed, Fri for the near future!

  • ROYAL RUN #2 2019

    We posted for a beatdown at 6am in preparation for the REX ROYAL RUN 2019. We arrived to find it under 40 degrees and to find Fracsac and Two Yutes had already run a lap around the park.

    A quick disclaimer – then we mosey’d over the bandstand. A brief warm up SSH x 20, imperial walker squats x 20, merks x 20, and peter pakers x 20.

    Then we did a short mosey over to the row bars. Rows x 20, Burpees x 10, Plank Jacks x 20, and Parker Peters x 20 Burpees was the count.

    Finally we mosey’d back to the pavillion. At the pavillion we did 20 decline merks, 20 power ups right, 20 power ups left, dips x 20 20 decline peter parkers –decline shoulder taps until the song ended

    Started to notice people gathering at the front of the park – circled up for a DJ style circle of mary. Here we did 12 of each exercise: dying cockroach, freddies, protractor, lbcs, lbts, flutter, vups, nolan ryans and finished with o-marys.

    As we were doing OMARY a few random dudes dressed up likes clowns came to stare at our Circle of MARY. Many odd expressions.

    We finished our beatdown here and mosey’d over to the rex tshirts lady. I had to make sure that FRACSAC got a shirt. Once we got a BEEFY T, some champagne and OJ, and king cake from Hi-dough. Then REX showed up with the QUEEN of Carnival, they fired a cannon, and off we ran to do one lap around Audubon Park for 1.7 miles We closed with a pic and a COT.

    Happy Mardi Gras!

    Hail Rex!



  • Nutria? Is it gnarly? Nope a beaver!

    Desperate to burn some king cake and booze, I decided to Q on ASH Wednesday so that I could beginning the healing process and recovery post-Mardi Gras. I wanted to start things off right with a nice little beatdown to get the ball rolling the right direction.

    IT was a very cold 37 degrees and windy to start. I like to remind myself that they have 0 degree beatdowns in Pennsylvania and Minnesota but it doesn’t make me warm up.

    We started off with a quick mosey over by the zoo. At the zoo we did a basic circle of pain warm up: SSH x 20, Reg Squats, x 20, Merks x 15, Mtn Climbers x 20, Peter Parkers x 20 On the way to this COP we lost GSpot- Nature calls when nature calls. We also gained 9 lives – meow!

    Then we mosey’d to Audubon Statue. Here we did 20 Dips – did a lap, 20 dips did a lap, and 20 dips and did a lap. So 20-20-20.

    After that we mosey’d up to the riverview at the FLY. Here there was all kinds of wildlife in the river. Probably a nutria. Angie’s swears it was a beaver. or a river otter or an eel or a snake.

    At the river we did a ring of fire. Merks and bear crawls.

    Then we did a mosey over the hill. At the hill Mariah was 100% sure he saw a fox but as we approached it was evident that it was NOT a fox but rather a cat. A huge cat but a cat. Not a jaguar.

    At the hill we did 20 hillbillies and then 19 low country crabs – 18-17-16-15-14-13-12-11. Evens were hillbillies and odds were crabs.

    Then we did a long MOSEY to Nip/Tuck’s pimp station. Guys did a BLIMPS and wait for the 6. Once the 6 arrived we all waited in plank while each PAX did pullups AMRAMP.

    After we got through the entire PAX we mosey’d back to the flag – we had an extra minute for a mission impossible plank.

    Thanks to the PAX for putting up with me.

    See you in the gloom.

  • 2nd Annual Death Star Trench Run

    OK my Disclaimer – I am not as creative as Tool. No babystroller with a speaker. No bead burpees. Tool is the man. This is a no frills, no extras run.

    The plan: Run down St Charles Ave in the valley of the ladders aka the Trench. Not Angie List’s trench. That is a totally different Trench. You don’t want any of that TRENCH.

    Brown Bag picked me up at 545am. On the way out the door we had our first strange encounter. A guy and a girls laughing or crying or fighting. Brown Bag and I made sure they were OK and we discovered she was crying because she was wasted and lost her cellphone.

    Then we moseyed down Napoleon to the launch site at Napoleon and St Charles. On our mosey Brown Bag informed me that in Jan and Feb of 2019 Urban South has sold more beer than their first 9 months! #tclaps Also got offers of beer , and the quote of the leg “i will drink for you, you run for me!”

    At NAP and ST CHUCK we assembled the Xwings for a serious trench run. A motley crew of men ready for the 5.5 mile Gnarly Nutria training run. Angie’s List was taking pics of the 80 yr old sleeping on the corner guarding her spot. It was a truly gloomy – gloom.

    First leg Napoleon to Louisiana – this is where the run gets its name. Lots of people protecting their spot. Ladders wall to wall on both sides of the route. You really do feel like you are running a trench.

    Second leg Louisiana to Jackson – things thin out – you could get a spot if you wanted one – apparently we saw Willie’s crew setting up their ladders for him. Let me say again that Willie was not setting up his ladders – a crew was doing it FOR #Willie. Could be Gabrielle and Mudbug just messing with Willy. This is the trophy table guys leg. They heckled us hard. Tclaps to Gabrielle for the hard e-headlock.

    Third leg from Jackson to the Circle formerly known as Lee. Tool and Hokey hit the circle and started back to Napoleon. Things really really thin out here. One person chilling per block. I learned here that Tool is a weed smelling expert.

    Fourth leg from the circle to Poydras – uneventful – the bleacher trenches. At Poydras we turned around. I am thinking next year we might push it through the quarter to Esplanade then back. On the circle back leg 5 – a Mazerati tried to impress us, then Voodoo had beads stuck in his shoes, then a guy stumbling back to his hotel looking for the Holiday Inn express he ran two blocks with us in jeans and a pink oxford shirt. LOL. The highlight of this leg was being behind the porta-potty emptying truck. I am still gagging on the smell of that – it was awful. Like running behind El Wire or Seaman.

    Leg 5 was the Circle to Jackson. More weed, more drunk kids, more sleeping people on the route.

    Leg 6 Jackson to Louisiana – just wanted to finish now – ran past the trophy crew again. Still getting rowdy.

    Leg 7 Louisiana to Napoleon – back in the trenches. Lots more people coming out of the wood work. Caught up with Tool and Hokie.

    We circled up – 12 pax and closed with a prayer. Angie’s List said it best – there is no way I would have got up today to run without the PAX making it easy to be out there together. It was a gloomy Sunday! #HailThoth #HailBacchus #HailMid-City #HailOkeanos


  • CYCLOPS brings the FORT to the Mountain

    34 #HIM gathered on a muggy February morning to accelerate and get better.  The turnout brought the feel of a mini-convergence and great fellowship.  After the disclaimers were outlined, and a handful of the PAX moseyed off for a 4-5ish mile run, the remaining 20 something PAX moseyed to the parking deck and straight to the 7th (top) level for a foggy view of NoLa and a little COP:

    COP – all IC:

    Moroccan Night Clubs x 20, Arm circles forward and backward x 10

    Mumble chatter and one of the PAX counting backwards, distracted YHC and the count.  As a result, 5 penalty burpees were promptly called.  The backward counting of the PAX ceased.

    Side straddle hops x 30 – varying speeds

    Double count Merkins X 15 with a hold to plank – salutations to the left and right then to down dog, a few repeats of planks at normal height and 6 inch holds.

    Low slow squats x 20

    COP complete – Mosey to the 6th level

    YHC and the PAX of the Fort have spent much of 2019 talking about getting comfortable with discomfort.  Given that the NoLa Nantan (aka Reluctant Yankee) talked of doing 11’s on the morning ride to the AO, it seemed only appropriate for YHC to call, of course, 12’s.  Therefore:

    Partner wheelbarrow carries – 2 rounds (just to warm up), then:

    Jacobs Ladder – Burpees, lunge walks roughly 25 yards (YHC’s rough math), LBC’s and mosey 25 yards (roughly) back to the start.  11 burpees, lunge walk 25 yards, 1 LBC, mosey back.  10 burpees, lunge walk 25 yards 2 LBC’s, mosey back.  You get the idea.  Al Gores or LBC’s done by early finishing PAX until the 6 was in. 

    Mosey down 6 flights, out the deck, through the courtyard to the front circle for a partner Dora

    Dora 100 – YHC had to shorten Dora (normally a 1-2-3) due to time and, of course, saving the last 5 minutes for (what else?) Mary (more to follow).  So a partner dora of 100 merkins and circular shuttle runs got the PAX their fill of shoulder work for the morning before moving on to a little ab work…….but just a little.

    Mary:

    Protractor – 1 minute, varying angles and stopping short to allow unanticipated cars to park and pass.

    Hello Dollys IC x 15

    Box Cutters IC x 15

    Mosey back to COT YHC chose intentional as his word for 2019.  In trying to become a #HIM, being a part of F3 teaches us all  that the real benefits and gains we realize in our lives are from intentionally living 3rd, getting out of our comfort zone and pushing our limits to break through thresholds we may have felt were not possible before.  Whether it is the opportunity to Q at a new AO or step up in any other way, getting outside your own comfort zone, serving and leading are reminders of why it is important for each of us to fully and intentionally engage in every role to which we are called to serve and why we seek to accelerate in our development – physically, emotionally and spiritually.  It is always a special occasion for YHC to post away from home.  I have been lucky to be made better by PAX from all over F3 nation and considered this past Friday morning both a privilege and an honor to get uncomfortable and better with a great group of #HIMs.  Thanks to Reluctant Yankee and the PAX of NoLa for the opportunity and a great 2nd F as well.

    Cyclops       

  • Choppa Style or just 60-45-30

    I took the time last night to plan a beautiful beatdown for the PAX this am. Unfortunately I over planned and I did NOT get to the special CHOPPA part of the beatdown.

    28 PAX posted – It was a chilly 44 degrees but decent weather.

    Not modeling good F3 form – we started at 531. We moseyed around the golf course lot to the bandstand in Oak Alley.

    We started with a warm up: SSH x 20, Imp Walker Squats x 20, Peter Parkers x 10, and Parker Peters x 20. We sealed the warm up with 5 burpees in honor of Terabyte.

    Then we ran a lap in Oak Alley and back.

    Once we were back we did the 60-45-30 workout. AMRAP we did MERKS, PLank Walk, and Jump Squats

    60 secs Merks, 60 sec Plank Walk, 60 sec Jump Squats , 20 sec rest

    Then we did 45 sec Merks, 45 sec Plank Walk, and 45 sec Jump Squats, 20 sec rest

    Then we did 30 sec Merks, 30 sec Plank Walk, and 30 sec Jump Squats, 20 sec rest

    That was one full – exercise group.

    After that we did a long mosey up Oak Alley around the golf course and back to the bandstand

    We did 60-45-30 again with Burpees, Low Country Crab and Mtn Climbers.

    Pushed it up Oak Alley for another lap.

    Back to the shelter for one last 60-45-30.

    We did dips, step ups left leg (sorry! no right leg – that left leg is going to be huge), and wall sits lifting legs

    After that session was planning on a big finish with the right leg step ups sorry. better do those on your own and then my finale was going to be CHOPPA STYLE

    Play the song CHOPPA STYLE

    When he says CHOPPA style do a feet to hands jump, when he says choppa choppa plank jack and when he says who dey’ – do a merk.

    Hopefully I get someone to let me do this in the next week!

    Always a pleasure to lead in the GLOOM!

  • 12 days of Christmas – again

    A chilly 46 degrees and windy means a cold mountain at the top of Wolfpack Mtn. I had a few ideas in my head but I waited until the PAX gathered before committing to a plan for the whole workout. El Wire greeted me with his classic – he Yankee is that the North star?

    It was so wet on the Avenue I decided to skip a classic Tinkles move by Blimping on the avenue – instead we went straight to the base of WOLFPACK MTN.

    We circled for a warmup – SSH x 20, Hillbillies x 20, Mtn Climbers x 20 and Imperial Walker Squats x 20.

    Then the thang. We did an Indian run up the Mountain. Each of the 2 lines had a football. The first guy would throw the football back to the 6. The 6 would sprint to the front of the line with his football. Then he would throw the football back to the six. If the football was dropped the punishment was 3 burpees. Team one only did 6 burpees up the mountain. Team two did 15 burpees up the mountain.

    Once we got to the top we circled up for a 12 days of Christmas replay.

    1. Burpees
    2. 2 V-Ups
    3. Peter Parkers
    4. FLutter Kicks **After this we did a lap down/up the stairs
    5. Rising Suns
    6. Dying Bugs
    7. Plack Jacks
    8. Bycicles **After this we did a lap down/up the stairs
    9. Merks
    10. Russian Twists
    11. Low Country Crab
    12. Burpees

    We finished with 5 min left – ran to the benches and we did a side crunch exercise that I wanted to try — 10 OYO on each side. Not sure if that exercise is for everyone.

    This was my last Q of 2018. I enjoyed being with you guys – I appreciate the accountability. We prayed for digits and her PAX and family in South Carolina.

    Merry Christmas you filthy animals!


  • The 4th annual 12 days of Christmas

    The 4th annual 12 days of Christmas

    At 5:27pm a lone F-18 streaked over the sky and I wondered if that could possibly be Peppa.  After reading my texts post-beatdown – yes – it was – we had our first F-18 flyover in the history of F3 NOLA!  Thanks Peppa.  You get credit in the bb for attending. 

    While waiting around in the brewery to start– I was able to try some powerful (or power draining if you ask Brown Bag) coffee.   I brought my 2.0s – one of them studied for exams while the other one Reluctant Tiger waited eagerly for another chance to do some F3. 

    With the moving of start time to 6pm and the rush hour traffic around the brewery the crowd was slowly building for a decent sized beatdown.  86 had already set up his Jambalaya and bread pudding.  Bartman delivered chicken for the kids.  Also at this time El Wire arrived with a ton of Felipes.  At 555 pm there were about 15 people ready to go start the beatdown.  At 6pm exactly we set out for the Annunication Center Park.  Between the Paradise Park trailer keg and the parking lot we picked up about 15 more PAX.  By the time we arrived at the park we were a full assortment of 37 PAX looking for a 12 days of Christmas beatdown. 

    We moseyed over to the Annunciation Park – and we circled up.  The mosey was treacherous with potholes and traffic but we were rewarded at the park with lights on.  Immediately we got down to business.

    Day 1 – 1 Burpee, Day 2 – 2 Jump Squats and a burpee, Day 3 – 3 Hand release merks, 2 jump squats and 1 burpee, Day 4 4 plank jacks, 3 hand release merks, 2 jumps squats and 1 burpee.  You get the progression now…  Day 5 Russian Twists, Day 6 Dying Roaches, Day 7 Mtn Climbers, Day 8 Peter Parkers, Day 9 Jumpling Jacks, Day 10 Mat Jumps Day 11 Low Country Crabs and Day 12 12 burpees!   We let Spokes from FIA close out the exercise with a 1 min plank hold.

    We did a circle of trust and named some of the new guys.  Bongo keeping his 2.0s with the drum theme got more cowbell and snare.    Da Parish keeping his 2.0s with Chalmatia themed names has Beauregard and Chal-mini.  Sogo has Sunny.  Brown Bag’s M is now Paradise or Pair of Dice. 

    Sorry if I missed anyone in the list of PAX – let me know in the comments and I will add you.

    The beatdown had 37 PAX.   The party had over 70 PAX mixed between F3 and FIA.   Great turnout!   We also had over 20 presents for Operation Sweet Tooth – which doesn’t include the presents that were directly sent via Amazon.    Thanks to everyone who brought food.   Medulla I think there was going to be a fist fight over the last pork tenderloin/brie/ cranberry slider.  Thanks to Brown Bag who covered the first round of beers at the taps.  El Wire for the Felipe’s hook up!  86 for the ridiculous bread pudding and the jambalaya.  Bartman for the Popeye’s delivery.    Thanks to everyone.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 




  • Rarajipari on WPM

    I took the Q this am bc I have been dying to try some Rarajipari after Hawgcycle told me about playing it in City Park for the 610 Stomp.

    We showed up for a hot 68 degree AM in the gloom.  We had a FNG – (CHIHUAHUA) named after the province in Mexico that is home of the Tarahumara people who invented this game.   He was wearing a Bulldawg shirt so clearly this is a man of great taste and pedigree.  Thanks to Brown Bag for EH’ing him!

    We gave the disclaimer and headed directly to Wolfpack Mtn.  I picked up a bucket of balls on the way.

    At the base of WPM  SSH x 20 IC,  Dying Roach x 20, Imperial Walker Squats x 20, and Mtn Climbers x 20

    Partnered up – got a ball and started to play RARAJIPARI on our way up the MTN.  At each end of the garage we did 10 merks.  Congrats to the winners Sandbar and Saban who won the race up the MTN.

    At the top of the MTN.  We circled up for Peter Parkers x 20, Flutters x 20, Parker Peters x 20 and Hip Dips each side x 10 each.

    Then we got a new partner and went down the garage with 5 squat jumps at each side.  This in hindsight was probably a bad exercise choice. –  Most of the PAX did their jumps with their  back to the balls still rolling down the MTN.  A couple of near missed ankle injuries – as far as I know – no injuires occured.

    Congrats to Mariah and Peppa for winnning the race down.  It certainly helped that their ball plummeted over the edge to the bottom floor from 6 stories up.

    At the base – we put the balls in the bucket and ran to the benches.  At the benches we did x 20 shoulder taps x 20 power ups left and right, and x 20 dips.

    We sealed the deal with x 15 low country crab in cadence.

    Then we hustled back to the FLAG.  If you got to the FLAG before the 6 each PAX knocked out a  BLIMP or as far as he could get.

    Announcements:  Tree sale at HNJ tonight!, Lycee is having a Christmas Market Saturday

    Thanks for letting me Q – I’m looking forward to a Flaming Lips beatdown next Friday!

     

  • That’s what you guys look like?!

    Daylight savings!   Now I can see all of your ugly mugs.

    I was thinking Quarterpipe had this one but I planned a little Q when he didn’t reply to the text.  He let me know that the little one was affected by daylight savings – so he will be there next time.  He stepped up to cover a Q last week – so no sweat QP.

    We started the beatdown with a lap around the golf course parking lot.

    Circle by the bandstand.  IC  SSH x 20, Imp Walks x 20, Mtn Climbers, 20 Morning Glory x 10, and Low Slow Squats x 20 (touch the ground)

    Then we ran out and looped around the track back to the pull up bars.  (LBCs while you wait).  Seaman splashed Angie’s List at some point here – he got me later.  THere will be revenge.

    Here we did 25 hand release Merks OYO.   20 Shoulder Taps. OYO

    Ran to the PIMP station.

    On the way to PIMP station – side shuffle, skip with high knees, butt kicks, run backwards

    At the PIMP station – pull ups are the count, plank jacks, merks, side lunges, hand release merks.  Rinse and repeat.

    Superman to Bow.   Roll left and roll right.   X Y Z — back exercise pulses.

    Run back to bandstand.   On the steps by the bandstand where the yoga ladies meet – we did 50 toe taps,  then up and over the bandstand and 50 dying roaches at the end of oak alley by the track.  Then run back to bandstand.   50 more toe taps and then 50 shoulder taps.   LBC and wait.   Then we did 50 monkey humpers and 25 low country crab

    Back to the virtual flag and circle of  trust.

    Glad to step up and lead.  SYITG.