Author: Rudy

  • – from America’s Best

    A few weeks ago, YHC and a couple of other HIMs were discussing why a certain HIM (who shall remain unnamed) has not yet taken a Q. The answer from him the HIM: the bar is too damn high! YHC granted that things were out of hand. It was time to, in the words of Romanian-German new-age worldbeat musical project Enigma, return to innocence.

    But first: Warmarama

    SSH, windmills, Imperial Walkers, WMH, Toy Soldiers, Tie Fighters, Cherry Pickers, High Knees, Butt Kicks, Lafayette Night Clubs.

    Bumper mosey to pick up coupons and return for:

    Tha Thang. Just a Musical Dora.

    Partnered up, then during each song, one partner knocks out the exercise, while the other uses assigned MOT to the far sidewalk, then moseys back. Flapjack, continue. Race to get 200 reps per exercise before the song ends.

    The Songs, the Exercises, the MOT:

    1: First, Merkins, Crab Walk

    2. Seconds, V-Ups, Run a lap

    3: 3rd Stone from the Sun, Curls, Bear Crawl

    4. Positively 4th Street, Tyson Merkins, Lap

    5: A Fifth of Beethoven, American Hammers, Dragon Walk

    6: 6th Avenue Heartache, BBS, Lunge Walk

    7: Seventh Son, Wheezy Jeffersons, Crawl Bear

    8: Henry the VII, Burpees, Sprint

    It was basically impossible to get to 200 on any of these, but I felt we needed an unobtainable goal. Threw that one long Hendrix song in there just to give a glimmer of hope, and to fulfill the prophecy of “that Charlottesville hipster hookah lounge” music.

    Final Thang: Identify the songs from the beatdown. Popeye and Honeysuckle, as usual, took care of the more obscure songs. White Meat ID’d 7th Son, and Yankee Jeaux ID’d Henry VII… man those geezers know their music. (Popeye had been figuring out “Positively 4th Street” for about 2 rounds, but upon returning from his Dragon Walk he had figured it out. The man has the heart of a warrior, and the mind of a Spotify).

    3rd Stone from the Sun was the only song not identified by the PAX, so we only had to do one burpee. It was fairly obvious at this point that the songs all included ordinal numbers.

    Then just 2 minutes of Mary to get us to that sweet Sugar Mill Whistle.

    COT

    FNG became Doubtfire.

    Animal from Honeysuckle to Lil Cuz.

    Blue Tube from Wet Tap to Honeysuckle.

    Wet Tap prayed us out.

    SYITG,

    AB

  • Tunnel of Love: Nope, the Ladder of Hate – from Jose10k

    Muscle memory had me up early this morning, so YHC ran 2 miles before the beatdown. Of course there was music, classic soundtrack from American Pie inspired me to dance before the warm-up. It amused the guys.
    Simple warm-up- then to the tunnel……To the tunnel, are ya’ll crazy? Jose doesn’t do the tunnel. We moseyed to the outside of the stage where we were joined by an out of town visitor: Drillbit. Here is where we started the thang: Ladder Time. 10 reps of sumo squats, then run to the stairs, up the stairs, and back to the beginning. 10 more sumo squats and 10 lunges, run up and down the stairs again. Sumo squats, lunges, monkey humpers, dirkings, freak nasties, stone mountains, burpees, big boy sit ups, crunches, American Hammers, Penguins, and flutter kicks. Great mumble chatter and some grumble grumble. COT with Russo praying us out for safe travels for DrillBit and all those traveling for the Holidays. Thanks for letting me lead/reading this backblast if it posts….SYITGhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq8dCkkhYsk

  • I’ve got the keys to the bus, and who knows if this backblast will post! – from Jose10k

    A good A1C warm-up inspired by Einstein and BBQ. Everyone was ready to go after that.
    We did 10 merkins and 15 squats at each stop sign. We just changed how we moseyed from stop sign to stop sign. Side shuffled, Lt. Dan, simple jog all the way to the lake front. Got to Rips where we did 3 calf raises on each step up and down. Same on the way back to the basketball court. COT and prayers for all those traveling for thanksgiving

  • Free Solo Episode VIII: There’s No Hope – from America’s Best

    A Long Time Ago, in an AO not so far away…

    It is a period of civil war.
    Rebel HIMs, feigning ignorance
    of the rules from prior beatdowns, have
    angered for the last time
    the frustrated Q.

    During the beatdown, the
    PAX managed to start by
    pretending to not understand the Q’s
    ultimate weapon, the
    FREE SOLO, a carefully-crafted
    beatdown with enough
    power to destroy an entire
    planet.

    Flummoxed by their lack of musical knowledge
    and self-awareness, Popeye
    stepped in and identified
    most songs, while the others
    were content to plod on
    through the exercises,
    continuing to climb that hill…

    The instructions were simple. The rules were the same. Nobody cared.

    While the PAX knocks out some exercises, the solo from a song is played. The song has some connection to one person in the PAX. One of three things affects the next thang:
    1. The person for whom the song tolls identifies the song during the solo. If this occurs, the PAX simply take a lap around the Civic Center.
    2. Someone else in the PAX identifies the song during the solo. The consequence of this is a MOT up the hill without a coupon, and 3 burpees at the top. Mosey back down.
    3. Nobody identifies the song, and the consequence is MOT with coupon up the hill, and manmakers at the top. Rifle carry back down.

    The exercises:
    1.Mountain Climbers- bear (block)crawl
    2.Jump squats – murder bunnies/bunny hops
    3. Merkins- El Capitan
    4.Curls – carioke/bricklayers
    5.Half WW3 sit-ups – inchworm(blockees)
    6.V-ups – killer Roos/broad jump
    7.Burpees- crab walk (with/without coupon)

    While the instructions were clearly stated, the consensus amongst the PAX was “What is going on?”
    After several rounds, most of the PAX halfway understood. I guess some people are visual learners.

    First song: a cover of Take on Me, by the band Goose. Months ago, YHC added this to a beatdown and made a point to tell Goose directly about the song, the cover, and the band. But Goose had to be Goose, and feigned ignorance so we could do more work.
    Another Song: Safety Dance by Men Without Hats. Safety Valve has been lulled into thinking if it’s not about flying, it’s not about him. And this song was recorded twenty years before he was born.
    Cherub Rock for Honeysuckle was identified by Popeye, and eventually someone knew it was for HS.
    Lawyers, Guns, and Money by Warren Zevon – unknown to everyone somehow.
    Honeysuckle texted me months ago to suggest that “All of My Love” by Led Zeppelin sure does sound a lot like “Olive, My Love.” Genius. It was obviously much too dark in the gloom to see how much everyone loved this Popeye reference. In space, no one can hear you smirk.
    “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” by Great White… Popeye quickly ID’d it, mentioning “This band is fire.” Too soon, Popeye, too soon.
    And so, amidst the confusion, Popeye and Honeysuckle identified a few songs, although nobody identified their own. But really, nobody was expected to.

    Like tic-tac-toe and Global Thermonuclear War, there’s no way to win this game. You’re not supposed to play it. That’s why the reward for actually succeeding is just running a lap. That may be exercise, but not as we know it. In the words of NORAD supercomputer WOPR, “A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.”

    And yet somehow Paradox identified Dr. Feelgood almost immediately. Somebody make him an international incident negotiator… or at least put him on my Applebees Trivia Night team.

    Thang 2: Lighting Round –
    We do burpees during a mountain-themed song until someone names the song (then they change the exercise)

    Song1: Mountain Song (Jane’s addiction)
    Popeye identified it I think; not sure if he changed anything.

    Song 2: Running Up That Hill (a Deal With God). Identified by Honeysuckle (although he didn’t realize it). Changed exercise to Freddy Mercurys , then we El Capitan’ed up the hill for the remainder. When YHC changed the lyric to “ lunging up that hill,” Pope quickly added “Make a deal with quads.”
    Good, Pope. I can feel your schmaltz. Strike me down with all your humor and your journey toward the Dad Jokes will be complete!

    Song 3: There is a Mountain by Donovan. Crowd favorite to end it.

    Mosey to flag for COT

    Thanks for putting up with it, my dudes. Always an honor to lead.

    -AB

    …and don’t worry—nobody will have to try and figure this game out again. For better or for worse, sometimes a trilogy should remain a trilogy.

  • Down goes Gisella – from Jose10k

    If you know, then you know. If you don’t, then ask Frank. Chilly morning where I was running fast, just not as fast as everyone else. Still no Mandevillians….Where, oh where, is Bushwacker? Brownie hunting….

  • Free Solo, Episode VIII: There’s No Hope – from America’s Best

    A Long Time Ago, in an AO not so far away…

    It is a period of civil war.
    Rebel HIMs, feigning ignorance
    of the rules from prior beatdowns, have
    angered for the last time
    the frustrated Q.

    During the beatdown, the
    PAX managed to start by
    pretending to not understand the Q’s
    ultimate weapon, the
    FREE SOLO, a carefully-crafted
    beatdown with enough
    power to destroy an entire
    planet.

    Flummoxed by their lack of musical knowledge
    and self-awareness, Popeye
    stepped in and identified
    most songs, while the others
    were content to plod on
    through the exercises,
    continuing to climb that hill…

    The instructions were simple. The rules were the same. Nobody cared.
    While the PAX knocks out some exercises, the solo from a song is played. The song has some connection to one person in the PAX. One of three things affects the next thang:
    1. The person for whom the song tolls identifies the song during the solo. If this occurs, the PAX simply take a lap around the Civic Center.
    2. Someone else in the PAX identifies the song during the solo. The consequence of this is a MOT up the hill without a coupon, and 3 burpees at the top. Mosey back down.
    3. Nobody identifies the song, and the consequence is MOT with coupon up the hill, and manmakers at the top. Rifle carry back down.

    The exercises:
    Mountain Climbers- bear (block)crawl
    Jump squats – murder bunnies/bunny hops
    Merkins- El Capitan
    Curls – carioke/bricklayers
    Half WW3 sit-ups – inchworm(blockees)
    V-ups – killer Roos/broad jump
    Burpees- crab walk (c coupon

    While the instructions were clearly stated, the consensus amongst the PAX was “What is going on?”
    After several rounds, most of the PAX halfway understood. I guess some people are visual learners.
    First song: a cover of Take on Me, by the band Goose. Months ago, YHC added this to a beatdown and made a point to tell Goose directly about the song, the cover, and the band. But Goose had to be Goose, and feigned ignorance so we could do more work.
    Another Song: Safety Dance by Men Without Hats. Safety Valve has been lulled into thinking if it’s not about flying, it’s not about him. And this song was recorded twenty years before he was born.
    Cherub Rock for Honeysuckle was identified by Popeye, and eventually someone knew it was for HS.
    Lawyers, Guns, and Money by Warren Zevon – unknown to everyone somehow.
    Honeysuckle texted me months ago to suggest that “All of My Love” by Led Zeppelin sure does sound a lot like “Olive, My Love.” Genius. It was obviously much too dark in the gloom to see how much everyone loved this Popeye reference. In space, no one can hear you smirk.
    “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” by Great White… Popeye quickly ID’d it, mentioning “This band is fire.” Too soon, Popeye, too soon.
    And so, amidst the confusion, Popeye and Honeysuckle identified a few songs, although nobody identified their own. But really, nobody was expected to.

    Like tic-tac-toe and Global Thermonuclear War, there’s no way to win this game. You’re not supposed to play it. That’s why the reward for actually succeeding is just running a lap. That may be exercise, but not as we know it. In the words of NORAD supercomputer WOPR, “A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.”

    And yet somehow Paradox identified Dr. Feelgood almost immediately. Somebody make him an international incident negotiator… or at least put him on my Applebees Trivia Night team.

    Thang 2: Lighting Round –
    We do burpees during a mountain-themed song until someone names the song (then they change the exercise)
    Song1: Mountain Song (Jane’s addiction)
    Popeye identified it I think; not sure if he changed anything.
    Song 2: Running Up That Hill (a Deal With God). Identified by Honeysuckle (although he didn’t realize it). Changed exercise to Freddy Mercurys , then we El Capitan’ed up the hill for the remainder. When YHC changed the lyric to “ lunging up that hill,” Pope quickly and even more wittily added “ make a deal with quads.”
    …Good, Pope. I can feel your schmaltz. I am defenseless. Strike me down with all your humor, and your journey towards the Dad Jokes will be complete!
    Song 3: There is a Mountain by Donovan. Crowd favorite to end it.

    Mosey to flag for COT
    Thanks for putting up with it, my dudes. Always an honor to lead.

    AB

    And don’t worry—nobody will have to try and figure this game out again. For better or worse, sometimes a trilogy should remain a trilogy.

  • Bears, Monkeys, and Donkeys at the Mothership – from Triple Shift

    With Thanksgiving on my mind, I wanted to make sure that the NOLA Pax knew how thankful I was to Q the Mothership. My watch shows 6:30 am and I launch into my necessary disclaimer and go over the 5 core principles of F3. From there we head to the Peristyle for the low slow warm ups with the form police out in full force.
    WARMARAMA
    10 Squats, 10 Merkins, 10 Peter Parkers, 10 Shoulder Taps, 10 Tie Fighters (forward and backward) with 15 Burpees. Everything was in a slow cadence and the form police had to issue citations for not getting past 90 degrees on the squats. Not being in a plank position for the Peter Parkers and Shoulder Taps (Saw too much A Frame going on) and not getting the chest to the ground on the Merkins and Burpees.

    THE THANG
    I inform the PAX of my desire to go around the great lawn on the pavers by performing the Gorilla, Bear Crawl and Crawl Bear. Specifically, we start on the pavers in front of the small monument and we are always facing north. We proceed to Monkey to the right all the way to the covered structure. From there, we bear crawl north to the covered structure. Once we reach that location, we Monkey to the left to the covered structure then Crawl Bear south to the covered structure. Once we reach the last covered structure, we Monkey to the right to where we started. That routine took about 20-25 minutes.
    We cross the street to the use the benches in front of the Peristyle for 10 low slow Bulgarian Split Squats (each leg), 10 low slow dips and some reverse plank time with our feet on the benches and shoulders making contact with the ground.
    With time running short I lead the Pax in the JackAss Webb routine which is a one burpee / 2 donkey kick exercise. We do 5 burpees IC /10 DK, 7 burpees IC /14 DK and 10 burpees IC / 20 DK.
    Finish up the last 10 minutes with stretching.

    COT
    Had the countoff, namerama and shared the importance of being grateful not just thankful. Being thankful was more of a thought or feeling while being grateful compels us to action. Specifically, gratitude is incomplete if there is no expression of your gratefulness. So, this Thanksgiving season, show your gratitude by expressing it in a concrete way. Maybe, sign up to Q a workout to express your gratitude for F3 and what it has done in and through your life.

  • Can a backblast be posted? – from Jose10k

    We ran, Gisella went down, no Mandevillians

  • Down goes Gisella – from Jose10k

    If you know, you know. If you don’t, ask Frank. 4.5 miles this morning in beautiful crisp Covington. Again, where’s Speedy or Bushwacker?!?!?!?

  • I Have No Answer at the Moment – from Bushwacker

    The Todd boys pulled up with 5 minutes to spare, and poured out of the swagger-wagon to see the flag blowing in the chilly breeze of the gloom, not a single man standing in its shadow. Shooter and Zoolander were off hunting, José woke with a migraine and wouldn’t be posting, but Steve and Waterpik jogged up, completing the prethang. There we few stood judging all the F3 Northshore world for their wussification in the face of 40° weather, when, as we should have known, the lakefront started getting more crowded with PAX coming in from every angle!

    WARMORAMA

    X10 IC:
    SSH, Good Mornings, Torso Twists, Toe Touches, Windmills, Self Love

    THANG

    Starting at the flag, x5 OYO: Burpees, Sister Mary Katherine’s (1is1), Big Boy Sit Ups, Freak Nasties, Jump Squats

    Mosey westward and at each street increase reps by 5 (Lafitte x10, Carroll x15, Coffee x20, Adair x25), and return, decreasing reps by 5.

    Indian (Indigenous?) Run from flag, around Noah’s Ark and back

    MARY

    IC x20 Flutter Kicks
    OYO 100 100s

    COT
    Hammer joined us just in time, and we even had a Cowbell sighting. Count, Name, True Coat prayed us out.

    It was a tough one, and QIC was impressed and proud to be leading these guys. T Claps to Swoll Patrol for giving everything he had, plus some he didn’t even realize he could!

    SYITG