Author: Rudy

  • Time Killer with the River Stones – from Rudy

    10 PAX, including 1 FNG (welcome Slab!) and 1 Kotter (good to see you back, Spawning!), at the Mothership on a uncomfortably warm and humid December morning. YHC sporting Jesuit gear in hopes of inspiring any Jays in the crowd. But seems that the regular Jays crowd must be sleeping in to get ready for a big day of tailgating. But the PAX who were present were in for a good start to Championship Saturday.

    Mosey to the Great Lawn to get started. SHOOT. Didn’t take too long for YHC to get confused about the plan. Quick pivot – lets mosey over towards the Fountain for a quick warmup. SSH, IW, and some back stretches. Bat Wings – but much to FracSac’s dismay, YHC cut off before we got to the Dancing Night Clubs. We’ve got to get moving.

    Grab a Stone and head to the Great Lawn.

    The Thang: 12 step ladder. Starting at the path on one end, there are 11 trees down the lawn. Each round, we will add one more tree and exercise to the circuit. Carry the rock from tree to tree. Most exercises used the rock. But even if it didn’t, you were on the hook to haul it along.

    + At the sidewalk, start with 1 8-Count Body Builder (thanks Hawg, for the demonstration to our FNG. YHC forgot about that).
    + Add 2 Block Burpees at the first Tree.
    + Add 3 Thrusters at the next tree.
    + 4 Curl-Presses. YHC had a total brain fart on this. There was something planned for 4, but YHC could not remember. PAX held a plank for about a minute while YHC tried in vain to recall. War Eagle suggested Curl-Presses instead, so that works. These had been planned for 7, so this gave YHC a few more rounds to remember.
    + 5 Big Boy situps
    + 6 Squats
    + 7 Cross-over Merkins. THIS WAS WHAT SUPPOSED TO BE AT 4. YHC remembered just in the nick of time.
    + 8 American Hammers
    + 9 Rows (Hawg gracefully corrected PAX form. Many thanks)
    + 10 Lunges
    + 11 Flutter Kicks – HOLD THAT ROCK OVER YOUR HEAD
    + 12 Burpees at the far sidewalk.

    YHC had estimated that this was going to take about 30 minutes. So we had another exercise planned. But it was now 7:26. So lets hustle the rocks back to their resting place and get back to the (virtual) flag.

    Finish up with COT – named our FNG Slab (he runs Kitchen Depot on Airline). War Eagle then took us home.

    YHC noticed that these river stones offer a much different challenge than Rock City. They are smooth, lacking finger holds. It pushes different muscles to carry the rock for nearly an hour without those finger holds. My forearms were sore for the rest of the weekend. I will be using these again!

  • Uptowner 2021-12-03 – from Catfish

    Conditions – Foggy and Cool

    The Thang

    Got a quick jog around the track with some high knees, butt kicks, side steps, and karaoke. Moved to grass for:

    Abe Vigodas x 15 (in cadence)
    Grass Grabbers x 15 (in cadence)
    8-Count Bodybuilders x 10 (in cadence)

    On to faces for:

    Peter Parkers x 20 (in cadence)
    Shoulder Taps x 20 (in cadence)
    Parker Peters x 20 (in cadence)

    Moved over to the playground for a quarter murph – 25 pullups, 50 merkins, 75 squats.

    Grabbed a bench for some dips x 20 (in cadence)

    Moved to gym steps for Calf Raises x 20 (in cadence) on the steps. Moved to top of stairs for a round of deep-sea divers. Moved back to steps for:

    Right-Leg Calf Raises x 15 (in cadence)
    Stair Irkins x 20 (in cadence)
    Left-Leg Calf Raises x 15 (in cadence)

    Bear Crawled to other side of the lot to relieve the leg burn. Stopped for Low Slow 8-Count Merkins x 10 (in cadence).

    Moved back to playground, grabbed a bench for:

    Left-Leg Bulgarian Split Squats x 20 (in cadence)
    Derkins x 20 (in cadence)
    Right-Leg Bulgarian Split Squats x 20 (in cadence)

    Grabbed 10 OYO pullups to finish at the playground.

    Moseyed back to the goal line at the field for a set of 7s. Pax did burpees at one end, 8-counts on the other, and monkey walked between. Got about halfway done on this before time ran out.

    Back to flag for CoT.

  • The timely demise of Judge Boudreaux T Hawg, III – from Mambi

    Q v Q. Reluctant Yankee proved just how reluctant he is by backing out (presumably out of fear, though the claim was an “illness” or “injury”). So who would step up to face the formidable champion, Judge Boudreaux T Hawg, III? Who dared to face the swift and sure hand of justice? When what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a raving lunatic in a Mini? Yes, Rudy-Clause emerged from the dense fog at the last minute carrying a bag of toys for all the PAX. And with that, let the games begin.

    Warm Up: Don “Mambi” King kicked off with a welcome and a warmup. SSH, IW, some arm circles, and such. But he quickly handed control to the reigning Q champion to start the main event. But the good Judge was obviously cowering in fear of the imposing form of his opponent, and tapped out. So Rudy-Clause had the opening.

    Thing 1: Naughty and Nice. 6 PAX were obviously naughty. Its clear that Triple Shift and his ilk are on track to have empty stockings this year. They were sent off to collect coupons. The Nice PAX (here’s looking at you, Hokie!) instead got to collect gifts from Santas bag. And what should they find? Bricks! Each Naughty PAX pair up with a Nice PAX. Naughty PAX: start thrusters. Nice PAX: how about some Floyd M’s with the bricks, then a 10 yard out-and-back bear crawl. Naughty PAX griping about the unfairness of it all. So swap with your partner. Time for one more round: Naughty start with Brick-pees, Nice get some Wonder Bras (push them bricks out, then push them up) with an out-and-back Crab Walk. Trade off again, but we ran out of time. Rudy-Clause suspects that the host was skewing time in favor of the reigning champ.

    Thing 2: The Good Judge explains that the only way to shut Rudy up is to enforce a “Mouths Closed” rule. So all PAX start following the judge on a run. If you mouth off, you have to drop and start burpeeing. Surprisingly, Rudy and all the PAX kept quiet, though Bolt and Hokie decided to stop for burpees rather than continuing to run. Frac, however, kept running despite talking in the back of the line. PAX followed the Judge to U-Turn and pick up the missing PAX, stopping for some burpees too. Then continue on to the Mountain for some Obnoxious Exercises (emphasizing what the Judge claims is the “Obnoxious banter” of his foe). Rudy pointed out that some times, exercises just need a little clarification. And with that: Crawl-Bear up the mountain. Think that was obnoxious? How about Walk Crab up the mountain (Gabby calls it quits and just decides to walk). Oh, but the judge wasn’t done yet. He devised an insidious child’s play game – “Somersault Up the Mountain”. RevSox seemed very confused by this one, and just started rolling around in the grass after smacking straight out of his lane into another PAX. Oh, TIMES UP.

    Thing 3: Rudy-Clause starts by observing the recent lessons of his beloved coach Kelly: what better way to care for the kids in ones care then by ABANDONING THEM IN THE HOUR OF NEED. The Santa Clause robes stripped bare, Rudy-Kelly stands before the PAX sporting his new LSU gear. Lets celebrate “Big Game Brian’s” history of success at ND with some over-and-back exercises with numbers called out from the BK era. 0 National Championships (stand there). 1 Freakish southern-faux accent (over and back). 3 losses in CFP (8 ct body builders). 5 losses to “power 5” teams (burpees). 8 losses to “academic peer” institutions (carolina wine mixers). 11 losses to Top 10 teams (BBSU). 21 vacated wins (SSH). Don King calls time before we get to cumulative 72 point losses in CFP. Mahatma greatly appreciated this new insight into his favorite coach!

    Thing 4: Took a little while for this one to come together for the good Judge. Rudy speculated that this set probably looked better on paper than in practice. But lets give it a shot. 3 PAX on the ground holding bricks. A 4th PAX lay across them. Then the PAX try to “bench press”. Everyone got a turn laying, everyone got plenty of turns pressing. One more “Max Out” with 2 PAX together pressing one standing PAX. Most of the PAX got to bench press Fast Tax, who weighs 88 pounds. But when Rudy Clause went down for the count, the good Judge doled out the worst punishment – putting his own 211 pounds on the blocks. A valiant effort by Pai Gow and Rudy but they barely moved that massive load. And with that – time’s up.

    The good Judge gave an impassioned closing argument, explaining just how much of a HIM his opponent was (many thanks!). Rudy Clause seemed surprised by the need to make a closing argument, and could only muster a “Merry Christmas – do you want presents or not?”

    COT: 12 PAX count off. Plenty of confusion on just how to state name, F3 name and age. You’d think this group of veterans would know this by now. Plenty of intentions, including specifically Minute Rice – for strength through a health challenge, and for embarking on a new life with his bride.

    Then the final tally was in – at first, it looked as if the Judge may have fooled enough jurors with his smoke screens of lies and fast talking. Would it be a hung jury? But no – in the end, the PAX voted for the restoration of Christmas this year and sent the Judge packing.

    Come join the Q v Q next month (next year) to see if The Shrimp Man (King Kong) answers the bell!

  • Bringing the Wood (-en toothpick) – from Rudy

    El Diablo Bringing the Wood. Thanks to Thumb War for inspiring Hawg to start a new tradition! The El Diablo bat was to make its first appearance this fine morning. From here on out – 30 El Diablo workouts, including 5 Qs, will get your name etched on this fine bat.

    The PAX were all anxious to see The Wood. The anticipation. The anxiety. The desire to be like Reggie Bush, bringing That Wood to El Diablo. YHC had the Q, so Hawg who was allegedly travelling delivered the wood the night before.

    YHC took one look at the Wood, and suspected there would be problems. And as the PAX gathered in the gloom, YHC was right. “Where’s the Bat?” asked Scantron. “Wait, is that it?” sez Bogey. “That looks like a Toothpick” mocked Bolt. And on and on it went. YHC had to deflect criticism, happily throwing Hawg under the bus – “Hey, don’t hate the messenger.”

    But anyway, this is our Wood (or Wood-let, or Wooden Toothpick). Whatever, lets get started.

    Quick Warmup, then all the PAX grab one of the presents that YHC had delivered to the football field. A Log, a Bag o’ Rocks, A workout rope, dumbbells (not the War Eagle kind), medicine ball, etc.. All in, some 10 toys were available. But alas – there were 16 of us (counting the late arriving Triple Shift). So make do with some other exercises (burpees – what else would FracSac pick, 8 counts, etc…). One good addition – balancing on a basketball for derkins. Challenge both the upper body and core to stay on that ball.

    The Thang: one PAX (“it”) runs a lap with the bat above their head. (shortly modified to half a lap in the interest of time). Everyone else is doing their exercise with their thing. Then we rotate. Everyone got a chance with all of the toys, and everyone got to run once with the glorious bat. FastTax had an interesting take on “Thruster” that looked strangely like a “Squat”.

    Still had time for a Brian Kelly inspired game of “Turncoats and Traitors”. Groups of 3 – one PAX sprint backwards across the football field. The other two start with 2 burpees (later 1 burpee, later 1 8 ct) then sprint to catch the traitor. If they caught him, the traitor did burpees. Otherwise, the chasers did burpees. Or maybe everyone did burpees. Depends on how YHC felt at the moment. So everyone got to be a traitor and get chased down. Good times. Enjoy your coach, LSU.

    COT – 16 PAX welcomed the bat. Great seeing everyone in the glom, and welcome to Downhiller from Birmingham. Thanks for letting me try some new things – look forward to June 22nd, 2022 (the 30th El Diablo workout from now) to see who may be first to get their name on the bat.

  • BEST OKWATA BACKBLAST EVER!!! (Okwata 2021-12-02) – from Catfish

    No one showed up for Okwata, so I went to Yoga, which happened to be at the lake. I call it YO-kwata, saw what I did there?

    Your Friend,

    Catfish

  • The Arrival of Christmas Spirit – from War Eagle

    YHC arrived early to the beautifully lit Huey P Long Ave in Gretna. I had promised an arrival of Christmas spirit, so with a funny Christmas sweater and elf hat, YHC along with 8 other HIMs disappeared into the gloom.

    We mosey a few blocks for a traditional-ish warmup:

    Abe Vigodas
    Mahatma Smurfs
    Hillbillies
    SSH
    Arm Circles
    Moroccan Night Clubs (for Frac)

    On to the Gretna Christmas tree for a distribution of presents…

    Each year, my M surprises me with the 12 days of Christmas.

    I thought I would share the love with my own version of the 12 days of Christmas starting at the Christmas tree a sign read, “Bear Crawl” to the next sign.

    The second sign read:

    2-Burpees
    1-Bear Crawl

    The signs continued down the mall. The final sign read:

    12 – 12 count Body Builders
    11 – American Hammers (both sides)
    10 – 8-Count Body Builders
    9 – Mountain Climbers (2=1)
    8 – Squats
    7 – SSH
    6 – LBCs (4-count)
    5 – Merkins
    4 – Lunges (Alternating)
    3 – Leg Lifts
    2 – Burpees
    1 – Bear Crawl

    We mosey back to the flag for a round of Lazy Bois

    COT

    Prayers for those with cancer

  • Cornucopia at the Gipper – from Einstein

    a cool 41 degrees at The Gipper

    and after a short disclaimer…

    Warmup:
    all 20xIC: Toe Touch, Side Straddle Hops, Good Mornings, Hillbillies, Shoulder Shruggs, Imperial Walkers,
    Thumb Drives, Swimmers, Neck Roles, Mummy Kicks, Scissor Hops, maybe some more…
    and a new one from BBQ called the “Cornhole Picker Dance,” which is hard to describe, but picture Afgan soldier trainees trying to learn semaphore signals, and you’ll get the idea.

    Thang:
    Onto the Upper Deck of the Justice Center Parking Garage, via reverse lunges and sprints up the ramps
    with BBQ again providing the entertainment, with his Seinfeld-esque company Turkey trot story, where he beat his office nemesis in front of a large spectator crowd. He attibutes his swiftness to F3.
    Then, atop the deck, we did strenuous core excercise at each corner and in between corners we did even more torturous exercises at every other parking spot stripe.
    Then… we did all of that in again, but in reverse.

    Mosey back to the invisible flag.

    Count-o-rama
    Bean leads us out with prayer.

    Thanks guys. Always extremely decent of you letting me lead.

  • Death by Peter Rabbit – from Baywatch

    15 PAX met in the early Monday morning gloom to get swole…and get swole we did. After a disclaimer and a pronouncement of the F3 tenets, we began.

    Warmup:
    1. SSH 25x IC
    2. Grass grabbers 10x IC
    3. Abe Vagodas 10x IC
    4. Overhead claps 20x IC
    5. Seal claps 20x IC
    6. Self love OYO
    7. 5 Blockees OYO

    The Thang:

    5 rounds

    20 Murder Bunnies>25 switch merkins>walk back to start with coupon over head>25 squat press>run the loop. Each round reps for switch merkins and squat presses decreased by 5. So, the last round was 5 switch merkins/5 squat press. If you finish early, you kept doing the last round until the six finished.

    Next came the rings of fire. First ring was flutter kicks with block. Static hold of 6 inches. Second ring was Floyd Mayweather with a block tap (2 is 1) with static plank.

    Lastly, we circled up for some abs. 25 reps IC for each exercises, which included Freddy Mercury’s, penguins, windshield washers over block, X ups, leg raises, and American hammers.

    Closed it out with the COT.

  • 5 Dudes at the Stage! – from Goose

    For the first time in history, a total of five men fought their way out of the fart sack to post at the Stage on a Tuesday morning. It’s amazing what a difference one more guy makes on the morale of a group of sweaty dudes pushing their limits on a cold morning. The sunrise was gorgeous as expected as Enron, Cardinal, Paradox, and Percolator joined YHC in the gloom for what would be a memorable experience.

    Warmup–the usual plus some: SSH, windmills, arm circles, cherry pickers, Imperial Walkers, self love, high knees, butt kicks.

    The Thang (Jose 10K-inspired):
    Had three coupons (expected only four PAX to show) lined up on the concrete by the grass. Each coupon was assigned a different exercise, and we added one exercise space sans coupon at the end of the line to make room for the extra guy. While four PAX were pumping concrete (AMRAP: As Many Rounds as Possible), the fifth bear crawled, sprinted, and backpedaled a figure 8 around the field. Once he returned, all moved to the next station and repeated until all PAX completed all stations once. Three separate rounds.

    Round 1:
    -Coupon 1: Curls
    -Coupon 2: Alternating Merkins
    -Coupon 3: Manmakers
    -Sans Coupon 4: LBC’s

    Round 2: (field work changed to a rectangle instead of a figure-8 for time)
    -Coupon 1: Windshield Wipers
    -Coupon 2: Overhead presses
    -Coupon 3: Kettle Bell Swings
    -Sans Coupon 4: Flutter kicks

    Round 3: (sprinted the full rectangle for time)
    -Coupon 1: Bent over rows
    -Coupon 2: Bench press
    -Coupon 3: Squat Thrusters
    -Sans Coupon 4: Big Boy Situps

    With each member of the PAX evenly spaced out and doing a different exercise with a coupon in front of the stage, it looked like it could have been a promo video with a bunch of male models demonstrating the benefits of F3. We just needed some background music, a narrator, and some better looking men who wouldn’t take so many breaks. (Ha!)

    Count off, name off, then Paradox prayed us out. It was a glorious morning!

  • Ladders and Stars – from Akbar

    4 at the Marsh today for some ladders. An unusually quiet Bushwacker shuffled up to center court looking half asleep and frozen. Conditions were clear, cold, and delightful.

    Warm Up: SSH IC 20, Grass Grabbers, Self-Love, Imperial Walkers, Butt Kicks, Arm Circles F/B IC x10. 5 & 10 Merkins, 5 Air Squat Presses OYO

    Thang:
    Mosey the big block to the Lakefront for stargazing, then to the Wall, Rips, and back up Noah’s Ark. Climbing the ladder along the way from 5 reps to 25 reps in 5’s. Merkin/Air Squat Press to the Lakefront Wall. Irkins/LBC’s at the wall. Calf Raises/ Supermans at Rips.

    Descending Merkin/Air Squat Press in reps of 25, 20, 15, 10, 5 on the mosey up Noah’s Ark to the Marsh. Irkins IC x20 on the picnic tables.

    Mary: LBC IC x20, Leg Raises IC x10

    Announcements: Firefighter challenge Dec 11; Nightmare before Christmas Dec 12. Braveheart screening at Whackers 12/16 5:30

    COT: YHC prayed us with thoughts of Hope for the week.

    Thanks for letting me lead guys! Akbar