F3 New Orleans

Author: TurboTax

  • A little of this, a little of that

    A dozen PAX posted at The Gipper this morning for a little bit of this and a little bit of that. A warmup of Seal Jacks, Toe Touches, Imperial Walkers and SSH with some cinderblock Manmakers mixed in and next thing you knew we were on our way to the rock pile with the blocks in a Farmer Carry. We hit some block Merkins and some additional Manmakers upon arrival and then exchanged our blocks for rocks. Knowing The Plan, YHC patiently and politely suggested modest rocks that could be held in one hand. Excess Mumblechatter or excess testosterone or YHC’s failure to communicate effectively or all of the above resulted in a general disregard of the suggestion and a variety of rock sizes were visible after a short mosey to the Justice Center benches. In fact, one delinquent PAX who shall not be named (his name rhymes with Towel Bell and to his credit he was delinquent because he ran something like 72 miles pre-Thang) found himself with a block.
    YHC probably should have modified The Plan at that point but decided not to for no good reason. So we proceeded with Bench Step Ups with a rock Press. Then we worked our way over to oak alley for a rock Burpee fest, ending up in front of the Justice Center. A few agility drills, sprints, a relay race and an injured FNG later (sorry Mojo), we traveled back down oak alley throwing our rocks in front, picking them up, and throwing them again until we reached our endpoint. Back to the benches for some Bulgarian split squats holding our rocks overhead and then a quick mosey back to the rock pile.
    Another exchange, this time rock for block, and then we managed some block Around the Worlds, Figure 8s, and Swings followed by another Farmer Carry back to the Trailhead.
    We wrapped things up with some Hand Release Merkins, Nolan Ryans, Scuba Steves, Jackknives, Flutter Kicks, and a Six Inch Hold.
    Countorama, nameorama, we named our FNG Mojo (who summed the beatdown up nicely by opining that he hadn’t done anything that stupid in 20 years), and then Tarheel prayed us out.
    Thanks for letting me lead guys. Hope to see you back at The Gipper tomorrow at 6 p.m. for our joint beatdown and F2 event with the FiA ladies. I, for one, want to see if Towel Bell’s relationship with his M can survive Crunchy Frogs.

  • Eye on the Ball

    After a brief warmup of Seal Jacks, Lunges, Imperial Walkers, Toe Touches, and SSHs, with some Burpees sprinkled in for good measure, it was game time this morning on the Mandeville Lakefront. Forming up into three teams of four and armed with tennis balls, the PAX made their way to the Mandeville harbor playground via a passing/running game and with a brief stop for some Merkins.

    At the playground, the ball games continued. We started with a cooperative passing game. Penalties of Burpees, Merkins, and Squat Jumps were dished out for every break down, and the difficulty level was increased as we got the hang of things. Then we switched to a competitive possession game where despite an early lead, the red team lost it at the buzzer. No one was to blame of course and his name will not be mentioned, but let’s just say that the red team would have prevailed if a certain PAX whose name rhymes with BurboBax had caught the final pass.

    Back to our three teams of four and to the shovel flag using just our feet to move the tennis balls with us.

    Nameorama, countorama and Moby prayed us out. Thanks for letting me lead and playing along this morning, guys.

    NMM

    Having Zoolander in the PAX for a running dominant workout is like bringing your dog for a walk in the park. He runs 3 miles for every one that you walk.

    Krazy Ivan is on for Friday February 5th at 2000 hours. Hope to see you all out there if not for the run then for the F2 afterwards at the Barley Oak.

  • No Crunchy Frogs for You, Cowbell

    YHC has nothing against Crunchy Frogs. In fact, YHC likes Crunchy Frogs…a lot. Crunchy Frogs, however, were not on this morning’s agenda. So no Crunchy Frogs for you, Cowbell.

    What was on the agenda was a warmup of Reverse Lunges, Merkins, Mountain Climbers, and Imperial Walkers, all 10x IC, followed by a 5 minute AMRAP session using the same four exercises. Most of the PAX got through five complete rounds before the buzzer sounded and then we each grabbed 2 coupons from the Gipper stash and Farmer Walked our way over to the boatyard.

    Five cones were waiting at the boatyard, the starting line cone and then cones 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards out. Each PAX grabbed himself a lane and then we got to work.

    First set: Farmer Carry to Cone 2, Back Pedal to Cone 1, Sprint to Cone 2, Farmer Carry to Cone 3, Back Pedal to Cone 1, Sprit to Cone 3, Farmer Carry to Cone 4, Back Pedal to Cone 1, Sprint to Cone 4, Farmer Carry to Cone 5, Back Pedal to Cone 1, Sprint to Cone 5, then Farmer Carry the two coupons back to Cone 1. Finish off the set with 10 coupon Manmakers.

    Second set: rinse and repeat with Farmer Carries, Backwards Lunges, Forward Lunges capped off by 10 Coupon Swings.

    Third set: rinse and repeat with Overhead Coupon Carry, Reverse Bear Crawls, Forward Bear Crawls, capped off by 10 Coupon Thrusters.

    Fourth set: rinse and repeat with Farmer Carries, Carioca both directions, capped off by 10 Coupon Merkins.

    Final set: Sprint and Back Pedal with no coupons.

    Farmer Carry back to the Shovel Flag for Mary: American Hammers, Nolan Ryans, Wife Pleasers, all 15x IC followed by 30 long seconds of a six inch hold. No Crunchy Frogs for you, Cowbell!

    Countorama, nameorama and The Hammer prayed us out. Thanks for letting me lead guys.

    NMM:

    We haven’t bear crawled long distances at The Gipper in a while. It was time.

    It was great to have a visitor from F3 Phoenix. Choo Choo is in shape and had no problem with the beat down. Nice to be reminded that F3 extends beyond our region.

    New Year’s Day beatdown at the A1C AO 0700 followed by a big Southern breakfast courtesy of BBQ’s M. Come and get you some. Let BBQ know you’re coming so there are enough grits for your big appetite.

  • 4 x 4 x 4 = DownPainment

    Six men posted in the Gloom at The Gipper this morning. After a warmup of Imperial Walkers, Torso Twists, Mountain Climbers, Side Straddle Hops, Shoulder Taps, and Hillbillies, all IC 10x, we headed over to the Justice Center and got to work with 4 sets of 4 rounds of 4 exercises, all OYO.

    Set 1: 4 rounds of 10 Squats, 10 yard Bunny Hop, 10 Single Leg RDLs, and 10 yards of Reverse Lunges back to the starting point.

    Set 2: 4 rounds of 10 OH Hand Claps, 10 yard Bear Crawl, 10 Merkin Shoulder Taps, and 10 yard Reverse Bear Crawl back to the starting point.

    Set 3: 4 rounds of 10 Ice Skater Hops, run up the Justice Center Parking Lot stairs, 10 180 Degree Hops, and run down the stairs to the starting point.

    Set 4: 4 rounds of 10 Seal Jacks, 10 yards of Burpee Broad Jumps up the ramp, 10 Clap Merkins, and 10 yards Backpedal down the ramp to the starting point.

    Back to the Shovel Flag for the COT where Einstein prayed us out.

    Solid work this morning, guys. Thanks for letting me lead.

    Don’t forget that Steve is leading a beat down tomorrow 1800 hours at the Mandeville Lakefront Gazebo followed by F2 at the Barley Oak and that Akbar’s 50th birthday beatdown is this Saturday morning. SYITG.

  • On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month-Remembering Armistice Day

    Veterans Day originally was known as Armistice Day. Hostilities between Allied and German forces in World War I officially ceased at 1100 on November 11, 1918. Appropriate enough, 11 PAX gathered in the Gloom this morning at The Gipper to remember our Veterans.

    After a warmup of 11 Seal Jacks, 11 Imperial Walkers, 11 Toe Touches, 19 Side Straddle Hops, and 18 Overhead Hand Claps, all IC, the PAX mosied to the front of the St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Center where our Parish’s WWI Memorial stands. We circled up around the flagpole there for five rounds of T Merkins, Prisoner Squats, Flutter Kicks, Front to Back Lunges, Hello Dolly, Airplanes and Shoulder Taps.

    11 reps IC on the first round, 11 reps IC on the second round, 11 reps IC on the third round, 19 reps IC on the fourth round and of course 18 rounds IC on the fifth round.

    Between rounds, the PAX bear crawled about 20 yards to the Operations Center ramp which kinda sorta resembles a trench. We lunged walked up the ramp and then returned to our circle for the next round.

    We headed back to the shovel flag after our last round for the COT with Grover leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Moby praying us out.

    God bless all of our Veterans. Please help us always remember the sacrifices that they and their families made for our Country.

  • First Official Northshore H8!

    The inquiries started as soon as Steve announced the 3rd semi-annual Northshore H8! in his weekly e-mail blast. Would YHC get it right this year? Couched in the politest terms possible, the PAX wanted to know. So after reassuring everyone who asked that yes I knew what I was doing this time, YHC privately reviewed his notes from the last two fiascos, scoured Hawgcycle’s backblast from the recent Southshore challenge, and secretly consulted with Cowbell to confirm his conclusions. The result of all was, I think, a successful running of the Northshore H8! Finally.

    But first there was the warmup and a memorable warmup it was when 9 year old Pick Axe agreed to help prepare the PAX by leading his favorite exercises. YHC and Pick Axe rotated with Seal Jacks, SSHs, Hillbillies, IWs, lunges, toe touches, and arm circles. Once he adjusted his volume to screaming 9 year old level, Pick Axe performed flawlessly. The PAX really enjoyed it, and the presence of so many sons with their fathers in the early morning Mandeville Lakefront gloom has been a real boost to our fellowship and wholesome mission.

    So everyone was feeling pretty good on the mosey to that famous landmark, the Lakefront Shaft, and the starting line for the 3rd semi-annual but 1st official Northshore H8! Once YHC got through the instructions over Bushwacker’s questions, comments, thoughts, and philosophical musings, we were off.

    Of course, the Northshore PAX cannot replicate the Southshore’s version of the H8! precisely because we don’t have levees and a figure 8 was out of the question (it would be like playing Frogger with the traffic). We did our best and if truth be told it was more like a HS! YHC marked out a .4 mile out and back course which included a bridge with minuscule elevation change and cones measuring 35 yards apart. The first lap required each PAX to run and bear crawl the course and then perform 8 burpees and 36 hand release Merkins upon returning to the starting line. Rinse and repeat with the number of burpees and Merkins decreasing by 1 each lap. The objective was to complete 8 laps in 40 minutes. Total of over 3 miles running, 550 yards of bear crawls, 36 burpees and 120 hand release Merkins for the 8 laps.

    There were some impressive performances. This type of workout tends to favor the little guys and the guys who like to run. The guys who can lift appliances with their pinkie fingers when helping their friends move generally do not like this workout. But YHC didn’t hear any negative mumble chatter and only witnessed lots of effort. The 40 minute buzzer finally sounded and we made our way back to the shovel flag where we wrapped things up in our COT, Hammer praying us out.

    Thanks for letting me lead guys. SYITG.

  • Agility at The Gipper

    14 strong at The Gipper this morning for some agility and Tabata work after a quick warmup of SSHs, Merkins, IWs, Mountain Climbers and Seal Jacks, 20x IC. A quick mosey brought us to the Justice Center where YHC set down four cones, and the PAX got down to business with various variations of shuffles, back pedals, carioca, skips, and sprints. The PAX also mixed in a few Tabata sets of pistol squats and lateral single leg step ups on the Justice Center benches.

    It was great to have Big Cat return to The Gipper and also to have an FNG, BBQ’s son, visit us from St. Louis. A 6’9″ former college basketball player who now works for FedEx, the freshly dubbed Mailman put in a solid performance, raising the average athleticism of our Wednesday morning group considerably.

    Thanks for letting me lead this morning guys. See you in the Gloom.

  • Never Too Old to Play Games

    Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. You’re never too old to play games. The PAX proved as much on the Mandeville Lakefront this weekend.

    After a rather exhaustive one burpee OYO warmup, the PAX formed up into 4 or 5 man teams for the first game of the morning. Each team had to transport a sandbag and a ball to the finish line a few blocks away. Both the sandbag and ball could not touch the ground, and the man with the ball could not move. 20 and 5 all team burpee penalties, respectively, for a dropped sandbag or dropped ball. Hijinks ensued.

    It was both a blessing and a curse to have Shooter on YHC’s team. Shooter carried the sandbag with his pinkie finger the entire way in another demonstration of his real world strength. That was the blessing. The curse was that it was rather embarrassing for the rest of the team to reach the finish line much later than Shooter. He was almost finished his cigarette when we arrived.

    This whole fiasco prompted a rule change and for the next race to the Milestone Marsh each team member had to carry the sandbag at least twice. This seemed to level the playing field somewhat, and it was a much closer race with teams sticking together to exchange the sandbag regularly.

    Once at the Marsh, it was time for some passing games. We cooperated as one big team to keep the ball moving at first. Then we transformed into shirts and skins and got competitive. There were impressive displays of athletic prowess, and the shirts convincing claimed the day.

    Back to the shovel flag with our sandbags, this time with the requirement that each man carry the sandbag at least four times and play the ball with his feet only.

    Countorama, nameorama, and then young Pope prayed us out on the way to our coffeeteria.

    Thanks for letting me lead guys and for playing along with the silly games. Remember, you’re never too old to play games.

  • Uptown Wins 2020 Gnarly Nutria!

    Nutria – An Animal You Will Be Seeing More Of

    Winners usually write history but, in this case, you’re going to have to hear it from a loser. The 2020 Gnarly Nutria was epic. Torrential rains, flooding streets, Uptown ringers and police park patrols all contributed to an outstanding event. So without further adieu, here are your 2020 results (confirmed by a team of Swiss accountants no less):

    Uptown-Winner with 828 points

    World-1st Loser with 517 points

    Northshore-2nd Loser with 463

    But hey, who’s kidding who, we’re all winners right?

    And individual results:

    1. LuluLemon (FNG), Uptown, 60 points
    2. In Time, NS, 59 points
    3. Ocho, Uptown, 58 points
    4. Cowbell, NS, 57 points
    5. Bieber, Uptown, 56 points
    6. I Love You Man, Uptown, 55 points
    7. Sphinxter, Uptown, 54 points
    8. Steve, NS, 53 points
    9. Nip Tuck, Uptown, 52 points
    10. Waterpik, NS, 51 points
    11. Catfish, World, 50 points
    12. Chaser (FNG), World, 49 points
    13. TankedUp!, NS, 48 points
    14. Tubs, World, 47 points
    15. El Wire, Uptown, 46 points
    16. Gump, Uptown, 45 points
    17. Bushwacker, NS, 44 points
    18. Mariah, Uptown, 43 points
    19. Three Way, Uptown, 42 points
    20. The Hammer, NS, 41 points
    21. Shorty, World, 40 points
    22. Quarterpipe, Uptown, 39 points
    23. Rev Sox, World, 38 points
    24. Right Cheek, World, 37 points
    25. Tua, World, 36 points
    26. Belloq, World, 35 points
    27. Tinkles, Uptown, 34 points
    28. JAX, World, 33 points
    29. Bones, Uptown, 32 points
    30. Roots, Uptown, 31 points
    31. Moana, Uptown, 30 points
    32. Fez, World, 29 points
    33. Grover, NS, 28 points
    34. Shooter, NS, 27 points
    35. Angie’s List, Uptown, 26 points
    36. Rev It, Uptown, 25 points
    37. Mick, NS, 24 points
    38. Bongo, World, 23 points
    39. Pop A Lock, Uptown, 22 points
    40. KI55, World, 21 points
    41. Tool, Uptown, 20 points
    42. STYX, World, 19 points
    43. Da Parish, World, 18 points
    44. Akbar, NS, 17 points
    45. Dry Socket (FNG), Uptown, 16 points
    46. Squeal, Uptown, 15 points
    47. Old Bay, Uptown, 14 points
    48. Vagabond, World, 13 points
    49. Hot Pants, Uptown, 12 points
    50. CHIPS, World, 11 points
    51. Pelican, NS, 10 points
    52. War Eagle, World, 9 points
    53. Quickbooks, World, 8 points
    54. Moby Dick, NS, 2 points
    55. Amnesia, NS, 1 point
    56. Baby Yoda, NS, 1 point
    57. Jingle Vader, Uptown, 1 point
    58. Kenner Brah, World, 1 point

    Ruckers: Baywatch, Boo-Boo, Fracsac, Gabrielle, Heisenberg, and Triple Shift

    Thanks to all the PAX who posted in the rain.

    Good luck and prayers to RY (and his surgeon Bones) for a successful procedure and speedy recovery.

    Hope to see you all on the Northshore in January for the Krazy Ivan!

  • 11 Blockheads

    11 blockheads posted at The Gipper this morning for an Ackbar inspired beat down. After a warmup of Imperial Walkers, Toe Touches, OH Hand Claps, Windmills, Merkins and Squats, all 10x and IC, the PAX recovery walked over to the Brickyard to secure coupons and brace themselves for The Thang.

    8 sets of 4 minute blocks: 10 coupon swings every minute on the minute for 2 minutes, another exercise for a full minute, and then a minute rest. When the dust settled, the PAX had performed 160 coupon swings and 1 full minute each of Coupon Merkins, Bulgarian Split Squats each leg, Manmakers, Around the Worlds each direction, RDLs, and coupon Al Gores.

    Countorama, nameorama and a Jadeveon inspired prayer. If you haven’t read Jadeveon’s recent BB, Leave No Man Behind, it’s worth your time.

    Thanks for letting me lead guys.