Author: Walleye

  • Back to Basics at the Foundry

    Today was back to basics with a traditional Foundry workout with circuits and pull-ups. 15 men braved the cool December air. We even had a @Rudy sighting in City Park on a Wednesday. The usual disclaimer and off we go.

    We moseyed to the Childrens Museum for the warm-up COP:

    • SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Grass-Grabbers x 10 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Arm Circles 10 Forward 10 Backward IC, Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    Mosey to the front of NOCM:

    • 8-count body builders x 10 IC (for Catfish)
    • Left leg step-ups x 20 IC
    • Dips x 20 IC
    • Right leg step-ups x 20 IC
    • Dips x 20 IC

    The we moseyed to the Foundry for some circuits: 5 groups of 3, rinse and repeat for 3 rounds total.

    • The count was: run to the track, 5 burpees, and back
    • Rows
    • Lunges
    • Pull-ups
    • Derkins

    We finished with a mosey to the City Park track, stopping at each light post for 10 squats, and a 200 meter sprint at the track. Back to the flag for count-off, name-o-rama, intentions, and a prayer. Was a nice cool morning for a beat down. As @Belloq eloquently stated, thoughts and prayers during this stressful time of year to missing loved ones due to Covid, travel, work, and military deployment. Thank you for letting me lead.

    Walleye

  • 5 Years, and the ABC’s of F3

    5 years ago today was my first F3 post at the Birdcage. It was a cold dark morning and the rain was coming down hard. I texted @Captain Morgan (who EH’ed me) at 5:00am to ask, “Are we really working out in the rain?” You know the reply. @shorty was the Q and it was an Aquaman-themed beat-down running around Audobon Park and doing Merkins, Lunges, and Squats in puddles. At one point halfway through, some guy (@reluctant-yankee) said, “There’s an FNG out here today?!?” @amnesty named me Walleye after a Minnesota freshwater fish working out in the rain.

    Today, 12 other F3 Brothers joined me at City Park for my 5-year anniversary Q. Like all of you, F3 has fostered core values in me that makes me a better man and keeps me coming back. It is a true brotherhood and extended family with like-minded men with similar ideals and goals. So today I tried to express my gratitude for F3 with a workout focused on my ABC’s of F3. 5 sets of 5 exercises for 5 great years. The usual disclaimer and off we go.

    Warm-Up COP:

    • SSH x 20 IC, Hill-billies x 20 IC, Grass-grabbers x 10 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Self Love x 10 IC, Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    Indian Run to the end of Roosevelt Mall for COP #1:

    “A” is for Accountability. F3 makes us accountable to ourselves and to each other. Signing to Q, jumping in the Lakeview Clown Car, or promising a friend to post keeps us accountable to each other. Setting that alarm clock to get out of bed and show up keeps us accountable to ourselves. We start the day off strong with accountability to ourselves and others, and we take that accountability into our day to be better men and help those around us.

    • Abe Lincoln’s (aka hand release merkins) x 20
    • Aiken Legs (squats x 20 IC, lunges x 20 IC, Bonnie Blairs x 20 IC)
    • Albatross Wings (arm circles x 20 IC, reverse circles x 20 IC, seal claps x 20 IC, overhead claps x 20 IC, Moroccan nightclub x 20 IC)
    • Alabama Ass-Kickers x 20 IC
    • American Hammer x 20 IC

    Indian Run to the front of NOMA for COP #2. (At this point, YHC realized 20 of each exercise was going to run time out fast. Down to 10 reps each.)

    “B” is for Brotherhood. F3 truly is a Brotherhood. We treat each other with dignity and respect. We push each other, support each other, and raise each other up. And we support our communities with efforts like Food for the Front Lines, City Park Clean-Up, Hurricane relief efforts, and many more that the men of F3 organize and lead.

    • Body-Builders (8-count body builders) x 10 IC
    • Bay City Scissor Kicks (8-count with 4 vertical kicks and 4 horizontal kicks) x 10 IC
    • Bearcrawl Merkins x 10 IC
    • Big Boy Sit-Ups x 10 IC
    • Burpees x 10 OYO

    Indian Run to the Foundry for COP #3:

    “C” is for Camaraderie. Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. The friendships created through F3 Fellowship is what keeps me coming back. We will always have each other’s backs. Whether I see @shorty trick-or-treating on Halloween, @amnesty at Christmas Eve mass, @reluctant-yankee at a Mardi Gras party, @kuch at the ballpark, or @douille at the Saenger, it’s an instant smile and quick catch-up. We support each other’s businesses and pitch in to lend a hand when needed. That’s friendship.

    • Catalina Wine Mixers x 10 IC
    • Country Crabs x 10 IC
    • Carolina Dry Docks x 10 IC
    • Crunchy Frogs x 10 IC
    • Copperhead Squats x 10 IC

    Mosey to the Children’s Museum for COP #4:

    “D” is for Dedication. Dedication to make ourselves better, each other better, and our communities better. Participation in events like Run Ranger Run, the BlueRidge Relay, or the IPC makes us all stronger. Community outreach and disaster relief makes our communities stronger. And fundraising efforts makes our country stronger. Dedication to a good cause.

    • Derkins x 10 IC
    • Dogs (Bird Dogs) x 10 IC
    • Dr. W x 10 IC
    • Dips x 10 IC
    • Donkey Kicks x 10 IC

    Indian Run back to the flag for COT:

    “E” is for Encourage and Enable. We encourage each other. @saban texted me last week to make sure I was OK after I fart-sacked a couple workouts. @kuch and @high-rise texted me to check in after I had surgery to remove kidney stones 2 months ago. We lift up intentions and prayer requests for injuries and illness for Pax and their friends and family. And we enable each other to grow. Through example we enable the men of F3 to be leaders amongst ourselves and in our community.

    • “E” was supposed to be Elevens, but we ran out of time. So we took eleven seconds to reflect on how the ABC’s of F3 (Accountability, Brotherhood, Camaraderie, Dedication, Encourage and Enable) can make us better men each and every day. Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer of gratitude.

    Thanks to all my F3 brothers for the friendships that have grown over the years. #SYITG

    Walleye

  • Pull-Ups Can Be Swole Too

    The first disclaimer this morning, as I turned on my speaker and it immediately died, was that I forgot to charge may speaker last night. Swole Fest just ain’t as swole without some good 90’s tunes. So we had to make due with the iPhone speaker. Just not the same. Apologies to the Swole Fest Pax for letting you down so early on a Monday. Ashamed, I stumbled through the rest of the disclaimer and we got to work.

    Warm-up COP: SSH x 20 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, IW x 20 IC, Grass Grabbers x 10 IC, Arm Circles 10 Forwards 10 Backwards IC, Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    We started with a Swole Fest cinderblock reverse pyramid. Time to get swole. 5 exercises, 3 rounds, decreasing reps.

    Shoulder press x 20 IC, Curls x 20 IC, Goblet Squats x 20 IC, Rows x 20 IC, Chest Press x 20 IC

    Shoulder press x 15 IC, Curls x 15 IC, Goblet Squats x 15 IC, Rows x 15 IC, Chest Press x 15 IC

    Shoulder press x 10 IC, Curls x 10 IC, Goblet Squats x 10 IC, Rows x 10 IC, Chest Press x 10 IC

    Next we moseyed to the Foundry. We worked the front, now time to work the back. And what better way to get Swole than to bring back Pull-Ups. Pull-Ups have always been a staple of the Foundry and City Park, but we had to abandon them for while during Covid when the exercise equipment was off-limits. Now that the equipment is back open, the Pull-Ups are back on. 3 stations, 2 rounds:

    Pull-Ups x 10 (the count), Rows, Super-Mans, Dips

    We moseyed back to the front of the Children’s Museum, grabbing our blocks on the way, for 11’s.

    Deep Squats on one side, Jump Lunges on the other side.

    Cinderblock in the middle.

    When crossing to one side, 10 Curls in the middle.

    When crossing to the other side, 10 Shoulder Press in the middle.

    We moseyed back to the flag for count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and prayer. Thank you for the privilege to lead.

    Walleye

  • Lesson: Do Not Do Murder Bunnies on Pavement

    7 strong arrived at City Park on a cool early Fall morning to once again tackle Wisner Mountain. The plan for the day was a Dirty Double, running a Dirty MacDeuce over Wisner Mountain, with some Dirty Manmakers in-between. The usual disclaimer and off we go.

    Warm up COP: SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Grass Grabbers x 10 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Arm Circles 10 forwards and 10 backwards IC.

    On the mosey to the mountain we discussed the origins of the Dirty MacDeuce. Captain Seamus MacDeuce was an esteemed war hero loved by his crew. He started working as a deck hand at the age of 12, and commissioned his first ship before the age of 20. He captained 12 ships over the course of his long and storied career. His men loved him for his honor, his bravery, and his commitment to his crew. He was equally well-known for his feats of strength and his love of Rum. His physical strength was unparalleled, and including arm wrestling and the ability to overhead press full barrels of Rum. He was both loved and feared as a man of the sea, and his strength of character serves a a beacon for the men of F3.

    The Thang: Dirty MacDeuce over the Mountain: 12 exercises, 4 sets of 3 (shoulder, legs, core), 12 reps IC, while running back and forth over the Wisner bridge.

    Set 1: Hand release merkins, Imperial squat walkers, American Hammer

    Set 2: Merkins, Monkey humpers, Crunchy frogs

    Dirty Interlude: Murder Bunnies under the mountain. The plan was Murder Bunnies on the pavement for 30 yards, 10 Dirty Manmakers, and Murder Bunnies back. Dirty Manmakers are a Manmaker with 3 hand-release merkins at the bottom, and 3 shoulder presses at the top. Catfish would love them. On the first 30 yards, the Murder Bunnies attacked Saban. Saban’s block crumpled on the pavement under his brute strength. Saban left skin and blood on the mountain this day, but with bloody knuckles he persevered to finish the workout. Seamus MacDeuce would be proud, Saban. After the Murder Bunny bit Saban, we modified to rifle carry with the blocks. I think this may be way the IPC performed Murder Bunnies on grass, not pavement. But we did get the better off them during the IPC. Even Score. Murder Bunnies: 1, NOLA Pax: 1.

    Set 3: Leg cross-over merkins, Alternating lunges, LBT’s

    Set 4: Wide merkins, Squats, Flutter kicks

    We moseyed back to the flag for the COT with count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. Lesson learned: no murder bunnies on pavement. Thanks for letting me lead. Sorry about your knuckles, Saban.

    Walleye

  • RED Friday at Wisner Mountain

    5 Patriots arrived at City Park for a RED Friday workout. The real disclaimer today is that the workout was devised by @Boo-Boo, and we just completed it at City Park. Thank you for the workout @Boo-Boo, and reminding us to remember and honor our servicemen and servicewomen around the world.

    And welcome back, Ya Mom’n’Dem!

    The workout today is in honor of 9 men and women who died in a military training exercise on 7/27/20. 9 exercises for 9 fallen soldiers, 27 reps each. As we felt the burn, we tried to remember the pain (physical, emotional, psychological) that American soldiers endure as they fight for and protect our Freedom around the world.

    Warm-up COP: SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Arm Circles 10 forwards 10 backwards, Grass Grabbers x 10 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, MC x 10 IC.

    We moseyed to Wisner Mountain for Tha Thang: 9 exercises for 9 fallen soldiers, exercises at the top and each side of the mountain, 27 reps each in cadence in honor of the day of their passing.

    Merkins, Squats, Flutter Kicks, Lunges, Dips, Hello Dolly, Shoulder Taps, LBC’s, and Low Slow Squats.

    We moseyed back to the Pavillion for 10 Pull-ups and 1 minute of Plank-o-rama. Count-off, name-o-rama, intentions, and a prayer. Thank you to all of servicemen and servicewomen around the world for protecting our Freedom.

    Walleye

  • Gnarly Nutria Prep

    6 men arrived at City Park for a little beat down on the morning of the Gnarly Nutria. The prep work for the Gnarly Nutria was not to run, save the legs, plain and simple. The usual disclaimer and off we go. We moseyed to the track for the Thang.

    Warm-up COP: SSH x 20 IC, Hill-billies x 20 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Grass grabbers x 10 IC, Arm circles 10 forwards 10 backwards, MC x 20 IC.

    COP #1:

    Merkins x 20 IC, Shoulder taps x 20 IC, Low slow squats x 20 IC, Lunges x 20 IC, LBC’s x 20 IC, Left leg cross-over merkins x 10 IC, Flutter kicks x 20 IC, Right leg cross-over merkins x 10 IC, Side lunges x 20 IC, Crunchy frog x 10 IC

    Run One Lap

    COP #2:

    Plankorama x 15 IC (High plank, right arm, backwards, left arm, mission impossible), Superman I Y T’s x 15 IC, Hello dolly x 20 IC, Rosalita x 20 IC,  Bird Dogs x 20 IC

    Run One Lap

    COP #3:

    Merkins x 10 IC, Low slow squats x 10 IC, Left leg cross-over merkins x 10 IC, Lunges x 15 IC, Right leg cross-over merkins x 10 IC

    Then right into some Mary: LBCs x 20 IC, J-Lo x 20 IC, Reverse crunches x 20 IC, Dying cockroach x 20 IC, Russian twists x 20 IC, Freddie Mercury x 20 IC.

    Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. See you at the GN. Thanks for letting me lead.

  • Swole Fest IV

    Mondays at City Park Children’s Museum have become cinder block work-outs with minimal to no running. 8 strong. 35# cinder blocks. Disclaimer. Short mosey, and off we go.

    Warm-up COP: SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Grass grabbers x 10 IC, Arm circles 10 forwards 10 backwards, Windmills x 10 IC, MC x 20 IC

    The Thang 1

    Flora 1-2-3, aka Blockora 1-2-3, aka Dora with blocks 1-2-3. High Rise introduced this last week during Swole Fest 3, and it was so much fun I brought it back for another round. All Pax partner up with blocks. 100 Merkins: P1 does Merkins with each hand on a block, P2 does squats, flapjack after 20 Merkins. 200 Power Cleans: P1 does Power Cleans with block, P2 does side lunges, flapjack after 20 Power Cleans. This one was quite tiring. 300 LBC’s: P1 does LBC’s with block on chest, P2 does block hops, flapjack after 30 LBC’s.

    The Thang 2

    Block-o-round. Each Pax stood 15 feet apart with block. Exercises with blocks x 20 in cadence, then animal crawl counterclockwise to the next block for the next exercise. Curls, Right leg lunges, Rows, Left leg lunges, Dips, Block raises, Curls, Bus-drivers.

    We ended with 8-count cinnamon twist crunch, explained and led by Belloq. Very nice exercise!

    COT: count-off, name-o-rama, intentions, and a prayer. We plan to continue Swole Fest for most of the summer, Mondays at City Park. Please come and join us. Thanks for letting me lead.

    Walleye

  • Flannel Friday @ NOMA

    High Rise coined the term Flannel Friday during Covid for Friday City Park workouts with 90’s grunge tunes. We kept the theme going today at NOMA. Today was a simple Tabata theme with no running. We have many F3 brothers recovering from leg injuries at City Park. The disclaimer was given reminding of physical distancing and off we go.

    A slow mosey around NOMA and the warm-up COP: SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Grass grabbers x 10 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Arm circles 10 forwards 10 backwards, Michael Phelps x 10 IC.

    The Thang: Tabata at the NOMA fountain. 10 stations, 10 exercises, 45 seconds of exercise, 15 seconds rest. 3 rounds. 2 minutes of rest in-between with Mary.

    The exercises: Broad jump up steps, Dips, Mountain-climbers, Shoulder press with cinder block, Parker-peters, Power-ups, Shoulder taps, Burpees, Curls with 20# dumbbells, Merkins.

    The tunes: 90’s grunge and rap.

    3 minute cool-down with stretching. COT: name-o-rama, intentions, and a prayer. The work-out was reminiscent of a JV leap-year beat down on leap-day where JV led 29 exercises in one spot without ever leaving the circle. Beautiful. Thanks for letting me lead.

    Walleye

  • Rarajipari at the Mountain

    Rarajipari is a running game played by the Tarahumara people of the Copper Canyons region in Chihuahua, Mexico. Two teams of four or more run and kick a baseball-sized ball. The goal is to win, and not step on the ball and bite it in the process. I was first introduced to Rarajipari by Yankee at Wolfpack Mountain, and Hawg at the Mothership. We decided to bring it back to City Park.

    7 men met at NOMA. Disclaimer given reminding of physical distancing. We ran a warm-up lap around NOMA.

    Warm-up COP: SSH x 20 IC, Hill-billies x 20 IC, Grass-grabbers x 10 IC, Arm circles 10 forwards 10 backwards IC.

    Next we moseyed to Wisner Mountain, stopping at several spots along the way. COP #1: LL step-ups x 15 IC, Dips x 15 IC, RL step-ups x 15 IC, Dips x 15 IC. COP #2: Peter-parker x 15 IC, Shoulder taps x 15 IC, Parker-peter x 15 IC, Merkins x 15 IC.

    Wisner Mountain. At the bottom: Incline merkins x 10 IC, Dips x 10 IC. Sprint to the top of the mountain. At the top: Decline merkins x 10 IC. Mosey to the bottom for round-robin Mary: Box cutters x 20 IC, Dying cockroach x 20 IC, V-ups x 20 IC, American Hammer x 20 IC, Hello dolly x 20 IC, Wife-pleasers x 20 IC, LBC’s x 20 IC.

    Rarajipari through City Park. After a disclaimer to be careful and not step on the ball or twist an ankle, YHC proceeded to step on the ball and almost bust my a$$. Luckily no one got hurt. We split into 2 teams, with Rarajipari back to NOMA. We took a short tour of City Park, running past Pan Am stadium, down Zachary Taylor drive, turning to go under the 610 underpass, pausing for calf-raises x 20 IC and monkey-jumpers x 20 IC, and continuing down Henry Thomas drive back to NOMA.

    COT: Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. Thanks for allowing me to lead.

    Walleye

  • The New Foundry

    Please read Jadaveon’s backblast from 6/1/20. Follow with Shocker’s backblast from 6/1/20 (posted on 6/3/20). They will move you and motivate you to act.

    The New Foundry is temporarily the track at City Park on Roosevelt Mall. Come by and check it out. The water’s great. You’ll love it. Pull-ups will be returning soon (hopefully).

    7 Men and Man’s Best Friend arrived this morning in the rising humidity. For those that have never met him, DJ Diver is Gideon’s dog. He is one great dog. Loyal, obedient, always has Gideon’s back. He completed the entire workout and didn’t complain once. The usual disclaimer, recommending physical distancing, and off we go. Mosey to the track.

    Warm-up COP: SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Peter Parkers x 20 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Grass Grabbers x 10 IC, Arm circles 10 forward 10 backward, Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    The Thang: 4 laps around the track. At the 200m mark: 25 merkins, 25 squats, 25 LBC’s. At the 400m mark: 25 Floyd Mayweathers, 25 lunges, 25 LBT’s. In total, 1 mile run with 100 of each exercise (merkins, squats, LBC’s, FM’s, lunges, LBT’s).

    Animals on Parade: 30 yard square: bear crawl, forward crab, bear crawl, backward crab for one loop.

    Rear Deltoid circuit, on your face: I’s, Y’s, T’s x 10 IC.

    Mary: Flutter kicks x 20 IC, Hello Dolly x 20 IC, Penguins x 20 IC, American Hammer x 10 IC, Crunchy Frog x 10 IC, J-Lo x 20 IC.

    Mosey back to flag for COT. Count off, name-o-rama, intentions, prayer. We reflected on Jadaveon’s plea to act. Living in silence in not good enough. Hopefully we can all have the strength and courage to do our part for equality. Thanks for letting me Q.

    Walleye