F3 New Orleans

Category: Northshore

  • 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.

  • Stranger Things

    It was quite nice in the gloom this morning when YHC and Grover arrived to a cool 65 degrees and a clean Milestone Marsh. We noticed that the picnic tables had been moved to the far side of the fence, something I’ve never witnessed before. That would be the beginning of the strangest post I’ve ever been a part of in my short time at F3.

    Pik, Pixie Stix, and Steve soon arrived and we circled up with OYO stretching and grumbling of sore shoulders from H8!

    Warm Up:  SSH, Imperial Walkers, Self-Love, and Arm Circles front and back x 20 each

    Cowbell came speeding in as usual – having arrived on time at Grandma’s House just a few minutes earlier – realizing it was Monday rather than Tuesday. 

    Short jog down to Mariny and back; pick up blocks and meet at the corner of the court for instructions

    Thang: Block Murph 

    YHC was explaining we would honor our veterans today, specifically Lieutenant Murphy, since yesterday was Veterans Day. But it actually wasn’t, because Veterans Day is this Wednesday. Can you see a pattern here?

    4 corners:   

    20 Block Curls, 20 Block Rows, 40 Block Presses, 60 Goblet Squats, .2mile run

    Rifle Carry on long sides of the court, 1 arm farmer carry on short sides

    Rinse and Repeat x 5

    YHC had some anthem tunes ready, specifically for Hammer (no show), and was worried a bit about how loud it might be so early in the morning – keeping it low not to disturb the neighbors.

    Round 1 was finished 10 minutes in when things really got weird. 4-5 vehicles pulled up to the Marsh with windows down, bass thumps, music blaring, and @8 people stepped out with khaki cargo pants, jackets, flashlights, and .…….basketballs?

    What is happening man? Who decides to play bball in the dark @ 5:30 on a Monday morning? We pressed on, and modified an already modified Murph by moving to the street. 3rd round in, we saw a few people riding their bikes past the Marsh fully dressed in non-workout attire, presumably on their way to work or coming in from the night. 

    15 minutes left, another modification was announced. We would finish the last 2 rounds of block work, make 1 more run and call it a day.

    All finished with 100 Curls, 100 Rows, 200 Block Presses, and 300 Block Squats. And some running.

    Mary:  1 minute left, Crunchy Frogs for Cowbell, IC. Only YHC did not do Crunchy Frogs, but American Hammers. After being called out, quickly switched to the correct exercise until 6:00am 

    COT: Grover prayed us out

    Even the COT was strange, our blocks still by our side, loud flashlight basketball, and another strange occurrence. Guy comes out of the house across the street and starts his car, moves it out of the way – parking it on the side street –  then starts his other car up and takes off – leaving the original backed out car still running.

    Count, Name-O-Rama, Announcements

    Thursday Oct 12th: 1 Mile time trial at the Scramble, F2 Flag making party @ Cowbell’s, Turkey Trot on Turkey day

    This is one beatdown I will never forget. Thanks for letting me lead.

    SYITG,

    Akbar

  • Rinse, Lather, Repeat

    Okay, so 4 straight days of softball until 9 each night, running 5 miles the night before, and Katie’s 40th birthday. These are all the reasons why I came unprepared this morning to the A1C. However, Tabata is always a great workout, especially when you still have the list of exercises still in your car. But then you come up with a better idea. Round Robin Tabata. So that is what happened this morning at the A1C. Everyone coming up with exercises, including Einstein’s crazy Lord of the Dance jump rope cross overs. It was tough, it was fun, and it was an honor to lead you gentlemen.

  • The One Ring (ok, possibly 2)

    YHC was coming in as hot as Cowbell, and proceeding to send forth one more text to the missing Steve, when he was suddenly knocking on my window *HOLY CRAP HEART ATTACK*

    After laying out some “preemptive” cones, we commenced to warmin’ up…

    WARM UP

    Some high knees got us started before tribute to most of the PAX had us doing Pik’s “hop twist”, some of Cowebell’s leg swings and 4 corner hops, and Shooter’s head rolls.

    THANG

    Steve, who had the wherewithal to look up, pointed out a far out phenomenon: Surrounding the bright moon was an enormous ring of light. I’m not talking a ring of light like that depicted over a saint’s head, I’m talking like the rings of Saturn! It’s called a 22 degree Halo (or a moon ring or winter halo) and is formed when direct moonlight is refracted in millions of hexagonal ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere!

    And so with this heavenly halo overhead the PAX scrambled down massena, took the loop, and headed towards the lake for a better look. It was along the way that it seemed there could possibly be a double halo? Anyway, we continued back along Pik pass and arrived to put those cones to use.

    MARY

    One man ran a 3 cone suicide while the PAX ere doing core. Upon completion the runner chose the next exercise. LBCs, Flutter Kicks, Crunchy Frogs, V Ups, Putins, and not to leave Steve out of the fun…well it escapes me at the moment, sorry!

    COT

    YHC prayed us out plus special intentions for Cowbell, finally getting to memorialize his grandmother who passed in April.

    Go forth and make a difference in someone else’s life gentlemen!

  • Dabbin’ With the Homies

    James, Stanley, and Benjamin walk into a bar….

    OK, it was actually a darkened, trash-strewn basketball court and playground we, on the north shore fondly call The Milestone Marsh. And the PAX was there to do business, so to business they got.

    WARM UP

    It was an imperative to get the heart rate rolling quickly so QIC started with some quick rounds of High Knees, Butt Kicks, and SSHs. We slowed the tempo and turned the focus elsewhere on the anatomy before heading out to the intersection.

    THANG

    The Marsh was where YHC was introduced to the Dab by our gone-but-not-forgotten comrade Coconuts, and is the sole location where it has been unleashed in my experience. And so it was that we three ventured forth and completed 10 Burpees EMOM for 5 minutes then running 400 meters, and repeating 4 times.

    MARY

    To be perfectly honest, procrastination on this back blast has directly lead to a constipation of the brain. There may or may not have been a slight bit of wrap-up.

    COT

    I believe Pik prayed us out and there was a great deal of appreciation for my fellow F3 brothers!

    Thanks for Dabbin’ with your homey!

  • As one PAX noted “It must be an election night hangover!”

    Arrived at the Gipper in the low 50s ready to throw the PAX a day of strength training and speed intervals. With numbers posting in the mid to upper double digits these last few months YHC anticipated no difference. However, as stated by Turbo upon his return with the prethang milers “It must be an election night hangover!” Well gentlemen his statement proved true as the PAX only swelled to 9 after late arrivals BBQ and Bean jumped into the warmup.. These numbers held true and no recounts will be required after this submission..

    Warmarama

    20 IC Imperial walkers, Hillbillies, Toe touches, Grass grabbers, Cherry pickers, Self love and Arm circles.

    thang

    Retrieved cylinder block coupons and carried around the corner to our gated area with tractor tires. Split into a group of 4 and group of 5 at a distance of 20-25 yards. Each group had named exercise to continuously perform with the cylinder block while another team member took 2 flips alternating from the large tire and medium tire then returning to pick up their reps with the block as each completed. T👏🏼 to Grover and all the other buck 40 to buck 60 men who tackled that monster tire. Proper form included on this one and these men performed well. Exercises included chest press, squat thrusters, kettle thrust, tri extensions, blocks on the shelf, burpee block jumps, curls and overhead presses.. After all PAX cycled through we returned the tires to there resting place then assembled on the side street for the next pearl. R1 first stop sign and sprinted midway which happened to be the parking lot entrance where we paused and completed 5 squat thrusters then back pedaled the other half. R2 and R3 sprinted halfway with Caricoa and 5 kettle swing thrusters. R4 sprint halfway and could be wrong on this one but I believe we overhead pressed then sprinted again.. YHC gassed and needing air recovery walked the cylinder blocks back to their resting place. With 4 mins to spare hit some core 20IC LBCs, Flutter kicks and Freddie Mercurys. PURPOSELY left off Cowbells favorite the Crunchy frog since he destroyed the Q on the previous day although he jockeyed for a round but my clock on this day would be the digital read at the trailhead and NOT your more accurate 30 second remaining Garmin Mr. Cowbell..

    Hope you Gippers feel the results in a few days!

    Appreciate Grover closing the PAX in COT after the count and announce!!

    Till the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • Happy Halloween

    It was just a suggestion, an idea. Wear costumes for Halloween, simple, right. Lesson learned, never give Bushwacker a heads up. For him, nothing can ever be simple. The costumes were great. Water pick as Street Fighter/karate kid , Zoolander as Johnny from cobra kai, bushwackers ridiculously tight minion pants, baby yoda as baby yoda, and of course Steve as Spider-Man. A costume he purchased in the children’s section.

    Warm-up: ssh, toe touches, torso twists, self love, cherry pickers

    Moseyed to the gazebo for a little trick or treating. You reached in for a candy and on the back we’re var ridiculous exercises. Unless you’re speedy, who apparently still can’t read. Yhc was surprised how much of Bushwackers exercise choices were similar to my upcoming Tobata. Anyways we moseyed down a little further to where I had planned for my tobata, only to find more pumpkins set up by Bush. Great communication between us. 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest. Burpees, hand release merkans, shoulder taps, jump squats, monkey bumpers, wife pleasers, kneel diamonds, and I forget the rest. I learned rather quickly that a mask wasn’t the smartest costume to wear. Another round of trick or treating, then finished up with core tobata at the flag. Cot and hammer prayed us out. Great seeing Ringo and Grundy again. Thanks for coming out, thanks for dressing up, and thanks for celebrating my birthday gentleman.

  • Toil before The Tempest

    I had a new routine ready for the Pax this morning, but it being wet and humid, and me not wanting to get my Little Lord Fauntleroy outfit smudged, I decided to go with some old stuff.

    Warmup IC: Side Straddle Hops, Good Mornings, Smurf Jacks, Toe Touches, High Knees, Arm Circles

    Mosey to Bedrock Garden, with everyone grabbing a boulder for: curls, elf on the shelfs, squats, and overhead presses.

    Mosey to the Taj Mahal parking lot for some leg swings, then a ladder shuffle to and fro

    Mosey to the front of the Taj Mahal, circling up around the sans flag flagpole. Ring-of-Fire routine with push-ups and bear-crawl aplenty.

    Mosey to the Grassy Knoll for 10 quick sprawls

    Mosey to the Justice Center Parking Garage ramps – heading up the ramps backward lunging, then sprinting.

    Mosey back to the flag via Indian run.

    Circle up for count-o-rama and FNG naming- welcome Slowpoke Rodriguez!

    Akbar prays us out

    Thank you wee bastards for letting me lead.

  • Paying tribute to a fallen officer!

    Hightower

    YHC has been pulling workouts from the Exicon for the last few Qs. This particular routine caught my attention and I felt the need to bring attention too it at Granny’s House on this beautifully mild Gloom. With tensions on all fronts and from both sides as the media focuses on separating us as a Human race with the election drawing to a close. YHC figured it fitting to remember one of the many fallen hero’s around our communities, which seem to draw less attention in our times of division. This young officer with a calling of service as illustrated in the above clipping shows what so many men and women in Blue face on every routine call. It’s the unknown as he/she responds to a scene from a call to dispatch that could very well be their last. As stated in the beatdown “The Hightower” Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers as they shall be called sons of God.”

    warmup

    10IC

    Grass grabbers, Self-love, Arm circles, Cherry pickers.

    15IC

    SSH, Imperial walkers, Hillbilly’s

    thang

    Upon completion we returned back to the AO for 20IC Freddie Mercury’s and Little Manny crunches..

    Great to see Ringo making the post again through his recovery and t-👏🏼 to Hogsbreath for his commitment to post having to leave early from Slidell to meet our 0515 start time..

    YHC prayed us out reflecting on Matthew 5:9 and how we as men need to be those Peacemakers in our homes, communities and workplaces..

    Appreciate you men following my lead and Till the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!!