Category: Northshore

  • The AARP at the A1C – from Jose10k

    70 degrees to start a beatdown? It’s glorious to finally have cooler temperatures in the morning. A quintet took the red pill and showed up this morning. It was the usual group of older gentlemen. I know the splash pad likes to think of themselves as the “young guns”, and they often make small cracks about the average age of the A1C. Don’t worry, we’ve heard all of them. 1. Which underwear brand do seniors love best? It Depends.
    2. You know you’re getting old when your birthday cake is a fire hazard.
    3. Aging gracefully is a nice way of saying you’re slowly looking worse.
    But perhaps one of my favorites: A wealthy old man spots an attractive lady at the grocery store and approaches her with an offer.
    He says, “Ma’am, you are very beautiful, and I would love to give you $1,000.”
    The woman, surprised and flattered, says, “That’s very kind of you, but what would I have to do?”
    The old man says, “Just follow me home, take off all your clothes, pick the money up off the floor, and then you can get dressed and leave.”
    “Wow, she says, that sounds great, but I’ll have to ask my husband if it’s okay with him first.”
    *Woman calls her husband, explains the proposition and asks him what he thinks*
    Husband says, “Yeah baby, we could really use the money. Just pick it up real quick, get dressed, and get out of there.”
    So the lady goes back to the old man, says she’ll do it, then follows him home, strips completely naked, and starts picking up the $1,000 off the floor.
    *An hour later, her husband calls her cellphone and asks what’s taking so long.*
    The lady, huffing and puffing, says, “That dirty old man paid me in quarters, dimes, and nickels!”
    You can make fun of the average age at the A1C all you want, but they’ll put a beatdown on you, and you’ll be sore the next day.

    The warm-up: the usual exercises to get the blood flowing
    The thang: The deck of death gentlemen. Normally YHC goes crazy with the Merkins, however, I was feeling a little frisky this morning. I called out nothing but wife pleasers for the clubs. Burpees for the lower numbers, various exercises for the high numbers. Reverse mountain climbers, scorpion kicks, leg lifts, squats, and then the crazy BBQ jokers. Deon Sanders back peddling, Star Jumps on every other parking line, and then the attempt to throw another Joker in the mix. These old guys tend to forget that there are only 2 Jokers in the deck. Dementia seems to be settling in. 45 minutes later, full body work out, sweat jug getting filled (look out Zoolander), and a sense of accomplishment to start the day. COT, intentions to young Phoenix who is doing better each day. 9/11 run to remember with Bushwacker on the 9th at the Gipper. Grundy has week 0 of the IronPax challenge. I heard it’s tough. So tough that Frank the Tank can’t even do it. Apparently he’s too old to even attempt it. BBQ prayed us out. Thanks for letting me lead such a great group of “young” men. Suck it splash pad. Thanks for the read y’all and Russo.

  • New temps bring back old faces at the Scramble!! – from Shooter

    With noticeably different temperatures this Gloom, the Scramble had an unusual feel for August with temps in the mid 70s. It also brought out an unusual HIM in Jose10k. This time of school season we are left with only seeing Jose10k on Saturdays or if you make a post at the A1c your sure to have the music and commentary he brings to each beatdown..
    Arriving close to time the PAX had already been chattering it up about YHC and how his birth name doesn’t fit the man, but being from KennaBra maybe that’s a compliment..

    Brief warmup of 10IC Toe Touches, Grass grabbers, Torso twists, Imperial walkers, Wife pleaser holds (Jose10k showing off one legged) NOT that we were looking 😬and closed with opposite elbow to knee F/J..

    Thang
    Akbar and Jose10K took to Rucking while the remaining PAX moseyed to Monroe circling through the Hermitage back to Monroe to West Beach down to Lakeshore U turning back up West Beach and circling back through Hermitage returning to AO with 3 mins.
    Took to 6 for Little Manny crunches, Mountain climbers, Peter Parker’s and Parker Peters..

    Appreciate the newly named “WifePleaser” taking us out!!

    Until the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • Tuesdays with Granny – from Chewy

    YHC wanted to share with you about a fantastic morning with the Pax at the Mandeville Trailhead. The session was invigorating, starting with a 15-minute yoga session with a vinyasa flow. The energy remained high as they moved on to step-ups supersetted with incline push-ups and step-ups supersetted with shoulder taps.

    The group’s dedication was truly inspiring as they tackled a series of stair climbs followed by squat jumps, starting from 11 reps and working their way down to 1 rep. A round of stop-motion lunges and single-leg Romanian deadlifts kept the momentum going, pushing their limits further.

    The session concluded with gluteal bridges and side planks, leaving everyone feeling accomplished and motivated. The sense of community and shared determination among the PAC made this morning one to remember. Looking forward to more empowering sessions like these!

  • One call, that’s all… there is to week zero IPC – from Hogs Breath

    YHC decided to kick off Monday with an IPC. So some official coupons were loaded, the cinder kind not the typical 007 rocks, into YHC trusty Ford’s trunk and made way to the 007.
    At 5:24 a white pick up rolled up and three bumbling pax rolled out. Two were complaining about Bushwackers driving or something. Shooter had shaved and looked 10 years younger with a smooth face!
    The Iron Pax Challenge is a yearly brag / exaggeration fest hosted by F3 Greenwood. This week was the “intro week” whereas we ran, did 85 reps of something, 8 burpee’s and then rinsed and repeated! Only to finish off with more running!
    We still had plenty of time to mumble chatter. At one point, the shovel flag fell over, so YHC ran it back to the trusty Ford. Shooters new look just about anything that Bushwacker could conceive was met with some ribbing. Hogs Breath’s new job with Morris Bart law firm, hence the “One call, that’s all!”
    Steve had the great idea for some music. The man grunts were a little too much for him in the early morning gloom. So YHC turned on “my soundtrack channel” it was music roulette, never knowing if you’d get Taylor Swift, classic rock, a Disney Ballad, or something else entirely!
    All pax finished the beatdown within the 45 minutes!
    Ended with a COT and we offered coffeteria but Steve was a HIM to the ones that matter the most, his M and 2.0 and had to return to get them off to school!
    Thank you for allowing me to lead a great group of me

  • Return of The Ruck – from Steve

    I feel like that may have been a BB title a few months back? The Rucking Crew, Ruck Off, Ruck in the Middle With You…. I don’t know, the puns are endless but my little mind seems to go to the same old, tired ones. Regardless – the ruckers have returned! At least, for one scramble outing. With JV off to Warsaw and Nuremberg and other WWII-affiliated cities, it could all fall apart next week. But his and Akbar’s return this week couldn’t have been better timing for the tireless Russo, who suffered some sort of heat exhaustion last Saturday and was fully prepared to ruck alone if necessary. This heat is no joke.

    And this Thursday morning was no different – the same brutal conditions we’ve been dealing with for months now. Pelican, who hibernates in the summer, may well stay hidden until 2024 the way this summer has been going.

    YHC can no longer say we took the “usual route” since there is no usual route these days. Shooter likes takes us on a walkabout through the jungles of Greenleaves and the wilderness of Mariner’s Blvd., seeking out uncharted territory (or trying to lose us), while Pik prefers the lakefront loop and back, and Bushwacker, well, YHC didn’t experience it, but Bushwacker prefers something called “Follow the Leader,” which involves parkour and stunts that might be found on MTV’s Jackass. Hey, to each his own. YHC prefers the Pik route, so we did that – the runners hit Coffee and looped back, while the ruckers did a 17 minute out and back.

    All survived. Few complaints. And that’s because these men know what it’s like out there in the “real world.” Well… let’s say that with most of these men being in their mid-40’s, they’re at least beginning to get a vague idea of this real world. If you think you’ve experienced it, just ask Hammer’s dad. You’re probably close, but not quite there yet.

    Thank you men for the camaraderie and the accountability, appreciate you all.

  • The Whipping Post – from Steve

    That was the first song up on the playlist this Tuesday morning and it really hit the nail on the head. “Good lord I feel like I’m dying,” hasn’t rang more true than it did on this mild morning at Granny’s (82* with 90% humidity), with the cinderblocks awaiting us at the stage.

    Now unlike Wacker, YHC enjoys the block beatdowns every now and then. I mean, sure, there’s never been a time when I’ve thought, “Hey, Murder Bunnies would be perfect this morning!” But a few curls, overhead presses, kb swings – why not?

    YHC made a verbal commitment to Cowbell at caffeteria that this beatdown would have little to no running and that promise was (mostly) kept. We did run to the pilot house between sets, but the boot-legged Cowbell modified and simply meandered amongst the columns for his rest.

    The Circuit:

    Curls x 40
    Squat Thrusters x30
    Dead Lifts x20
    Merkins x 10
    Burpee Block Jump Overs x5

    Flutter Kicks (2:1) x40
    Shoulder Press x 30
    Bent Over Rows x20
    Merkins x 10
    Burpee Block Jump Overs x5

    Chest Press x40
    KB Swings x30
    Merkins x20
    Crunchy Frogs x10
    Burpee Block Jump Overs x5

    Block Windshield Wipers (2:1) x40
    Alt Block Merkins x30
    Goblet Squats x20
    Elf on the Shelf x10 (5 ea. side)
    Burpee Block Jump Overs x5

    The unofficial poll scrawled into the stage wall that revealed just how important a man’s height (among… *ahem*… other things) is to women was thankfully painted over months ago. And, there were no bat attacks today. So we were all able to leave the stage with our dignity somewhat in tact. As always, thanks for the opportunity – not just to lead – but simply to be out there pushing to be better with you guys.

  • Hurt Locker – from Akbar

    You’ll know it when you’re in it. Google definition: to physically mess someone up, badly. AKA a world of pain.

    Unlike the movie – we weren’t disarming bombs in the heat of combat, recklessly plunging men into a deadly game of urban combat, didn’t have to control a wild leader, no cities exploding into chaos, and may not have changed every man’s character forever.

    There wasn’t even a locker per se, but the 13 men who showed up to make themselves better for the day were in a sense locked into the beatdown.

    Did we have to overcome obstacles? Were we challenged? Was there sweat and complaints? Absolutely. There was enough bang to send us all to Jesus, but we didn’t die. We made ourselves better today.

    Conditions 79,WNW wind 4, 5% cloud cover, still hot

    Warm Up: x10 IC: SSH, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Grass Grabbers, Self-Love, Toe Touches, Windmills, Merkin, Squat, 2 burpees
    _____________________

    Mosey toward the Gazebo for the main thang at the wall, with various moseys to the street and back in between. 20 reps for the first exercise, 30 for the second, and 2 burpees to wrap it up.

    Merkin, Squat, Burpees
    Dirkin, LBC, Burpees
    Irkin, Sumo Squat, Burpees
    Stone Mountain, American Hammers, Burpees
    Merkin, Lunges, Burpees
    Dirkin, Mountain Climber, Burpees
    Irkin, Sweat Angels, Burpees
    Wide Merkin, SSH, Burpees

    _____________________
    11’s at the wall – Freak Nasties and Supermans with a run in between

    7’s – Plank Jacks and Squats, Bear Crawl/run

    _____________________
    Mosey back to the flag for a Mountain Climber Ring of Fire

    Hold plank, start with 1 MC and add 1 each time around the circle – ended up stopping at 5.

    ____________________
    6 minutes of Mary, x10 IC

    LBC, Wife Pleaser, E2k, Little Manny crunches, Nolan Ryan, Heels to Heaven, Flutter
    Kicks, Plank, Down Dog, Cobra

    Count, Name, and Mathlete prayed us out.

    _____________________
    Announcements

    Iron Pax: Week 0 next week
    Grow Run NOLA – need more men or the event will be canceled. See Slack for details and sign up, or get with Fracsac
    Never forget 5k run/walk in Covington, Sept 9th

    Thanks for following my lead👊
    SYITG – Akbar

  • R.E.S.P.E.C.T find out what it means to be!! – from Shooter

    All YHC can say today is that he has the utmost Respect for the PAX he was privileged to lead today!! Having the availability to post the A1c with my gym partner away fixing to crush his qualifier, it was nice to have 6 men take the red pill 💊 on this 🥵 Gloom..

    Warmup
    10IC and 15IC
    Arm circles, Torso twists, Cherry Pickers,
    Toe Touches, Grass Grabbers, SSH, Imperial walkers, Hillbillies and Mummy kicks..

    Thang
    PAX moseyed to the Northside parking lot. Instructions were simple 5 burpee, 10 Merkins, 15 Jump squats, 20 Flutter kicks 2:1, 25 leg raises and 30 Mountain climbers 2:1.
    Each station we added the exercise but also started with each of the previous. So the rep counts accumulated and some heavy breathing occurred. The hot 🥵 asphalt intensified the sweat, so much so that Jose10k rang out his shirt multiple times along the way mentioning the old sweat jug challenge and how he could have filled half the jug potentially just this morning 🤢.
    Once finished we moseyed around the parking garage a found the hottest little corner with no circulation of air. There we located a barricade for the next instruction of overhead presses 25 OYO, while the PAX utilized the wall for JackWeb Burpees 1 burp 2 donkey kickoffs.
    Moseyed to the opposite corner of the garage with another barricade available. Partners for curls with the barricade, while the PAX moseyed down and backpedaled back..
    Moseyed back to the flag and wrapped up with count, announce and COT provided by Jose10k..

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

  • Hot and Sweaty – from Mobydick

    It was Hot. So whats new. YHC picked up the Q minutes before the beat down so improve was the catch word. After a thorough stretching with Torso twists big arm circles grass grabbers windmills side straddle hops neck rolls ankle rolls for about 10 minutes it was off to the coupon pile. The thang was a 1min work 1 min rest tabata. Starting with presses then rows. Next on our sticks for crunchs and chest presses followed by squats and kettles. Time allowed 2 1/2 rounds tgen finished iff with rifle carry coupons back to the pile. Countarama and COT and we are done. Didnt count reps but it felt like a lot.

  • Smells like a different fragrance, so says Bushwacker! – from Shooter

    With YHC out of town for the Scramble and his gym buddy Tanked flying out to Wisconsin Friday for his qualifier, I decided to scoop up Tuesday and Friday (A1c) on the Q sheet. Not to worry if anyone is looking for an opportunity to lead a beatdown, as Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (splashpad) still remain vacant.. Needing some guys to step it up and put forth the only payment required with F3. Signing up to Q and lead your peers.. Trust when I tell you the PAX appreciate new beatdowns and ideas from others… I know Wacker’s nose 👃 enjoys a different fragrance from time to time as expressed this Gloom..

    Not much creativity here this morning but YHC did prepare to accelerate through the beatdown this morning instead of decelerate.. Steve knows how much YHC actually hates doing that..

    Warmup
    10IC Selflove, arm circles, Imperial walkers, SSH, Grass grabbers, Mummy kicks, Toe touches and Hillbillies..

    Thang
    Simple mosey down Girord stopping at every other corner down and back.. Numerals of 8 was the accelerant. Started with 8 8 count body builders, then 16 Merkins, 24 jump squats, 32 2:1 flutter kicks and 40 SMC 1:1.
    Returned to the AO for Jackass Burpee Web 8 columns 1 burpee 2 donkey kickoffs per column down the breezeway..

    Closed with Mary 8 OYO WW1 sit-ups, 8IC Left elbow to right knee F/J, 8 OYO WW1 sit-ups, 8IC leg raises, chillcut plank 60 second hold, alternating left/right side plank hold 60 sec, 8IC gas pumps and closed with 48 💯s on OYO..

    Announced the firefighters 9/11 challenge at the Gipper on September 9th, Growrun NOLA
    the 14th and 15th of October and who could forget the IronPax less than 2 weeks away in September..

    Quarterpipe led us out with COT

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