F3 New Orleans

Category: Northshore

  • Nothing but THANKS – from Russo

    YHC is a big fan of finding little things to be thankful for every day. Something new or different. Something unexpected. Something unique. Anything to keep me plugged into how blessed we are.

    Blessings like a bathroom at Grandma’s house. Like a cool, crisp 43 degree morning. Like lunch dates with potential love interests. Like 7 HIM sharing a common experience and making themselves better. Like Zoolander’s encyclopedic knowledge of early-to-mid 90s Halloween and witchcraft movies.

    Giving thanks was the name of the game today at granny’s.

    Warmup (all 10 to 20 IC)
    – Seal jacks
    – Grass grabbers
    – Torso twists
    – Imperial walkers
    – Arm circles
    – Cherry pickers

    Thang

    Mosey around the lakefront, where we stopped intermittently to give THANKS: each exercise starting with the proper letter. T claps to Cowbell for picking up on the pattern quickest (I think).

    T. T merkins (10)
    H. Hallelujah squats (15)
    A. Apollo ohno’s (10: 2 is 1)
    N. Not-so-lazy boys (10)
    K. Knuckle merkins (10)
    S. SMC’s (10)

    T. Traveler merkins (10 in a clockwise pattern)
    H. Hip slappers (20: 1 is 1)
    A. American Hammers (25: 2 is1)
    N. Freak Nastys (15)
    K. Kraken Burpee (5) – T claps to Steve for correctly guessing what was coming.
    S. Step ups (20: 1 is 1)

    T. Twinkle toes (20: 2 is 1)
    H. Hand release merkins (10)
    A. Alligator merkins (10)
    N. Nutcrackers (10 IC)
    K. Knuckle merkins (10) – Respect to JV and Slots (and maybe others) knocking them out on the concrete without gloves
    S. Scissor kicks (20: 2 is 1) – or maybe it was flutter kicks, I can’t keep them straight.

    The mosey back ended with one minute to spare, so Pax planked until the clock hit 0.

    COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer closed us out.

    Here’s where I give thanks, not only this week, but every day for this group of (and all) HIM. Getting up before 5 to push harder with the vague goal of making ourselves better, however we want to define it, is never an easy decision, but it’s often the right one. I hope we continue to be able to take some time to give thanks for what God has blessed us with.

    Like breath in our lungs to do Hallelujah squats in a circle in the middle of Girod street, like a cult worship, without getting hauled away to jail to “sleep it off.”

    SYITG

  • Slow Ride – from Akbar

    4 HIM at the Marsh today. Mumblechatter was all about Goose’s beatdown and the pain he brought to all. JV And YHC were sore from head to toe.

    Conditions: 67 and misty

    Warm Up: IW, Grass Grabbers, SSH, Butt Kicks, Self-Love x10

    Thang: Slow tempo with focus on form. A beatdown made for the king of form himself, Waterpik. 3 exercises: Block row, goblet squat, merkin.

    Block row and goblet squat at one end of the court, run to the other end perform 1 merkin. Perform 1 rep each, and add 1 each round. Rinse and repeat until time runs out. If form is compromised, stay at that number or decrease reps.

    Slow jams accompanied us to keep the pace.

    Metallica: Fade to Black
    Foghat: Slow Ride
    Twisted Sister: The Price
    Deep Purple: Perfect Strangers
    Puddle of Mudd: Blurry
    Ozzy Osbourne: Dairy of a Madman
    Dokken: Alone Again
    Fleetwood Mac: Tusk
    Pearl Jam: Black

    Mary: Leg raises, hello dolly, Little Manny Crunches x10

    COT: Jose prayed us out with thanks for the F3 brotherhood and how it changed his life physically and mentally.

    Announcements

    Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day in Covington. 4-5 are hard commits. Sign up here if you want to join. https://solerssports.raceentry.com/races/san-antonio-food-bank-turkey-trot-/2021/register

    NMM
    Great to see Jose 10k out again with the school break. Waterpik came running in hot after being greeted by 2 dogs on his typical run to the AO. The dogs circled back around and hung out with us for a while, racking JV at one point. Rep counts were 17-20 before calling time. No clean up required this gloom, the playground was in good shape.

    Til next gloom, Akbar

  • A Bonnie Blair By Any Other Name Still Sucks – from Zoolander

    I know it says Zoolander was the Q for this one, but that’s only because YHC’s name isn’t on the dropdown menu yet. And, it was ultimately Zoo’s idea to get the fellas from down the bayou to Q a November Lakefront beatdown, and we couldn’t be more grateful!

    YHC showed up in the Goosemobile with four men and two boys who’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. It’s become very clear to me over the years that God has wired men in such a way that the more we suffer together, the more we come to care deeply about each other’s well being, regardless of differences in background, lifestyle, (number of kids), etc. So, it was easy to jump at the opportunity to travel north and lead a beatdown out of gratitude for the men who have allowed me to suffer with them and who first shared the gift of F3 with me. Now, the cycle is continuing down in Thibodaux with a growing PAX!

    Disclaimer was stated for the benefit of an FNG (Welcome, Crock Pot!). Warmups consisted of IC: SSH, Windmills, Imperial Walkers, Arm Circles, Cherry Pickers, Self Love, High Knees, and Butt Kicks, followed by a mosey to Noah’s Ark.

    YHC revealed an F3 Workout Deck, and three cards were pulled and listed exercises completed with a promise of more random suffering to come. This was followed by partner BLIMPS, but with a bit of a twist. Grundy’s late arrival provided an opportunity to reminisce back to YHC’s first beatown, whcih was Q’d by Grundy. It included Sister Mary Catherine’s in the warmup, which totally burned out my legs before we even got to Noah’s Ark. A fitting memory to share before introducing these BLIMPS:

    Thang 1:
    Partner 1 ran around Noah’s Ark, while Partner 2 huffed and puffed his way through their shared total of:
    50 Bonnie Blairs (another name for SMC’s),
    50 Lunge Jumps (another name for SMC’s),
    50 Iron Mikes (another name for SMC’s),
    50 Merkins,
    50 Plank Jacks,
    50 Sister Mary Catherine’s (SMC’s)

    Thang 2:
    Moseyed once again, stopping to complete exercises from three more cards from the deck, then lining up along the wall for two version of a newly minted “Indian Inchworm Wall Crawl”. The first version consisted of all PAX in dip position on the wall moving to the right and completing a dip with every “step” while the man in the rear of the line crab walked to the front. After a number of traffic jams and Bushwacker grumbles, the last of the PAX had crabbed their way to the front, so it was time to turn around and go the other way. Pax assumed the irkin position on the wall and moved to the right, completing an irkin with every “step”. The rearmost PAX bear crawled their way to the front of the line this time, so things moved a little more quickly.

    Thang 3:
    Another short mosey brought us to a grassy area big enough for the highly anticipated Tunnel of Love. Ironically, Zoolander had just shared his gratitude that YHC hadn’t included this exercise since it was a memorable highlight from my VQ a few years back. So, it was with a special joy that I announced that all PAX would be snuggling up shoulder to shoulder in plank position while the rearmost PAX in the line army crawled through Tunnel of Love. Bushwacker’s encouraging “love whacks” kept the line moving while the plankers’ shoulders burned and threatened to give out.

    Hope then rose in the hearts of many as we lined up for what would be a wildly chaotic Indian run back to the flag with many PAX digging deep, knowing that this would ultimately be the last time they’d have to push. But, YHC knew what lurked amongst the cards in the deck, and after two relatively harmless pulls to fill the small amount of time left before 7:30, a third and final pull was offered to the FNG. It was the new guy, at 7:29, who managed to pull the 400 meter sprint card, arguably the worst card in the deck. So, despite the shared astonishment and disbelief, the beatdown ended with 25 men sprinting toward an inhabited car and then back to the flag, all residual energy and will to live good and drained.

    COT, announcements, and prayer by Enron of F3 Thibodaux.

    Coffeeteria offered time to catch up and enjoy the beautiful weather before the long ride home to Thibodaux. All PAX in the Goosemobile shared their gratitude for the opportunity to experience F3 on that level and for the men who were willing to suffer with us as we continue to strive to get better at doing hard things. It was a great gift to get to spend such high quality time with you guys this morning, and I very much look forward to seeing you in the gloom (wherever that gloom might be)!

  • The Walls of (Chris) Jericho – from Steve

    Simple beatdown at the Marsh this past Monday, the ol’ Walls of Jericho. But these were not the insurmountable, Grundyesque walls of old (which featured bear crawls halfway up the Gipper garage, sprints, and other such nonsense). No, we opted for much shorter walls – Steve-size walls. And good thing, too, we didn’t want to scare away the FNG that JV brought out.

    Warmorama: IW’s, windmills, seal jacks, arm circles, cherry pickers, butt kicks, all around 15x IC.

    Then a short mosey over to the Treen Center to get cracking on those walls. Seven reps of seven exercises, followed by a lap around the building. Seven times. The exercises were:

    7 burpees
    7 sit-ups
    7 jump squats
    7 t merkins
    7 leg raises
    7 smks
    7 wide arm merkins

    Finished all 7 rounds and headed back to the court for one final set of each (OCD kicked in and I couldn’t leave the final count at 49 for each of these, had to bump it up to 50).

    COT and naming of our FNG, which was maybe the most painful naming in memory. But welcome, nonetheless, Wrestlemania™! It was great to have a new face out at the Marsh and we look forward to seeing you Saturday. And t-claps to JV for the EH. Thank you men for posting and getting me out there, it always feels good to start the week at the Marsh with you guys.

  • Face cards prevail, unfortunately not at the Casino.. – from Shooter

    7 PAX and a visitor to close at COT graced the YHC this Gloom for some card work..The face cards were a plenty, if only that could happen at the Blackjack table..

    Warmup
    15IC Toe Touches, Hillbillies, SSH, Air presses, Cherry pickers, Imperial walkers and Butt kicks..

    Thang
    Moseyed through Mandeville utilizing 2 bus stops, OLL overflow parking area and the corridor of Granny’s..
    Each stop instructions given for each suit with called exercises. First stop included jump stairs, freak nasties, Derkins and jump ups. Second stop sprints, calf raises, alternating merkins and American hammers. Third stop jump overs, Irkins, little Manny crunches and step ups. Returned to AO for the finale including Diamond Merkins, Burpees, Flutter kicks and a Joker at which YHC offered a called exercise of 25 LBCs by Hammer..

    Count, namorama, and COT with Wacker slipping in with flag and walkie-talkie in tow..

    Appreciate the post gentlemen and until the next Gloom 👊🏼💪🏼✌🏼!!!

  • Cards again! – from BBQ

    It was a beautiful and crisp morning on the top deck. Warm ups were self love, arm circles, cherry pickers , grass grabbers, imperial walkers, hill Billy’s, mountain climbers, inverted mountain climbers, and side straddle hops. We ran a light lap around the deck. A deck of cards came out. 4 exercises for each suit. They were jump squats, hand release Merkins, leg lifts and LBC’s. 2’s were 2 reps on low side and aces were 14 reps on the high side. LBC’s reps were doubled. The 2 jokers brought in a Einstein favorite, Starjacks. One Starjack every other line across the parking lot one way. We got thru the deck, 2 jokers and 4 additional cards. Nameorama and prayer to finish.

  • Day of remembrance – from Shooter

    6 PAX converge on this Veterans Day to get some before the daylight breaks the horizon..
    Brief warmup all to 11 SSH, Toe Touches, Butt kicks, Windmills, Squats and Merkins..

    Different route through Mandeville stopping along the way for reps of 11 Merkins, Squats, Crunchy frogs, Burpees..

    Returned back to use the barricades at the Scramble for curls, presses and shrugs…

    Appreciate you men posting and allowing me to lead!!

    Till the next Gloom 👊🏼👍🏼✌🏼!!!

  • Yankee Doodle Dandy – from TurboTax

    Tomorrow is Veterans Day so YHC thought it’d be fitting to visit the American flag displays proximate to The Gipper. Amnesia reinforced this line of thought when he rolled up wearing Stars and Strips socks and bike shorts, our very own Yankee Doodle Dandy. At any rate, after a warmup of imperial walkers, shoulder taps, seal jacks, mountain climbers, hillbillies, merkins, and SSHs, the 9 PAX split up into three teams of three and the games began.

    Armed with tennis balls, each team was tasked with moving from flag to flag. The rules were simple: (1) the PAX holding the ball could take no more than one step while holding the ball and (2) every time a team dropped the ball, each team member had to execute two burpees before resuming the game. Then we were off to the races, visiting the flag displays at the School Board building, the Fire Station, the Justice Center, the Police Station and finally our own Shovel Flag.

    But we didn’t just travel. At each flag we paused to execute a sequence of isometric holds (Al Gores, front planks and shoulder taps, isometric Bulgarian Squat holds-where were you this morning Steve?-and hollow holds), dynamic exercises (squats, merkins, Bulgarian Squats, and leg raises), and explosive exercises (jump squats, clap merkins, Sister Mary Katherines, and heels to Heaven). And to top it off we executed a couple of agonizingly long isometric holds upon returning to the Shovel Flag.

    Countorama, nameorama and Einstein succinctly prayed us out. Good teamwork this morning, guys. Thanks for letting me lead.

  • These go to 11…or 9…or 11 – from Russo

    A brisk temperature of 48 degrees (still not cold enough for sleeves) and a clear sky greeted a pax of 5 this morning for an organized, balanced, and repetitive beatdown that of course incorporated number patterns because that is how YHC maintains a small measure of control in an otherwise chaotic world.

    Warmup (believed to be all IC, 10x, but that’s difficult to confirm when Bushwhacker gets to talking about rookie hazing and toilet scrubbing at the firehouse)

    – Grass grabbers
    – Torso twists
    – Cherry pickers
    – Toe touches
    – Arm circles
    – Good mornings

    Thang before the Thang

    A two block mosey down Girod to the Rusty P and their outside benches to get us started, where YHC wondered how long it would take before someone figured out the secret repetition code. Answer: not long, even in the early morning hours, not with a sharp as a tack Chewy on the case.

    11 step ups were followed by 9 freak nastys, then 9 step ups followed by 11 freak nastys.

    The gig was up, but the question remained: Why 9 and 11? Despite thoughts of September 11, January 19th, calling 9-1-1 hoping Bushwhacker makes house calls, and something or other about 91, the clue of today’s date finally allowed YHC to see the bright light bulbs going off among the Pax: November 9, which is either brilliant or incredibly lazy in its simplicity. It was probably the latter.

    As we moseyed closer to Granny’s (with either 9 or 11 diamond merkins, jump squats, big boy sit-ups interspersed) the pax was briefly stopped by some “traffic”. Prayers up to that mailbox.

    Pax made it to the bus stop, where the sequence was 11 Bulgarian split squats, 9 durkins, 9 BSSs, and 11 durkins before a short mosey to begin the Thang:

    With only 2 minutes or 25 minutes left (depending on whether you were using Bushwacker’s timekeeping or YHC’s), we worked 6 rounds of alternating reps of 11 and 9 at each column, followed by a trip up and back down the pilot house:

    – 11 SSH and 9 squats
    – 11 seal jacks 9 merkins
    – 11 high knees 9 LBCs
    – 11 Apollo Ohnos 9 plank jacks
    – 11 mummy kicks 9 lunges
    – Butt kicks, hello dollys, and merkins in a 9-11-9 sequence

    Just enough time remained for a 90 second plank, and then we closed with a COT, name-o-rama, announcements, and prayer.

    As always, I’m appreciative of the opportunity to lead such a fine group of men.

    SYITG

  • Old faces, new faces – from Waterpik

    Brisk 45 degree temps greeted the Pax at the milestone marsh. Speaking of pax there was a mix of old faces (Bushwacker) and new faces (fletch) who showed up for the beatdown. It was good to see fletch out there making his first post to the marsh. And Bushwacker’s return visit reminded us how much we miss his constant chatter throughout the entirety of the
    Workout. His stories and commentary were out in full force as were his wardrobe (beanie hat, his trusty sweatshirt and I think he even dragged his bed comforter out there to keep warm. All joking aside , please grace us with your presence more, mr fire fighter.

    Thang was 4 corners, then mary.

    Men, have a great week! Let’s all try to be the best version of ourselves this week.

    Pik