F3 New Orleans

Category: Backblasts

  • Hokie Pokey’s 60th Birthday Party

    Hokie Pokey’s 60th Birthday Party

    Warm Up

    After a brief welcome and disclaimer and pointing out two FNG’s we moseyed over the great lawn for 15 SSH (some jeering the Q was already winded and thus we stopped), 10 Arm Cirlces and 10 Abe Vigoda’s we the explained today’s 6oth birthday celebration.

    The celebration of 60

    We divided into 6 groups (Four groups of 4 and two groups of 5) and established 6 starting positions around the great lawn (the 4 corners and the two “midfields”). Each group would perform 10 reps at each station for a total of 60 reps in each round.

    After each round, the fittest of the fit would run to Café du Monde and then to the Peristyle Pavilion where Catfish would lead them in 60 reps of his cardio intensity choice while waiting on the six.

    We the returned to our starting points at the great lawn to start the next round.

    Round one ~ Burpess

    Round two ~ Lunges ( 2 is one)

    Round three ~ Imperial Walkers (2 is one)

    Round four ~ Merkins (Hand Release)

    Round five ~ Plank Jacks (4 count)

    Round six ~ was performed while staying under the Peristyle Pavilion as we were running tight on our 60 minute time cap.

    COT

    Countarama, Name-o-rama, naming two FNG’s (Hokie’s son-in-law from DC is Beardo and Hokie’s brother from PA is CoatTails), announcements and prayer intentions.

    Rudy was kind enough to then close us out in prayer!

    Gratitude

    I am humbled to be able to call my F3 NOLA guys my brothers in Christ and friends. I am also appreciative of Catfish moving his Muscleship Q to Mothership and Co-Qing this 60th birthday celebration. To each of you, please know I am honored to be in your presence and have you pushing me to grow physically and spiritually. To each of you, RESPECT RESPECT to you!

    Thanks to the 26 PAX who were able to celebrate my birthday with me
    Two FNG’s ~ Coattails and Beardo

  • Wally Run AFTER the train passes

    As 0530 approached, so did a train… at the recommendation of War Eagle we moseyed to the track to run loops (1/2 mile) until the train passed in case any Pax were caught by the train.

    After two loops, the train passed, and FracSac was stuck behind the train, so great call War Eagle!

    We then proceeded on the regular Wally Run route and finished with another loop of the track for an additional 3.51 miles.

    Circled for count, name, announcements and prayers.

    Thanks as always for the opportunity to share my morning with my F3 brothers

  • Barbara Walter’s 20/20 Special

    Twas the night after 19

    The Q slept snockered in his sack when there are arose such a clammer

    His neighbors returning in such an early morning stammer.

    With duty in mind he transformed from a board into a a leaping lord!

    Away to Audubon he sojourned to confront the coming horde

    Hoping the barbarians would be nil!

    He found 4 hungry packs looking for their fill!

    With no plan or blanky to follow, the Q was showed himself to be quite hollow!

    But 20/20 would not wallow! Side Stradle did they hop, arm circles were no flop. Mountain climbers to a new height! The BLIMPS burpees did not bite. Onward and upward they found some bricks in these rep were no new tricks. Away flew the gas from the PAX morning ass, oh did the birds and trees wither, no would dare dither!

    To the notional flag our Q and pax returned, for pull ups and Mary by call, it was no fun for all!

    Alas the time was nye!

    In COT Thoughts of comparing religions and ideas for 2020 by Father Krister Stendhalk

    When you are trying to understand another person or idea, you should ask that person or adherents of that idea and not its enemies.

    Don’t compare your best to their worst.

    Leave room for “holy envy.” (You should be willing to recognize elements in the other religious tradition or faith that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith.)

  • 20-20

    5 veteran PAX rang in the New Year in the Gloom at The Gipper. After a quick warmup of 20 SSHs, it was off to the races with a fast mosey to the Justice Center for our first 20.

    20 minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) with each round consisting of 20 hand release Merkins, 20 plank jacks, 20 ice skater hops and then a 420 meter run. Grundy led from the front and almost lapped the rest of us by the time the buzzer sounded.

    Recovery walk back to the Shovel Flag for our second 20. This time it was EMOM (every minute on the minute) for 20 minutes. We hit 10 exercises two times each for a total of 20 reps per exercise: SSHs, Bobby Hurleys, IWs, Sister Mary Katherines, Hillbillies, Star Jumps, Seal Jacks, clap Merkins, mountain climbers and one leg hops.

    Countorama, nameorama and Einstein prayed us out into the New Year.

    Thanks for letting me lead guys. Looking forward to another great year together!

  • Sayonara 2019!

    YHC got a little too comfortable with all these muggy December mornings and today’s below-40º temps really snuck up on me. I even had some new Christmas gloves I could’ve tested out had I realized before bolting out the door!

    Alas, it wasn’t to be. Upon arriving to Granny’s empty home, YHC realized that this was the final beatdown of 2019. Had I known beforehand, I would’ve tried to make it a bit more special… close out the era with a bang. I’ll just have to double my efforts next Q.

    Happily, though, it wasn’t a sad clown beatdown as the men pulled a Cowbell and rolled in right as the bell rang.

    Warmorama:

    • Arm Circles (forward and back): IC x20
    • Merkins OYO x19
    • SSH, IC x20
    • Torso Twists, IC x19
    • Seal Jacks, IC x20
    • Mountain Climbers, IC x19

    We kept the x19’s going for the next round, which was just a short mosey over to the bus depot benches for:

    • Step Ups (each leg) IC x19
    • Derkins OYO x19
    • Bulgarians (each leg) IC x19
    • Freak Nasties IC x19
    • Lateral Jump-Overs IC x19
    • Box Jumps OYO x19

    Then onward to the tunnel, for a routine that took up the remainder of our time. Performed the following exercises, with a run to the other side and back between each set:

    • 40 Merkins
    • 30 BB sit-ups
    • 20 Jump Squats
    • 10 Burpees
    • 20 Sister Mary’s
    • 30 T-Merkins
    • 40 4-count Flutter Kicks

    Back at the flag for a quick COT, where Zoo prayed us out with blessings for a safe and happy new year. Thank you men for posting this morning and for the opportunity to lead. I look forward to another year of grinding it out with you guys – couldn’t ask for a better group. Happy New Year gents!

  • High Rise’s and Kuch’s F3 NOLA Chamber of Horrors War Eagle Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Beatdown Throwdown For The Cure

    Late last week Kuch and I were contacted by Gideon asking for us to step in as Q’s for the initial beatdown throwdown at the newest AO The Chamber of Horrors. Our AO originators Gideon and Tool would be unavailable to Q so, as usual, Kuch and I stepped up. Gideon agreed to attend and offered to monitor the time so we would stay on track.

    The agreement was that a brief 5 minute warm-up would commence. Then each Q would alternate 10 minute rounds of exercise for the remaining 40 minutes. The challenge was for each Q to come up with a challenging and creative beatdown and then the PAX would vote on a winner at the end. In order to avoid wasting time running all over UNO’s campus we agreed to centralize the location of our rounds. 16 PAX joined the 2 Q’s, disclaimer was given, sort of (sorry about that; my energy and desire to stay on time got the better of me), and off we went.

    Warm up:

    Mosey a lap around the parking lot and circle up.

    • SSH x 20 IC
    • Windmills x 10 IC
    • Arm circles fwd/rev x 10 each IC
    • Self love x 10 IC
    • Mountain climbers x 10 IC

    Round 1 (High Rise):

    T-claps to Gideon for helping me set up the baseball diamond prior to 5:30 and to Kuch for the cones and tape measure which allowed us to play some F3 Baseball. PAX divided into 4 teams (1 at each base) and would perform said exercise then perform another exercise in transition to the next base. Due to the numbers we split into 2 groups of 5 and 2 groups of 4. The goal was for each group to complete 150 reps of said exercise as a team and then rotate to the next base. It dawned on me quickly that the groups of 4 would be passed up and possibly create a log jam, not to mention each group member perform a good bit more reps than members of the 5-PAX groups, so it was announced that 4-PAX groups would complete 120 reps total instead.

    • Home plate: merkins then broad jump/bunny hop to first base
    • First base: squats then bear crawl to second base
    • Second base: shoulder taps (1 is 1) then crab walk to third base
    • Third base: lunges (1 is 1) then crawl bear to home plate

    Round 2 (Kuch):

    Prior to 5:30 several PAX assisted Kuch in moving our monster truck tire into position so T-claps to those men. Kuch then announced we would split into 3 groups of 6 and complete a rotating circuit for the allotted 10 minutes.

    • Group 1: Each PAX would flip the tire, jump through, and return to the back of the line until the tire had reached group 2. Then plank.
    • Group 2: Plank while group 1 flips tire. Then group 2 flips tire back to the start line where they would hand it off to group 3.
    • Group 3: While groups 1 and 2 do their thing, group 3 sprints to where group 2 is planking and back, then holds an Al Gore until the tire returns to the start line.

    Each group would rotate through all 3 stations until Gideon called time. Once again T-claps to Gideon for setting up the cones for the next round while Kuch’s round was going on.

    Round 3 (High Rise):

    With cones set out 10 yards apart in a line, the same 3 groups of 6 PAX would perform Plank Hurdles. PAX #1 sprints 10 yards and then holds a plank. PAX #2 sprints to the 20 yard marker while hurdling PAX #1 in the process. PAX #3 hurdles PAX #1 and #2, etc. until all 6 PAX have hurdled and planked. Then PAX #1 hurdles all the way to the end, followed by PAX #2, etc. until all 6 PAX are at the last cone. Rinse and repeat back until Gideon calls time.

    Round 4 (Kuch):

    Shirts vs Skins soccer. Thanks again to Kuch for providing a light up soccer ball (or brick depending on where you kicked the ball). The soccer goals that are always at the field were moved into position, PAX was randomly split into 2 teams, and a very competitive match on the ant hill covered pitch commenced. A tightly fought match ended in a 1-1 draw until Gideon called time so as is the case in most soccer games, there were no winners.

    Mosey back to the flag where the PAX voted YHC as the winner with the final tally being 11-7. It was then decided by Gideon that since I received 11 votes, Kuch then performed 11 burpees as today’s losing Q. Numerous other PAX joined in because that’s what we do at F3 (but not me since I won).

    Count off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, sweaty ball of man. Once again it was a pleasure to lead the PAX. This was the second showdown between Kuch and I. The score is now tied at 1. We shall meet again.

  • 2019 Rock City Review

    Conditions:  A cool 50 degrees and clear.  Dark.

    For our last 2019 Rock City we looked back on the year that was.

    Warm-up

    We hit the most popular RC warm-up exercises of 2019 according to those that write backblasts:

    • SSH x 19 – Still the popular starter.  We did 19 for the year 2019.
    • Hillbillies x 20 – A surprising replacement of the customary IWs.  Hillbillies seem wildly popular at RC.  We did 20 because I forgot to stop at 19
    • Grass Grabbers x 19 – I’m sure the popularity is based on the name.  The clap at the end feels silly, but it doesn’t keep us from doing them. 
    •  Windmills (aka Abe Vigodas) x 10 – Lots of Qs find these to be a warm-up staple, but you will have to do them prior to 5:30 anytime Spartacus is on the schedule. 

    A Sea of Crimson

    Our first Rock City Workout of 2019 happened on July 7th.  That just happened to be the day of the College Football National Championship.  War Eagle must have been feeling good that morning as he delivered a brutal beatdown, on par with the beating his Crimson Tide took later that night. 

    We paired up for a quasi-dora with the following exercises:

    • 250 curls
    • 200 squats
    • 150 rows
    • 100 shoulder presses
    • 50 burpees

    While pax #1 did the exercise, pax #2 ran 40 yards and back.

    Iron Pax

    This morning we paid tribute to the Iron Pax workouts of 2019 by reenacting Week Zero.  This time we did one round instead of six and we did the reps together. 

    • 24 squats
    • 24 merkins
    • 24 Lunges in cadence
    • 400 meter run

    Sgt. Bovia Tribute

    We saved my favorite Rock City Workout of the year for last.  It was the tribute Boo-Boo Qd for Marine Sgt. Joey Bovia.  Sgt. Bovia was killed in Afghanistan on August 31, 2010.  The Tribute consisted of 31 reps of 8 different exercises.  This morning, we did as many as we could in the allotted time.

    • 31 merkins
    • 31 Big Boy Sit-ups
    • 31 Squats
    • 31 Push Presses

    Time ran out before the 31 burpees.  We brought our rocks back to the pile and moseyed to the flag for the COT.

    NMM

    • Smallest numbers at Rock City all year. 
    • The 5 guys that posted were there to work though.  We made it through a lot more than I thought we would.  I honestly expected that I would have to cut the Iron Pax or Bovia workout, but that was not the case.
    • Looking back on the National Championship themed workout that started the year, who would have thought that LSU would be playing those same Clemson Tigers for the Natty after the 2019 season. And who could have forecast the Alabama program falling off the face of the earth like they did.  I don’t even think they made a bowl game this year.  Seems like the end of an era.

  • Crickets at the Marsh!

    Abbreviated beatdown done as a sad clown. Consisted of brief warm up followed by Merkins, Squats, LBCs and Burpees in descending order from 20,15, 10 and 5 sprinting baseline to baseline. 4 rounds of (5) pull-ups with cylinder block chest presses (20). Ran a mile and that’s a wrap..

  • “The 12 Days of Christmas” or maybe “The 12 Exercises of Christmas”

    YHC was relaxing at home after a calm and quiet Christmas day with the family, when he received a reminder text for his Q at Okwata tomorrow morning.   So, after a few minutes of thought I had a basic workout prepared and was ready for the next morning.    As I dozed off to sleep, I was inspired by the Christmas spirit, hopped out of bed, and scribbled some notes on a random piece of paper.    YHC had to incorporate a Christmas theme to the workout

    11 PAX (JV coming in hot) met at the flag at Okwata the morning after Christmas and moseyed to the intersection of Canal Blvd and Lakeshore Drive for warmup.   Warmups consisted of SSH x 26, Imperial Walkers x 15, Grass grabbers x 10, Shoulder taps x 30, Arm circles x 10, and self-love.  

    The PAX remained in our circle and counted off.  We did one round of the following exercises at the count / number of reps next to the exercise.  

    1. 8 Count body builders
    2. Jack Webbs
    3. American Hammers
    4. Squats
    5. BURPEES
    6. Penguins
    7. Merkins
    8. Monkey Humpers
    9. Hillbillies
    10. Bonnie Blairs / Lunges
    11. Big Boy Sit Ups
    12. Flutter Kicks

    After the first round – PAX were ready to go again.    This time to the theme of the Christmas classic – The 12 Days of Christmas”. Shuffles started us out with “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – 1 8 ct. body builder. After the first 2-3 rounds of the song, the PAX got the hang of it.  Each PAX enthusiastically called out their exercise and we were able to complete the entire song with a few minutes to spare.

    In the remaining time, PAX did two laps of Bernie Sanders (run backwards up the hill and forward back down the hill).   Mosey back to the flag for finish at 6:15. 

    COT, announcements, intentions, and gratefulness for the Christmas holiday.  YHC is thankful for the opportunity to lead and for the participation of the PAX in the post-Christmas workout.  

  • I’m not modifying, you’re modifying

    My boy Screw Top was still nursing an injury following his marathon so for what felt like the 20th time I chose to step in for him as Q. I had not been a Q for a few weeks and wasn’t scheduled to Q for several more (not sure how I let that happen) so I took the opportunity to lead. 11 PAX joined myself on what has to be the greatest collection blacktops in the city at UNO. Disclaimer was given and off we went.

    Warm up:

    Took a lap around said parking lot and circled up.

    • SSH x 20 IC
    • Windmills x 10 IC
    • Concrete grabbers x 15 IC
    • Self love x 15 IC
    • Arm circles Fwd/rev x 10 each IC
    • Mountain climbers x 15 IC

    Thang 1:

    Moseyed over to the sidewalk along Elysian Fields. PAX gathered for what felt like the traditional Indian Run. However I found something on the exicon to change it up and we did a Prisoner Indian Run down to the traffic circle at Elysian Fields and Lakeshore Dr.

    Thang 2:

    Here is where the modification begins. I wanted to do 11s. But in honor of Michael Thomas being a bad man and breaking the single season catch record we did 13s. The modification didn’t stop there. I was inspired by Tua’s VQ a few weeks ago and stole from his playbook. So for the Double Modified 11s (AKA 13s) the PAX would run in the bike lane of the traffic circle. Once they ran half the circle they would stop and perform 12 Carolina dry docks and 1 squat jump. Run the other half the circle and do 11 CDD and 2 squat jumps, etc. until the last round was complete with 1 CDD and 12 squat jumps. The Q was stunned to find that much traffic at 5:40 AM 2 days prior to Christmas but thankfully we were able to avoid any incidents.

    Thang 3:

    Mosey over to the nearest parking. With Christmas coming up I was inspired when I found Santa’s Ladder on the exicon. PAX would start at one end of the parking lot and run to a randomly selected spot (that huge light post looks good) where we would perform 10 burpees, run back to start and perform 9 burpees, and so on until we got to round 5. Rounds 5-1 would be merkins. Plank and wait for the 6. As everyone was catching their breath I explained to the PAX that completing the ladder consisted of also performing the runs with rounds 10-6 being merkins and 5-1 being burpees. However due to time constraints I opted to modify and perform only 6 rounds.

    Mosey back to the flag in time for some Mary. Flutter kicks, Freddy Mercury’s and some other exercise that I can’t remember x 20 each IC. Count off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and sweaty ball of man. As always it was a great time leading the men of F3. Hopefully trying the new location at the traffic circle didn’t scare anyone but there was WAY more traffic than I anticipated so I will store that in memory for future beatdowns.