Category: Backblasts

  • Slogging with the Best

    PAX think that YHC doesn’t like to mosey.  Well, they’re mostly right, because it sux.  Anyway, you gotta keep the PAX on their game.  So JV-style (not too extreme, nothing Mariah- or Bieber-like), today’s wet and soggy Birdcage includes moseying.  I mean it’s wet out there; might as well enjoy running through it.

    Warm-Up in the slosh in front of the zoo:

    • SSHs 57xIC
    • Kim Jong Uns 20xIC
    • Imperial Walkers(?) 20xIC
    • Low Slow Squats 20xIC
    • Merkins 20xIC

    Mosey up to the levee on the fly for some Elevens.  Start with one merk at the bottom of the hill and ten squat jumps at the top; continue until 10 merks at the top and one squat jump at the top.

    Mosey farther down (up?) the levee to pair up for patty-cake merkins.: 20 each hand.  Apparently, the PAX was incapable of counting and finished before YHC and his partner, Douille.  So rinse and repeat–correctly this time.

    Mosey to the Maze (or, as YHC was corrected, the Labyrinth) for Circle of Mary:

    • LBCs 20xIC
    • Flutter Kicks 20xIC
    • American Hammerx 20xIC
    • Dying Cockroach 20xIC
    • Penguins 20xIC
    • Big Boy Sit Ups 20xIC
    • Hello Dollys 20xIC
    • some other ones I no longer recall.

    Mosey back to the flag through the puddles for a minute (or two, maybe) of plank to finish at 6:15am at the dot (plus or minus).  Count Off, Name-O-Rama, Announcements and thanks for the soggy morning.  It was more moseying than YHC likes, but it’s good him. 

    I hope I got all the PAX.  Video notwithstanding, YHC thought there were 23 PAX.  But other PAX assured him there were only 22.  If YHC weren’t a ludite, he might actually know how to properly record a video.  So if I missed you, humble apologies.  Thanks, JV

    Nip Tuck, Peppa, Quarter Pipe, Quincy, Reluctant Yankee, Sandbar, Squeal, Three Way, Willie

  • My first Okwata Q

    21 PAX gathered for my first Okwata Q on a gloriously humid morning, although a slight breeze was present so it made for a much more tolerable beatdown. Since the grass on the levee is still well over a foot high and plenty saturated from all the rain we have been having I opted have the PAX stay mostly on cement today, much to the dismay of couple members of the PAX. Disclaimer was given at our usual location and we moseyed over to the intersection for some warm up.

    Warm Up (all done IC):

    • SSH x 20
    • Windmills x 10
    • Cement grabbers x 15
    • Self love x 15
    • Arm circles fwd/rev x 10 each
    • Imperial Squat Walkers x 15

    The Thang #1: PAX was split into 2 groups (1 group had 3 members due to the odd number). 1 member of the PAX would run up the hill in stated direction while partner stayed at the bottom and performed an exercise. When partner 1 completes the lap swap with partner 2.

    • Lap 1: partner 1 run uphill facing forward, partner 2 high plank
    • Lap 2: partner 1 side shuffle facing neutral ground, partner 2 L side plank
    • Lap 3: partner 1 Bernie Sanders, partner 2 R side plank
    • Lap 4: partner 1 side shuffle facing sidewalk, partner 2 plank clocks (right arm move hand back and forth from 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 positions; left arm move hand back and forth from 11:00, 9:00, and 7:00)

    While planking Hokie Pokie asked if I had plans on performing the 20 sec worth of squats for ISI today. I told him I was unaware but would work that in for later in the beatdown.

    The Thang #2:

    Mosey over to the benches for some alternating upper and lower body exercises. Burpees are the counter.

    • Burpees x 15 reps
    • L step ups
    • Derkins
    • Calf raises
    • Dips
    • R step ups
    • Shoulder taps
    • Squats jumps

    Thankfully PAX is intelligent enough to avoid some standing water with exercises so not all exercises were performed on or in front of the bench in order to stay as dry as possible. After this it was time to mosey back to the flag for some Freddy Mercury x 25 reps and the ISI challenge for 20 seconds, with proper form demonstrated by Mahatma. Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and sweaty ball of man.

    Thanks to all the men who got out in the gloom for my first Okwata Q. Hopefully it was worthwhile. Can’t wait to do it again.

  • Thunderstruck

    5:25 and there was some light rumbling in the distance and a few drops of rain, but not enough to audible or change the plan of attack… at 5:30 a half-assed disclaimer was given and 13 of us were off, picking up a few stragglers and a loose pit bull mix along the way.


    Easy mosey around the parking lot to the bandstand for some warm-up in cadence:

    • SSH x20
    • Peter Parker x20
    • Merkins x 15
    • Low slow squat x 20

    To picnic tables under cover and pair up: 

    While partner A runs Oak Alley to track and back around parking lot, Partner B does exercises

    • Lap 1: steps ups
    • Lap 2: dips
    • Lap 3: incline merkins
    • Lap 4: squats
    • Lap 5: Freddie Mercurys

    Gather the six then head through the darkness to the track. Indian run to bridge, and squats while we wait for the 6.

    Over and into Audubon Park Golf Course for some Mary (staying low to the ground to avoid being struck by the lightning that seemed to be quickly approaching)

    50 LBCs, 40 Flutters, 40 Rosalita 

    Across the golf course, meandering aimlessly in the wind, rain and lightning to far side track, then a quick check of the clock showed that I’d blown the whole thing and leadership was disintegrating so we hustled back to the virtual flag by 6:15. (So much more planned but will need to wait for next time.)

    In total, 3.5 miles.

    COT in the rain and thunder.

    Announcements are in Yankees email from Sunday night, and there was not much time for chit chat due to the weather⚡️⚡️. Not sure what happened to the pit bull, but he wasn’t at COT so didn’t get a cool nickname like Pluto, Ocho-Cinqo or Sick-balls.

    Until next time, 

    Mariah

    Xo

    PS – Would be great to see more of F3 NOLA get on Strava…

    https://www.strava.com/activities/2592739771/embed/24565a44ddd42216cce35fe54be90da8c4165a94

  • All we need is “one”!

    With the Sky illuminating from heat lightning, YHC arrived at the Marsh to plant the shovel flag.. Expecting all the regulars to start appearing as time approached, only “one” ever so consistent Waterpik moseyed up out of the darkness. Respecting the time we dove right in with some warmups..

    12 IC Imperial Walkers, SSH, Toe Touches and Scorpion kicks. 20 IC Butt kicks and Arm circles..

    Mosey around the block returning to the monkey bars. :20 ISI hold followed by :20 of pull-ups. R/R 5x. ISI complete at 1:40 and somewhere in the ballpark of 30-50 pull-ups YHC with the lesser and Waterpik claiming the higher rep count. Moseyed around the block returning to the court for some suicides sandwiched with an exercise between.

    P1 ran half court and full court suicide while P2 did named exercises. F/J

    Flutter kicks, Merkins , Burpees, Putin’s, LBCs, Squats, Sister Marys’s, Jump Squats, Bobby Hurley’s and Mountain climbers..

    With 6 mins remaining PAX completed Mary.

    1 min Plank, 1 min alternating left arm/right arm, 1 min Plank and finished with Nolan Ryan’s 10 IC left/right..

    Appreciate your discipline to always post the Marsh Waterpik!

    Also your energy to push the Q past his limits!!!

    YHC prayed us out

    👍🏻👊🏻✌🏻 till the next Gloom!!!

  • The Summer Packet of Backblasts

    Much like my kids summer work for school some things are just hard to get done and 1/2-assed when they do get done. Apologies to school teachers and thorough backblast authors.

    Warm-up: Not really sure anymore. Combination of jacks and maybe grass grabbers.

    Warm up 2.0: Jog-sprint combo through the lights of the oak grove

    The Thing: Traditional items such as catch me if you can, jack web, legs and arms at the benches, sprint-jog alternates, Mary at the grassy knoll, Indian Run all the way home.

    Back to flag for namorama, and COT.

    …. now back to watching YouTube in my underwear!

  • Jane Fonda would be rolling in her…..

    In light of a new, one-day special AO (thanks Family Picnic!) at the Fly on a bright, muggy Saturday morning, YHC decided to bring some newish warm-up exercises to the table.  What would the PAX think?  We shall soon see…

    Mosey to soccer field for Warm-Up:

    Line up in straight line

    • March with following exercises
      • Alternating Open Gates till Q yells halt
      • Alternating Close Gates till Q yells halt
      • Kim Jong Uns till Q yells halt
      • Butt-Kicks till Q yells halt
      • High Knees till Q yells halt

    Just to keep it interesting, YHC challenged the PAX to all start at the same time and to all stop immediately when YHC yelled halt!  Penalty for non-compliance, 5 burpees!  Nice work PAX for making it through almost all exercises, thanks Rudy, with only one penalty of 5 burpees.  Definitely got the PAX focused for the really fun warm-ups.  Circle up for:

    • Hillibillie’s IC X20
    • Self Love IC X20

    Now to what I’m gonna call Double-Barrel Jane Fonda warmups!

    • Side Leg Raises (the original Jane Fonda’s) Right Leg IC X 20
    • Side Leg Raises Left Leg IC X20

    T-claps to Jingle Vader for literally getting his foot past his head on this one.  Does he even have an IT Band?  Watch those eyes PAX.  Some things can’t be unseen.

    Now for the coup de grace, what I’m officially calling Jane Fonda’s 2.0.  Basically, this is a standing side reach with foot going out while arm goes to other side.  You needed to be there for this one:

    • Jane Fonda’s 2.0 IC X20

    Much mumblechatter on this exercise including comments about leg warmers and leotards among other things.  Needless to say, will be including this for future beatdowns if for nothing else than the witty banter that ensues…

    On to the first Thang:

    Conveyor Belt

    PAX line up on one side of coned, soccer field and count off into 4 teams of 4-5 PAX.  Line up in columns by team at one end of soccer field.  At YHC’s command start bear crawling in column to first cone and perform appointed exercise.  Bear crawl forward to next station, guy at front runs to back of column (thus conveyor belt). Continue to final cone at other end of soccer field.

    • Cone 1 – 20 Monkey Humpers
    • Cone 2 – 20 Alternating Shoulder Taps (2 is 1)
    • Cone 3 – 20 Lunges (2 is 1)
    • Cone 4 – 20 Wide Merkins

    Once all teams got to other end of soccer field, YHC decided to add a return trip back to the other side/beginning.  But to keep it interesting, winning team (first to get to other side), gets to pick exercise to perform at the end for their team.  The other “losing” teams have to perform the other exercise.

    Winner’s choice is 75 LBC’s or 25 Burpees.  I’ll let the reader figure out which exercise the winners chose.

    Mosey to shelter on river for Thang #2:

    Route 66

    At first lamp by shelter on river let’s do Route 66 – Start with Inch Worm to 1 merkin, 1 Plank Jack to Pop Jack and Inch Worm up then run two lamps.  Add 1 merkin and 1 plank jack to the inch worm-merkin-plank jack-pop jack-inch worm sequence at each second lamp up to 11 merkins and 11 plank jacks by end.  As some of the PAX finished sooner, sweep the six going reverse down the ladder.  Plenty of merkins and plank jacks for the PAX on this one.

    Next mosey to Playground by baseball fields for:

    • Stepover Left Leg IC X10
    • Stepover Right Leg IC X 10

    Many comments on the stepover as it was deceivingly difficult.  Again assorted mumblechatter on this one including something about business development for Walleye?  Hmmmm…..

    • Incline Merkins IC X15
    • Dips IC X15
    • Decline Merkins IC X15

    Triceps/Chest were really burned after this.

    Mosey back to hill for:

    Round of Vogue aka “Strike a pose” static positions:

    • Mission Impossible  
    • Static Squat
    • Iron Cross

    Hold all for 1 minute each.  ISI challenge D3 done!

    Finish with Mary

    • Flutter Kicks IC X20
    • Penguins IC X20

    Count-off, name-o-rama (1 FNG who was named Lost and Found due to losing his key and finding it during the beatdown), announcements, intentions and prayer.

    T’claps to Reluctant Yankee for coordinating coffee and Douille for picking up.  T’claps to PAX who stayed and helped load, unload and setup for the Family Picnic.  It ended up a tremendous event with great turnout.  Many thanks to all who helped and gave of their time, talent, treasure.  This is what F3 is about, Faith, Fellowship and FAMILY!

    As always, thanks for letting me lead!

  • The Day After F3 Picnic

    My family and I had a blast at the F3 Picnic on the previous day. Many M’s and 2.0’s were there. The picnic was a success thanks to all the donations and the set-up and take-down crew. T-claps to all the PAX who were involved organizing this wonderful event. Needless to say, I ate quite a bit and definitely wanted to work off all the food and drinks that I had indulged. Therefore, I was looking forward to the Sweaty Bells workout next day. I arrived 15 minutes early to set up cones on the soccer field. At 6:30 a.m., 5 strong PAX showed up with their kettle bells. I gave my disclaimer and moseyed to the middle of the soccer field.

    Warm-ups

    Circled up in the middle of the soccer field and did the following in cadence

    SSHs x 20

    Windmills x 10

    Forward / Backward Arm Circles x 10

    Hill Billies x 20

    Self-Love x 10

    The PAX then did the following warm-up exercises with the kettle bells: kettle bell swings x 10 OYO, curls x 10 IC, thrusters x 15 OYO, manmakers x 5 OYO, chest presses x 10 IC, shoulder presses x 10 IC, halo with curls x 10 OYO (5 in each direction), rows x 10 OYO on each side.

    The Thang

    Pax left the kettle bells in the middle of the soccer field then lined up on one end of the field. Pax did the following exercises in the following sequences without stopping.

    Performed 10 slow merkins IC.

    Moseyed back to the middle to the kettle bells and performed 20 kettle bell swings OYO.

    Moseyed toward the other end of the soccer field and performed 10 right leg genuflects IC.

    Ran back to the middle and performed 20 curls IC.

    Ran back toward the original end of the field and did 20 mountain climbers IC.

    Ran back to the middle and performed 15 thrusters OYO.

    Jogged toward the other end and did 10 left leg genuflects IC.

    Jogged back to the middle and muscled up 10 manmakers OYO.

    Jogged to the original end of the field and did 20 Peter Parker’s IC.

    Moseyed back to the middle and did 20 chest presses IC.

    Moseyed toward the other end and did 15 lunges IC (2 = 1).

    Moseyed back to the middle and did 20 shoulder presses IC.

    Ran to the original end and did 20 Parker Peter’s IC.

    Ran back toward the middle and muscled up 20 halo with curls OYO (10 on each direction).

    Ran to the other end and did 20 low slow squats IC.

    Jogged back to the middle and did 20 rows OYO (10 on each side).

    Then moseyed back to the original end of the field.

    Round of Mary

    Douille gave us the quickest 20 seconds count. The PAX bear-crawled to the middle of the field to the kettle bells and did the following MARY exercises with the help of the PAX:

    King Kong – flutter kicks x 15 IC (with kettle bells)

    Douille – American Hammer x 15 IC (with kettle bells)

    Medulla – Penguins x 15 IC

    Mudbug – LBCs x 20 IC

    Jingle Vader – Hello Dolly x 20 IC (with kettle bells)

    Stretches

    Starting from the middle of the field, each PAX did “open gates” all the way to one end of the field. This “open gates” stretch is one of Gabrielle’s favorite. Please ask him for proper form next time you see him. The PAX did the march stretch all the way back to the middle of the field. The PAX then did few shoulders stretches and finished with the superman stretching the shoulders and back.

    COT

    Ended the day with Count O Rama, Name O Rama, announcements and intentions. No FNGs. We prayed for all the mentioned and silent intentions and also safe travels. I am very grateful to be able to lead the workout. Always an honor to workout with my F3 brothers. SYITG.

    King Kong

    Gabrielle was not there at the beatdown, but he somehow made it to F2 coffeeteria.

  • Renaissance 2019-08-04

    Had a good turnout today, with 5 PAX total: Catfish (Q), Chips, Triple Shift, Tanner, and Smooth.

    Started with a quick mosey around the museum, then side sraddle hop in on the adjacent lawn. Went right into a Wilt Chamberlain (sprint 3 tree lengths, 100 LBCs, sprint, 100 squats, sprint, 100 flutter kicks, sprint, 100 jump lunges. Then went down to our faces for some Worst Merkins Ever (Wide Merkin, Regular Merkin, Diamond Merkin sequences – see the Exicon for more detailed description). From there we moved to the light posts for a route 66 with burpees.

    Mosey to the fountain for some incline Merkins, followed by left and right step ups, then some low slow squats.

    Moseyed to the Foundry for a one minute hang, followed by a one minute snake jump, then another one minute hang, followed by one minute of LBCs, then a 30 second hang, followed by a minute of merkins while our arms were still burning. Kept the heart rate up with some more side-straddle hop.

    Moseyed back toward the start point, with a quick sprint around the museum to finish strong. Name-o-rama, COT, coffeeteria.

    Great start to the week! Thanks to all who attended and participated.

  • F2 With the boys

    Warmup– SSH, Windmills, Toe Touches, Mummy Walk,

    Main Event–10 minute circuit– 10 of each, Squats, Merkins, Scissor Kicks, LBC’s. Include stair run and 50 meter run.

    Move on to arm presses and extended arm rotations.

    Mosey back for some cool down exercises.

    Prayer led by Grundy then on to the Top Room for some refreshments

  • When You Gotta Go…

    Mid 70s never felt so humid! How foolish to suppose that a respite from the summertime blues would result from an unseasonably cool beginning to the eighth month of 2019. And speaking of beginnings…

    WARMORAMA

    x10 IC:

    Toe Touches

    Torso Twists

    Imperial Walkers

    SSH

    Windmills

    THANG

    The prescribed scramble route was taken in earnest by the cavalier band of brothers, which included the long lost Pelican! After a near miss early on by a Charger which obviously couldn’t conceive of pre-dawn runners on the streets of it’s neighborhood, the trio of Steve, Cowbell, and the road warrior Waterpik were off to a respectable 8:25 pace. Meanwhile, Pelican and YHC were tangled in conversation over the merits and/or faults of letting females into traditionally all male organizations such as scouts and military.

    Upon exiting Sunset Point, Q’s bowels suddenly reached critical mass! Instructions were quickly proffered for Pelican to lead ISI for the day, as a super-scramble was made to the providentially placed port-o-potties.

    While back at the flag, Waterpik was making Shooter-inspired sweat angles, Steve was making Grundy-inspired form corrections, and Cowbell was having Bushwacker-inspired diarrhea of the mouth…or so YHC could only imagine!

    MARY

    At the exercise area, PAX did LBCs while each man bear crawled across the space and back. Similarly, was Freddy Mercurys/Bunny Hops, and Leg Raises/Duck Walks.

    COUNT/NAME

    Pelican prayed us out and the PAX dispersed to greet the day.

    Thanks for your patience with the Q today guys!

    *Alternate title: I Really Hate to Poop n Run, Guys