F3 New Orleans

Category: Backblasts

  • Raise Your Hand if You’re Steve

    YHC walked up to a healthy group of scramblers with words of salutation dripping from his already blustering pie hole. Never mind the fact that the thus-far gathered PAX were in the middle of a round of mumble chatter that caused looks of contemplative concern on most of their countenances. But more on that later…

    WARM O RAMA

    With a recent BB trend in mind, QIC lead the Pax in a random smattering Air Presses (my bad), High Knees, Butt Kicks, Torso Twists, Calf Raises and Slow Squats before High Skipping about 10 yards. Then away we went!

    THANG

    So, apparently, Steve has been battling a muscle receptor issue which was hindering his ability to straighten his arms. YHC has dealt with something similar in the past so he can empathize. However, this particular handicap made for a multiple-comment worthy running form as the scramblers scrambled along their scramble-licious route.

    T claps to the scramblers as a group, who have increased their average pace from around 9:30/mile last year to 8:30/mile now.

    MARY

    With our war torn compatriot in mind, Q wrapped things up with exercises modified to either lay flat on the back or tummy, including such bastardized favorites as Armless Freddy Mercurys, Hello Dollys, Rosalitas, Pumping Leg Presses, Circle O Superman, and Scorpion Kicks.

    COT

    Chewy prayed us out….

    Once again, F3’s resident physical therapist super hero, and the REAL reason we all post at the Scramble, Chewy was on the job. He got to polkin’ and prodin’ the Hobester, and after tricking a few of those muscle receptors, the arms were as straight as an arrow (though a bit sore).

    Guys, thanks for waking up at the butt crack of dawn and scrambling through the edge of Hades’ humidity to push yourselves and your F3 brothers.

  • Bridges & Burpees in lieu of Bars & Beers

    Strong showing of fourteen runners and four cyclists posted at the Stomp in City Park to get their usual Tuesday fix.  With the annual Bar-a-thon just 10 days away, YHC figured the PAX could use some training to make sure the legs and lungs will be up to par for the pinnacle of F3 CSAUP events….liver training will be OYO in evenings.  Since it wouldn’t be practical to squeeze in 6 miles, 6 bars, and 6 beers in the gloom, we opted for a “Bridge-a-thon” instead to include 6 kilometers, 6 bridges, and 6 rounds of burpees.  Goal was 40 minutes, F2 encouraged, and awards to follow for various categories TBD.  As the clock neared launch time, we recapped the 6K route w/burpees x10 at each of the 6 bridges:  Start with normal run down Roosevelt Mall, across bayou, left on Moss St., left on Desaix Bridge, right onto Wisner overpass, run down paved path along bayou, hit Harrison bridge, turn around, pass in front of Pan Am Stadium down Zach Taylor Dr, left at underpass, then Henry Thomas Dr to Roosevelt Mall back to the flag, then sweep the six or start some Mary. 

    The PAX all completed the mission, some modified up or down, most with extra time for additional running and/or Mary.  The guys on bikes embarked on a longer route and met us back at the flag, just in time for the “awards ceremony“.  In true Barathon fashion, koozies were awarded for the following random categories, with the entire PAX coming to a 2-3 second consensus for each award:

    Fastest Runner – El Guapo took home the chic Nyx koozie, since he was the manliest guy that morning and can best pull off using a girly koozie

    Most Sophisticated/Best Dressed – Chips was unanimous winner with his tank top and bright orange shoes…he left with the fancy zip-up longneck koozie

    Most Ordinary/Average PAX – After a breif debate, War Eagle took this title for the morning and left with the most average, used koozie that YHC could find in his garage. 

    Best Cyclist – Amnesia was awarded this by his fellow biking peers, I think for his speedy use of the Blue Bike.  

    Sweatiest Guy – This was to be the most coveted award since it meant you probably worked the hardest….went to Screw Top, who took home a custom, one-of-a-kind vintage F3 puffy foam koozie. T-claps for pushing hard!

    T-claps to all, and sorry that everyone didn’t get a trophy.    

    COT included usual announcements, GiveNola details, and a reminder that while many of us might joke about beer drinking being a “sport”, YHC suggested we strive to do it in moderation and not let it get the best of us….and to be a help to others around us who may be slipping down that slope.  We lifted up several intentions for those battling illness as we closed with a prayer.

    Great to see lots of new faces lately consistently out in the gloom.  And lots of good F2 as always.  I was able to chat with a few guys along the run, which is always a good way to start the day. Also shout out to Dirty Dell who used his doctor skills to asses a downed PAX. Fortunately all was well.  

    Hope to see everyone at the Tchoupitoulas Barathon on May 17.  It’s always a blast, even if you’re not a beer drinker.  Details here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-tchoupitoulas-social-aid-athletic-club-bar-a-thon-the-38th-registration-46260502408

    Tool       

  • Relay Race – 8.5 Teams Got Stronger Today

    17 PAX managed to meet up on a humid, sunny Wednesday morning. Summer is coming since the Knight King was handled by a teenager. PAX will miss the cool, dry air for the next 6 months. Welcome back – PaceCar from F3 Houston and Hand Grenade from San Antonio. At 6:30, YHC gave his standard disclaimer and off went the PAX.

    Warm-ups

    Short mosey to the Band Stand and did the following in cadence:

    SSHs x 20

    Windmills x 10

    Grass Grabber x 10

    Self Love x 10

    Hill Billies x 20

    MC x 20

    PAX did BLIMPS down the Oak Alley. Stopped at each light post and did the following:

    5 Burpees

    10 Lunges (2 is 1)

    15 Imperial Walkers (2 is 1)

    20 Merkins

    25 Plank Jacks

    30 Squats

    Got back on the running track of Audubon Park and ran to the front of Audubon Zoo where the PAX normally do DORA.

    Relay Race

    Partnered up. YHC stressed this is a team race. While one PAX was resting and waiting in front of the Zoo, the other PAX was sprinting to the first light post, did 3 Hand-Release Burpees (Hurpees), and sprint back. Tag his partner and flap jack where the 2nd PAX ran to the same first post and did 3 hurpees. This is the sequence of the Relay Race:

    to the first light post with 3 hurpees

    to the 2nd light post with 30 LBCs

    to the 3rd light post with 3 hurpees

    to the 4th light post with 30 shoulder taps (2 is 1)

    to the first light post with 2 hurpees

    to the 2nd light post with 20 LBCs

    to the 3rd light post with 2 hurpees

    to the 4th light post with 20 shoulder taps (2 is 1)

    to the first light post with 1 hurpees

    to the 2nd light post with 10 LBCs

    to the 3rd light post with 1 hurpees

    to the 4th light post with 10 shoulder taps (2 is 1)

    YHC stressed to each PAX to give it all on their sprint because each will get a chance to rest in between and there will be a prize for the first, second, and third place teams – more burpees 🙂 T-claps to Bartman & King Kong, G-Spot & Yankee, and Tinkles & 86 for finishing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively.

    Round of Mary with the help of the PAX

    King Kong – Dying Cockroach x 20 IC

    Yankee – O Dolly

    PaceCar – Monkey Humpers x 25 IC

    Quarter Pipe – Willie Wrecker x 15 IC (Willie Wrecker is BACK!!!)

    G-Spot – Real Freddy x 20 IC

    Moseyed back to the flag at 6:15 a.m.

    COT

    Count-O-Rama 17 PAX, Name-O-Rama, announcements, intentions. Thank You all again for the opportunity to lead. I am always grateful to be able to workout with the PAX. SYITG

    King Kong

    PaceCar needs to take a better pic.

  • Hoke no like Cinder Block. Hoke Smash.

    On a warm, muggy morning that serves as a reminder of what’s to come in the next few months, 13 PAX (a Popeye’s record) gathered for YHC’s Q, motivated only by getting better and not missing YHC’s Q…. and maybe because Popeye’s was the ISI point today. Perhaps they knew there would be smashing involved.

    Brief mosey to one of the workout areas with some high knees and butt kicks along the way, followed by a fast-paced warm-up of the following:

    • Imperial Squat Walkers x10
    • SSXx20
    • Arm Circlesx20
    • Parker Peterx20
    • Self love

    The workout

    8 stations using Tabata as a timer (20 seconds on, 10 seconds to rotate)

    • Turkish Get Up’s w/ 10lb Kb (became sweat angels when we “ran out of” a cinder block)
    • Jumping rope (with 2 recently purchased speed ropes, neither of which withstood the workout. This eventually became Rocky Balboas)
    • Pull-ups/hang from pull-up bar
    • Burpees (of course)
    • 8 count bodybuilders (right after burpees because why not?)
    • Dips
    • Jump Squats (side note: while on vacation recently, I attended a yoga class that took place on a raft in the pool. One exercise was jump squats, and let’s just say the instructor’s form was a bit better than mine. He would squat down, jump up, turn 180 degrees in the air, and would drop back into a squat as he landed. This resulted in YHC falling off the raft several times, but being convinced this was the right way to do a jump squat. YHC encouraged everyone to try it this way today.)
    • Curl and press with cinder blocks.

    A couple rounds in, and we were all feeling it, some more than others. And by some, I mean Hokie Pokey, who opted for a demonstration of strength during this exercise. And by demonstration, I mean he smashed the cinder block at his feet, and then stood over it like a DB who had just leveled a receiver coming across the middle. We all applauded this feat of strength, made certain modifications and mental notes, and moved on.

    All in all, I think we got 5 rounds of this Tabata circuit in. For the first 3, we listed to Rage Against the Machine songs, but YHC made the mistake of throwing out a couple song choices to the Pax. Thus, our final round was done to “Video Killed the Radio Star”, compliments of Frac Sac. Thanks?

    We moseyed back to the flag, down a coupon, for some stretching led by Mahatama, and then a bit of planking. We gave thanks for the day, and remembered to appreciate even the hot, muggy days.

    Thanks to our Uptowners, Nip Tuck, Bones and JV who hopped on their flights this morning and made it all the way out to Lafreniere. And thanks for letting me lead. – Kuch

  • Global warming impacts at the Gipper!

    Q began his journey to the Gipper after picking up Bushwacker at the old WD parking lot.. Upon arrival we noticed multiple cars and trucks converging on the gravel parking area for this mild Gloom.. As each PAX emerges and meets by the flag, the ole faithful pre thang runners club enters sight and soon joins the rest of us waiting to begin our beatdown.. No new comers on this day just the same old vets of past Post. Gave short disclaimer and encouragement of modification when needed as the beatdown would include plenty of reps..

    Warmarama

    10 IC Windmills

    15 IC Toe Touches

    25 IC SSH

    20 IC Butt kicks

    30 IC Seal Jacks

    YHC wants to be precise as the ever close eyes 👀 of Grundy will surly be auditing this beatdown!!

    Thang

    Moseyed to The Taj Mahal to the front circling around the flag pole.. Q will claim the name of “Circle of Choice” however I remember another PAX introducing a similar workout in past post.. The way it worked was each PAX had the opportunity to call an exercise as we went around the circle.. Must mention that the PAX was given instruction to keep the counts at no more then 10 IC count.. As would have it however, some elected to alter the speed of the count (Bushwacker) staying within the parameters set, while others would just proceed to modify to their own liking and double up the IC at the end (Cowbell)..

    Q 10 IC 8 count body builders

    Einstein 10 IC Merkins

    Turbo 10 IC Imperial Squat Walkers

    Barely Legal 10 IC Putin’s

    Bushwacker 10 I ……………………..C Freddie Mercuries

    Grundy 10 IC Carolina dry docks

    Maverick 10 IC Air Jacks/Star Jacks

    Cowbell 20 IC Crunchy 🐸

    Moseyed over to the parking garage. At this point Maverick made the PAX aware of a 10 degree change in temperature. We partnered up on the bottom floor. P1 did donkey kickoffs while P2 back pedaled the flat halfway turning into Carioca returning the same way.. FJ After a much needed slow 10 count by Wacker and YHC still gasping for O2, Q requested a 2nd by Legal… Round 2 placed P1 back at the wall for the donkey kickoffs while P2 back pedaled halfway and then turned sprinted returning again the same.. FJ

    Recovery walked to the stairs and assembled at the top of the garage for Four corners Escalators.. Count consisted of 10, 10-20, 10-20-30 closing with 10-20-30-40.. Burpees, Merkins, Plank Jacks and Sumo Squats… With 👁 closely watching as to make sure no PAX skipped a sequence, but even if so don’t think this crew will hesitate to make you aware that’s for sure Nothing wrong with a little competitive spirit in the end we all benefit from accountability 👊🏻.. Taxed and nearing the end we recovery walk to exit and Mosey over to the benches by the court house for 20 OyO box jumps. Mosey to the flag for completion. Took to our 6 for 20 IC Little Manny Crunches, 10 IC left arm Nolan Ryan’s, 10 right arm Nolan Ryan’s, 20 IC Flutter kicks and closed with 20 IC Hello Dollies..

    Count, announce, COT

    Einstein graciously 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 us out!!

    Thanks for following my lead 👊🏻💪🏻✌🏻 Till the next Gloom!!!

  • Granny’s House: Into the Multiverse

    It was as if the LIGO super collider had been activated and, through some rip in the space time continuum, produced three Q’s instead of the usual one for Tuesday’s beatdown.  Either that or no one signed up to Q Granny and we did a Round Robin.   Dimensional warping or no, though, the varied leadership produced a worthy beatdown.  Here’s the gist:

    Warmorama (Steve): cherry pickers, arm circles (forward and back), imperial walkers, SSHs, high knees.  All x20 IC.

    The Thang:

    Part 1: (Steve) Over to the marsh for an AMRAP set of 5 pull-ups, 10 merkins, and 15 squats.  With a very-probable Murph coming up for Memorial Day (mark your calendar, gents), it seemed a good idea to start getting some reps in.  PAX did 50 pull-ups, 100 merkins, and 150 squats.

    Part 2: (Zoolander) Back to Granny’s for some corridor action.   Since many of us were denied the pleasure of finishing the Zoorich Classic and thus denied the broad jump burpee finale, Zoo decided we should get another chance and this time he doubled down on the pain.  PAX would broad jump burpee to the first column, then bear crawl back to start, broad jump burpee to the second column, bear crawl back, and so on.  After a few of these excruciating suicides, we partnered up for…

    Part 3: (Zoolander, with a suggestion from Cowbell) Modified BLIMPS: Partner 1 begins with the burpees, while partner 2 runs the corridor, up and down the stairs and back to relieve P1.  With time constraints, we nixed the cumulative count and simply each did one round of the following: burpees, lunges, imperial walkers, merkins, plank jacks, squats.

    Mary: (Shooter) Shooter, fresh off a trip to Grand Isle which found him… on the opposite end of rested, continued the pain with a round of crunchy frogs, LBC’s, wife pleasers, and Freddie Mercs, all around 20x IC.

    COT and Shooter prayed us out.  Thanks to the PAX for posting and leading – it was brutal and, as always, somehow fun. 👊

  • 2 is Company

    The Marsh has been relatively quiet lately, and yesterday was no exception. There were no transients, very little trash. Betting on a light turnout, YHC took a page from Chewy’s book by bringing the jump rope to the beatdown.

    After a brief warm up of SSHs, Arm Circles, HKs and BKs, we headed over to the monkey bars for 2 sets of pull ups x 20. Partner 1 does 20 pull ups and P2 spots P1, as necessary. Rinse and Repeat.

    Mosey back to the court to jump rope. P1 does an exercise (Merkins, 100s) while P2 does 100 reps with the jump rope.

    Finish up with 4 corners: each block stop for a quick exercise. 10 Burpees, 30 Merkins, Crunchy Frogs, Sprints, Putins, Bulgarian Split Squats.

    YHC prayed us out.

    Thanks, Steve, for joining me in the Gloom.

    SYITG.

    Pik

  • Ren & Stimpy

    As it is Tuesday, the book of Revit says Burpees are acceptable, however, still unpleasant, so we began with 10 OYO. Mosey uptown to the parks edge looping back to Tulane and Gibson Quad for a warm-up circle.

    Circle 1: SSH x 20, Arm Circles Forward & Reverse, Peter Parkers*x10 (Pace Car / Alamo Style), Russian Twist x 20

    *So last Friday at the Mountain, Pace Car from San Antonio was doing his Peter Parkers differently than we do. Our version is more bow legged mountain climber. Pace Car did that but with a Merican in between each rise of the leg!

    Moseyed on to the Navy building where we broke up into 2 groups Alpha and Omega. Omega did pull ups while Alpha journeyed into the Navy Building to get the log! T-Claps to #SeaBiscuit for the assist. Returned to the pull up bars, gave the log to Omega group to carry it over to LBC quad. Alpha stayed behind to do a max set then joined Omega at the quad.

    Circle 2: BLIMPS increments of 10. While one group BLIMP’d the other took the log around the quad.

    Following BLIMPS we were tight on time but attempted 1-2-3. 50 Big Boy situps with the log while the other group ran to the opposite side of the quad then 100 chest presses. Wanted to do shoulder presses but out of time.

    Returned the log to the COT.

    *It’s give NOLA day and YOUTHNOLA Run was there raising the bar. We all do a lot in our goal to make a difference. Some mentor with Son of a Saint, YOUTHNOLA, and CAFE HOPE, please consider!

  • Shorty Dooby Doo…Where are you?

    So as YaMomAnEm and I arrived in the smallest possible LVCC possible to the AO a small group of men were ready to engage in some Shorty-style sprinting. I don’t own a watch but I knew 5:30 had to be approaching so I casually turned to Rudy and asked, “Is it 5:30 yet?” since our Q hadn’t arrived. He looked at his watch and said, “It’s 5:30 now. And since you asked you’re the Q.” Mildly taken aback I took it in stride, said the disclaimer, and moseyed over to the track.

    Dynamic Warm Up:

    • Frankenstein kicks
    • Butt kicks
    • Open the gate/Close the gate
    • Toe grabs
    • Karaokes
    • Standing quad stretch (with partner for balance)
    • 100m run at 50% speed

    At this point I opted to steal from Hawg’s Danger Zone debut so we did some sprints of varying lengths with a walk back to the starting line following each sprint. We roughly did 25m, 50m, 75m, and 100m sprints.

    After this, I stole from Screw Top’s Danger Zone beatdown and we ran 4 laps, split into 2 groups of 3, around the track with 100m sprints on the straight-a-ways and a mosey in the turns.

    During our 4 laps a growing crowd of runners was gathering near the entrance to the track. Following the completion of our 4 laps I wanted to perform some static stretching. Since there were only 6 of us, the PAX decided to perform these stretches in the warm-up section of the track in the turn to stay out of that group’s workout.

    Static Stretching:

    • Seated hamstring stretch 2 sets each leg x 15 sec hold
    • Butterfly stretch 2 sets x 15 sec hold
    • Supine figure-4 piriformis stretch 2 sets each leg x 15 sec hold

    Since the other group was breaking off into smaller running groups, I wanted to get 1 full sprint with all 6 PAX in our respective lanes. So we lined up for one more 100m sprint which YaMomAnEm took home handily. Afterwards we moseyed back to the warm-up area for some Mary.

    Mary (all done in cadence):

    • LBCs x 20
    • Sweaty Angels x 15
    • Dying Cockroaches x 20
    • Freddie Mercury’s x 15
    • Single-leg wife pleasers x 10 each leg

    Mosey back to (invisible) flag, count off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, sweaty ball of man.

  • Sweaty Bells on Cinco de Mayo

    Pre-Thang

    When Hawgcycle posted May’s ISI Challenge, YHC was excited to see that there will be a workout every Sunday. Hawgcycle even called YHC out “@King Kong We have one if someone gets it going.” Without any hesitation, YHC nominated himself to Q the first Sunday Uptown workout. YHC originally wanted to meet at the Audubon Park entrance on St. Charles Ave because YHC wanted to go to places where we don’t go often. YHC was thinking to explore Tulane Campus, possibly to the Yulman Stadium since YHC is an alum. However, Yankee was messaging YHC about how he really wanted to have a Kettle Bell Workout in NOLA because it was never done before and that other AOs in other cities have dedicated Kettle Bell workouts. Yankee even suggested maybe the new AO can be the Hill at the Fly behind Audubon Zoo. YHC couldn’t agree more because the Uptown AOs lack a workout with weights. Cinder blocks were introduced at the Skinny and Birdcage during last year’s ISI Challenge. The PAX used those blocks for about 6 months until the maintenance crew of Aududon Park discovered them and tossed them away. This would be a perfect opportunity to bring weights back with kettle bells. With all that being said, Yankee didn’t even show up for the Inaugural Sweaty Bells Workout 🙂

    YHC couldn’t ask for better weather. It was a cool, dry, sunny morning in the low 70’s. At 6:30 a.m., 8 strong PAX showed up by the Hill. YHC gave his standard disclaimer, and the PAX brought their kettle bells to a flat, smooth, soccer field right next to the hill with warm ups.

    Warm Ups in cadence:

    Hill Billies x 20 (with the help of Tool because YHC needed to get his phone out of his car).

    Windmills x 15 (with the help of Tool)

    Grass Grabber x 10

    SSHs x 20

    Forward Arm Circles x 10

    Backward Arm Circles x 10

    Peter Parkers x 20

    Then a warm up jog to the end of the soccer field and back leading to our first set of exercises with our beloved kettle bells

    Thang 1

    Low Slow Goblot Squats x 20 IC

    Curls x 15 IC

    Kettle Bell Swing x 20 OYO

    Triceps x 10 IC

    Thrusters x 10 OYO

    Rows x 10 IC

    Reverse Grip x 10 IC

    Overhead presses x 10 IC

    High Pull x 10 OYO

    Then moseyed to the end of the soccer field and back.

    Rinse and repeat the same exercises with a different amount of reps.

    Thang 2 – AMRAP

    AMRAP in 3 minutes with the following exercises to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by doing each with 5 reps: 5 thrusters, 5 curls, and 5 SSHs = one set. Each round was 3 minutes. Then rested 1 minute. Rinse and repeat. The PAX did a total of 3 rounds. Every time a PAX finished one set of 5 thrusters, 5 curls, and 5 SSHs – he shouted out the number of set he just finished. YHC believes the highest was 10 sets in 3 minutes.

    Thang 3 – DORA

    Partnered up with a DORA 1-2-3 (100 curls, 200 kettle bell swing, 300 LBCs with or without the bell). While one PAX was doing those exercises, the other PAX was running up the hill and back with his kettle bell. In the middle of the workout, YHC called for modification with 150 kettle bell swing instead.

    Round of Mary

    With the help of the PAX, each PAX called out an exercise:

    1.) Angie’s List – Penguins x 20 IC

    2.) Peppa – Protractor

    3.) Hokie Pokey – arm circles x 20 IC

    4.) Tool – American Hammer with or without the bell – 20 IC

    5.) Jingle Vader – flutter kicks with or without the bell x 20 IC

    6.) Gabrielle – Reverse Mountain Climber x 20 IC

    7.) Rev-It – Dying Cockroach x 20 IC

    Finished at 7:31 a.m.

    COT

    Count-O-Rama 8PAX, Name-O-Rama, announcements, intentions. Thank You all again for the opportunity to lead. The PAX met up at PJs on Magazine St. after the workout. Always a pleasure and honor to workout with the PAX. I hope the Sunday workout will stick around beyond May. SYITG

    King Kong

    Inaugural “Sweaty Bells” Sunday