F3 New Orleans

Tag: Boo Boo

  • What I Like

    With RevSox on the IL and a number of regulars “preparing” for the H8!, I figured we might have some low numbers and that maybe it would be a good time to do an impromptu Q school at Popeyes. We are going to need some more Qs with RevSox out for the time being.

    The Disclaimer

    I gave the disclaimer with a little extra explanation of what F3 is and why it is different. The mission of F3 is to plant, grow, and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership. There are other workout groups on the city, but not counting FIA, these workout groups are led by the same people each time. F3, not only provides us with a good workout, but it also gives us the opportunity to hone our leadership skills. If you are not stepping up to Q, you are missing out on the most important aspect of F3. I love the fact that F3 is organized to be a community of leaders. Every man not only has the opportunity, but is expected to provide leadership for the group. This benefits the entire group. At the most basic level, it gives us a variety of workouts that improves, helping to accelerate our fitness. On a higher level it teaches us how to operate in a community, it helps us to learn how to support one another, it teaches us what works and doesn’t work, etc.

    When you Q, you have to create a plan and execute it. You have to prepare for different situations. You have to effectively communicate your vision to a group of men and have them carry it out. You have to learn to be efficient. You have to motivate and encourage. You have to teach. You have to lead by example. You may just think of it as leading a workout, but if you do it correctly there are a number of skills involved that translate to the most important areas of your life.

    The Warm-up

    Counting is an important skill. We use a standard that helps us to communicate effectively. This makes the workout more efficient. Make sure you have memorized the following:

    • Next exercise is…..the ___________
    • Starting position…..move
    • In-cadence…..exercise

    There are several different types of cadences you can use. Make sure you think through them and choose the one that will be most effective for the exercises you are doing. Make sure you count at an appropriate tempo. You want to make sure you don’t leave others behind. You also want to make sure it supports what you are trying to accomplish with the exercise. In the Warm-up, make sure you touch all of the different muscle groups you will be using. Dynamic stretches are good after the body has warmed. I like to alternate exercise in a standing position and in a plank position to make the pax get up and down.

    SSH x 20 (4-count cadence – Chips), Imperial Squat Walkers x 20 (4-count cadence – Boo Boo), Mountain Climbers x 20 (4-count Kenna), Low Slow Squats x 20 (4-count cadence), Peter Parker x 20 (4-count), , 8-count Body Builders x 10 (Hokey Pokey), Red Bull Smurf Jacks x 20 (4-count cadence – Boo Boo), Catalina Wine Mixers x 10 (6-count cadence Dark Wing Duck), Abe Vigodas (4-count Chips), Merkins x 20 (2-count cadence Kenner Brah)

    The Thang

    The difficulty of Qing a workout is to plan for a variety of physical fitness and abilities. This is the F3 motto: Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you found him. This is difficult and it means that you, and other pax members, are paying attention.

    Mosey to the wall for a Red Hot Chili Pepper. I remember how hard this was when I did it for the first time. It has to be hard. It has to be challenging. Is it ok if guys can’t do it? Of course. They can modify. Make the workout so that you are pushing the fittest guys. Others can modify as needed. If you see a lot of people modifying or just all out quitting, encourage them to keep going by providing them with ways to modify.

    • Bulgarian Split Leg Lunge Right Leg Forward (IC) x 10
    • Derkins (IC) x 20
    • Bulgarian Split Leg Lunge Left Leg Forward (IC) x 10
    • Incline Merkins (IC) x 20
    • BSLL Left (IC) x 8 – (When you smoke yourself, call for a countdown)
    • Derkins (IC) x 10
    • BSLL Right (IC) x 8
    • Incline Merkins (IC) x 10

    Sometimes you have to admit defeat and an realize that you won’t finish eveything you want to. That said, it’s much better to plan too much than not enough.

    We moseyed back to the flag for a round of dealer’s choice Mary.

    • LBC x 20 (Kenna Brah)
    • Big Boi Sit-ups (Hokey Pokey) x 10
    • LBC x 20 (Chips)
    • Flutter Kicks x 20 (Darkwing Duck)
    The Skinny

    The above account is mostly true. It is certainly true that the 6 men named in this backblast all posted at Popeyes and we all led different exercises. Who led which exercises and how many reps did they lead – who knows? But I do know that everyone did a good job of leading and I see some hard-core beatdowns at Popeyes from this group of men in the near future.

  • 21 – Blackjack Baby!

    So I googled “blackjack quotes” and the following was the first one that appeared.

    “I like to play Blackjack. I am not addicted to gambling. I am addicted to sitting in a semi circle. ” Modify as needed – “I like the count-off and name-o-rama and intentions. I am not addicted to F3. I am addicted to the COT and standing in a circle.”

    The Lakeview clown car pulled up to the front of the museum with just a few minutes to spare this morning. After a quick disclaimer, the PAX moseyed for a warm-up run around the Museum and settled back on the grass in front of the lake for warm-ups as follows:

    SSH x 21, Windmills x 21, Peter Parkers x 21, Nolan Ryan x 21 (R & L), Merkins x 21 (this was input from youngest son last night when planning Q) and finish warm-up with some self love for one minute.

    Thang 1 – searched the F3 lexicon last night and stumbled across the “Blackjack” – we moseyed back to the area by the Muscleship flag, look up and see the Mothership PAX approaching/crossing the railroad tracks – like a scene from West Side Story, Romeo & Juliet, or possibly Revenge of the Nerds, a battle seemed imminent. Some mumblechatter ensued between the PAX and the Mothership PAX proceed to greet us with monkey humpers, but the Muscleship PAX cannot be distracted and remained focused on the beatdown and the F3 task at hand. Blackjacks – similar to 11’s, but better – ie. 21’s. Start with one Merkin, run three trees, then 20 LBC’s. Continue 21’s until 20 merkins and 1 LBC. The PAX powered through the end for the last 20 merkins. Apologies to Chips for not providing clearer instructions to the PAX. You may have done a few more LBC’s but your abs will be thanking you tomorrow.

    Thang 2 – continuing with the “21” theme we moseyed to the neutral ground in front of NOMA and lined up in single file line facing the museum for some 21’s. SSH x 5 in cadence. SSH 6-21 done in silence and PAX to stop at 21. Abacus, the Q, lost count and did one too many. No penalty burpees.

    Thang 3 – son Joel suggested toe-taps, aka Rocky Balboa’s. So the PAX did 100 Rocky Balboa’s on neutral ground by NOMA. 20 second rest then another 100 Rocky Balboa’s.

    Thang 4 – sensing the PAX shoulders were still steaming from the 21’s, we altered the Q’s plan and moseyed to the deck in front of the lake by NOMA. Time for some leg work. “Aiken legs” done in succession with no rest – Squats x 21, Lunges x 21, Box jumps/step-ups x 21, and Monkey Humpers x 21. 20 count recovery. Rinse and repeat a second time. The Q did not want the legs to miss out on the work-out.

    Thang 5 – short mosey back to the flag for the “Bear Crawl Ring of Fire” – circle up near flag and bear crawl in counter-clockwise motion. Upon direction from Q, stop and do 10 merkins. Resume bear crawl again. 10 additional merkins. Close out the last few minutes with some flutter kicks x 21 and warrior one stretch poses.

    Circle-up for count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, and intentions. Thanks to Kenner-Brah for reminding the 10 PAX of the importance of thankfulness and gratitude. Well said. Weather was perfect this morning, with sunrise over the lake by NOMA, slight breeze. Soon enough we will be working out in the “dog days” of summer. Thankful for the support and opportunity to lead the PAX this morning.

  • With a little help from my friends…

    When Tool asked me if I wanted to Q the Muscleship the Thursday before, it brought to mind how far I’ve come since starting and that I could not have done without the support of my F3 friends. From Willie continuing to try to get me out here, from seeing Medulla’s transformation, from Tool literally giving me the shirt of his back, the support from my F3 brothers (including those who made sure to be there for my first Q) has made a profound impact on my life since starting a few months ago. Therefore, I took the opportunity to lead and after the disclaimer, we were on our way.

    Warmup

    • 20 SSHs
    • 20 Imperial Walkers
    • 20 Abe Vigodas
    • 20 Mountain Climbers
    • 30 Arm Circles (15 forward, 15 reverse)

    After warmups, we broke into pairs for a Dora of 100 Plank Jacks, 200 Alternating Lunges, and 300 LBCs. We then moseyed across the road to do Deconstructed Burpees (squats, followed by leg thrusts, then merkins, more leg thrusts, then squats). We did descending rounds of 10-8-6-4-2 with the Q receiving some help from his friend Hawg on cadence and a few extra squats for Q to get his cadence straight. Next, we pulled a page from an earlier Triple Shift workout and did Embrace the Suck – 6 SSHs, 6 Merkins, and 6 jump squats (clapping optional). We did three 3-minutes rounds with 1-minute rest. The PAX them moseyed back to the starting spot for some Mary with the PAX taking turns calling out exercises. We finished with announcements and intentions. Thank you to all for your support since I’ve started this journey and for giving me the opportunity to lead.

  • Spot Start at Popeye’s

    Rev Sox is on the IL with shoulder inflammation so the team at Popeye’s turned to YHC for the spot start. Temps were in the mid 60s and the birds were out in full force.

    Warm-Up

    SSH x 25, Mountain Climbers x 26, Imperial Walkers x 20, Grass Grabbers x 15, Parker Peter x 20 – this all occurred after a mosey of about 15 feet.

    The Thang

    We moseyed to the ledge by the replica of the West Metairie Canal, for some 363 exercises. For those that have forgotten, the 363 was the developed to commemorate the World’s victory over Uptown at the 2017 Gnarly Nutria: World 363 – Uptown 360. The exercise consists of 3 reps of super slow cadence. If you are doing merkins it is a 4 count to go down, another 4 count to come up, etc. You end up holding yourself in the worse possible position at the end of these 3 reps. That didn’t quite come out right, but I mean for merkins you would be holding a mission impossible, for squats it would be an Al Gore…you get it. After those 3 slow reps, you do 6 regular cadence reps that again bring you to Mission Impossible or Al Gore or whatever at the end. Hold that and then start 3 more super slow reps. It’s meant to be a burner, they way it burns the World Victory into your memory forever.

    We did 3-6-3 Merkins, 3-6-3 Squats (using the ledge for full compliance), 3-6-3 Inclined Merkins, then 10 box jumps, 3-6-3 Decline Merkins (by far the worst), Tatum Channings x 20, Channing Tatums x 20.

    Long mosey to a sticker filled soccer field near W. Napoleon for 5 minutes of 12 Burpee EMOM. That’s 60 burpees total for everyone reading this not named Abacus

    Partnered up at the outdoor gym for partner assisted pull ups on the rings: Reps of 10, 7, and finished with 4.

    Long Mosey around Gar Lake to the pavilion. Here we (and by we I mean I) introduced Dr. Webb to F3 NOLA. This is a marriage of Dr. Ws and Jack Webbs that comes from the sick and twisted mind of F3 Jackson’s SFx (formerly of F3 NOLA and F3 Valley Forge. I’m not sure if Jackson claims him or not. He’s definitely a nomadic ginger). JV will love this. 1 Dr. W followed by 4 Dying Cockroaches in cadence, 2 Dr. Ws / 8 dying cockroaches, 3/12, etc… We worked our way up to 5/20 before I felt like time was short (yeah, that’s why I stopped at 5) and moseyed to the flag.

    Luck would have it, we were two minutes early so we did another 3-6-3 set of merkins and squats.

    Boo Boo gave a good reminder to us all about the importance of gratitude in our prayers. I prayed us out, struggling to be heard over the chatter of the birds.

  • A Track so Soft you can run in Mandals

    While this title refers to everywhere if you happen to be Hawg, most of us resort to our carefully fitted and selected-for-foot-type running shoes. However, we could all borrow a page from Hawg’s book (maybe minus all the straps) and run barefoot on the track at Lafreniere. It’s some kind of composite rubber wizardry that feels both springy and cushioned at the same time, never leaving my knees hurting the next day.

    The other great thing about Popeyes is the dedication of Rev Sox. Most of us post, Q from time to time, and make a comment on the mumblechatter every once in a while. Rev has done everything in his power to get a great AO going out in the depths of Metairie, first manning a workout that regularly averaged only a few attendees, and ultimately moving it a bit closer in to an even better location, never giving up on it. This has already paid dividends in forcing some newer guys to step up, and drawing some new blood from that area. So T-claps to Rev Sox for a job well done. Repay his service by making your way out to this AO every once in a while, and I doubt you will be disappointed.

    The Workout

    Speaking of disappointment, I’m sure the PAX was less than thrilled when 5:30 struck, and YHC was nowhere to be found. The LV clown car was moving a little slower than usual this morning, and we had a few coupons to place, so we pulled up at 5:31 sharp, and the PAX, to its credit, had already moseyed and was doing some SSH, where we joined in for:

    • SSHx25
    • Arm Circles forward and back
    • Hill Billies
    • Peter Parker / Parker Peter

    Next, YHC asked for directions for the easiest path to the workout area where the coupons awaited. Helpful locals Boo Boo and Pai Gow showed us the way and off we set on a brisk mosey to the workout area for the thang:

    6 Stations, Rotating

    • Absolution x10 (timer – I messed these up a bit and excluded the plank jack when down on elbows. My mistake). Everything else, AMRAP
    • Arnold Press with pavers, drop set
    • Turkish Get-ups w/ 5 lb dumbells
    • Straight legged deadlift w/ 10 lb kettlebells (bought a couple of these – if anyone ever wants to use them, I can bring them)
    • Kettlebell swings with cinder blocks
    • Hang from pull-up bar as long as possible.

    PAX was encouraged not to cheat yourself. Get every rep. Don’t do 9.5. Don’t lose form. Don’t cut corners. Don’t be afraid to take as long as necessary to complete an exercise. Inspiration: I read this post yesterday, and it made me rethink some of my recent workouts – did I do all 60 burpees yesterday, or did I accept 57 or 58? Do I always do every merkin, or am I afraid of everyone finishing before me? Great read:
    https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=683278642142599&id=100013814083617

    After that, we sprinted across the field and bear crawled back, where High Rise took over:

    • Wife pleasers w/ legs on bench x15
    • Single leg wife pleasers w/ legs on bench x10 each leg
    • W’s x20

    I’d promised High Rise more time, but had also underestimated the time it would take to get back to the flag. Plus, this time we had coupons. So we finished up with a 5-minute coupon run to the flag, where we all learned that it actually kinda sucks to run with a cinder block. Good to know for future reference. We also left some pavers behind with Rev Sox, so Popeyes now has some coupons.

    Some brief announcements, notably, the 5K run at the Belle Chasse base this weekend, and Rev prayed us out. Come be a part of the great thing we’ve got going at this AO. – Kuch

  • Metry Boys Prepping for H8

    Revsox was on deck for the Q, but had a conflict and requested a sub two days out. YHC and Mahatma volunteered to cover, but YHC got the nod with a courtesy deferral by Mahatma. Walleye crossed the border and made the trek to unfamiliar territory. He got a starlight tour of the AO after getting turned around within the park, but he made it to the flag on time.

    Warm-up

    The PAX moseyed over a small hill to the nearby field for the following warm-up, IC: SSH x 25; Hillbillies x 25; Arm Circles x 10 (each way); Grass Grabbers x 25 (double time); Mountain Climbers x 25; Abe Vigodas x 15

    Thang

    Mahatma expressed an interest in some hill work. YHC was on the same page to help the Metry PAX prepare for H8. After a short mosey across the field, the PAX stood at the base of the tallest hill on the AO for a little Dora 1-2-3. The PAX was separated into a two and three-man group. The PAX groups took turns sprinting up the hill, completing three burpees, and jogging down the hill to the second group, while they collectively completed 100 Catalina wine mixers, 200 American hammers, and 300 LSS. There was a bit of pause at the beginning over the number of Catalina Wine Mixers, but T-claps to the PAX for pushing through and not accepting the offer to modify to less mixers.

    After completing the Dora workout, the PAX sprinted up the hill as a group, bear crawled to the other side, and jogged down the other side. Plank and wait for the six. The PAX moseyed to the outdoor gym for some circuit training as follows: 10 knee-ups (timer), dips, rows, WWII sit ups, and merkins. With time running out, the PAX did the following Mary, IC x 25 each: flutter kicks, LBC, and penguins.

    A quick mosey back to the big hill for a sprint up, bear crawl across, and jog down. Plank and wait for the six. Mosey across the field, over a small hill, and back to the flag. For the last six minutes, Walleye and Triple Shift lead the PAX in several Yoga-based stretches.

    COT

    Namerama, announcements, intentions, and closing prayer.

    Life doesn’t always give us advanced notice. As effective leaders we need to be prepared to step up and lead under any circumstances. This was my third Q and I agreed to sub Q to challenge myself with piecing together a beat down on shorter notice than a scheduled Q. I’m still learning to manage time within a beat down, but practice makes perfect! Thanks for another opportunity to lead and for being good followers. It’s truly an honor.

  • Speed workout

    Something different for pax this morning at 610 stomp, some speed work at the track. Isn’t this why we set up the workout near the track, yet we always head away from it? In any event it is great timing for those getting ready for CCC on the 20th. Here is what we did:

    Warm ups:

    IW x 20

    PP x 15

    Grass grabbers x 15

    Then (1) mile as fast as we can for a baseline time measure, cool down.

    Back again for another mile but…. 10 burpees at each split 4 times

    The speed runs at 100, 200, 300, 400 and 100 jog in between.

    Then some stretching and Mary:

    Flutter kicks -15

    Freddie Mercury – 15

    IBCs – 15

    Then back to COT to name fngs and the normal closings, welcome to new FNGs and hope to see you again.

    Finally, condolences to Hawgcycle for the passing of his mother. Our prayers are with you and your family in this hard time.

    See y’all on the radio and in the gloom

    Bongo

  • Old School

    It’s been awhile since YHC was at The Uptowner.  Inertia–and the ability to fartsack for another ten minutes–had been drawing him to Wolf Pack Mountain for many weeks, as it’s just a stone’s throw (well, if Mahatma is throwing stones, not YHC) from YHC’s home.  So back to roots for an old school Beatdown with a PAX of eleven.

    The Thang

    • SSHs 40xIC
    • Low Slow Squats 20xIC
    • Pulses 10xIC
    • Imperial Walkers 20xIC
    • Mountain Climbers 20xIC
    • Peter Parkers 20xIC
    • Merkins 20xIC
    • Parker Peters 20xIC
    • Arm Circles 15xIC forward, 15xIC backwards

    The Main COP:

    • overhead press 15xIC
    • curls 15xIC
    • rows 15xIC
    • squats 15xIC
    • triceps curls 15xIC
    • Peoples Chair for a minute with overhead press 15xIC
    • Peoples Chair for a minute with curls 15xIC

    Rinse and repeat for 10xIC, then again for 8xIC, and then again for 5xIC.

    Mary

    • LBCs with rock 20xIC
    • Flutter kicks with rock 20xIC
    • Hello Dolly with rock 20xIC
    • Dying Cockroach 20xIC
    • WWII situps 20xIC
    • Real Freddie Mercury 20xIC
    • Superman with Y 20xIC, then T 20xIC, then W 20xIC

    Finish with 10 burpees OYO.  Close out with COT.  YHC trusts that the old school beatdown was a good DownPainMent.  Thanks, JV

  • Time Flies When You’re Having Fun, But I’ll Be Back To Finish What I Started!

    YHC hasn’t been to the NOLA Foundry since the start of the Popeyes AO.  Smartly, Amnesty volunteered me to Q so I can give back to one of the AOs that helped me get started in F3.  It was nice to see PAX YHC hasn’t seen in a while and a good reminder of all the NOLA Foundry has to offer.  Consider hitting an AO you haven’t been to in a while or ever!

    WARMUP

    After giving the disclaimer, YHC led the PAX in what was considered an unorthodox direction.  Some of the PAX were confused with the change, but the concerns were quickly quelled as we moseyed a short distance for the following warm up IC: SSH x 21, IW x 20, Arm Circles x 20 (10 each direction), Grass Grabbers x 20, Plank Jacks x 20, and Abe Vigodas x 10.

    The Thang

    The PAX were divided by 1s and 2s on either side of the Roosevelt Mall for a Route 66 (War Eagle would be proud!). PAX 1 to the left for incline merkins adding one at each bench and PAX 2 to the right for dips using the same counting scheme, for a total of 12. Plank and wait at the end, then switch sides. Once each PAX had their turn on either side with both exercise, rinse and repeat using LSS and step-ups, but the step-ups were cut back to ten so the opposing PAX didn’t have wait too long.

    Being my second Q ever, I did not estimate time correctly and had what would amount to another beat down that was going to go unused. Not a problem, I will return to finish what I started! With approximately seven minutes to kill, we did the following Mary IC: Tin Snips x 20, LBCs x 25, Dying Cockroaches x 20, Peguins x 20 (as a reprieve to silence some of the mumbling), and J-Lo’s x 20 (in honor of Amnesty who has been down and out with a nasty lung infection). Returned the PAX to the flag exactly at 0615. I noted Smooth wasn’t winded nor sweating, so the mumbling about the Mary was unfounded and attempts were made to make Cowbell take the fall for the mumbling, but we know better!

    After a quick reminder from the PAX on the proper order to end a beat down (another attempt to be unorthodox), COUNTOFF, NAMERAMA, and COT. Prayers for the sick, injured, struggling, and private intentions, as well as gratitude for this group of men who work hard and motivate each other.

    Once again, it was an honor to lead and I’m thankful for your willingness to follow. I’ll be back soon as a PAX and to finish the beat down.

    12 strong at the NOLA Foundry

  • Don’t Lose Left Eye

    After losing Left Eye last week, I was offered redemption. Left Eye saw I had the Q at Rock City, and was kind enough to give me another shot. 24 men arrived in the dark gloom of Pontiff, without lights, for a beatdown in the dark and damp. Bogey suggested we all hold hands and sing Kumbaya during the workout so no man gets left behind. Not a bad idea… The usual disclaimer and off we go.

    We moseyed to the usual spot by the rocks for our warm-up COP.

    • SSH x 20 IC
    • IW x 20 IC
    • Windmills x 10 IC
    • Arm circles 10 forward 10 backwards IC
    • LSS x 20 IC
    • Mountain climbers x 20 IC.

    Grab a rock and head to the track. We lined up on the 20 yard line of the football field for a rock circuit. I kept one eye on Left Eye the whole time…

    • Shoulder press x 15 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock curls x 15 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock rows x 15 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock squats x 15 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • By this time, Cowbell could see what was coming…
    • Shoulder press x 10 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock curls x 10 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock rows x 10 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock squats x 10 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Shoulder press x 5 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock curls x 5 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock rows x 5 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.
    • Rock squats x 5 IC, sprint to the end zone and back.

    Next we bear crawled from the 20 to the end zone, 20 Merkins in the end zone, and lunge walked back to the 20. Next circuit.

    • Chest press x 20 IC
    • Flutter kicks with rock held high x 20 IC
    • Chest press x 20 IC
    • Hello dolly with rock held high x 20 IC

    Then we moved our rocks out to the 40 yard line, and teamed up in Pax of 3 for Merkin relays. 40 yard dash, followed by 15 Merkins, until the other Pax got back to you. 3 rounds of 15 Merkins, followed by 3 rounds of 10 Merkins, for 6 rounds total.

    Circle up for some Mary.

    • LBCs x 20 IC
    • Box cutters x 20 IC
    • Dying cockroach x 20 IC
    • Penguins x 20 IC

    Return your beloved rock back to the pile and run back to the flag for a percent finish. (Maybe 1 minute late according to Triple Shift, but his watch must be wrong.) Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. I am grateful I did not lose another Pax member today. We were 24 strong throughout. Thank you for letting me lead.

    Walleye