Tag: Catfish

  • Last Mothership of 2018

    Last Mothership of 2018

    With the end of the year approaching I wanted to finish the year strong with a good beat down at the Mothership. This would be my 150th workout of the year. Having started F3 on Feb. 2nd at WPM, I have come a long way, and all for the better. At 6:30 the the disclaimer was given and we moseyed to the Peristyle.

    Warm Up

    • SSH x 20
    • Hillbillies x 20
    • Mountain Climbers x 20
    • Plank Jacks x 20
    • Imperial Walker Squats x 20
    • Arm Circles -Fwd x 15, Rev x 15
    • 5 Burpees OYO
    • Mosey to the Fountain in front of NOMA

    Thang 1

    • Right Leg Step Up x 15
    • Dips x 10
    • Left Leg Step Up x 15
    • Dips x 10
    • Bulgarian Split Squats Right leg x 15
    • Dips x 10
    • Bulgarian Split Squats Left leg x 15
    • Dips x 10
    • Incline Merkins x 15
    • Line up for Indian Run to the “Rocks” – When “6” gets to front of line we halt and he calls out an exercise and did 5 reps, then continued run.

    Thang 2 – 11’s with the Rock – We found where Mahatma and Tool had stashed the blocks, and eached grabbed one. YHC was not sure where this was going to happen, but figured we could find a semi dry spot – Not the case, and as we began the sky tried to open up on us, but just briefly.

    • The 2 exercise where Squat Thrusters with the Blocks and Offset Merkins on the Block(2 is 1). Started with 10 Thrusters and 1 Merkin and proceeded to 1 Thruster and 10 Merkins. In the middle we did 11 Curls when going one direction and 11 Tricep Extension when coming from the opposite direction. The usual Mumblechatter ensued, like no one has ever done 11’s before…Let’s GO!
    • With time getting tight we finished the 11’s and returned our blocks to their home and moseyed to the Great Lawn.

    Thang 3 – Circle up for some Mary – The Great Lawn was soaked and trying to stay somewhat dry YHC opted for the Brick area where FIA warms up. which garnered plenty of mumblechatter.

    • LBC’s x 20
    • Dying Cockroach x 20
    • I had more but it was 7:30 so we moseyed back to the flag.

    COT – Circle up for Count-o-Rama, Name-o-Rama Two FNG’s – Both are ILoveYouMan’s Business Partners (they make Adult Beverages and Icees in pouches you freeze) – Antonio(ILoveYouMans, Brother) is Jesus Juice and Craig is Screw Top(He’s their tight, accounting guy). Welcome Both! Hope to see them again soon! Announcements for Crazy Ivan Jan 19th.

    With the New Year approaching, take these last few days of the year to set some goals for next year for your Life, Job, F3 and shoot for the moon. Write them down, make sure they are measurable, and have milestones through out the year to maintain focus. Not everyone is aware, but there is a tab in the Q Sign up Sheet called NYR2018 to track your workouts. I will make sure we have one for New Year Resolutions 2019. Keep track and compete with your brothers in F3. Thanks again for pushing and motivating me through 150 beatdowns this year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

    SYITG

  • City Park Landmark Tour & Workout – Part 3

    City Park Landmark Tour & Workout – Part 3

    28 PAX ignored the threat of rain and made it out The Mothership this Sat.  We lucked out with a “calm before the storm” as the the guys assmebled and prepared for takeoff.  YHC wanted to mix things up with an old school City Park history tour as part of the workout, similar to a few beatbowns circa 2015.  The night before had the forecast looking nasty, so the plan was to stay close to cover and hone in on a few of the iconic landmarks right there in the original part of the park.  The 1300 acre park was established in 1854 and has lots of history, great architecture, nature, wildlife, and of course trees….home to one of the largest collection of live oaks in the world.  Generations of New Orleans residents and visitors alike have enjoyed the park so it only seemed fitting to pay homage to a few things that make it a great place.  As the clock struck 5:30 we discussed the plan for the day, followed by the disclaimer, then off to….      

    First stop, The Peristyle, built in 1907 to have outdoor dances and concerts for the “well heeled” New Orleanians….some chatter from Rudy about Jingle Vader being in that category.  Using the year as the rep count, we started with Imperial Walkers x19 and Windmills x7.  

    Image result for the peristyle city park

    Then an ugly mosey around The Casino Building with some doubt from the PAX before going up and over Popp Bandstand for Stop #2 on the nearby grass. 


    With 12 granite columns and topped with a bronze dome, Popp Bandstand was named for is benefactor, John F. Popp, and is a replica of the Temple of Love in Versailles. In 1916, Popp made a donation to the park to build the Popp Bandstand which was
    completed in 1917.
    Image result for city park casino building

    The Spanish Mission Revival-style “Casino” building opened in 1913 as a place that sold refreshments. Because of that, the City Park legend says that the building originally was called a cantina, using the Spanish word for a place where food and drinks are served. In a 2008 Times-Picayune story, City Park Executive Director Beau Bassich said he believed the New Orleans dialect colloquialized the word into “casina.” However, 1913 newspaper articles do use the word “casino” to describe the new building, explaining it will be “the amusement center of the park,” though there is no mention of gambling.


    Here we circled up using 1917 and 1913 to inspire the rep count for Peter Parkers x19, Low Slow Squats x17, Mountain Climbers x19 and Arm Circles x13.  

    Then we recaped the age of the park, 164 years, with a Plank Merkin circle where all PAX held a high plank while merkins were cranked out individually in a clockwise manner up to 164 total. 

    Then a mosey over the stone bridge towards City Park Ave for a meandering jog through the oldest grove of mature live oak tress the world.  We made sure to recognize the two oldest ones by looping around McDonough Oak and then, after some doubt from the PAX about my navagation ability, made our way to the Ansmen Oak, both of which are approx 800 years old.  Here we circled up for an 8 round burpee countdown, one round for each century…Burpees x8,x7,x6,x5,x4,x3,x2,…x8 for the crowdpleaser!  More about City Park trees here: http://neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park/trees-in-city-park

    Then a mosey over the Ansmen Bridge, one of 9 built by the WPA, and back to The Peristyle where we lined up on one side for a partner circuit.  This included 8 rounds of PAX #1 performing the specified exercise across the Peristyle and back (timer) while PAX #2 stayed put with a stationary exercise.  

    1)Inchworm & Wall Sit 

    2) Bearcrawl fwd/bwd & Balls to the Wall 

    3) Duck Walk & Declined Plank

    4) Crab Walk fwd/bwd & Wall Sit 

    5) Lunge Walk & LBC

    6) Kong & Balls to the Wall

    7) Fiddler Crab & Flutter Kicks

    8) Lateral Lunge & Wall Sit 

    Next up, we couldn’t leave out the adjacent Great Lawn that has hosted countless hours of F3 beatdowns.  Built in 2010, the Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn is enjoyed by many and has seen a slew of picnics, concerts, yoga classes, and side straddle hops over the past 8 years.  So we moseyed a quick loop to the Great Lawn and back to the nearby benches for a partner circuit of:  PAX #1 Dips x20 OYO while PAX#2 runs to GL for Merkins x10 and back.  Rinse and repeat for 3 rounds total follwed by a “victory lap” around the GL topped off with planking to wait for the six. 

    Image result for city park great lawn new orleans

    Still some time left for a few more history lessons so over to the rear of The Peristyle to gaze upon the banks of Bayou Metairie.  Although it is now a landlocked lagoon, Bayou Metairie was originally a natural waterway spanning from Bayou St. John to the swampy area near what is now Old Metairie, essentially following the path of current day Metairie Rd.  Once used by the Native Americans and early settlers, the banks of the bayou gradually formed the Metairie Ridge which provided high ground for ground transportation and later development of homes.  

    Image result for bayou metairie
    Image result for bayou metairie

    Since we didn’t have a year to use for rep count, we shifted our focus to 1946, the year of the first City Park Big Bass Rodeo, which is the oldest freshwater fishing rodeo in the country.  At this point YHC had to alter the planned exercises and went with the first thing that came to mind, burpees, which really seemed to excite the PAX and peanut gallery, given the initial silence of disbelief followed by some grumbling and the “we already did enough burpees” comments.  So PAX#1 knocked out Burpees x19 while PAX #2 held a wall sit on the ledge along Bayou Metairie, which had an awkward slope not conducive to said exercise.  Then partner plank slaps, aka patty cake, holding a high plank and alternating hand slaps up to 46.

    Nearing the end of our hour, we had just enough time remaining to circle up under The Persistyle for some themed Mary.  YHC breifly talked about the various projects completed by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) in the 1930’s throughout City Park, including Tad Gormley Stadium, nine concrete bridges, a golf course, several art deco conrete benches, and Roosevelt Mall.   In 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt came in town for the dedication ceremony.  Pics below and more info at: 
    http://neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park/works-progress-administration-in-new-orleans-city-park 

    https://www.nola.com/living/index.ssf/2014/08/city_park_throwback_thursday.html


    In this undated archival photo, President Roosevelt chats with New Orleanian Paul Alfred Montreuil, 7, at the dedication of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mall in City Park. Also pictured: Marcel G. Montreuil, park superintendent; George Grundmann, chairman of the dedication committee and vice president of the park board; and James H. Crutcher, administrator of the WPA in Louisiana.

    Our WPA and FDR themed Mary consisted of:

    W – Weezey Jeffersons x10IC

    P – Pickle Pounders x15IC

    A – American Hammer x20IC

    F – Flutter Kicks x20IC

    D – Dying Cockroach x15IC

    R – name??? exotic exercise led by Triple Shift x25IC 

    Moseyed back to the flag with some rain for added bonus.  Capped things off with a COT and announcements.  T-claps to War Eagle for stepping up to lead the prayer.  He’s a pro at that stuff and much more eloquent in that field than YHC.  

    NMM – Thanks to the PAX for bearing with my non-professional tour guide ability and abbreviated history tidbits throughout the morning.  As always, the peanut gallery led by Rudy and others kept it entertaining.  T-claps to Mahatma and others for the occasional motivational cheers and USMC grunts to keep the PAX in high gear.  Several guys asked for links (http://neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park) to some of the City Park history in so I included several in this backblast, which may be one of the longest in F3 history….sorry for the long read, if you made it this far.  My wife asked if I was writing a book. 

    Thanks for the chance to lead.

    Tool     

        

  • No Burpee Suicides?? What???


    YHC arrived to the Mothership a few minutes early, and was surprised to be one of the first on the scene. With only 5 minutes to go, there were no more than a dozen Pax, which is a low number for the Mothership, but is understandable given a holiday weekend. YHC was pleasantly surprised with the final push of arrivals, bringing the total posting to 23, including an FNG!
    With the clock turning 0630, time for a brief disclaimer, then…

    Mosey toward the Great Lawn, in a direction that threw the Pax off. Keep ’em guessing is the best policy. Circle up on the Great Lawn for the Warm Up

    SSH IC x 31
    IW IC x 15
    Ave Vigodas IC x 10
    Grass Grabbers IC x 10
    Arm Circles IC – 10 fwd, 10 bwd
    Chinook Squats IC x 10
    Plank-o-rama…Peter Parker IC x 15….Mountain Climber IC x 15….Parker Peter IC x 15.

    A quick countoff proves an odd number of pax. YHC had a game of “Catch Me If You Can” planned out, but the odd number threw a wrench in the cogs. Not to fret, YHC had the odd and even numbers split up into two groups. Odd numbers start running backward on Great Lawn, Even numbers do five Burpees and “Catch Up” to Odd numbers. Once first Pax arrives, all drop into a plank and wait. Even Pax run backwards while Odd numbers do five Burpees and “Catch Up” to Even numbers.
    One round of that was enough, YHC knew he should have put the cones out……but trying to infuse something new into the routine!

    Mosey to the NOMA Fountain.

    Box Jumps OYO x 10
    LL Step ups IC x 10
    Dips IC x 15
    RL Step ups IC x 10
    Derkins IC x 15

    Mosey to the Tree Line, line up along the first tree.
    Bear Crawl to 2nd tree, 10 merkins
    Bear crawl to 3rd tree, 10 shoulder taps (King Kong did Kongs…)
    Bear Crawl to 4th tree, 10 Floyd Mayweathers
    Bear Crawl to 5th tree, 10 Burpees OYO and stand back up

    Split the Pax in two groups again. Even number pax form one circle, Odd number pax form another circle.
    Circle Burps!
    All pax run in place. Each pax takes turns saying “down” which signals the entire circle to do a burpee, recover, and run in place. The odd numbers went around the circle twice, one can only assume the Even’s did roughly the same.

    Mosey to the Foundry for Stations!

    Station 1 – Dips AMRAP
    Station 2 – Pull ups AMRAP
    Station 3 – Merkins AMRAP
    Station 4 – Leg Lifts AMRAP
    Station 5 – Big Boi Sit Ups AMRAP
    Station 6 – Run to bike trail, 5 Burpees, Run back – Timer

    Complete 2 Rounds

    Mosey back to the Great Lawn

    Flutter Kicks IC x 20
    Crunchy Frog IC x 10
    Tin Snips IC x 10

    Seal the Deal with 10 Burpees OYO!

    Mosey back to the Shovel Flag.

    COT

    Count Off, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Intentions, Close with a Prayer. Welcome Pele’!

    NMM
    The Pax were expecting some Burpee Suicides, but YHC threw ‘ em off with some new routines. Expect the Unexpected! Don’t worry, you’ll find yourselves doing Burpee Suicides again soon enough……
    Not exactly sure how a guy born in Venezuela is named after a renowned soccer player from Brazil….but it works!
    On a weekend of Giving Thanks, I’d like to say thank you to my F3 Brothers for continually pushing and supporting me to be a better person overall. This is a great organization, one that too many miss out on.

    Thanks for posting with me today!

    SYITG!

  • Backblast – Catfish, 2018-11-10

    Another beautiful (albeit slightly chilly) day on board the Mothership at City Park.  Attendance stood at 16 total, with 13 existing members and 3 FNGs.

    The following members were in attendance: Two Yutes, Triple Shift, Pie Gow, Rudy, Gabrielle, Mahatma Ice, Willie, King Kong, Jingle Vader, Abacus, Tool, Justice, Catfish, Front Line (FNG), Ya Mama ‘nem (FNG), Centerfold (FNG)

    Today’s activites started with a mosey out to the grass next to the Museum for…

    Side Straddle Hop

    Arm Circles (Forward)

    Arm Circles (Backward)

    Peter Parkers

    Catalina Wine Mixers

    Parker Peters

    Windmills

    From here we moseyed to the fountain for a Dora featuring…

    100 box jumps, 200 dips, and 300 mountain climbers, while partners did the bunny hop up the museum steps.

    This was followed by two laps of Indian run around the main drag in front of the museum.

    From here we moved to the trees in the adjacent grassy area.  Here we did two series of bear crawls, duck walk, lunges, and burpee broad jumps, each for a distance of two trees and followed by 5 burpees between exercises.

    From here we moseyed back to the great lawn for Jack Webb up to 13, and then finished the workout with some Dying Cockraoches, Box Cutters, and Penguin Toe Touches.

    Thanks to everyone for coming out and participating!  Should be a great start to a gorgeous weekend!

  • Convergence ’18

    f3nola.com/…/uploads/2018/10/IMG_5366.mov

    In celebration of the 4 year Anniversary of the starting of F3 NOLA,  a Convergence was called at the site where it all started, the Mothership.  PAX from every AO in F3 NOLA; Northshore, Westbank, Kenner, Baton Rouge, Metairie, Mid-City, and Uptown, converged on City Park for a celebration of the past 4 years of Men growing in Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith, and the growth and success that F3 NOLA has experienced during that time.

    Rudy got the party started early with a small group that arrived at 6:30 with a quick 5K Run through City Park; around the Festival Grounds, the Lagoon and back around to meet up with waiting PAX back near the Peristyle.  8 Flags were planted in the ground at the corner of The Great Lawn and the PAX slowly began to gather.  The Detailed Disclaimer(“You can’t sue us”) was given by Triple Shift, and off we moseyed to the large lawn near NOMA.

    The Beat-down was divided into four 15 minute segments, each with a different Q taking an opportunity to lead.  Each Q was selected to represent each of the 4 years of F3’s existence.

    1st Q – Triple Shift – Led off representing the founding group that started F3 NOLA that first year

    2nd Q – Turbo Tax  – represented the 2nd year growth and addition of Northshore PAX to F3 NOLA.

    3rd Q – FracSac – represented the third year and the growth of the Metairie, and Lakeview/Mid City AO’s

    4th Q – Medulla Oblongata – YHC, represented the recent surge and growth Uptown by the recent “HNJ Invasion”

    After a quick mosey to the lawn to the side of NOMA we circled up for the a warm up.

    WARM UP  – In Cadence

    31 – Worlds Slowest, Side Straddle Hops

    10 – 6-Count Burpees

    20 – Imperial Walker Squats

    10 – Abe Vigodas

    10 – Arm Circles – Fwd & Rev

    20 – Plank Jacks

    20 – Peter Parkers

    15 – Merkins

    The Q was passed to Turbo Tax who moved the Pax over to lawn slightly closer to NOMA.  Turbo started off by asking everyone to take off their shirt and create a “Flag” by tucking it in the back of your shorts.  This generated plenty of Mumble chatter among the Pax.

    FLAG GAMES

    2 Minute Flag Games – Your shirt is your Flag, Don’t let it get pulled!

    1st Round – 2 Knee-to-Chest Jumps every time your flag gets pulled, reload and continue  pulling after jumps.

    2nd Round (x2) – Tennis Balls and a Nerf football were added as additional “Ammo”, In addition to Jumps for flag pulls, if hit with the tennis balls – 5 Merkins, hit by the football – 5 Burpees, reload flag and keep going after exercise.

    3rd Round (x2) – Same Rules as 2nd round, but no reload of flag, perform penalty exercise, Plank and wait in place till end.

    4th Round – Trophy Flags – Same rules as Round 3 but Flag puller keeps and collects flags he pulls, Person with the most flags wins.

    Not sure if anyone kept track of the winners but as Turbo Tax said we’re all WINNERS!

    The Q was then passed to FracSac.  We remained in place and lined up along the First Tree Line.

    SUICIDES

    Run to tree 1 and back 5 Burpees

    Run to tree 2 and back 5 Burpees

    Run to tree 3 and back 5 Burpees

    Run to tree 4 and back 5 Burpees

    Burpee Broad Jump to tree 1 and back

    Catalina Wine Mixers IC x 10

    Run to tree 1 and back 5 Merkins

    Run to tree 2 and back 5 Merkins

    Run to tree 3 and back 5 Merkins

    Run to tree 4 and back 5 Merkins

    KimChi lost his Applewatch in the Chaos that was Flag Games so we lined up and Bear crawled to the 4th tree while looking for the watch.  Not found, but later found by KimChi behind the area we bear crawled.  Crisis averted!

    The Q was passed to YHC and we moseyed back to the Great Lawn.

    CONVERGENCE CIRCUIT

    8 stations had been designated around the perimeter of the Great Lawn with a Flag positioned in the Center. Each station was marked with a sheet of paper with the exercise for each station.  The Pax was divided into groups at each station.   The Bobby Hurley station would provide the count of 20 reps,  while every other station did AMRAP of their designated exercise.   At Halt, Everyone ran to middle of lawn to CONVERGE and partner up for 5 Patty Cake Merkins, then rotate clockwise to the next station.  PAX was instructed to pick a different partner each time they returned to the middle between stations.  The stations were:

    Bobby Hurley’s

    Merkins

    Mountain Climbers

    Plank Jacks

    Low Slow Squats

    Jump Lunges

    Dips

    Monkey Humpers – (by the street, of course)

    One round was completed and time was getting short so we circled up for some quick Mary

    2 MINUTES OF MARY

    Dying Cock Roach IC x 20

    Wife Pleasers IC x 20

    We are done!

    COT

    Circle up for Count-O-Rama – 66 PAX!!,  Name-O-Rama 3 FNG!!

    FNG’s Named – Welcome to Blanks, Chalk Talk, and Green Screen!!

    Bring it in tight for a Sweaty Ball of Man!!  Butt Splice finished it up with a prayer.

    NMM

    We moseyed over to Morning Call  where a awesome spread of food awaited us.   Spinach Mushroom Egg Scramble, Bacon, Pork Loin, Bananas, Croissants, Bottled Water, and Iced Coffee.  Mike as usual took great care of us with plates and napkins and great service.  Rudy presented Mike with his honorary membership and a blue F3 NOLA shirt.   Some great F2 went down as we ate and drank our fill.  Big thank you to all who made it out for this awesome beat-down in the park.  Big thank you to everyone who organized and provided the food and drinks we enjoyed.  Finally, big thanks to Woz for documenting the whole event with pictures and video.   I know, I  speak for all the Q’s when I say, it was a pleasure to lead as always, and thanks for the opportunity to lead this great PAX.

    Hope to see everyone and more next year!!  SYITG!!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • I guess Autumn is here…maybe?

    YHC was greeted by downright cool temps and a nice breeze when he pulled up to the Flag.  Can Autumn finally be here? Unfortunately, the weather was back to hot and humid by the end of the Beatdown.  Maybe next week.   So, it’s been a few weeks since YHC has been able to join his F3 brothers at the Mothership.  Why not have YHC’s Mothership VQ for YHC’s triumphant return?  Let’s go!  With a short disclaimer we were off.

    Mosey to Peristyle for

    • Imperial Walkers IC X20
    • Hillbillies IC X20
    • Forward Arm Circles IC X10
    • Reverse Arm Circles IC X10
    • Reverse Mountain Climbers IC X20
    • Parker Peters IC X20

    Short Mosey to the Great Lawn for:

    C.L.I.M.B.

    • Crab Cake
    • Lunge
    • Iron Cross
    • Mountain Climbers
    • Burpees

    1,2,3,4,5 on first corner add one rep at each succeeding corner.  Carioca to next corner left then right.  Add one rep at second corner then bear crawl to third corner add one rep.  Defensive slide to next corner left then right to fourth corner add one rep.  Crab crawl to last corner add one rep.

    Mosey to Fountain for:

    • For Dips IC X20
    • Right Leg Power Ups IC X20
    • Left Leg Power Ups IC X20

    Mosey to Sidewalk for:

    Route 66 – Start with Inch Worm to 1 merkin, 1 Plank Jack to Pop Jack and Inch Worm up then run to next light.  Add 1 merkin and 1 plank jack to the inch worm-merkin-plank jack-pop jack-inch worm sequence at each light up to 11 merkins and 11 plank jacks.

    Form two lines for Indian Run to Foundry for:

    Colonel Trautman

    Pair Up at track by the Foundry, Partner 1 runs to pull up bars for 3 Pull Ups while partner 2 does 10 Merkins then plank chilcutt until Partner 1 gets back. Flapjack and rinse and repeat 5X

    Time is running out so let’s form two lines and Indian Run to flag just in time!

    Circle up for count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions and prayer.

    Thanks for letting me lead!

  • Presidential Fitness Test

    WHISTLE*  Gather up Gentlemen!  My name is Coach Da Parish and I will be your F3 Physical Education Instructor this morning.   I expect everyone to work hard enough to exceed their own expectations while maintaining your own physical health.   Feel free to modify on your own.  WHISTLE*  Mosey with me!

    W/U

    • SSH X 25
    • AV X 25
    • HB x 25
    • SG X 10 (Each arm)
    • MC X 25

    Mosey to the Foundry – Our great President, Ronald Regan, along with the Predetor himself, Arnold Schwartzenegger, care enough about you to demand physical excellence.  Now, why is this test important?  America needs warriors to fight the evil of communism.  Today that battle begins with basic exercises; the Shuttle Run, the Little Baby Crunch, the Pull Up, and the Merkin followed by the Mile Run.  You will have 1 minute to complete as many reps as possible.

    The Thang

    • 1 min AMRAP
      • Shuttle Run
      • LBCs
      • Pull Ups
      • Merkins
    • Baton Death March around the parade ground track

    Now that our physical test has been completed, please form a line in order of completed pull ups.   Ever other man shall be your team mate for a game of Ultimate Frisbee.  Each time a team turns over the disc, they shall be penalized with 2 burpees.   Should you allow the other team to score, you shall be penalized with 5 Eight count body builders.  (The final score of the game would be 9-1; shirts defeating the skins).

    WHISTLE* Mosey back to the flag for Counterama, Namearama, Annoucements, and COT.  Welcome Earmuffs (FNG) and Tiny Dancer (F3 Nashville).

    Gentlemen, it’s been an honor to lead you!

    Coach Da Parish

     

    Mole Skin – Here’s the benchmarks for the Presidential Fitness Award.

    http://www.vcs.net/uploaded/athletics/Presidential_Testing_Standards.html?1442249271749

  • Are You Ready for Some Football!!?

    YHC had this Q dropped in his lap Friday afternoon after realizing at WPM that Cowbell was scheduled to Q both WPM and the Mothership yet he was out of town.  With that being said I took the little time I had to try to come up with a good beatdown.  Pressure is on when it is your first time  Q’ing the Daddy of all AO’s, “The Mothership”.  Having  Q’d the Iron Pax Challenge last week I missed out on Da Parish’s Coach themed  beatdown last Saturday, and had heard how fun it was.  I wanted to continue that theme “Medulla style” as this is opening weekend for NFL football.  A crew of 14 PAX gathered at he flag  this morning, a little bit lite, by Mothership standards, but we do have 12 guys at the Blue Ridge Relay, and others out of town.  The disclaimer was given and off the PAX went for a lap around the great lawn.

    Warm up – No COP, this is Football Practice warm up, line up on “goal line”.

    20 SSH IC

    25 yard Karaoke, out and back

    25 yard Heel Slides, out and back

    25 yard High Knees, out and back

    Thang 1 – LAZY DORA’S 1,2,3, – Found this one on the website last night -Although I don’t think anything we do at F3 could be considered lazy.  So I choose to call these Medulla 1,2,3 – its Dora with out the running.  Partner up!!

    In honor of our LSU Fighting Tigers who take on Southeast LA  tonight the exercises were as follows.

    L    –  300  LBC’s –  PAX 1 does 30 LBC’s while PAX 2 does 6″ leg lift.  Flapjack every 30 reps till 300 total

    S     – 200  Shoulder Press in the Air – PAX 1 does 20 Shoulder Press while PAX 2 does AMRAP Merkins.  Flapjack every 20 reps to 200 total

    U    – 100 Up/Downs  PAX 1 does 10 Up/Downs while PAX 2 does Al Gores.  Flapjack every 10 reps to 100 total.

    Willie gave us a 20 count

    Thang 2 – S.A.I.N.T.S. – inspired by the B.L.I.M.P. routine combined with Four Corners routine.

    In honor of our beloved Saints who start their season tomorrow against Tampa Bay the exercises were as follow

    Starting in the corner closest to the flag we did exercises at each corner and finished in the center of the field.

    S   –  10 Shoulder taps (2 taps =1), run to next corner

    A   –  15 American Hammers (2 =1), run to next corner

    I    –  20 Imperial Walker Squats (2=1), run to next corner

    N   –  25 Nolan Ryan’s each side, run to next corner

    T   –   30 T-Merkins – searched the Exicon last night and this was the only T exercise I could find that would work for this. Basically a hand release                     Merkin, but you extend your arms out to a T and squeeze your shoulder blades together.  Run to the center of the lawn

    S    –  35 Slow low Squats

    Da Parish with a 20 count

    Thang 3 – Ultimate Football – After hearing all the fun they had last week playing Ultimate Frisbee, that I and others missed out on, I wanted to make that right.

    Ultimate Frisbee played with a football.   Divided teams up based on the partners we had for “Medulla 1,2,3,” which turned out to be a bad decision.  The PAX was quick to point out YHC forgot to designate shirts and skins so the first possession was a little crazy, but we got it all fixed

    2 Burpees on a turnover for the team that turned over the ball.

    5 Merkins    for each score – for the opposing team

    5 Overhead Claps by the scoring team, just something for them to do to applaud themselves.

    The disparity in speed and endurance between the 2 teams was made apparent early and OFTEN with YHC, Quick Draw and Da Parish finding ourselves on the same team opposite, Douille, Catfish and King Kong.  Let’s just say it was a shut out.  I blame the wet conditions and the wet football.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

    Just as we finished the football game Tool runs up after his 7 mile run on his own just in time to join in for some Mary.

    Time was called on the Ultimate Football Game with about 7 minutes left before 7:30.  So we slow moseyed out of the wet grass to circle up for 6 minutes of Mary.  I chose the first exercise and then chose PAX to lead next exercises.

    Medulla – Dying Cockroach x 20 IC

    Willie     –  LBC’s x 20  IC

    Rudy      –  Hello Dollys x 25 IC

    Bogey      –  Penguins x 25 IC

    Douille     – Real Freddie Mercury’s x20 IC

    King Kong – American Hammers x 20 IC

    Mosey Back to the flag,  Count off, 15 PAX, NO FNG, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Intentions

    Prayer for our Brothers in North Carolina for endurance, speed and safe travel, for Peppa and his family, for a Holy Cross football player that had to be carted off last night, and for Willie’s friend who just had kidney transplant surgery.

    Another great beatdown in the books.  Thanks as always for the opportunity to lead!  I enjoy it more and more every time I do it.  Look forward to having everyone back from their travels!

    SYITG!

  • A Brief History of Notre Dame

    YHC finished up his birthday Q week with Q at the Mothership.  Thanks to everyone who has shown up for my Qs this week….

    YHC dropped 2 kids at his University last week, hoping and praying that they will have experiences similar to his – the types of experiences that make one a Domer-for-life.  During the welcome weekend talks for the parents, much conversations  about the history of Notre Dame and the Holy Cross congregation.  YHC thought that would make a good topic for a Q.  So here we go…..

    First a (very flawed and poor) disclaimer.  I should be better at these by now.  Especially when we have an FNG in the fold (way to go, Calliope – rapidly taking over Top EH title from Triple Shift…).  Mosey off to the lawn in front of the museum.

    Warm Up

    Grass was long.  Very long.  Some questions about whether we should stop and look for Cowbell in the grass….

    • SSH x51 (PAX appropriately noted the relevance of this number for YHC)
    • Peter Parker x20
    • Plank Jack x20
    • Parker Peter x20

    Lets get to work…

    Presidential Pyramid

    Line up at Tree #1 (or Tree #0 as Woz and I refer to it).  We are doing a pyramid.  Each set recalls one president of the University.  Each set adds to what we’ve done before (i.e., do all of the exercises from previous sets then add the exercise for this set).

    • 5 Burpees for Blessed Father Basil Moreau, founder of the Holy Cross Congregation.  Run to first tree and back.
    • Add 10 Squats for Fr. Edward Sorin, founder of the University.  Run to second tree and back.
    • Add 15 Merkins for Fr. Andrew Morrisey.  Run to third tree and back.
    • Add 20 Crunchy Frogs for Fr. William Corby, chaplain of Irish Brigade in Civil War (and 2 time president of the University.  Run to fourth tree and back.
    • Add 25 Imperial Walkers for Fr. Thomas Walsh, president who oversaw rebuilding the University after the great Fire.  Run to fifth tree and back.
    • Add 30 Hello Dolly for Fr. John Dillon, entered the priesthood at age of 12, and served as president for one year during Civil War before dying prematurely of illness.  Run to sixth tree and back.

    Mosey to the Water Fountain to hydrate, then off to Lightpole #1.

    National Championship

    YHC takes a lot of flak for how long its been since the last ND National Championship.  The last one was 1988 (coincidentally, YHC’s senior year.)  30 years ago.  Sigh…

    Lets do a Route 88 with Bobby Hurleys  What’s that you ask?  A Route 66 but add 2 at each stop.

    • First Lightpole: BH x3
    • Second: BH x4
    • Eleventh: BH x13

    At completion, we’ve done 88 Bobby Hurleys.

    Top game of that year?  Notre Dame vs Miami.  Catholics vs Convicts.  What better way to remember the Catholics than with the Genuflect.  1:2 ratio of kneeldown/standup : lunge step.

    • 1 (4 count) kneel down/standup.  2 Lunge steps
    • 2 KD, 4 Lunge
    • 3 KD, 6 Lunge
    • …..

    In interest of time, YHC called it when clubhouse leader (#Tclaps for Outbreak) completed 10:20.  Most PAX were somewhere around iteration 7 or 8.

    Mosey to the Refinery.

    5 Pillars of Holy Cross Education

    Split PAX into 5 groups:

    • Box Jumps
    • Dips
    • Body Builders
    • Pull Ups
    • Merkins

    Rotate for 5 Iterations – one Iteration for each Pillar of a Holy Cross education.  Each iteration is a 60 second AMRAP.  30 second break between iterations to rotate and recover.

    • Iteration 1: Mind – Seeking understanding through the integration of faith and reason.
    • Iteration 2: Heart – Discerning our personal vocation in service to the Church and world.
    • Iteration 3: Zeal – Fueling the desire to offer our gifts for the good of all people.
    • Iteration 4: Family – Embracing Christian community as the context for lifelong formation.
    • Iteration 5: Hope – Trusting in the cross and God’s promise of the kingdom

    Mosey back to the Great Lawn.

    Mary

    Running low on time, but no Notre Dame workout will be complete without some Mary.  As PAX arrive at the lawn, join the circle and start LBC.  Once all PAX arrive, cadence starts and we finish with all LBC x25 together.

    COT

    Back at the flags, circle up for count-off, Name-o-Rama.  Welcome aboard Satchmo (he’s a musician, and an arborist).  Upcoming CSAUPs – talk to Da Parish if interested in Pelican Man duathalon.

    Intentions shared around the circle.  Sky Q – hear and answer them as you deem best for each of us.  Sweaty-ball-o-man to close with prayers.

    Thanks for the opportunity to Q, gentlemen!

     

  • Mea Culpa Can Be Hell

    YHC did a no-show the prior Saturday.  He was in Oregon, and neglected to check that he was the Q.  Bad pax, bad pax.  Thank the Sky-Q that Rudy wasn’t there to remind everyone.  Tclaps Rudy for your fartsackery.  So when 86 called out for a switcheroo Q, YHC had but one option: to Q.  YHC needed some punishment, so that meant the same for the rest of the PAX.  Just think of it as a #DownPainMent.  About six or so of the PAX broke off for the Iron Challenge on the Great Lawn.  The rest of the PAX moseyed little farther up the Great Lawn for:

    First Circle of Pain:

    • Side Straddle Hops: 20xIC
    • Hillbillies: 20xIC
    • Around The World (or Daft Punk), in a kinda tribute to Side Effects: 12ishxICish (YHC was looking like Cowbell, there)
    • Merkins: 20xIC
    • Mountain Climbers: 20xIC
    • Peter Parkers: 20xIC

    Mosey to Tool’s Wall of Pain:

    • Calf Raises: 20xIC
    • Calf Raises with toes pointed out (or in, because your YHC said one but did the other): 20xIC
    • Calf Raises the opposite way (toes pointed in, or out, because your YHC was reminded that he got it backwards): 20xIC
    • Left Leg Dips (bring left leg to the ground): 20xIC
    • Right Leg Digs (bring right leg to the ground, obviously): 20xIC
    • Monkey Humpers (on the ground, not the wall): 20xIC

    Mosey to the Mini-Foundry and split up into several groups.  AMRAP for dips, burpees, leg lifts, big boy situps, pull ups, and steps up with a mosey aways away and back for the timer.  Rotate around until each group has done each.  Then a slow mosey to the beginning of Roosevelt Mall for a better tribute to Side Effects: Route 66.  The PAX split into two groups, one up one side of the mall and the other up the other.  At the first bench do either one erkin or one derkin or one LBC (but a real-ass LBC not a half-ass LBC), then mosey to the next bench for two, then to the third bench for three, etc. to the eleventh bench for eleven–for a total of 66.  After some water, mosey back to the Great Lawn for

    Circle of Mary:

    • Dying Cockroaches: 20xIC
    • Flutter Kicks: 20xIC
    • Real Freddy Mercuries (or is it Mercurys?): 20xIC
    • Hello Dollys (or is it Dollies): 20xIC
    • Putins: 20xIC
    • Rosalitas: 20xIC
    • Box Cutters: 20xIC

    It was getting late and Triple Shift was moseying like the Q, so no time for Dr W.  Sorry, I promise it for my next Q.  Mosey back to the flag for COT.  Tclaps for two FNGs.  It’s not us old farts who keep F3 going, it’s the steady flow of FNGs who keep it fresh and inviting.  I followed the logic for how we named Colonial: he lives in River Ridge, or it is Harahan?  [Sorry, YHC doesn’t venture deep into Jefferson Parish.]  So of course the defunct Colonial County Club in the middle fit perfectly.  How we got to Phoebes was a little more circuitous: the FNG is a physical therapist, so someone suggested Phoebe from Friends, whereupon the FNG reminded that she is a massage therapist, whereupon the PAX then went down too many rabbit holes for YHC’s oxygen-deprived brain to follow for other names, so he opted for Phoebes.  [The AMA is conducting a study to correlate the lack of oxygen after a post with the gnarlier an F# name, but the results should be obvious: the less oxygen, the better the name.]

    Jingle Vader