F3 New Orleans

Tag: Gideon

  • You don’t have to be perfect, just better than yesterday

    20 runners were greeted with an absolutely perfect pitch black morning at the Stomp today. The temperature hovered around 65 degrees for the entire run, and at no point did we see the sun. Thanks to Daylight Savings Time and those long Spring and Summer days, we’re treated to at least a mid-workout sunrise for most of the year. In fact, the sunrises will be back next month when Daylight Savings Time kicks in. Until then, let’s enjoy these last few chances to make our way through the dark, quiet streets of New Orleans while the city sleeps.

    About 6 months ago, some of us timed ourselves in a 1-mile at the Danger Zone. Since the DZ is no more, YHC decided to bring the time trials to The Stomp. The instructions were simple…. well, I thought they were simple at least.

    • Bring an activity tracker
    • All run one warm-up mile together
    • Once your activity tracker makes 1 mile, run Mile 2 as hard as you can
    • Regardless, turn back at 20 minutes and run back to the flag.
    • Send me your mile 2 time

    Even with a little confusion, this mostly went off without a hitch. The purpose of the time trial is not to see who’s fastest, but see how we’re improving. Sure, it’s fun to run around in a tank top in the early morning grabbing grass and doing a few burpees, but overall, I think we all want to get a little better, faster, stronger. To that end, I’ll post your time from today if you send it to me, and I’ll tag this post with #timetrial . Search that tag next time we do this and see how you’ve improved. Here is what I have. This is not necessarily the order in which they finished:

    1. Shuffles
    2. Tua 6:47
    3. Dirty Dell 6:37
    4. Briefs
    5. Screwtop
    6. Belloq 6:51
    7. Hawg 6:40
    8. Jesus Juice 7:02
    9. Rudy
    10. Kuch 7:06
    11. Breadsticks 6:32
    12. Rev Sox 7:51
    13. Tool 8:49
    14. Woz
    15. Bongo
    16. Chips
    17. Tugboat
    18. Hokie Pokey 10:30
    19. Thumb War 8:13
    20. Gideon

    Few rounds of Mary led by different PAX, and then 5 burpees for each pax member who did not stick with the group early on. The usual formalities and a prayer for peace and stillness in our lives. Thanks for having me. – Kuch

  • Monday Legs Day with No Rain and a Sketchy Drive by

    After 94 days as a part of this rock solid organization, I took the plunge into Q-ship. Here’s my maiden Voyage:

    Warmup:

    Parking Lot Tracers (w/ back peddling and side shuffling)  – Dug into Exicon for this. The Chamber just might have the smoothest, well marked and lit parking lot in all of NOLA.

    Circle Up for:

    SSH (15 ct.) /  Forward Arm Circles (15 ct.) / Reverse Arm Circles (15 Ct.) / Grass grabbers (15 Ct.) / Low Slow Squat (15 Ct.)

    Dirty MacDeuce:

    4 Rounds – 3 Exercises (Chest, Legs, Abs Focus) x 12 reps with Lap around Chamber parking lot.

    • Round 1 – Merkins / Squats / Big Boy Sit Ups
    • Round 2 – Incline Merkins on the Curb / Calf Raises / Flutter Kicks
    • Round 3 – Wide Grip Merkins / Summo Squat / Freddie Mercuries
    • Round 4 – Carolina Dry Docks / Bonnie Blairs / Reverse Crunches

    Moseyed to the Soccer Field…

    Leg Wrecker Round 1

    Split into 2 groups/partner up. One Pax does Lt. Dan’s across the width of field will the other holds Al Gore’s

    Moseyed to Bleachers…

    • Right Legged Step Ups (20 Ct.)
    • Dips (20 Ct.)
    • Left Legged Step Ups (20 ct.)
    • Incline Pushups (20 ct..)

    Leg Wrecker Round 2 – The Same

    Wrapped up the workout with some Mary (LBC’s x 20, American Hammer x 20, and Penguins x 20) and some stretches.

     Concluded with COT and Prayer.

    Many thanks for the support and feedback from the group through the workout. Thanks for the opportunity to plan and lead as Q and already looking forward to my next one. I encourage those who haven’t taken the plunge to just do it!

  • Great > Good

    “Don’t let good enough get in the way of greatness. That just means come back to work on Monday ready to go. Still lots of ways we can improve.” -Joe Burrow

    A victorious weekend of football on 10/12 & 10/13 made for lots of happy PAX this past Monday morning at The Chamber. The Saints pounced the Jaguars, LSU took a rather large bite out of the Gators, and Tulane rolled over The Huskies….great motivation to start the week off with a bang. YHC felt a football themed workout would only be fitting. The goal was to use good form and really push through….do more than just go through the motions, something many of us can often be guilty off. Ten PAX posted, surprisingly not the hangover rate one may expect after such a weekend. Here’s what we did:

    Warmup: Capri Lap around the parking lot, dodging some unusual early morning traffic, followed by a quick COP with SSH x42 (LSU points/score), IW x13 (Saints), and headed to the curb for Rocky Balboas x49 ea leg (Tulane). Then Burpees x10 to give a shout out to the defenses that all had a stout week.

    Then grabbed some 8x8x8 “half blocks” (20lbs) that YHC had in the truck, and made our way to the field where cones were positioned for some 4 rounds aka “quarters” of 5 minute long partner circuits.

    1st Quarter: Lunge walk w/block overhead to cone while PAX#2 performs merkins till fatigue followed by planking. Flip flop for five min.

    2nd Quarter: Tricep extetension w/block while PAX#2 crab walks to cone and runs back. Flip flop for five min.

    Halftime: Some attempts at a Coach O pep talk, then Indian run (.4mi) down Elysian Fields toward the lake followed by a quick Mary COP. a run back at your own pace with tire flips x5 and burpees x5 when back at the starting area.

    3rd Quarter: One hand block curls while PAX #2 bear crawls to the cone and runs back. Flip flop for five min.

    4th Quarter: Everyone’s favorite, Thrusters!, while PAX#2 backpedals to the cone, knocks out 3 burpees, then runs back. Flip flop for five min.

    COT and BOM to seal the deal….strive for greatness, prayers for the Hard Rock victims. Nice to see The Chamber with a strong foothold and steady following of PAX. Let’s keep it going.

    Tool

  • F3 Renaissance with a 610 Feel

    F3 Renaissance with a 610 Feel

    Short and sweet…. we met in front of NOMA and proceeded to the practice track stopping every 6 minutes for 10 Merkins. 60 Merkins later we were at the back of NOMA for Sunday Mornings (chair position with 10 air presses, 5 mule kicks, 1 balls to the wall with a Derkin/hand press…. repeat for 5 minutes). Close with COT lifting up Da Parish & Bellhop’s family and onto Coffeeteria at Café Navarre

  • 5 year CONVERGENCE!

    Well – 5 years later we are still going STRONG! I remember when we started thinking I don’t have time in my life for this group. After a week of beatdowns I knew that we had to commit to growing this group – it had already begun to change my life and they way I interact with people everyday. I know after a nasty 530am beatdown – that I can handle anything the day throws at me. Thanks to all the guys here in NOLA that keep things running so that we can continue to be a group. Thanks to OBT for taking time out of his life to get us going in the GLOOM! Looking forward to 5 more years of F3 in NOLA.

    Today the pre-run started with about 20 PAX for a run down BAYOU ST JOHN. Beautiful weather, cool air and a crisp breeze. We ran 12 min out and 12 min back so that we could arrive in time for the fun.

    KUCH – has a been a great EH’er and a nice addition to F3 NOLA. Kuch started the party off with a WARM UP circle. SSH, Imp Walkers, Arm Circles, Peter Parkers, Merks.

    Then we divided up by 5 count into teams. We did 5 burpees, 5 Lunges, 5 Merkins, 5 Squats, 5 Plank Jacks. Bear Crawl across the lawn. Run back. KUCH did an excellent job getting the teams set quickly

    5 reps. We ran out of time and had to call it after 3 reps. No team won due to the shortened KUCH set. Kuch represented NOLA well – with a pretty gnarly start to a celebratory event.

    2nd set with DURACELL – FROM BATON ROUGE

    Duracell brought out 2 coupons. 40lb cinderblocks. 2 PAX ran to the center and did 3 thrusters. We went two different directions. A slow starter but once the PAX got the hang out this one – this was a solid beatdown. Duracell had to do about 15 exercises in cadence to 20. Exercises ranged from a regular plank, to shoulder taps, to merk variations to squat/lunge variations. The highlight of this section was Mathlete’s 2.0-Bear getting that cinderblock in the right position and up. Duracell represented the RED STICK well.

    THIGHS FROM THE WANK- 3rd quarter. We started with a solid mosey over the to the lawn in by the museum. Upon arrival we see that Thighs has organized with some printed out signs a 15 min beatdown that is going to suck. At each sign there was an exercise- PAX had to complete 20 reps the first time through, 15 reps the 2nd time through. (Possible 3rd time for the fastest pax members). Exercises were:

    1. Bonnie Blaires
    2. Diamond Merks
    3. Reverse Crunches aka Gaspumps
    4. Bobby Hurleys
    5. Merkin Toe Touches (need to incorporate this more in my Qs)
    6. Freddie Mercs

    RUN back to the start line and do this again. Thighs had the teams organized in a way by street names. Due to 75 PAX that didn’t quite workout but Thighs quickly modified and let the teams fall where they were. A good quick call. Thighs demonstrated that there is nothing easy about the WANK. Those guys are tough! Great turnout by the WB.

    STEVE FROM THE NORTHSHORE- FINISHED OFF The PAX back on the great lawn. Each pax got a partner.

    You had to do your partners age in burpees, your partners weight in LBCS, and your partners months in F3 in Freddies.

    Steve had a few minutes left so he finished with some Peter parkers, and some American Hammer.

    After a 75 PAX NAME O RAMA, NUMBERRAMA – Hokey POkey finished us off with an awesome prayer!

    After the whole beatdown we gathered at Cafe Du Monde for a 5 year celebration party. Tclaps to Rudy, Tool and Gabrielle for making that happen. There were eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, biscuits, beignets and plenty of coffee!

    Thanks to our awesome Qs! IT is NOT easy to Q 75 PAX!

    So blessed to be a part of this group- cheers to 5 more years of F3 NOLA!

  • Mother of a Mothership

    Warm-up (24s) – Arm circles, Windmills, Imperial walkers, Grass Grabbers

    Thang 1 – PAX paired up, PAX A – Does Inch Worm to third tree and sprints back while PAX B does any static hold he chooses till partner returns. Pax flips roles, then starts new rounds – Lunges, NEar Crawls, Broad jumps.

    RECOVER

    After that, PAX serpentine runs in and out of the trees on the Great lawn jumping up on the memorial and then to the peristyle.

    Thang 2 – Divide the PAx again into A/B. A’s Run out and back behind peristyle jumping up and downstairs for 5 rounds while B’s do dips. Once 5 rounds done, PAX flips roles.

    If that wasn’t fun enough all PAX circle up under the roof of peristyle and perform static hold squats for 30 s and 10 more while reaching ahead. Do that 3x with 30 sec recovery.
    We then side shuffle clockwise and on my command slap the ground and reverse direction. Do that till we can’t stand it anymore. Recover.
    Q’s challenge – HandStand Holds if you can if you can’t, then anything sort of upside-down like a Pike Plank, or push your feet up the columns and hold.

    Final bonus – MINI Q session – each member is called to the center and does their favorite exercise for 30 seconds or 30 reps. We didn’t finish everyone before the bell rang.

    Mosey back to flag for announcements, intentions and BOM. Sad news about Bellhop and FNG’s situation. Encouraged each other had hearty prayer and we’re done.

  • We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Grass

    After my Okwata beatdown last week which led to many bites on several PAX I made a guarantee that we would not use the grass at UNO this morning. Thankfully our lovely website has several options for beatdown routines to be performed on asphalt and/or football field. And wouldn’t you know it the parking lot at UNO is smooth asphalt and larger than a football field. 11 PAX (and Gideon’s well trained dog) joined me in the still humid morning (no cool front yet). Disclaimer was given and off we went.

    Warm Up:

    Mosey a lap around the parking lot and circle up:

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

    Thang #1 Quarter Pounder:

    All PAX line up at the edge of the parking lot. Thanks to Kuch for providing the tape measurer which I was able to use to mark off 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards (roughly). All PAX run 25 yards, perform 25 merkins, and run backwards to the start. Run 50 yards, perform 50 squats, and run backwards to start. Run 75 yards, perform 75 mountain climbers (1 is 1), and run backwards to start. Finally run 100 yards, perform 100 reps of any ab exercise(s) of each PAX choosing, and run backwards to the start.

    Thang #2 Dominoes:

    All PAX line up on the curb in a side plank position with left hand in air. PAX member on the farthest right end of the line rotates into a high plank position and performs 5 merkins. He then holds the high plank while the next PAX performs 5 merkins, and so on, and so on until the PAX member on the farthest left end of the line performs 5 merkins. He then immediately performs another 5 merkins and then rotates into a side plank with right had in air. The merkins and side planks continue until the man who started it off completes his 5 merkins.

    Round 2: flapjack and start from opposite end of the line to even out the amount of time spent in right side plank and left side plank.

    Thang #3 Leg Wrecker:

    PAX is split up into 2 groups lines up on either side of the short side of the parking lot. Group 1 performs Lt Dan’s (1 squat and 2 lunges) across the parking lot while Group 2 holds an Al Gore. Flapjack once Group 1 completes the trek across the parking lot.

    Thang #4 The Gross:

    Seeing as how everyone in F3 NOLA should be familiar with Mardi Gras we should also know what a gross is. It’s a dozen dozen. So the gross consists of 12 exercises of 12 reps (some IC and some not). I opted to split it up evenly into 4 upper body, 4 lower body, and 4 abs.

    • Floyd Mayweathers
    • Low Slow Squats
    • Flutter Kicks
    • Carolina Dry Docks
    • Calf Raises
    • Hello Dollies
    • Overhead hand clap/DJ Jubilees (T-claps to Kuch for this name suggestion; as in “East coast where you at? Let me get a hand clap!)
    • R Side Lunges
    • Box Cutters
    • Diamond Merkins
    • L Side Lunges
    • Freddy Mercury’s

    Cool down with another lap around the parking lot and some static stretching.

    Count off, Name-o-rama, Announcements, Intentions, and Sweaty ball of man. Thoughts and prayers were offered up for Da Parish’s cousin Jonathan Serigne (F3 name Bellhop) and his family. May he rest in eternal peace.

  • Failing Upwards

    These warm, thick, moist ( I said it) Southern mornings seem to stretch in front of and behind us without variation. It’s unmistakable. That feeling, the transition, of stepping from your front door (that sweet clean cool conditioned air) into the physical force of warm jell-o that is the south. A low level of perma-sweat is the accepted norm. Under these conditions 20 men (one FNG) met, with great enthusiasm, in the gloom of City Park.

    YHC was looking forward to his Second Q. He even planned out a few maneuvers he thought might be fun and thought of how to map out the days work. However, today’s BB is not a story of great triumph, it is one of progress.

    To start YHC forgot about the disclaimer momentarily, so some men did think I was a professional and did not know that they could modify. Second, YHC bumbled through the lead-in to each warm-up exercise, giving a variation for each, which opened the door to chatter amidst the ranks. As Q, variation can lead to chatter, chatter, can lead to dissent, dissent can lead to mutiny. A fair warning for any who might take the mantle as future Q. But not to worry, YHC was open to input, heard the people and adjusted accordingly.

    The THANG

    Warm Up in Peristyle (…to the best of recollection)
    x10 Arm circle fwd/bck
    x10 Hill Bill
    x20 Peter Parker
    x20 Parker Peter
    x15 jump jack
    Then everyone pick a column x3sets of Sunday Mornings:
    People’s chair w/ x10 jack web
    Donkey kicks x5
    Balls to wall, count to 10
    (three movements = 1 set)

    Line up – Mosey/Indian run to practice track
    Partner up
    1. Catch me if you can – Partner runs ahead backwards while other partner drops for 5 burpees, sprint to catch, alternate, 400m
    Cont. w/ Partner – following cumulative
    2. 100 Merkins – Sets of 10, partner holds plank while other partner completes set, alternate to total
    3. 200 LBCs – Sets of 20, partner holds legs raised while other completes set, alternate to total
    4. 300 Squats – Sets of 30, partner holds squat while other completes set, alternate to total

    At this juncture YHC had two ideas of what he wanted to do, but was a little uncertain of time. Opting to start a mosey back to the Great Lawn, he lost a little control of the group, who, like cats when not given explicit direction, had a mind of their own. This led to a different route back, which altered timeline. YHC takes full responsibility for this fork in the road, which was a result of indecision. Once outside my comfort zone, I turned to a wisened veteran, Screwtop for a tip on a next workout, he advised 4 corners. Since YHC wanted to keep momentum and control, he jumped on idea, announced to group, and tasked 4 individuals with deciding on a movement for each corner. However, in haste, I was not clear about time spent at each corner, or much of anything, so it turned in to everyone being responsible for their own time in 4 corners.

    While this was not the smoothest F3 beatdown that many know and love, I feel like there was plenty of sweat and ready-to-be-done’ness’ by the end of our hour to say it was a successful day nonetheless.

    My lesson – don’t go in to a Q with too many ideas of what to accomplish. Pick your workouts. Keep it simple. And stick to your plan. Any time allowed to think about what to do next, gives rise to chaos. Anarchy. (Don’t look into applying this reminder to life… it might lead to improvement). Also, the older I get I find myself abiding the principle, “If you haven’t failed at doing something, and gone back to it to keep doing it, are you even invested in it?”


    I appreciate the patience of all while I had a growth Q and want to thank the spirit of F3 for keeping it fun for all. Veterans stepped up, tclaps to those who did, and ultimately this group is about camaraderie, practicing leadership, and pushing each other to be better all around. I am excited to step up to another Q in the near future, and tighten up the execution then.

  • Can I get some more legs…..?

    So, YHC was happy to finish the 9/11 memorial on Friday at Wolfpack Mountain.  100+ Flights of stairs, 30# in rucksack.  For the PAX doing this with backpacks and weights it took us approximately 50 minutes to complete.  It was the least we could do to honor the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice that day.

    Later at Coffeetaria my legs were already feeling the effects of all the stairs and weights.  YHC joked at his Q at Mothership the following day YCH was going to do an upperbody only beatdown.  The PAX can decide how that turned out.

    On to the beatdown!

    Mosey to Peristyle for Warm Up

    • IW IC X20
    • Alternating Open Gates IC X20
    • Toy soldiers IC X20
    • Self Love IC X15

    Mosey to street in front of Storyland for Indian Run to Fountain

    At Fountain circle up for Red Hot Chili Pepper:

    • Right Leg Step Ups x 16; Decline Merkins x 8; Left Leg Step Ups x 16; Incline Merkins x 8
    • Right Leg Step Ups x 12; Decline Merkins x 6; Left Leg Step Ups x 12; Incline Merkins x 6
    • Right Leg Step Ups x 8; Decline Merkins x 4; Left Leg Step Ups x 8; Incline Merkins x 4
    • Right Leg Step Ups x 4; Decline Merkins x 2; Left Leg Step Ups x 4; Incline Merkins x2

    Let’s grab some water to stay hydrated.

    Next, mosey around NOMA to first bench at start of Roosevelt Mall for a little Route 66:

    • Body Bag Builders which is a 8-count body builder with a mountain climber thrown in start at 1 rep at 1st bench upping 1 rep at each succeeding bench up to 11 Benches for a total of 66 reps.

    Mosey to Practice Track for Dirty McDeuce:

    • Wide Merks X12 I/C
    • Total Lunges X12 I/C
    • Gas Pumps X12 I/C

    1 lap around Practice Track

    • Right Leg Up X12 I/C
    • Speed Skaters X12 I/C
    • Hundreds X12 I/C

    1 lap around Practice Track

    • Left Leg Up X12 I/C
    • Monkey Humpers X12 I/C
    • Toe Taps X12 I/C

    1 lap around Practice Track

    Running out of time so going to have to cut the Dirty McDeuce short.  Mosey back to flag.

    Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, and prayer. 

    Thanks for letting me lead!

  • Not Quite as Short, but Short Back Blast

    The Thang – IronPax Challenge

    Da Parish – 525

    Bogey – 525

    Gideon – 550

    Ya Mom ‘n Dem – 505

    Hobbs – 660

    Catfish – 720

    Count-off, Name-O-Rama, 3rd F

    YHC,

    Da Parish