F3 New Orleans

Tag: Hokie Pokey

  • 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       

  • 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

  • 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

  • H8! #6

    The Thang

    Event: The 6th running of the H8!

    Conditions: 72 degrees, 90% humidity, winds out of the SSE at 4 mph.

    Participants: 30 Pax including, 7 H8!ers, and 14 first timers.

    Each lap consists of running south to the top of the levee, crossing canal (bear crawling the neutral ground), running south to the bottom of the levee, cross canal and run north to the top of the levee, cross canal (bear crawling the neutral ground), running north down the levee and back across canal to the starting point.  At the starting point you do a descending burp and merk pyramid starting at 8 (burpee with 8 merkins, burpee with 7 merkins, …..burpee with 1 merkin)

    At the end of the 2nd lap the burp and merk pyramid starts at 7, etc.

    The goal is to complete 8 laps in 40 minutes.  According to MapMyRun, each loop is approximately 0.4 miles.  Therefore, to conquer the H8! you will have to do the following in 40 minutes:

    • Run just less than 3.5 Miles of Hills
    • 550 Yards of Bear Crawls
    • 36 Burpees
    • 120 Merkins

    We did AMRAP and then moseyed back to the flag.

    The Skinny
    • 12 finishers for a 40% success rate: SOGO, Cowbell, Smooth, Mahatma, 86, Thighs, Mariah, Triple Shift, Dirty Dell, Ya Mom N Dem, Screwtop, and Hawgcycle
    • No one got nine. Who will be the first?
    • I feel like YHC spent most of my energy chirping at Mahatma, at least until the 5th lap at which point he left me far enough behind he couldn’t hear me anymore.
    • I may have to put cones out next time to protect the integrity of the H8!.
    • Rudy had his first DNF at the H8! but it was for medical reasons. His doctor says no burpees. I would like to find a doctor like that.
  • Murph Prep

    Murph Prep

    Fifteen men gathered around 3 shovel flags, disclaimer, and let’s mosey to the track.  Two laps and hit the outdoor gym.  As we grow and build up to a full  Murph, we modified.  After the two laps, begin the pull-ups, merkins and squats.  Four sets of 5 pull-ups, 10 merkins and 15 squats is 1 round.  Run one lap after each round.  After the fifth round, run two laps to get the 2 miles.

    TClaps to the few who completed it.  TClaps to the pax who worked hard to grow and improve.

    Back at the Shovel Flags, countoff , namerama, announcements, shoutouts and a prayer.

  • Stiffler’s Mom gets a boost

    Well the ISI challenge brought a record crew to Colisseum Square run.  10 PAX headed out after finding the correct starting spot (bigger round fountain on the uptown side of the park.)  Headed down to Melpomene then up to St.Charles for a run in the Neutral Ground.  Fast group made it to Napoleon (others turned earlier) then down to Magazine and back to the start.  Lead group paced at 8:10 mile with the last 2 miles under 8!  At the imaginary flag- misordered name-o-rama and countoff and then a prayer for charity.  Great morning!

  • Jazz fest stomp

    Im over a week late so apologies if I missed anyone or got their name wrong. We mixed it up this morning. We stayed together for the most part for the first half and had some jazz fest artists’ music playing in the background. After disclaimer, we did some quick active stretching. Then it was a “blue” Indian run to where esplanade ends (or begins depending on how you look at it). We circled up and did a few more exercises then it was all out sprint down esplanade to dog park across from Santa Fe restaurant. From there we cut over toward the fairgrounds mixing in some exercises with sprints until the entrance to the jazz fest. It was on your own back to the flag following the same way we came. About 5.0k distance covered in honor of the 50th fest. A little bit of time for some stretching then the circle up for name o Rama, intentions, and announcements. Fun work out this am. Thanks screwtop for the pic.

  • “F3 Has Changed My Life”

    In a feat only New Orleans can accomplish, the PAX arrived to a cool yet muggy morning at 5:30 today. The sun might even have been peeking through the clouds as we set off into the humid air for a run. With the H8 last week, the new sprint workout, and the general level of intensity at the workouts lately, YHC thought a simple run this morning – no burpees, no sprints, no Mary – would be a nice change of pace. And so, that is what we did.

    One of the nice things about a run is that it gives you time to talk. I personally got to run with several different PAX and catch up on all the latest. Among those I was able to run with was Steinbrenner from F3 Memphis, who is in town for a convention. We traded some war stories, learned we were both former high school wrestlers with a tendency to eat an entire large bag of chips in one sitting, and talked about the myriad ways F3 had affected our lives. Somewhere along the way, he looked me in the face and said “F3 has changed my life”.

    Later I went to lunch with a friend, and we were joined by another PAX member from this morning, Briefs. Briefs is new within the last month or so, but you wouldn’t know it from the workouts. As we were walking out of the restaurant and chatting about the run this morning, he looked me in the eye and said “F3 has changed my life.”

    They say good things come in threes, and it is F THREE, so I will say this much: F3 has changed my life. I think the myriad ways in which this statement is accurate are well known to all of us, and to suggest it’s only a physical change would be silly.

    So thanks to all of you for that, as well as the opportunity to lead this morning.

  • Reading emails…

    YHC is not always on the forefront of technology.  Frankly, for all its so-called convenience, it makes us slaves to drudgery and loses the connections that count.  Some call it old, but remember it could be #Respect.  Anyway, thanks to the SkyQ, around 5am this morning, YHC read Reluctant Yankee’s weekly missive to learn that he was to Q at Rock City.  So off to Metry and a flag.  With a goodly showing in the Gloom, the PAX was off after a Disclaimer.

    Warm Up COP:

    • Imperial Squat Walkers x20IC
    • Abe Vigodas x20IC
    • Mountain Climbers x20IC
    • Merkins x20IC
    • Hillbillies

    The Thang

    With rocks, the PAX moseyed to the football field for a COP of 20 overhead lifts, 20 curls, 20 rows, and 20 squats, then a mosey around the track.  Rinse and repeat for 15 reps, then rinse and repeat for 10 reps, and finish with another 5 reps, each time with a mosey around the track.

    Circle of Mary

    • Russian Twist (with rock) x20IC
    • Bench Press (with rock) x20IC
    • Dying Cockroach x20IC
    • Penguin x20IC
    • LBC (with rock) x20IC
    • Flutter kick x20IC
    • Low plank 1 minute
    • J Lo x20IC

    Return the rocks and mosey back to the flag for a countoff, name-o-rama, name our FNG (#TClaps to Fast Tax for getting out his 2.0, who smoked it around the track), and thanks to SkyQ.  Glad I read my email, because I would have otherwise posted at The Skinny.  JV

  • 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.