F3 New Orleans

Tag: King Kong

  • MASTER MELVIN AO – LAUNCHED! #1

    Welcome to Master Melvin aka Mel Ott Park in GRETNA on the West Bank!  AKA The BEST BANK!  AKA watch out for the speed trap on the way in.  Gretna Native – Mel Ott hit over 50o HRS playing from the New York Giants in the 50s.  A stud – a phenom!  I like that as we get ready to rumble in G-town.

    Definitely had to set the alarm for 415 this am to arrive to my AO on time.

    Got a nice text from Seaman letting me know that he will join me in the gloom of Gretna.

    Nip Tuck ditched me for a carpool for Swim Practice – oh well.

    A double nice surprise with King Kong and Medulla Oblangata – posting in the GLOOM of GRETNA.

    Started out with the disclaimer – and a quick explanation of the three Fs.  Also the 5 rules of F3.

    Mosey’d a short distance – Side Straddle Hop x 20, Imp Walker Squats x 15, Mtn Climbers x 20, LBCs x 20

    Then Mosey’d to the ballpark for some bases work but park was locked.  SO sudden change to the bleachers.  At the bleachers we did Left Leg Step x 20, Right Leg Step up x 20, Decline Merk x 10 On Your Own, Incline Merk x 10 OYO, Dips x 15, Bulgarian Split Lunge x 20 each leg  **Someone mosey’d off the the bathroom at this point and I thought to myself – wow in gretna they trust their people so much the bathrooms are open at night

    Then we mosey’d down to a path.  Here we did a short – FLIP/FLOP with partner.

    10 pullups and shoulder taps while we wait for partner doing pullups.  We did As Many Reps As Possible x 2

    Then we did BLIMPS – 5 burpees-10lunges – 15  imperial walkers – 20 merkins – 25 squat jumps and 30 squats.

    Getting tired but we mosey’d to big parking lot by gym.

    Here we did 6 minutes of Mary.

    I had the other guys share leading duties here:

    RY dying roach x 20, seaman box cutters x 20 king kong flutters x 20, medulla freddie mercury x 20, and moist did x 20 LBCS.

    We got back to the FLAGa little early  and we did a little PLANK O RAMA until 615.

    Wow I feel lucky I got to Q the first WANK beatdown.  It happened so quick – I figured we needed to strike while the IRON is hot.  We need to EH some guys for Wednesday at Mel Ott aka Master Melvin.  Get it done and grow this AO one PAX member at a time.

    Prayed for a bunch of intentions and asked for the grace to be better men in all our interactions.

    See You in the Gloom (SYITG)-Reluctant Yankee

     

     

  • Try Something New – 2 Year Anniversary

    2 Years ago, YHC arrived in the gloom of City Park at the suggestion of a work colleague. Little did YHC know that he was going to be embraced by fellow men and begin a journey to become a High Impact Man.   F3 took this Sad Clown out of his regular routine of pumping dollars into the gym, living the POGO40, and letting his Jester rule his life.  This was because YHC decided to TRY SOMETHING NEW; take the DRP.  Too many times we are scared by the unknown  that we deny ourselves the possibility of something we may enjoy.   Today, YHC remade the commitment he made 2 years ago and decided to try something new.   Rock City is the not the home AO for YHC.  What better way to take the DRP than to sign up to Q.

    During YHC’s Sad Clown days, he had a subscription to Men’s Health Magazine. In an effort to give the PAX a Downpainment, YHC skimmed the dusty magazines for Rock City inspiration.  While there was a lot of great information, there were also some exercises that should be put back on the shelf.

    Disclaimer; Mosey to rocks

    W/U – 1 mi. AMRAP each exercise

    • Squats
    • Merkins
    • Mountain climbers
    • V-ups
    • Split squats (:30 per leg)
    • SSH
    • Plank
    • Single Wife Pleaser (:30 per leg)
    • Burpees

    Grab a rock

    • Lunge & Twist x 20 paces
    • Curls, Press, Carry x 20 paces
    • Rinse & Repeat

    Mosey to the Pavilion

    • 10 IC Incline Bench, Military Press, Merkins
    • 10 IC Tricep Extensions, Bicep Curls, Rows
    • 10 IC Goblet Squats, Bulgarian Split Squats, Rock Swings

    Partner up

    • Big Boy Sit ups x 10 (each)
    • Standing Torso Twist x 10
    • Plank Combo x 10

    Mosey Back to the Rocks (Time toTSN)

    • Over – Under x 10 – Stand back to back with your partner and pass the rock over head, then bend down and pass it through your legs. This received quite a bit of Mumble chatter, but here we have Bogey & Wall Eye with excellent form.

    • 20 IC Merkins
    • Mosey to the Flag

    Counterama, Namerama,

    Announcements – Pelicanman Duathlon, New Kenner AO

    Ball of Man thanking the Sky Q for the gift of today, the opportunity presented by F3, request for strength, and the Serenity Prayer.

    Thank you for the opportunity to lead,

    Da Parish

  • 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!

     

  • Wolf-Brick Mountain

    It had been 365 days since YHC’s last Q at WPM.  I rang in my 50th with a Q at WPM, and today I would end my 50th with a bookend Q at WPM.  In between, I’ve been a stranger to the Friday morning beatdowns.  So YHC was greeted by lots of puzzled looks from the gathering PAX in the morning Gloom.  Who is this stranger?  He’s from The World? And he’s Q’ing?  What’s going on here???

    YHC started the disclaimer a minute early in order to get the party started.  He had a surprise waiting for the PAX, and needed to get everyone organized.  So stroll over to the car, pop open the trunk to reveal….  Bricks. Everyone grab 2.  What a stroke of luck: Trunk had 40 bricks, and there were 20 PAX.

    Mosey across the Avenue and circle up on the Tulane Lawn.

    But wait – 2 more PAX!!  YHC had spare bricks in the backseat – so he yelled across the Avenue “THE KEY IS ON THE BACK LEFT WHEEL.”  Yankee managed to find the key and the bricks for the latecomers – while the rest of the PAX politely reminded the YHC that we aren’t in Metry no more, and maybe yelling the location of the car key isn’t the best idea….

    But I digress.

    Warm Up

    Brickpees OYO x10.  Sigh.  YHC needed to explain to the Uptowners that a “Brickpee” was a Burpee with Bricks.

    Arm Circles, Both ways X10:  Not normally a fan of the Sun Gods, YHC definitely included them with the Bricks.

    SSH x40: Meant to go to x50 but accidentally ended at 40.  Oh well.

    Plank Position:

    • Peter Parker x20
    • Floyd Mayweather x20
    • Parker Peter x20
    • Newtons Cradle x10

    Mosey to the Mountain

    Indian Run to the top.  With your bricks.  Go.

    The Thang

    At the top of WPM, partner up for Dora 1-2-3

    • 100 Brick X-Fit Merkins.  Thanks Mariah for showing us that it was, in fact, plausible
    • 200 Dying Cockroaches (tough your toe with your bricks)
    • 300 Goblet Squats (with your bricks)

    PAX 1 exercises, PAX 2 runs down the ramp then back up.  Flapjack.

    In the interest of time, YHC modified the counts to 100-150-200

    Rest Time

    Find some wall space to take a seat for People’s Chair

    • Wonderbra (with bricks) x20 (Up/Down/Out/In)

    Shake out the legs.  Rinse and Repeat.  Throw in some Brick Curls just because.

    Mosey down the stairwell to the Loyola Lawn (nicest turf in town, according to El Wire)

    PAX Choice

    Running short of time, YHC decided to let the PAX choose the finishing exercise.  By a slight majority, Option A won: Jack Webbs.  (Option B was Bear Crawl/Tunnel of Love, with Bricks).

    • 1:2 Merkin/Brick Press
    • 2:4 …
    • 3:6 …
    • ….

    Go as far as you can.  YHC called it at 6:13, leaving PAX time to return bricks to the trunk and circle up at the Flag

    COT

    Count-off (22 PAX), Name-o-Rama.

    Announcements: “Read Your Email” says Yankee.  God Bless to Pony Boy as he’s off to Atlanta.  Thanks for working out with us, take your enthusiasm to the Atlanta PAX!  Come back and join us again soon!

    Prayers: YHC grateful for the ongoing treatment for his sister.  All early signs are positive.  Prayers for Flaming Lips nephew, having finished rounds of Chemo prepping for Radiation next.  May caregivers be blessed with wisdom and compassion.  Finishe with prayer to use the gift of today wisely, and close with St. Ignatius Loyola Prayer for Generosity.

    Thank you all for letting a foreigner Q your beloved AO!

  • Iron PAX Challenge #3 – Uptown

    After much Mumblechatter as to what we would do at the Birdcage and who would Q it.  It was decided that we would do the Iron Pax Challenge and YHC would Q it.  What more could a Q ask for, than to have the entire beatdown laid out already for him.  I arrived early and met up with King Kong and we layed out the cones in Oak Alley 10 yards apart and moseyed back to meet the PAX at the flag.  A huge PAX of 30 had gathered and was ready to work.  Roots had volunteered to lead a more regular Birdcage routine should anyone opt out of taking the Iron Pax Challenge.  With that announcemnet and Disclaimer given we took off for a quick Mosey to the Fountain at the end of Oak Alley, the new home and hiding spot for the Uptown’s cinder block stash.  3 Pax opted to join Roots and they moseyed off to do their Thang.

    Each PAX collected their Cinder Block and circled up for a quick demo of the 4 exercise included in the challenge, and a quick explanation of how we would do the challenge by YHC.

    The Challenge:

    30 Minutes straight, No Rest, AMRAP

    15 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Handrelease Merkins, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    14 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Goblet Squats, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    13 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Leg raises, holding block in Press postion, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    12 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Handrelease Merkins, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    11 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Goblet Squats, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    10 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Leg raises, holding block in Press postion, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    9 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Handrelease Merkins, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    8 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Goblet Squats, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    7 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Leg raises, holding block in Press postion, 20 yds Broad jump(10 yards, out and back)

    …. you get the idea…

    Count up total reps of all exercises for total to be submitted.

    By the time we were done, recovered, put back the blocks and moseyed back we had reached 6:15 and called the workout.  Roots and his  crew moseyed up soon after.

    COT, Count0ff, Nameorama  1 FNG – From Philladelphia, worked on submarines –  Cheese Steak + Submarines = Tube Steak …Welcome!!

    IronHorse asked if we could add something to the COT that they do in Florida.  He brought his Flag from Florida and planted it next to ours, and as they do in his home PAX, we Pledged the Flag.  A great gesture that I loved and hope we incorporate into our COT’s.  Thanks for sharing that Ironhorse!!

    Prayers for Rudy’s Sister, Rev-Sox’s Dad and other intentions.  Thanks again for the opportunity to lead!  It was another great beatdown with great turn out, by great men.

    SYITG!!

    RESULTS

    Average Rep count for the 21 PAX that reported rep counts was 419!  With 8801 reps total!!  NICE WORK BOYS!!

    Ironhorse, FL 621
    Jingle Vader 526
    Seaman 492
    Gabrielle 468
    Hawgcycle 464
    El Wire 457
    Peppa 443
    King Kong 413
    Quarterpipe 409
    Rev Sox 404
    Peptoe 384
    Saban 384
    Sinner Bloq 384
    ILoveYouMan 382
    Candyland 380
    Coast Rat 375
    Angies List 375
    Medulla Oblongata 375
    Bartman 375
    Tubesteak 365
    Reluctant Yankee 325
    G-Spot ?
    Col. Mustard ?
    Pony Boy ?

     

     

  • Skinny – Da Block is HOT!!!

    Pre-Thang

    After the Week 2 – Iron 34Pax Challenge less than one week ago at the Birdcage, YHC was supposed to hide those cinder blocks with the help of the PAX.  However, Hawgcycle decided to use them for the same challenge at the Uptowner on Friday.  Therefore, the PAX loaded them back on Mahatma’s truck and off they went. YHC needed to find a way to bring those blocks back to Audubon Park.  Doing that during the day would be too suspicious.  Therefore, YHC had to incorporate another workout with the blocks so that the PAX could hide them after a morning beat down.  YHC needs to find a new home for those blocks soon.  They can’t be living in Mahatma’s truck forever.  Why not Skinny?  Because the Skinny usually involves more running around the park with exercises in between at some workout stations, YHC wanted to incorporate a cinder block workout focusing more on the legs, core, and cardio.  So Skinny…  28 PAX met up on a wet Monday morning.  At 5:30, YHC gave his standard disclaimer and off the PAX.

     

    Warm-ups

    Moseyed around the parking lot in front of the Audubon Clubhouse and back to the field next to the F3 flags and did the following in cadence:

    SSH x 20

    Windmills x 10

    Forward Arm Circles x 10

    Backward Arm Circles x 10

    Hill Billies x 20

    Plank Jacks x 20

    Overhand Claps x 10

     

    Da Block is Hot

    Grabbed the hot blocks off Mahatma’s truck and moseyed to the Band Stand.  Circled up and did the following exercises in cadence:

    Chest Presses x 20

    Leg Raises with Block in arms extended Chest Press position x 10

    Slow Goblet Squats with Block x 10

    Walking to the first light post at the Oak Alley, YHC gave instructions on a modified BLIMPS workout with the blocks.  The PAX was holding on to his block while he was running between the light posts for the entire BLIMPS.  OYO – At the first light post, 5 Burpees with a thruster over the head (5 man makers).  Ran to the 2nd light post and performed 10 Lunges on each leg while holding onto the block.  Ran to the 3rd post and properly executed 15 Imperial Walkers on each leg while holding onto the block.  Moseyed to the 4th post – 20 Merkins.  To the 5th post…. 25 Chest Presses with the block.  To the last light post… 30 Squats while holding onto the block.

     

    Da Block is Hot..Hot

    Before YHC could give instructions for the next exercise, Reluctant Yankee had decided to modify his workout by “accidentally” dropping his block and breaking it in half.  That’s one way to modify….  The PAX reused the Oak Alley for the following exercises OYO.  The PAX left his block by the first light post then…

    1 – Ran to the 2nd light post and back and performed 30 Block Jump Overs, Ran to the 3rd post and back to the 1st post…. 20 Block Jump Overs, Ran to the 4th post and back to the 1st post… 10 Block Jump Overs

    2 – Ran to the 2nd light post and back and performed 30 Squats with the block, Ran to the 3rd post and back to the 1st post… 20 Squats with the block, Ran to the 4th post and back to the first post… 10 Squats with the block

    3 – Ran to the 2nd light post and back… 30 Leg Raises with block in arms extended chest press position.  Ran to the 3rd post and back to the 1st post… 20 Leg Raises in the same position.  Ran to the 4th post and back to the 1st post… 10 Leg Raises in the same position.

     

    Da Block is Hot….Hot..Hot

    Time to hide those cinder blocks, but YHC couldn’t make it that easy.  YHC had asked Mahatma to Q the group in 2 lines and led the group by shouting “overhead, right shoulder (not resting on the shoulder), left shoulder” as the group dodging cars on Magazine Street toward the fountain.  YHC could only imagine what the drivers were thinking witnessing 28 guys with cinder blocks over their heads at 6:12 a.m. crossing Magazine Street.  Not weird at all.  Very shortly, the PAX made it to the fountain and hid them by the bushes.  The PAX then moseyed back to the flag for the COT at 6:16 a.m.

     

    COT

    Count-O-Rama 28PAX, Name-O-Rama with three FNGs & one PAX from Greenville, announcements, intentions.  Welcome Fire Marshall Bill (Greenville), Ducky (FNG), Pep-Toe (FNG), and Brexit (FNG).  Thank You all again for the opportunity to lead.  SYITG

    King Kong

     

  • 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

  • Birdcage – Week 2 – The Iron 34PAX Challenge

    Pre-Thang

    After YHC’s first visit at Okwata’s H4 Challenge, YHC discussed with Tool and Mahatma-Ice about the possibility of bringing a Rock City type of workout to Birdcage with cinder blocks.  Of course… with their support, YHC was able to get the goods (28 blocks at 28 lbs and 4 blocks at 19 lbs) from Tool and loaded them up onto Mahatma’s truck.

    Meanwhile, on Sunday, Reluctant Yankee sent out Week 2 IronPax Challenge, which incorporates exercises with cinder blocks.  What are the chances??? With many personal texts and mumblechatter convincing the Q to facilitate the challenge (a lot of passive aggressiveness), YHC finally decided to forgo his planned Q with the blocks and went with the challenge.

     

    The Challenge

    Thanks for many PAX help at 5 a.m. to mark the 25 yard distance and unloading all 32 blocks onto the field, YHC was able to start the disclaimer on time at 5:30 a.m. and off we go…. Unfortunately, YHC didn’t get enough blocks for the challenge.  YHC underestimated his popularity… didn’t expect to see 34 PAX and thought 32 blocks were more than enough.

    Actual Week 2 Iron Pax Challenge – accumulated Rep scoring

    4 sets x 8 minutes – perform as many reps as possible in 8 minutes.  After 25 reps, must run 25 yards out and back.  Rinse and repeat until 8 minutes is up.  Rest 2 minutes between sets.

    Set 1 – Thrusters with cinder block

    Set 2 – Curls with cinder block

    Set 3 – KB Swings with cinder block

    Set 4 – ManMaker with cinder block

    Total Score = Set 1 Reps + Set 2 Reps + Set 3 Reps + Set 4 Reps

     

    COT

    Count-O-Rama 34 PAX, Name-O-Rama with one FNG & one PAX from Tallahassee, announcements, intentions.  A record day at Birdcage with 34 PAX participating a heck of the challenge.  Welcome Iron Horse (Tallahassee) and Sinner Bloq$ (FNG) because he’s a pastor working out with cinder blocks.  How fitting???

     

    NMM

    T-Claps to everyone making the challenge possible at Birdcage.  Tool – supplying the blocks.  Mahatma-Ice – picking up the blocks with his truck.  Yankee – measuring the 25 yard distance at 5 a.m.  Hawgcycle, Candy Land, Gabrielle, Medulla, Angie’s List, Willie – help unloading off the truck to the field in the Gloom.

    Thank You all again for the opportunity to facilitate the challenge.  SYITG

    King Kong

     

    Standings – YHC didn’t get everyone’s reps because some modified the challenge, 4 PAX were using the 19 lbs blocks instead of the 28 lbs, or YHC just didn’t do a good job collecting everyone’s score.  Whatever the reason, this is the list:

    Rev-It – 325

    Seaman -625

    I Love You Man – 425

    Douille – 375 (left early)

    Iron Horse – 609

    Angie’s List – 502

    Bartman – 500

    Gabrielle – 583

    Willie – 558

    Rev Sox – 468

    Tinkles – 489

    Medulla – 455

    Quarter Pipe – 456

    Mahatma-Ice – 805

    Saban – 655

    Sinner Bloq$ (FNG) – 655

    Peaches – 475

    Hawgcycle – 592

    Reluctant Yankee – 445

    El Wire – 505

    Mariah – 495

    Chiquita – 415

    Candy Land – 325

  • 19 for 11

    Back from Canada after a weeklong hiatus, YHC was ready to get back in the saddle.  7 days is enough to enable one to forget just how oppressive August humidity can be in the south.  Feeling like a weakened northerner, unable to face the Southern Summer, YHC decided to dress the part – so for today (and today only), Union General Ambrose Burnside made an appearance at Rock City.

    As the gloom lifted – PAX appeared, crawling out of every nook and cranny at Pontiff playground.  First there were 5.  Then 8.  Then 11.  Uptowners made the long Trek.  The clock steadily ticked towards 5:29 and the PAX just kept appearing.  5:30 – and BAM, 19 PAX set off down the path.

    Warm Up

    Assume the position.  Plank position.

    • Peter Parker x25
    • Parker Peter x25
    • Mountain Climber x25
    • Plank Jack x25

    Recover.  Just kidding.  Back to Plank.

    • Shoulder Taps x25
    • Floyd Mayweather x25

    Recover.  For real.  Now go get a Rock.

    At this point, YHC owes Bogey an apology.  I heard grumbling about lack of guidance on rock size selection.  Who else would grumble, I thought?  So I blamed Bogey.  But alas, it wasn’t him.  The grumbler still remains anonymous.  Probably an uptowner.

    The Thang.  11s

    Mosey to the tree-lined field.  Line up in the middle, facing West.  We’ll do 11s.

    • Burpees on the West side (starting at 1, heading up to 10).
    • West to East run: stop at your Rock for 11 Shoulder Presses
    • Squat Jumps on the East side (starting at 10, heading down to 1).
    • East to West run: stop at your Rock for 11 Curls

    When finished, PAX joined the circle for LBC waiting on the 6.

    Hydrate.  Can’t emphasize this enough over the summer.  Stay hydrated.  Quick water break at the Gazebo.

    Change of Plans.  Right, the Gazebo.  I’d forgotten about that.  Since we were all there (except the few left by the rocks because they didn’t want water), we grabbed some bench.  (the other 4 brave souls began running over)

    • Right Leg SU x25
    • Irkins x20
    • Left Leg SU x25
    • Derkins x15.  And those last 2 were killer for the Q.

    Grab a spot on the wall for a rest.  People Chair.

    • 90 seconds.  Up and shake it out.
    • 60 seconds, with Air Press x15

    Mosey back to your rock.  Bring the rock back to the pile (pressing, curling, overhead carrying while moseying).  Then back to the flag.

    Wrap Up: Count-off.  19 PAX, a new rock City record!  Great to see all of the new faces out and about.  Keep EH’ing – bring F3 with you wherever you go!  Announcements of upcoming races and events – Next Gen Gala on August 24th.  Keep up the great work, Babyface!  Finish up with prayers.  All: remember Rev Sox’s father in your prayers.  Losing a lifelong friend and partner cannot be easy, Sky Q: please grant Mr. Rev Sox the strength and comfort to persevere and grow.

    Also – thank you all for the prayers and support you have offered me over the last weeks.  My sister has a diagnosis, and its really the best possible outcome: stage 2a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, nothing below the diaphragm.  That all means her condition is very treatable, with a great prognosis.  Still a long road, and several chemo treatments yet to come.  But this is the best outcome we have been hoping and praying for since the initial diagnosis.  Thank you all again!

  • Hopping on the H8 Bandwagon with a H4

    “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” -Kelly Clarkson

    Lots of buzz going around lately about the semi-annual H8 coming up in October.  It’s always a tough workout as well as a good test of progress for the PAX.  It’s also a love-hate thing for YHC since it has put me through the wringer and almost killed me, each time getting closer to that 8 lap goal.  The run is palatable, as well as the bear crawl, but the merkins and burpees seem to be slow many of us down.  So, in order to fix this, YHC thought we’d knock out a scaled down version of the H8 as part of the Thursday workout at Okwata.  Here’s what went down:

    Conditions:  Warm, dark, and zero breeze…just how we like it

    The PAX:  Some usual Okwata crew plus King Kong making his way to the AO for the first time…t-claps

    The Disclaimer:  Not a professional…push yourself, don’t hurt yourself…try to give it your all for the next 45 min…

    The Warmup:  Mosey over to the usual warmup area only to find some loud people still partying/fighting so a detour over to the seawall area for SSHx20, HBx20, ACx20, WMx10, ISWx10, Plank Rollx10, Peter Parkerx20.  Then we lined up for a mosey along the seawall with a stop at each light pole for Squats x10 at each one, six poles total.  Probably not the best thing to do before the H4/H8 route but YHC wanted to make sure we broke a sweat first and the workout wasn’t a cakewalk.  Capped it off with LS Dips x25 at the planters.

    The H4:  Run the same lap/route as the H8 with bear crawls in the middle and merkins (instead of descending burp/merk) at the end…40 on 1st lap, 30 on 2nd, 20 on 3rd, 10 on 4th, 10 on 5th.  Goal was at least 4 laps in 20 minutes.  T-claps to Mahatma and Smooth for blasting off right out of the gate.  The PAX pushed hard and several guys finished 4+ laps.

    The Finale:  Enough time left for a mosey along the levee towards the House of Pain.  Group 1 stayed up top for LBC x40IC + Penguins x20IC (timer) while Group 2 ran down to the pull up bars for AMRAP Pullups followed by Hanging Knee-ups.  This was a long timer, maybe too long, but the PAX hung in there.  After a round for each group, time to head back to the flag.

    COT:  A few announcements and followed by a prayer.

    Here’s a few things we kicked around post-workout in regards to maximizing our individual performance at the upcoming H8:

    1.  Use the downhill runs to catch your breath and don’t try to race down.
    2.  The top of the levee has a few sharp surprises during the bearcrawl.  Appeared to be pieces of exposed plastic mesh.
    3.  Try to crank out the Merkins/Burpees in a fast manner.  YHC fell behind on this.
    4.  The fall and spring temps are more conducive to this workout than August.
    5.  Calling cadence and working in squats does not help boost your time.

    Thanks for the opportunity to lead.

    Tool