55F – 62% RH – 52F feels like temp
15-20mph wind gusts on the lake
I typed a nice long BB yesterday morning. It was awesome. It is ashamed it didn’t post and you missed out. I cannot bring myself to pen such a beautifully written message again. Therefore you only get the basics…
Chilly. Windy. 4 PAX.
6 rounds of H8! followed by 6 minutes of Mary.
COT
Count
Name
Announcements
Intentions
SYITG… 10/19 @Mothership, 10/24 @Okwata, 10/26 @MistyMountain
55F feels like 50F
65%RH
Wind gusting at 15mph coming out of New Orleans East (felt like 30mph on the water)
@Pinewood is bringing back the H8! 10/24 so YHC felt like we should get a little practice in before the main event.
After two PAX relocated from the wrong parking lot, we got our total count all the way up to 4. Once again, pre-blasting may have reduced the count for a few. Or maybe it was the wintery weather. 2 of 4 PAX had to choose between stride repeats at Pontiff as part of OMR training and this beatdown.
At 5:30 and 5 seconds, @Pinewood was itching to mosey. I don’t think it was so much that he wanted to start running figure eights as it was that he was cold even though he had on a nice thick sweatshirt and some wintery looking snow gloves. The first cold is always colder.
Mosey to the foot of canal. Normal warm-up stuff.
WINDYmills, concrete grabbers, mountain climbers, crab cakes, tie fightersx2
Time for the fun. @Pinewood and @Squints have practiced the H8! before, but it was @Architecht’s first time. After giving him the rundown, he asked one quick question followed by “Ok. I got it. You don’t need to keep explaining. Mr. Rogers isn’t here.”
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 with the wind gusting in your face. At the starting point you do a descending burp and merk pyramid starting at 6 (burpee with 6 merkins, burpee with 5 merkins, …..burpee with 1 merkin)
At the end of the 2nd lap the burp and merk pyramid starts at 5, etc.
The goal is to complete 6 laps in 30 minutes because this is ONLY PRACTICE. Each loop is approximately 0.4 miles. Therefore, to conquer the Practice H8! you will have to do the following in 30 minutes:
• Run almost 2.5 Miles of Hills
• 415 Yards of Bear Crawls
• 21 Burpees
• 56 Merkins
A couple of PAX finished in under 30 minutes. One PAX couldn’t help himself (or didn’t pay attention) and started the burp and merk pyramid at 8 instead of 6. I don’t want to name names, but it wasn’t YHC, @Architect or @Squints. He is 20 years old. He is a student at UNO. He led Q-Source this morning. But, I don’t want to name the PAX that didn’t follow directions. That is rude.
After practice, we took a mosey along the lake. Enjoyed the waves crashing in. Found a dry spot for 6 minutes of Mary and called it at 6:15.
Count. Name.
Announcements (10/19 Re-enactment, 10/24 H8!, 10/26 Convergence).
Intentions.
Everyone was a winner for coming out and braving the chilly windy morning.
You verses You. Just show up and push yourself.
SYITG
It was Friday 10/10 YHC was heading to The Uptowner with a plan in mind pulling up with 2 minutes to go seeing 4-5 pax standing in the gloom. Upon entering the bullpen Squints starts the disclaimer to YHC’s surprise and there was short discussion who had the Q. Mr Rogers clarified and YHC confirmed his attempt to sign up was a failure! So humbly YHC fell in line to what was a solid beatdown from Squints. Yet the story continues in that determined not to make the same error YHC pulled up the Q sheet and saw Monday’s RC was open and quickly added his name, after all it was going to be epic either way as it was going to be pay day either way for Mahatma or Handgranda – the emphasis “pie bet” on the Ol”miss” VS LSU. The back story has been building for months if not years as Handgranada has been waiting for a year that he was corndfinent a Rebel victory was a high probability! He openly declared a bet at the beginning of the season that the Rebels would easily defeat Mahatma’s Tigers so with to many Pax witnessing this bet there was no backing down (or reengaging on Handgranada’s part) and the Oct 12th day of reckoning was set! Well it’s now in the history books as the game was played and the outcome came with LSU defeating the high statistical leading Rebels 26-23 in an epic game in OT!
YHC was uncertain if the Rebel fan was going to show so his Pie preparation was not the standard recipe but a “lite” provision was made just in case….
Pulling up there was a number of Pax in the bullpen as YHC approached with flag in hand and the 1st greeting was in fact from the Rebel! With time short and a few smirks from the Pax beginning YHC gave a disclaimer and the festivities began.
Warmup
Some general stuff and a little smack talk added by YHC as a reminder of some highlights of Sat game.
Preceded by 3 rounds of 3 at the pull up bars
Then a slow jog to the hill
1771 – Vups and Merkins with a bear crawl up and a run down. Thanks to The Architect for clarifying the sequence of 17 and 71
From here on to the rock pile where there was some bantering of more game highlights and low and behold out of no where Rudy added his color perspective that LSU’s receiver catching the winning touch down actually should have been called for offensive pass interference overlooking that while it was a skillfully executed play, his Irish have won so many games by no calls that YHC could only appreciate the similarities of the Irish and Rebel fan base!
Pax were instructed to grab a medium rock….Mr Rogers and Bogey have a huge variation of the meaning yet it all worked out as each Pax had a turn with every rock brought out for the group. Various exercises and tempos were completed with a little Mary to wrap up the beatdown.
As rocks were returned to place the Pax was eager to get back but YHC slowed their roll wanting to enjoy the saunter back all the while playing the Fighting Tigers Fight Song for setting the mood of what was to come.
Arriving back Scantron and Rougarou were stretching out from their Knots patently waiting for the RC crew’s return. COT commenced with YHC asking Rudy to pray out the Pax while he went to the truck to whip up the coming pie! From here I will say YHC enjoyed the thrill of giving the victory pie BUT humbly knows all good things must and will come to an end when someday he will be on the receiving end! That said there is always an open invitation to take the bet. For the Rebel without a Cause….Handgranada excepted his pie like a man. The video will be attached again for those that may want to review the live action!
All in good fun that is no doubt a part of our F3 culture. Simper Fi
In an effort to once again lead the Pontiff Pax in number of written BackBlasts, YHC posted in the gloom this morning. Thankfully, 9 other runners decided to do the same and hence Charmin and the Runners was formed. YHC Rucked and the Runners ran.
Rudy needed a personal invitation to the Name-o-rama ball, but other than that, it was a cool morning.
Conditions: 69 F & 73% RH
Scratchy throat. Not the best night of sleep. Promised some H8! practice. Let’s go.
5:28am and concerned my warning of what was to come would scare the PAX off. Out of the gloom comes the creHater (creater of the H8!) himself, @Hawgcycle. He quickly warned YHC that my advertisement of H8! practice may not have been the best pitch. Yea yea, I know that now. In the next minute three more brave PAX arrived. I quickly discovered that none of those three were aware of the preblast provided, including @Hand Grenada who claims the government doesn’t allow him to have the Slack app.
Short mosey to the field. Normal warmup consisted of AV, GG, PPP, MC, TF, FT, SSH.
Since only @Mr. Rogers was present for the first Metry H8! practice last month, directions were provided. Shortly after, we were off to the races…
6 laps was the goal
We started on the south side of the bleachers.
Each lap consists of running north snaking the bleachers to the far side, bear crawling to the steps of the gym, run a lap around the gym, bear crawling back to the north side of the bleachers, snaking the bleachers back to the starting point on the south side. At the start, descending burp and merk pyramid starting at 6 (burpee and 6 hand release merkins, burpee and 5 hand release merkins… burpee and 1 hand release merkin).
Rinse and repeat, going down the ladder.
• Run over 2 miles of bleachers/stairs
• 420 yards of bear crawls
• 21 burpees
• 56 merkins
Mumblechatter was kept to a minimum as everyone was pushing hard till the finish. We were reminded that most workouts are as much about mental toughness as they are about physical ability. Push yourself but don’t hurt yourself.
Some love it.
Some H8! it.
It was hard, but we showed up and gave it our all.
10/17 H8! practice at #Okwata (not entire time)
10/24 H8! is back at #Okwata thanks to @Pinewood
You vs. You
Count. Name. Announcements. Intentions. Prayer.
SYITG
A couple of us regulars arrived at the proverbial flag and before we knew what was upon us, Pax from a distant shore began to spill out and overflow from a single car. Before we knew what was upon us, there was a total of 18 pax, most of whomst were taking part in the inaugural Lake View Clown Car Coup as a way to prepare for their attendance at the Convergence in a month.
While their number was many, their ability to start on time seemed to be lacking as “Well, it’s 5:30!” rang out in the gloom to no movement except from the regulars. This continued to present itself when the ruckers were the first to reach Falcon Road, leaving the park.
45 minutes later (only 40 for the runners, who apparently needed the 5 minutes to cool down), we all returned for a total of 18 pax.
COT – Prayers of Gratitude, protection for those in the path of the hurricane, and mostly prayers kept in the silence of the heart.
77 degF & 90% RH
Over-indulged with 15 PAX at dinner the night before
Sleep would have been great, but not an option
A week earlier, Boo-Boo called me out. So I committed to Q, and I was determined to invigorate others to do the same.
Was it hard? Yes.
Was it fun? Sure.
Was it worth it? Absolutely.
Planted the second flag. Quick disclaimer including sharing the prior evening’s adventures.
Mosey over to JPAC for some warmups: SAV, GG, PPP, MC, CC (crab cakes that Fracsac hates), SSH… shucks forgot the tie fighters, head still a bit cloudy.
Brought the first H8! practice to Kennarie. By the way, who came up with ‘Kennarie’, and that spelling, just weird. Not my first time here, but was my first time to Q.
Six rounds on this route: 70 yd bear crawl UP the ramp, 400 yd jog down the stairs and around the building, Burp-Merk-Ladder (1B-6HRM, 1B-5HRM, etc…). Everybody pushed. A couple got bonus rounds in.
To the grassy area nearby for some shuttle runs. 5 burpees every time you are at the starting line. First bench – 10 merkins and back, Second bench – 10 lunges and back, Third bench – 10 squats and back, Fourth bench – 10 big boys and back.
To the flags. COT. Count. Name.
Announcements (10/19, 10/24, 10/26).
Intentions (Frac’s mom, Squints’ parents, Hawg’s wife, Charmin’s friend’s child).
Shout out to the PAX who posted:
The regulars at this AO: Charmin (pushed hard), Fracsac (only one to do the last 5 burpees before heading to COT), Space Cowboy (always impressive), Boo Boo (thanks for calling me out), Squints (never disappoints)
The newbies here: Hawg (inventor of the H8!, thanks for the bear crawl races), Dax (wins the longest drive award)
YHC has been less than consistent in attending F3, as is obvious to all, and is subject to criticism for FartSacking and having the audacity to attend coffee or book studies without earning his attendance priviledges.
Nonetheless, Catfish asked me one Saturday or Sunday about a month prior if I could muster the energy to commit to Q and I accepted his challenge.
After a brief disclaimer at the flag, we moseyed while lifting knees to chest over to the pavilion for Warm-o-rama including Slow Vigodas, grass grabbers and arm circles.
The Thang… in my mind it would only be 10 rounds by the great lawn with 5 burpees at each of the four corners and our mode of transportation between corners would be backwards mosey on long stretch by parking lot, lunges by Storyland, forward mosey by City Putt and an exercise at the end of fourth corner changing round by round. Keeping with the concept of leave no man behind, instructions were only given out one round at a time and those who finished first could plank and shoulder tap waiting on the six to start the next round.
Round 1 ~ 100 Honest Merkins … obviously a crowd favorite 😉
Round 2 ~ it gets easier ~ only 90 step ups and even easier yet one is one
Round 3 ~ getting even easier ~ only 80 Big Boi Sit Ups
Round 4 ~ 70 Bobby Hurley’s
Round 5 ~ 60 star toe taps
Obviously, YHC’s lack of consistent attendance slowed down the Pax as we were only able to complete 5 of the 10 rounds.
Thanks to Catfish for giving me the opportunity to lead and wishing each of you the very best. See ya when I can get my butt outta bed.
YHC was caught by the train, but still able to plant the flag by 5:28
74 F & 93% RH
Party of 10 excited to see what was in store
8 to the field and 2 KnOT’ing on the track, we’d see them later
Warmup consisted of the norm: Slow AV, Soggy GG, MC, PPP, TF, FT, SSH
The H8! is returning to #okwata October 24th, so YHC thought it would be good to get some practice in @pontiff
5 rounds of The Metry H8! (we’ll shoot for 8 before game time)
We started on the south side of the bleachers. At the start, you do a descending burp and merk pyramid starting at 5 (burpee and 5 hand release merkins, burpee and 4 hand release merkins… burpee and 1 hand release merkin).
Each lap consists of running north snaking the bleachers to the far side, bear crawling to the steps of the gym, make a lap around the gym, bear crawling back to the north side of the bleachers, snaking the bleachers back to the starting point on the south side. Rinse and repeat.
• Run nearly 2 miles of bleachers/stairs
• 350 yards of bear crawls
• 15 burpees
• 35 merkins
Picked up the SIX. Did some Mary. Head to the flag.
COT, Count, Name, Announcements, Intentions
Upcoming events…
9.21 – Power Mile
9.28 – Brothers Keeper 500
10.19 – reenactment @mothership
10.24 – the H8! returns
10.26 – anniversary convergence @mistymountain
Is this the official record of what happened this morning?
It was a typical eve-of-a-hurricane type of day, cooler summer temperatures as we all awaited the landfall of Hurricane Francine. The PAX moseyed over to the JPAC for warmups, which included a fine selection of Abe Vigodas, Grass Grabbers, SSH, Arm Circles, Shoulder Taps, and—last but not least—Peter Parkers.
Thang 1:
Off to a brief H8 training session where, somehow, everyone finally agreed on H8. (A true miracle!)
Thang 2:
The timer: side steps up the ramp, sprint back.
Exercise 1: I call out Burpees with a block, but War Eagle, feeling frisky with the tropical weather, insists on calling out Fly-Up Flop Downs. Sure, it sounded fun in the rain, but even the birds weren’t buying it this morning. I call the exercise again, “Burpees with a block again,” and in true Fracsac fashion, he declares it’s time for Flyin’ Block Drops.
After a solid 40 minutes of back-and-forth debate, War Eagle and Fracsac finally surrender, and we all mosey back to the flag.
COT: Counterama, Namearama, Intentions, Prayer.
