Tag: Moby Dick

  • Captain Sparkles drive by – from Waterpik

    Yes, that’s correct. For any of you F3ers around long enough to remember Captain Sparkles, he did a drive by at the milestone marsh this morning and shouted out, “ I just wanted to see if y’all still came out here on Mondays.” Then he shouted, “50 merkins” and drove off. That’s as close as he’s gotten to posting at a beatdown in probably 5 years.

    Aside from that, it was business as usual for the Monday pax at Tyler Thomas playground.

    Prayers for hammer as he starts a 2 week trial
    Today.

    Have a good week men!

  • Fog? Smoke? What is it? – from Waterpik

    It seemed like a perfect start to the Halloween season. A heavy, spooky fog mixed with smoke from marsh fires in the area greeted the PAX at the marsh, making visibility low. Cool temps, 60 degrees, it was peaceful on the streets of old mandeville.

    Brief warmup, then hit the playground for 5 sets of pull-ups.

    Main entree today was 4 corners. Mosey around the block stopping at each intersection for 10 merkins, 10 squats, 10 core exercises (your choice). Rinse and repeat until the closing bell.

    Announcements: Russos Halloween themed beatdown on the Lakefront Saturday. Wear a costume! Also, Bushwackers camp out in Mississippi on November 4th.

    Thanks to moby dick for praying us out.

  • 13 weeks to Christmas – from Waterpik

    Yes, that’s right. As Hammer pointed out, time flies when you’re, uhhhhh, workin out in the gloom. And Christmas is right Around the corner- – 13 weeks to be exact.

    Beatdown was as follows: Start with 5 merkins and 30 100’s at the first block. Mosey to the next block and add 5 merkins, and subtract 5 100’s. Rinse and repeat, moseying to each intersection down to the lakefront. Head back to the marsh and we did the opposite, Merkins and American hammers.

    Have a good week, men!

  • Rocks and Blimps with a Splash of Merlot – from Akbar

    YHC took the late-night Q with a plan in mind for a different beatdown, where the PAX would pick up some bricks and mosey around carrying them the whole time doing exercises. The plan was quickly modified since there were no bricks, so we took a mosey for some time to think. Great to see Murdock again who brought his 2.0’s Demo and Varsity, who got named at the 007 this week.

    No better way to think than stop at the Rock Garden – so we each grabbed a rock and went through Shoulder Presses, Chest Presses, Skull Crushers, Rows, and Curls x 15 IC. During which time my brain clicked, and we continued to the Justice Center for BLIMPS.

    The route was from the first bench, past the Smokers Lounge, up the stairs for 10 Jump Squats, then return. Bear Crawls to the benches; Lunge Walk to Smokers Lounge; 10 Irkins at each bench; 10 Merkins at each light; 10 Peter Parkers; and 10 Squats at each bench.

    Varsity splashed Merlot after the Merkins but kept on pushing like any good kid would do.

    Back to the Rock Garden to finish where we started. x10 IC – Chest Presses, Rows, Curls, Shoulder Presses, Skull Crushers, and Good Mornings. BBQ requested a torso twist to help with our golf swings, and lead cadence for the finisher.

    Back to the flag with time for LMC’s, LBC’s and Hello Dolly x15 IC. Count, Name, and Murdock prayed us out.

    Announcements: Gnarly Nutria July 20th, 4th of July 5k in Covington, F3 Thibodaux CSAUP August 13th, Russo’s Big Easy Big Heart 5k July 16th

    Thanks for following my unthought out lead, always a pleasure to spend a Wednesday morning with y’all – Akbar

  • F3 Kickball: Chico’s Bail Bonds v Xscissor – from Akbar

    18 men showed in the gloom this morning for a game of F3 Kickball. We are taught to modify as necessary, and learn through trial and error that some things work, and some things don’t. Even the best laid plans go wrong sometimes, and it happened today. Below is the way YHC envisioned it, and then what really happened.

    PAX Hammer, Minnow, Chainsaw, Pickaxe, Gilligan, Moby Dick, Agent Carl, Jose 10k, Zoolander, Grundy, Steve, JV, Shooter, Waterpik, Dangerfield, Maverick, Russo, Akbar

    Warm Up x10 IC – Merkins, IW, Self-Love, Grass Grabbers, SSH, Arm Circles F/B, Toe Touches

    Thang: F3 Kickball
    Count off 1’s and 2’s to form 2 teams. Run to the baseball field in teams, arrive at the field, plank up in teams to pick team names.

    Rules for Kickers

    Kick the ball and mosey around all bases without stopping while kicking team holds plank until the kick is launched. Modes of travel will change in each inning. Modification for runners is always a backwards run. When you score, you get 1 point and lead your team in 5 Wife Pleasers IC while the fielders do Nolan Ryans. Penalty exercises on outs, strikes, and fouls – 10 Australian Mountain Climbers (2=1) OYO while field does Nolan Ryans. No bunting.

    Rules for Fielders

    Ball is not in play until it touches the ground. When the ball hits the ground, fielders must do an exercise before they touch the ball – unless it is a pop fly. If a pop fly is caught, catcher gets to choose kicking team exercises x 5IC or 10 OYO. If ball is dropped on the catch, regular rules apply and exercises must be done before touching the ball. No pegging runners while running with blocks and no forced outs.

    Game
    3 outs or 1x through the lineup, no catcher, winner chooses exercise for losing team at the Flag.

    Pre-Game – The PAX lined up for the National Anthem by Metallica.

    Exercises for Kickers and Fielders
    Inning 1: Farmers Carry, Squat Hold and 30 Air Presses
    Inning 2: Brick Fly Runs, 20 Bobby Hurleys
    Inning 3: Rifle Carry, 20 Big Boy Situps
    Inning 4: Brick Hallelujah Run, 20 Diamond Merkins
    Inning 5: Bear Crawl, Renegade Row Merkins

    What really happened – YHC explained the rules clearly and effectively and it was decided the rules would be explained as we played. The idea is the fielders do exercises to give the runners time to score, assuming that all balls would be kicked in the outfield. That was not the case. By some magic, the balls were kicked into the players at the infield and just sat there. Someone mentioned very early on this would be a low scoring game. In fact, the first inning lasted about 20 minutes. Even the QIC forgot to do exercises sometimes.

    So we went to straight up kickball, regular rules, for the last 10 minutes and a new plan for the next game swirled around in YHC’s head.

    The final score was 9 to 7, Chico’s Bail Bonds took home the pride.

    We got back to the flag a little late, and Shooter prayed us out. Great to have Agent Carl with us, EH’d by Toto, who has been lost somewhere in Oz for the last year. Come back Toto!

    Count, Name, and Shooter prayed us out.

    Thanks for following my lead –
    SYITG, Akbar

  • Rocks, Benches, Stairs, Repeat – from Akbar

    YHC arrived to a lone Moby Dick, stretching with a block. It seemed it would be us two, then Legal showed up and Hammer strolled in from a lone prethang mile. Maverick made 5 and we got to work.

    PAX: Akbar, Moby Dick, The Hammer, Barely Legal, Maverick

    WU x15 IC SSH, IW, Butt Kicks, High Knees, Grass Grabbers, Self-Love

    Rock Garden: Curls, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Goblet Squat x 15 IC.

    Carry rocks to Justice Center, enjoy the smell of bacon from Lola’s.

    Benches:
    Dirkins, Bulgarian Split Squats, Freak Nasties x 15 IC
    10 Box Jumps OYO

    Stairs:
    High skip to the stairs for a good laugh when the courthouse video is reviewed, perform 5 calf raises on each step with 10 Jump Squats at the top. Recovery run around perimeter.

    Skip to the stairs, 20 Merkins at bottom, 20 Jump Squats at top, recover

    Rocks: Curls, rows, shoulder presses, Goblet Squat x 15 IC

    Benches:
    Dirkins, Bulgarian Split Squats, Freak Nasties x 10 IC
    10 Box Jumps OYO

    Stairs: Run to stairs, 20 Irkins at bottom, 20 Monkey Humpers at top, recovery run

    Drop rocks off at the garden, mosey home for 20 LBC IC and 20 Little Manny Crunches IC

    Count, Name

    Announcements: F3 Kickball Saturday at the Lakefront

    Hammer prayed us out with prayers for Einstein’s recovery and Mavericks neighbor.

    Thanks for letting me lead,

    Akbar

  • Brick Block Burner – from Akbar

    6 strong at the Gipper this windy gloom for a tabata burner. 30 seconds on, 15 seconds rest, 40 exercises working the full body. Single arm exercises were with bricks, the rest were with blocks.

    PAX: Akbar, Barely Legal, Einstein, Fletch, Maverick, Moby Dick

    Lower Body

    Goblet Squat, Side lunge switch, sumo deadlift, 1.1/2 Sumo Squat,Staggered squat right, Staggered squat left, Squat step right to squat, Squat step left to squat, Suitcase Squat, Half Squat pulse

    Back/Bi

    Alternating curls, block swing, alternating bent over rows, Hammer curls, Good Mornings, Supine row, Renegade Row Merkin, Rear delt flyes, RDL + Bent over Row, Circle curls

    Shoulders

    Single arm squat thruster R, Single arm squat thruster L, , Upright Row, Arnold press alternate press, lateral raises, hammer press, snatch to Merkin R, Snatch to Merkin L, 45 degree press, Alternating Iso press

    Chest/Triceps

    Tricep Press reverse grip, Skull crushers, Chest press twist, alternating hammer press, brick flyes, diamond press, brick Merkin, Alternating pec squeeze, diamond merkin
    overhead tri extensions

    Mosey to put the blocks/bricks back, head to the Wall for Australian Mountain Climbers AMRAP OYO. Mosey to the corner of E Gibson and N New Hampshire for LBC’s and Freddy Mercury’s x 10 IC. Mosey back to the flag for Hello Dolly, Leg lifts, Heels to Heaven, Leg Raises, and Rosalita’s x 10 IC.

    Announcements – Northshore Convergence April 9th at the Lakefront

    Maverick prayed us out with thoughts of taking our strength to others.

    Moleskin

    – YHC was worried about the time some exercises were combined, but we finished with 10 minutes left which worked out great.
    – Several compliments were given on the well thought out workout, but I had to tell the pax it was copied from a pre-made dumbbell workout and modified for coupons.
    – While doing the skullcrushers, comments were made about not letting the block slip or we’d all be giving Waterpik some business.
    – Moby was thankful YHC took the time to share the pain with others.
    – Einstein held strong with a sore shoulder and modified as necessary, but kept up the whole time.

    Thanks for putting up with my spreadsheet workout, always a pleasure to be with you guys.

    Akbar

  • On Your Mark. Get Set. Go! – from Bird

    Cool morning at the Lakefront with 14 PAX posting. Looked to be a slim crowd at first as QIC was greeted by Moby Dick and Sonny (aka Turbo Dog) after returning from coupon delivery to Milestone Marsh. Welcome to everyone, glad to see Cathy returning following the previous week’s Merkin Madness, now let’s get to it.
    Warmarama consisted of SSH (20 IC), Good Mornings (10 IC), High Knees (20 IC), what’s that exercise called where you touch your elbow to your knees? Oh year, Imperial Walkers, thanks Russo (10 IC). Hillbillies, the alter ego of Imperial Walkers (10IC), Windwills (10IC). QIC directed to plank position to complete Mountain Climbers (10IC), Peter Parkers (10IC), Parker Peters (10IC), Groiners (10IC), and Merkins (10OYO). As PAX would come to find out, we would end the day in similar fashion… Upon completing the warm up, PAX mosied to Noah’s Ark.

    QIC divided PAX into two teams by counting off and groups separated on each side of the neutral ground (do we call it that on the Northshore?). QIC attempted to explain the workout, although some clarification and tweaking was required as we moved through. The theory was for each team to sprint one block (app. 0.1 mile – 200 meters-ish) for the five blocks from Lakeshore to Livingston (five round). As each person arrived, they would immediately commence prescribed exercise doing AMRAP until final member of team arrived. Cumulative reps of the team were counted when all members arrived and the team with the most reps was declared the winner. Losing team was then assigned double the number of reps to complete for a core exercise to be prescribed by winning team. Losing team, in turn, prescribed core exercise to winning team. I know, confusing right, thus the required tweaking.

    On Your Mark. Get Set. Go.

    Round 1. After impressive sprints by all PAX, round 1 exercise was jump squats. Team 1 proved victorious with 48ish cumulative total compared with Team 2 40ish. Team 2 was assigned 96 hello dollies and Team 1 was assigned 40ish American Hammers. “How does this work again, cause that’s a lot of reps!”

    Round 2. One Legged Burpees. Team 1 victorious again. Team 2 assigned double reps of leg raises (don’t remember, but it was a lot of reps – 40-50). Team 1 assigned Crunchy Frogs (Q didn’t feel number of reps was beneath the victorious Team 1 sprinters, so he assigned Crunch Frogs (IC).

    Round 3. Merkins. At this point, the number of reps was getting ridiculous (in the 100s and double that would have crippled the rest of the workout), so QIC audibled and assigned the same exercise to each team (LBCs) with no doubling. Team cumulative reps assigned to opposing teams were retained.

    Round 4. Sister Mary Katherines. Core exercise that now alludes me.

    Round 5. Burpees. 100s
    After first phase of workout complete, PAX recovery walked to Milestone Marsh and removed coupons from back of QIC’s truck. Three rounds of four exercise (10 reps each OYO) consisting of thrusters, kettle bell swings, pullups, and hanging knee raises. QIC directed to hold plank until the six completed each round before beginning the next.
    With three rounds complete, PAX loaded back coupons, short recovery walk, and then mosy (app. 0.5 mile) back to the flag. A few of the PAX held a brief interlude at the seawall to complete 25 freak nasties (IC).

    Back at the flag, QIC demonstrated Absolution as the final exercise of the day, an eight count routine consisting of (from plank), groiner (1, 2), low plank (3, 4), plank jack (5, 6), high plank (7, 8). PAX did five IC and then directed to complete OYO until 0730. With PAX waning, QIC called for five more and then time.

    COT. Announcements (don’t forget the Nehemiah Project – Hammer, Grundy – on starting on March 18th). QIC prayed us out.

  • The Merkin Trap, Episode 4: The Search for Plutonium – from Akbar

    Admiral Gail Akbar of the Mon Calamari returns to the Northshore Mothership once again, to fight another battle against Darth Fartsack and the Sad Clown Empire. His secret mission this trip is to investigate the galactical mystery of Plutonium, reportedly found in the NOLA area by some beast named Hawgcycle. The commander of the Rebel forces knew this human was clever and dangerous – using words like isotopes, casualties, retrospect, and defecate in past correspondence about this discovery. He was at this beatdown before, maybe he would return. Key reinforcements – Baby Yoda, Bushwacker, Pickaxe, Chainsaw, and Shooter were missing. But we had new blood to make up the difference – a burly man named Cathe, with medical-surgical powers specializing in catheters, and a visiting pirate from Cape Fear named Teach. We were pleased with our chances.

    The Admiral received this note before his journey:

    Before night falls on this long winter day,
    A shining sword must find its way
    Into your hands and out of the gloom—
    Or Admiral Akbar shall meet his doom.
    To begin your quest for the Sword of Light,
    Call for the help of another to get right.
    You can always depend on an F3 brother,
    As Iron Sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another.

    PAX

    Waterpik, Dangerfield, Freon, Bubba, Moby Dick, Bean, Russo, Jose 10k, Barely Legal, Speedy, Grundy, Bird, Zoolander, Maverick, Akbar, Hammer, Junior Varsity, Cathe (FNG), Teach

    Conditions – 40ish, no wind, a little foggy

    Warm Up – Arm Circles (F/B), Self-Love, Imperial Walkers, Grass Grabbers

    Thang

    Mosey up and down the Lakefront stopping for 2 exercises in each set, one of which would always be Merkins. 12, 8, 5 IC or 24,16,10 OYO. Each set = 50 Merkins, and most were 50 of another exercise except for a couple done Copperhead style.

    1 – Flag SSH, Merkins
    2 – Rips Calf Raises, Wide Merkin
    3 – Parking stripes Lunge walk, 5 Merkins every 2nd stripe
    4 – Noah Wall Tempo Freak Nasties, Dirkin
    5 – Grass Circle Al Gore/Shoulder raise, Wide Merkin
    6 – Wall Copperhead Squats, Irkin
    7 – Grass Circle Scuba Steve, Stone Mountain
    8 – Grass Circle Al Gore/Shoulder raise, Merkin
    9 – Noah Wall Scuba Steve, Diamond Irkin
    10 – Rips Twinkle Toes, Prime Time Merkin
    11 – Flag Little Manny Crunches, Merkin

    Total 550 Merkins

    Mary – x10 IC

    Fire Hydrants, Leg Raises, Hello Dolly, LBC’s, Lay flat on your back for 1 minute, time called

    Count-o-rama, Name-o-rama. Welcome FNG Cathe! Pronounced Cathy

    Announcements

    – Run Cajun Run, log your mileage
    – Hammer, Grundy, Steve, and Tanked Up! have put together a team to support The
    Nehemiah Project. They will run 48 miles over 48 hours on March 18th at Fontainebleau
    State Park. Check Slack for more.
    – Bird has the Q next Saturday

    COT

    YHC prayed us out with thoughts of words like man, father, husband, brother, friend – all verbs – and to take action this week remembering to flex our heart muscle. Don’t forget tomorrow is Valentine’s Day

    Alas, the Admiral did not find Plutonium, or Hawcycle, or the Sword of Light. But what he did find was a group of men who sharpened each other – enjoying camaraderie, food, and a hot cup of coffee for their efforts. Sad, but undaunted, he shall return next year.

    Thanks for letting me lead, and for following.

    SYITG – Admiral Akbar

    NMM

    Of all days to be late, YHC misplaced the keys and had to hall butt to make it there just in time to start.

    Great to have Teach from F3 Cape Fear make the drive from Gulfport while working out of town for a while.

    Bird brought Ian, a FNG who we named Cathe, pronounced Cathy, he works in med devices sales with vascular catheters.

    YHC had to modify pretty quickly after the Dirkins in the 4th set – in which QIC almost face planted from exhaustion. The plan was to go all the way to the playground and work my way back, but time forced a modification. We still got in around 550 Merkins in an hour

    Grundy showed up late, half way through, and owes 250 Merkins.

    I’ve been reading a lot of Jack and Annie books with the kids, and the poem came from a Merlin Mystery novel. I have to admit, these books are great – historical fiction and mystery combined. Kids and adults alike will love them. Sometimes, the book titles become backblast titles.

    The Plutonium reference came from the master backblast writer himself, Hawcycle. Look back and read it, it’s good stuff.

    Coffeeteria was great, this time including more King Cake, breakfast bowls, and my 2.0’s showed up for sugar and hot chocolate.

  • Nashville Grinder – from Akbar

    8 plus YHC in a warm gloom this morning, completely opposite from the first time I experienced this beatdown in Nashville 2 years ago – 17 degrees and snowing. The results were the same, we all got better today.

    Warm up: ICx 10-15 SSH, Self-Love, Imperial Walkers, High Knees, Grass Grabbers, Arm Circles (f/b)

    The Thang went like this:

    6 exercises, 10 reps each. Once completed, run to Beck N Call and back or block carry around the Gipper. Return and add 1 rep each round.

    Squat Press
    Derkins
    1 arm block Row –
    Tricep extensions
    Squrls – Squat + Curl
    Block hold leg raise

    There are advantages and disadvantages on the run or carry. Some stuck with 1 or the other, some mixed it up. Most got 6-7 rounds in, 400+ reps. We went until 6:40, returned the blocks, and it was time for 3MOM.

    Mary: IC x 10-15 Leg raises, Hello Dolly, Rosalita, LBC

    Count, Namorama, Zoolander prayed us out.

    Announcements:

    – Tanked Up has New Year’s Day Lakefront Q, 6:30am
    – Krazy Ivan, Thursday Feb 3rd, 8pm Lakefront
    – Run Cajun Run starts Feb 1
    – Franco’s Ice Man Dip and Dash. 10am at Franco’s

    Was great to Q the Gipper again, thanks for letting me lead,
    Akbar