Tag: Pelican

  • THE RISE OF THE REAL AQUAMAN

    Yes it’s true, Turtle fartsacked his Q…
    Not that YHC wants to call attention to him or shame him or remind him of it in any way; YHC is too compassionate…

    Once the PAX stopped looking for every pair of headlights to turn in and just accepted the fact that the Q had forsaken them, the arrangement of Red Robin responsibility was designated to the 3 senior most PAX members; excluding the FNG there. SHOOTER started off the warmup:

    Side Straddle Hops IC x25
    Windmills IC x25
    Mummy Kicks IC x25
    Arm Circles IC x25 (both directions first pair small circles, then a pair of big circles)

    Then the PAX mozied (sp?) to the all-too-familiar tunnel that always ends up turning into a mausoleum where the drained souls go.

    PELICAN then led the Elevenses workout:

    11 rounds, merkins start at 10 and run through the tunnel to the other side to start with 1 squat.
    work the rounds: decreasing merkins by 1 count each round and increasing the squats by 1 count until end.

    In order to “respect the time” (as the awol Q did not) we halved the distance of the run midway through the rounds to make it back to the start on time. OCHO (YHC) then led the “core-down” exercises which consisted of the following:

    Flutter Kicks IC x36
    Hello Darlings IC x26
    Peter Parkers IC x21
    Parker Peters IC x16

    Closed out with Countarama, Nameorama, Name-the-FNG-orama, then COT.

    FNG was duly sworn in as AQUAMAN after regaling the PAX with his most epic tale of jumping off of the Twinspan bridge to save his very life. It can be neither confirmed nor denied that AQUAMAN’s story made YHC, and the other PAX members, recall another very similar story of a fellow F3 member that might have wanted this name but failed to earn it…YHC is too compassionate…

  • Name change?

    That was the question of the morning at the Milestone Marsh.  YHC told the Pax to mosey on over to the”Workout”Equipment and Bushwacker, who pretty much does a play-by-play broadcast during every beatdown, opined that it was really “children’s play” equipment.  And, truthfully, he is probably correct.  But, I have a better question to ponder…Is it too late to rename Bushwacker, “Jim Henderson”, the F3 play-by-play announcer????  I think it would suit him well.

    Warmup

    20 SSH, BK, HK, WM, GM all IC

    Thang:

    we broke into two groups and alternated excercises across basketball court.

    group 1: plank, reverse plank, plankjack, burpees, hand release merkins, squats

    group 2: run the length of basketball court, line drills, lunge walks, bear crawls, run backwards, shuffle sideways.

    mosey to “workout equipment”

    pullups, hand release merkins, freak nasties.

    reverse “australian” pullups.

    Mary:

    FK, HD, Rosalitas, putins, feet to heaven, leg raises, LBCs, more FK, more putin.

    countarama, nameorama, thanks to the Bushhhhwacker for praying us out

    Thanks guys for making me a better man and getting off the the great start to the week.

     

     

  • The Almighty EH

    With a 12 mile, obstacle-filled mud fest of a CSAUP awaiting the men of F3 saturday morning, this particular man knew a 4:45am 10k would not be high on his priorities. However, a simple “maybe-ish” text to one half of “The Northshore Core”, Shooter, was enough to stoke the irrepressible flames of the EH. Somehow, after just brief digital exchange, YHC found himself roped in as though he had signed up to Q himself rather than offering to cover for Captain Sparkles (Captain Sparkles =EiEi, but that’s a different backblast).

    With a chance groupme comment by the long lost Pelican offering similar intentions as I, YHC felt compelled to sic the EH master on him. SUCCESS! 3 sets of headlights ended up simultaneously rolling down Jackson St. to converge at the Cove.

    Today’s 10k was, indeed, and educational experience. So to recap, what did we learn?

    1. There’s no readily apparent excessive benefit to a Disney cruise over a non-Disney cruise.

    2. LBCs are a great way to break up the monotony of a long run.

    3. Though a man may keep mum about your over exaggeration of accomplishment, NEVER misrepresent that your HALF beat his WHOLE.

    4. Self-employment tax sucks!

    5. Shooter wins the gold medal for EH.

    6.Garfield can put the best of us to secret running shame.

    7. The Pelican is Japanese!

    8. Bushwacker suffers from Foot-In-Mouth disease.

    9. Small grown men drive small grown cars (but they sure are fun!)

    Class dismissed

  • Level 3 Running Achievement Unlocked: Bleeding Nipples!

    Yeah, you read that right.  Now, seasoned long distance runners know about this and prepare properly for it, and YHC had heard of it and maybe even seen a few ghastly pictures at some point.  But, YHC assumed that our (relatively) measly mileage this month wouldn’t cause such a disturbing phenomenon.  (I thought you had to be running full marathons for crazy shit like that to happen!)  Well, YHC was clearly incorrect and will now employ a band aid tactic for all runs from here on out.  (In case you were wondering about previous levels, Level 1 is Severe Shoulder Stiffness, and Level 2 is Shin Splints – congrats Beast!)

    Anyhow, that happened today.  And I should add, it couldn’t have happened without the Pelican, for had he not shown up, YHC most likely would’ve thrown in the towel and headed back to bed.  But there he was at 0445, fresh off a Disney Cruise and ready to hit some solid ground.

    So we got to it, dove deep into cruise boat and Disney politics, and made the best out of our slower-than-usual pace (entirely due to me and my running fatigue – Pelican was ready to roll, but kind enough to stick with me).  So thanks Pelican for helping me to unlock my latest running achievement – despite my gripes, I really do appreciate the push!

  • Can there ever really be too much foreplay?

    We could get the M’s to weigh in on this one, but YHC believes we all know the answer: there can never be too much foreplay, so long as it doesn’t interfere with the thang.  The PAX clearly agrees, with Shooter now traveling on foot to AO’s, Carpool continuing his streak of foreplay before each beatdown, and the Pelican – nixing the cigarette and cuddling – and opting instead for a little extra mileage afterplay.  These guys don’t need tips from Cosmo to get things going…

    Started things off with:

    10x – 8 Count Bodybuilders / Windmills, IW’s / 10 bodybuilders / SSH, Seal Jacks / 10 bodybuilders / High knees, butt kicks / 10 bodybuilders

    T-claps to Turtle who has now made 2 consecutive beatdown after his lengthy hiatus of hunting deer, ducks, gators, turtles, coons, otters, nutrias, squirrels, mice… essentially, anything that moves (legal, of course -no outlaw activity here – anything legal that moves).  Of course, with his return comes growing pains, not just for him but for the entire PAX.  YHC’s goal is to put a hurt on and see if anything slows down his mouth, but again, this is a question I believe we all know the answer to. (Nope.)

    So… mosey to the grassy amphitheater for a COP.: Jack Webb’s, 1:4 ratio, up to 10:40

    Then onward to the tunnel on pain for a partner routine using the hill: P1 runs backwards up, forward down, to then flapjack with P2 who is doing jump squats.  Then monkey humpers.  Then burpees.

    Mosey back with just enough time for Mary: crunchy frogs, leg raises, Putin’s, LBC’s, Freddie Mercs, Hello Dolly’s, all 20x IC

    Countdown, nameorama, Choppa prayed us out.  Thanks for letting me lead!

  • Challenge Accepted

    Having an entire month with no ISI challenge seemed to be a challenge in and of itself for the Northshore PAX.  These guys don’t want a month off.  So when Hawg finally issued the February ‘Run Ranger Run’ challenge, the PAX was tripping over itself to register and get started.  Chaos ensued.  ‘Who is Anonymous?’  ‘Can we run 1000 miles instead of 565?’ ‘And what the hell is the Pelican’s real name?’  Luckily, Bushwacker took his machete to all the red tape and logistics (sound effect please), clearing a path this morning to simply log some miles.

    So it was not all that surprising that seven PAX came ready to hit the pavement.  What was surprising, though, was to arrive a few minutes early and find Carpool loitering around City Hall with no car in sight and already sweating.   (It’s no wonder the police tailed the gang down to Sunset Point!)    Nah, nothing nefarious here, it was just Carpool – having said aloud that he’d shoot for 70 miles this month – living up to his word.  T-claps to him for logging an extra four miles by saving some gas and running to the AO.

    No warm-up today, just straight to the mosey.  This morning we’d do an extra lap around the loop, adding a few extra tenths so that those of us hitting the Cove tomorrow might log an even (cumulative) 10 miles.  PAX ran somewhere around an 8:55 pace, giving us a decent chunk of time for my new favorite Scramble AMRAP: 5 pull-ups, 10 merkins, 15 squats.  Over and over and over, ad nauseam.  Literally.

    Countdown, nameorama, and Burgundy prayed us out.  Thanks for the nice run gents!

  • Gassy Grandma’s House

    Grandma was feeling a bit gassy this morning.  I fear the PAX welcomed the abundance of Burpees about as they would a belching old woman. But, of course, they handled the Burpee theme like the champs that they are!  Thank you, gentlemen.

    Here’s the rundown:

    5 Burpees
    20 Imperial Walkers IC
    5 Burpees
    20 SSH IC
    5 Burpees
    20 Steel jacks IC
    5 Burpees
    20 Butt kicks IC
    5 Burpees
    20 High knees IC

    Mosey to Steve’s Bus Stop

    5 Burpees
    20 x freak nasties IC
    5 Burpees
    10 x derkins IC
    5 Burpees
    10 x irkins IC
    5 x Burpees

    Mosey to bridge

    5 Burpees
    Captain Dan (down, underneath, and up tunnel)
    5 Burpees
    Neon Deion Sanders (back)
    5 Burpees

    Mosey to stairs

    5 Burpees
    3 Calf lifts each step (rt lt both)
    5 Burpees

    Mary at top of steps
    20 LBCs IC
    20 R Side Crunch IC
    20 L side Crunch IC
    20 Freddie Mercs IC
    20 Flutter kicks IC
    15 push throughs IC

    5 Burpees (of course).

    Down to circle up.  Thanks to Shooter and Steve for reminding us of the upcoming workout schedule, Q list, and TOUGH MUDDER. Thanks to Nacho for a pointed and heartfelt prayer. It’s always a pleasure to work out with you F3 gentlemen, and an honor to lead.

    PS – I hope the workout wasn’t too light. When I got home, the M gave me a hard time. She said, “you don’t look too sweaty. The Q must have been off his game!”

  • Are you a 5% man?

    Just another day at the Cove: 4 men, 10k, 0445.

    Pre-thang, Bushwacker was on a fact-finding mission about tomorrow’s clown car up to BR for the launch:

    “You going?” YHC asked.

    “Ah, maybe.  Just gathering intel right now.”

    Uh-huh.  YHC knows what ‘maybe’ means.  Bushwacker himself said it not too long ago: “If someone says ‘maybe,’ there’s probably a 5% chance they’re actually going to do it.”  I parrot that back to him, then we do a quick countdown, nameorama, and we’re off to the races.

    Though with no Southshore to impress, our pace was considerably less aggressive than our Ivan pace from last weekend.  Still, we managed around a 9:20 average.  The Cove remains the only Northshore beatdown where you can get in some good F2 during the thang, and Shooter never lets me down as a running partner – making the long run pass quickly.   Bushwacker and Pelican were right behind keeping each other company.

    When Bushwacker rolled in to the finish line clutching his stomach and running for his car keys (something that happens every so often after a 10k), I realized I had forgotten the prayer and said so, but also mentioned that we’d understand his need to run for the nearest bathroom.

    Well, Bushwacker is no 5% man.  He found a comfortable position while Shooter prayed us out, and was almost immediately touched by the grace of God and regained his composure.  (He also committed to tomorrow’s BR beatdown.)  It’s as Captain always says, ‘Only above average men out here at the cove.’ Always a pleasure guys, thanks!

  • Krazy Ivan 2018

    The events depicted in this Backblast are completely stupid and utterly pointless.  Any similarity to events which are neither stupid nor pointless is purely coincidental.  

    No animals were harmed in the running of the Krazy Ivan.

    The Inagural Northshore Krazy Ivan CSAUP went off as planned, sort of.  The Northshore won, the Southshore whined, and it was….warm??!!??  The lack of frigid conditions made for a slightly less stupid but still rather pointless event.  Next year, we will aim higher.  Without further ado…

    Twenty men gathered at the gazebo on the Mandeville lakefront on a beautiful, starry, breezy Saturday evening: 15 Northshore PAX, 1 Northshore Scorekeeper, and 4 Southshore PAX.  Lots of mumble chatter, a bit of trash talk, and some ogling at the Freedom Hammer ensued.  Somewhere around 2100, as the PAX waited for Triple Shift to open the needle valve to bleed some pressure (a little oilfield lingo, there), THE Manny rung the bovine bell.  Some quick instructions from YHC, including a warning of low visibility, potentially questionable footing, an offer of flashlights (offer summarily rejected), and the PAX gathered at the starting line.  Hawg mumbled something about the Gnarly Nutria always beginning on time.  Uh huh.

     

    With another ringing of the bovine bell, THE Manny released the hounds.  Turbo, Backdraft, Steve and all the other skinny dudes went out guns blazing.  Out and back to the west end seawall x 3 was the course.  The easterly breeze made for a nice tailwind on the way out that was as appreciated as was the equal and opposite headwind was loathed on the way back.  That is, unless you were Triple Shift.  You see, Triple Shift had a strategy, folks: get right on the heals of a really good looking, husky PAX and run in his ample slipstream the entire race, save for the last 50 yards when you turn on the reserves and blast past him.  So if you think about it, Triple owes YHC one of his points.  But more on the (contested) scoring later.

     

    The course was dark, sometimes nearly pitch black.  Although Orian’s belt and the waxing crescent were quite visible, the running path was at times not.  As 19 PAX trekked and traversed back and forth, forth and back, we passed those both ahead and behind us, those who lapped and those who got lapped.  This afforded the PAX opportunity to root for, hiss at, tease, encourage, or mock those we were passing.  I can speak for Triple, as he was behind me the entire time benefitting from all my hard work I mean seriously did I mention that already I mean it’s not a big deal that he got one more point than I did but really when you think about it I should at least be added to his Christmas card list but whatever I’m not bitter or anything.  Particular attentiveness and night vision skills were needed to navigate the last two tenths of the west end.  YHC had specifically warned the PAX about this risky, questionable section of the course.  So it’s a good thing that YHC himself did not take a tumble and nearly bust his ass on the exact part of the course on which the warning was issued.  That would be ironic.  Dontcha think.

    At the finish line, the PAX again gathered and coalesced.  Fracsac volunteered for Safety Caboose, finishing up the race and also ensuring that no man was left behind, injured, abducted, or absconded with.  Thanks Frac.  THE Manny tallied up the score and announced a 176-31 Northshore victory; looks of mistrust appeared on a few faces.  Perhaps that was because they were expecting a 177-31 loss.  But, abiding by the only rule of the Krazy Ivan – run the race in a tank top – THE Manny exercised legislative, judicial, and executive powers and stripped Turtle of his single point for finishing the race in a hooded sweatshirt.  Coutoramma, Nameorama, BOM, and off to The Barley Oak for some F2.

    At the BO, drinks were had an all was merry.  Tomatoes tested the neck twisting and head turning capabilities of Captain Sparkles (ok, his were not the only capabilities tested…hellLLOOO black dress).  An impromptu yet formal meeting of the F3 Rules Committee adjudicated on the ability to move an AO once it is established.  Verdict: negative ghost rider, pattern’s full brah.  At this point, Hawg petitioned the Rules Committee for a formal, third party review and calculation of the night’s score.  THE Manny’s honour in question, YHC immediately began the process.  Third party results are in, proving that you should sometimes watch what you ask for.  The final, certified, verified, bonafied count is 190-35.

     

    Excellent CSAUP, PAX.  T-Claps to the Southshore guys who posted.  We will see you at the 2018 Gnarley Nutria.  A pleasure to be amongst you.

     

    EiEi

  • 3 Musketeers at the Scramble

    It was cold in the gloom this morning at the Scramble.  After some mumble chatter, we got right to it.

     

    Warmup (all IC):  10 SSHs, butt kicks, high knees, Wind Mills, plank-jacks, shoulder taps.

    Pre thang:  3 minutes of pull-ups, freak nasties, shoulder shrugs, in rotation

    Thang:  3.2mi run.

    Post Thang Mary (all IC): 20 IBCs, Flutter Kicks, Hello Dollys, Wife Pleasers

    I was glad to have two of my F3 brothers post for my first Q, especially on such a cold gloom.  Looking forward to many more with this band of men.