F3 New Orleans

Tag: Pop Tart

  • Mahatma Modified

    Oh sure, Mahatma will blame it on being unable to hear the Q, or faulty Q instructions, or the Q just not knowing what the heck he was doing. All of which might be true. But on this glorious morning in City Park, Mahatma Modified.

    06:15: YHC joined Rev-Sox and others at the Peristyle for a round of prayer and stretching Thank you, Rev Sox, for getting this started. What a great way to welcome the morning and get ready for the workout.

    06:25: YHC bolts from the Peristyle to try and get back to MOMA and the Muscleship in time for his Q. Arrives at 6:28:30 to see a group of PAX questioning whether their Q would arrive. As expected, Bogey seemed to be in charge of the muttering and grumbling. Welcome back, Bogey!

    06:30: With a disclaimer, PAX are off – short mosey (WATCH OUT FOR THE CARS) to the Great Lake for a quick warmup watching the sunrise. SSH, Windmills, IW, Grass grabbers. Just enough to get the heart pumping. Then an Indian Run over to the Cinderblocks to get started.

    The Thing

    Grab a cinderblock.

    Round 1: Shoulder Press, Curl, Row x20. Then bear crawl about 30-40 yards, dragging your cinderblock. Some PAX took to throwing the cinderblock. YHC decided that was legal form, as long as PAX did not leave bear crawl form. Much fun had by all, so do the same – and bear crawl back to the starting line.

    Bogey relied on a note from his “doctor” (going by the name “Walleye”) as an excuse to modify his bear crawl.

    Round 2: Shoulder Press, Curl, Row x15. Then duck walk the same distance, again dragging your cinderblock. Again, throwing was deemed acceptable as long as one did not egregiously abandon duck walk stance. Then repeat and return to the starting line.

    Pop Tart’s form is impeccable. All duck-walking-wannabes: take time to watch Pop Tart, and marvel at how his butt can be that close to the grass whilst he walks. Watch and learn and imitate. YHC’s form is, uh, less-good than that.

    Round 3: Shoulder Press, Curl, Row x10. This time crab walk the same distance, again dragging your cinderblock. As YHC started his trek across the field – he saw the sight he never expected to see. Mahatma not following instructions. Instead of dragging, he CARRIED his cinderblock in his lap while crab-walking. Now – that may be just as hard, if not harder. But none-the-less – IT WAS A MODIFICATION.

    Return the cinderblocks. We’ve got more stuff to do.

    More Things

    Quick stop by Tool’s Wall for 2 rounds of Calf-Raise/Monkey Humber combo.

    Quick stop by the Foundry for everyone to get 10 full Pull Ups in. PAX plank while groups went to get their 10 done – using spotter’s as necessary. And for YHC, spotting was definitely necessary (thank you, Mahatma!)

    Indian Run back to the field for a game YHC learned in Houston.

    Ka-Burpee

    Divide into two teams each taking half of a very-imprecisely laid out field (roughly 15 yards across, each half about 30 yards deep). The game:

    PAX from one team crosses the line. Has 30 seconds to tag one member of the other team, then race back across the line to his original side of the field. Upon tagging an opponent, all members of opposing team do 1 burpee, then try to catch the tagger before he crosses back over the line. If the tagger is caught, his team does 5 burpees. If not, the taggee’s team does 5 more burpees.

    Trust me, it makes a bit more sense when you actually play it.

    Cycle through until everyone gets a turn as tagger. Strategies evolved, including Walleye using a Full Takedown maneuver to ensure Tanner would not make it back over the line. Nicely played!

    COT

    Hydrate hydrate hydrate. Then circle up for count-off, announcements (including a definition of CSAUP – Complete Stupid and Utterly Pointless event. Lets get some on the calendar!) Then clone in for a very very sweaty ball of man, and finish with a prayer – as always for YHC, ending with St. Ignatius’ Prayer for Generosity.

    Thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to lead.

  • Maiden Voyage

    Eager to mark our territory with a trail of sweat, 14 PAX, aka privateers, gathered this Monday for a maiden voyage in the uncharted waters of northern 70122, and area deep with nautical history.  This would be a test run to check out the area and also see what interests there may be in establishing a new AO.  As the clock neared 5:30, it was encouraging to see a mix of guys, coming from near and far, that all wanted to be in that number.  Before we set sail, YHC mentioned that this workout would be somewhat of an exploratory mission and perhaps a work-in-progress as we bounced around.  The disclaimer came next followed by the annual recitation of a crude yet useful nugget from the F3 Lexicon that is something we should strive to avoid:  Whiskey Dicking (verb) – “Half stepping through a workout or other event.  More generally, execution of anything without sufficient zeal”…recently updated to read “Tentative execution of a task”.  Basically, try to give it your all and make the most out of the next 45 minutes.  Here’s what we did:

    Quick “capri lap” around the parking lot with a COP in the nearby field for a warmup of IW, Phelps, WM, AC, Toy Soilders, LSS.  

    Then we kept it close for any lost latecomers with a continuation of the warmup, getting in a diamond formation for Burpees x20, Bench/Bleacher Dips x15, Jump Squats x10, Tire Flips x5.  This circuit would hopefully be repeated later on but no dice.  

    From there, we moseyed into the heart of UNO’s campus, with a stop to plank for the six followed by 10 Merkins.  T-claps to Kuch and Gideon who YHC overheard discuss trying to nudge a guy back out in the gloom…#HIM!  We ended the mosey near an area officially named “the lazy river” by Gabrielle which is adjacent to a few tall sets of stairs leading up to the amphitheater hill.  Here we dropped anchor for the first round of Dora, partnering up for 100 crossfit/hand-release Merkins while PAX#2 ran a lap up and down the stairs and hill.  Pull anchor up…

    Northerly mosey to the concrete planters in front of the Alumni Building for the second round of Dora.  T-claps to Holy Grove and others for pushing hard then sweeping the six. Partner up with someone different (swinger style) for Inclined Hip Slappers x200 while PAX#2 run to the top of the levee and back.  Some groans and panting were heard on this one.    

    From here we changed course back towards harbor, stopping in front of The UC for the third round of Dora.  Original plans called for a stair running loop but time was ticking and we had to wing it with LBC x300 (in sets of 50) which PAX#2 held a low squat #ISI.  We had to cut this a tad short and hightail it across the field to the flag.  Shout out to HG and JJ for kicking it in high gear on the final run.  Total distance covered was approx 2.17 miles.  YHC’s goal of scoping out the area was accomplished but the run/plank time squeezed out some of the circuit work.   

    Finished things off with a COT.  Next two workouts in that location (NW corner of Leon C. Simon and Elysian Fields) will be 8/26 and 9/9.  Input and Qs are welcome so please chime in and/or step up.  Hopefully this AO takes off, in turn further growing the footprint of F3 and having a positive impact on more men.  T-claps to Gideon for the nudge and pledge to help get this going.  

    Thanks for the opportunity to lead. 

    Tool 

  • Stomp #207 – Good Morning Burpees

    The Tuesday crowd at the Stomp has exploded recently. YHC saw an opportunity to take the Q and bring a little something extra to the AO. Since everyone loves Burpees, YHC knew that incorporating them in a way not done before would be received with joy! YHC was not disappointed!

    24 Pax posted to improve their running ability, and their endurance. But first a brief disclaimer, and a very quick warmup:

    Grass Grabbers IC x 10 followed by Arm Circles IC x 20

    Instructions were simple. Run as a group down the traditional Bayou St John route. Every time the Pax came across a person or group of people, we would call out “Good Morning!” If we received a “Good Morning” back, all did 5 Burpees. If no “Good Morning” was received, then 10 Burpees was coming our way. If the Pax attempted to prod for them to say it, the penalty was 15 Burpees.

    How many Burpees completed? There were approximately 10 stops for 5 Burpees and only 1 stop for 10 Burpees. The Pax covered around 4 miles, and many folks on the streets of NOLA were greeted with a kind gesture.

    Good Times had by all.

    COT for Count off, name-o-rama, announcements and intentions.

    Thanks for posting with me today, and for allowing me to be a part of such a great organization!

    SYITG!

  • Typical, Humid, Summer 610 Stomp Morning

    What is also becoming typical on Tuesdays is the large PAX and participation we continue to see and grow through F3.  This is despite even adding a Monday morning running workout.  This is a good thing.

    The workout was very simple:

    15 minutes out and back,  traditional route via Bayou St John.

    Then directly to the track for 10 minutes of running the straights,  jog

    curves.

    Then some stretching exercises, LBCs,  and a “slant” hold for that last 5 minutes.  Some folks haven’t stretched since high school.

    Count off, Nam-a-rama, Announcements, COT.

    Always a privilege to lead with such a great large group of like minded individuals.

    From San Jose, CA see you in the gloom and on the radio,

    Bongo

     

  • My first Okwata Q

    21 PAX gathered for my first Okwata Q on a gloriously humid morning, although a slight breeze was present so it made for a much more tolerable beatdown. Since the grass on the levee is still well over a foot high and plenty saturated from all the rain we have been having I opted have the PAX stay mostly on cement today, much to the dismay of couple members of the PAX. Disclaimer was given at our usual location and we moseyed over to the intersection for some warm up.

    Warm Up (all done IC):

    • SSH x 20
    • Windmills x 10
    • Cement grabbers x 15
    • Self love x 15
    • Arm circles fwd/rev x 10 each
    • Imperial Squat Walkers x 15

    The Thang #1: PAX was split into 2 groups (1 group had 3 members due to the odd number). 1 member of the PAX would run up the hill in stated direction while partner stayed at the bottom and performed an exercise. When partner 1 completes the lap swap with partner 2.

    • Lap 1: partner 1 run uphill facing forward, partner 2 high plank
    • Lap 2: partner 1 side shuffle facing neutral ground, partner 2 L side plank
    • Lap 3: partner 1 Bernie Sanders, partner 2 R side plank
    • Lap 4: partner 1 side shuffle facing sidewalk, partner 2 plank clocks (right arm move hand back and forth from 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 positions; left arm move hand back and forth from 11:00, 9:00, and 7:00)

    While planking Hokie Pokie asked if I had plans on performing the 20 sec worth of squats for ISI today. I told him I was unaware but would work that in for later in the beatdown.

    The Thang #2:

    Mosey over to the benches for some alternating upper and lower body exercises. Burpees are the counter.

    • Burpees x 15 reps
    • L step ups
    • Derkins
    • Calf raises
    • Dips
    • R step ups
    • Shoulder taps
    • Squats jumps

    Thankfully PAX is intelligent enough to avoid some standing water with exercises so not all exercises were performed on or in front of the bench in order to stay as dry as possible. After this it was time to mosey back to the flag for some Freddy Mercury x 25 reps and the ISI challenge for 20 seconds, with proper form demonstrated by Mahatma. Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and sweaty ball of man.

    Thanks to all the men who got out in the gloom for my first Okwata Q. Hopefully it was worthwhile. Can’t wait to do it again.

  • This ain’t no democracy

    Just sit there and shut up. This ain't no democracy.

    A very very damp morning greeted the PAX, after yesterday’s squall lines rolled through. YHC had done a quick drive by one of the intended workout areas to see whether it was usable, and alas – discovered that it was quite soupy. So perhaps an audible was going to be necessary. More on that later.

    5:30 – Issue a disclaimer, and 21 PAX moseyed off to the track. YHC is not a regular at the Foundry. His recollections of the Foundry from way-back-when was of an intimate gathering of just a few close friends. Now we are at 21 PAX (and apparently that’s the new normal at The Foundry!) Fantastic to see such growth – more HIMs, more impact, more motivations. Thank you all.

    The Warmup

    Circle up on the track for a typical warmup, consisting of Windmills (oops – bad move on the part of the YHC, needed to restart , SSH, Arm Circles, Overhead Claps, more Arm Circles (alas, Amnesty kept chit chatting and missing the instructions to KEEP YOUR ARMS UP). Then some planks, just because.

    The Thing #1

    BLIMPS. Partner up for the BLIMPS-a-go-go. Partners run opposite directions on the track, and wherever they meet – do the next letter exercise. Then run opposite directions again. Start with Burpees x10. You all know the drill from there (except, apparently, YHC who attempted to spell out BIMPS). Ya Mom’n’Dem did a great job carrying an additional heavy weight on his back (“Jesus Juice”). Meanwhile, Holy Grove and Smooth finished about 15 minutes ahead of the next closes finisher.

    As PAX finish, start LBC’ing and Dollying awaiting the 6. YHC then offered the PAX a choice:

    • Elevens: PAX who want to do 11s, line up on YHC’s left
    • Get your shoes wet: PAX who want to get their shoes wet, line up on YHC’s right

    YHC was astounded to see a vote of 20-1 in favor of “Keep your shoes dry” (and the humble reader can guess who was the “1”). Apparently, a lesson in the Art of Manliness was in order. As this is NOT a democracy – the PAX moseyed off to collect a cinderblock from the swamp.

    The Thing #2

    Grab your cinder block and line up along the left field line in the puddles (you know, the area that looks like a baseball field when not covered by muck and grass clippings). Pop Tart scoffed at the rest of us, as the mud and water just oozed right out of his mandals…

    Round 1: 15 each Overhead Press, Curls, Rows, Bench Press. Then a Bear Crawl out about 30 yards, and Lunge Walk back. Briefs grumbling “my shoes won’t be dry for days”. Screw Top whining “Can’t we go do pullups instead? Its dry over there”.

    Round 2: 12 each. Crawl Bear out, Walk Lunge back. Words fail to express my disappointment at hearing Tool suggest that Walk Lunge would be easier if his footsies weren’t so wet.

    Round 3: 10 each. Not enough time for more out-and-back, so return our Cinderblock friends and slosh back to the flag.

    Finished about 5 mins late. Sorry PAX (but not really)

    Count-off and name-o-rama (lots of young guns at the Foundry – thanks for pushing me harder everyone!) Announcements and Intentions, especially praying for Holy Grove’s dad in his recovery from health challenges.

    As today is the feast day of St. Ignatius, YHC closed with his Prayer for Generosity. Thanks for letting me lead. And thanks for following where I go! Into the Muck and Mire!

  • Backblast – Mothership 2019-07-27

    Another lovely (if slightly rainy) day onboard the Mothership at City Park.  Attendance stood at 15 total, with 13 existing members and 2 FNGs.

    The following members were in attendance: Catfish (Q), Two Yutes, Heisenberg, Fracsac, Thumb, Beloch, Reluctant Yankee, Gideon, Angie’s List, Medulla Oblongata, Angel Dust, Gumby, Pop Tart

    Our FNGs were Uncut and Tabloid. Welcome Dudes

    Today’s activites started with a mosey out to the Peristyle for a little Side Straddle Hop, Hillbillies, Overhead Claps and Imperial Squat Walkers. PAX then moved to their faces for Peter Parkers, Catalina Wine Mixers, and Plank Jacks. On to our sixes for LBCs, Flutter Kicks, and Tin Snips.

    PAX then took a quick run to Marconi, then back to the benches in front of the Peristyle for 50 Box Jumps OYO, Smurf Jacks, and Jump Lunges. With legs burning, PAX lined up for an Indian Run to the Foundry.

    Since Muscleship occupied the Foudry, PAX moved to the grass beside the Foundry for Jack Webb (counted up the FIFTEEN, way to push guys!). PAX then did five minutes of ten burpees per minute (i.e. 50 burpees total).

    PAX then moseyed to the mini-foundry (a.k.a. The Refinery). Pax split into groups of 2-3 for pull ups, Merkins, Squats, Snake Jump, Dips, and Burpees.

    PAX then moseyed back to the Great Lawn, and then to the flag for count-off, naming, and COT.

    Thanks to all who participated, it turned out to be a great workout!

  • Sweep the 2

    22 Men gathered on a wet, dark morning to catch a quick run. The usual disclaimer was given, and to the best of my recollection, it was eloquent and concise this time. A first perhaps. Aside: Are you supposed to say “my name is so and so” in the disclaimer? Maybe I’ve just never gotten comfortable announcing “My name is Kuch”. I didn’t say it.

    I’ve spent many paragraphs already on why the Stomp is great: great F2, generally a bit lower intensity than Monday and Wednesday, and great for runners of all speeds. So on the one hand, you don’t want to fix something that aint broken. On the other hand, we’ve had some great variations at the Stomp lately, including Rev Sox’s 13 colonies workout/football game, El Guapo’s light post runs, Smooth’s Jazzfest themed beatdown, and VQ’s for Shuffles and Briefs, who both added their own touches.

    What I’m getting at is: come Q the Stomp. Bring a slight (or significant) variation, or just tell everyone to run 20 out and 20 back and do some Mary. It doesn’t matter. It will be great. Your contribution will be appreciated no matter how much or little you deviate from the norm.

    Anyway, back to the actual workout. We moseyed 20 minutes out at about a 10:30 pace as a group, all staying together. When he hit 20 minutes, the instructions were simple. Run back to the flag as fast as you can. Don’t leave anything in the tank.

    When you get to the flag, you mosey to the guy behind you, and run hard back with him. And then the 2 of you sweep the next guy and run back hard with him and so on until 20 or so guys are running down Roosevelt Mall together to sweep the 6. It worked well, and you will see it again.

    To mentally prepare myself for this one, I told myself that I would run as hard as I could back to the flag, and I wouldn’t save anything for the sweep. If I had to walk, I would, but I would not mosey. I surprised myself and ran a lot faster than usual. Didn’t know I had it in me. That will be the instruction to all the PAX next time: save nothing. Go as hard as you can. Walk, if you must, but don’t cruise. (and of course, modify if you need to)

    The usual formalities, and a prayer that we carry the goodwill and decency shown everyday at F3 workouts with us through all our interactions. Thanks for having me. – Kuch

  • The Eagle Has Landed

    In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the first man on the moon, YHC tipped his hat in a couple of ways.

    Warm-Up:

    • Side Straddle Hops 50xIC (welcome)
    • Low Slow Squats 20xIC
    • Grass Grabbers 20xIC (after a false start from a bunch of bad forms)
    • Mountain Climbers 20xIC
    • Parker Peters 20xIC
    • Shoulder Taps 20xIC
    • Merkins 20xIC
    • Peter Parkers 20xIC

    Walking on the moon looks easy, but…  The PAX first lunge-walked across the great lawn, and then hopped feet together back.  Not so easy.

    After a mosey to the corner of the Sculpture Garden, the PAX did an ARMSTRONG:

    • Abe Vagodas 11xIC
    • Russian Dips (one leg out) 11xIC
    • Merkins 11xIC
    • Step Ups 11xIC
    • Tempo Merkins 11xIC
    • Rocky Balboas 111xIC
    • O (YHC is too old to remember)
    • N (ditto)
    • G (ditto)

    Next the PAX did an APOLLO 11:

    • A (YNC is still too old remember)
    • P (ditto)
    • O (ditto)
    • LL Cool BJ (lunge, lunge, burpee, broad jump): 11 OYO
    • Low Country Crab Boil (like LCC, except you do a dip with one arm while grabbing a foot with the other arm): 11 OYO
    • OYO Burpees.  It’s about 238,000 miles to the moon: if a Burpee is about 10,000 miles, that’s 24 burpees OYO
    • 11 – Elevens with LBCs from 1 to 10 and Dying Cockroaches from 10 to 1 and a mosey in between

    Mosey back to the Great Lawn.  So what would prompt a guy to put himself in a tiny tin can hurdling into space to crash into a rock?  In an homage to CSAUP, the PAX did suicides.  Run a quarter of the way down the field, then 5 burpees, run back and then half way down the field, then 10 burpees, then run back and then three-quarters way down the field, then 15 burpees, then run back and then all the way down the field for a soft landing of just 5 burpees.

    Circle of Mary:

    • LBCs: 20xIC
    • Flutter Kicks 20xIC
    • Russian Twists 20xIC
    • Penguins 20xIC
    • Bib Boy Sit-ups 20xIC
    • Dying Cockroach 20xIC
    • Hello Dolly 20xIC

    Circle of Mary: