F3 New Orleans

Tag: Splash Pad

  • Like a warm, sticky, wet hug – from Russo

    Stepping out into the gloom, the humidity just smacked YHC in the face. Reaching the top of the pilot house and looking out, the flags were straight down, not a breeze to be had. 81 degrees meant unrelenting humidity, but hey, at least my skin will never be dry.

    No warmup, just straight into:

    – pilot house steps (3 calf raises at each step
    – Slalom the columns
    – pilot house steps (3 calf raises at each step)
    – SUPER slalom the columns

    Mosey the blocks, stopping at the corners for:
    – 25 Urkins
    – 25 Peter Parker’s
    – 25 shoulder taps
    – 25 plank jacks
    – 25 groiners
    – 25 ballerina squats
    – 25 lunges (2 is 1)
    – 25 George Thorogoods
    – 25 star jumps
    – 25 crunches
    – 25 flutter kicks (2 is 1)
    – 25 Rosalitas
    – 25 gas pumps

    Slalom the columns one more time, 25 crunchy frogs brought us home.

    Quick prayer wrapped it up because the Jackson Pollack was compete. Chainsaw has Q tomorrow!

    SYITG

  • We have bugs – from Russo

    Instead of continued talk about what divides the AOs, let’s talk about what unites us: bugs. The Pad might be able to claim a monopoly on bats, but not insects.

    76 degrees for a solo flight at the Pad this morning, but you’re never really alone when you mosey through 3 or 4 large swarms of gnats. Or, at least I think they were gnats, since Steve wasn’t available to confirm species. I did show them who was boss, however, since at least a few of them inadvertently became breakfast.

    No real warmup to speak of, so we jumped right into:

    – pilot house steps (3 calf raises at each step
    – Slalom the columns
    – Pilot house steps (2 up, one down)
    – pilot house steps (3 calf raises at each step
    – Slalom the columns
    – Pilot house steps (2 up, one down)
    – Suicides (5 merkins at each column)
    – some combo of walk / mosey / sprint around the block (2x)
    – Lt. Dan’s through the grassy knoll
    – 20 Freak Nastys
    – SUPER slalom the columns (full revolution of each column)

    Quick prayer wrapped it up. Bird has Q tomorrow!

    SYITG

  • But we have a lake – from Russo

    Each AO has its unique advantages and calling cards. Something you can point to and say “Does your AO have that?”

    Want examples?

    The Marsh: “Where else can you use the swings and the monkey bars? Who else is going to provide cover for beatdowns should a tsunami blow through?” (Pay no attention to the regular Scramble posters who are screaming that they can say the same thing about the monkey bars)

    The Gipper: “Thats a fine sculptural representation of Ronald Reagan.”

    The A1C: “We have a Moby” (said in our best Tony Stark voice)

    That may be true, A1C, BUT: We have a lake.

    “Yea, but we have a multi-level parking garage that allows us to hang from the underside and drop and pretend we’re falling off of Nakotomi Tower during the annual Die Hard beatdown”

    BUT: We have a lake.

    “Maybe so, but do you have a thing called a Darkwing Duck?”

    BUT: We have a lake (all of this said in the same spirit as Spinal Tap’s “These go to 11”)

    And because we have a lake, we ventured over to it this morning.

    Warmup (10x to 20x IC)
    – SSHs
    – Cherry pickers
    – Arm circles
    – High knees
    – Self love

    Thang
    Mosey down to lake and back

    At each block, stop for some add ons:
    – 5 shoulder tap merkins, next block:
    – 5 ST merkins and 10 ballerina squats
    R&R, adding:
    – 15 flutter kicks (2 is 1)
    – 20 monkey humpers
    – 25 mummy kicks

    Mosey was in different forms:
    – Side shuffles
    – Back pedals
    – While also cherry picking

    At the sea wall
    -30 freak Nastys IC
    -20 IC step ups
    -20 IC BBSs

    On the way back, much of the same, but in reverse.

    COT, Name-o-Rama, Announcements, and Prayer. In particular, we prayed for all those traveling this week.

    Another fine day at the Splashpad, because, you know, we have a lake, A1C.

    SYITG

  • The Walking Wounded – from Russo

    Shooter kindly left out from the Scramble backblast that YHC took a dive right at the outset of the run.

    We’re talking “Had a nice trip? See you next fall.” Stop, Drop, and Roll territory. I imagine from a viewer standpoint, one might think I had some experience with movie stunts with the way my body gracefully tucked into a ball and successfully executed a half side / half forward roll, elegantly regained my footing, and stylishly picked my stride back up. These things happen when a Rucker is forced to become a runner.

    Because he’s a standup guy, Shooter asked later in the run if I was ok, and I was. Not even my ego was bruised, because that would require me to take myself seriously. It was more important to give our DR visitor Dingey a memorable post to take back to NC. I didn’t feel any after effects until later in the day, when both my big toe and wrist felt some pain from the morning mishap. Popping a couple Advil, I thought “ooooh, tomorrow is going to be interesting if I can’t use my hands or feet.”

    Undaunted, I arrived at the Pad ready to give it a go. I thought about fartsacking and resting up. The combination of Murph Monday, Steve destroying my soul while smiling on Tuesday, an eventful Scramble, and an impending Lakefront Saturday with Coupons (Zoopons?) made me question whether I should submit my hobbled body through another beatdown. Alas, a confirmation from Bushwhacker that he would post meant YHC had to as well.

    Right under 70 degrees to start. ‘Whacker didn’t want me to feel alone in posting at less than 100%, so he braved a cold / bronchitis / pneumonia / COVID to offer me some company. My plan was to go back to basics at the Pad, highlighting the various areas that make it (and by extension Granny’s) so unique.

    Warmup (10x IC)
    – self love
    – Toe touches
    – Grass grabbers
    – Cherry pickers
    – High knees
    – Sealjacks

    Thang

    Pilot house
    – Calf raises (3 each step)
    – Mexican jumping beans
    – Ladder (2 forward, one back)

    Columns
    – Suicides (5 merkins at each stop)

    Benches
    – 10 IC Freak Nastys
    – 10 IC step ups

    Bus Stop
    – 10 BSSs (2 is 1)
    – 20 jump overs
    – 20 urkins

    Stage
    – Tabata (45 seconds, then 20 rest)
    – Monkey Humpers
    – Squats
    – Mummy kicks
    – Gas pumps

    Grassy Knoll
    – Jack Webbs (up to 7)

    Trailhead grass
    – Lt. Dans

    Mary (all 10x)
    – Penguins
    – Flutter kicks
    – Crunchy frogs
    – LMCs

    COT, Name-o-Rama, Announcements, Prayer, in that order, wrapped up our morning.

    SYITG

  • Bridging the Gap – from Russo

    If you’re of a certain age and have lived in the metro long enough, YHC bets you remember Mr. Bingle. Or McKenzie’s. You were drawn to the K&B purple and shopped with those cheap plastic carts. You “fought the uglies” as you passed the LAS Enterprises billboard heading east on I-10 to Orleans parish. Maybe you were old enough to watch Dr. Morgus and Chopsley on WGNO or were lucky enough to be in the studio audience of Popeye and Pals. If not, YHC hopes you were blessed and was able to see Al’s Christmas lights (or marveled at his toy collection as you passed Causeway Blvd.), or took your life in your own hands by jumping from trampoline to trampoline at the park on Veteran’s blvd, which was not far from the shark at Puglia’s that perseveres to this day. How long can he live out of the water? At least 30 years.

    Just as important, you probably remember Rosenberg’s address. Or how much it cost for Frankie and Johnnie to exclaim “let her have it!”.

    Where’s the point you ask? Some things just stick. Certain memories are etched in our brains and elicit the warm fuzzies. Nostalgia. The good times.

    One of the things that YHC inexplicably remembers was in the 80s and 90s the local car dealerships were in on the taglines and gingles. Price Leblanc leaned into Y’at culture with their “Dahlin’” campaign. I hear Metairie Bank was big into auto loans and ended with a “Beep Beep”. I believe it was Banner Ford that paid millions for a rubber duck to exclaim “Cheap cheap!” But I know for a fact that local celeb (and “most interesting man in Louisiana”) Ronnie Lamarque and his dealerships has a campaign called “Bridging the Gap”, with a catchy little “We’re bridging the gap, ooooooh ooooooh” gingle. For those keeping track, this was after he owned Preakness and Belmont-winning thoroughbred Risen Star, but before his ex-wife took a hit out on him.

    That gingle was running through my head as we sweat in the mid 70s temps and headed in the general direction of a bridge.

    Warmup – all IC, 10x
    – SSHs
    – Toe touches
    – Mummy kicks
    – Air presses
    – Hillbillies
    – Grass grabbers
    – Self love

    Thang

    Mosey to the bridge off Jackson Ave., stopping every block or so for 5 8-count bodybuilders, then adding 10 monkey humpers, and then 15 LMCs, and finally 20 SMCs (1 is 1).

    Once we reached the bridge, it was cross the bridge in varying fashion, with 10 merkins and 10 crunchy frogs after every crossing.

    Crossing the bridge, we did:
    – sprints
    – Bear crawl
    – Lunges (2x)
    – Side shuffles (2x)
    – Carioca

    Mosey back to start, with more 8CBB’s, Monkey Humpers, LMCs and SMCs thrown in, and we arrived back just in time for The COT, Name-o-Rama, and prayer to close us out.

    Excellent conversation today as always. Thanks for joining and reading.

    SYITG

  • Tres for Cinco – from Russo

    72 degrees and noticeably more humid than yesterday to start us off. The Splashpad is beginning to earn its name.

    Fiesta-like atmosphere this morning, with the reuniting of long-lost Steve and Pelican, and a themed beatdown revolving around a certain Mexican celebration. YHC believes both Steve and Pelican were just happy to not have to look at YHC’s mug alone. Cervezas all around!

    Warmup (all IC)
    SSHs
    Self love
    Grass grabbers
    High knees
    Toe touches

    Thang

    Mexican jumping beans
    – hop up the steps of the pilot house (5x)

    T.A.C.O.S.
    – 10 T merkins
    – 10 Absolution
    – 20 Carolina dry docks
    – 20 Outlaws (Circle-Ups)
    – 10 Star Jumps

    Yo Soy DORA (partner would snake the columns in a mosey, because a snake is on the Mexican flag)

    Parte Uno
    – 100 Peter Parker’s (2 is 1)
    – 200 Lunges
    – 300 Flutter kicks

    Parte Dos
    – 50 monkey humpers
    – 100 squats
    – 150 crunches

    Mexican Freak Nastys (15x IC, just to see if Pax knew Spanish above 10)

    Mexican hat dance
    Tabata – 45 seconds of Rocky Balboas, 15 seconds rest (3x)

    Five more TACOS

    Maria
    – 15 IC penguins (which may or may not be the official bird of Mexico)
    – 10x Little Manuel Crunches

    COT, Nombre-o-Rama, and prayer, then we said Adios!

    Mucho fun, mis amigos. Stay thirsty.

    SYITG

  • Old Reliable(s) – from Russo

    The beat up pair of sneakers you cut the grass in. The Dinner Party episode of the Office. The Lollapalooza ‘94 tee shirt with the hole under the arm. The first Karate Kid. 80s rock from Def Leppard. Anything by Led Zeppelin. Some things are just comfortable, reliable, and make you feel like all is right in the world.

    In my corner of the F3 Northshore world, reliable means a Splashpad Q, Pelican, an ongoing “feud” with the A1C that defines ISI, and weather that is continuing to turn more humid and getting close to “hot”. The weather that turns me into Jackson Pollock, where sweat beads down almost immediately and paints a dotted abstract picture on the ground when it falls. Art!

    Add in the reliable Deck of Death as a base, and one has all the makings of a classic beatdown.

    Warmup
    – SSHs
    – Grass grabbers
    – Cherry pickers
    – Self love
    – Arm circles
    – Seal jacks

    Thang

    Quick mosey of the block, directly into the deck of death. Rep count and exercise was based on suit and number. Deck was split into four groups below.

    Between groups we slalomed the columns or ran the block.

    Hearts – wide merkins
    Diamonds – Peter Parker’s
    Spades – 8 count body builders
    Clubs – merkins

    Hearts – burpees
    Diamonds – lunges (2 is 1)
    Spades – Monkey humpers
    Clubs – Big boy sit-ups

    Hearts – ballerina squats
    Diamonds – SMCs
    Spades – imperial squat walkers
    Clubs – Star jumps

    Hearts – leg raises
    Diamonds – V ups
    Spades – Gas pumps
    Clubs – Crunchy frogs

    Mary: 15 IC freak nastys and another brief mosey.

    COT, Name-o-Rama, and prayer closed us out. Reliable words that I’ve copied and pasted numerous times.

    In all seriousness, one of the most reliable things for me is to know there’s a group of men that will often meet to push each other hard, grumble about it constantly, hurt or ache for a bit, and then get up early to do it all again. Unless your Steve or TruCoat, we do it without a smile on our face while we’re in the midst of it. But there are reasons we do it, and for me, one of those is so that I can be more reliable, dependable, a strength to those around me, most importantly my family. I don’t always hit that mark, but that remains the goal, and without this group, that task is more difficult.

    Our church had a men’s dinner and short service after, and one of the notes our speaker reminded us of is that we are defined and shaped by the company we keep, and where we spend our time, talents, and money. Think limit the negative influences, accentuate the positive ones.

    That’s why I post, to surround myself with a group of like-minded individuals who have each other’s best interests. Well, that and because I am afraid Slackbot will come after me and not open the pod-bat bay doors should I ever need it.

    SYITG

  • One and Done – from Russo

    Mid 60s this morning at the Pad. I suspected Pelican was out (injured with a steel chair to the head by the nefarious A1C posse), so the “Leader of one” as Zoo noted last week was a Leader of None, flying solo this week.

    Warmup
    Nothing formal or IC, just a lot of stretching and moaning and groaning loosening up the muscles and making sure I could still touch my toes.

    Thang
    Tabata:
    – 1 minute each with bricks, 20 seconds rest, with some moseying through the columns or around the block after each of the four rounds

    Round 1
    – Modified 8 count body builders (swap the plank jack for an arm curl)
    – side to sides
    – Overhead claps
    – Nutcrackers
    – Hallelujah squats

    Round 2
    – Tricep extensions
    – Arm curls
    – Air presses
    – Side to side squats
    – Arm circles
    – Milk maids

    Rinse and repeat rounds 1 and 2 for 3 and 4.

    Quick prayer before heading back to start a Friday.

    Reminder that the Zoorich Classic is this weekend and for my money it is one of the highlights of the F3 Northshore calendar.

    Also, if anyone is interested, our church is having their annual Men’s Dinner this upcoming Thursday at 6:30. Reach out if you’re interested in attending.

    SYITG

  • Old Faithful on a Friday – from Russo

    Pleasant morning that was a little breezier than it has been. Hammer took the opportunity to cheat on the A1C with Jose out, and YHC is glad he did.

    Warmup
    – SSHs
    – Toe touches
    – Self love
    – High knees
    – Grass grabbers

    Thang

    Quick mosey of the block, directly into the deck of death. Rep count and exercise was based on suit and number. Deck was split into four groups below. First flip: Ace of Spades, 15 8 count body builders Huzzah!

    Between groups we slalomed the columns and continued on our efforts to solve all of the world’s problems.

    Hearts – wide merkins
    Diamonds – Peter Parker’s
    Spades – 8 count body builders
    Clubs – merkins

    Hearts – burpees
    Diamonds – lunges (2 is 1)
    Spades – Monkey humpers
    Clubs – Big boy sit-ups

    Hearts – ballerina squats
    Diamonds – SMCs
    Spades – imperial squat walkers
    Clubs – Star jumps

    Hearts – leg raises
    Diamonds – V ups
    Spades – Gas pumps
    Clubs – Crunchy frogs

    COT, Name-o-Rama, and prayer closed us out.

    SYITG

  • Banking 101 and Civics 201 – from Russo

    70 degrees this morning, no wind to speak of. Looks like the cooler weather has returned from whence it came to return maybe in September if we’re lucky.

    We were so close to solving all of America’s problems this morning through chatter. If we would have had 5 more minutes, we would have been able to move on from “identification and assessment of issue” to “develop and execute plan”, yet here we are. We’ll have to pick it up again next time. The minutes, however, will reflect that a good time was had by all.

    Yet another rerun this week, we’re in the middle of those while we wait for the new fall season to arrive.

    Warmup (all 10x or 20x IC)
    – SSHs
    – Toe touches
    – High knees
    – Imperial walkers
    – Grass grabbers

    Thang
    Tabata:
    – 1 minute each with bricks, 30 seconds rest, with some moseying around the block after each of the three rounds.

    -Arm curls
    -Air presses
    -Hallelujah squats
    -Arm circles
    -Triceps extensions
    -Milk maids

    Wrap up with:
    – 20 IC Freak Nastys
    – 10 IC BSSs (2 is 1)
    – 20 more IC Freak Nastys
    – 20 IC Crunchy Frogs
    – 20 IC American Hammers

    COT, Name-o-Rama, Prayer closed us out.

    Fury! Inferno! Both coming up over the next two Saturdays. Keep in mind Fantastic Fury Fun starts at 6 tomorrow.

    Blessed to have partners in crime, today and in general. In seriousness though, YHC’s heart is weighed heavy this week as I look upon the events going on around us. I am not sure how we got here, or what it all means, or even how to start fixing what’s broken, but something clearly is. There shouldn’t be this much division, hatred, manipulation, greed, whatever.

    My prayer though is that my (and our) will is aligned with God’s. To me, when it is, things seem to go better, and even when they don’t, I feel more safe and secure that all things are working toward God’s intention for me/us. I am thankful there are decent people out there (and most of you qualify) that have priorities in order, and I ask God to make these folks more powerful, deliberate, bold, and vocal in their communities so that the Spirit can work and guide us to something better.

    SYITG