F3 New Orleans

Tag: Ya Mom’n Dem

  • Back to Basics at the Foundry

    Today was back to basics with a traditional Foundry workout with circuits and pull-ups. 15 men braved the cool December air. We even had a @Rudy sighting in City Park on a Wednesday. The usual disclaimer and off we go.

    We moseyed to the Childrens Museum for the warm-up COP:

    • SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Grass-Grabbers x 10 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Arm Circles 10 Forward 10 Backward IC, Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    Mosey to the front of NOCM:

    • 8-count body builders x 10 IC (for Catfish)
    • Left leg step-ups x 20 IC
    • Dips x 20 IC
    • Right leg step-ups x 20 IC
    • Dips x 20 IC

    The we moseyed to the Foundry for some circuits: 5 groups of 3, rinse and repeat for 3 rounds total.

    • The count was: run to the track, 5 burpees, and back
    • Rows
    • Lunges
    • Pull-ups
    • Derkins

    We finished with a mosey to the City Park track, stopping at each light post for 10 squats, and a 200 meter sprint at the track. Back to the flag for count-off, name-o-rama, intentions, and a prayer. Was a nice cool morning for a beat down. As @Belloq eloquently stated, thoughts and prayers during this stressful time of year to missing loved ones due to Covid, travel, work, and military deployment. Thank you for letting me lead.

    Walleye

  • Murder Monday (Swolefest 2020-11-16)

    Nice cool morning at the Swolefest with 16 PAX: Thumb War, Belloq, Triple Shift, Walleye, West Nile, YaMamaNem, Breadsticks, Jesus Juice, Kuch, Pop Tart, High Rise, Saban, Heartaquack, Tool, Sheetrock, Catfish (Q).

    Warmed up with SSH, Peter Parker Peters, Mountain Climbers, and 8-counts.

    Rifle carried over to the field for 11s. On the one end, blockpees, then rifle carry to the other side. On the other, crossover merkins (2 is one). Murder bunny back to the other side. Breadsticks destroyed his block in the process, so he and Saban are both officially “block crushers.” This was a real time killer, so stopped about halfway through, then circled up to grab some curls.

    Moseyed to the foundry for stations – pullups, goblet squats, flutter kicks, Chest Presses, and lunges(with block). Stopped at one round due to time constraints, then rifle carry back to the starting position.

    At starting position, did some block-assisted American Hammers and LBBCs. Right on time for COT.

    Appreciate everyone’s efforts today, definitely did some experimentation with the 11s, and I know everyone was positively THRILLED to do Murder Bunnies again. Breadsticks was so thrilled that he murdered his block. Stud!

  • RED Friday @ Wisner Mountain (2020-11-06)

    Lovely RED Friday this morning at the mountain with 10 PAX: Highrise, Walleye, Tool, YaMamaNem, Sheetrock, Saban, Jesus Juice, Dax, Doubloon (FNG), Catfish (Q).

    Started with SSH, Toy Soldiers, Imp squat walkers, 8-counts.

    Lined up on the path. Indian run to the base of the mountain.

    Up to top of the mountain. Did a wallsit/leg rotation, holding wall sit for 60 seconds, then doing low slow squats, wallsit for 50 seconds, then bonnie blairs, wallsit 40 seconds, then Donkey Kicks, wallsit 30 seconds, then monkey humpers.

    Down to other side of mountain for Bruce Lee – American Hammer, Leg Raises, LBCs, Penguins, Crunchy Frogs, and 100s. Did some peter parker peters to complete the core grind.

    Back up to the mountain top for derkins, then mosey back to base camp. EMOM burpees 5 minutes, starting with 11, incrementing up by one each minute to 14.

    A few mountain climbers to finish, then CoT. Welcome to Doubloon, our latest FNG!

  • Us Against H8!

    Conditions: Humid, 74 degrees, Humidity 95%, Wind 8mph from ENE

    Warm-up:  Mosey from the flag to the start.  Warm-up on your own.  No time for SSH or Grass Grabbers or J-Los, we’ve got work to do.

    The Thang:  The H8!  F3 NOLA’s overly complicated, semi-annual, feat of strength.  The stick by which our fitness is measured.    

    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.  At the starting point you do a descending burp and merk pyramid starting at 8 (burpee with 8 hand release merkins, burpee with 7 hand release merkins, …, burpee with 1 hand release merkin)

    At the end of the 2nd lap the burp and merk pyramid starts at 7, etc.

    The goal is to complete 8 laps in 40 minutes.  According to MapMyRun, each loop is approximately 0.4 miles.  Therefore, to conquer the H8! you will have to do the following in 40 minutes:

    • Run over 3 Miles of Hills
    • 550 Yards of Bear Crawls
    • 36 Burpees
    • 120 Merkins

    NMM

    • The construction at the south base of the levee caused for a slight re-route.  The H8! Committee did a good job of ensuring that the change was slight and the overall distance was not affected so that this fall’s running of the H8! Is considered official. 
    • T-claps to all of the guys coming out for the first time.  I think Heart-A-Quake, Mama’s Pride, Undertaker, Disclaimer, Bieber, Bartman, Catfish, Big Easy, Snooze were all first timers. 
    • I didn’t keep a record of who made it and who didn’t.  I am pretty sure the success rate was just north of 50%.  That’s really good, especially for having so many new guys.  Our fitness continues to accelerate.

    One of the core principles of F3 is that it is open to all men.  But just proclaiming that you are open to all men doesn’t cut it.  We have to be intentional about making sure that we are welcoming to all men and that we are not unintentionally excluding anyone.  There are lots of things that can make men different from one another, but most of them have nothing to do with what F3 is about.  I just mean to say that participating in an F3 workout has nothing to do with what race you are, or what your financial situation is, or what religion you are, etc.  (Side note:  I do think it’s important to think about those things and make sure that we are not being unintentionally exclusive because of the make-up of our Pax.  My point is just that the core principles of F3 workouts could apply to anyone, anywhere).  One thing that does have a lot to do with F3 is fitness level.  That’s why diverse fitness levels have to be considered when planning every workout.  It is important that the guys that have a high level of fitness are getting smoked and it is important the that guys on the lower end of the fitness spectrum are staying with the group and are not being left behind on their own.  I would like to think that we are pretty good across F3 NOLA at making sure that each work out feels like a team event, that we all have a goal of getting better and that we are supporting each other to reach that goal, no matter what our current fitness level is. 

    One of the complaints that I have heard about the Iron Pax Challenge is that it is not consistent with F3 in that way; that it puts the focus on the individual and even worse, ranks the individuals.  Some men  that aren’t at the top feel a sense of embarrassment or shame that they aren’t comparable to the guys at the top. You could make the same argument about the H8!  There’s certainly a sense of completing it and not completing it. 

    Personally I think competition like this is really important.  If you want to run faster, you have to run with faster guys.  In order to accelerate our fitness, we need to be in the back of the pack striving to get to the front.  I enjoy competition and I think it plays an important role in growth.  But I also think that it is important that we work hard to keep the sense of comradery and teamwork that all F3 workouts have.  The H8! Is something we all want to conquer and that we want to help each man conquer. 

    There are a couple of quotes that have stuck with me from the book “Run the Mile You are In:  Finding God in Every Step” by Ryan Hall, the American Record Holder in the half-marathon and the fastest American to ever run the Boston Marathon (2:04).  He said “Competition can be a beautiful thing if we are focused on making ourselves and others better and are not concerned about how we stack up with everyone else…..this is why comparisons in athletics and in life are so fruitless.  When we compare, we miss the joy of the journey as well as the joy of the achievement.”     

    Let’s make sure we keep pushing ourselves and each other, without compromising the joy of the journey.  A common motto at an F3 work out is that it’s “You against You”, and that is very true.  But it is also true that it is “Us against H8!”

  • No Peace Without War

    Like many of you, I’ve taken to reading and following David Goggins, whose story is both inspirational and at times, crushingly real. I won’t spoil any of it – the book is well worth the 20 bucks.

    One of Goggins’ guiding principles is the concept of going to war with yourself on a daily basis. He believes in challenging yourself, putting yourself in uncomfortable or impossible positions where you’ll be forced to make a decision to either quit or push through. Only by choosing to accept and push through the pain does real growth occur. This of course turns out to be a metaphor for life, where our ability to handle the difficult, the uncomfortable and the stuff no one else can do leads to true fulfillment.

    Today, as we set out on absolutely perfect morning, greeted by a breeze, temperatures in the 70’s, and a perfect sunrise, I borrowed some words of encouragement from his book. It’s only by giving more than we thought we had when we got there this morning that we grow. I think we all lived up to that today.

    Quick warmup of SSH, Hill Billies, Arm Circles and Mountain climbers, followed by a brisk run (thanks Catfish) to the base of the intersection.

    Once we arrived we partnered up for some 1. AMRAP Mary (to give the shoulders a break from Iron Pax) 2. sprints up and mosey down the levee.

    Once complete, we lined up for an Indian Run down the levee. Swept the 6, turned back for a Bataan Death March all the way back. As we got close, everyone was instructed to drop for burpees and sprint it out.

    We swept the 6 and headed back to the flag for some burpees to seal the deal as the clock struck 6:15. Moment of silence to focus on thankfulness for the present and how we could help others today. Surge led us out with the prayer for generosity.

  • RED Friday at Wisner Mountain

    5 Patriots arrived at City Park for a RED Friday workout. The real disclaimer today is that the workout was devised by @Boo-Boo, and we just completed it at City Park. Thank you for the workout @Boo-Boo, and reminding us to remember and honor our servicemen and servicewomen around the world.

    And welcome back, Ya Mom’n’Dem!

    The workout today is in honor of 9 men and women who died in a military training exercise on 7/27/20. 9 exercises for 9 fallen soldiers, 27 reps each. As we felt the burn, we tried to remember the pain (physical, emotional, psychological) that American soldiers endure as they fight for and protect our Freedom around the world.

    Warm-up COP: SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Arm Circles 10 forwards 10 backwards, Grass Grabbers x 10 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, MC x 10 IC.

    We moseyed to Wisner Mountain for Tha Thang: 9 exercises for 9 fallen soldiers, exercises at the top and each side of the mountain, 27 reps each in cadence in honor of the day of their passing.

    Merkins, Squats, Flutter Kicks, Lunges, Dips, Hello Dolly, Shoulder Taps, LBC’s, and Low Slow Squats.

    We moseyed back to the Pavillion for 10 Pull-ups and 1 minute of Plank-o-rama. Count-off, name-o-rama, intentions, and a prayer. Thank you to all of servicemen and servicewomen around the world for protecting our Freedom.

    Walleye

  • So this is 40… when do I get my old man strength?

    14 PAX posted for the Chamber on Monday, March 9 for a mostly perfect morning, little cool, little humid, mostly great anyway. YHC was born 40 years ago on Sunday, March 8, but was otherwise engaged on that day with a 10-year-old girls soccer tournament, so the celebration was moved to Monday.

    The plan was simple: cram in a decent workout and leave enough time for a quick ultimate frisbee match at the end. But Kuch, it’s dark, did you forget about daylight savings time? How are we going to see a damn frisbee? This is going to be the worst game ever. Why do you have such terrible ideas?

    Well, dear reader, never fear. I planned ahead:

    But first, the workout:

    Quick lap around the parking lot right into

    • SSHx20
    • Hill Billies x20
    • Windmillsx10
    • Mountain climbersx10
    • Something else x something

    Next, a quick tribute to 40. 40 burpees, 10 per minute, OYO. So you can take 6 seconds per burpee and do 40 slowly, or you can do 10 quickly and use the remaining 30 or so seconds to rest. Your call.

    Next, we hit the tires for a preview of the Ultimate Frisbee match. We separated into 2 groups of 7, each person gets 3 flips in, and sprints to the second tree and back while the next person is flipping and so on. Team Small Tire claimed more flips; Team Manly Tire claimed more, uh, manliness. After a few rounds of each, quick Indian run to the parking lot and back.

    And finally, it was time for the Ultimate Frisbee Showdown. I’d like to say Team Manly Tire dominated, but due to about 30 dropped frisbees on the goal line, the game ended in a 3-3 draw. Some on team Small Tire suggested the referee (YHC, also a member of Team Manly Tire) might have been biased and ruled Saban out of bounds when he really scored a TD, but unfortunately for Team Small Tire, those complaints were summarily overruled. A last second score sealed the tie.

    COT, Name-o-rama, and prayers of thanks for good health and for comfort and grace for those of us waging our own private battles. I know I’m healthier at 40 than I was at 30, and I know that’s because of F3, so as always, I’m truly thankful for all of you who push me to be better. – Kuch

  • Its 40, not 400

    A few weeks ago, YHC saw a backblast referencing a “traditional Okwata workout” that involved the levee and some exercises. As the children’s game of telephone illustrates, as word gets passed from one PAX to another, sometimes the message gets tweaked as it gets passed along. And looking at the calendar, YHC realized it had been exactly 1 full year since some brave okwata souls (looking at you JV, FracSac, mmmBop and Surge) survived a freezing cold day for the last (and 6th) running of the 40. A whole new troupe of PAX has arrived since then and had never had the pleasure of listening to me babble aimlessly while running back and forth and back and forth over the levee. So – lets do it!

    Quick disclaimer (actually, upon reflection – I think I forgot the disclaimer), then off. Breadsticks, speaking on behalf of all of Lakeview, pleaded to steer clear of the grass and the ants. YHC, speaking on behalf of YHC, thought for a minute and led the PAX to the grass, ants and levee. (Fortunately – I think the ants were sleeping).

    Circle up for SSH, IW, and some stretching to get warmed up. Then explain the background and premise. Background – inspired by U2 “40” which YHC still claims is the best closing song for a concert ever. The PAX, led by Kuch, wondered who this “U2” was, and claim never to have heard such a song. Kids today. But – we’re going over the levee 40 times. 10 exercises, each in 4 sets – going over the levee between each set. 40 trips over the levee, 40 exercise sets.

    And the best part – YHC gets to throw in 40 Facts and Figures. And to clarify for Ya Mom’n’Dem: YHC does not vouch for the accuracy of any said facts and figures. All have been googled, and located on at least one website. So there’s that.

    Today’s 10 exercises:

    Irish Jackasses: Thanks, Screw Top, for a nice new addition! These really suck when combined with running over a levee. Maybe next time, ST ought to show up.

    Cross Fit Merkins: Or Clap merkins, for those (Shuffles) who thing Cross Fit is for sissies.

    Big Boy Situps: Jingle Vader notices that YHC was doing these in the downhill direction on the first set. Noted, and corrected.

    Bobby Hurleys (Or Squat Jumps for those who don’t know who Bobby Hurley is, which apparently is most of the LVCC)

    Low Country Crabs: If only Yankee ever made it to Okwata

    Shuffles, a 20 count por favor

    Box Cutters: YHC kept plenty of distance from Triple Shift. That’s a longer story for yet another day. Jingle Vader plays the role of Triple Shift (again) in critiquing the shape of YHC’s boxes.

    Imperial Squat Walker: PAX stage a revolt, so YHC caves and lowers the count from 10 IC to 5 IC (10 Squats) out of fear. Still plenty of squats to burn the calves

    Catalina Wine Mixers: Way out in front, YHC saw Holy Grove and Triple Shift absolutely killing it. YHC was happy to be able to stay in front of Shorty, though. Maybe if Shorty showed up a little more regularly.

    American Hammer: Shorty and Surge thankful to get one useful fact for the day, as we talked about Hulk Hogan vs Iron Sheik (HH was Bacchus 40)

    8 Count Body Builders: JV chooses this exercise to round out the day.

    Finish at 6:14. Sheetrock does his best SOGO impression and finds a pothole on the run back to the flag – but keeps his balance and lives to fight another day. 5 Burpees OYO

    Circle up at the end. RRR coming soon, find a team and get signed up. Run. Run. Run. Prayers offered – we remember all of those intentions then finish with Psalm 40 (the inspiration behind the inspiration)

    Thanks for letting me lead, and until the next 40!

  • 1 Year Anniversary

    My how time flies. I have been getting up to workout at 5:30 3-4 times a week for 1 whole year. It was a major lifestyle change and I could not be more appreciative for my boy YaMomAnEm getting me out here and off my lazy butt. 16 men joined me at The Foundry for what I hoped would be a fun filled and full body beatdown. Disclaimer was given and off we moseyed to the track.

    Warm Up:

    • SSH x 20 IC
    • Windmills x 10 IC
    • Self love x 15 IC
    • Track grabbers x 15 IC
    • Arm circles x 10 each fwd/rev IC

    Thang #1:

    The previous night I, along with multiple members of F3, attended the Lakeview Civic Improvement Association meeting regarding all the crime that has been going on in the city. In honor of this we split into 2 lines and did a Prisoner Indian Run over to the cement cylinders outside of the Children’s Museum. Here is where we spread out to perform Butkus. 1 minute of step ups then a 30 second rest break. 2 rounds for each leg for a total of 4 rounds.

    Thang #2:

    Mosey over to The Foundry where we split up into 6 groups of 3 (there was 1 group of 2). 6 stations consisted of:

    • Burpees (the counter)
    • Jump the snake
    • Lunges
    • Mountain climbers
    • Dips
    • Monkey bars

    First round completed with 15 burpees. 1 minute rest break. Second round completed with 10 burpees. I opted to use the monkey bars as they were originally intended and each member of their group would swing across the bars back and forth until time was called. My apologies to everyone 6 ft and taller.

    Thang #3:

    Mosey back to the warm up spot at the track and sweep the 6. Just enough time to squeeze in The Gross. 12 reps of 12 exercises. Some IC. Some not. Follow the Q’s instructions (looking at you Rudy).

    • Low slow Squats
    • Jumps (don’t let heels touch ground)
    • R side lunges
    • L side lunges
    • Floyd Mayweathers
    • Carolina Dry Docks
    • Diamond merkins
    • Nolia Clap (overhead hand claps)
    • Flutter kicks
    • Hello Dollies
    • Box Cutters
    • Freddy Mercury’s

    Mosey back to the flag. May have been 1 minute over but we’ll survive. Count off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and sweaty ball of man.

    My thanks again to all the men of F3 for continuing to push me both physically with each beatdown and mentally when trying to construct the beatdowns as Q. It’s been an honor and a pleasure and I can’t wait for the next year.

  • We have a tire

    On the eve of the gloom, the PAX reported that the tires were still safe and “secure” outside of the Chamber of Horrors.   YHC isn’t used to props that aren’t music or costume related, so I was eager to use the tires on this 20th gloom of 2020.  

    W/U

    • Side-straddle Hops IC x 20
    • Imperial Walkers IC x 20
    • Hill Billies IC x 20
    • Sun Gods IC x 10 x 10
    • J-Los IC x 10

    The Thang

    • Fun with Tires – Split into groups of 2.  2 PAX will flip the big tire out 5 times each and then back 5 times each (for a total of 10 for anyone counting).  Meanwhile, the other PAX will do a routine of 10 Irkins, 20 Squats, 30 Rocky Balboas, 10 Dirkins, 20 Squats, 30 Rocky Balboas on the smaller tires.   Once the 2 PAX flipping the large tire are finished, trade off with 2 of the PAX doing the routine.  Repeat until all PAX have flipped the tire 10 times. 
    • Mosey to the Amphitheater.  When you get there, plank & wait or sweep the six; you decide.
    • Birth Control (Routine created by YHC to learn more about your fellow PAX) – From a line facing the hill.  The 2 outermost PAX will Bear Crawl/Crawl Bear up/down the hill.  Meanwhile, all other PAX will be holding a plank of their preference (High, Low, Left,  Right, etc.)  Once both outer PAX have completed their BC/CB the PAX to the right will shout the name & age of all his 2.0’s first.  The entire PAX will do the amount of Merkins for the ages of the 2.0s.  Then the PAX on the left.  Once all merkins have been completed, the next 2 PAX to the inside will go until all PAX have BC/CB and shouted the names & ages of their 2.0s.
    • Mosey to the Greek Benches for Box Jumps & Dips. 
      • OYO 10 Box Jumps
      • IC 10 Dips
      • OYO 8 Box Jumps
      • IC 8 Dips
      • OYO 6 Box Jumps
      • IC 6 Dips
      • OYO 10 Box Jumps
      • IC 10 Dips
    • Mosey to the flag. When you arrive, plank & wait or sweep the six.
    • Mary
      • 20 Dying Cockroaches
      • 20 Slow Wheezy Jeffersons

    Couterama, Namerama, Annoucements, COT

    Thank you for the opportunity to lead,

    Da Parish