F3 New Orleans

Tag: Ya Mom’n Dem

  • The Back Nine

    After some last minute scouting, YHC pulled up without a minute to spare. The disclaimer was given, including a word of caution about possible broken ankles, and we moseyed to the Great Lawn for the warm-up

    Warm-Up

    This month is Run Ranger Run and every yard counts, so YHC forwent the customary circle warm-up and chose to go old school Jr. High football style:

    High Knees, Butt Kicks, Karaoke left, Karaoke right

    The Thang

    We divided up into 5 teams of 4. Each team received a baseball and were provided the simple rules of Rarájipari – You must kick the baseball to the Foundry. One team member can kick it the whole way or you can pass between team members. First team to the Foundry wins.

    At the Foundry we all found some pull-up space for the Bern ‘n Burp – keep your chin above the bar as long as you can. When you drop out, do 10 burpees and take a 10 second rest. Repeato until time is called. Most of us got in 3 or 4 rounds.

    Rarájipari under the 610 overpass to Zachary Taylor Drive.

    From there we moseyed to the football field between Grow Dat and the Dog Park. 100 yard Bear Crawl

    Next we moseyed to the 9th hole of the frisbee golf course for The Jack Nicklaus. Starting at the 9th hole tee box, sprint to the 9th hole (or whatever you call the contraption that you throw the frisbee into). At the 9th hole, do 9 merkins followed by 9 air presses. Then walk to the 10th hole tee box and sprint to the 10th hole where you do 10 merkins and 10 air presses. Continue this through the 16th hole. We repeated the 15th and 16th holes.

    Rarájipari to the port-a-potties on the backside of the track.

    On the track – 600m run as hard as you can.

    Mosey back to the flag

    NMM
    • Mistake #1 – We arrived at the flag late. How late? More than 3 minutes, less than 35. I don’t really know. I wasn’t using a watch. I was wearing one, but I wasn’t using it.
    • Mistake #2 – Quiche wasn’t with us.
    • Mistake #3 – It took me a minute to realize Quiche wasn’t with us anymore. Fracsac went out to find him. Somehow in the 30 seconds we had been standing at the flag, Frac forgot where we had come from and ran off in the wrong direction. Meanwhile, rumor has it that Quiche had accidentally locked himself in one of the Rock ‘n Roll Port-a-lets. Fortunately all City Park Roads lead to the Port-a-lets on the backside of the track. Frac finally made it there and through brute strength was able to free Quiche. Both returned to the circle, smelling of excrement and unwilling to speak about what had happened.
    • Mistake #4 – While playing Rarájipari on the way to the track, I mentioned to my teammates that we shouldn’t tell the groups ahead of us that they should take the street to the right up ahead. As the Q, I am apparently supposed to be taking care of the pax and so I received some instant F3 karma when the sidewalk rose up and tripped me. It felt like a pretty spectacular fall.
    • We had one FNG – Scrub. He came out on his own. I wasn’t paying close attention, but I believe a medical resident at Tulane mentioned F3 to Scrub while he was there being treated for a virus he contracted in South Central Jersey.
    • We ran a lot. It was at least 4 and half miles, no more than eight.
    • Rudy met us for the circle of trust. He’s just in it for the fellowship.

  • Mile-O-Merkins and Mile-O-Mary at Okwata

    We had a great morning at Okwata to get some miles for the AO in RRR VII, but we couldn’t forget our tradition of full-body workouts. So, disclaimer and then mosey to the Center of the Universe (COTU) for the warm up: 25 x SSH and Imperial Walkers, 15 x Abe Vigoda, 10 F/R Sun Gods, 15 x Peter Parker, 15 x Parker Peter, 15 x Concrete Grabbers and then off to Da Thang.

    From a secret starting point on the levee, YHC explained the Mile-O-Merkins. The course was a half-mile out and half-mile back with 12 stations. At each station, the PAX did a set of merkins with descending reps starting at 12. This went so well that the PAX then did a Mile-O-Mary with LBCs at each station. By the end of the workout, with moseying plus the
    Mile-O-Merkins and Mile-O-Mary, the PAX covered 3 miles.

    Lord, teach me to be generous!

    Surge

  • Sometimes You Gotta Call an Audible

    I was looking forward to Q’ing Rock City for the first time, so I took some time over the weekend to plan out a beatdown for the PAX. The beatdown was to take place on the track & field inside Pontiff Park; however, due to the rain that came down over the weekend & Monday morning, the track/field were both too #moist for us to use that day. As a result, I had to call an audible & come up with something else for us to do on the fly. Fortunately, on the car ride to Rock City that morning Kuch had mentioned to me that the track/field were too wet to use on Friday as well when he went to the Uptowner, and he told me that they had used the jogging path instead since it was a good bit dryer. So with that fresh in my mind, I issued the disclaimer to the PAX & then the workout commenced.

    • Warm Up: Mosey on the jogging path to the shelter about 250 meters away. Then we lined up around the perimeter of the shelter and did:
    • 25x Side Straddle Hops
    • 20x imperial squat walkers
    • 20x grass grabbers
    • 21x arm circles (11 forward, 10 backward)  
    • The Thang: We mosey’d from the shelter back to the rock pile, and then each PAX grabbed a rock. The Pax was then split up into 2 groups:
    • Group 1: ran 200 meters out & then 200 meters back to the rock pile
    • Group 2: while Group 1 was running, Group 2 was doing the following circuit:
    • 5 standing bench press with the rock
    • 10 curls with the rock
    • 15 shoulder press with the rock
    • 20 squats with the rock
    • _
    • When Group 1 was done with the 400 meter run, we switched, and then Group 2 ran the 400 meters while Group 1 did the circuit. Each group did the 400 meter run & the circuit 3 times. After that, we changed it up a bit and had:
    • Group 1: run 200 meters out & 200 meters back, but this time it was an Indian Run with each PAX carrying their rock during the run
    • Group 2: while Group 1 was doing the Indian Run with their rocks, Group 2 did merkins using their rocks. 10 merkins with the left hand on the rock, and then 10 merkins with the right hand on the rock, and then rinse & repeat as many times as possible before Group 1 got back. Then we switched & had Group 2 do the Indian Run with the rock & Group 1 do the rock merkins
    • After that, we circled up on the grass & did the following exercises in cadence:
    • 15x bench press with the rock
    • 20x bent over rows with the rock
    • 15x American Hammer (with or without the rock)
    • 20x Rocky Balboa’s using the rock
    • 10x burpees (no rock)

    After these exercises were done, Bogey pointed out that time was winding down, so we returned our rocks and Mosey’d back to the flag. Fortunately for the PAX, we still had 2 minutes left when the six reached the flag, so we each did 10 inchworm burpees on our own & then according to the $5.99 watch I ordered off of Amazon last week, we had reached 6:15am (however; according to Rudy’s watch, it was only 6:14am, so he was grumbling that the beatdown had ended prematurely. Classic Rudy, am I right).

    COT: Next we did the count-off, the name-o-rama, & announcements. Hand Grenada had a birthday last week, but the PAX decided a good old fashioned pat on the back would suffice in lieu of having the PAX sing happy birthday to him in unison. Next we did intentions & then closed with a prayer. Thanks for letting me lead, fellas. Enjoyed it!

  • The Muscleship Launch

    “Without continual growth and progress. such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” —Benjamin Franklin

    The Muscleship blasted off in solid fashion this Saturday, thanks in part to the 16 PAX flight crew that hopped on board for the maiden voyage.  This new workout and AO was strategically engineered to accomodate the every growing number of men eager to start their Saturdays with a F3 beatdown.  Several guys got in some RRR miles before blast off…T-claps!  As the clock approached 6:30, it was good to see several reguklars trickle in and a few koters to boot.  After a brief description of what was in store, and of course the disclaimer, we made our way over to the front of NOMA to get started.

    Warmup Part 1: IWx20, WMx20, LSSx20, SSAC (Sixty Second Arm Circles, from the F3 website…T-plank Left ACx15, LBCx15, T-plank Right ACx15), capped off with IPSWx20.  In the middle of this we noticed The Mothership trying to invade our territory in the nearby field so we upped the volume on cadence in an effort to claim dominance.  Before departing, YHC asked the PAX to start thinking of some good jokes, hoping Bogey would be the star of the show.      

    Warmup Part 2:   Short mosey to the banks of The Big Lake for some Planking and Merkins.  We lined up all holding a high plank, then 5 Merkins, then a joke, then 4 Merkins, joke, 3 Merkins, joke, 2 Merkins….at this point The Mothership did a fly by so our last joke was centered around them, then 1 last Merkin.   

    Foundry:  Short mosey to The Foundry where YHC realized the PAX was too large for plan A so we settled for Plan B:  Split up with group #1 doing 3 rounds of PIMPS (timer) near the pull-up bars and group #2 doing BLIMPS AMRAP in the grass.  Flip flop with a “pimp daddy” being chosen in each group to be the timer. Lots of intense stuff here with very little opportunity for small talk.

    Lake-North Side:  Next stop was another stretch of shoreline for Inchworm Burpess x10, joke, x8, joke(s), x6, dirty joke, x4, another dirty joke, x2, maybe a final joke. 

    Lake-South Side:  After a pit stop at the water hydrant to hydrate, we made our way over to the raised ledge along The Big Lake track.  We rotated duties with mutiple PAX running cadence and various counts for LLSUx20, Dipsx20, RLSUx20, Derkins x15…breather….rinse and repeat with the highlight being Bogey and Abacus peforming a duet in tandem. 

    Lelong Drive for Cinco de Cardio:  Here we gatherded for five 1-minute rounds of various cardio-rich exercises which proved to be much more manly than the moseying and frolicking that our counterparts were doing with The Mothership.  We dug deep and did Semi-Circle Mountain Climbers, Rocky Balboas, Partner Plank Slaps, IPSW, and Groiners as the finale. 

    One minute left so back to the flag to call it a morning.  COT, annoucements, prayer, and some admiration for the new steel encased shovel flag that may be worthy of it’s own name.  Also, YHC thanked the PAX for posting and making The Muscleship launch a success.  YHC wasn’t sure what to expect knowing so many of us enjoy and look forward to The Mothership each week and trying to split that up is no easy feat.  The F3 vatican has always encouraged an “addition by division” concept when trying to grow so it was good to see all the PAX on board with that.  YHC also mentioned a workout several years ago where a fellow PAX Q’d with some new exercises and routines, which worked well, and after talked about one of the strengths of F3 is that the group always supports those trying new things, typically with little or no heckling from the peanut gallery.  Thanks to the PAX for pushing hard and helping to make it a good one! 

    Tool       

  • Everyone Needs a Friend from St. Bernard

    • Kuch: next, we’re going to do 11’s, but a little different
    • Da Parish: How is this 11’s?
    • K: Well you go back and forth and do a different exercise on each side of the levee like 11’s, but we’re going to do it together.
    • DP: So you don’t count to 11?
    • K: Well, No
    • DP: Those are not 11’s
    • K: Look, I’m new here, okay?

    Cool, dry mornings at Okwata with a hint of a sunrise thrown in truly make the 5 AM wake-up call worth every minute of lost sleep. At 5:30 this morning, as we started out over the dark course ahead, I mumbled out a brief disclaimer and off we went into the 40 degree gloom for a bit of a leg workout. T-claps to Rudy who had already run a couple miles at that point, a decision he may have later come to regret…

    WARMUP

    • IW’s x 24 (everyone always starts with SSH, so we switched it up a little)
    • SSHx25 (a very little in fact)
    • Windmills x 15
    • Parker Peter x 25
    • 5 8-count bodybuilders OYO just for a bit of practice…
    • Mosey across the street and down the lakefront past canal for…

    FIRST EXERCISE

    Route 55, 8-count bodybuilders OUT, Low-Slow-Squats IN

    Route 55 v2, Low-Slow-Squats OUT, 8-count bodybuilders IN

    The nice thing about 8-count bodybuilder is, if you do enough of them, they make burpees feel like side straddle hops. I felt it was important to put this contrast on full display for the PAX in attendance, so we moseyed to the foot of canal for….

    SECOND EXERCISE

    “11’s”

    All Pax do one exercise for one minute on one side of the levee, and then scale the levee together to the other side, where we do another exercise for one minute, then back, rinse and repeat. We managed to get in:

    • Burpees – Monkey Humpers
    • Merkins – Squats
    • Shoulder Taps – Alternating leg lunges
    • Going up forwards got a little dull, so we did the last round Bernie Sanders, and then moseyed to the flag and got back right at 6:15 or so….

    It’s truly a privilege to lead this group.

  • RevSox’s Birthday Party

    The news spread slowly at first but soon gained speed and momentum. The beatdown on January 28th was sure to be epic, inspiring, and convoluted with poor instructions. YHC’s birthday Q was coming and the Pax was coming out in numbers to celebrate. F3 Nation arrived in record numbers with men from Kenner, River Ridge, Metairie, Uptown, and Tallahassee to celebrate the birthday of own of their own.

    YHC began the workout with a welcome to his birthday party, the standard disclaimer, and a mosey over to the open grass next to rock pile.

    Warm-Up

    Since YHC was born 36 years ago, YHC gave us a brief trip back to 1983, a year of Pop Culture glory.

    SSH – 36

    Imperial Walkers – 20 in honor of the release of the Return of the Jedi

    Peter Parkers – 20 in honor of the comic debut of Spider-Ham

    Parker Peters – 20 because Spider-Ham hasn’t receive enough love over the last 36 years

    Playing at the Park

    The Pax was invited to go pick up one party favor (a rock) for each guest and head over to the playground for some play. Each Pax member paired up with their best friend as we tackled an exercise rotation that took far too long to explain because YHC did not anticipate numbers swelling above 20. The Pax was stationed by pairs around the playground to workout at their spot while one pair knocked out 10 pull-ups as the timer. The Pax would rotate to the next spot after each set of 10 pull-ups were completed.

    The exercise stations: Pull-ups, Partner Shrugs #1, Partner Shrugs #2, Partner Curls #1, Partner Curls #2, Underdogs, Triceps Ext, Thrusters, Bicycles, Flutterkicks, Burpees, and 8 count body builders.

    Once every pair had hit every station, the Pax grabbed their rocks and headed over to the football field.

    The Suicide

    YHC wanted to relive his old soccer practices from high school, so this required suicides, Rock City style.

    The pax lined up at the end line with their rocks and ran it to 1/4 length of the field, stopped for 15 shoulder presses, and dropped the rock. Then the pax ran back to the end line and returned to grab the rock and take it mid-field for 15 curls and dropped the rock. Then the pax ran back to the end line and returned to grab the rock and take it to 3/4 length of the field, stopped for 15 low slow squats, and dropped the rock. Finally the pax ran back to the end line and returned to grab the rock and take it to the end of the field for 15 bench presses, and ran the rock back to the starting point.

    Ultimate Frisbee

    Since this was YHC’s birthday, he wanted to celebrate with some fun. There is no better F3 fun than Ultimate Frisbee with some merkins thrown in. The Pax split into two teams (shirts vs. skins). The game was standard Ultimate Frisbee rules with the addition of 5 merkins every time there was a turnover and 10 merkins for every score.

    YHC’s team (the shirts) won a close, hard-fought battle with Scantron coming in big with two scores in a 3-2 victory!

    The Close

    The Pax took their rocks back to the pile and moseyed to the flag. TClaps to Left Eye for pushing it to the end so he could get a little extra plank in before the six arrived. This is what F3 is all about, pushing each other each morning in the gloom, so we can be stronger and faster this week than the week before.

    Counted off for a Pax of 24 to set a new Rock City attendance record.

    Name-o-rama, announcements, intentions (keep praying for the Ranger in need, Cheese Fries’ family with the passing of his friend, and the growth of our men), and we came in close for the sweaty ball of man.

    Thank you for the opportunity to lead and the birthday wishes, thanks to you all 36 will be better than 35,

    RevSox

  • YaMomAnEm’s VQ

    Warm Up: 30 side straddle hops, 25 imperial walkers, 20 plankjacks, arm circles (10 forward, 10 backwards)

    The Thang: Route 66 – there was some debate on whether or not there were 10 or 11 planters on the lakefront. Turns out i miscounted, and there was actually only 10 planters. One Pax ran to each of the ten planters and did an increasing number of decline merkins (ended with 10 decline merkins on the 10th planter), while the other Pax did dying cockroaches. The Pax partnered up and alternated until all 10 planters had been completed. We then mosey’d down the lakefront and did a set of BLIMPS (5 burpees, 10 lunges, 15 imperial walkers, 20 merkins, 25plankjacks, 30 squats). We then mosey’d to the levee and did 2 sets of Bernie Sanders while the Pax at the bottom of the levee did burpees. We then mosey’d to the flag for the COT

  • Amnesty’s New Sneaks

    Amnesty made a special request for a dry workout. He recently purchased some new sneaks, and hoped to keep them mud free. The request was honored. After all, it’s Amnesty. His new neon green sneakers offered a beacon of light on this gloomy morning. 13 men showed up for the challenge. The usual disclaimer and off we go.


    Warm-up COP:

    SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Plank Jacks, x 20 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Arm Circles 10 forward 10 backward IC, Mountain climbers x 20 IC

    Route 66 down Roosevelt Mall: Dips. 5 dips at first bench, increase 1 dip each bench, ending at 17.

    Next we moseyed to NOMA.

    Right leg power-ups x 20 IC, Left leg power-ups x 20 IC. Then a Merkin ladder up the steps of NOMA, with 8 Merkins on the bottom step and 1 Merkin at the top. Back to the fountain for 10 box jumps, right leg step-ups x 20 IC, left leg step-ups x 20 IC. And back to the steps to repeat another Merkin ladder.

    Next, partner up for Dora 1-2-3. 100 Floyd Mayweathers, 200 Squats, 300 LBC’s, while the other Pax runs around NOMA.

    Then we moseyed back to the flag, stopping halfway for some Mary. Flutter kicks x 20 IC, Hello Dolly x 20 IC, Dying cockroach x 20 IC. We ended back at the flag, and succeeded in our mission. We kept Amnesty’s sneakers dry. Count-off, Name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. Thanks for letting me lead.

  • In the Morning when you Rise Unwillingly – WHO DAT!

    In the morning when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present- I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world? Or have I been made for this, to lie in the bed-clothes and keep myself warm? – The Meditations, Marcus Aurelius, Book 5.

    This pretty much summed up my feelings on getting out of bed this morning, and also serves as a constant reminder as to why to do so on a regular basis. After all, was I put here to sleep?

    After having an appropriate amount of fun at the game yesterday but having fallen victim to the bartender several times making my drinks a bit too strong, I was a little fuzzy, hence the counting.

    Warmup:

    SSHx20; Peter Parkerx14; Imperial Walkersx20; Grass Grabbersx14; Arm, Circlesx20; Windmillsx14 … or something like that.

    The rules: We are all happy that our Saints vanquished Philly and some of its loud obnoxious fans (F3 brotherhood excluded, of course) from the Crescent City. During the workout, if someone gets a little excited about the Saints and wants to let everyone know how much they love their Saints, they are encouraged to yell out “WHO DAT”, at which point the PAX, regardless of whether they are carrying a rock (or boulder, like Triple Shift), will drop what they are doing – not on Hawg’s bare feet – and do 6 burpees to celebrate the margin of victory. All PAX are encouraged to support the Saints in this fashion throughout the workout whenever they feel it’s appropriate.

    First St[WHO DAT!]ation:

    And we were off. An unexpected but enjoyable part of the workout was the regular cheers of Who Dat! while I attempted to explain the next station. Well done.

    Traverse the field, stopping at each tree to remember one of the Saints’ notable vanquished foes as follows. Bring your rock:

    5 burpees for the Buccaneers; 10 curls for Carolina; 15 second count Al Gore for Atlanta; 20 Merkins for Minnesota; 25 Rows for the Rams; 30 Elf on the shelves for the Eagles. People’s chair /plank for 6, and then head back doing the same thing swapping out the Curls and Elves on the shelf due to some mumble chatter.

    Second Station

    Finish the job, like the Saints finished off the Eagles in the playoffs after beating them during the season as well.

    11’s. Deadlift on one side, run 5 trees with the rock, and complete the movement with a clean and press.

    Finale

    Some quick abs, American Hammers w/ rockx10, Dying cockroachesx20 and lbc’sx20 oyo and Mosey quickly to flag to arrive right at 6:15.

    We prayed for Terrabyte and Mathlete and their family, Brad Brechtel, and several other F3 brothers and friends of F3 brothers.

    Total Who Dat Count: At least 10

    Honored to lead this group. T-claps to all for all the Who Dats and Triple Shift for regularly choosing the meteor that hit Arizona for his rock and refusing to quit.

    Thanks for letting me Q. – Kuch

  • Tribute to Terabyte at the Mothership

    F3 lost one of its own earlier in the week. Terabyte was a caring leader that pushed himself, and inspired other pax to become better. He will be missed.

    YHC stated that we will carry a flag for our fallen pax as we trudged through the AO. We will sweat, push ourselves, and feel pain. In this way, we will honor him, ’cause that’s what we do. 40 men, including 3 FNG’s, were ready to go.

    Brief disclaimer, then pick up the flag and mosey to the Great lawn for the warmup

    SSH IC x 52 (Terabyte was only 52)
    IW IC x 15
    Grass Grabbers IC x 10
    Abe Vigodas IC x 10
    Arm Circles IC x 10 Fwd x 10 Bwd
    Peter Parker IC x 20
    Shoulder Taps IC x 20
    Parker Peter IC x 20
    Mountain Climber IC x 20
    Recover, pick up the flag, and mosey….

    Stop just short of the Bridge at Lagoon Number 11 on our way toward City park Avenue
    10 Burpees OYO
    Mosey across the bridge and find an open space near City park Avenue
    Monkey Humpers IC x 20
    10 Burpees OYO
    Mosey along to the next open green space
    LBC’s IC x 20
    10 Burpees OYO
    Mosey to the entrance to NOMA at Lelong Drive
    Dying Cockroach IC x 20
    10 Burpees OYO (there was much mumblechatter by this time)
    Mosey to the Tree line near NOMA
    YHC asked how may burpees left? We have smart Pax! 12 it is!
    12 Burpees OYO which brings us to 52. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have more Burpees!

    Mosey to the Fountain at NOMA
    Dips IC x 20
    RL Step Up IC x 15
    Incline Merkin IC x 10
    LL Step Up IC x 15

    Dips IC x 10
    RL Step Up IC x 15
    Decline Merkin IC x 10
    LL Step Up IC x 10

    Mosey to the tree line
    Sprint to first tree and back – 5 burpees
    Sprint to second tree and back – 5 burpees – plank and wait for the six

    Starting at first tree, Burpee Broad Jump to third tree.

    YHC requested Triple Shift to help explain the next exercise. Triple Shift had previously introduced the Genuflect and YHC wanted to incorporate it in. Genuflect from third tree back to first tree.
    Left knee down, right knee down, left knee up, right knee up, then lunge walk one step. Now do two genuflects followed by two lunge steps, then three……etc.

    Mosey back to the Great Lawn for Mary:
    LBC’s IC x 30
    Tin Snips IC x 20
    Hello Dolly IC x 20
    Flutter Kicks IC x 20
    American Hammer IC x 10

    Plank for one minute
    Recover, pick up the flag, and return to the other flags for the COT

    Count off, Name-O-Rama, Announcement, and ended with a prayer.

    Welcome Bingo Knight, Offsides, and CareBear! Great job on the EH’ing guys! We have had big numbers at the AO’s lately, let’s keep it going!

    The Celebration of Life for Terabyte, aka Sidney Modica, will be held on Monday January 14th where visitation begins at 0900 with service to follow at 1030 at:
    Victory Fellowship
    5708 Airline Hwy
    Metairie, LA 70003

    If you have a flag or a ruck sack, please bring. Terabyte loved being part of F3, and we loved having him.

    SYITG