R-E-S-P-E-C-T

All YHC is asking for is a little RESPECT.  Is that too much to ask for?  YHC woke up this morning excited to start the big day with a Birthday Q – looking forward to hearing the chorus of “Respect” from the PAX in the COT.  But before he could hear that, he first had to guide the PAX through the workout.

YHC arrived early to enjoy the gorious cool morning – 85 degrees, 90% humidity, and a hint of a breeze.  Fall must be just around the corner.  86 was already present and waiting, one of the perks of a new baby must be the built-in random timed alarm clock.  Slowly, the 18 more PAX (including 2 FNG and even a Shorty) arrived to enjoy the glorious cool morning.  5:30, YHC gave a brief overview of F3 and issued a disclaimer, trying to follow Hawg (or should I say – “No-Show-Hawg”) suggestions from Q school – reminding everyone to be careful, watch footing, watch road crossings and modify as necessary.  Then we’re off.

COP #1: Mosey across St. Charles Ave to the grass in front of Tulane

• SSH x50 (the PAX quickly, and correctly, guessed that “50” might be a count for many exercises)
• Peter-Parker-Peter x50 (each leg is a 4 count: Knee to Same Elbow, Back, Knee to Other Elbow, Back)

Much grumbling from PAX already.  That sure didn’t take long.

COP #2: Mosey to Wolfpack Mountain.  2 lines to Indian Run to the top.  Circle up for Explanation and practice for “50 at the Zoo”.  50 total reps of 2 exercises, with animal crawls in between.

• Giraffes x10 (thanks for the name Shorty!)  In F3 Lexicon, these are called Mike Tysons, but YHC needed an animal name for it.  4 count exercise in plank position: Count 1 to Horizontal Squat, Count 2 back to plank, Count 3 Murican Down, Count 4 back to plank
• Bear Crawl Down: Down the ramp 25 yards
• Monkey Jumpers x10 3 Count Monkey Humper, 4th Count is Squat Jump (“1 2 3 JUMP” = 1 rep)
• Duck Walk Up: Up the ramp 25 yards

Repeat for 50 total reps (3 sets of Giraffes, 2 sets of Monkey Jumpers).  Note: Monkey Jumpers followed by Duck Walks suck, in the good sense.  I expect that combination to make a return appearance.

COP #3: Mosey down the stairs and onto the campus quad.  Split into 4 teams of 5 PAX for “50/50” exercise.  The game: which team is first to complete 50 50-yard sprints.  Team splits into 2 – 2 go to the far end of the quad (50 yards away), 3 stay at starting line.  PAX on the far end are always doing LBC.  PAX on the near end are always doing Lunges.  1 PAX sprints across the squad, takes his place doing the exercise while a PAX that was at that end sprints back to the other side.  Rinse, Repeat.  Sprint.  Lunge.  LBC.  Sprint some more.  First team to complete 50 sprints wins.

Team #3 led by Seaman pulled out the victory.  I know Neon and Highlights were there too, but sorry – I can’t remember the others.  Team #3 got to watch while Teams 1, 2 and 4 each did 5 burpees.

COP #4: Mosey to a circle in front of a Loyola building.  YHC hadn’t been there on a Friday am before, but had noticed the convenient collection of stone benches – great for jumps and dips!  PAX partner up, 10 teams.  This one called “Dora 60s”, looking forward to the “Respect-Respect” milestone now out in front of YHC.

• PAX 1: 10 Box Jumps
• PAX 2: Dips AMRAP
• Flapjack (apparently, Uptowners were unfamiliar with that term.  YHC tried patiently to explain it)
• Repeat for a total of 60 Box Jumps (30 for each PAX)

Teams count total Dips.  86 and Hasselhoff won with a total of 153 dips completed.  Enjoy your door prizes!

COP #5: Mosey to the softest grass in town (or so the Uptowners think).  Circle up for

• LBC x48 (age at which YHC started working out with F3)
• Burpees x50 (10 Burpees per minute for 5 minutes).  This is a sucky way to close a workout, and really kind of a jerk move by the Q.  But it was a thoughtfully planned, and well executed jerk move by the Q.

Mosey back to the Flag.  Finish up with count-off, and name-o-rama (YHC was disappointed at the grumbling when he announced his age – he expected much more cheerful screams of “Respect”!).  Named out 2 FNGs – welcome to F3 Highlights and Nemo!  Finished up with a prayer of thanksgiving, and St. Ignatius Prayer for Generosity.

All: Thank you for letting me lead.  Bogey and Heisenburg: Thank you for introducing me to F3 2 years ago.  Roots, Jingle Vader, Bad Moon, Nemo – Thank you for inspiring me as I now join you in the Respect club.  I have truly enjoyed, and plan to continue enjoying, the workouts, the inspiration, the camraderie that F3 brings me.  I look forward to continue growing personally, professionally and physically through the example you all set for me.

I was ready to quit after 30 Burpees at the end.  I was spent.  I didn’t think I had anything left in the tank.  Without F3, I would have quit.  With F3 – because of the example all of you set, and the belief that I need to return the favor and set an example for others, I dug deeper than I thought I could and got the 2 more sets done.  Thank you for inspiring me and encouraging me.

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