F3 New Orleans

Author: Rudy

  • ALMOST SOLO BECAUSE OF AN EXPRESSO CRISIS – from Jose10k

    Yup, you read correctly. I almost had to ride solo because Moby is such a great man. With an expresso crisis on hand, he couldn’t leave Vicki with the mess that he created. An expresso explosion caused him to be tardy to the party.
    I warmed up with some ssh, torso twists, grass grabbers, warrior pose and arm circles. Since it was just me, I figured it was a great time to add some miles to the Unitards runcajunrun total. A few laps around the top of the parking garage, and then I began my decent when Moby pulled into the garage. Moseyed back up to pick him up and we did a modified run through downtown Covington. We stopped a total of 15 times to do 10 Merkins and 15 squats. A total of 2.1 miles, 150 merkins and 225 squats. I did the math so not to hurt Russo or Franks brain. YHC prayed us out.

  • Heavy Lifting @ el Diablo after Valentine’s Day – from Charmin

    Realizing that many of the beatdowns recently have been lifting heavy when it comes to F1 and that it would be the day after Valentine’s day, YHC wanted to have a beatdown that pushed the Pax physically while also encouraging them to grow closer with some F2.
    Disclaimer given by YHC and did a quick countoff. YHC did advise the Pax that they would have to remember this number for later.

    We all took off towards the rock pile.

    Abe Slow-godas x 10
    SSH (with a pause) x 20 This required a bit of an explanation and a couple of the Pax seemed to struggle with this and remembering their number from before.
    IW x 20
    Hillbillies x 20
    Grass Grabbers x 10

    The Thang:

    Everyone grab a medium-ish rock and partner up based on the numbers from before.
    Do a partner exercise. Then while moseying around the park and carrying the rock, answer the question with your partner. Be okay with silence for a period.

    Exercise: Overhead press x 100 (groups of 10 alternating)
    Question: Why do you come to F3?

    E: Squat x 100 (with rock, groups of 10 alternating)
    Q: How has F3 changed you for the better?

    E: Bench Press x 100 (groups of 10 alternating)
    Q: How have you changed F3 for the better?

    E: Indian Merkins on the levee (just one for those keeping track at home)
    No question, just silence while walking back to the mound; not sure if Mambi or Hokie understood this, but most seemed to get it.

    E:200 Triceps extensions (groups of however many it took to get it done)
    Q: How has losing someone close to you affected you?
    Dropped off the rocks, and saw Mahatma and Hand Grenada doing Mary so figured I would help them out

    E: 100 flutter kicks (2 is 1, groups of 10)
    Q: What’s your least favorite Mary exercise?
    Back to the flag.

    Ended with 10 Penguins since we had a minute, and since those are YHC’s favorite Mary exercise and since we needed to get to 6:15.

    Prayed for those who need it and for those we have lost.

  • Half and Half plus Mambi hits a streak – from Bolt

    6 pax faced the gloom on this pleasant morning of the Mardi Gras season, 3 to run and 3 to ruck. Coincidentally, this makes 3 posts in a row for our most recent Kotter: Mambi which qualifies as a streak; well done and keep the streak alive! We are here for progress, not perfection and we are never “done!”

  • 3X3 through the streets of Mandeville! – from Shooter

    With muggy temperatures in effect on this Thursday gloom at the Scramble. 3 Ruckers and 3 Runners took to the streets of Mandeville to log some mileage for the RCR..
    The balance of such numbers seems consistent in weeks past and the same held true this week.. There was great chatter amongst the Ruckers, as 2 of the 3 will be representing the carnival season riding floats through NOLA on Sat and Sun. JV starts the weekend on float 28B in Endymion on the passenger side top back. Russo will follow that on Sunday in Tothe on float 18B passenger side on the bottom.. So if your out on the routes be sure to holler their names properly with F3 in mind… Of course if YHC was riding it probably would not be recommended to yell “Shooter” as revelers all around may already be on alert in NOLA.. Tanked up experienced that one year as he came to City park to cheer the Q on at the end of the CCC… Bad decision in our current times, just saying.. Also be on the lookout for Waterpik as he marches along the routes Sat, Sun and Mon with SSA/St Paul’s…

    Little warmup
    All 10IC
    Scorpion kicks, Superman’s, Bridges L/R, Imperial walkers, Hillbillies, Toe Touches and slow squats..

    Thang
    Simply 20mins out and 20mins back.
    Runners 4.3 miles
    Ruckers 2.1 miles

    Appreciate Waterpik closing the PAX in prayer 🙏🏼 following the announcements of RCR & Endurathon..

    Thanks for the follow and until the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!!

  • 90s Kid – from Paradox

    The years 1990 to 2000 saw YHC grow from age 2 to 12. These were the meat and potatoes of my childhood , which places me for better or worse, solidly in the realm of a 90s kid. You would be correct in thinking that going from diapers to scamming knockoff Surge cans on the verge of Y2K is quite a formative leap. Yet just as Yankee Joe describes his LSD years in the 80s, I still find the vibe of the 90s hard to describe. Grunge rock, beany babies , JNCO jeans, TGIF, asking your parents why Bill Clinton always looks nervous on TV…A weird time to be sure. Just a certain feel you get when looking back with those nostalgia glasses on ya know? But is there a better way to distill the essence of a time period than a 45 minute peer led outdoor men’s workout ???

    No says I!

    Roll the footage Duke !!

    7 PAX strolled into the Lions Den unknowingly about to be blindsided by a dump truck of 90s nostalgia.

    WarmUp
    The usuals plus some “throw me something misters “ to help us with his PTSD from Sundays Shaka parade. I know those weren’t “little chocolates” on that necklace Tana but we’ll get through this together. YHC thought the chatter was …dare I say ..absent. Leading to self reflection that I must be the chatter problem . Fortunately I stood corrected shortly after I Added some experimental Tae Baos to prep the pax for the 90s theme and well …let’s check the chatter comment section:

    Goose : Dumbest thing you have ever done
    Enron: please never again
    Cuz: why did he say vhs/dvd ?
    Cardinal : I’m just going to pray Billy Blanks doesn’t see this blast
    YJ : this is a disgrace to the 90s
    Smooth: I’m silently thinking this is less than optimal. Should have Rucked 17 miles instead.

    Ahhh that’s better, now I feel at home

    5 star reviews across the board !

    Long Run Cajun Mosey to Bball court where we discussed the definition of a 90s kid and learned about financial advisor blood feuds.

    We started our 90s tribute with the eras Greatest dance craze mixed with the inventor of the internet.

    “Macarena” by Los del Rios
    Al gore while doing the Macarena.
    Squat on Macarena
    Bobby Hurley 360 jump on Hey Macarena.

    Goose gave us the official dance and Enron has clearly been using those Valentine’s Day dance lessons and was displaying some unusual coordination. lil cuz on the other hand looked like he had a high dose muscle relaxer on an empty stomach but the effort was there.

    Thang 1

    Blockbuster Trivia
    Always be kind and rewind

    Was there anything more 90s than walking into a blockbuster and having the entertainment world at your fingertips. The very foundations of my negotiating skills were laid down when my parents said we get 1 rental …between 4 kids. To honor this forgotten institution and the treasure trove of 90s entertainment YHC mixed some backwards exercises with high risk trivia . Really felt the chatter love crank up here as questions were scrutinized and unruly pax were simply asked to get stronger or leave. We depended heavily on our elder statesmen team of YJ and goose to go 7/10 on trivia . Well done , questions below for the fartsackers.

    If correct sprint/nur full court
    If incorrect bear crawl/crawl bear half court. Followed by exercise.

    1. What year did Forest gump come out? 1994
    20/40 merkins

    2 . What was the highest grossing film of the 90s?
    Titanic
    30/60 Flutter Kicks (2 is 1)

    3. 1997 film with with John malcovich , Nicolas cage, John cusak – Con Air – 10/20 7/14 Airplanes

    4. Which popular 90s child star voiced Simba in the Lion King- Jonathan Taylor Thomas . 40/80 Mountain climbers
    5. How old was Notorious BIG, aka biggie smalls when he was murdered? 24 – 12/24 merkins
    6. Mcauley Caulkin became the first child start to make $1million in this 90s classic ?
    My Girl
    10/20 Carolina dry docks

    7. The tamagotchi angel was one of the highest selling toys of the 90s. Tamagotchi is a japanese combination of what two words?
    Egg and Friend

    10/20 Aussie Sweat Angles

    8. How many champions chips did the bulls win in the 90s?
    10 burpees if correct , 20 if wrong

    9. The USA men’s basketball team known as the dream team won the Olympics in what year ?
    1992

    10. Minimum wage for 7 of the 10 years of the 90s was?
    $4.25
    4 corners 10/ wide, Reg, ranger , diamond Merkin . (20 if wrong )

    The Buddy System

    If anything was drilled into my 90s childhood brain more than quicksand rescue it was the use of the buddy system. From scouting trips to summer camp , the buddy system was the fool proof method to survive life’s harrowing adventures. Well if it ain’t broke, YHC won’t fix it !

    The Buddy System
    Rules :
    Partner Up
    Sprint length of the court together and in flora format complete 90 of exercise (up to you as a team to divide according to your strength) , sprint back and plank up in order and present your buddy alive and well.

    I think this can be a regular occurrence but ran low on time for extra rounds.
    YJ and Goose took first place and continue to rep our north 40 club with grace and advanced cardio.

    The Final Boss

    YHC spent large portions of the 90s conquering Nintendo villains and preparing for life’s final bosses. YHC took a moment to prepare the PAX that we were going to a dark place called 90s one hit wonders. We would need to draw on a deep well of courage to slay this particular one hit wonder dragon. The pax gladiators stood ready …Then YHC opened the gate and JBL unleashed …

    1997’s ultra one hit wonder Hansons “Mmmm Bop
    Burpees on all versions of “bop, dop, pop” , IW on rest.

    Mosey/Sprint back to Aslan(d)
    COT and Goose prayed us out

    In the summer of 1997 I was tasked to complete a summer writing project with the assignment of “ an adventure story”. As you would guess I wasn’t in love with the idea of being pulled away from the OJ trial to do busy work. Buttt against my will I discovered I didn’t mind writing and YHC cranked out the manuscript for “Danger Island “ (killer title right? Well, I was 9 so check yourself)

    It was a classic thrill ride adventure of a boy and his friends in a dark cave battling a mysterious large reptile that picked them off one by one. In the end , it was only defeated by combining their brains and brawn!

    Were agents blowing up the house phone with book deals? Strangely, no.
    Did it look eerily similar to the plot of the 1997 hit Anaconda ? Yes. Yes it did. But let’s focus on what’s important here.

    While reminiscing about my childhood in the 90s and the novella that was Danger Island I could see parallels in life then and now.

    I’ll tell you truth men, most days I’m still standing in that gloom filled cave.

    Knowing the darkness is ever present .

    Knowing that reptile is still prowling and seeking our ruin.

    Knowing it’s Impossible to defeat alone.

    But also knowing the only way out is together, by following our one true source of Light.

    We are tasked to be the Light of the world and F3 helps remind me that we can always shine a little brighter when we know there are others ready to stand beside us in the darkness.

    It was privilege to lead.

    SYITG
    PDox

  • I Wanna Know What Love Is, and I Want Goose to Show Me! – from Goose

    8 PAX arrived by ones and twos for the first ever “Valentine’s Day Tuff” beatdown, and it was clear that these lugs were in need of some educatin’ on the true meaning of love. Thankfully, though YHC may not be a smart man, I know what love is.
    The warmup started with Seal Jacks, which blew everyone’s mind, causing the schismatic tendencies of Yankee Joe, Paradox, and Enron to flare up for the first of the typical ten or so times this beatdown. But, we made it through via synced clapping, which is always a morale booster. Warmup continued with the usuals plus some mountain climbers, high knees, and butt kicks without much of a break between each exercise–YHC knew we needed time for all the lecturing that was to be peppered (heavily) throughout the beatdown.

    We started with a song to get the juices flowing and the cardio system blowing in preparation for another Merkin Mile for time. YHC chose “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys to illustrate that the earliest, shallowest stages of love pretty much consists of idealism and brain chemicals. Though important to the process, this stage should be endured without making any major decisions or doing anything that can’t be undone. So, we let the “good vibrations” and “excitations” be our trigger words for burpees while SSH’s carried us through the rest of the song. Most idealism driven chemicals come and go pretty quick, especially when real life kicks in, like endless burpees.

    The stage after the initial buzz of being struck by the arrow of love is typically a sort of tunnel vision–it takes over all your thoughts and all your time, and you can’t focus on anything else. What better way to navigate this stage than a manly Tunnel of Love. YHC hearkened back to my VQ exactly three years ago where this routine was one of the highlights. You can’t beat crawling through a sweaty man tunnel fraught with stalactites, stank breath, and butt slaps. Once again, being hit with the reality of life is the only way to safely navigate to this stage.

    The third stage of love is usually defined by a sense that we can conquer the world together, there has never been a love as strong as ours, and we’ll “stay right here forever, until the sky falls down on us”. Again, this is chemicals talking, so still not rooted in reality, but an important part of the process, nonetheless.
    This stage would be experienced by the PAX through completing the weekly Merkin Mile (1 mile run w/25 merkins at each quarter mile), which has been given special attention due to the superhuman efforts of Pommel Horse from Lake Charles setting the bar at 7:47. The PAX started with watches synced and a belief that our determination, desire, and confidence (brain chemicals) would see us through to at least a sub 8:00 time. Alas, reality broke through again–nothing kills determination and confidence chemicals like survival instinct chemicals kicking in somewhere between that second and third set of merkins. Self-preservation is ultimately the enemy of love, and every man felt it this morning. The fastest time was 8:25, which was slower than the previous week’s posting, most likely because of that added block that was mistakenly left out last week. But, the push was, again, impressive, and it set us up well for the next stage.

    So, if love isn’t a feeling, if it isn’t just a natural chemical reaction that runs the risk of fading away when things get tough, then what is it? We’re naturally attracted by the “other-ness” of the other, but it’s exactly that “other-ness” that tends to wear on us over time and cause us to go into self-preservation mode. And, our brains actually can’t handle a non-stop flow of those “in-love” chemicals; they actually have to fade for us to be able to properly function. So, what is love, then?
    IT’S A CHOICE.
    When the body says I need to take care of me, it’s a choice to live for another. When I get tired and want to retreat, it’s a choice to push forward into the mystery, into the pain, into the risk of losing it all because the other is truly worth it, and there is so much beauty yet to be discovered.
    This morning, there was so much concrete, grass, and mud yet to be discovered, and the only way to get better at pushing through the instinct to self-preservation is practice. So, since practice makes perfect, and the number 7 is the symbol of perfection, 7’s it would be.

    We started at the stage with 6 curls (for the girls in our lives) and then block and bear across the field to the sidewalk for 1 thruster before murder bunnying back to the stage for 5 curls, etc. The tenacity of the men was impressive, especially Enron’s, who used his sprint/stop/sprint technique and his long limbs to draft YHC for the duration and then powerfully pass me on the last stretch. Also, Smooth Operator continues to show the same solid determination and drive that’s got him #1 in the rucking category for Run Cajun Run–even once time was called, he refused to stop and finished strong on his last stretch of bunnies. What a beast!
    We didn’t finish the 7’s because we still have a long, long way to go before we’re perfect in our ability to love our wives. So, bring on the blocks, bears, bunnies, merkins, burpees, crying babies, financial unknowns, in-laws, mood swings, and getting older. It’s gonna be a helluva ride.

    COT and Paradox prayed us out. It’s an awesome gift to be able to train not just the body but the mind and heart through F3, and it wouldn’t be possible or nearly as fruitful without you guys. Deeply grateful for the camaraderie this morning, and looking forward to continuing to improve with y’all!

    SYITG,
    Goose

  • Reliable Waterpik! – from Shooter

    Picking up the Q on Sunday decided to make use of every corner down and back from the lakefront.

    Warmup was a mixture of 10/15 IC
    Windmills, Toe Touches, SSH, self love, Cherry pickers, arm circles and grass grabbers.

    Thang was Mosey down to lake front stopping at each corner to complete called exercises.
    Started with 5 8count body builders added 10 Merkins, 15 jump squats and 20 Mountain climbers 2/1.

    Great conversation along the way to and from as we returned for Mary with alternating elbow to knee, bridges, LBCs, flutter kicks, scorpion kicks, Superman’s and closed with chillcut plank..

    Prayers for a safe carnival season!!

    Appreciate the post Waterpik

    Until the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • Mardi Gras Mambo Misery – from Bolt

    IMHO, Mardi Gras is the greatest holiday of the year so YHC decided to bring a little bit of that “only in New Orleans” flavor to the Gloom this morning where seven pax showed up. Krewe of PAX members assembled at mid field to ready ourselves for the parade which a couple getting held up briefly by the train. Warm up of the usual stuff except with Mardi Gras music. Time for the Krewe of PAX to meander along the route as there would be inevitable stoppages during which we would pass time with exercises.

    Mosey to the stretching and mobility pavilion for:
    20 ea. right/left leg step ups
    5 Burpee‘s
    20 dips
    Mosey to large Diamond’s bleachers for: Merkin mountain up the bleachers starting at 2 reps
    20 Modified prisoner squats, touching palms to ground at bottom
    Mosey to gym for:
    Calf raise mountain start at 5, adding one/step
    Squat down the mountain start at 2
    Balance work: flamingo stance to hold high knee, to hands free with 5 open/close the gate and switch sides
    Mosey to far end of parking lot, grabbing curb for five burpees, bear crawl to midpoint and plank for six
    5 burpees, crab walk back to curb and 10 dips
    Mosey to near rock pile and circle up to plank for six
    15 mountain climbers
    20 LBCs
    Deca die shall dictate the end of our Mardi Gras season: 1 min peoples chair, 15 tuck jumps, 20 dips
    Mosey back to flag for 5 burpees, COT.

  • Cold Hands, Warm Hearts, Can’t Lose! – from Lil Cuz

    The game is over, you’re a Champion! You finally accomplished all that you have been working towards and now what…relief? Excitement? What comes next? The greatest players of all time always answer one thing to this question. “Let’s get back to work.” Most elite level athletes allow themselves the night of the biggest wins of their careers to celebrate, but when the next morning comes, they are back to working just as hard as if they are rookies again walking onto the field for the first time. This is the mindset that needs to be sought after in order to continue growing throughout life. Living in humility and knowing you can take care of business when the call comes.

    We may not be Superbowl winning level athletes, but we can apply this same work ethic in our everyday lives. We relax and enjoy our families on Sunday but Monday rolls around and it’s time to get back to work and continue on this path with our cross on our shoulder. We march on, thankful to God for the reprieve of Sunday and thankful to God for the strength to keep moving and working to better ourselves. So this Monday morning, in the cold and in the dark; We got back to work…

    Thang 1:

    Start by Shovel Flag with 50 SSH’s.
    – Sprint to concrete on opposite side of field.
    – Bear Crawl to halfway point of field.
    – Mosey around track back to Shovel Flag.

    Complete 25 Merkins.
    – Repeat sprint, bear crawl and mosey back to Shovel Flag.

    Complete 15 Burpees.
    – Repeat sprint, bear crawl and mosey back to Shovel Flag.

    Complete 50 LBC’s
    – Repeat sprint, bear crawl and mosey back to Shovel Flag.

    Complete 40 Jump Squats.
    – Repeat sprint, bear crawl and mosey back to Shovel Flag.

    Thang 2:
    Relay race with the Pax split into 2 teams and team members spread out to the four corners of the Stage track. All Pax doing SSH’s while waiting their turn to run. Runner gets to next Pax on his team and calls a workout of which the next Pax to run would do a set of 15 before running to his next teammate. Two laps and winning team would get to relish in their “prize”. We had some real shiners that chose today to showcase their true speed, and a bunch of racers whose competitive spirit really showed through. The relay was neck and neck the whole way through, but Team 1 pulled out the win in the very last section of the race.

    Winning team would get to choose an additional 5 reps of each workout if they wanted to get the extra burn this morning or could take 5 reps away if they would like to relax. This was chosen in silence between the individual Pax and God, not as a team.

    Thang 3: Back to Thang 1 and this time seemed to be done much slower than the first, and each round felt so much sweeter as we got closer and closer to the end.

    Admittedly, YHC thought that thang 1 would take up much more time, but these fellas came to workout this morning and they weren’t having any slow counts in the cold. Relay race was supposed to be a finishing round but ended up as a middler to really see how far our muscles could be pushed. Everyone pushed so hard to finish and we did it with 1 minute to spare. There was dispute as YHC was under the impression we exercised for an hour during the week but YHC was quickly downvoted and told to lay off the Q-drenaline as we only had 1 minute left.

    :30 – :45 of Mary to close which consisted of 6-inch hold for duration.

    COT, name-o-rama, and Dox prayed us out.

    Thanks for the backblast name, Wet Tap! Cold Hands, Warm Hearts, Can’t Lose! This really has described the Thibodaux F3 Pax throughout the winter and I can’t wait for the next one.

    SYITG,
    Lil’ Cuz

  • First MG Weekend Buy-Back – from Glitter Balls

    Temp: Cold Enough
    Conditions: Nice Enough

    Pax: Cheesesteak, High Rise, Cracklin, YHC.

    I woke up in the bushes outside the Children’s Museum sometime around 0500, daiquiri still in hand and both an umbrella and sunscreen on my person due to the schizophrenic weather of the weekend. Unsure of how I got there, I secreted my kids’ Mardi Gras ladder underneath the ramp only to find cinder blocks and 3 PAX staring at me.

    I guess I signed up to Q, how serendipitous.

    Quick mosey around the figure 8 into 20 SSH, 10 Forward/Reverse Arm Circles, 10 Moroccan Night Clubs, 10 Windmill, 10 Grass Grabbers.

    Partners, timer up ramp to gate and back.

    First set:
    50 Block Merkins
    75 Heavy Freddie’s (2:1)
    150 Step Ups (2:1)

    Second Set:
    75 Chest Press
    100 Block LBCs
    150 Squats

    Third Set:
    75/75/75
    Curls/Flutter Kicks (2:1)/Walleyes

    Mary:
    Heavy Freddies, Skullcrushers, Flutter Kicks, Chest Press

    COT.