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  • Inaugural Fire Fighter Challenge – from Bushwacker

    Since April 27 of this year YHC has been, for better or worse, persona non grata around the F3 northshore. I’ve done my best to show my face at least enough so that yous guys don’t forget what I look like. The Wacker of bushes has been on a journey to become a community servant as a Wacker of Fires. And thus, the long awaited, highly anticipated Fire Fighter Challenge has arrived!

    During academy, and from time to time on shift, we don our turnout gear – boots, pants jacket, hood, helmet, and mask – and go “on air” slinging a self-contained breathing apparatus and 4000 PSI air tank onto our backs – up to 80lbs! We then perform a series of strenuous activities which test our strength, stamina and endurance. And so it was with great preparation and only last minute planning that YHC brought to the men of the Lakefront a facsimile thereof as well as could be expected in the gloom. And, perhaps, a tradition was born?

    WARMORAMA

    In increasing reps starting with 12 (excepting for supersticious 13):
    SSH,
    High Knees
    Butt Kicks
    Cherry Pickers
    Windmills
    Fire Hydrants

    THANG

    We mossied to the gazebo for a few quick rounds of Merkin Waves and Squat Waves. This allowed for 2 things: QIC’s opportunity to count PAX for teams, and one of our resident byciclists, Turbo, to catch up to the crew.

    We then mossied to the shaft where, thanks to help from early birds Steve, Shooter, and Waterpik, the field was set! Breaking up into teams of appx. 3 the PAX lined up, each at a station including the Tire Toss, the Ax Chop, the Tire Flip, the Tire Drag, the Tire Pull, and Moby Chain Drag. While P1 was tackling the task, P2 & P3 was doing a specified exercise, including LBCs, Flutter Kicks, Mnt Climbers, High Knees, Leg Lifts and Gas Pumpers.Somewhere along the way, Waterpick split the massive log, and in a temper tantrum over having not been he who split the mighty oak, the lugubrious Shooter shattered the hickory handle of the ax! There was continuous conversation as men of all ages and capabilities gave it their all battling amongst a sea of black rubber with shimmerings of silver links, all covered in the grassy morning dew. After a couple of rounds, proving to edict that many a hands make light a work, the PAX loaded all the coupons back on the trailer from whence it came, and back to the flag we mosied.

    MARY

    With 3 minutes to spare, it was on your 6 for 20 Putins IC, 20 Flutter Kicks IC, and 100 100s OYO.

    COT

    Count and name-o-rama before naming FNG Dangerfield. Turbo prayed us out. (and Cowbell made it just in time for “Amen”)

    Gentlemen, it was a pleasure that I’ve missed, being back in the main event, and I want to thank ll of you for making F3 Northshore what it is, and allowing me the humble honor of leading you bunch of yahoos through a taste of a new chapter of my life.

    SYITG

  • Sweaty Bells – 12-12-2021 – from Almonaster

    Starting to feel like Christmas!

    PAX Attended:

    – Dinghy
    – Stork
    – Moana
    – Netflix
    – King Kong
    – Jingle Vader
    – Willie
    – Almomaster

    Warm-up.

    SSH – 20 IC
    Arm Circles – 10 IC
    Reverse Arm Circles – 10 IC
    Imperial Walkers – 10 IC
    Grass Grabbers – 10 IC
    Right foot, left foot- 10 seconds each
    Mountain Climbers – 10 IC

    Run a lap.

    Around the head – 10 each way, OYO
    Kettlebell Shrugs – 25 IC
    Kettlebell swings – 20 OYO

    Sets

    Goblet squats X 10 IC
    Right arm squat thrust X 10 IC
    Left arm squat thrust X 10 IC
    Squat thrust X 10 IC

    Rinse and Repeat

    Lunge Walk to Stop Sign and Back.

    2nd Set

    Overhead press X 10 IC
    Bent over rows X 10 IC
    Right arm rows X 10 IC
    Left arm rows X 10 IC

    Rinse and Repeat

    Tricep Ext to Stop Sign and Back.

    3rd Set.

    Big boy sit ups X 10 OYO
    Move the bell between hands plank X 20 OYO
    Right arm plank rows X 10 OYO
    Left arm plank row X 10 OYO

    Curl to Stop Sign and Back.

    4th Set
    LBC’S X 20 IC

    Back to Flag

    Birthdays
    Anniversaries
    Announcements
    Intentions
    Prayer
    Coffeeteria

    Thanks for the opportunity to lead!

  • Battle Frisburpee 2.0 – from Fast Tax

    Battle Frisburpee 2.0
    It was a pleasantly coolish morning at the Uptowner as seven PAX arrived to close out the week. After a quick disclaimer, and ignoring PAX questions regarding any Battle Frisburpee rules changes, we moseyed to the field for warm ups:
    o Grass Grabbers
    o Bat Wings w/ MNC
    o Skydiving Snow Angels

    Unwilling to jump right into the highly anticipated main event, YHC kicked things off with 50 yds of Welsh Dragons:
    While remaining in plank position, PAX bear crawls forward 5 yds, do 1 merkin, 1 plank jack, and tap the BACK of each shoulder 1 time (YHC did forget this part). Repeat adding 1 rep to each exercise each 5 yds – bear crawl forward 5 yds, do 2 merkins, 2 plank jacks, 2 sets of back of shoulder taps… etc. We continued until we got to 10 reps each (50 yds), holding plank for rest of PAX to finish, then mosey back to the middle of the field.

    Thinking that PAX needed some warmup to their Frisbee throwing skills before the main event, YHC selected GO FETCH as the next thang:
    One pax throws a frisbee. All PAX sprint in that direction until frisbee lands. When it lands, all PAX stop and then lunge-walk until they get to the frisbee. First PAXD there gets to throw the Frisbee, rinse and repeat except change out lunge-walk with bear crawl, crab-walk and walk-crab, which YHC apparently got backwards…

    With 25 minutes to go, it was time for BATTLE FRISBURPEE.
    Even though YHC posted the rules on at least three different sites/channels/threads, a reminder of the rules (and a few added clarifications), was still requested by PAX in attendance.

    The revised complete rules are produced at the end of this Backblast.

    With that out of the way YHC will finish the tale…
    Team 1 (shirts): Bogie, Boo-Boo, MacGyver, and Fast Tax
    Team 2 (skins): Scantron, War Eagle, Bolt, and Fast Tax
    Since we had an odd number, YHC switched teams halfway through.

    The battle was close and hard fought with a score of 0-0 at the half. With the transition of Fast Tax to Team 2, the game took a decidedly more one-sided and aggressive (War Eagle) turn. Boo-Boo perfected the slow burpee on top of the Frisbee, while War Eagle demonstrated what full contact Battle Frisburpee could look like. YHC accidentally exhibited where not to throw the ball at an opposing player after which Bogey revealed the depths of his tenor – sorry Bogie. Team 2 pulled ahead and closed out the game 2-0.

    With game over we headed to COT for name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and prayer.
    Followed by Coffeteria at PJs.
    Thanks for the fellowship! SYITG

    Battle Frisburpee – The Concept:
    A blend of ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and dodgeball, with an emphasis on individual burpee punishment, played running the width of a football field (sideline to sideline) as the length and the 5 and 20 yard lines as the left and right boundaries. Each side’s goal begins at the sideline and has a depth of 5 yards in from the corresponding end. This equates to a field 160 yds from end to end, excluding a 5 yd end zone on each side, and a width of 15 yards (or more if more than 10 players). The Goalie Box extends from the back of the end zone to the sideline plus 5 yards in, or 10 yards deep in total.

    Battle Frisburpee – The Rules:
    To score, a PAX must catch the Frisbee in the opposing team’s end zone (duh).
    When a team scores, the entire opposing team must do 3 burpees.
    If the Frisbee is dropped, i.e. thrown but not caught, the last person it touches (usually the one throwing it or the one who muffed the catch) must immediately drop and do 3 burpees. The Frisbee is still “live” and is treated as a fumble, any nearby PAX from either team can pick it up and resume play.

    If the Frisbee goes out of bounds, the last person it touches (usually the one throwing it or whoever it hits on the way out) must immediately drop and do 3 burpees. The Frisbee is “dead” and is treated like a soccer ball that went out of bounds, i.e. the opposing team now stands at the spot it went out and immediately resumes play (without waiting for burpees to be completed).

    If either of the player’s feet or any part of the Frisbee itself crosses the boundary, it is deemed out of bounds (clarification provided for Frac’s sake).

    Each team must appoint a “Baller” to act as a goalie of sorts. The Baller must stay in the Goalie Box if they are holding the ball and can throw the dodgeball at any approaching opposing team member, whether that person is holding a Frisbee or not. A player hit with the ball, must immediately drop the Frisbee, if carrying one, and do 3 burpees. The Frisbee is still “live” and can be picked up immediately by anyone else.

    The player is only “hit” if the ball doesn’t touch the ground first.

    The Baller is the only one who can throw the ball at an opposing player and the Baller must throw only from the Goalie Box.

    The Baller can leave the Goalie Box to retrieve the ball or teammates can retrieve for him. The opposing team cannot interfere with the retrieval of the ball.
    At any time, the Baller can elect to act as a player and run down the field but he must leave the ball in the Goalie Box, thus leaving the Goalie Box unguarded.

    If the Baller accidentally throws the ball at an opposing player’s family jewels, the hit player gets a free pass on burpees. (For Bogie)

    A player carrying the Frisbee can throw the Frisbee at an opposing player (that is guarding too closely) resulting in that player having to immediately drop and do 3 burpees.

  • Baywatch and his annoying bearcrawls…ugh – from Baywatch

    13 PAX joined yours truly on a fine, balmy December morn to get after it at the mother of all AOs…Mothership. It was a chattery bunch at first but that chatter soon turned to huffing and puffing. A disclaimer was given and we moseyed to the peristyle for the warmup:

    1. Arm circles F/B 15 IC
    2. SSH 30 IC
    3. Monkey Merkins 15 IC
    4. Imperial Walkers 20 IC
    5. Hillbillies 20 IC
    6. Peter Parkers 15 IC
    7. Parker Peters 15 IC

    Next came the fun. It’s not a true Baywatch Q without some bear crawls. So, we proceeded to the corner of the great lawn to begin. The thang:

    1st corner: Dying Cockroaches 25 IC
    Run to next corner
    2nd corner: 25 leg raises IC
    Bear crawl to next corner
    3rd corner: 25 flutter kicks IC
    Run to next corner
    4th corner: 25 LBCs IC
    Bear crawl back to start…oh what fun!

    Next we headed over to the parking lot for some modified suicides. The 4 suicide markers were the handicap crosswalks (about 80-90 yards to the last crosswalk marker). We started at the baseline and crab walked to the first marker and returned. Do 5 burpees. Lungewalk to the second marker and back. Do 5 burpees. Hi knee skips to the third marker and back. Do 5 burpees. Finally, run to the end and back. Do 5 burpees.

    Now that the group was less chatty, we did an Indian run over to the fountain in front of the art museum for some Aiken legs. No rest in between– 20 Squats, 20 Box Jumps, 20 Lunges (10 each leg), 20 Split Jacks (10 each leg forward). With that completed, we did an Indian run back to the peristyle to close it out with some ab work. We circled up and did 20 reps IC of penguins, slow wife pleasers, LBTs, and a 6-inches variation exercise by Fracsac that was quite unpleasant. With the clock striking 7:15, we headed back to the flag to close it out with a COT.

  • Better Late than Jump Squats – from Goose

    YHC rolled up hot, about three minutes late, just before Enron could take over and lead the group in 45 minutes of straight jump squats. (He’s fired up to get everyone feeling his pain after posting solo on Saturday and completing 150 jump squats after a three mile run. I can only imagine what the last 30 or so looked like and what the ED White cross country team thought.) PAX consisted of Paradox, Enron, Cardinal, and YHC.

    Warmup: SSH, Windmills, Arm Circles, Imperial Walkers, andSelf Love (a.k.a. Michael Phelps)

    Thang:

    Started with a run around the front loop (with the really big houses) completing one burpee at the first lamppost and adding one at each consecutive lamppost (got up to 13 for a total of 91 total burpees and plenty of concrete dust in my bellybutton).

    Moved on to two Ring(s) of Fire(s):
    -First Ring–PAX held plank in a circle while each took turns doing 10 reps of Merkins, then Plank Jacks, then Reverse Plank Mountain Climbers, then Mountain Climbers.
    -Second Ring–PAX held Al Gore position in a circle while each took turns doing 10 reps of Jump Squats, then Apollo Ono’s (1 is 1), Twinkle Toes (heel raises in Al Gore position), and Lunges (1 is 1).

    Then, PAX partnered up for some partner action:
    1.) Partner 1 held a 6 inch hold while Partner 2 cariaocaed across the field and back (about 40 yards and back), switched, and then repeated with a backwards run there (a.k.a. “nur”) and sprint back.
    2.) Then, Partner 1 held a Mission Impossible Plank while Partner 2 cariocaed and then nur/sprinted the field.

    Had about five minutes left for Mary, and after some comments about gratitude for how much easier core workouts are, we proceeded to complete the following, all IC (“in cadence”) 4-count: 20 Heels to Heaven, 40 Flutter Kicks, and 30 Static Wife Pleasers.

    COT, gratitude for answered prayers, and Enron prayed us out. Extremely grateful to be on the journey with you men!

  • Afternoon Delight – 12-8-2021 – from Almonaster

    Christmas in the air!

    PAX:

    – Big Willy
    – Coast Rat
    – Almonaster

    Warmup:

    SSH – 20 IC
    Arm Circles -10 IC
    Reverse Arm Circles – 10 IC
    Imperial Walkers – 10 IC
    Balance on 1 foot for 10 seconds – Each Foot
    The Morpheus – 10 IC
    Grass Grabbers – 10 IC
    Windmills – 10 IC
    Mountain Climbers – 10 IC

    The Thang:

    Tonight was the night to Mosey around the Track and sing Christmas Jingles from workout station to the next. Perfect weather and clear night!

    Incline Push/Pull Station.
    3 Sets

    Stop at the Bridge.

    Pull through Lunges Right Foot – 10 IC
    Pull Through Lunges Left Foot – 10 IC
    Squats – 10 IC

    Box Jump Station.

    Box Jumps – 10 OYO
    Dips – 10 OYO
    Pullup bar, knee pullups – 10 OYO

    Stop by the Golf Cart Path.

    Merkins – 10 IC
    Bird Dogs – 10 IC
    Bird Dogs Opposite – 10 IC

    Stop by final Curve
    Mary

    LBTC’s – 20, IC
    Flutter Kicks – 20, IC
    Douille’s (Russian Twists) – 20 IC

    Back to Flag

    Birthdays
    Anniversaries
    Announcements
    Intentions
    Prayer

    Thanks for the opportunity to Lead

  • Clearing at the Park… – from Shooter

    YHC arrived to a clear park with all the debris cleaned up at the AO including our previous weeks coupons removed… Zoolander seemed to be the only man posting on this Gloom but then he shared that Bird had EHed him, so at that point I knew we would have at least 3. Then out of the darkness Waterpik arrived getting back to his old ways of running to the AO..

    Brief warmup of all 10IC Good mornings, Toe Touches, Peter Parker’s, Parker Peters, Butt kicks, SSH and Mountain climbers.

    Different route through Mandeville for 3.9 roughly..

    Appreciate the post gentlemen..

    Till the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • The Wood – from Rev Sox

    After YHC’s run on Tuesday, he was exhausted. He comforted himself with the knowledge that tomorrow was Wednesday, and he could take the morning off, sleep in a few minutes, and do some reading.

    At 12:06pm on Tuesday, YHC received a text
    Hawg: Reminder that you have the Q at El Diablo tomorrow.
    YHC Response: Oh I forgot.
    Hawg: You are good? You can do it?
    YHC Response: None sent

    YHC awoke at 4:50am this morning with zero desire to run around Pontiff park and lift rocks. YHC wanted to sleep. YHC wanted to sleep and read. Thanks to Hawg and his stupid texts, he got out of bed, dressed for F3, walked out into the rain, and drove to Pontiff Park.
    YHC prayed a simple prayer on his drive to Pontiff. “Please Lord keep everyone home, so YHC doesn’t need to Q this morning. Encourage my brothers to rest or at least go to other AOs today.” In the Lord’s goodness, He did not give YHC the answer he sought. 7 Pax join YHC this morning.

    Following the most encouraging disclaimer in F3 NOLA history, “I don’t want to be here. I am not looking forward to this, and I made no plans for this workout. This is obviously not a professional workout. Don’t hurt yourself.” The Pax was off to mosey to the rock pile.

    The Warm-Up
    SSH – 27
    Imperial Walkers – 20
    Shoulder taps – 20
    Annies – 20
    Hillbillies – 20

    At this point Mahatma mentioned that he brought the wood, so YHC made an audible and decided to do something from different from his initial workout plans of nothing. Pax! Mosey to Mahatma’s truck.
    Sadly there were only six wood pieces in the back of Mahatma’s truck, so with eight Pax in total, YHC went the Dora route to make use of the wood.

    Dora on the Football Field
    Pair off for 100 rows, 200 curls, 300 chest press all with the wood. The partner runs forward to mid-field and backwards on the return trip to his partner while the partner knocks out the exercises.

    Route 66 but Not Really
    Drop the wood off at the flag, mosey to the rock pile, grab a rock, and go to the field lined with trees.
    10 trees are our markers. One shoulder press with rock at tree one. Two shoulder presses at tree two… Between the trees do one genuflect after the shoulder presses and then lunge walk to the next tree. Final set with 10 shoulder presses, so not a true Route 66.
    Return your rocks

    Mary
    Flutter kicks – 20
    Wife pleasers – 20
    Hello Dolly – 15
    Penguins – 15
    Mosey Back to the Flag

    The Closing
    Count-Off, Announcements, Intentions, Prayer in a Sweaty Ball of Man
    Thank you men for allowing YHC the privilege to lead. He didn’t want to be there, but as always, the men of F3 make YHC a better man, and he can only hope to do the same for all of you.
    And Rudy said my book is the 2nd best book he has ever read after the Bible.
    – Rev Sox

  • Seven…seven…7…seven…7….(holds up seven fingers) 7! – from Russo

    55 degrees and chilly drizzle greeted Super Ants JV and YHC this morning for a few rounds of 7s. Plenty of Raider Pride to go around.

    Warmup (primarily IC, 15 to 20x each)
    – SSHs
    – Arm circles
    – Hillbillies
    – Toe touches
    – Cherry pickers
    – Mosey 400 yards-ish around the warehouse

    Thang
    7 was again the magic number, a biblically perfect number of reps for the 7th day of the month.

    Multiple rounds of 7 alternating exercise, with a different movement to get us from column to column.

    7 merkins
    Nutcrackers between the 7 columns
    7 LBCs (Round performed 2x)

    7 hip slappers (2 is 1)
    Bear crawl between the 7 columns
    7 gas pumps (Round performed 2x)

    7 plank jacks
    Reverse lunges between the 7 columns
    7 monkey humpers

    7 shoulder tap merkins
    Hallelujah squats between the 7 columns
    7 Hello Dollie’s

    Between each round, we moseyed around Granny’s, each round a longer mosey than the previous. YHC was often distracted by the twinkly lights for Christmas.

    After round 6, we wrapped up with a customary trip up and around the pilot house as a modified round 7 for the completest.

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

    T claps to my partner in crime JV for keeping me focused and entertained.

  • Remembering Pearl Harbor on this 80th anniversary of December 18, 1941 – from Hokie

    On this day we welcomed Triple Shift, War Eagle, Short Bus, T-Square, McGyver and Netflix to remember and honor Pearl Harbor … on December 7, 1941, the residents of Honolulu, Hawaii, awoke to the sound gun fire. At 8 a.m. that morning, Japanese planes flew over Pearl Harbor – the U.S. Naval base located just outside the Honolulu – and dropped bombs on the harbor and the surrounding airfields. More than 1,500 crewmen died and two battleships sank to the bottom of the harbor. USS Arizona (BB-39) and USS Oklahoma (BB-37)

    The Warm Up on this 80th anniversary… 80 reps
    20 Imperial Walkers
    20 Side Straddle Hops
    10 Slow Vagodas
    15 Forward Arm Circles
    15 Backwards Arm Circles

    The Thang

    B.O.M.B.S. – 12 reps at 7 Stations with 19.41 yards (12.07.1941) of Mode of Transportation between the 7 stations

    7 Stations with 12 reps at each station as we moseyed down the mall. At end, do shoulder TAPS waiting on the six

    President Franklin D Roosevelt said, “December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

    B – Bicep Curls | 19.41 yards of Rifle carries with coupons between each station
    The attack killed 2,403 service members and wounded 1,178 more, and sank or destroyed six U.S. ships,. They also destroyed 169 U.S. Navy and Army Air Corps planes. The Japanese losses included 29 aircraft, in addition to five midget submarines, and 129 attackers were killed and one taken prisoner

    O – Overhead Press | 19.41 yards of Lunges with coupon between each station
    USS California
    A number of other boats were sunk in the attack, but later recovered and repaired.
    M – Merkins ~ Staggered | 19.41 yards with mosey carry coupon any way you want
    USS West Virginia
    USS West Virginia (BB-48) was sunk by six torpedoes and two bombs during the attack on Pearl Harbor, but in May 1942, was salvaged from the seabed by draining the water from the hull.
    B – Burpees | 19.41 yards with mosey carrying coupon on shoulders like a ruck carry
    USS Cassin and USS Downes
    USS Cassin (DD-372) and USS Downes (DD-375) were Mahan-class destroyers. The two destroyers were in dry-dock at Pearl Harbor during the attack, when an incendiary bomb ignited fuel tanks on Downes. Cassin slipped from her keel blocks and rested against Downes which were both destroyed by uncontrollable fires. Both ships were considered lost, but their machinery and equipment were salvaged and sent to Mare Island Navy Yard where entirely new ships were built around the salvaged material and given the wrecked ships’ names and hull numbers.
    S – Squats | due to time… we stayed and did 80 squats on the 80th anniversary

    USS Oglala
    USS Oglala (ID-1255/CM-4/ARG-1) was a minelayer and was the flagship of the Pacific Fleet Mine Force. Japanese torpedo planes of the first attack surge hit the cruiser with a single torpedo, and Oglala rapidly took on water and sank. She was later salvaged in 1942 and continued service until 1965 (after being redesignated as an internal combustion engine repair ship ARG-1).

    COT
    Discussion on December 18th and whether event was purely social or workout included
    1st mention of crazy Ivan… date to be confirmed (speculated as January 15th)

    Thank you for opportunity to pay respect to all those who have served and do serve.