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  • BASIL the Skinny Elf

    BASIL the Skinny Elf

    YHC is rarely able to make a Monday beatdown due to work. As a matter of fact, YHC has only made three Rock City beatdowns, with one of those as the Q. With YHC taking today off, it was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of attending the Skinny. Upon looking at the Q list and seeing Douille lined up to lead, YHC asked if he would allow this Pax to take the helm. The Mighty Douille obliged and YHC was all set up to Q. This request took place at the Mothership. A few minutes later, YHC realized he had never even posted at the Skinny. YHC arrived a few minutes early to find the Audubon Zoo grassy areas muddy and nearly unusable. YHC asked Douille where we normally warmed up at, and he pointed in exactly the opposite direction of YHC’s plan. So much for a standard Skinny…..

    With 3 minutes to go, there were only about 5 Pax on site. With 2 minutes to go, a parade of cars flooded the parking lot, suddenly making us 18 strong. It was time to get down to business. YHC thanked Douille for allowing me the opportunity to lead, then introduced the Pax to Santa’s Chief Elf, Basil. Basil wasn’t with us, but the Pax would soon get to know each letter of his name.

    Brief Disclaimer, and a mosey across Magazine to the driest grassy area we could find at the zoo.

    Warmup
    SSH IC x 31
    IW IC x 15
    Arm Circles IC x 10 Fwd and 10 Bwd
    Peter Parker IC x 20
    Mountain Climber IC x 20
    Parker Peter IC x 20
    Grass Grabbers IC x 10

    First COP
    The first letter of Basil is B!  We can’t forget about Santa though.  SSH for Santa and Burpees for Basil!

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 10 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 9 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 8 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 7 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 6 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 5 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 4 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 3 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 2 Burpees OYO

    SSH IC x 5 followed by 10 Burpees OYO

    This was a real Crowdpleaser! Lots of Mumblechatter about No Burpee Mondays….

    Now for the A in Basil…..Agassis…aka Suicides! YHC had some cones set up in the parking lot.

    Sprint to first line and back – 5 merkins, Sprint to Half way and back – 5 merkins, Sprint to 3rd line and back – 5 merkins, sprint full length and back – 5 merkins. The Pax was thrown off by only one set, but YHC had more to get to!

    Time for the S in Basil…..The Suck! Circle up on the somewhat dry grassy area. SSH x 6, Jump Squats x 6, Merkins x 6. Repeat as many times as possible in 3 minutes, calling out each round as it gets completed. Completed two rounds with one minute rest between them.

    The I in Basil is for Indian Run. Two column Indian Run back to the gathering area.

    The L in Basil stands for Ladder Merkins…..it’s the best I could do. Start at first light post, run to second and do 20 merkins, return to first light post and do 19 merkins, then back to second for 18 and so on back and forth. We made it to 17 when YHC realized this would take way too long to complete. Quick audible, as well as Drew Brees calls ’em, and we finished with 5 Burpees at light post one, and 5 Burpees at Light post two.

    6 Minutes for Mary

    Tin Snips IC x 20
    Flutter Kicks IC x 20
    Hello Dolly IC x 20
    LBC's IC x 20
    penguins IC x 20
    Dying Cockroach IC x 20
    American Hammer IC x 10

    COT for Count off, Name-o-Rama, Announcements, Intentions, and closed with a prayer to the Sky Q.

    Special thanks to Douille for allowing me to take the Q, and a big thank you to the awesome Uptown Crew for posting with me today.

    In a new turn of events, 9 Lives was dubbed Meow Meow, which he announced as his new F3 name during Name-O-Rama…..Who is YHC to object?

    Coffeeteria at PJ’s was a great experience as always, with some great F2!

    SYITG!

  • Let’s MOSEY

    With no World Cup Soccer themes or any other ideas for a “LOVE FEST Beatdown” dancing in my mind, YHC figured it would be a good time to work off some of those holiday calories that invariably crop up at this time of year.  So, with a big crowd (T-Claps guys) on the day before Christmas Adam, here’s more or less how it went down:

    To get the blood flowing, we did a brief round of SSH, HK, and BK to warm up.  all IC x 15.

    Mosey Eastward, Circle up for some harder hitting exercises before the main course.  Smurf Jacks IC x 20, Monkey Humpers IC x 20, Shooter’s Burpos OYO x 10.

    Now it was time to MOSEY again, however, this time we went westward.  It was back to the corner of Marigny and Lakeshore Dr for some RACES…(Yes, Bushwacker, you heard that correctly).  YHC divided the PAX into two random groups, and each group took turns racing around the first block of Marigny St (around the circle).  While one group was running, the other group did a continuous exercise.  Rinse and repeat x 3.  The exercises were T-Merkins, Squats, Shoulder Taps.  After some pretty intense running, it was time to MOSEY again…this time we went Eastward, all the way to the PULL UP BARS beyond the outfield fence at Harbor Field.  And that distance may have been a little farther than YHC had remembered, as the PAX thinned to a barely connected group.  Once the PAX re-assembled, it was time for some pullups.  As each man did a set of up-to 5 pull ups (apologies to Zoolander and The Hammer, both of whom can clearly can pop out around 20), the remaining PAX did and exercise.  First it was Imperial Walker Squats, then it was Mack Taraji’s, and last it was, Flutter Kicks.  After 3 rounds, and some really cold hands, we MOSEYED back to the flag for a brief set of Mary.  COT, and YHC prayed us out.  Welcome to our FNG, One Eye.  Thanks for letting me take the lead today and pushing me to greater heights!

    Barely Legal, Bolt, Bubba, Bushwacker, Coconuts, Garfield, Jose Mourinho, Mathlete, Maverick, One Eye (FNG), Shooter, Toto, The Hammer, THE Manny, Tanked Up!, Zoolander

  • No Shorty, No Problem

    Late Monday evening, the PAX checked the Q sheet – lo and behold, Shorty was listed!  Could it be?  Would he make a long-awaited return to the Stomp?

    Short answer: No.

    But that didn’t stop the 4 PAX who gathered to dash off into the thick soupy fog.  Typical Stomp: 20 mins out and back, saving some time for Mary.  Thanks, Smooth, for hanging back with me for the outbound leg.  Great chit-chat.  As YHC turned at Tulane for the return trip, Smooth decided to continue the outbound.  Whoosh – he disappeared into the gloom.  YHC returned, crossing paths with Woz and Hawg on the way back.  And of course, as we neared the Shovel Flag – Smooth sailed past us, barely breaking a sweat.

    Finished up with some Mary around the flag.  Thanks for the great run, gentleman.  Maybe next week, we’ll see Shorty again.

  • 12 days of Christmas – again

    A chilly 46 degrees and windy means a cold mountain at the top of Wolfpack Mtn. I had a few ideas in my head but I waited until the PAX gathered before committing to a plan for the whole workout. El Wire greeted me with his classic – he Yankee is that the North star?

    It was so wet on the Avenue I decided to skip a classic Tinkles move by Blimping on the avenue – instead we went straight to the base of WOLFPACK MTN.

    We circled for a warmup – SSH x 20, Hillbillies x 20, Mtn Climbers x 20 and Imperial Walker Squats x 20.

    Then the thang. We did an Indian run up the Mountain. Each of the 2 lines had a football. The first guy would throw the football back to the 6. The 6 would sprint to the front of the line with his football. Then he would throw the football back to the six. If the football was dropped the punishment was 3 burpees. Team one only did 6 burpees up the mountain. Team two did 15 burpees up the mountain.

    Once we got to the top we circled up for a 12 days of Christmas replay.

    1. Burpees
    2. 2 V-Ups
    3. Peter Parkers
    4. FLutter Kicks **After this we did a lap down/up the stairs
    5. Rising Suns
    6. Dying Bugs
    7. Plack Jacks
    8. Bycicles **After this we did a lap down/up the stairs
    9. Merks
    10. Russian Twists
    11. Low Country Crab
    12. Burpees

    We finished with 5 min left – ran to the benches and we did a side crunch exercise that I wanted to try — 10 OYO on each side. Not sure if that exercise is for everyone.

    This was my last Q of 2018. I enjoyed being with you guys – I appreciate the accountability. We prayed for digits and her PAX and family in South Carolina.

    Merry Christmas you filthy animals!


  • Twas the Murph before Christmas…


    Written by: The Alabama Poet

    Twas the Murph before Christmas and all through the park not a creature was stirring except four PAX in the dark. 

    The question was asked “What will we do? Should we modify or would a real Murph do?” 

    A debate ensued and the majority ruled, four PAX ran out into the gloom. 

    A few steps in the oldest PAX bailed. He went to the track to forge his own trail.

    The three PAX continued then up on the track there stood such a puddle they ran through the grass.

    Then on to the playground where our oldest PAX stood. We decided twenty rounds of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 squats would be good. 

    Then on to a discussion about a super seafood salad it carried on like a longwinded ballad

    The time kept ticking as the rounds kept going we completed the twenty then back to the one-mile and closing.  

    A modified mile to avoid the big blue then a sprint to the finish War Eagle he flew. 

    On Bogey, on Eagle, on Pai Gow, and old Amnesty too…

    Merry Christmas to all and to all a fit night…

    On a serious note, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone. Continue to remember those who are celebrating Christmas alone and those who are celebrating their first and last Christmas with a dear loved one. Finally, remember that Jesus is the true reason for the season.

  • Sprinting the Canal St Mountain

    Warm Up

    All in cadence x 15 except where noted

    Single leg swings

    Side lunges

    Front Lung with elbow touch the ground – hold for 5 count – introduced by Tool at Foundry

    Scorpion kicks

    Star Plank – hold for 30 count

    One leg lung jumps – this would need practice to be effective.

    1st – Thang – Catch me if you can – run around the fountain

    Pax lined up – Shoulder Press to 20 – Each Pax would count their rep out loud, once reaching 10 the Pax to their left would start, 1st Pax reaching 20  would sprint around the fountain with the next pax once reaching his 20 in chase this continued until all Pax completed 20 reps and attempted to catch the pax ahead of them.

    Rinse and repeat except 20 jump squats

    Mosey to the Canal St. Mountain

    Pax split into 2 groups of 4 –

    1st effort sprint to the top of Canal St Mnt. – do 10 Merkins walk back down same side- 10 more merkins

    2nd effort sprint to the top of Canal St. Mnt – 10 Merkins walk down back side 10 more merkins

    3rd effort sprint up and over to starting point. 10 Merkins

    Mosey midway back – introduce new effort – All PAX got into a high plank then did a double under (both feet forward) into a jump squat (legs spreading apart like a jumping jack), transition down to a low plank with a double Peter Parker back to a high plank x 5

    Mosey to levee – EMOM – 1-5 start with decline merkin x 1 – run up and over the other side there perform Prison up down (hands over head dropping to alternating knees) x 5 run up and over now decline merkins x 2 up and over then Prisoner Up down x 4 continue until the # are reversed.   Key is PAX only got as much rest they earned completing the task in 1 minute before having to start again.

    Mosey to flag for some Mary

    All 25 x 4 count – Between each effort PAX would transition into high plank for 30 sec count

    LBC

    Crunch with heel touch

    Crunch with legs straight up touching toes (similar to DC)

    Crunch while reaching hands between legs

    Straight leg scoops over head

    Circle Up – Count Off – Name O – Prayer of Thanks giving

  • Christmas came to the Westbank

    Christmas came to the Westbank

    On 20 Dec, Christmas came to the Westbank, F3 style!

    After a quick warm-up, we celebrated a Christmas tree, then we did some Reindeer Hops, and ended by opening gifts!

    Christmas Tree (Pyramid)

    Christmas Tree

    We partnered up and then did the following exercises. One partner did the exercise while the other did a half lap. Then we switched.

    • 50 – Burpees
    • 100 – Overhead Claps
    • 150 – Merkins
    • 200 – Squats
    • 150 – Merkins
    • 100 – Overhead Claps
    • 50 – Burpees

    Reindeer Hops (Caterpillar)

    Reindeer Hops

    PAX got down in low-plank position. Allow 2-3 feet between PAX. Last man box-jumps over the planking PAX to the head of the line, Indian Run style. We continued for 25 yards.

    Opening Christmas Gifts

    F3 Workout Deck

    I purchased a F3 Workout Deck in August, but never used it. Today was the day we opened it. We played a quick round of Texas Hold ’em Poker. Winner’s two cards determined the amount and type of exercise.

    • 10 – 4 count Flutter Kicks

    We ended the morning workout with name-arama, intentions, and prayers for a safe and memorable Christmas.

    Merry Christmas from everyone on the Westbank!

  • Stifler’s Mom Down the River and Through the Quarter

  • Run and Remember

    -“A thousand tragedies a day, but the one’s that hit home are the most real.”

    I heard about Lexington, SC FiA’s Diane “Digits” Wells’ unfortunate and untimely death Tuesday morning while she was doing something we City Hall Scramblers take for granted…running. She left behind a husband and 3 small children. Digits was a leader who lived the FiA principals. As an avid runner, she did everything right, wearing reflective clothing and lights, but was still struck down in the middle of a crosswalk. Her story occupied my mind while we ran.

    While we celebrate Jesus’ birth and the myriad of blessing in our lives, please keep her family and friends in your prayers.

    sneaker-tree.jpg

    WARMUP

    10xs IC:

    Toe Touches

    Windmills

    Imperial Wackers

    Willy Mays

    Fire Hydrants

    Tradish Old Mandeville route at an 8:30-8:45/min mile pace

    6 sets, each x10, 1-count IC:

    High Knees

    Squats

    Merkins

    Plank Jacks

    COT

    Q prayed us out, with special intentions for Digits

    Many thanks gentlemen!

  • A Few of my [least favorite] Things

    When YHC set out to plan this workout, I first considered a few exercises that I felt I could handle with little threat of splashing Merlot or generally embarrassing myself. But then it dawned on me: this is my chance to repay those who have made me so sore I can barely lift my arms the next day and reduced me to a sweating, panting mess. So at 5:30 AM, after a quick disclaimer, we set off, 12 PAX strong, to see about returning the favor to some of my F3 brothers gracious enough to appear for my VQ.

    WARMUP

    YHC had a few tricks up my sleeve for the warmup, but the conditions quickly caused a change of plans. So we did a more traditional warmup:

    SSH, Peter Parker, Imperial Walkersx20

    Run in place, high knees, butt kicks, chop feet (this was a hs wrestling warm-up that would normally include some up-downs, but YHC decided it would be unpopular to get everyone completely drenched in the first 5 minutes). Mosey to Canal blvd for

    Station 1

    Pair up. One partner, Bernie Sanders up the hill, while the other works on 200 Floyd Mayweathers, 100 big boy situps, and 25 burpees. Cross the street very carefully in the fog for…

    Station 2

    Route 55 with burpees on the way out, Merkins on the way back in. PAX instructed to begin in opposite directions on this very foggy morning so as not to collide. Mosey to the leveee for…

    Station 3

    What is an Okwata workout without an Indian Run? A bit of mumblechatter about how Indian Run + disperse would have been the more manly option, but at this point, I was just glad to be still moving. Maybe next time we can thrown in a Bataan Death March.

    Mosey to Flag and Finish Up

    Continuing the theme, I had picked out several of my least favorite exercises to share with the PAX

    Planking, high, low, one arm up, other arm up for about as long as I could go

    Monkey Humpersx20

    Dying cockroachesx20

    LBC’sx20

    Flutter Kicksx20 (led by the flutter kick king, JV)

    Frac Sac’s favorite exercise that I cannot remember the name ofx20

    And a few rounds of burpees o/y/o to close it out.

    Count-o-rama, Name-o-rama, we discussed the Crazy Ivan, prayed for Brad Brechtel, and Rudy led us in a fine prayer.

    On a serious note: I’m infinitely grateful for all of you who have pushed me, made me do countless [hated] burpees, made me plank until I felt like my arms would crumble, and inflicted all other sorts of punishment that made me tougher both mentally and physically. To name all the names of those who have pushed me – especially since I’ve been back the past few months – would be like writing out the entire members list, but I’m especially grateful to Mahatma, Frac Sac, Jingle Vader, Rudy, Mambi, Abacus, Tool, Two Yutes, and too many others to name, who never spare words of encouragement and motivate me to better.

    Getting to lead an F3 workout of such a strong group is a honor, and I hope I was able to deliver. It means a lot that so many of you showed up for my VQ, and I look forward to doing it again soon.

    -Kuch