Category: New Orleans

  • Rumble with the MotherShip Marauders

    What a blessing to be standing in the early morning Summertime bright gloom for a Saturday MuscleShip adventure through the park. 7 Pax gathered a short disclaimer of self awareness of safety and effort was given and the fun began.

    Mosey to the baby foundry – along our route we picked up Grimace so QIC was happy with an even number for partner workouts planned. We circle up for a quick warm up:

    Slow toe touches with a hold at the bottom x 10

    Slow right leg lunch with a hold x 5 – repeat left leg x 5

    SSH x 20

    Michael Phelps x 10

    Peter Parkers x 15

    Partner up – Pax moved over to the pull up bars – idea was every Pax was to complete 10 dead hang pull ups with a spot from their partner. QIC noticed at the recent Murph, most (including the QIC) would resort to short-arming pullups especially as we got tired.  Using a spot helps work on form, confidence and strength.  After the 1st set each, PAX would do 20 LBCs or WWII sit ups, then repeat.

    Mosey over to the block pile (QIC came prepared, dropping off cones prior to meeting at AO), we only had 8 and there was a plan to use the tires (that have surprisingly be left untouched by City Park staff). As the MuscleShip Pax was focused on getting our gear in place and the “workout” task ahead, who should arrive but a group of unruly marauders of the Mothership, asserting claim to all the blocks and open space for themselves.  They attempted to intimidate the smaller Pax of 8 yet, QIC felt confident in our ability to out perform even the loudest chirping Cotter from their group.  Most had a hard time staying focused on their workout as they watched in awe of the sweat generating effort the MuscleShip Pax of 8.

    The Thang on Display –

    Two groups of partners (4 Pax) – 2 large tires.

    One Pax on his back leg pressing the tire while the partner stood in the tire adding extra weight. This did take some balance and coordination – lagniappe to the work.

    Each Pax did 50 leg presses and 25 chest press – flip flop.

    The other group of 4 –

    Pax 1 farmer carry blocks from one end of cones to the next, while Pax 2 does Squat Press – as Pax 1 is on his way back switch to prisoner overhead squat press.

    Flip Flop

    Now All 4 Pax lined up at cones did one push up on the block – 2 Over Head Lunge – 2 push ups with 4 Over Head Lunge – 3 push ups with 6 Over Head Lunge until reaching the other end of cones, RUN back with block over head. Rinse and Repeat.

    Finally – block around the trunk – PAX partners standing back to back pass the block x 10 each direction.

    FLIP FLOP with the PAX on the Tires.

    NOTE: MotherShip Marauders midway through seeing this beatdown effort couldn’t “stand” around any longer so they quietly returned their blocks and moseyed off to “Merryland”……to be seen again later at coffeteria!   Great stories of workout beatdowns were shared along with “catfishing” tales.

    MuscleShip Pax returned out gear (blocks and tires) yet still had something left in the tank…..so behind the pace of GreenScreen we headed back to the Museum fountain.

    20 incline merkins followed by 7 in unison inchworm burpees.

    Mosey over to the tree field for some core:

    1 minute low plank

    1 minute of scoops

    1 minute of flutter kicks

    1 minute of high plank

    1 minute of stretching

    The mission was accomplished!

    COT – After namorama and prayer of thanks giving – the PAX broke for the day!

    I’m grateful to have the opportunity to lead as well as the camaraderie that comes with being an F3 brother. We hold a bond of accountability – even when meeting up with (or at times being) Marauders!

  • Ran Back Mountain

    39 PAX met up on the last day of May, which was hot and humid. It was also the last day of the ISI challenge, and maybe that’s why we have close to 40 PAX. YHC couldn’t believe there were no FNGs with that many people. At 5:30, YHC gave his standard disclaimer and off went the PAX.

    Warm-ups

    Short mosey to the palm trees on Loyola campus and did the following in cadence:

    Windmills x 10

    Forward Arm Circles x 10

    Backward Arm Cirlces x 10

    SSHs x 20

    Hill Billies x 20

    MC x 20

    Burpees x 10 OYO (few mumblechatter to start off the day)

    PAX then moseyed to the bottom of the WPM. All PAX ran up the entire mountain backwards, but stopped at each flat level and did the following exercises:

    1. 20 x slow merkins IC
    2. 25 x LBCs IC
    3. 20 x Burpees OYO (a lot of mumblechatter here)
    4. 20 x Leg Raises IC
    5. 25 x King Kong Shoulder Taps IC (2 = 1)
    6. Fans’ favorite 20 x Burpees OYO (even more mumblechatter)
    7. 20 x Imperial Walkers IC (2 = 1)
    8. 20 x Plank Jacks IC
    9. 20 x Hello Dolly IC
    10. 10 x Burpees OYO (heard some sarcastic comments about only 10 burpees)

    At the top of the WPM, PAX enjoyed the view of the sunrise over the Superdome and Downtown NOLA for few seconds…. then a Round of Mary with the help of the PAX

    King Kong – Dying Cockroach x 20 IC

    Screw Top – Protractor for few minutes (seems forever)

    Kuch – Low Country Crabs x 20 IC

    Jesus Juice – American Hammers x 20 IC

    Yo Mama’N’Dem – WWII Sit Ups x 20

    Jesus Juice yelled out “why are you picking on the Lakeview folks?” YHC was just showing appreciation that these guys are consistently driving from LV to Uptown for a beatdown.

    Moseyed back to the flag at 6:15 a.m. A lot of mumblechatter about the burpees this morning, but we ended up with 60 burpees. We all got stronger today.

    COT

    Count-O-Rama 39 PAX, Name-O-Rama, announcements, intentions. We prayed for safe travels during the summer. We also prayed for Da Parish’s Cousin for a successful treatment at MD Anderson. We are thankful for our health and our ability to workout with each other on a regular basis. Thank You all again for the opportunity to lead. SYITG

    King Kong

  • 21’s at the Muscleship

    YHC saw the previous week that the Mucsleship did not have a Q and took the opportunity Q his first visit to the Muscleship.  Quick disclaimer was given and warm up.

    Warm-Up

    Smurf Jacks x 21

    Imperial Walkers x 21 (the PAX quickly saw a theme but were incorrect YHC did not hit the black jack tables the night before)

    Seal Jacks x 21

    Grass Grabbers x 21

    Wind Mills x 21

    21’s – I had seen this in a back blast from Fracsac not long ago and saw it at the top of the exercise list on the F3 website.  SSH were the exercise of choice and this a more of a mental test than physical test.  YHC would count in cadence to 5 and then the PAX would have to count in their head and stop right at 21.  If the PAX stopped before or after YHC there would be a penalty.  To my surprise our attempt at this was a success and no penalty was levied.

    Bear Crawl Ring of Fire

    PAX remained circled up and bear crawled in a circle until YHC said stop and then YHC did 10 merkins while the PAX planked and once each PAX completed 10 merkins the bear crawled continued.  Two rounds was enough to get the juices flowing.

    Thang 1

    Dirty McDuce

    Round 1

    Derkins x 12

    Right Leg Step Ups x 12

    Dying Cockroach x 12

    Lap around the museum

    Round 2

    Shoulder Taps x12

    Left Leg Step Ups x 12

    Russian Twists x 12

    Lap around the museum (during which YHC was advised by Frac that there should have been a penalty on the 21’s as Screw Top finished after YHC, turns out my back was to Screw Top and missed him finishing late.  We will tests the group one the 21’s again later).

    Round 3

    Irkins x 12

    Squats x 12

    Freddie Mercuries x 12

    Lap around the museum

    Round 4

    Floyd Mayweahter’s x 12

    Box Jumps x 12

    Hello Dolly x12

    Lap around the museum

    Thang 2

    Good ole Route 66

    1 Burpee at tree one and lunge walk to tree two

    2 Burpee’s at tree two and lunge walk to tree three

    And repeat until we hit tree 11 for 11 Burpee’s

    Now that everyone’s was gas tank was approaching empty YHC decided to once again test the mental strength of the group and we revisited the 21 exercise.  This time keeping a close eye on Screw Top who was clearly focused on the task at hand but could not match YHC cadence.  I will take the blame for that but alas this time a penalty of 10 Burpee’s was levied to the group.

    Thang 3

    Hurricane Hoedown

    This consist of 7 rounds of 4 variations on flutter kicks with each round reducing the count by 1.

    Each round we did the following flutter kicks: hands raised, hands out in front, on your elbows and then standard flutter kick.

    The PAX assisted YHC with someone taking a round.

    Last of the exercise was two rounds of merkin ring of fire with each PAX doing 10 merkins and planking while the others completed their merkins.

    With a little time on the clock YHC thought it would be a good idea to do some stretching when Kenna Brah volunteered to lead the stretching.  We will spare the details but it will be a long time before YHC entrusts Kenna Brah to close out the workout with some “good stretches.” 

    COT

    Count O Rama, Name O Rama, announcements, intentions and prayer.  As always it is an honor to lead and workout with the F3 brotherhood.  SYITG.

  • Rolling Stones

    Since the Rolling Stones didn’t get to play Jazz Fest, it was only appropriate to pay them homage. Not to mention, Rudy was back from “surgery”, kind of like Mick Jagger. Did you see Jagger’s dance moves after heart surgery? Yeah, we didn’t get that from Rudy today.

    Warmup:
    Side straddle hop
    Wind mills
    Grass grabbers
    Low slow squats
    Mountain climbers
    Peter Parkers 
    Box cutters
    Flutter kicks
    Arm circles

    Workout:

    Head to the Football field with rocks

    Throw your rock for 25 yards, then do 40 reps, throw 25 yards, 30 reps, throw 25 yards, 20 reps, throw 25 yards, 10 reps.

    Do the above set for each of these:

    Triceps
    Curls
    Rows
    Presses
    Squats

    Suicide run back to opposite end zone

     

  • Creating Some Steam

    After traveling for 2 weeks hitting AOs in Houston and Phoenix, I was looking forward to being back with my local brothers. After Saturday’s beat down, QIC was reviewing the sign up sheet and saw a need…..so on this balmy morning of gloom it’s time to create some steam!

    After disclaimer given – mosey off to warm up! Pax ran to the block pile each Pax grabbed two then headed to field and circled up:

    • Toe Touch and Hold 3 count x 10
    • Side lung left and right x 10
    • Peter Parkers x 10
    • Scorpion Kicks Right and Left x 10
    • With Block Overhead Press x 20
    • With Block Low Slow Toe Hoover hold 10 count x 10

    Pax separated into 4 groups then each group headed to starting point form a line; one arm bear crawl block drag across the field Left Arm Out then Right Arm Back – Aprox 4 yards each way.

    Next Same Groups lined up for relay – Pax 1 farmer carry 2 blocks across the field while Pax 2 bear crawled behind, Pax 3 farmer carry while Pax 4 bear crawled – swap rolls on the way back.

    Next relay same groups (now with penalty incurred by last place team) Pax 1&2 on one side Pax 3&4 on the other.  Pax 1 ran with block overhead to other end of field while all other Pax overhead pressed blocks, Pax 3 ran the opposite direction while others in group continued to press, then Pax 2 ran, then pax 4.  All ran with block overhead and others in group pressing.

    Next relay same run across the field – this time all in group curling

    Next relay same run across the field – this time all chest pressing

    Now groups 1&2 combined (group of 8) with 3&4 combined (group of 9) – one block each group with passed via Indian Plank across the field approx. 80 yards – team 1&2 losing team 5 burpees.

    Same teams switch sides – this time it was a photo finish – but team 1&2 redeemed themselves with 3&4 doing 7 burpees and 3 to 1&2 for the oh so close win!

    Return our blocks – Mosey back to the flag – 1 minute stretch!

    COT – F3 is a true brotherhood in that our spirit is carried over to all states and cities and I’m grateful to the ability to workout on the road.  It was nice to have Redeye from The Woodlands TX join us for the beatdown as I’ve gotten many with their group while on the road. 

    Thanks for the opportunity to lead!    

  • 11’s at Popeyes

    YHC was excited for his second  Q at Popeyes and had a decided to use the vast opportunities that the parks has to offer for some 11’s.  Quick disclaimer was given and we moseyed a bit for the warm up.

    Warm-Up

    SSHs x 25

    Seal Jacks x 20

    Grass Grabbers x 20

    Plank Jacks x 20

    Arm Circles x 10 forward and x 10 backwards

    Smurf Jacks x20

    Wind Mills x 10

    The Thang

    Two rounds of 11’s kicked things off using the cement wall around the lagoon.

    Round 1

    10 right leg step ups at one end run across the green space and 1 LBC on the other side. Run back to the start for 9 right leg set ups over to the other side for 2 LBC’s.  8 right leg step us/3 LBC’s and so on.

    Round 2

    10 left leg step ups at one end run across the green space and 1 dip on the other side. Run back to the start for 9 left leg set ups over to the other side for 2 dips.  8 left leg step us/3 LBC’s and so on.

    Still have some time for so more fun and YHC called out an Indian Run with no real destination in sight and the PAX naturally had some fun with no set destination. Finally we made it to the exercise equipment for two rounds of 5 pull ups as the timer with merkins and squats the exercises until the timer completed his 5 pull ups.  Thanks to Hawg for calling our various merkin and squats so not to do the same repetition twice.

    Time is running low so back to the flag for a 20 Russian Twists to close things out.

    COT

    Count O Rama, Name O Rama, announcements and intentions.  War Eagle and Kenna Brah closed out with a prayer and some reflection.  As always it is an honor to lead and workout with the F3 brotherhood.  SYITG.

  • Tank Top Tuesday

    Sun’s Out Gun’s out was the Theme for Tuesday at the Stomp. Thanks to Kuch’s idea a few weeks back we were able to get 40% participation this week. Looking forward to more next week!

    I woke up this morning sore as hell from the Murph so I decided to make the run a little easier for all. Keeping in mind our Vets I thought it would only be appropriate to honor those by running a “No Man Left Behind” route. At 5:30am I gave the disclaimer and we headed down the road towards “The Hill” (near the trails in the Park). Not sure what this place is called but Hawg took us here last week while kicking baseballs and I was excited to head back there with no baseballs in play.

    Once at the Hill we did 75 seconds of Levels and then headed back to the flag. We were able to complete 4.3 miles at a 10 min pace (nice and easy) while leaving no man behind. The Wiz and Amnesty are working there way back into the distance so they broke off the pack to complete a 1 mile out and back run.

    Once at the flag we did COT, Announcements, Intentions, and Kuch took us home with Prayer. Thanks for allowing me to lead this morning always a good time.

  • A No-Fluff Blast (it’s 5 pm on Friday)

    Warm Up:

    • SSH x 25
    • Loooow Slooows x 10
    • Peter Parkers x 25
    • Arm Circles x 10 (forward, then back)

    Mosey to the base of The Mountain

    • PAX split in two groups, each one running up the stairs to the 4th level of the garage
      • Burpees x 20
    • Back down to the base of The Mountain
      • Windshield Wipers x 20
    • Up to the 4th level again
      • Jumping Lunges x 20

    Remaining on the 4th level

    • Jack Webb – up to an 11 count Merkin

    Mosey to peak of The Mountain

    • Dora 1-2-3
      • First exercise was actually a wall sit – each PAX completed 2 rounds before moving to next round
      • 200 x LBC’s
      • 300 x Monkey Humpers

    Remaining at the peak to enjoy the view

    • Dying Cockroach x 25
    • Box Cutters x 10 – then, reverse the box x 10
    • Leg Raises x 20

    Mosey to Flag

    • Count off
    • Name-o-rama
    • Ball of man

    Thanks for a solid showing.

  • Loose as a Goose

    It’s always stimulating to start of the week with an F3 beatdown first thing Monday morning. So when 5:30am hit, I issued the disclaimer and we set off to mosey to the track Once at the track, we did a dynamic stretching warmup that consisted of:

    • High knees
    • Butt kicks
    • Open the gate
    • Close the gate
    • Karaoke (30 yards out, 30 yards back)

    Following the dynamic stretching, each PAX did some individual static stretching on their own to get loose. Once everyone was loose as a Goose (Top Gun Danger Zone reference), we began with some ladder / sprint combos:

    • 1) High knees through the ladder, then 50 meter sprint. Mosey back
    • 2) Butt kicks through the ladder, then 50 meter sprint. Mosey back
    • 3) Squat jumps through the ladder, then 50 meter sprint. Mosey back
    • 4) Sideways in & out’s through the ladder, then 50 meter sprint. Mosey back 
    • 5) Sideways in & out’s through the ladder on the other side, then 50 meter sprint. Mosey back

    We took a brief 20 count break, then we proceed to do the same thing except we did 100 meter sprints:

    • 1) High knees through the ladder, then 100 meter sprint. Mosey back
    • 2) Butt kicks through the ladder, then 100 meter sprint. Mosey back
    • 3) Squat jumps through the ladder, then 100 meter sprint. Mosey back
    • 4) Sideways in & out’s through the ladder, then 100 meter sprint. Mosey back
    • 5) Sideways in & out’s through the ladder on the other side, then 100 meter sprint. Mosey back

    After this, we mosey’d to the middle of the track for some mary. We circled up, and then each member of the PAX had to lead a mary exercise in cadence using a 15 count. Screw Top & Smooth (if my memory serves me correctly) harnessed their inner Double J & decided to have us do some merkins instead of a mary exercise. Fortunately, though, no penalty burpees were issued for not following directions.

    Once every member of the PAX had finished counting off their exercise, we did some line drills. There were 5 drains along the inside part of the track, so we partnered up and then sprinted back & forth to each of the 5 drains. The first set of sprints was from shortest to longest (we began with the closest drain & ended with the drain that was furthest away). The next set of sprints was from longest to shortest (we began with the last drain & ended with the drain that was closest).

    After this, we took a brief 20 count break & then we ended with a 100 meter sprint and then a mosey around the track. Back at that flag, High Rise led us in some static stretching & then we did the count-off & prayer. I forgot the name-o-rama (was operating on 2 hours of sleep that morning), so we did the name-o-rama after the prayer was over just & then called it a day. Thanks for the opportunity to lead, fellas, and my apologies for the terrible Top Gun Goose joke above!

  • Mediocrity loves comfort

    On this beautiful day 35 years ago I was born, what better way to celebrate my birthday than with my fellow PAX for a beat down. The clock stuck 5:30am, I proceed with the disclaimer which included a quote that really got me thinking the previous night “Mediocrity loves comfort”.

    We started our traditional mosey to the field near the cinder blocks for a little Warm-up; within 30 seconds I heard “stop stop stop” I turned around and Shuffles was on the ground. Luckily we had Dr. Walleye with us this morning which he diagnosed him with a sprain instead of a break on the ankle. Shuffles hobbled back to the flag while we headed towards the field again. Warm-up included

    – SSH X 15 IC
    – Hill Billies X 15 IC
    – Self Love X 10 IC

    The Thang:

    Since the Danger Zone has cut into my rock city workouts I decided we would play with cinder blocks for the day. Going along with my quote the PAX were asked to get out of their comfort zone and do 5 extra reps of each exercise OYO after the cadence ended.

    – Curls X 15 IC
    – Shoulder Presses X 15 IC
    – Bus Driver X 15 IC
    – Flutter Kicks X 15 IC
    – Decline Merkins X 15 IC
    – Curls X 15 IC
    – Shoulder Presses X 15 IC
    – Kuch and Tool assisted with some exercises I forgot the name of
    – Decline Merkins X 15 IC
    – Bus Driver X 15 IC
    – others that I can not remember

    Once we completed our reps Dirty Dell thought it would be a swell idea to lunge walk back to drop our cinder blocks off so we did.

    Next Up:
    Run to NOMA where we partnered up. One partner sat on the wall and threw air punches while the other partner did 20 shoulder taps 2 = 1. At 6:10 with our shoulders on fire we headed back to the flag just in time for 6:15.

    We completed the COT, Intentions, and gave thanks to be able to get up and exercise this morning. Pleasure to Q – great way to start 35 off.