Category: New Orleans

  • What we learned from BlackHawk Down…

    A beautiful, crisp Saturday morning for the Mothership, with a quick disclaimer we ….circled up.

    For the last couple of weeks, YHC has been thinking about events that have occurred in our F3 family. These include Terrabyte’s passing, illness with our F3 brother’s loved ones and the impending closure of Morning Call and loss of employment, at least temporarily, for our faithful waiter, Mike. As YHC was preparing for his Q at the Mothership during the week, YHC noticed an old favorite movie had been added to Netflix, Black Hawk Down. This film is about the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in the early nineties which resulted in the death of 19 American Soldiers, YHC noted some explicit themes in the movie such as “No Man Left Behind” and “We fight for the man next to you”. There was also some implicit themes including no man is on his own. Clearly, all of these themes are echoed in the F3 credo “Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you found him”. So in honor of the 19 American Soldiers who died in Mogadishu and all of our F3 Brothers going through tough and uncertain times, this Mothership beatdown will have no OYO exercises. One other note on Blackhawk Down, in the movie there was multiple references to “chalks”. After some quick research with the source of all sources, Wikipedia, a “chalk” in military terminology is a group of troops (think platoon) in an airborne assault. PAX, count off 1, 2, 3, 4 and form up into Chalks 1, 2, 3 and 4. This will be your group throughout the workout. Each Chalk designate a Chalk Q and grab a Flag.

    Mosey to Great Lawn for Warm Up

    Form rows of by chalk starting with Chalk 1 then Chalk 2 followed by Chalk 3 and 4.  Chalks try to stay in formation  Let’s begin:

    All exercises until Q yells Halt

    • Walking Soldiers
    • High Knees
    • Butt Kicks
    • Carioca

    Circle up for additional warm-up:

    • Self Love I/C X20
    • Imperial Walkers I/C X20
    • Hillbillies I/C X20

    Form your Chalks into circles on the Great Lawn for the next thang… Bear Crawl Ring of Fire:

    • Bearcrawl Counter-Clockwise till Q yells halt
      • 10 merkins in ring of fire fashion starting with the PAX to the left of the Chalk Q
    • Bearcrawl Clockwise
      • 10 wide merks Bearcrawl Counter-Clockwise till Q yells halt

    Let’s increase the difficulty!

    • Boo Boo Bearcrawl Counterclockwise Right Leg Up
      • 10 staggered right merkins in ring of fire fashion starting with the PAX to the left of the Chalk Q
    • Boo Boo Bearcrawl Clockwise Left Leg Up
      • 10 staggered left merkins in ring of fire fashion starting with the PAX to the left of the Chalk Q

    Chalks grab flag, form columns and march to road in front of Storyland.  Line up chalks in four columns facing towards museum for Indian Runs to Fountain. 

    At Fountain circle up staying with your Chalk for Red Hot Chili Pepper:

    • Right Leg Step Ups x 16; Decline Merkins x 8; Left Leg Step Ups x 16; Incline Merkins x 8
    • Right Leg Step Ups x 12; Decline Merkins x 6; Left Leg Step Ups x 12; Incline Merkins x 6
    • Right Leg Step Ups x 8; Decline Merkins x 4; Left Leg Step Ups x 8; Incline Merkins x 4
    • Right Leg Step Ups x 4; Decline Merkins x 2; Left Leg Step Ups x 4; Incline Merkins x2

    Next, down Lelong Drive for more Indian Runs in Chalks.  T-claps to Chalk 3 for hanging back to keep their chalk together.  Now you’re getting the idea!

    Mosey in Chalk to side of NOMA and partner up in Chalk for O.P.P.

    One PAX does OH Claps (O) in People’s Chair (P) while the other PAX does 20 Plank Jacks (P) Flapjack till Q yells halt.  These were done in 2 count cadence.  Let’s try to stay together on cadence Chalks!

    Time is running out so grab Flags and mosey in Chalk columns to great lawn for:

    Quick Mary:

    • Flutter Kicks I/C X20
    • Hello Dolly I/C X20

    Times up so circle around Flags in Great Lawn for CoT

    Count-Off, Name-o-rama (1 FNG who was named Twin Span as he’s from Slidell), Intentions and Prayer.

    T-claps to all the PAX who did the daily double, the Mothership and Krazy Ivan.  Southshore brought the Freedom Hammer home!

    Thank you PAX for embracing the Beatdown’s theme of no man is “on his own” in F3.  As we all go through life’s ups and downs, it feels good to know that we have our F3’ brothers to watch our six.  We are truly our Brother’s Keeper!

    NM Moleskin

    For 4 years, the PAX have been enjoying F2 and F3 at the Morning Call in City Park after the Mothership.  For most if not all of those coffeetaria’s, we have arrived to ice cold water to refresh us and been served “Hot” au laits, “Cold” iced coffees and for a brave few “Hot Black” coffees by our faithful waiter Mike.  We all know that this past weekend was the last for Morning Call and there is some uncertainty whether Mike will come back with Café du Monde.  Even if he does, he will be out of work for at least a month.  So in true F3 fashion, an operation was drummed up.  In a short week, what became known as Operation Big Tip was put into full effect to thank Mike for all of his service to the PAX.  The PAX raised $349 for Mike and a Framed Picture signed by the PAX was delivered at Coffeetaria.  YHC even noticed a tear in Mike’s eye.   The PAX should be proud of their efforts.  This is the best of F3. 

  • The Day After…

    After a quick disclaimer at the flag, the pax moved to flat ground in close proximity to the rock pile for the following warm up exercises:

    SSH – 20, Self Love – 10, Arm Circles (Forward) – 10 (backwards)- 10, Windmills – 15, Imperial Walkers – 20

    After the Pax chose their rock, we moseyed to the football field, circled up and performed the following excercises, rinsed and repeated with a lap around the track after each set.

    Thrusters – 20, Curls – 20, Triceps – 15

    The pax then slow moseyed to the goal line on our side of the football field, and partnered up for the following:

    Partner 1 sprinted approximately 50 yards and back while partner 2 did the following excerises with their rock. The partners switched after each exercise until completed.

    Squat Thursters, Curls, Triceps, Low Slow Squats

    We rinsed and repeated with the following exercises:

    Goblet Squats, LBCs, Curls, Triceps

    Once completed, the PAX circled up for some MARY to close the workout. Exercises completed were as follows:

    Penguins – 20, Flutter Kicks – 20, Freedom Hammers – 20, Dying Cockroach – 20,

    We proceeded to return our rocks, and circle up at the flag for count off, nameorama, announcements, and closing prayer.

  • YaMomAnEm’s VQ

    Warm Up: 30 side straddle hops, 25 imperial walkers, 20 plankjacks, arm circles (10 forward, 10 backwards)

    The Thang: Route 66 – there was some debate on whether or not there were 10 or 11 planters on the lakefront. Turns out i miscounted, and there was actually only 10 planters. One Pax ran to each of the ten planters and did an increasing number of decline merkins (ended with 10 decline merkins on the 10th planter), while the other Pax did dying cockroaches. The Pax partnered up and alternated until all 10 planters had been completed. We then mosey’d down the lakefront and did a set of BLIMPS (5 burpees, 10 lunges, 15 imperial walkers, 20 merkins, 25plankjacks, 30 squats). We then mosey’d to the levee and did 2 sets of Bernie Sanders while the Pax at the bottom of the levee did burpees. We then mosey’d to the flag for the COT

  • Stomp #177 – The Road Less Traveled

    Eight men posted this Tuesday to enjoy some cool crisp air and another F3 Stomp.  T-claps to Hawg for EH-ing his buddy in town from SC.  He used the word “mittens” right off the bat so there was some strong nickname material already in place.  The plan for the day was to alter the route and take the road less traveled, or possibly never traveled in an F3 workout.  After the disclaimer, we embarked on a 35min run south along Marconi, left on City Park Ave., then Moss St. along the bayou out as far as your pace allowed before heading back on the other side of the bayou and past the museum, then sweep the six if back before all eight PAX were at the flag.  T-claps to those who pushed hard and made it to/past the end of the bayou.  Some good f2 was enjoyed along the run as we covered between 4-5 miles. 

    We had approx 5-6 min left to cap things off with a “happy ending” on the neutral ground near the circle.  After getting some minds out of the gutter, we aimed to knock out 100 burpees Dora style with PAX#1 running around the circle while PAX#2 does burpees AMRAP.  The guys pushed hard and we got close but but time and energy was not on our side. 

    Back to the flag for the COT.  Welcome FNG Puppet Show who vowed to never return…he lives in SC and was in town for a short stay.  Great job men for continuing to push each other to get faster and stronger! 

    Tool       

  • Uptowner Murph

    We had a dirty dozen for the Murph this morning at The Uptowner. Given the limited pull-up bar space, we broke up the run into 4 half – mile runs, staggering groups of 6ish.

    The Murph never disappoints. Lots of us struggle with pull-ups and how do you get better at pull-ups? By doing pull-ups.

    Great work today. Lots of prayers for those affected by cancer in our community. Let’s take the lessons we learn in the gloom back to our friends and families as we strive to be servant-leaders.

  • #42

    Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”. Today, 42 men showed up in the soggy gloom to face the Mountain. Today, we caught a glimpse of the incredible impact F3 has had on a growing number of lives as we set yet another AO record for attendance.

    “Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you’re wasting your life.”

    No spectators here – we jumped right into the thing after the disclaimer and an awe-inspiring cartwheel demonstration by Crop Duster.

    • Brief mosey to Tulane’s front yard for an oval warmup
      • Side Straddle Hop x 25
      • Imperial Walker Squats x 20
      • Arm Circles Forward/Back x 15
    • Mosey to top of the Mountain via the stairs
      • 11’s comprised of Leg Raises and Burpees
      • LBC’s OYO to wait for the 6
      • Merkins x 10
    • Mosey down the Mountain to Touchdown Jesus via stairs
      • Pax formed groups of 3
      • Pax 1 executed Squats AMRAP style at one end while Pax 2 held a Plank at the opposite end of the lawn. Pax 3 ran to tap out Pax 2 and take his spot so that he could then take Pax 1’s position doing Squats. Continued this rotation allowing each Pax to complete Squats, then Jumping Lunges, followed by Monkey Humpers. This is tough to explain in writing, but much tapping occurred and all were jolly.
      • DIZZY BEAR! – Traditional Bear Crawl that leads into a Reverse Bear Crawl upon Q yelling, “DIZZY BEAR!”
      • Merkins x 10
      • Dying Cockroach x 20

    “This ain’t fun. But you watch me, I’ll get it done.”

    It sure ain’t always fun, but it’s worth it.

    I’ll leave y’all with one last Jackie Robinson quote as I think it ties even more directly into what we’re doing than the previous ones, “F3 is great.”

    Lobsta (FNG), Grimace (FNG), Pops (F3 Cleveland), Monty (F3 Cleveland), Sesame Street (F3 Naperville), Crop Duster (F3 Naperville and visiting cartwheel extraordinaire), Gabrielle, Willie, King Kong, Medulla, Peppa, Douille, Saban, Sandbar, Brown Bag, Chiquita, Two Yutes, Fracsac, Bad Moon, Chowda, Jingle Vader, G-Spot, Bartman, Piranha, Landing Strip, Mariah, Reluctant Yankee, Flaming Lips, Giligan, Wash n’ Fold, Cavalier, Bones, Quincy, False Start, Cowbell, Angie’s List, Quarter Pipe, Tinkles, 86, Nine Lives

  • Choppa Style or just 60-45-30

    I took the time last night to plan a beautiful beatdown for the PAX this am. Unfortunately I over planned and I did NOT get to the special CHOPPA part of the beatdown.

    28 PAX posted – It was a chilly 44 degrees but decent weather.

    Not modeling good F3 form – we started at 531. We moseyed around the golf course lot to the bandstand in Oak Alley.

    We started with a warm up: SSH x 20, Imp Walker Squats x 20, Peter Parkers x 10, and Parker Peters x 20. We sealed the warm up with 5 burpees in honor of Terabyte.

    Then we ran a lap in Oak Alley and back.

    Once we were back we did the 60-45-30 workout. AMRAP we did MERKS, PLank Walk, and Jump Squats

    60 secs Merks, 60 sec Plank Walk, 60 sec Jump Squats , 20 sec rest

    Then we did 45 sec Merks, 45 sec Plank Walk, and 45 sec Jump Squats, 20 sec rest

    Then we did 30 sec Merks, 30 sec Plank Walk, and 30 sec Jump Squats, 20 sec rest

    That was one full – exercise group.

    After that we did a long mosey up Oak Alley around the golf course and back to the bandstand

    We did 60-45-30 again with Burpees, Low Country Crab and Mtn Climbers.

    Pushed it up Oak Alley for another lap.

    Back to the shelter for one last 60-45-30.

    We did dips, step ups left leg (sorry! no right leg – that left leg is going to be huge), and wall sits lifting legs

    After that session was planning on a big finish with the right leg step ups sorry. better do those on your own and then my finale was going to be CHOPPA STYLE

    Play the song CHOPPA STYLE

    When he says CHOPPA style do a feet to hands jump, when he says choppa choppa plank jack and when he says who dey’ – do a merk.

    Hopefully I get someone to let me do this in the next week!

    Always a pleasure to lead in the GLOOM!

  • Amnesty’s New Sneaks

    Amnesty made a special request for a dry workout. He recently purchased some new sneaks, and hoped to keep them mud free. The request was honored. After all, it’s Amnesty. His new neon green sneakers offered a beacon of light on this gloomy morning. 13 men showed up for the challenge. The usual disclaimer and off we go.


    Warm-up COP:

    SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Plank Jacks, x 20 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Arm Circles 10 forward 10 backward IC, Mountain climbers x 20 IC

    Route 66 down Roosevelt Mall: Dips. 5 dips at first bench, increase 1 dip each bench, ending at 17.

    Next we moseyed to NOMA.

    Right leg power-ups x 20 IC, Left leg power-ups x 20 IC. Then a Merkin ladder up the steps of NOMA, with 8 Merkins on the bottom step and 1 Merkin at the top. Back to the fountain for 10 box jumps, right leg step-ups x 20 IC, left leg step-ups x 20 IC. And back to the steps to repeat another Merkin ladder.

    Next, partner up for Dora 1-2-3. 100 Floyd Mayweathers, 200 Squats, 300 LBC’s, while the other Pax runs around NOMA.

    Then we moseyed back to the flag, stopping halfway for some Mary. Flutter kicks x 20 IC, Hello Dolly x 20 IC, Dying cockroach x 20 IC. We ended back at the flag, and succeeded in our mission. We kept Amnesty’s sneakers dry. Count-off, Name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. Thanks for letting me lead.

  • In the Morning when you Rise Unwillingly – WHO DAT!

    In the morning when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present- I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world? Or have I been made for this, to lie in the bed-clothes and keep myself warm? – The Meditations, Marcus Aurelius, Book 5.

    This pretty much summed up my feelings on getting out of bed this morning, and also serves as a constant reminder as to why to do so on a regular basis. After all, was I put here to sleep?

    After having an appropriate amount of fun at the game yesterday but having fallen victim to the bartender several times making my drinks a bit too strong, I was a little fuzzy, hence the counting.

    Warmup:

    SSHx20; Peter Parkerx14; Imperial Walkersx20; Grass Grabbersx14; Arm, Circlesx20; Windmillsx14 … or something like that.

    The rules: We are all happy that our Saints vanquished Philly and some of its loud obnoxious fans (F3 brotherhood excluded, of course) from the Crescent City. During the workout, if someone gets a little excited about the Saints and wants to let everyone know how much they love their Saints, they are encouraged to yell out “WHO DAT”, at which point the PAX, regardless of whether they are carrying a rock (or boulder, like Triple Shift), will drop what they are doing – not on Hawg’s bare feet – and do 6 burpees to celebrate the margin of victory. All PAX are encouraged to support the Saints in this fashion throughout the workout whenever they feel it’s appropriate.

    First St[WHO DAT!]ation:

    And we were off. An unexpected but enjoyable part of the workout was the regular cheers of Who Dat! while I attempted to explain the next station. Well done.

    Traverse the field, stopping at each tree to remember one of the Saints’ notable vanquished foes as follows. Bring your rock:

    5 burpees for the Buccaneers; 10 curls for Carolina; 15 second count Al Gore for Atlanta; 20 Merkins for Minnesota; 25 Rows for the Rams; 30 Elf on the shelves for the Eagles. People’s chair /plank for 6, and then head back doing the same thing swapping out the Curls and Elves on the shelf due to some mumble chatter.

    Second Station

    Finish the job, like the Saints finished off the Eagles in the playoffs after beating them during the season as well.

    11’s. Deadlift on one side, run 5 trees with the rock, and complete the movement with a clean and press.

    Finale

    Some quick abs, American Hammers w/ rockx10, Dying cockroachesx20 and lbc’sx20 oyo and Mosey quickly to flag to arrive right at 6:15.

    We prayed for Terrabyte and Mathlete and their family, Brad Brechtel, and several other F3 brothers and friends of F3 brothers.

    Total Who Dat Count: At least 10

    Honored to lead this group. T-claps to all for all the Who Dats and Triple Shift for regularly choosing the meteor that hit Arizona for his rock and refusing to quit.

    Thanks for letting me Q. – Kuch

  • Tribute to Terabyte at the Mothership

    F3 lost one of its own earlier in the week. Terabyte was a caring leader that pushed himself, and inspired other pax to become better. He will be missed.

    YHC stated that we will carry a flag for our fallen pax as we trudged through the AO. We will sweat, push ourselves, and feel pain. In this way, we will honor him, ’cause that’s what we do. 40 men, including 3 FNG’s, were ready to go.

    Brief disclaimer, then pick up the flag and mosey to the Great lawn for the warmup

    SSH IC x 52 (Terabyte was only 52)
    IW IC x 15
    Grass Grabbers IC x 10
    Abe Vigodas IC x 10
    Arm Circles IC x 10 Fwd x 10 Bwd
    Peter Parker IC x 20
    Shoulder Taps IC x 20
    Parker Peter IC x 20
    Mountain Climber IC x 20
    Recover, pick up the flag, and mosey….

    Stop just short of the Bridge at Lagoon Number 11 on our way toward City park Avenue
    10 Burpees OYO
    Mosey across the bridge and find an open space near City park Avenue
    Monkey Humpers IC x 20
    10 Burpees OYO
    Mosey along to the next open green space
    LBC’s IC x 20
    10 Burpees OYO
    Mosey to the entrance to NOMA at Lelong Drive
    Dying Cockroach IC x 20
    10 Burpees OYO (there was much mumblechatter by this time)
    Mosey to the Tree line near NOMA
    YHC asked how may burpees left? We have smart Pax! 12 it is!
    12 Burpees OYO which brings us to 52. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have more Burpees!

    Mosey to the Fountain at NOMA
    Dips IC x 20
    RL Step Up IC x 15
    Incline Merkin IC x 10
    LL Step Up IC x 15

    Dips IC x 10
    RL Step Up IC x 15
    Decline Merkin IC x 10
    LL Step Up IC x 10

    Mosey to the tree line
    Sprint to first tree and back – 5 burpees
    Sprint to second tree and back – 5 burpees – plank and wait for the six

    Starting at first tree, Burpee Broad Jump to third tree.

    YHC requested Triple Shift to help explain the next exercise. Triple Shift had previously introduced the Genuflect and YHC wanted to incorporate it in. Genuflect from third tree back to first tree.
    Left knee down, right knee down, left knee up, right knee up, then lunge walk one step. Now do two genuflects followed by two lunge steps, then three……etc.

    Mosey back to the Great Lawn for Mary:
    LBC’s IC x 30
    Tin Snips IC x 20
    Hello Dolly IC x 20
    Flutter Kicks IC x 20
    American Hammer IC x 10

    Plank for one minute
    Recover, pick up the flag, and return to the other flags for the COT

    Count off, Name-O-Rama, Announcement, and ended with a prayer.

    Welcome Bingo Knight, Offsides, and CareBear! Great job on the EH’ing guys! We have had big numbers at the AO’s lately, let’s keep it going!

    The Celebration of Life for Terabyte, aka Sidney Modica, will be held on Monday January 14th where visitation begins at 0900 with service to follow at 1030 at:
    Victory Fellowship
    5708 Airline Hwy
    Metairie, LA 70003

    If you have a flag or a ruck sack, please bring. Terabyte loved being part of F3, and we loved having him.

    SYITG