Category: New Orleans

  • Crips Don’t Drive Volvos

    I have to admit that I anticipated a light and groggy pax this morning following a beautiful Easter weekend here in NOLA.  I know I afforded myself an extra beer or two between the Crescent City Classic and family festivities over the weekend.  Yankee perhaps anticipated the same when he texted last night to make sure I had the Q on my radar.  Too tired to orchestrate a plan last night I figured I’d hash one out on the fly this morning.  All was going perfectly while I walked towards the park this morning thinking about the best beatdown possible.  All of sudden I see a car creeping down Magazine without its lights on.  My heart rate ticked up a bit thinking that maybe this was it.  Then as it came closer I noticed it was white Volvo SUV and I remembered that old adage that Crips (or Bloods for that matter) don’t ride in Volvos.  That’s just when G-spot came in to focus and I knew that I wasn’t the only one that was groggy!  I went back to my resting heart rate.  But not for long as I walked up to the virtual flag and saw we had a guest pax in our midst- no other then F3 co-founder OBT.  Thanks Yankee for the heads up!  At least it will be an authentic beatdown.

    The Thang:

    Disclaimer and we’re off a traditional Skinny lap.

    Mosey counter clockwise around the track to a grassy spot for a warm up:

    • SSH IC x 30
    • Smurf Jacks IC x 20
    • Plank Jacks IC x 30

    Mosey to the row bars for 4 groups of 4:

    • Rows
    • Mountain Climbers
    • Jump Squats
    • Burpees for the count x 15

    Two columns for Indian Run all the way to the benches at the St. Charles entrance fountain:

    • Dips IC x 20
    • R Leg Power Ups x 20
    • L Leg Power Ups x 20
    • Derkins => Shoulder Taps => Derkins IC x 10,10,10

    Back to the track for some running intervals:

    • Mosey
    • R karaoke
    • L karaoke
    • Backwards run
    • Mosey
    • POW run until halt

    Green space by the green for some Mary:

    • 10 Burpees OYO (just to mix it up)
    • Dying Cockroach IC x 20
    • LBT IC x 20
    • Hello Dolly IC x 20
    • Invitation to Douille to pick the next classic ab exercise, Pickle Pounders (go figure!) IC X 10

    Two column Indian Run to the pull up bars.

    • 4 groups of 4: each guy doing 10 pull ups while the others Al Gore.  When all four are done mosey together back to the flag.

    Count off to 16 and namorama.  Announcements: Blue Ridge Relay, thanks to OBT for telling his experience with this team building opportunity!  Intentions:  for a Holy Name dad undergoing cancer treatment MD Anderson and for all the dad’s of new babies including Landing Strip.  Thanks for the opportunity to lead!

    Post Script:  So authentic was the beatdown OBT congratulated me on a good VQ!  Here’s hoping perhaps he was little groggy too!

  • Good Friday

    Good Friday.  I didn’t plan anything special.  I get a big fail for not including anything Good Friday related.  Mid-workout Sandbar had an idea for a Stations of the Cross workout!  I hope that happens next year.

    A very cool 60 degrees – wet ground but no rain.

    I brought back the CLassic Tinkles Blimps on the Avenue.  Here we did Burpees-Lunges-Imperial Walkers – Merks – Plank Jacks – Squats  – increasing by 5 at each intersection.  A very visible advertisement for F3 NOLA.

    From the Avenue we rain straight to the top of Wolfpack Mtn.  Once I realized how wet it was up top – we came back down to the 6th floor which we used as a base.  Here we did SSH x 20, Mtn Climbers x 20.

    From here – we ran down the stairs and up the far stairs.  Once back at the top we did  Dying Roach x 20, Dying Bug x 20.

    Another LAP.  We did Peter Parkers, and Parker Peters.

    Another LAP.  (3.5 total laps)  Back on the 6th floor we did Hip Dips x 12 each side, Bird Dogs x 20, and Monkey Humpers x 20.

    After that 3rd lap we ran back down to the bottom – and did Merks around the clock.  Each pax grab a concrete barrier for cars, DO 10 Merks facing 12 o clcok, 10 merks facing 3 oclock, 10 merks facing 3 oclock hand on the concrete barrier for a staggered effect, 10 merks facing 6 oclock decline effect, and 10 merks facing 9 oclock .

    A quick scramble over to the alley of benches.  Here we did 40 dips OYO.  Then we decline planked and waited for the 6.

    Finally we hustled back to the FLAG for COT.  A Good Friday prayer .

    Peace and See You in the Gloom.

    Always a pleasure to lead.  Reluctant Yankee

  • The House of Pain

    4 of us gathered around an invisible site flag awaiting that 0530 start time when out of nowhere we hear screeching tires and a revved up engine coming in hot to the parking lot, blinker included.
    Who could it be? none other than our very own (or uptown’s own, we’ll never know) Jingle Vader!

    With 5 strong, a brief disclaimer was said, and we were off.

    Mosey to the lakefront for:

    COP #1 – WARM UP:
    5 min of SSH (ISI) in cadence X 160 #crowdpleaser
    20 X Imp Walkers
    20 X Hillbillies
    20 X J Lo’s

    Mosey to the top of the levee and Canal blvd.
    Running east on top of the levee: Butt Kicks, High Knees, Karaoke L, Karaoke R.

    House of Pain Circuit:
    Round 1:
    Timer- Bear crawl to top of levee, 5 burpees, run down
    Dips
    Merkins
    WWII Sit Ups
    Pull Ups

    Round 2:
    Timer- Bear Crawl up levee, Bear crawl down levee (face first)
    Step Ups
    Merkins
    Russian Twists
    90 Degree hang

    Round 3:
    Timer- 50 X Squats
    Box Jumps
    Elbow Plank
    Dying Cockroach
    90 Degree hang

    Mosey back to the lakefront.
    COP #2 – MARY- DJ Style:
    Two Yutes – 15 X LBC
    Rudy – 20 X Box Cutters (10 each dir.)
    JV – 20 X Crunchy Frog (RIP Shorty)
    Surge – 20 X Flutter kicks
    Cowbell – 10 X Hello Dolly, 10 X Rosalita, 20 X Tin Snips

    Mosey back to the VSF for COT.
    Looking forward to a strong F3 showing at CCC!

    Thanks for letting me lead.

    -Cowbell

  • Kotter-Q

    After spending two weeks out of the country…and not exercising…there’s no better way to get back into it than to Q at the Foundry.  DISCLAIMER, let’s mosey to the field across the pond from the new Children’s Museum:

    -SSH x 30 IC

    -IW x 30 IC

    -Mt Climbers x 30 IC

    -Arm Circles x 30 IC (15 ea dir)

    -J-Lo’s (fka Pickle Pounders) x 20 IC

    Mosey to the Foundry (outdoor gym behind Christian Brothers School) for five stations:

    -Pull-ups

    -LSS (Low Slow Squats)

    -Dips

    -Box Jumps/Step-ups

    -10 Burpees as the Timer

    Rinse and Repeat…mosey across the field for 20 Merkins…and back to the Foundry for 2 more circuits for a total of four rounds.  Mosey back to the SF just in time for some Mary:

    -LBC x 30 IC

    -Penguins x 20 IC

    -Hello Dolly’s x 20 IC

    -Flutter kicks x 20 IC

    -Wife Pleasers (not Wife Beaters) x 20 IC

    Countoff, namerama, announcements, shoutouts, prayer.  It was an honor to lead this crew to the Foundry and back.

    -Amnesty…Out

  • Eyes on the Road! Ya Merkin Maniac!

    So on a beautiful Monday morning, YHC moseyed up to the AO and noticed no water anywhere around!  It’s been awhile since we haven’t had the sweet aroma of ducks@#t surrounding us in our beatdowns.  Maybe this is a good sign…  After disclaimer we moseyed to open field on the Calhoun side of the park for:

    Warm Up

    • Forward Arm Circles X 20 IC
    • Imperial Walkers X 20 IC
    • Reverse Arm Circles X 20 IC
    • Hillbillies X 20 IC

    Next we moseyed to Row Fitness Area

    Split into 5 Groups

    • Group 1 Catalina Wine-Mixers X 10 as the Count
    • Peter Parkers
    • Lunges
    • Parker Peters
    • Rows

    Next we…Double-backed, WHAT?, surely we were going to make the Audubon loop it’s a Monday after all.  Those PAX don’t know YHC and his general distaste of running; body-weight exercises is my JAM.  So back to the Shelter!  Through the normal shortcut route hugging the lagoon which apparently is now a construction area.  Careful running through this Men at Work zone PAX.  Can I interest anyone in a Vegamite sandwich?  Maybe after the beat down.  Think about it…

    Anyway, we finally hit our destination after much ducking and diving, but no diving ducks too dry for them.  Did I mention I like body-weight exercises?  Specifically merkins, so MERKIN MANIA it is:

    8 different merkins all done 5 count OYO as fast as you can.  On the menu:

    • Diamond Merkins
    • Merkins (the classic, it never goes out of style)
    • Staggered Merks Right
    • Staggered Merks Left
    • Wide-Arm Merks
    • Crucible Merks (these were fun)
    • Hand-Release Merks
    • Tempo Merks (why did I save these for last?)

    Next up at the Shelter, let’s get some leg work in PAX:

    • Right Leg Power Ups X15 IC
    • Dips X15 IC (Wait Dips aren’t leg work, just go with it)
    • Left Leg Power Ups X15 IC
    • Dips X 15 IC (Again?)
    • Right Leg Bulgarian Split Squats X 15 IC
    • Left Leg Bulgarian Split Squats X15 IC

    Now we’re feeling good, so let’s mosey to…the Bandstand.  That was quick!  Let’s do some 11’s.  Grab a wall, step, another PAX’s shoulders for Mike Tyson’s on the lagoon side of the bandstand starting at 10 count then up and over the bandstand and run to the first light for 1 Monkey Humper.  Run back to the lagoon side for it all to start again decreasing/increasing.  You know the drill PAX!  For those who might be wondering, a Mike Tyson is you start in a merkin position with feet against a wall or step, you squat back as first move of exercise back to merkin position and then complete a merkin.  That’s one.  Those were fun, are we seeing a merkin theme here?

    Surely we’re done, we can see the Flag (or where the Flag should be) from here?  Well, we have 3 minutes left so let’s mosey to an open field, which used to be an open pond not that long ago, for one last CoP.  Let’s do Febreze!  A new one for me, here’s how it works.  Kinda like an AB version of Jack Webb with way more Air Presses.  PAX starts with 1 Big Boy Situp and then at the top of that sit up, hold feet up six inches and do 10 Air presses.  Back down for 2 Big Boy Situps and 20 Air Presses holding those feet up the whole time.  PAX made it up to 4 Big Boy Situps and 40 Air Presses until our time was up.  Great job PAX!

    Mosey back to Flag for:

    Seaman and his new dog!  We missed you at the beat down Seaman, but happy to see you and meet your new friend.

    Count-Off

    Name-O-Rama, we had one FNG who is an artist that paints scenes of live music shows.  Think Frenchy.  What a cool gig!  After much mumblechatter, Splatter is the name.  Welcome to the PAX, Splatter!  And thanks to Brown Bag for EHing.

    Announcements

    Intentions

    Prayer

    Thanks to all the PAX for letting me lead today.  It’s truly an honor!

  • 86 Don’t Count

    Balmy spring morning at Audubon park, birds were singing and squirrels were chirping….

    Start off with the disclaimer of me not being any kind of professional and that I don’t count.  Then a mosey to the right on the track to the first running man, painted on the track, then we preformed the following:

    1-5 running men 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 burpees

    6-10 running men 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 low slow jumping squats

    11-15 running men 50, 40, 30, 20, 10 lbcs

    16-20 running men jack webs 10, 8, 6, 4, 2

    21-25 running men Nolan Ryans 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (each side)

    Then mosey to the benches dividing into 4 groups of 5:

    Group 1 20 count derkins (the count)

    Group 2 alternating step ups

    Group 3 dips

    Group 4 decline shoulder taps

    Prisoner run to the water fountain then performed:

    Global warming holding a squat position as the circle does 5 burpees

    Indian run to the pull up bars and divided into 4 groups of 5:

    Group 1 10 pull ups (the count)

    Group 2 jumping lunges

    Group 3 crossfit merkins

    Group 4 lbts

    Fast mosey to the flag and 5 additional burpees for RY, who requested them.

    Count off, name-o-rama and prayer.

     

    Thank you for letting me Q and putting up with my inability to count,

     

    86

     

     

  • CCC Training

    5 PAX gathered at Roosevelt Mall around a real shovel flag, for a final CCC Training run.  Alas, 2 of the PAX won’t be running on Saturday – but the other 3 (Bongo, Cowbell and Smooth) will be representing the 610 Stomp crew on Saturday.  Good luck to the whole F3 nation!

    Usual running route: Down the Bayou and back at your pace, be back by 6:10 for some 610 Stomp Mary.  Not surprisingly, Smooth led the way.  Hung back for some good F2 with the rest of us – then bolted to make it to the Overpass.  The rest of us got in between 4 and 5 miles.  Enjoy the cool weather running, I don’t think we’ll have this much longer.

    Finish up with a round of Mary

    • LBC x25
    • Flutter Kick x25
    • Dolly x25
    • Peter Parker x25

    Circle up for a count-off, Name-o-rama.  Intentions, remember those who are sick and ailing.  Blessings on all of the F3 men, and all participants, in the upcoming CCC race.  Run fast, run safe!

  • 11s or 12s. I can’t remember

    Happy Monday – 7 PAX started the week off right with an early Monday post at Rock City. Tool was apparently still recovering from a weekend of Hogging for a Great Cause, so had handed the Q to YHC.  5:30 on the dot, time to get the show on the road. Disclaimer and off down the gloomy track towards the rocks.

    Warm Up: The usual, at least kind-a

    • SSH x25
    • BAM.  Abacus rolls in hot.  Take that, Tool.  That’s a #HIM, showing up on Monday after HfC.
    • Slow Windmills x10
    • IW x24 (YHC was confused on count.  An omen of what was yet to come, I suppose)

    Go grab a rock.  Any rock.  Triple Shift – you’ve been challenged.  I don’t know where Mahatma found that thing.  But it was RIDICULOUS.

    Bring your friend to the tree line.  Peter Parker x25 (didn’t think I’d forget plank stuff, did you?)

    11s: You know what YHC thinks of with the number 11?  Yup, Notre Dame National Championships (and yes, I am painfully aware that none are within the last 30 years.  But there’s always next year.)  So lets do some 11s.

    • Merkins on the far side
    • Curls on the near side
    • “Let’s get it, Baby” says Marlin.  “Go” says YHC.

    OK, YHC forgot how to add up to 11.  Something that shouldn’t be that hard, but seemed perplexing to me.  But fortunately, the heckling of Walleye and Rev Sox straightened out the PAX and got us started correctly.

    OK, YHC also forgot to tell people to BRING THE ROCK WITH YOU.  Several PAX grumbled as they returned to the starting line.  But finally, we were off – Back and forth.

    Plank for the 6, with some Parker Peter IC.

    11s: You know what else YHC saw with the number 11 yesterday?  ND Women’s Lacrosse upset #1 Syracuse 11-10.  So lets do another round of 11s.

    • Squat Jumps on the far side
    • Lunges on the near side
    • Rocks in the middle.  11 shoulder presses each time you run past your friend.
    • Halfway through, a Q-dible: change to 11 rows each time you run past your friend.

    Plank for the 6, with some MC IC.

    Mary: Circle up for a few mins of Mary

    • LBC x25
    • Flutter Kick x25
    • Penguin x25

    Return the rocks and mosey back to the flag.

    At the flag, when given the choice – Bogey selected that we close with 11 burpees.  So 11 burpees it is.

    Finish with Count-off, Name-o-Rama.  Quality group of gentlemen I’m proud to start the week off right with. Props to Hand-Grenada who has jumped into Pontiff F3 with both feet, quickly becoming a regular at Rock City and The Uptowner.

    Finish with our intentions (especially those who are sick and undergoing surgery), and a prayer for the graces of God to be with us today.

  • Minute Merkins are Harder Than I Thought

    A Pax of 6 arrived at the Uptowner for a morning of exercise without running. The usual disclaimer and off we go. The plan for today was Tabata with 60 seconds of exercise, and 10 seconds of rest. As it turns out, 60 seconds of exercise is harder than I thought.

    Warm-up COP:
    SSH x 20 IC
    Imperial Walkers x 20 IC
    Peter Parkers x 20 IC
    Low Slow Squats x 20 IC
    Windmills x 10 IC
    Arm Circles 20 Forward, 20 Backward
    Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    We mosey 20 feet for the first Tabata:
    Merkins for 60 seconds, focus on form
    WWII Sit Ups for 60 seconds
    Planks for 60 seconds
    Squats for 60 seconds
    3 rounds total

    Grab a rock, a big rock
    Chest press for 60 seconds. At this point, I conceded that 60 seconds is a long time. So we went back to In Cadence.
    Curls x 10 IC
    Rows x 10 IC
    Repeat for 3 rounds.

    Circle up for some Mary.
    LBC’s x 20 IC
    Flutter Kicks x 20 IC
    American Hammer x 20 IC
    Crunchy Frogs x 20 IC
    Dying Cockroach x 20 IC
    Box Cutters x 20 IC

    We returned our rocks, and had just enough time for more exercise with a smaller rock.
    Biceps curls into shoulder press x 20 IC.

    Final circle for count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. Thank you for letting me lead.

    Walleye

  • Slow & Steady Up The Mountain

    “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Percival Hillary

    12 men were ready to go at 5:30. After a brief stop on the lush Loyola grass, 10 MCs & 10 MCMs, we headed to the base of the mountain:

    Two Line Indian Run to the 3rd level – nice of El Wire, YSR & Yank to join us – followed by 10 MCM (3rd floor)

    SSH Jumps up the mountain followed by 10 Burpees

    Lunge Indian Run then 10 MCMs (4th floor)

    Plank Broad Jumps then 10 Burpees

    Slalom Al Gores then 10 MCMs (5th Floor)

    Indian Run Bear Crawls while LBCing then 10 Burpees

    Slalom Al Gores then 10 MCMs (6th Floor)

    Indian Run Backwards Crab Walks

    Lastly after a quick peek at the skyline we finished with 10 Burpees (top floor)

    2 minutes to spare, down the stairs and back to the flag

    Count-off, name-o-rama & some brief thanks

    Good times…