F3 New Orleans

Category: Northshore

  • (H)Eighteen Candles

    File this one as one of those better-late-than-never backblasts…

    Well, young Grover finally hit 18. Yes, it’s still a long road to respect (just ask poor Grundy), but a pretty big milestone nonetheless. We celebrated the day by getting up ridiculously early to put in a little work in some very cold weather. (You know it’s cold when the fully-charged iPhone sitting in your car simply shuts off as a protection measure. Shooter laughs at your protection measures, Apple!)

    As is often the case with these BLTN backblasts, it’s so tardy that I can no longer remember the warmups, the mary, or even the actual pax. Apologies. Knowing my own lazy tendencies, however, I did have the foresight to jot down what we did:

    18 Blocks for 18 Years:

    Mosey eastward on the trace, stopping at every block to do 18X of an exercise. Did one big loop, hitting Jackson, down to the lake, and then back up Lamarque to the Marsh. The exercises were (all 18x):

    1. Merkins (IC)
    2. Lunges (IC)
    3. Squat Jumps
    4. Stone Mountains / CDD
    5. Sister Marys
    6. Monkey Humpers (IC)
    7. T-Merkins
    8. Hello Dollys (IC)
    9. Sit-ups
    10. Peter Parkers (IC)
    11. Freak Nasties (IC)
    12. Burpees
    13. Star Jumps
    14. Smurf Jacks (IC)
    15. Flutters (IC)
    16. Diamond Merkins
    17. Tuck Jumps
    18. Pull-ups

    Personally, YHC was never a big fan of 16 Candles. I think most would agree (except for Cowbell, who has somehow never seen a movie in his life, too busy running probably) that of similarly themed John Hughes movies, The Breakfast Club was slightly better and maybe Ferris Bueller was the best. (Weird Science should also probably be lumped in there.) Hughes pretty much did the same thing in most of these movies, which was to take teenage stereotypes (the jock, the nerd, the outcast, the neurotic, the free spirit, etc) and invert them in some way. He would have had a hard time writing a character like Grover, because the kid is just too multi-dimensional for a Hughes movie. He’s all of those characters wrapped up into one. YHC has really enjoyed getting to know Grover; he’s the kind of guy that, as a parent, you hope your own kids might turn out like. Heck, I’d be happy if they were even half as cool as Grover. So happy (belated) 18th brother!

  • Out of the Shadows

    Imagine Cowbell’s face when he arrived (on time, give the man credit) to the AO to find Waterpik and YHC, fresh out of Covid quarantine, as the only two pax present. Had Hog’s Breath posted (he broke his quarantine spell the day before at the Marsh), Cowbell might’ve just gotten right back in the truck and bounced. But he made it this far, and it was too cold to turn back around, so we got down to business.

    Warmorama: Good mornings, toe touches, SSH, IW’s, torso twists, seal jacks, x10-20 IC.

    YHC is gonna miss the Christmas lights at the trailhead, they’re downright cheerful. And heart warming! And the place is so well-lit! Anyway, the last few times YHC has Q’d, I’ve elected to stay close and enjoy the twinkling lights, and today was no different. Quick mosey around the block to warm up before launching into a long lunge walk down the length of the corridor and around the bend until we reached the stage. At every other column, we would perform 5 burpees, thereby helping Cowbell (the sole Northshore ISI participant) get some in before daybreak. By the time we hit the stage we had 55.

    Once at the stage, we circled up for:

    1. Squats x20 IC
    2. Burpees x5
    3. Jump Squats x20
    4. Burpees x5
    5. Sister Mary’s x20 IC
    6. Burpees x5
    7. Monkey Humpers x20 IC
    8. Burpees x5
    9. Calf Raises x20 IC

    Back to the corridor, where we bunny hopped our way back, stopping at every other column to do x10 merkins. With 110 merkins completed, we knocked out another 5 burpees.

    Our favorite stair-climbing couple has been MIA lately, probably because it’s so darn cold, so we took over their stairs for alternating single-leg calf raises, x5 each step up.

    YHC was ready to head over to the bus stop, my preferred location for bench work, but after spotting the knife-wielding Mr. Perkins sleeping there at the start of the beatdown, we decided to give him a wide berth and chose the benches around the splash pad instead. Time for … more legs!

    1. L leg step up, x20 IC
    2. Freak Nasties, x10 IC
    3. R leg step up, x20 IC
    4. Freak Nasties, x10 IC
    5. L leg Bulgarians, x20 IC
    6. Freak Nasties, x10 IC
    7. R leg Bulgarians, x20 IC
    8. Freak Nasties, x10 IC

    And finally, some standard Mary with Jane Fonda’s mixed in to complete the legorama. Thanks to the guys for posting, when it’s as cold as it’s been lately, it is tough getting out of bed and to the AO. The whole accountability thing works, so I can’t thank you guys enough.

  • Nothing Little About This League

    YHC braved the chilly, chilly temps of the Saturday morn’ gloom and managed to sweat despite the dip in the thermometer.

    YHC was met early by a self-admittedly “tired” Bushwhacker, who still managed to dig up old memories of Saved by the Bell. We were so excited, so excited, so scared to get started, but once we did, a PAX of 18 joined us for a beatdown centered around a baseball diamond.

    Warmup (most in cadence)

    Seal jacks

    Arm circles

    Toe touches

    High Knees

    Cherry pickers

    Imperial Walkers

    Da’ Thing

    After “warming” up, YHC asked the PAX to really stretch their brain and remember their number for a rock to the park, a mosey that was intermittently halted to perform a 10 count of the lucky number’s choosing. Sensing Zoolander struggling to remember “15”, YHC called his number first, followed mostly by odd numbers (see how that worked to remember them, Tanked Up?). Good mix of work, including burpees, shoulder tap/merkin combos, leg raises, various squats, freak nasties, mountain climbers, etc.

    Main Event

    YHC really asked for an extra effort by asking the PAX to remember ANOTHER number from 1 to 4 to break into 4 groups to work their way around a little league diamond in 5 “innings” of work. Each group started at a base, and completed the reps for that base, moving to the next for the next portion of the inning, until all 4 bases were touched, comprising the “inning”.

    1st base – 5 reps each (Innings 1-5 were Burpees, 8 count body builders, T merkins, Diamond merkins, Burpees, respectively)

    2nd base – 10 reps each (Innings 1-5: Apollo Onos, Sister Mary Catherine’s, Makhtar N’diayes, side squats, Monkey humpers)

    3rd base – 15 reps each (Innings 1-5: Jump squats, George Thoroughgoods, Suicide Squats, Peter Parkers, Crab Cakes)

    Home – 20 reps each (Innings 1-5: LBCs, 6 inch drill, Leg raises, Crunchy Frogs, Wife Pleasers)

    Between base mode of transportation? Back pedals, Karaokes, Murder Bunnies (quickly becoming a favorite of YHC), Bear Crawls.

    A mosey back to the flag with a few other 10 reps mixed in wrapped up the beatdown.

    Count off, name-o-rama, announcements, COT closed us out.

    An ever present thank you to everyone for posting and always supporting me and each other.

  • The W.A.S……….

    With the return of Steve and Hogsbreath from quarantine the Marsh had a nice showing of 6 PAX. Our Editor and chief of emails sir Wacker, so eloquently mentioned the Fartsack in the weekly blast that he took it to heart and sacked yet again. Was it the cold 🥶? Perhaps it was the rain 🌧 that did it? One only needs to wonder whether the influence poured over to the reliable postmaster Cowbell? Nevertheless the YHC kept in consideration the conditions and built the beatdown under the protection of Mandeville’s overhang at the Marsh.

    warmup

    15IC Imperial walkers, SSH, Windmills, Toe Touches, Butt kicks, High knees and Torso twists.

    thang

    Two workouts from the Exicon. First was the William Wallace with Coupon. P1 held variety of planks and core exercises while P2 took center court for reps of 10 and 20. Reps of 10 8 count body builders, squat thrusters, kettle swings and alternating one arm elf on the shelf. Core plank, chill cut, left and right arm high. Reps of 20 chest press, curls and overhead press. Core Nolan Ryan’s left and right and reverse plank. Upon completion stayed partnered for The W.A.S.H. PAX able to get through the S. Instead of cumulative count all reps on OYO while partner ran suicides free throw, half court, free throw and full court. Rep count was 50 Hand release (instead of wide arm Merkin), 100 American Hammers and 150 step ups (75 each leg). With time expired PAX circled up for namarama, announcements and COT as YHC closed us out.

    Appreciate you men posting in unfavorable conditions and following my lead!

    👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼 Till the next Gloom!

  • The dynamic duo at the A1C!

    All week I heard about the low turnout to the beatdowns, but I was positive that I could get some out to the A1C. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was Corona, maybe it was the current state of affairs, or maybe it was my breath? It was just me at 4:45 doing laps, getting in an extra workout for the 75 hard ( which is a pain in the ass), waiting on the arrival of somebody to join me in the chill. Holy crazy BBq batman, he showed up! I knew my partner in crime, my side kick would show. The dynamic duo was back together, ready to kick butt at the A1C. It was a Tobata morning, 45 seconds of an exercise, with 15 second break. We did it round robin style (get it, Batman and Robin. I crack myself up). Merkans, leg raises, squats, lunges, scorpion kicks, lbc’s, hillbillies, and other exercises back and forth. The conversations were great, the exercises were great. And as BBQ stated, if you start with F3, your day is off to a great start. See y’all in the gloom.

    P.S-whatever your reason for not making it out to a beatdown this week, I get it and understand. However, we are stronger and better together. Let’s try and post at least once during the week men. God Bless and Happy Friday.

  • Today Grover became a man but Bushwacker was busy counting sheep!!

    Q learned a valuable lesson today, some become men while others stay snuggled in their fluffy sheets and count sheep. Missing one of my carpoolers for legitimate reasons is acceptable, however missing another because of a pre warning to bring gloves is another. Enough beating up on the Sir Wacker for now, although something tells me Cowbell will make sure to remind a certain someone of there absence. After all we can modify and intensify as one PAX Grover demonstrated this Gloom by breaking into a new world of couponing and selected a FULL coupon for this beatdown. Great job young PAX and welcome to manhood…. Maybe you could lend your old coupon to Wacker when he awakes 🤣.

    Warmarama

    10IC Good mornings, Arm circles, Air presses and SSH.

    20IC Windmills, Mummy kicks and Imperial walkers

    thang

    Gathered coupons and proceeded with 2 Indian marches over to the courthouse. Circled up for 4 exercises 20 count on all OYO curls, tri-extensions, squats and rows. Moseyed up and down the ramp returning for a round of 10 count OYO block clean and thrusters, elf on the each side and 8count bodybuilders. Up and around.

    Stretched the distance to the street where the PAX partnered up for 200 cumulative count chest presses while P2 moseyed up intensifying up each step and returning with a sprint to pickup count.

    Next up kettle swings 100 cumulative while P2 bear crawled a quarter distance then alternated shuffling up/down steps and sprinted the return. With 10 mins remaining PAX returned the same way it left Indian march back.

    Finished up with

    25 OYO Merkins (Akbar) 45 or 65 ??

    25 OYO Plank Jacks

    25 OYO 2=1 Mountain climbers

    25 OYO Donkey kick ups

    25IC LBCs and NO Cowbell crunchy frogs but 2=1 Flutter kicks.

    👏🏼👏🏼 To Grover stepping up and pushing himself with the larger coupon and after all was said and done he smiled and said “It wasn’t that bad after all.”

    The hate/hate lad prayed out the PAX on his way out into manhood 👊🏼!!

    Appreciate the opportunity to lead and sub in for Einstein with wishes of a speedy return sir!!

    Till the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • B.O.M.B.S.(Bring Out More Brethren Soon)

    YHC arrived to a ghost town at Grandmas on this Gloom. His only hope was satisfied with the always reliable, however always right on time but sometime late Cowbell. Q decided to keep it simple and stay around the corridor.

    Brief mosey around trailhead to get the blood flowing. 20IC Imperial walkers, Grass grabbers, Windmills, Cherry pickers and atm circles.

    B.O.M.B.S

    50/100/150/200/250

    Burpees, Overhead claps, Merkins, Big Boy sit-ups, and Squats with Cowbell closing with lagniappe on the Squats taking us to 300.

    Split 6 columns with 5 Donkey kickoffs performed followed by Bear crawls to each column R/R x6. Closed with Mary 20IC LBCs, Flutters, 100s and Crunchy frogs then 10 Merkins OYO to close.

    Appreciate the post Cowbell and not having the Q go it alone on this Gloom! YHC closed with COT.

    Till the Gipper 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • New Year’s Day

    16 men arrived at the top of the A1C, some still waking up from late night festivities. 7:00 o’clock and the workout started. SSH, grass grabbers, ic, 20, then 21….get it?!?!? Self love, t stretches (ackbar and Bushwacker favs) . We moseyed to the corner for the repeat of the first F3 beatdown. Our motification was the lap, down the stairs and then up through the parking garage. Then we did a Dora, meridians, squats, and lbcs 100, 200, 300 while partner two pick pocketed across the parking lot, and jogged back (a waterpik created exercise). Then we finished with some Mary, no crunchy frogs cowbell. COT then turbo prayed us out. Then off to bbqs for a great breakfast and a great F2 opportunity. Thanks for allowing me to lead on such a beautiful morning.

  • Good numbers at the Scramble with lots of regulars out and a Southshore visitor to boot!!

    YHC arrived on this Gloom with 2 shovels planted and another streaming across the parking lot ready to be planted. In the darkness a glow of Jose10k and his neon shirt reflected back at the Q, as if I were staring in the mirror or Steve had made the fastest quarantine in the COVID 2020 era to close the year.. There were no special plans for the day, however I knew once I saw Gideon from the Southshore my mind quickly kicked in and doubled up a previous agenda laid out by Waterpik a few weeks back. Instructions were simple following a slight warmup of 10IC Grass grabbers, Windmills, Toe Touches, SSH, Butt kicks and high knees. PAX was required to complete a 100 Merkins, 100 Mountain climbers 2:1, and 100 Jump squats along the 5k standard route done in any rep of variety chosen by each PAX. Returned with a few mins to close 10IC Crunchy frogs, flutter kicks and 100s..

    Appreciate another year shared with the F3 brethren and the accountability each of you bring to the beatdowns.

    Grateful to Gideon for his post and sharing great perspective on what each of us as leaders in our community brings. How we should continually be looking for opportunities to share with other men that are out there as sad clowns and just need that little push of encouragement to get out in the Gloom and will certainly become better men for doing so..

    Q closed us out with COT!

    Until BBQs southern breakfast 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!!


  • No Crunchy Frogs for You, Cowbell

    YHC has nothing against Crunchy Frogs. In fact, YHC likes Crunchy Frogs…a lot. Crunchy Frogs, however, were not on this morning’s agenda. So no Crunchy Frogs for you, Cowbell.

    What was on the agenda was a warmup of Reverse Lunges, Merkins, Mountain Climbers, and Imperial Walkers, all 10x IC, followed by a 5 minute AMRAP session using the same four exercises. Most of the PAX got through five complete rounds before the buzzer sounded and then we each grabbed 2 coupons from the Gipper stash and Farmer Walked our way over to the boatyard.

    Five cones were waiting at the boatyard, the starting line cone and then cones 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards out. Each PAX grabbed himself a lane and then we got to work.

    First set: Farmer Carry to Cone 2, Back Pedal to Cone 1, Sprint to Cone 2, Farmer Carry to Cone 3, Back Pedal to Cone 1, Sprit to Cone 3, Farmer Carry to Cone 4, Back Pedal to Cone 1, Sprint to Cone 4, Farmer Carry to Cone 5, Back Pedal to Cone 1, Sprint to Cone 5, then Farmer Carry the two coupons back to Cone 1. Finish off the set with 10 coupon Manmakers.

    Second set: rinse and repeat with Farmer Carries, Backwards Lunges, Forward Lunges capped off by 10 Coupon Swings.

    Third set: rinse and repeat with Overhead Coupon Carry, Reverse Bear Crawls, Forward Bear Crawls, capped off by 10 Coupon Thrusters.

    Fourth set: rinse and repeat with Farmer Carries, Carioca both directions, capped off by 10 Coupon Merkins.

    Final set: Sprint and Back Pedal with no coupons.

    Farmer Carry back to the Shovel Flag for Mary: American Hammers, Nolan Ryans, Wife Pleasers, all 15x IC followed by 30 long seconds of a six inch hold. No Crunchy Frogs for you, Cowbell!

    Countorama, nameorama and The Hammer prayed us out. Thanks for letting me lead guys.

    NMM:

    We haven’t bear crawled long distances at The Gipper in a while. It was time.

    It was great to have a visitor from F3 Phoenix. Choo Choo is in shape and had no problem with the beat down. Nice to be reminded that F3 extends beyond our region.

    New Year’s Day beatdown at the A1C AO 0700 followed by a big Southern breakfast courtesy of BBQ’s M. Come and get you some. Let BBQ know you’re coming so there are enough grits for your big appetite.