F3 New Orleans

Category: Backblasts

  • 1/2 (Revised) Iron Pax Challenge – from Triple Shift

    With a last minute notice from Mahatma that he couldn’t Q this morning due to a family vehicle mechanical problem, I called an audible and took the reigns.

    WARMUP
    Head to the rock pile then to the field. The instructions were to grab a heavy rock but not everyone listened to my instructions (nothing new). Oh well, we circled up with some SSH x 20 IC, Low Slow Squat x 10, Tempo Merkins x 15, Forward Arm Circles x 10 IC, Reverse Arm Circles x 10 IC, Pretzel Arms x 10 IC, and finally, 10 Burpees IC.

    THE THANG
    Due to the high humidity, the field was soaking wet, so I headed to the large oak tree on the other side of the track by the playground to do our thing. I’ve wanted to do this workout for some time and it is one I will always remember since (I believe) that was the first workout of the inaugural Iron Pax Challenge in 2017. The original workout is 50 squats, 40 Big Boy Sit-ups, 30 Merkins, 20 Bonnie Blairs (2 is 1) and 10 Burpees than run 400 meters x 4 for time. I vaguely remember that pax members in the nation were posting sub 20 minute times and I had to throw the BS flag on that!
    Back to the workout. With the rock, we did 50 squats, 40 flutter kicks (2 is 1), 30 bench press, 20 Bonnie Blairs (sans rock of course), and 10 Blockees x 2. There was a great deal of chirping at the Warmup but quieted down pretty quick except when we did flutter kicks and bench presses with the abundance acorns on the ground.

    COT
    Countoff, Namerama and closed with prayers for friends and loved ones dealing with significant diseases. Reminded the pax to be alert and observant for other men’s emotional and spiritual health this time of year. Let’s be providers of hope, encouragement and joy this Christmas season

  • STARjacks and STRIPES at the A1C – from Einstein

    A cool 41 degrees at 5:15 a.m. atop the Justice Center Parking Garage. With the air so fresh, it would make a can of Febreze blush.

    Warmup:
    all 20xIC: ToeTouch, SideStraddleHops, ShoulderRolls, ButtKicks, Swimmers, HighKneees, NeckRolls, Scissors(BBQ excels at this), WindMills, One Minute of RockyBalboas

    Then off to the ramp for a serpentine run down the ramp, followed by a serpentine backpeddle up the ramp, more or less in an Indian Run fashion.
    And for the record, I’m lobbying to have the “Indian Run” renamed to “First Citizen Run.”

    Thang: using parking lot stipes as our template, and the four corners for core exercise pit stops:

    Round One: Lunge Walk forward two parking spaces and Lunge Walk backward one parking space – traversing the whole uppper deck
    at the corners; iron crosses, hello-dollies, rosalittas, front-to-back leg swings

    Round Two: StarJack Jump at ever-other parking stipe, increasing the jump count by one every-other stripe; (first stripe 1 jump, next stripe 2 jumps,
    next stripe 3 jumps…) – traversing the whole uppper deck
    at the corners; across-the-body leg swings, merkins, shoulder tap merkins, crawl bear

    Count-o-rama

    Always good to hear the banter and mumble chatter at F3 – just like a bunch of brothers, which we are.

    Rock-A-Chaw Fletch led us out with prayer.

  • The Pride is Back – from Mama’s Pride

    We started off the morning with some SSH, Grass Grabbers, Windmills, Mountain Climbers, and Arm Circles. Once we finished a nice, cold mosey to the base of the mountain, the Pax took part in some good ole ab exercises: LBCs and American Hammer.
    As a shock to some of our visitors from other New Orleans area AOs, the Pax then did some Washington Football Team Bear Crawls up the mountain before moseying to the top for alternating sets of 45 seconds of wall sits and Derkins before heading down the other side of the mountain.
    The Pax took in some Dora of 100 Merkins, 200 Squats, and 300 Freddy Mercurys (or ies, idk), with partners running back up the Mountain. After the Dora, the Pax started heading back over the mountain by doing some ladder exercises, which are the Q’s favorites. For the ladder we added a new exercise at each stop to the prior exercise. The exercises were made up of 10 Merkins, 10 Derkins, 15 dips, and 15 BBSU.
    The Pax was complaining that we had run out of time for some ultimate football, so we closed out the workout with a few minutes of that. Of course, the Pax then complained that their feet were wet from ultimate football.
    We closed out with the COT.

  • Reindeer Games 2 – from Hogs Breath

    Since Hogs Breath was the sole participant of Reindeer Games 1, YHC decided to set a rematch.
    This time the pax doubled! YHC and Pass Interference!
    We begin our chilly, 37*, games with a warm up of
    – Imperial Walkers
    – SSH
    – Windmills and some other stuff

    The Thang
    The gameplay is easy. A yard jenga tower awaited. Each pax took turns pulling a log out. If there was an exercise written on said log it was dealer choice for the amount of reps. If it was blank it was completely a dealers choice for both except use and reps. Also, a Deck-o-Death awaited to assist the pax if they needed inspiration for an exercise or number of reps.
    Once the tower fell, due to Hogs Breath, the pax at fault did burpees until the tower fell. It took 25 Burpees for the tower to be rebuilt!!
    Ended with some videos for promotional content for F3, COT, and coffeeteria at Starbucks!

  • Sir Pax-A-Lot – from Yankee Joe

    The power sub-station is down. It could be hours before power is restored. It typically takes me three hours to write a back blast regardless of quality. My laptop has about an hour of battery life remaining. This will be the biggest challenge of my F3 career. Bring it.

    It is final exam week, and I am desperately treading water in an ocean of incompetent student essays, projects, and presentations. With every group presentation, I further doubt my own competence as an instructor. How did I fail them so completely? From this group of poor victims, comes interactions that make every painful moment worthwhile. I offer some real gems below:

    Presentation Q&A Example 1:

    – YHC: In what ways did Covid-19 impact the supply chain logistics within the automobile industry?

    – Student: Great question. To be honest, we can say that the supply chain was totes jacked up. In fact, I’m pretty sure the expression, “off the chain” came from this issue.

    – (YHC Internal Monologue): Well crap, it was indeed totes jacked up. I know this did not spawn the term, “off the chain”…right? I don’t even know what’s real anymore.
    —————–
    Presentation Q&A Example 2:

    – YHC: You mention that customers in China had trust issues with the company’s distribution channels?

    – Student: Totally. The products were all warehoused in the U.K.

    – YHC: Ok. What was the issue with products being warehoused in the U.K.?

    – Student: I mean, it’s a bunch of college students running the company?

    – (YHC Inner Monologue): Oh…oh no. No, no, no…She thinks that “UK” stands for University of Kentucky. Oh God…what do I do? Keep a straight face, keep a straight face. It’s too late for her. I can’t help. This is not the hill.

    – YHC: GO Wildcats!
    ——————
    Presentation Q&A Example 3 (and my absolute favorite so far):

    – YHC: You talk about the challenges of Starbucks entering the Indian market? Why was market entry so difficult?

    – Student: Well, it seems that they didn’t really have the right equipment and gear.

    – YHC: Explain

    – Student: Well, as you know, the northern border of India has the Himalayan Mountains, which make entering the country really hard.

    – YHC: (stares at student)

    Student: (stares at YHC)

    – YHC: (realize that student isn’t kidding)

    – Student: They’re really high mountains.

    – YHC: (long pause) Welp…sounds good to me! Moving on to the next question.
    ——————-
    What does all this have to do with a beatdown? Per usual, it is a very weak connection, but if I am good at anything, it’s forcing a square peg in a round hole. I use Backblasts for cathartic journaling as much as…well that’s it actually. Does anyone really read these things? If yes, post your favorite meme from The Office.

    7 Pax at the Stage. It’s been awesome as of late. The addition of Fence Post has raised the bar and the regs keep it consistent. Montana’s newly styled Sumo bun is looking on purnt! It was 43 degrees. As mentioned in prior blasts, YHC is not a tough guy when it comes to cold. The wind was blowing. I, with my tights and hooded sweatshirt felt very weak next to Enron in his shorts and short sleeves.
    —————-
    Warmarama
    – SSH – 30 ct until YHC felt some blood moving
    – Windmills that YHC thought were arm circles
    – Grass Grabbers w/ the Clap so YHC could feel like the NOLA PAX
    – Finally, real arm circles, but YHC forgot to call out the exercises
    – Some high knees, some Derricks…maybe (taken from the now famous Enron Re-VQ)
    – And a Mosie

    (now that I’m writing it down, it was pretty much the worst Warmarama since Montana)
    —————-
    ON to the Thangs…No real theme except that YHC misses IPC like the deserts miss the rain.

    The Beatdown: Sir Pax-A-Lot (three-part thang)

    AKA: 30-60’s – 20-40’s – 30-60’s (You’d get it if you had it goin’ like a turbo ‘Vette.)
    —————
    Set up:
    cones in a square of 20-yard sides. PAX moves starts at the lower left corner, then moves to the upper left corner, then diagonally to the lower right corner, then to the top right corner, finally diagonally to the lower left corner.
    ——————
    Round 1: 30 – 60 (transport – bear crawl)
    – 30 merkins
    – 60 arm raises
    – 30 Carolina dry docks
    – 60 seal jacks
    – 400 m run
    ———————-
    Round 2: 20 – 40 (transport – lunge walks)
    – 20 leg thrusters
    – 40 prisoner squats
    – 20 Bonnie Blair’s the hard way 2:1
    – 40 side to sides 1:1
    – 400 m run

    **the Bonnie B’s following the lunges, following the prisoner squats, following the leg thrusters suuuuuucked!
    ———————–
    Round 3: 30 – 60 (transport – crab walk)

    The subordina…er, I mean, chatter really picked up here. Goose had “so many questions” and Cardinal kindly reminded YHC that only 12 minutes remained. Montana announced 4:1 flutters equaled 120 (all by hisself too!). Enron questioned the exercise in general, forgetting the vendetta YHC had on he and Goose from a couple weeks ago…nobody can remember about what though.

    – 30 flutters 4:1
    – 60 low plank leg lifts 1:1
    – 30 Poppin Dollys (hello dolly followed by 90 degree leg lift)
    – 60 J-lo pickle gobblers 1:1 (J-Lo then two pickle pounders = 4 ct)
    – 400 m run

    ** I still can’t figure out how Cardinal so effortlessly glides through a crabwalk. YHC tried to keep up, which resulted in a muddy backside. I think he’s tired of hearing about it. Seriously, just let a playa’ play.
    ———————-
    Not Mary

    – We did something…whatevs…this ain’t even my whole day
    – Lastly, we did three level push-ups (up à quarter merkin hold, up à half merkin hold, up à full merkin hold; same thing down, BUT no hold at the bottom, which was a huge missed opportunity. That said, Enron was doing the wide arm mission impossible to hold the WHOLE DANG time at the bottom. I was very impressed…Enron was very pissed. My B.

    COT

    Goose prayed us out.

    Not my best work fellas, but I appreciate you powering through and raising the bar with every beatdown.

    Ooohh…the power just came on. Time to hear more inspiring presentations.

    SYITG,

    Yankee Joe

  • VQ Redo – from Enron

    Recently having to miss the last two reportedly epic beatdowns around Thanksgiving, including the highly contested Turkey bowl, YHC was ready to get back to action. Lately the Thibodaux PAX have had quite a few VQs including Wilford Montana, Goats in the Machine, and a report of an upcoming Lil’ Cuz VQ. YHC was reminiscing on his own first. In review of the laminated sheet (yes there was at least some prep), it was established that the new(er) PAX have been much more impressive in their creativity, preparation, understanding of timing of when exercises should be completed, understanding of generally how this should work, etc.… The thought blossomed to re-create the VQ for a replay to show how far we have come.
    Pulling up in the gloom to the empty parking lot at 5:25, the stage was set. As it turns out, YHCs original VQ ended up being a solo beatdown, meaning no one actually showed up. Therefore, the true VQ had to be rescheduled to a time where one other PAX was in attendance via an EH at 6:15 the morning of, on a brother-in-law, Headcheese. 6:30 rolled around and the stage remained empty of other attendees. Still confident of a late, and somewhat usual arrival of Goats, solo side straddle hops began the warmup. Just as these were completed, the headlights of not one, but two speeding minivans stormed on the scene. The minivan brigade barreled in the parking lot revealing Goats and Yankee Joe in perfect fashion to bring back memories of the VQ. After some mumble chatter on 2.0s and other reasons for the late arrival the explanation of what was coming began.
    YHC described the tale from his VQ and how in reading back through the beatdown and the realization of just how utterly stupid it was, it was perfect for a replay. The full intent of this was to demonstrate how impressive the recent VQ activities have been.
    PAX: Enron, Yankee Joe, Goats in the Machine

    Warmup:
    Abe Vigoda’s
    SSH (again for the late arrivals)
    Derrick’s – The stupidity of why these were ever placed into a warmup we will never know. Although, Yankee Joe seemed to enjoy the difficulty of them so early in the beatdown
    Nolan Ryans – Why would you put these in the warmup? You may ask. – because it’s a VQ and YHC didn’t know what he was doing
    Alarm Clocks – First on the Lexicon so naturally had to throw these in
    Bumper mosey

    Thang 1:
    “Yeah” by Joe Nicholls – played on only an iPhone, to bring back the simplicity of times before the infamous Thibodaux speaker debacle. JBL Proud®©™
    Plank for the duration
    Plank jack on “Yeah”
    Mountain climber on “She”

    Thang 2:
    The Cindy Crawford (for the perfect beach body)
    In each corner and then the middle of the stage, mosey between stations – 4 rounds of the following were completed:
    5- Merkins
    10- Moroccan Night clubs – why? You may ask – because it was a VQ and YHC didn’t know what they were
    15- Squats
    20- LBCs
    25- Calf Raises (or toe raises as they were strangely titled on the previously mentioned laminated page)

    Thang 3: Deck of Death
    It wouldn’t be an Enron Q without the DoD, although the VQ came before YHC had access to the F3 deck. Each PAX drew approximately 6-8 cards each from a regular deck of cards until it was 6:10
    Hearts: Merkins with face cards being hand release merkins
    Clubs: Squats with face cards being jump squats
    Diamonds: LBCs with face cards being Big boy sit-ups
    Spades: Burpees with face cards being SSHs
    Aces: bear crawl to end of field (30 yards) – mosey back

    Mary:
    Freddie Mercury’s
    Arm Circles – Why are we doing a warmup at the end? You may ask. Because it was a VQ and YHC didn’t know what he was doing
    Abe Vigoda- Why are we doing a warmup at the end? You may ask. Because it was a VQ and YHC didn’t know what he was doing
    Heals to Heaven
    Mountain Climbers

    COT and prayed us out. Thanks, guys, for the laughs to go along with this one, it was a nice way to ease back into it after the holiday.

  • 12° on December 1st – from Hokie

    I awaken to the sound of cold wind and regretted signing up to Q on the Lakefront

    As I got out of the car, at 0515, I was greeted by 12° air temps and blasts of cold with 120 mph winds coming off Lake Pontchartrain, so I got back in my car to wait on Pax to arrive.

    I will call my mechanic today as my car said the temperature was 46° but i know better having just been out of the car.

    As 0528 came along 8 additional pax emerged from vehicles including Chootem posting Downrange from Katy

    Rudy was heard by the Q saying something to the effect of “a nice Q might consider going to the other side of the levee”

    At 0530 nine of us moseyed up and over the levee to retreat for coverage and wind protection

    As we hid behind the levee the Disclaimer was given and we did 12 SSH to help the blood start flowing. When we stopped at 12 Q was questioned as to the rep count and YHC welcomed folks to December

    Next 12 slow Merkins

    The 9 of us then spent the next 5 minutes enjoying Bernie Sanders up the levee and run down. After 5 minutes 12 burpees

    4 more minutes of Bernie and then 12 burpees

    3 more minutes of Bernie (for a total of 12) and 12 more burpees

    We then posted on the street and YHC gave a suggestion we be courteous for those still sleeping and remain aware of our voices

    12 more burpees then lunge to next light pole and hold people’s chair waiting on six

    12 burpees and 12 side lunges then Bernie to next light pole and hold people’s chair waiting on six

    12 burpees, 12 side lunges & 12 Imperial Walkers and lunge to next light

    12 burpees, 12 side lunges & 12 Imperial Walkers, add 12 merkins and mosey to the base of Canal

    Bernie up Canal, mosey to Lakefront and 12 plank jacks

    Mosey to flag and 12 Squats will get us to 0615

  • Finally the clock rolled back for someone!! – from Shooter

    As I turned into the parking lot at the AO, YHC almost had to pause as the sight of an F150 idling with its lights on sat. It was almost like seeing some atmospheric event in my lifetime as there is no way this could be Cowbell.. But to my surprise and the surprise of the rest of the PAX it indeed was Cowbell.. Only conclusion that could be drawn was he finally rolled back his clock for daylight savings..

    Warmup
    15IC Seal Jacks, Butt kicks, SSH, Toe Touches, Windmills, Grass grabbers and alternating leg swings front/back side/side..

    Thang
    2 runners and 3 Ruckers set out with a pause on Messina for 10 OYO worse merkins ever and 20 jump squats then resumed.
    Returned for some core 10IC right elbow left knee F/J 20IC Flutter kicks and LBCs..

    JV closed us out in prayer and until the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!!

  • Reunion at the Gipper! – from Shooter

    Seeing the Q sheet blank at the Gipper and the Scramble YHC decided to signup and fill the post. Shortly after Q received a message from Bushwhacker confirming a meet at the old WD parking lot.. Little did Q know he had also EHed Steve for a reunion car pool to convoy up to the north.. YHC had also EHed Akbar to meet and join, but was instructed if no sightings had occurred by 0540 to rollout, so that’s what we did. Now Akbar still posted and shortly into the beatdown Akbar would come to learn that YHC was informed of a recent “Ring of Fire” incident… Funny story to me but maybe not those involved, but never the less felt obliged to pay homage…

    Warmup
    10IC
    Cherry pickers, self love, Torso twists, Toe Touches, Windmills, Grass grabbers, Butt kicks and High knees..

    Moseyed a lap down the trailhead and around back to the flag at which point YHC noticed a new 6 foot barrier between the PAX coupons.. Wasted no time and called an audible in my head..

    Thang
    Moseyed to the school board building where we circled around the flag for a sweet ole campfire song by the famous Johnny Cash.
    “Ring of Fire” played as the PAX completed Merkins. Next we partnered up for wall sits P1 and P2 instructed to sprint around the building. R/R 2x. Next we Indian ran in 2 groups to the front of the Justice center for P1 Right and Left leap frogs on the benches while P2 bunny hopped up the steps and moseyed the ramps down to F/J. Then we we moseyed to the backside of the center for P1 freak nasties on the benches and P2 Carioca to the steps sprinting up like Rocky and returning. R/R 2x.
    Moseyed back to the AO to finish with the Worse Merkin ever to 10 and some Core.
    Wife pleasers, Jane Fonda’s 3 styles, 100s, hands to heels and leg raises..

    Counted off, announced another potential Wacker vacation in Kokomo (possibly Jan/Feb) and Barely legal prayed us out with thoughts and condolences for the families of the recent murders of a retired Priest and pastoral council member found just the other day in Covington… 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

    Appreciate the follow gentlemen and until the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • 4 laps for Bird’s Bday – from Chewy

    8 PAX met up on Tuesday morning for a beat down at grandmothers house.
    Warm-up included:
    Sidesaddle x 20 IC
    Imperial walkers x 20 IC
    Windmills X 10 IC
    Glut bridges X 20 IC
    SL Glut Bridges x 10 IC
    Scorpion kicks x 10 IC
    I’s T’s and Y’s x 20 IC

    The thang:
    11’s merkins and step ups

    Mosey to the underpass
    Walk the down, jog the flat, sprint the up x 4 laps

    glut bridges x 10 IC
    SL glut bridge x 5

    Mosey back to flag
    -SL RDLs x 10 pho
    -core rolling x 5 ea oyo
    Plank push ups x 10 oyo
    plank with kicks x 10 oyo
    HS stretch x 10
    Jane Fondas x 10 IC

    Name o Rama, COT, prayers by Shooter

    Happy Birthday to Bird!