F3 New Orleans

Category: Backblasts

  • It really did happen.

    You guys will do whatever it takes to keep a guy on the straight and narrow.  Looking back at my one and only backblast (VQ on 11/14), it was late just like this one.  A little headlocking and friendly ribbing may just be the encouragement some of us need. I know I do.  So without further ado, see below for Bird’s yoga inspired Q – it actually did happen Wacker! 

    0510 – Q posts with computer, yoga mats, speaker and phone in tow in preparation for said event.  Borrowed yoga mats courtesy of Bayou Yoga studio, which if I’m not doing some craziness with you guys ITG is where I might be otherwise on an early morning.  Oh who am I kidding, if I don’t show I’m probably still in bed at 5:15!  Actually, I do enjoy the yoga, although I’m not sure if my illicit affair is with the yoga studio or F3 – depends on who you ask I guess. 

    Shortly after distributing yoga mats and various props arrive the following members of PAX: Shooter, The Pelican, Steve, and Zoolander. 

    0515 – Chilly morning, albeit not as bad as the forecasted high 30 temps.  The combination of cold temps, yoga, and those of you who aren’t so flexible could have been a recipe for disaster!  Cold temps abated with a quick warm up consisting of high knees, butt kicks, side straddle hops, seal jacks, torso twists, windmills, mountain climbers, and merkins (10 each IC). 

    0520 – Just to ensure all the sensitive areas were good and warm, PAX took a quick run to the tunnel – gotta remember a headlamp next time for the spooky, dark forest in the turn northward.  Eventually, the light of the tunnel approaches and PAX regroups with a plank a ten count merkins in cadence before the return run. 

    0530 – PAX regroups on stage where yoga mats are spread.  Shooter was the only one who got the memo about bringing a mat, but it was some sort of blanket from south of the border – not your typical yoga attire.  Speaking of which, thankfully there were no yoga pants to be seen either.

    After circling up for the upcoming spiritual experience, Q reminds PAX that yoga should be done with intention, gratitude, and purpose.  One of the nice thing about the practice is that it allows the space for thinking about those things.  Did I mention I’m grateful for the PAX?  I am. 

    First yoga series consisted of:

    • Child’s pose
    • Table, right-arm up, twist under, breath
    • Table, left arm up, twist under, breath
    • Bird dog, right arm out, left leg up, knee to elbow five times
    • Bird dog, left arm out, right leg up, knee to elbow five times
    • Table to bear pose to down dog
    • 10 Down dog pushups (aka Carolina Dry Docks)
    • Repeat 1x

    Second yoga series consisted of:

    • Two rounds of sun salutation A (i.e., forward fold, halfway left, plank to chataranga, up dog, down dog, jump or step to hands)

    Third yoga series consisted of:

    • Sun Salutation A
    • Right leg up to runners lunge
    • Rise to crescent
    • Twisting crescent
    • Hands to hear center and bend forward to hook elbows on knee (twisting lunge)
    • Open arms
    • Twisting crescent
    • Crescent
    • Repeat 1x

    Fourth yoga series consisted of:

    • Sun Salutation A
    • Right leg up to runners lunge
    • Warrior 1
    • Warrior 2
    • Reverse warrior
    • Right angle pose (bind encouraged)
    • There was a bunch of stuff I had planned after that that I forgot that will save for next time
    • Warrior 2
    • Warrior 1
    • Repeat 1X

    Fifth yoga series consisted of:

    Honestly gents, it’s been so long since the Q (it actually did happen Wacker) that I’ve gotten a little fuzzy on what happened next, but there was some yogi squat action, lizard lunging, and flying into configurations inspired by birds of sorted varieties.  Zoolander covered a few of them.  I can’t even remember if we did a little meditating at the end or did a shavasana, but I do recall some focused breathing – cool are in through the nostrils, arm air out through the nostrils – and the obligatory namaste.  For those of you who’ve gotten this far, a little Wikipedia explaining a shavasana – if we didn’t do it last time, we will the next time. 

    Shavasana (Sanskrit: शवासन; IAST: śavāsana), Corpse Pose, or Mrtasana,[1] is an asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, often used for relaxation at the end of a session. It is the usual pose for the practice of yoga nidra meditation.  Shavasana is intended to rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit. In the pose, the breath deepens, and the stress of the day is released. The yogi forgets all other thoughts and surrenders any psychological effort. While in Savasana, yogis slip into blissful neutrality and reflect on the practice.[7] Comfort is essential in the pose; the slightest point of discomfort can be endlessly distracting. Shavasana is a good way to reduce stress and tension.[8]

    Namaste ended the practice and brought the PAX back from oblivion into the present moment.  Following a few quick announcements (last week was a busy one!), Steve led us in prayer. 

    A quick afterthought…yoga isn’t something you do as a one off.  Like anything, to get good at it and realize the benefits, one has to practice.  PAX performed admirably considering yoga isn’t in the regular lineup of F3 beatdowns.  Looking forward to rotating this in on occasion and adding flexibility to the list of qualities that describe such a fine group of men. 

    Glad to be with you all,

    Bird

  • Pumpkin Spice Latte

    All these holiday drinks…peppermint mocha, hot buttered rum, eggnog…anyway, inspired by recent coupon beatdowns, YHC had the idea to add a little SPICE to today’s beatdown by adding something new. After all, its the holidays and YHC likes the holiday drinks. So, desperately rummaging through the garage hoping to find a new crazy coupon, YHC settled on an old punching bag. Not nearly as manly as Moby’s chain or as rock solid as Hogsbreath’s cinder block RUCK carry, the punching bag served it’s purpose.

    With temperatures in the low 40s, YHC led the PAX through a longer warmup consisting of a mosey to the 4 corners around the Marsh with exercises at each corner. Squats, Merkins, Smurf Jacks, Flutter Kicks, Hello Dolly’s, Bear Crawl, Lunge Walk, Jog Backwards, Shuffle to each side.

    Thang

    3 Tabata Sets (30 secs, 10 secs Rest)

    The exercises were Burpees, Thrusters w/ cinder Block Coupon, Jack webbs w/ coupon, Curls w/ Punching Bag. The PAX alternated through each exercise during the 10s rest period, so each man did the exercises 3x.

    Mosey around the Block again to cool down before the closing out with some Mary: crunchy frogs, 100s, Putins, Freddy Mercs.

    Thanks, Men, for another great year for the F3 Northshore PAX. I am so grateful to be a part of such a great group of men. And I look forward to many more to come.

  • Akbar turns 50

    YHC was excited about sharing a beatdown to celebrate my 50th year on planet Earth, arriving 20 minutes early to plant the shovel flag at the Unit. Sneakily tiptoeing around the pre-thang crew so that they wouldn’t notice, I got back and arrived on a chilly morning just as the sun started to rise on the lake. 

    Today, or rather tomorrow, RESPECT would be given and observed – since YHC’s birthday was on Sunday the 20th, instead of the 19th. But we would celebrate the number 50 for an hour and have a good time. 

    Warm Up  (5×10=50)  Except we actually did 51 as the QIC had an early senior moment and hit 11 IC for the Grass Grabbers

    X10 IC SSH, Grass Grabbers, Torso Twist, Self Love, IWalker 

    Mosey to the unit, circle up for further instructions

    Thang: Grant’s Tomb

    Ulysses S. Grant was our 18th President of the US, and his mug adorns our $50 bill, so we would continue to celebrate “50”  with 50 reps and a 50 yard mosey for 8 sets of pain.  

    What looks good on paper sometimes does not translate in real life, as was the case today. This routine was hard. I knew I was in trouble when I looked over and saw @zoolander taking a break before finishing up Irish Jackass’s. The good news – we got a really strong shoulder workout. 

    1. George Thorogood’s*, Bear Crawl, Tuck Jumps
    2. Freak Nasty, Sprint, Superman Lat Raise
    3. Peter Parker Row*, Crab Walk, Irish Jackass*
    4. Stone Mountain, Sprint, Squat Walk*
    5. WW2 Squat Jump, Long Skip, Hallelujah High Knees
    6. Merkin  Jacks, Murder Bunny, Tae Bo Squat *
    7. Big Boi Situps, Sprint, Good Mornings
    8. Irkin, Sprint, Apollo Ohno’s

    *** Al Gore single leg calf raise; Merkin w/ pushoff Donkey Kick; Squat Hold with 2 steps back and 2 steps forward, Deep Squat with left and righthand cross (aka Billy Blanks)

    Mosey to the Gazebo

    Continuing on our celebration of 50, we did Tabata with 35s for exercise 1 and 15s for exercise 2. Our esteemed math teacher @jose10k quickly pointed out that 35 + 15 does not equal 60 seconds. YHC pointed out the theme again, and that 35 + 15 did indeed equal 50 – which was the whole point. 

    15 Minutes of Mary: 2nd exercise is always a plank,, either reverse or regular

    35 seconds/15 seconds Reverse Plank: Flutter Kick, Leg Raises, Crunchy Frogs, Windshield Wipers, Scissor Kicks, 1 Legged Wife Please (left), 1 Legged Wife Please (Right), American Hammers, Hello Dolly

    35 seconds/ 15 seconds Plank: Left Side Plank, Right Side Plank, Mountain Climbers, Superman, Bird Dog Left, Bird Dog Right, JLo’s, Scuba Steve, Peter Parker

    There again, that looked a whole lot easier on paper, and a whole lot quicker too. Thanks to the mumblechatter, time passed fairly quickly.

    Mosey back to the flags to find that Santa, or possibly Garfield  had spread some early Christmas cheer with Reeses Cups and Candy Canes on the cars. 

    COUNT, NAME-O-RAMA

    COT

    YHC gave thanks to my F3 brothers for pushing me to do what I could never do alone; making me a better man, husband, and father; and for supporting me in some difficult times over the last few months.

    @the-hammer prayed us out

    Coffeeteria: Book and the Bean for coffee and fellowship with a surprise visit from @ringo

    Moleskin

    “The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most.” Ulysses S. Grant

  • The 12 Days of Christmas, 2020

    Ah, there was holiday spirit in the chilly, night air: the smell of firewood burning, the twinkling of white Christmas lights, and, of course, the angry mutterings of one Jose 10k exiting his car.  Apparently, Cowbell had pulled up behind him and, with the height difference between the two cars, Cowbell’s headlights were blinding Mr. 10k.  “I felt like I should be doing surgery in there!”  And thus the tone was set for a magical beatdown – short but sweet – with a Christmas theme to spread a little holiday misery on this cold, Thursday night.

    Along with a disclaimer issued for the FNG, YHC warned the crew that this beatdown was hastily thrown together after stumbling upon the idea, The 12 Days of Christmas, which may or may not be something that Yankee did (or does every year?).  I apparently don’t even know how the song goes – I tried to do the ladder the wrong way, starting at 1 each time.  Wouldn’t you know, Jose quickly corrected me, and we got down to business.

    • THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
    • Day 1: 1x Burpee
    • Day 2: 2x Merkins
    • Day 3: 3x Triple Jump Squat Burpees
    • Day 4: 4x Monkey Humpers (IC)
    • Day 5: 5x Sister Mary Katherine’s (2 is 1)
    • Day 6: 6x Triple Merkin Burpees
    • Day 7: 7x Sit-Ups
    • Day 8: 8x T-Merkins
    • Day 9: 9x Groiners
    • Day 10: 10x Crunchy Frogs (IC)
    • Day 11: 11x Freak Nasties (IC)
    • Day 12: 12x Derkins

    We sped through the first couple days and then things really slowed once we hit a few triple jump squat / triple merkin burpees.  Somewhere around Day 3 we learned that Jose can sing, and that an aspiring sleuth might actually be able to track down video of him belting out “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.”  Around Day 9, Jose’s partner Amnesia turned up, fresh out of quarantine with his incredibly well-lit cargo bike (think the infamous neon “rave” vest).  And by Day 12, it was indeed a Christmas miracle that we had only gone over on time by 30 seconds (which is within the acceptable margin as set forth by the F3 Nation charter).

    COT and nameorama, where we welcomed FNG Red Baron.  Yes, he is named after the frozen pizza.  Seems dumb, I know, to name a guy because he likes pizza.  But no, really, this is a thing with this guy – his groom’s cake was decorated as a pizza, that’s how much pizza means to him.  (Which probably means that he will need F3 even more in his future.). So welcome Red Baron, hope to see you again soon, and t-claps to Cowbell from bringing out an FNG.  

    Onward to the Barley Oak, where Zoo was patiently waiting, sipping a beer in the corner, ready to dispense his wisdom on how to make duck edible (tacos) for those duck hunters who actually hate duck (Cowbell).  Thanks for the lead gentlemen, and for the F2 – it’s always a good time, even when it’s a bad time.

    And hey, don’t forget Akbar’s 50th birthday Q this Saturday!

  • NDFF – A Pontiff Original

    7 Pax posted for an Old School Uptowner brought by YHC. A disclaimer was given, followed by a short mosey to the rock pile.

    Warmup

    • IW IC x 15
    • Abe Vigodas IC x 10
    • Grass Grabbers IC x 10
    • Bat wings

    Grab the rock and Cusak, aka rifle carry, to open field where YHC has some cones set up for 11’s. There was song and the Pax was filled with joy, until we got to where we were going.

    1 x 8 count rock builders on one end, bear crawl 30 yards, 10 x big boi sit-ups, bear crawl back.

    After round 4, where 4 x 8 counts and 7 big boi sit-ups were reached, all pax fingers were numb. YHC called an audible and changed to rifle carry in place of bear crawl.

    Circle up for rock work – IC

    • Curls x 10
    • Rows x 10
    • Elf on the shelf – left x 10
    • Flutter kicks x 10
    • Elf on the shelf – right x 10

    Return the rocks and mosey back to the flag.

    COT

    NMM

    • The temperature yesterday and today looked the same, but the frost suggested it was far worse today.
    • North Dakota Finger Freeze was a hit – a hit to the fingers. YHC may have been presented the finger if the PAX had any feeling left in theirs. Some of the Mumblechatter was rather vulgar.
    • Coffeteria was great, making the beat down worthwhile.


      Thanks for posting with me today, and for allowing me to be a part of such a great organization.

      SYITG

  • Let’s just keep Running!

    Nothing much to write about today.. We journeyed some extra distance this Gloom chattering along the way with Burgundy who unfortunately for us will be heading out West to California with his work.. We all will miss his post and dedication to the CSAUP events held annually on the Southshore and Northshore.. Wishing you and your family sir nothing but the very best in your move out West…

    warmup

    20IC SSH, Hillbilly’s, Mummy kicks, Toe Touches, Windmills and skip to the end for our route down Messina turning on Monroe then West Beach back up Steve’s street to Villere and back to the AO.

    Countarama, namarama, COT

    YHC prayed us out!

    👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼 Till the next Gloom!!

  • Lakeview vs. Pontiff II

    Three months ago the men of Lakeview, unannounced and uninvited, strolled into Pontiff on the day of the Wally Run and threw down the challenge to the men of Pontiff for an Ultimate Frisbee battle. Pontiff never stood a chance as Lakeview mopped the floor with a commanding win.

    Thus began a new tradition, the Lakeview vs. Pontiff Ultimate Frisbee War. Lakeview may have won battle one, but the war was far from over.

    28 men came out for the competition on a cold December morning with 26 men playing for three months of bragging rights. Pontiff playing in Miyagi Do whites and Lakeview playing in Cobra Kai blacks. 13 vs. 13 Ultimate Frisbee – no rematch has been anticipated so highly since Rocky and Creed.

    The Pax ran 2 laps around Pontiff Park (next match there will be some sort of penalty for the team with the fewest number of competitors to complete the 2 laps). Then we split for a standard game of F3 Ultimate. 5 merkins for each turnover. 10 merkins for giving up a touchdown.

    Team Pontiff came out with bang like Daniel kicking Johnny in the face by scoring the first touchdown in moments as YHC caught one in the end zone and even completed a second pass to appease the doubts of team Lakeview, and Pontiff was off to the races.

    Thanks to the quality play of Scantron and Two Yutes scoring strikes down the field – team Pontiff won in a blow out – 8-3.

    The war is now tied 1-1. The next match comes in March.

    -Rev Sox

  • 4 x 4 x 4 = DownPainment

    Six men posted in the Gloom at The Gipper this morning. After a warmup of Imperial Walkers, Torso Twists, Mountain Climbers, Side Straddle Hops, Shoulder Taps, and Hillbillies, all IC 10x, we headed over to the Justice Center and got to work with 4 sets of 4 rounds of 4 exercises, all OYO.

    Set 1: 4 rounds of 10 Squats, 10 yard Bunny Hop, 10 Single Leg RDLs, and 10 yards of Reverse Lunges back to the starting point.

    Set 2: 4 rounds of 10 OH Hand Claps, 10 yard Bear Crawl, 10 Merkin Shoulder Taps, and 10 yard Reverse Bear Crawl back to the starting point.

    Set 3: 4 rounds of 10 Ice Skater Hops, run up the Justice Center Parking Lot stairs, 10 180 Degree Hops, and run down the stairs to the starting point.

    Set 4: 4 rounds of 10 Seal Jacks, 10 yards of Burpee Broad Jumps up the ramp, 10 Clap Merkins, and 10 yards Backpedal down the ramp to the starting point.

    Back to the Shovel Flag for the COT where Einstein prayed us out.

    Solid work this morning, guys. Thanks for letting me lead.

    Don’t forget that Steve is leading a beat down tomorrow 1800 hours at the Mandeville Lakefront Gazebo followed by F2 at the Barley Oak and that Akbar’s 50th birthday beatdown is this Saturday morning. SYITG.

  • Sunday the 13th @ Renaissance

    4 PAX got themselves out of bed on an unexectantly beautiful Sunday morning to start their week off right with a beatdown in front of NOMA. YHC was impressed, though not surprised to see Catfish after he posted some ridiculous 10k time the day before. Disclaimer was given and we moseyed to the top of the NOMA stairs for a warmup. 

    WARMUP

    SSH IC x15

    AV IC x 15

    Arm circles IC x 15

    Grass grabbers IC x 15 

    Peter Parkers IC x 15

    Parker Peters IC x 15

    Deep Sea Divers- IC x 10 – hold a declining plank pose at each step, do hip slappers in cadence, go down a step after each set, rinse and repeat all the way to the bottom. We did these last week at Renaissance and YHC wasn’t ready. One week later, YHC was the Q and they still hurt alot. 

    Dying cockroaches IC x 15

    Mosey to Roosevelt Mall for: 

    Route 66– Jump Squats

    Taking advantage of the concrete benches on Roosevelt Mall, PAX ran up one side of Roosevelt Mall with Jump Squats until the 11th Bench, PAX then crossed Roosevelt Mall for:

    Route 66 – Dips

    We did the jump squats ascending to 11, and the dips descending. YHC has included these in a beatdown before, but this time (pauses, checks legs)…legs are still sore 2 days later.

    Mosey back to front of NOMA for: 

    Jack Webb’s IC x 20

    EMON– that is Every Minute On, 10 burpees every minute for 10 min. A perfect time killer or  character builder, depending on your perspective. PAX pushed through admirably. 

    Mosey to wall of NOMA for: 

    Sunday Mornings

    10 Air Presses in the peoples chair, followed by 5 donkey kicks, on the 5th donkey kick up to Balls to the Wall with one merkin/shoulder press. That’s one.

    CoT. Really appreciate all the PAX for pushing through this one. We went the full 45min which PAX admitted was an improvement over my previous Q. 100% attendance at Coffeeteria @ PJ’s. SYITG.

  • South Pole Bound

    20201214
    Q: Hogs Breath

    This was the [Louisiana] VQ of Hogs Breath. The wind was whipping and the 51* sure felt like we were heading to the South Pole! Trying to pull history into the Q, Hogs Breath found out that on 14 Dec 1911 Ronald Amundsen and four men reached the South Pole. Water Pick arrived to confusion finding that Hogs Breath had already planted a shovel flag!

    DISCLAIMER: Given

    Warmup: 

    10 Mount Man Poopers, 10 Arm Circles (in all directions), 10 Hairy Rockettes, Alligator Merkins across the basket ball court.

    THE THANG

    Grabbing coupons we began our “restrictor plate march” aka an Indian run while we carried cinder blocks. The pax began a brisk walk toward the lakefront, while the six would sprint to the front, utilizing a variety of different holds with the block. Shout out to Hammer who complited the March, only two days after a vasectomy!!!! The march still allowed for much mummblechatter on the way!

    Once we arrived at the lakefront, starring at an ominous rising sun, we circled up to continue our South pole inspire beat down. We did a 5×5 of:

    S- squats

    O- one arm merkins

    U- up right rows

    T- thrusters

    H- Hydrohalic squats

    After each round we took a 10 second countdown in a rotating fashion.

    Then… We had to return back to the flag. Continuing our restrictor plate march.

    Upon arriving the Q had a brainfart and though we had an extra 15 mins instead of our 6 mins. Luckily Bushwacker corrected him and we rounded out with 6 MoM;

    25 SSH

    Gas Pumps

    Big Boy Sit ups

    Heels to heaven / leg lifts

    And rounded it out to 100 100s

    Ended with Number-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, COT

    MOLESKIN
    Words of Wisdom: “Victory awaits him who has everything in order…luck we call it.

    Defeat is definitely due for him who has neglected to take the necessary precaution…bad luck we call it.

    Adventure is just bad planning”

    Ronald Amundsen