Category: Backblasts

  • Crescent City Fall Classic Preview

    The Q sheet for The Stomp was mysteriously blank for this beautiful Tuesday morning. On Monday, YHC wondered why would such a popular beatdown did not have a Q — rain in the forecast (we all know Lakeview people can’t handle a little rain). So at 5:01 am, YHC took the Q, his first at the beloved 610 Stomp.

    This Saturday morning is the Cresent City Fall Classic. YHC has always dreamed of running the Cresent City 10k from a timed coral. The fall classic and the St. Patty’s two-miler are the qualifiers for the 10k but YHC cannot attend either this year. So, why not make the entire Stomp crowd attempt to run qualify for the race at an F3 workout.

    We mosey from the flag to the starting line. Along the way, we warmed up with high knees, butt kicks, carioca right, and carioca left.

    At the starting line, the course was roughly explained. Runners were reminded that a CCC10k qualifying time was 22:00. With that disclaimer, we were off.

    After passing Christian Brother’s the kind security guard told us that our route would need to be modified (darn VooDoo Fest). No worries we modify and move on.

    At the conclusion of the run, a few things were determined.

    1. The Pax determined that Shuffles probably qualified and no one else.
    2. YHC discovered how his M feels when I don’t follow directions.
    3. F3 is full of leaders and followers, both were on display today.
    4. Amnesty plays by his own rules.
    5. The park is safer than running down the bayou (except for that one part when I lead the Pax into the middle of Wisner).

    Finished with Mary, stretching, and burpees.

    COT

    It is always a pleasure to lead. Thank you, gentlemen.

  • Rise-n-Stein

    Sorry about this backblast being tardy. The piece of paper that I had my login password on, fell behind the refrigerator.

    So with a cool morning at the Gipper, in the 40s, a long warm-up was in order; 20xIC: windmills, side straddle hops, arm circles, seal jacks, good mornings, high knees, imperial walkers, butt kicks, toe touches, and hillbillys.

    Mosey over to the Taj-Mahal, split into two groups with one group running around the campus building while the other group squats in human chair position. Repeat a few times.

    Stroll over and circle up around the substantial flag pole. One pax walks to the flag pole and shimmys up the pole a little. The counter clockwise pax person calls out an exercise to be completed while the pole-climber hangs on. Repeat around until everyone gets a turn. Shooter, no doubt, could have a second career as a circus sway-pole climber.

    Mosey over to the Justice Center parking garage. A quick stop at the short wall to do a series of step-ups. Then to the ramps for backwards lunge walking and sprints. On the top deck we did a series of 100 yard side shuffles while touching the ground at each parking space.

    Mosey back to the flag for one minute of Freddies.

    Circle up, count off, and BushWacker leads us out with his Epistle to the Gipperians II.

  • Darkness bells

    A dark and cool AM. 56 degrees.

    Willie arrived after I started to worry about being alone for the Sweaty Bells.

    Willie and I moseyed over to the soccer field for a 2 man deal.

    Then Jingle and Kong arrived so we were 4.

    Started with warmups: Halos, Figure 8, Bus Driver, Round the waist, Hot Potato

    The THANG: I envisioned a 10-15-20-15-10 cycle for the following exercises. However time kept us to a 10-15-10 cycle.

    Exercises in order: 1/2 burpee to row, KB overhead press, Tricep press, Kb Swings, Rows L/R, Curls, Reverse Lunge, Lateral Pulls/Drag.

    After that cycle we ran a lap around the soccer field. Then repeat for 15 reps then finished with 10 reps.

    That took all of our time – I had some Mary planned but we had to skip it.

    Some chill time with the boys and bells. Who are all these sketchy people at the FLY in the gloom? Strange folks.

    Thanks for letting me Q. It is always a blast.

  • Low Impact Muscleship

    Conditions: 68 degrees with 94% humidity. Lots of debris across the park as a result of either Tropical Storm Olga or VooDoo Fest…not sure which.

    Warm-up

    Imperial Walkers x 25; Windmills x 15; Alternating Lunges x 10; Tempo Merkins x 20; Low Slow Squats x 25; Forward Arm Circles x 20; Moroccan Night Club x 25; Backward Arm Circles. Hobbs starts to worry about the extended amount of shoulder warm-up.

    The Thang

    Bear Crawl the length of Lelong Dr. (a little shy of 1/4 mile). When lead dog, err..bear, reaches Wisner, he turns around and bear crawls back toward the six. As the lead bear gets to you, turn around and join his crawl to the six. Hobbs fears are realized.

    Mary: Flutter Kicks x 20; LBCs x 20; Penguins x 20

    Head back toward museum along the tree line. Jameis Winston for two trees, bear crawl two trees, lunge walk two trees. There were 16 or so trees. Again, the lead pax came back to the six and all joined in along the way.

    One more bear crawl for 6 or so tree lengths.

    Grab a cinderblock and start walking toward the Baby Foundry, aka the Refinery. Along the way we…walked Cusak Style, did curls, did Farmer Carries.

    Partner up at the BF Refinery. One partner pulls a Bernie Sanders on the pull up bars while the other does a Curl, Squat, Curl, Press Combo. Flap Jack when partner one falls out. After two rounds or so, it turned to straight curls. Did 3 or 4 rounds.

    Walk back with block, moving it from right shoulder to left shoulder via a shoulder press on call. Stopped at Victory Avenue for some Curls in Cadence.

    8-count merkin walk over block x 7

    Cool Down

    World’s Greatest Stretch, Touch your Toes, COT

    NMM

    • I listened to a F3 Roundtable Call with F3 Gastonia. They have a no run AO called Pain Lab. They take it as far as to have no high impact exercises…No-Impact = two feet on the ground, Low-Impact = one foot on ground at all times; High Impact = both feet come off the ground. I thought the Muscleship would be a great place to try this out. It meant no SSHs in the warm-up and no burpees.
    • The bear crawl was Epic. SOGO did a quarter of a mile without stopping. The rest of us were not far behind. How far can someone bear crawl without stopping?
    • JVs audible exertions are reaching new levels.
    • From what I could understand, Tool’s Coach O impersonation was very encouraging.
    • SOGO agrees that rain-soaked coupons are the best coupons
    • War Eagle hates Lloyd Dobbler. Not sure about his feelings for Diane Court. What am I saying? He has know idea who those people are.
    • There are patriots among us at City Park. Our flag fell while we were at the Refinery and someone stuck it back in the ground. This evens the score for when they stole our flag a few years ago. City Park Patriots 1 – City Park Commie Bastards 1.
    • Can I still say Commie or is that a Twitter offense?
    • Thumb War was noticeably excited about the Yoga at the end. Beware, I see some Warrior poses in his future Qs.
    • T-claps to all our F3 brethren that ran the Jazz Half and those doing the GoRuck tonight.

  • First Co-Q

    4 men including one sort of new member to the Westbank crewe worked out together on Thursday morning at 5am prompt.

    Warmup:
    Light jog from AO to parking lot
    Side Straddle Hop x 15
    Arm Circles x 10 forwards and 10 backwards
    Merkins x 20
    Mountain Climbers x 20

    Main Workout – 7 of Diamonds(4 rounds) — With the parking lot as our square:
    Round 1 – x 7 burpees at each of the 4 corners with a mosey in between corners.
    Round 2 – x 14 four count flutter kicks at each of the 4 corners.
    Round 3 – x 21 merkins at each of the 4 corners.
    Round 4 – x 28 squats at each of the 4 corners.

    Mosey back to middle of park for ab workouts:

    In a circle and on our sixes with each PAX taking turns:
    x 15 – 3 count flutter kicks
    x 10 – 3 count flutter kicks
    x 15 – 3 count cross flutter kicks
    x 20 – side sit-ups( left and right)
    x 20 – alternate shoulder taps

    For 3mins – x 7 ss hops, x 7 merkins, and x 7 jump squats

    Final light jog to AO for COT and Prayer.

    Thanks brethren for the counting tips and the guidance for my first Q!

  • “This isn’t The Stomp!”

    YHC arrived early for round two of the Wally Run. This week seven men arrived early to stretch and begin the run. YHC announced we would complete a three-mile loop through the neighborhood and finish with some work on the track.

    The seven fearless Pax members started off down the Pontiff track. A ¼ of a mile through the run, a dark shadowy figure approached. It was as strong as an ox, sneaky as a snake, and quick as a cheetah. It was the man, the myth, the legend—it was Hawgcycle! The eight men together completed the run and finished on the track. Some incorporated sprints, others simply kept running.

    At 6:10, the wannabe Q, Rev Sox stopped running to include Mary. YHC questioned such a decision. Rev Sox said, “At The Stomp, we always do Mary at the end.” Well, Reverend Sox, “This isn’t The Stomp!” But, YHC obliged and concluded with LBCs, Flutter Kicks, and Reverse Crunches.

    T-claps to Hokey Pokey. He was hesitant to try the three-mile loop but endured and finished. T-claps to Boo Boo. He expressed multiple times that he was not a runner but he came and completed the run anyway. T-claps to Rev Sox, Pai Gow, and Hobbs for constantly sweeping the six. T-claps to Tua and Hawg –we all want to be like you when we grow-up!

    COT

    It was a pleasure to lead. Join us every Thursday at Pontiff for the Wally Run. You won’t be disappointed.

  • “Do they make men’s sports bras?”

    The answer to that question is no, but more on that in a moment.

    YHC arrived at Popeyes on this cool, crisp morning with a beatdown appropriate for individuals who would find their joy in running the following morning at the Wally Run. The temperature was 62 degrees but based on Boo Boo’s attire you would have thought it was minus 62 degrees. With the park set-up for a weekend event, the mosey to the Esplanade workout equipment would take a bit longer. At 5:28, YHC gave the disclaimer and headed out making sure not to get out of sight before 5:30 in case someone came in hot.

    Warm-Up

    No time to circle up so a warm-up on the go—

    High Knees, Butt-Kicks, Carioca Right, Carioca Left, Walking Imperial Walkers, Arm Circles as we ran. We did circle up once about halfway through for SSH, Abe Vigodas, and Seal Jacks (note: these men do not have the coordination required for Seal Jacks)

    The Thang

    At the Esplanade workout equipment we completed one minute each of the following exercises:

    Burpees, Lunges, Dips, Inch Worms, Irkins, Military Sit-Ups, Plank Jacks, LBCs, Squats, Bonnie Blairs, Leg Raises (hanging from the pull-up bars), and Imperial Squat Walkers. We completed the circuit with a 6-pack (Think 11s with pull-ups and Merkins but only totaling 6 reps)

    We completed the round and moseyed back toward the flag. Along the way we had an opportunity to encourage one of our newest Metry Pax, Mile High. Mile High has worked hard over the last couple of weeks but has made it known to everyone he is not a runner. We let him set the pace on the return mosey but not without asking, “Do they make men’s sporting bras?” They don’t, but T-claps to Mile High for sprinting to the finish.

    Mile High’s effort and the Pax response is a subtle reminder, “Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you found him!”

    COT, prayers for families and marriages associated with F3

    As always, it was a please to lead.

  • Stiffler’s Mom with Guests

    5 runners braved the French Quarter for a 5 mile run.

    Guests included Drizzle, Flying Wasp and Hermes.

    COT and Prayer.

  • Whats a “Slow-Zee”?

    A little chilly for your preference or, as Turbo would have us all believe, perfect running weather? Well, as YHC philosophizes, everything in life is relative, and this is simply one more example. My heart was gladdened to hear that, like myself, Cowbell feels more distinctly at home in the 70s to 80s with slightly lower humidity. Speaking of Cowbell, his suggestion of a …slow-zee…? sounded just about right just days before this year’s North Shore Half Marathon. And thus…

    WARMORAMA

    x10 IC:

    Good Mornings

    Imperial Walkers

    High Knees

    Butt Kicks

    Scorpion Kicks

    THANG

    Scrambling along the traditional old MANDEVILLE (ahem, Hawgcycle) route, Q made sure to keep the PAX more or less together by instituting several location-based stops to either Freddy Mercury or LBC OYO until the 6 caught up, then start an IC 10 count. That was until the final stop at Monroe, after which the stallions were let loose from the barn!

    MARY

    The Freddy Mercury/LBC count was extended back at the flag to a mischievous 26 reps before OYO 10 Burpees and 50 (with good form) Merkins.

    COT

    Count/Name Amnesia, whose third child is due in December, prayed us out.

    Thanks, guys, for following my lead and my shenanigans.

    *BE PREPARED FOR SOME MUD-SLOPPY FUN N GAMES SATURDAY (GLOVES/TOWELS)*

  • Breakin’ 60

    So, YHC stepped outside in the gloomy gloom noting how crisp the morning was.  Would the PAX appreciate the Beatdown ahead of them?  Should YHC dial it back?  Well, as the PAX gathered at the Flag at 5:30 AM, Reluctant Yankee made it clear that the temps had gotten into the 50’s for the first time this F3 Fall season.  Decision made, no humid, unseasonably warm weather for the PAX to complain about.  The Beatdown will continue as originally planned.  Thank you Yankee!  No FNG’s but we do have a brother from F3 Wilmington, Flying Wasp, visiting.  Welcome and how did you get such a cool name?  Sounds like a superhero to me.  Off we go!!!

    Warm Up on Kick Ball Fields

    Line up in a single-file row shoulder to shoulder for:

    • Alternating Open Gates till Q yells halt
    • Imperial Walkers
    • Toy Soldiers/Kim Jong Un’s till Q yells halt
    • Self-Love
    • High Knees to Q yells halt
    • Hillbillies

    Thing 1

    Mosey to Base of Hill for Everest/Merkin combo:

    • Merkins with right leg up IC X15
    • Everest (Alternating Lunge Walks with squat in between) up the hill alternating lunge with squat in middle.  Run Down
    • Merkins with left leg up IC X15
    • Everest up the hill run down
    • Wide Merkins IC X15

    Thing 2

    Mosey to PIMP station for Route 66:

    Starting at first running man by PIMP station:

    • Body Bag Builders starting at 1 Body Builder with Plank Jack/Mountain Climber/Merkin upping 1 rep at each succeeding running man up to 11 Benches for a total of 66 reps.

    Complete core exercises, crunchy frogs, flutter kicks, and Peter Parkers all in cadence while we wait for the Six.

    Thing 3

    Mosey to Shelter for red hot chili pepper:

    • Right Leg Step Ups x 16; Incline Merkins x 12; Left Leg Step Ups x 16; Decline Merkins x 12
    • Right Leg Step Ups x 12; Incline Merkins x 8; Left Leg Step Ups x 12; Decline Merkins x 8

    We are done!  Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, prayer.

    Thanks for letting me lead!