F3 New Orleans

Category: Backblasts

  • Fog at The Gipper…Weather and Brain – from Einstein

    Cool temps with some big time fog at The Gipper this morning.

    Warmup: toe touch, windmills, hi jack hi jills, side straddle hops, arm circles, swimmers. high knees, buttkicks, parker peters, side lunges, etc

    Thang: 3 sets of cinderblock work, each seperated by an non cinderblock event.
    block work – the usual…curls, presses, rows, overhead thrusts, farmer carry, rifle carry, big boy situps, skull crushers, squat thrusts, lunges, etc.
    set break 1 – speed skater walk for a city block then back peddle return
    set break 2 – mosey to the court house benches for B. split squats, step ups, merkins

    Hammer prayed us out.

  • Feel the Burn – from Boo-Boo

    Two PAX strong today on a foggy and cool morning. Mosey to the nearby outdoor workout equipment for a warmup including three types of arm circles, AV, MMP with Good Mornings, MC, PP, and SSH.

    Off to JPAS using several modes of transportation including BC, KOT, High Knees, left Karaoke, and right Karaoke.

    Once at JPAS, PAX assembled at the base of the stairs. Round 1, one merkin for each step, 10 BBSU at the top, mosey down the ramp back to stairs. Rounds 2&3, merkin ladder to the middle step (8) and descending merkin ladder to the top, 10 BBSU at top, mosey down the ramp to the base of the stairs.

    With arms thoroughly warmed-up, PAX grabbed coupons from the stash under the stairs. Rifle carry to the front of JPAS for a Tabata workout involving 30 secs work and 30 seconds rest. 2 reps of chosen exercises followed by one rep of Blockees in between chosen exercises, except two reps of Blockees to end it:

    Goblet squats
    Blockees
    KB swings
    Blockees
    Chest press
    Blockees
    Right arm rows
    Blockees
    Left arm rows
    Blockees
    Lung w twist
    Blockees
    Extension press
    Blockees
    Squirrels
    Blockees
    Blockees

    With 2 minutes to spare, blocks returned and mosey to the flag. Said hello to our block mascot, the JPAS rally possum. He appears to have an injury.

    Mosey to the flag, COT, prayers, and out! Thanks Frac for showing up and holding me accountable. I needed the push.

  • Not the Same Old Scrum Drum – from Bolt

    In pursuit of the ultimate anti-fart sack hack YHC decided to take the empty Q, and make it more likely that I would actually post in what was sure to be a chilly morn. Not wanting to do the same hum drum beat down at the Scrum (see what I did there, Frac) it was decided the pax would be treated to a full body coupon workout. Six posted, one of whom remained committed to RCR.
    Warmorama on a slightly icy warm up pad: figure four squats, Willie Mays Hayes, tie fighters, seal claps, chinooks, MNC celebrating Charmin’s return (has he co-opted Frac’s beloved MNC?), self love followed various MOT toward JPAX, switching at light posts: KnOT, lunge, high knees, skip, karaoke each direction, shuffle each direction.
    The Thang: 9 exercise full body con coupon
    OH press
    Squats
    Big boys 
    Curls
    Lunges
    American Hammers
    Tricep press
    Calf raises
    Manmakers
    Round 1: 15 reps/exercise
    Round 2: 10 reps/exercise and upon completion 5 reps/exercise
    Round 3: 1 rep/exercise repeating nonstop, essentially making it a 9 motion rep that you keep repeating until time runs out.
    Next time we will count rounds of the 9 part move.
    YHC called for coupon return and set up a ring of dealers choice, starting with protractors, KennaBrah did something weird (shocker!), Charmin called penguins, ran out of time (next time Frac and Space Cowboy) and headed back to flag. COT with gratitude for the pax.

  • Two Kings and a Joker – from Russo

    Temp was below 40 for the entirety, what YHC feels is the last bit of cold weather we’ll see for a while, but I’ve been wrong before.

    Warmup – all IC 10x

    – SSHs
    – Arm circles
    – Toe touches
    – Cherry pickers
    – High knees
    – Self love

    Thang – Deck of Death (count and exercise based on card turned over)

    The deck provided the inspiration for the title: YHC the Joker was joined by two kings:

    (1) Steve – King of making it look easy. I don’t doubt that he struggles on occasion. But you’d never be able to tell it. Effortless floating from one to the next. Smirking the entire time.

    (2) Waterpik – King of Form and perfect execution. Flawless. Even the most demanding judge is mystified by the way he fully executes. No shortcuts. Watch him jump squat. While YHC is struggling to get down to a 135 degree angle, he’s headed all of the way down and back up. Amazing.

    Back to the deck, we split the deck into 3 groups for rounds. Rounds included:
    Spades – durkins
    Clubs – freak nastys
    Diamonds – Bulgarian split squats (2 is 1)
    Hearts – leg raises

    Spades – shoulder tap merkins
    Clubs – calf raises (2 is 1)
    Diamonds – SMCs
    Hearts – Crunchy frogs

    Spades – step ups
    Clubs – Monkey Humpers
    Diamonds – jump squats
    Hearts – box cutters

    Before and between rounds, we moseyed around Granny’s to accumulate some mileage.

    Mary (all 15x)

    – LMCs
    – Gas pumps
    – Penguins
    – Heels to heaven
    – Flutter kicks

    Finally, 3 calf raises each step of the pilot house.

    COT, name-o-rama, announcements and prayer closed us out.

    SYITG

  • Ease the Knees, Flex the Pecs – from Goose

    Having tweaked the spine somethin’ fierce last week, YHC is pretty much limited to merkins, and a few arm movements, which was conveniently similar to the PAX who ran in It’s Only A Mile on Saturday. So, YHC decided not to relinquish the Q, but offer a clinic in stretching while also completely burning out the one muscle group least used on Saturday. It was time to loosen the legs and challenge the chest; ease the knees and flex the pecs; salve the calves and test the breasts. Know’m sayin’.

    Warmup: Imperial Walkers (cuz that’s all YHC could handle, and we’d be stretching the legs nicely for the rest of the beatdown), AC both ways x20, Cherry Pickers x15, Lafayette Night Clubs x15, and Self-Love x20 to get the upper body nice and loose. It wouldn’t be enough.

    The Thang for the duration of the workout would be a Tabata style, AMRAP/stretch routine consting of 30 seconds of stretching (x2 of each) followed by 30 seconds of a given merkin variety AMRAP. If the stretch was one leg at a time, or one arm at a time, we’d alternate two types of merkins since there would be four rounds of merkins altogether for that one stretch (each limb needing to be stretched twice, you see).

    It went like this (all x2):

    -Feet together, touch toes; regular merkins
    -Quad stretch; Werkins and Diamond merkins
    -Calf stretch on the curb; staggered merkins w/one hand up on the curb (2 L, 2R)
    -Butterfly groin stretch; Ranger Merkins
    -Butt/IT stretch (laying down, pull knee to opposite shoulder); Hand-release merkins and Shoulder-tap merkins
    -Ab stretch (on elbows, up like a cobra); Peter Parker Merkins
    -Tricep stretch (against a post); Irkins and Derkins on the Stage wall
    -Chest stretch (between posts); Carolina Dry Docks

    The stretches were deeply welcomed by all, but the merkins quickly became something to be dreaded as the timer ticked loudly toward another round, and chatter was at a minimum. By the time the Derkins were upon us, the bird poop on our resting faces didn’t seem so bad. And, the Carolina Dry Docks had YHC thinking we need to EH a dentist soon if we’re gonna keep declining on dead arms.

    YHC was impressed by Popeye and Yankee Joe posting after such a grueling feat of endurance on Saturday (Pope, too, but he didn’t really have a choice). And, it was great to have Safety Valve with us again–nobody quite matches the smiling-while-complaining wit of our very own 16-year-old surgeon.

    We never left the stage area, and we never ran, but we heated up nicely in the cold weather, and the fire that burned in our chests warmed the cockles of our innerds as we circled up, grateful for another fulfilling experience of shared suffering. COT and YJ prayed us out

    N.B. The neighborhood has been given yet another reason to put forth (almost) 0 FNG’s during YHC’s tenure here–the tricep stretch had us leaning against various posts on the stage like a 90’s boy band right before walking over to the half wall for some manly irkins. They don’t know what they’re missing.

  • It Was Only A Mile – from Paradox

    Journal entry
    Feb 17, 2024
    An eventful morning on the Farm

    My family has lived on this property out along Hwy 1 since around WW2 and most mornings I follow a strict but enjoyable routine. Up just before the sun rises over the cane fields , I brew a pot of coffee and check the weather. Then I enjoy a quiet morning with my thoughts, some prayer and maybe even a good book.

    But this morning …this morning my routine was , well, I’ll put it politely and say it was disturbed. You see, shortly after the weatherman informed me that today’s forecast was not fit for man nor beast , well I heard just that. A man , my nephew, in the yard hollering at some sort of animal. On closer inspection out my kitchen window it was no beast making these noises but a hybrid redneck dialect being emitted from another human he insisted on calling a paradox. He was in a truck loaded nose to tail with tents and tables like Jed Clampett. “Shoot fire Yankee this is a mighty fine residence, hope tha skeeters ain’t neer bad as the peltch last beatdown” he said while looking around the farm. I expected him to have no teeth at all but he only seemed to be lacking inseam in his shorts. A paradox indeed.

    To my amazement, my nephew, the one he kept calling Yankee, seemed to know and welcome him and they began putting out cones and yard signs in a cold rain storm just happier than two pigs in the sunshine. Things were getting quite strange here , and little did I know it was just the beginning.

    By 7:15 the rain had let up but the floodgates of middle aged men with knee braces and headbands were now wide open. Short , tall, thick , thin, they all piled in helping setup a flooded tent and passing around gold baun sticks and theraguns. Some dressed for the weather while others invested in Himalayan technology to keep there mammary glands chafe free. There seemed to be no distinction in vehicle either as they stepped from punisher Tundras or eco friendly wagons. They greeted old friends with butt slaps and elbow taps yelling obscenities like FracSac and Goosey. Quite frankly , I don’t even care to know why a Hawg would even need a cycle. This ceremony continued until there were dang near 30 of them loitering around our property! I had the authorities dialed up when I was informed they had gathered on purpose AND for a charity cause AND my nephew had actually planned on them being here! Tomfoolery! The very definition!

    I settled back into my armchair to take a breather. That’s when the foghorn went off …and they started running.

    The first one I saw break away from the pack looked like he had been taken right off the cover of one of those running magazines. A stride so Smooth you would swear he was standing still but hard to reconcile that with the 1/2 mile lead he had most of the day.

    Behind him were 3-4 others seemingly using this gazelle as a pace car and weighing options that he couldn’t keep that pace all day..right..right?! (He would)

    They had one young enough to be 15 with spring loaded rubber for legs and others flexing the scars of midlife ,held together with bioflex and gorilla glue.

    Behind this second group were the real rabble rousers. A pack of 10-15 wild dogs complete with mobile tunes, homemade JV shirts and promises every turn that “I think this is it for me boys..wink, wink”

    A few ringleaders in this pack but the real Don Corleone was a highlighter vested gentleman they all called Popeye. He was not blazing land speed records but something about the way he set his jaw let any observer know he wouldn’t be denied his mileage goal.

    They all hit the first corner in site of the quarter mile cone and stared down a cold and wet 15mph headwind, lovely. Gosh I wonder if any of them had cozy pickleball scheduled today.

    In between miles I saw various strategies of recharge. Some gorged calories , others walked it out , and some stood still contemplating the next lap. Many of these hooligans searched for a man who I guessed to be their local shaman but lap after lap he wore many more hats (and one whistle) . One part coach , one part field general, his intimate knowledge of the men was palpable . Some he pushed harder, others he let down easy, both equally effective in getting his men’s best effort. He delivered speeches to ward off ego and checked joints for oil leakage like a seasoned mechanic. With a firm nod or a head turned grin he communicated his trust. This was a leader of high impact men from any viewpoint. He whistled and they ran. They ran and he whistled.

    The wind blew. The socks got wet, got swapped out and got wet again. Many met their goal mileage, passed it and kept on churning. By about 11am most having exceeded a half marathon at this point, most took a bowl of delicious pastalaya and continued to cheer on the rest.

    By around 2pm there were 4 still running . And when I thought I had heard it all one yelled “back the cones up” and they took off for one last trip, this time for 1.2 miles. The gazelle in front still as fresh as mile 1 but that ole hawg wasn’t far behind. They all knew he had a little sand left in those bags. The third man was a true bewilderment. His physique suggesting he could walk on as an NFL tight-end but his running demeanor at mile 26 was simply unbothered. The redneck brought up the rear and surely he thought there was a bud light promotion for finishers. (there wasn’t, but a Coors from a friend was even better)

    The gazelle found the finish line first only a second in front of the hawg and the artist they called Tana only a furlong after that.

    And as the miles piled up I pondered to myself “why would they do something so utterly stupid “. With time on my hands, as the trucks loaded with tents and boxes dispersed , I came to three potential conclusions.

    Was it fitness driving them ?

    Surely this looked plausible as some had clear physical gifts and several maintained peak cardio strain. Were these average Yankee Jeaux’s striving to be Americas Best athletes? Unlikely. But I can only say it seemed the fitness got them here, but it was not the reason they stayed for more. An appetizer of sorts, maybe stellar quads is just the byproduct ….so I kept searching.

    Were they just here to fellowship? Some signs pointed in this direction. As soon as I saw the Solo Stove fire pit I knew a high fluting party was in full swing. This crew obviously knew how to have a good time and the verbal assaults flying along with answered grins of disdain indicated enjoyment of each others company. I’m Closer to the mark here but…but no. Not quite the primary driving factor I could sense.

    So if they weren’t fitness professionals and most would think a better party is available at any other watering hole then what’s left ?!

    Hidden amongst the laps, intertwined between these fun loving family men, was the intrinsic need to put ones own pain aside. To combine that suffering with the brother next to him and have it all be for something much larger than themselves. That’s why they ran. Every step counted , every lap mattered. It was “only a mile” they said to each other .

    But it seemed like so much more.

    This was a fine day.

    Postscript

    Congrats to NOLA’s Smooth for winning the first annual IOAM! See ya next to year to defend .

    Second place – The OG sandbagger himself Mr. Hawgcycle

    Third place – Wilford Montana – forged in the fires of deep Bourg pickleball this was truly impressive brother!

    To all that ran today (and one that whistled), thank you for your time , effort and commitment to raise money for several great causes today and during RCR.

    Thanks to Rudy for the ground support and motivation. You really stepped RCR up this year!

    Special Thanks to Enron and Bourgeois Meat Market for the awesome lunch!

    As usual artistic liberties were taken in portrayal of backblast characters but Reluctant Yankee and his family were overwhelmingly gracious hosts . Huge thanks to his family for having us invade their Saturday!

    It’s a privilege to lead.

    SYITG

    Paradox

  • No Q No Problem… – from Bogey

    Rainy 61degrees(and quickly dropping)
    Peristyle – Warmup
    Peristyle – Down the Ladder – People’s Chair/10 air press to 10 Merkins & back to People’s Chair 9 air press to 9 merkins…rinse and repeat down to 1
    Peristyle – 20 calf raises/20 Monkey Humpers to 20 calf raises(toes in)/20 Monkey Humpers to 20 calf raises(toes out)/20 Monkey Humpers
    Peristyle/nearby benches for Dips.
    Peristyle Dora – 100 BB sit-ups/200 squats/300 flutter kicks
    -1 lap around the Big Lawn
    – 20 Rt leg step-ups/15 incline merkins/20 Lft leg step-ups
    – Mary with Burpees(compliments of Mr. Rogers)
    – stretch
    – COT
    Thanks to the PAX for motivation and accountability!

  • Team RCR has a First & 10 – from Mayhem

    Mahatma had a work commitment, so YHC stepped up to Q. Not much was preplanned…

    YHC arrived early concerned about the gate being locked due to track starting. Lo and behold, the fear became reality. Flag was planted and brainstorming commenced. Jogged to the east side of the track and setup 10 cones each 10 yards apart in the road.

    Rudy arrived from the gloom after logging some RCR miles to round out the group at 7 PAX. 5:30 disclaimer and off we went… in two different directions…

    Theme: no rocks even though it was Rock City, more running than usual for RCR, and finish with a challenge at the cones.

    Mosey around the locked track and enter by the bleachers.
    Warmarama: AV, GG, MMP, PPP, MC
    In Mahatma fashion, jogged the bleachers from end to end, up and down 6 spots, 5 burpees, return, up and down 6 spots, 5 burpees

    Mosey a few hundred meters, pit stop. 15 honest(?) merkins IC, hand release merkin + should taps.

    Mosey a few hundred meters, pit stop at the pavilion by the hill. Back-to-back-to-back without a break. 15 right leg step-ups, 15 left leg step-ups, 15 dips IC.

    Mosey a few hundred meters, pit stop in the light. 15 bobby hurleys, run to the bleachers and back, 15 2-is-1 bonnie blairs, run to the bleachers and back, 15 IW 2-is-1, run to the bleachers and back, OYO.

    Mosey a few hundred meters, pit stop on the stairs at the back press box. Calf raises, right leg-only calf raises, left leg-only calf raises.

    Mosey a few hundred yards to cone #1 for First and 10.
    At first cone, 1 burpee + 10 merkins. Sprint to the last cone (90 yards), recover jog back to second cone. 2 burpees + 9 merkins. Sprint to last cone (80 yards), recover jog back to third cone, etc. Totals 55 burpees, 55 merkins, 9 sprints and 9 recovery jogs followed by a little bit of Mary for some.

    Mosey back the long way to the flag for 6:14pm arrival and COT to commence. Team KnOTs was performing a shockingly slow mosey back on the main track.

    Counterama
    Namerama

    Announcements- City Pork 2/24
    07:00 – Run #1
    08:00 – Run #2
    09:00 – Run #3 with Youth Run NOLA
    10:00 – Run #4
    11:00 – Run #5
    12:00 – Run #6

    Intentions- Scantron’s nephew and Vagabond’s co-worker

    Thankful for the opportunity to lead.
    Thanks Rudy for skipping your run to attend your first bootcamp-style beat down in February.

    SYITG!

  • 2 rounds of playing cards – from Thighs

    Today we brought back the F3 playing cards with a couple new games to play.
    F3 Workout Deck – Waterproof Beatdown Box Card Deck

    We started the beat down with a warmup:
    Mosey around the block
    15x Jumping Jacks
    7x Windmills
    7x Cherry Pickers
    7x Merkins
    7x Mountain Climbers
    7x Squats
    7x In Tempo Tempo Squats
    Then we mosey-ed to the city seal and set up the cards in the middle.

    We did 2 rounds where each card had a specific exercise. We pulled 10 cards per round. After each card, we did a quick mosey to the canon and back, for a quick 100 meter run.

    Hearts
    10
    Spades
    15
    Diamonds
    20
    Clubs
    25

    2
    Merkins
    3
    Squat Pulsesx2
    4
    Mtn Climbers x2
    5
    Squats
    6
    Flutter Kicks x2
    7
    Bobby Hurleys
    8
    Smurf Jacks x2
    9
    Box Cutters
    10
    Plank Toe Touches x2
    J
    Diamond Merkins
    Q
    Bonny Blairs
    K
    Burpees
    A
    Diamond Merkins
    Joker
    60 sec plank

    After each round, we did a mosey around the block.

    Then after that round we did 2 rounds of 44s. Where each suit had a different exercise.
    The # on the card was the reps.

    Hearts
    Arms
    Tricep Merkins

    Spades
    Legs
    Lunges

    Diamonds
    Cardio
    Catcher Burpees

    Clubs
    Abs
    Triple Bear

    After each round, we did a mosey around the block.

    We ended the workout with an Ab Ring of Fire.
    Each PAX lead a workout as we went around the Ring of Fire. We did this for two rounds.

    We ended with the usual close out, sending us off with a prayer.
    Looking forward to next time!

  • Goldmine Valentines – from Bolt

    YHC put out the call to bring life back to our fledgling AO as Shrove Tuesday led right to Ash Wednesday—time for sacrifice and repentance to begin along with sweethearts and amoré; 4 other pax heeded the call, with Rev’s HC including a caveat to run.

    Warmorama featuring the requisite song but with more S&M than usual: sun salutation with forward folds, figure 4 squats, tie fighters alternating legs/direction, OH/seal claps, self love, Abe SLOWgodas.

    The thang: morning calls followed by a slowsey to JPAX with a change in MOT at each light: KnOT, high knees, lunge, karaoke each direction, mosey.

    10 burpees OYO, mosey to get coupons for Valentines pairings: 2 consecutive exercises 14 reps each (channeling my inner Rudy with number play—2/14, get it?!) x 3 rounds with 10 blockees between each round.
    1: curls + pull throughs
    2: Kettle bell swings + Big Boys (coupon)
    3: lying on back, move coupon with outstretched arms from above the head to above chest and sit up in a single motion

    3/2/1s: 3 minutes of LBCs, 2 minutes of chest press, 1 minute of squats, 30
    seconds rest between each exercise keeping track of reps (Bolt 148 LBC, Space Cowboy 90ish chest press and 50ish squats).
    Indian frisbee run back to flag: last guy throws frisbee to lead runner and a catch results in thrower running to front while catcher hands it back to the new last guy who continues the cycle non-stop. A missed catch requires 5 burpees from all pax before thrower can advance to front—needless to say, we did many burpees to get back to the flag. COT.