F3 New Orleans

Tag: Akbar

  • Holiday calories -BAM – from Waterpik

    YHC felt the need to work off some Holiday calories after a week of Big meals, late nights, desserts, beer, wine, and cocktails. The holidays—YHC enjoyed a bit of it all, and they’re not over yet. But, alas, it was time to get back to work, including “work in the gloom”

    After a brief warmup, YHC led the pax through a benchmark beatdown that was intended to be reminiscent of the origins of the milestone marsh- started by butt splice.

    One minute of AMRAP merkins.

    One minute of AMRAP big boy Sit-ups,

    1 mile timed run down to the lakefront’s sea wall and back. (Hence the moniker, milestone marsh)

    Back at the AO, it was time for 3-6-9. Thank you shooter.

    Pull-ups, burpees, merkins. 4 sets total.

    Close out by heading to center court for some mary.

    cot and thanks to Akbar for praying us out.

  • Die Hard is a Christmas movie! – from Jose10k

    Warm-ups: ssh, self love, grass grabbers; windmills, high knees

    The thang: After the warmups, the PAX moseyed to the courthouse. The tragedy at Nakatomi plaza occurred on Christmas Eve, and we gathered today to honor the hero of Nakatomi: John McClain. The event occurred on the the 30th floor, so that’s where we started. 30 merkins, 30 squats, 30 big boy sit-ups, 30 leg lifts. In between each exercise ran the length of the courthouse leading up to the stairs, up the stairs and then back down. Once the pax was finished we ran 1 lap around the entire courthouse. This is when the terrorists almost took out Grundy (asthma attack) and where we picked up some extra help from Miles Davis posting from Mississippi. We now stopped on the side of the courthouse.
    ‘‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring,except for the four assholes coming in the rear in standard two-by-two formation.
    Paired up. Partner one : side lunges the entire grass section to the concrete and back, partner 2= holds an al gore thoroughgood. Repeat.
    The terrorists planned to use C4 to blow up Nakatomi Tower. The PAX completed in cadence 15 reps of these 4 “c”ore exercises: little Manny crunches, flutter kicks, Freddy Mercury’s, and cowbells favorite: crunchy frogs.
    Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs.
    Famous line from the air ducts: time to do some ac duct crawling, while partner 2 does squats. Side not, ac duct crawling no fun when you hit the acorns. Mosey back to the second floor to do a Hans Gruber pull-up: the pax hung from the raptors for 10 count, then did 30 Superman’s (he did fall 30 stories) .back to the stair well to do 5 calve raises each to the top. And time was up. Cot, Russo prayed us out. Thoughts and prayers to Zoolanders friend. And to further celebrate the heroics of John McClain, a yell of Yippie Ki-yay Motherfu**er. Thanks for letting me lead gentleman

  • 51 – from Akbar

    Another year in the books as YHC turned 51, joined by 8 HIM who woke up early Monday morning – some after Sunday’s Nightmare Before Christmas. The theme was 51 on paper, 5 sets, 5 exercises 10 reps each, with the last exercise being a 10 second hold. Sometimes paper doesn’t translate in reality so there were some modifications.

    Tunes accompanied courtesy of Grover’s Camp playlist.

    Rd 1: Block press, shoulder taps, squat press, Alpo’s, 10 count mid-way hold.

    Rd 2: Block row wide, block row narrow, supine row, renegade block row L, renegade block row R. 10 count hold.

    Rd 3: Merkin, chest press wide, chest press narrow, right arm single block press, left arm single block press, 10 count hold.

    Rd 4: Block curl wide, block curl narrow, forearm curl, left arm block curl, right arm clock curl ( the single arm curls did not happen). 10 count hold

    Rd 5: Diamond merkin, overhead block extension wide, overhead block extension narrow. 10 second hold.

    Mosey to the stop sign and back, circle up for Mary

    Squats x 20, Lunges x 20, LBC – leg raises, dolly x10

    Count, Name-o-rama, and YHC prayed us out with thoughts of focusing on unselfishness this week and thanks for accountability.

    Thanks for letting me lead, it’s always a blast.
    Akbar

  • No Bricks Were Harmed During This Beatdown – from Steve

    Pax of 8 over at Granny’s yesterday morning, including a new face , Pass Interference. This guy Q’d his farewell Q on Thursday in Atlanta only to then move down to Pearl River over the weekend and post at Granny’s on Tuesday? Huh. Impressive. Also impressive are Granny’s numbers lately. It’s hard to say exactly, what with the lack of backblasts and all (I don’t wanna hear it, Akbar!), but YHC would say it’s been 7 pax or more for over two months. What caused this sudden resurgence? Russo’s number-themed beatdowns? Or maybe Zoolander’s continued efforts to grow the pax finally paying off? Or maybe it’s Granny’s recent facelift? (She’s all dolled up with Christmas lights these days and has a new splashpad – which feels like two years in the making and hardly looks different.) Who knows, but regardless, it’s great having a bigger group out there.

    Anyhow. The beatdown.

    Warmorama: SSH, good mornings, IWs, hillbillies, arm circles, windmills, seal jacks, 10x IC. Usually I stretch this out in anticipation of a Cowbell – arriving in Cowbell time – but no need to today. He clipped the curb coming in five minutes EARLY.

    Thang:
    Started off making the block, stopping twice to do 10x kraken burpees.

    Then onto an incredibly well-organized circuit including “shit brick sliders,” which a visiting pax (from Birmingham?) brought down to us a few years back. The man on the sliders would be a timer, taking two bricks and sliding them down the trace in a bear crawl-like position until he made it through the tunnel of lights. Run the bricks back, and the everyone rotates. Clockwise. Or counter clockwise. Doesn’t matter, Akbar is gonna do what Akbar wants to do when it’s this early in the morning. The other stations might have been:

    Lunges
    Leg raises
    Merkins
    Freak Nasties
    Situps
    Jump squats
    Suicides

    Unbelievably, the bricks survived (Pik took it easy this morning). But we did leave some red chalky streaks down the trace that give a little horror vibe to all of the otherwise festive decorations at the trailhead. Anyway, after everyone got a taste with the bricks, we Lt Dan-ned our way down the trace until we reached the bus depot, where we stopped for one final set of 10x kraken burpees.

    Two minutes to spare for a rapid fire set of leg raises, dollies, rosalitas, lbcs, and freddies.

    COT where we informed Pass Interference of the upcoming Braveheart screening, Mathlete Q, and Nightmare Before Christmas. Pik prayed us out. Thank you men for the post and the push, it’s always a pleasure.

  • Inaugural Fire Fighter Challenge – from Bushwacker

    Since April 27 of this year YHC has been, for better or worse, persona non grata around the F3 northshore. I’ve done my best to show my face at least enough so that yous guys don’t forget what I look like. The Wacker of bushes has been on a journey to become a community servant as a Wacker of Fires. And thus, the long awaited, highly anticipated Fire Fighter Challenge has arrived!

    During academy, and from time to time on shift, we don our turnout gear – boots, pants jacket, hood, helmet, and mask – and go “on air” slinging a self-contained breathing apparatus and 4000 PSI air tank onto our backs – up to 80lbs! We then perform a series of strenuous activities which test our strength, stamina and endurance. And so it was with great preparation and only last minute planning that YHC brought to the men of the Lakefront a facsimile thereof as well as could be expected in the gloom. And, perhaps, a tradition was born?

    WARMORAMA

    In increasing reps starting with 12 (excepting for supersticious 13):
    SSH,
    High Knees
    Butt Kicks
    Cherry Pickers
    Windmills
    Fire Hydrants

    THANG

    We mossied to the gazebo for a few quick rounds of Merkin Waves and Squat Waves. This allowed for 2 things: QIC’s opportunity to count PAX for teams, and one of our resident byciclists, Turbo, to catch up to the crew.

    We then mossied to the shaft where, thanks to help from early birds Steve, Shooter, and Waterpik, the field was set! Breaking up into teams of appx. 3 the PAX lined up, each at a station including the Tire Toss, the Ax Chop, the Tire Flip, the Tire Drag, the Tire Pull, and Moby Chain Drag. While P1 was tackling the task, P2 & P3 was doing a specified exercise, including LBCs, Flutter Kicks, Mnt Climbers, High Knees, Leg Lifts and Gas Pumpers.Somewhere along the way, Waterpick split the massive log, and in a temper tantrum over having not been he who split the mighty oak, the lugubrious Shooter shattered the hickory handle of the ax! There was continuous conversation as men of all ages and capabilities gave it their all battling amongst a sea of black rubber with shimmerings of silver links, all covered in the grassy morning dew. After a couple of rounds, proving to edict that many a hands make light a work, the PAX loaded all the coupons back on the trailer from whence it came, and back to the flag we mosied.

    MARY

    With 3 minutes to spare, it was on your 6 for 20 Putins IC, 20 Flutter Kicks IC, and 100 100s OYO.

    COT

    Count and name-o-rama before naming FNG Dangerfield. Turbo prayed us out. (and Cowbell made it just in time for “Amen”)

    Gentlemen, it was a pleasure that I’ve missed, being back in the main event, and I want to thank ll of you for making F3 Northshore what it is, and allowing me the humble honor of leading you bunch of yahoos through a taste of a new chapter of my life.

    SYITG

  • Ladders and Stars – from Akbar

    4 at the Marsh today for some ladders. An unusually quiet Bushwacker shuffled up to center court looking half asleep and frozen. Conditions were clear, cold, and delightful.

    Warm Up: SSH IC 20, Grass Grabbers, Self-Love, Imperial Walkers, Butt Kicks, Arm Circles F/B IC x10. 5 & 10 Merkins, 5 Air Squat Presses OYO

    Thang:
    Mosey the big block to the Lakefront for stargazing, then to the Wall, Rips, and back up Noah’s Ark. Climbing the ladder along the way from 5 reps to 25 reps in 5’s. Merkin/Air Squat Press to the Lakefront Wall. Irkins/LBC’s at the wall. Calf Raises/ Supermans at Rips.

    Descending Merkin/Air Squat Press in reps of 25, 20, 15, 10, 5 on the mosey up Noah’s Ark to the Marsh. Irkins IC x20 on the picnic tables.

    Mary: LBC IC x20, Leg Raises IC x10

    Announcements: Firefighter challenge Dec 11; Nightmare before Christmas Dec 12. Braveheart screening at Whackers 12/16 5:30

    COT: YHC prayed us with thoughts of Hope for the week.

    Thanks for letting me lead guys! Akbar

  • Slow Ride – from Akbar

    4 HIM at the Marsh today. Mumblechatter was all about Goose’s beatdown and the pain he brought to all. JV And YHC were sore from head to toe.

    Conditions: 67 and misty

    Warm Up: IW, Grass Grabbers, SSH, Butt Kicks, Self-Love x10

    Thang: Slow tempo with focus on form. A beatdown made for the king of form himself, Waterpik. 3 exercises: Block row, goblet squat, merkin.

    Block row and goblet squat at one end of the court, run to the other end perform 1 merkin. Perform 1 rep each, and add 1 each round. Rinse and repeat until time runs out. If form is compromised, stay at that number or decrease reps.

    Slow jams accompanied us to keep the pace.

    Metallica: Fade to Black
    Foghat: Slow Ride
    Twisted Sister: The Price
    Deep Purple: Perfect Strangers
    Puddle of Mudd: Blurry
    Ozzy Osbourne: Dairy of a Madman
    Dokken: Alone Again
    Fleetwood Mac: Tusk
    Pearl Jam: Black

    Mary: Leg raises, hello dolly, Little Manny Crunches x10

    COT: Jose prayed us out with thanks for the F3 brotherhood and how it changed his life physically and mentally.

    Announcements

    Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day in Covington. 4-5 are hard commits. Sign up here if you want to join. https://solerssports.raceentry.com/races/san-antonio-food-bank-turkey-trot-/2021/register

    NMM
    Great to see Jose 10k out again with the school break. Waterpik came running in hot after being greeted by 2 dogs on his typical run to the AO. The dogs circled back around and hung out with us for a while, racking JV at one point. Rep counts were 17-20 before calling time. No clean up required this gloom, the playground was in good shape.

    Til next gloom, Akbar

  • A Bonnie Blair By Any Other Name Still Sucks – from Zoolander

    I know it says Zoolander was the Q for this one, but that’s only because YHC’s name isn’t on the dropdown menu yet. And, it was ultimately Zoo’s idea to get the fellas from down the bayou to Q a November Lakefront beatdown, and we couldn’t be more grateful!

    YHC showed up in the Goosemobile with four men and two boys who’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. It’s become very clear to me over the years that God has wired men in such a way that the more we suffer together, the more we come to care deeply about each other’s well being, regardless of differences in background, lifestyle, (number of kids), etc. So, it was easy to jump at the opportunity to travel north and lead a beatdown out of gratitude for the men who have allowed me to suffer with them and who first shared the gift of F3 with me. Now, the cycle is continuing down in Thibodaux with a growing PAX!

    Disclaimer was stated for the benefit of an FNG (Welcome, Crock Pot!). Warmups consisted of IC: SSH, Windmills, Imperial Walkers, Arm Circles, Cherry Pickers, Self Love, High Knees, and Butt Kicks, followed by a mosey to Noah’s Ark.

    YHC revealed an F3 Workout Deck, and three cards were pulled and listed exercises completed with a promise of more random suffering to come. This was followed by partner BLIMPS, but with a bit of a twist. Grundy’s late arrival provided an opportunity to reminisce back to YHC’s first beatown, whcih was Q’d by Grundy. It included Sister Mary Catherine’s in the warmup, which totally burned out my legs before we even got to Noah’s Ark. A fitting memory to share before introducing these BLIMPS:

    Thang 1:
    Partner 1 ran around Noah’s Ark, while Partner 2 huffed and puffed his way through their shared total of:
    50 Bonnie Blairs (another name for SMC’s),
    50 Lunge Jumps (another name for SMC’s),
    50 Iron Mikes (another name for SMC’s),
    50 Merkins,
    50 Plank Jacks,
    50 Sister Mary Catherine’s (SMC’s)

    Thang 2:
    Moseyed once again, stopping to complete exercises from three more cards from the deck, then lining up along the wall for two version of a newly minted “Indian Inchworm Wall Crawl”. The first version consisted of all PAX in dip position on the wall moving to the right and completing a dip with every “step” while the man in the rear of the line crab walked to the front. After a number of traffic jams and Bushwacker grumbles, the last of the PAX had crabbed their way to the front, so it was time to turn around and go the other way. Pax assumed the irkin position on the wall and moved to the right, completing an irkin with every “step”. The rearmost PAX bear crawled their way to the front of the line this time, so things moved a little more quickly.

    Thang 3:
    Another short mosey brought us to a grassy area big enough for the highly anticipated Tunnel of Love. Ironically, Zoolander had just shared his gratitude that YHC hadn’t included this exercise since it was a memorable highlight from my VQ a few years back. So, it was with a special joy that I announced that all PAX would be snuggling up shoulder to shoulder in plank position while the rearmost PAX in the line army crawled through Tunnel of Love. Bushwacker’s encouraging “love whacks” kept the line moving while the plankers’ shoulders burned and threatened to give out.

    Hope then rose in the hearts of many as we lined up for what would be a wildly chaotic Indian run back to the flag with many PAX digging deep, knowing that this would ultimately be the last time they’d have to push. But, YHC knew what lurked amongst the cards in the deck, and after two relatively harmless pulls to fill the small amount of time left before 7:30, a third and final pull was offered to the FNG. It was the new guy, at 7:29, who managed to pull the 400 meter sprint card, arguably the worst card in the deck. So, despite the shared astonishment and disbelief, the beatdown ended with 25 men sprinting toward an inhabited car and then back to the flag, all residual energy and will to live good and drained.

    COT, announcements, and prayer by Enron of F3 Thibodaux.

    Coffeeteria offered time to catch up and enjoy the beautiful weather before the long ride home to Thibodaux. All PAX in the Goosemobile shared their gratitude for the opportunity to experience F3 on that level and for the men who were willing to suffer with us as we continue to strive to get better at doing hard things. It was a great gift to get to spend such high quality time with you guys this morning, and I very much look forward to seeing you in the gloom (wherever that gloom might be)!

  • Day of remembrance – from Shooter

    6 PAX converge on this Veterans Day to get some before the daylight breaks the horizon..
    Brief warmup all to 11 SSH, Toe Touches, Butt kicks, Windmills, Squats and Merkins..

    Different route through Mandeville stopping along the way for reps of 11 Merkins, Squats, Crunchy frogs, Burpees..

    Returned back to use the barricades at the Scramble for curls, presses and shrugs…

    Appreciate you men posting and allowing me to lead!!

    Till the next Gloom 👊🏼👍🏼✌🏼!!!

  • These go to 11…or 9…or 11 – from Russo

    A brisk temperature of 48 degrees (still not cold enough for sleeves) and a clear sky greeted a pax of 5 this morning for an organized, balanced, and repetitive beatdown that of course incorporated number patterns because that is how YHC maintains a small measure of control in an otherwise chaotic world.

    Warmup (believed to be all IC, 10x, but that’s difficult to confirm when Bushwhacker gets to talking about rookie hazing and toilet scrubbing at the firehouse)

    – Grass grabbers
    – Torso twists
    – Cherry pickers
    – Toe touches
    – Arm circles
    – Good mornings

    Thang before the Thang

    A two block mosey down Girod to the Rusty P and their outside benches to get us started, where YHC wondered how long it would take before someone figured out the secret repetition code. Answer: not long, even in the early morning hours, not with a sharp as a tack Chewy on the case.

    11 step ups were followed by 9 freak nastys, then 9 step ups followed by 11 freak nastys.

    The gig was up, but the question remained: Why 9 and 11? Despite thoughts of September 11, January 19th, calling 9-1-1 hoping Bushwhacker makes house calls, and something or other about 91, the clue of today’s date finally allowed YHC to see the bright light bulbs going off among the Pax: November 9, which is either brilliant or incredibly lazy in its simplicity. It was probably the latter.

    As we moseyed closer to Granny’s (with either 9 or 11 diamond merkins, jump squats, big boy sit-ups interspersed) the pax was briefly stopped by some “traffic”. Prayers up to that mailbox.

    Pax made it to the bus stop, where the sequence was 11 Bulgarian split squats, 9 durkins, 9 BSSs, and 11 durkins before a short mosey to begin the Thang:

    With only 2 minutes or 25 minutes left (depending on whether you were using Bushwacker’s timekeeping or YHC’s), we worked 6 rounds of alternating reps of 11 and 9 at each column, followed by a trip up and back down the pilot house:

    – 11 SSH and 9 squats
    – 11 seal jacks 9 merkins
    – 11 high knees 9 LBCs
    – 11 Apollo Ohnos 9 plank jacks
    – 11 mummy kicks 9 lunges
    – Butt kicks, hello dollys, and merkins in a 9-11-9 sequence

    Just enough time remained for a 90 second plank, and then we closed with a COT, name-o-rama, announcements, and prayer.

    As always, I’m appreciative of the opportunity to lead such a fine group of men.

    SYITG