F3 New Orleans

Tag: Belloq

  • 5 Years, and the ABC’s of F3

    5 years ago today was my first F3 post at the Birdcage. It was a cold dark morning and the rain was coming down hard. I texted @Captain Morgan (who EH’ed me) at 5:00am to ask, “Are we really working out in the rain?” You know the reply. @shorty was the Q and it was an Aquaman-themed beat-down running around Audobon Park and doing Merkins, Lunges, and Squats in puddles. At one point halfway through, some guy (@reluctant-yankee) said, “There’s an FNG out here today?!?” @amnesty named me Walleye after a Minnesota freshwater fish working out in the rain.

    Today, 12 other F3 Brothers joined me at City Park for my 5-year anniversary Q. Like all of you, F3 has fostered core values in me that makes me a better man and keeps me coming back. It is a true brotherhood and extended family with like-minded men with similar ideals and goals. So today I tried to express my gratitude for F3 with a workout focused on my ABC’s of F3. 5 sets of 5 exercises for 5 great years. The usual disclaimer and off we go.

    Warm-Up COP:

    • SSH x 20 IC, Hill-billies x 20 IC, Grass-grabbers x 10 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Self Love x 10 IC, Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    Indian Run to the end of Roosevelt Mall for COP #1:

    “A” is for Accountability. F3 makes us accountable to ourselves and to each other. Signing to Q, jumping in the Lakeview Clown Car, or promising a friend to post keeps us accountable to each other. Setting that alarm clock to get out of bed and show up keeps us accountable to ourselves. We start the day off strong with accountability to ourselves and others, and we take that accountability into our day to be better men and help those around us.

    • Abe Lincoln’s (aka hand release merkins) x 20
    • Aiken Legs (squats x 20 IC, lunges x 20 IC, Bonnie Blairs x 20 IC)
    • Albatross Wings (arm circles x 20 IC, reverse circles x 20 IC, seal claps x 20 IC, overhead claps x 20 IC, Moroccan nightclub x 20 IC)
    • Alabama Ass-Kickers x 20 IC
    • American Hammer x 20 IC

    Indian Run to the front of NOMA for COP #2. (At this point, YHC realized 20 of each exercise was going to run time out fast. Down to 10 reps each.)

    “B” is for Brotherhood. F3 truly is a Brotherhood. We treat each other with dignity and respect. We push each other, support each other, and raise each other up. And we support our communities with efforts like Food for the Front Lines, City Park Clean-Up, Hurricane relief efforts, and many more that the men of F3 organize and lead.

    • Body-Builders (8-count body builders) x 10 IC
    • Bay City Scissor Kicks (8-count with 4 vertical kicks and 4 horizontal kicks) x 10 IC
    • Bearcrawl Merkins x 10 IC
    • Big Boy Sit-Ups x 10 IC
    • Burpees x 10 OYO

    Indian Run to the Foundry for COP #3:

    “C” is for Camaraderie. Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. The friendships created through F3 Fellowship is what keeps me coming back. We will always have each other’s backs. Whether I see @shorty trick-or-treating on Halloween, @amnesty at Christmas Eve mass, @reluctant-yankee at a Mardi Gras party, @kuch at the ballpark, or @douille at the Saenger, it’s an instant smile and quick catch-up. We support each other’s businesses and pitch in to lend a hand when needed. That’s friendship.

    • Catalina Wine Mixers x 10 IC
    • Country Crabs x 10 IC
    • Carolina Dry Docks x 10 IC
    • Crunchy Frogs x 10 IC
    • Copperhead Squats x 10 IC

    Mosey to the Children’s Museum for COP #4:

    “D” is for Dedication. Dedication to make ourselves better, each other better, and our communities better. Participation in events like Run Ranger Run, the BlueRidge Relay, or the IPC makes us all stronger. Community outreach and disaster relief makes our communities stronger. And fundraising efforts makes our country stronger. Dedication to a good cause.

    • Derkins x 10 IC
    • Dogs (Bird Dogs) x 10 IC
    • Dr. W x 10 IC
    • Dips x 10 IC
    • Donkey Kicks x 10 IC

    Indian Run back to the flag for COT:

    “E” is for Encourage and Enable. We encourage each other. @saban texted me last week to make sure I was OK after I fart-sacked a couple workouts. @kuch and @high-rise texted me to check in after I had surgery to remove kidney stones 2 months ago. We lift up intentions and prayer requests for injuries and illness for Pax and their friends and family. And we enable each other to grow. Through example we enable the men of F3 to be leaders amongst ourselves and in our community.

    • “E” was supposed to be Elevens, but we ran out of time. So we took eleven seconds to reflect on how the ABC’s of F3 (Accountability, Brotherhood, Camaraderie, Dedication, Encourage and Enable) can make us better men each and every day. Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer of gratitude.

    Thanks to all my F3 brothers for the friendships that have grown over the years. #SYITG

    Walleye

  • Murder Monday (Swolefest 2020-11-16)

    Nice cool morning at the Swolefest with 16 PAX: Thumb War, Belloq, Triple Shift, Walleye, West Nile, YaMamaNem, Breadsticks, Jesus Juice, Kuch, Pop Tart, High Rise, Saban, Heartaquack, Tool, Sheetrock, Catfish (Q).

    Warmed up with SSH, Peter Parker Peters, Mountain Climbers, and 8-counts.

    Rifle carried over to the field for 11s. On the one end, blockpees, then rifle carry to the other side. On the other, crossover merkins (2 is one). Murder bunny back to the other side. Breadsticks destroyed his block in the process, so he and Saban are both officially “block crushers.” This was a real time killer, so stopped about halfway through, then circled up to grab some curls.

    Moseyed to the foundry for stations – pullups, goblet squats, flutter kicks, Chest Presses, and lunges(with block). Stopped at one round due to time constraints, then rifle carry back to the starting position.

    At starting position, did some block-assisted American Hammers and LBBCs. Right on time for COT.

    Appreciate everyone’s efforts today, definitely did some experimentation with the 11s, and I know everyone was positively THRILLED to do Murder Bunnies again. Breadsticks was so thrilled that he murdered his block. Stud!

  • Glorious Return to the Mothership

    Glorious Return to the Mothership

    YHC was out of town, far from town actually. While working 200 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico on a boat that was running from hurricanes, Catfish stepped up and took YHC’s scheduled Q. Upon reading his backblast, YHC felt motivated to bring something different and challenging. Spoiler alert, it included burpees.

    5 shovel flags marked the spot where 19 Pax posted for a solid beat down. Disclaimer was given amidst mumble chatter emitting from the Pax.

    Mosey to the parking lot toward Marconi, past the putt putt place for a warmup. All IC:

    • SSH x 31
    • Hillbilly’s x 20
    • Abe Vigodas x 10
    • GG x 10
    • Bat wings
      • FWD AC x 20, Seal Claps x 20, BWD AC x 20, OVH Claps x 20, Moroccan Night Club x 31

    10 Burpees OYO

    Mosey to the tool wall

    • Calf Raises IC x 30
    • Monkey Humpers IC x 30

    10 Burpees OYO

    Mosey to the nearby baseball diamond for the next evolution known as Sugar Cookies:

    The goal here was to get the Pax wet, then dirty. Mission accomplished…

    • Superman while kicking feet (AKA Aquaman) IC x 10 completed on the wet grass,
    • Run to the red dirt baseball diamond, complete 10 hand release merkins OYO, followed by 10 Big Boi Situps
    • Run back to the grass and plank and wait for the six.
    • Rinse and Repeat x 3

    10 Burpees OYO

    Mosey to the football field next to the practice track. Here was where YHC ran into the first obstacle of the day. The field was closed and locked. Jumping the fence would not have been a good idea, so change of plans. Mosey to the inner field of the practice field. Quickly set up 10 yard increments using trash, branches, and hurdles. It worked…

    From the Exicon: 1st and 10

    • Start at 10 yard line. Complete 10 merkins and 1 Burpee. Sprint 90 yards, and mosey back to the 20 yard line. Complete 9 merkins and 2 Burpees (always 11). Sprint 80 yards and mosey back to the 30 yard line. Continue until reaching 1 merkin and 10 burpees.

    Line up at approximately the 10 yard line in the tall wet grass for Never Surrender (AKA Genuflect):

    • Hands behind head, elbows out. Down on right knee, then both knees, then stand up. Complete IC x 10
    • Rinse and Repeat with Left leg first IC x 10

    Mosey to the open area of the practice track for some Mary:

    • Dying Cockroach IC x 30
    • Freddie Mercury IC x 10

    Mosey back to the Shovel Flags

    COT with count off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions and closed with a prayer to the Sky Q.

    NMM

    • YHC was gone for 26 days, and was blessed to have the Pax for support while gone.
    • The warmup was interesting, we had a ball (wiffle ball size) being kicked among the Pax during the evolution. Some kicked better than others…..
    • Jumping over the fence was never really an option. It was a thought, but not an option. Just another example of being prepared to expect the unexpected.
    • The Sugar Cookies were a huge hit…….the grass was prime with morning dew.
    • Thanks to Belloq for taking the second Never Surrender, and for Triple Shift and Thumb War for helping with Mary. YHC started losing his voice…
    • Gabrielle hosted a mini work party to clean up the area around Cafe Du Monde. The Pax performed exceptionally well, but what else would one expect?
    • Coffeteria was enjoyed by many at Cafe Navarre.

    Thanks for allowing me to be part of such a great organization.

    SYITG

  • Friday the 13th – The View

    What better way to jump back into the swing of things than by signing up to Q.
    4 Pax posted at The Star View on Friday the 13th to pay tribute to Jason, the Star of the iconic 80’s movie.
    Disclaimer given, then mosey to the levee for:

    Warmup – IW, GG. AV, HB, and Bat Wings

    Onto the Main Event:

    J-A-S-O-N

    Jack Webb x 13

    ATM (alternating shoulder taps, tempo merkins, merkins) x 13 each

    SSH Burpees (5 SSH and 2 Burpees) x 13

    OYO run up levee 3 burpees run back down x 13

    Never surrender (genuflect) x 13 left leg x 13 right leg

    That was Jason……

    Finished with Mary!

    Good times!

    NMM

    • Apparently Jason from Friday the 13th likes burpees
    • Jack Webb’s then ATM’s back to back was regretted immediately…
    • We had as many flags as Pax!

    Thanks for posting with me today! I’m blessed to be part of such an amazing group that supports and helps one another!

    SYITG

  • Swolefest 11-9-2020

    5:30am on Monday morning felt like it came quickly this week. But once it hit, it was time to start off the week right with a little F3 Swolefest beatdown:

    Warm Up:

    • side straddle hops – 20 in cadence
    • wind mills – 10 in cadence
    • plank jacks – 20 in cadence
    • arm circles – 10 forward, 10 backward in cadence

    The Thang:

    Dora 1-2-3 – partner up. One partner does the exercise, while the other partner runs a lap around the traffic circle  

    • 100 flutter kicks with the block (cadence count in your head) – 1,2,3, one, etc
    • 200 squats with the block
    • 300 curls with the block

    Cool down lap around the circle

    Dora 1-2-3 – again with partner. One partner does the exercise, while the other partner runs a lap around the traffic circle  

    • 100 standing overhead press with the block
    • 200 side ab raises with the block (rotate side each time)
    • 300 bent over rows with the block

    Cool down lap around the circle. Then:

    • Dips on the big concrete circles – 20 in cadence  
    • 8 count body builders – 10 on your own

    Next, we did the count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions & prayer. As always, thanks for the chance to lead, fellas. It’s always a pleasure.

  • Mothership Party at the Pumpkin Patch

    For the Q I sported a fancy, shiny gold uniform with a big nasty black wig, red headband / wristbands, plus converse tennie’s, and frankenstein tube socks.  I apologized to the pax for having to look at my sweaty ridiculousness for an hour.  Also wanna give credit to Medulla Oblongata for ideas in his Halloween backblast from 2018. I would note that many of us did not have power because Category 2 Zeta had just rolled through.

    After the disclaimer and rallying by the flags, the pax warmed up by the peristyle to 13 reps of SSH, peter parker, grass grabbers, windmill, arm circles, and some ol’ fashioned self-love.

    Moseyed to field aside NOMA to circle up for 8 PUMPKIN exercises, 31 reps apiece:

    P – plank jacks (1 is 1 in cadence)

    U – up/downs on your own (burpee without push-up)

    M – mountain climbers (in cadence, 2 count)

    P – power jacks (in cadence, 1 is 1, legs straight spread with both hands touching ground between legs, than jump up bringing legs together and spreading arms straight out to each side)

    K – kick squats (in cadence, squat then kick right, and vice versa, 2 is 1)

    I – imperial walkers (in cadence)

    N – Nolan Ryans (in cadence, 1 is 1)

    S – sit ups (on your own)

    Moseyed to pumpkin patch where pax picked their real pumpkin or cinder block coupon. Most of these pumpkins were big enough for a legit workout.

    Paired up for modified Dora:

    100x – pumpkin puller (flat on back, knees in air, place pumpkin overhead with arms outstretched on ground, and rotate outstretched arms to touch coupon to knees, then lower again to flat position); partner rifle carry coupon 35 yards to flag and broad jump over coupon 4x

    150x – pumpkin thruster; partner carry pumpkin to flag and then bear crawl around it 1x

    200x – pumpkin flutters (flat on back with pumpkin held straight out in bench press position, with flutter kick 2 is 1); partner carry pumpkin to flag and then do 4 kettle bell swings

    Moseyed back to great lawn for 2 rounds of sprint suicides with four cones, including 5 bobby hurley’s at each cone on 1st round, backpedaling on the return in all reps.

    Circled up at peristyle for Mary

    COT, share and prayer and naming of our lil’ FNG “Super Duper” Cooper Brunet. Triple Shift joined us after biking workout.

  • Pumpkin Party

    Pumpkin Party

    Seven pax rallied on NOMA apron for warmup. Two were wearing sandals. Frac was missed.

    Moseyed the tree line to/fro Carollton/Wisner doing 6×5 8-counts

    Tabata –  12 exercises 50 sec / 20 sec recover – using cinder blocks or pumpkins as coupons (not in order)

    • Situps with coupon raised over-head
    • Triceps
    • Curls
    • Thrusters
    • Flutters with rock
    • Al Gore with rock in rifle carry – hold entire time
    • Hand-walk around coupon in plank
    • Alternating toe taps
    • Bench press
    • Jump rope
    • Side squats with coupon
    • Kettle bells

    Mosey to rear for 6x Sunday Mornings

    Mosey to front for Mary

    COT, Prayer, Share

  • Us Against H8!

    Conditions: Humid, 74 degrees, Humidity 95%, Wind 8mph from ENE

    Warm-up:  Mosey from the flag to the start.  Warm-up on your own.  No time for SSH or Grass Grabbers or J-Los, we’ve got work to do.

    The Thang:  The H8!  F3 NOLA’s overly complicated, semi-annual, feat of strength.  The stick by which our fitness is measured.    

    Each lap consists of running south to the top of the levee, crossing canal (bear crawling the neutral ground), running south to the bottom of the levee, cross canal and run north to the top of the levee, cross canal (bear crawling the neutral ground), running north down the levee and back across canal to the starting point.  At the starting point you do a descending burp and merk pyramid starting at 8 (burpee with 8 hand release merkins, burpee with 7 hand release merkins, …, burpee with 1 hand release merkin)

    At the end of the 2nd lap the burp and merk pyramid starts at 7, etc.

    The goal is to complete 8 laps in 40 minutes.  According to MapMyRun, each loop is approximately 0.4 miles.  Therefore, to conquer the H8! you will have to do the following in 40 minutes:

    • Run over 3 Miles of Hills
    • 550 Yards of Bear Crawls
    • 36 Burpees
    • 120 Merkins

    NMM

    • The construction at the south base of the levee caused for a slight re-route.  The H8! Committee did a good job of ensuring that the change was slight and the overall distance was not affected so that this fall’s running of the H8! Is considered official. 
    • T-claps to all of the guys coming out for the first time.  I think Heart-A-Quake, Mama’s Pride, Undertaker, Disclaimer, Bieber, Bartman, Catfish, Big Easy, Snooze were all first timers. 
    • I didn’t keep a record of who made it and who didn’t.  I am pretty sure the success rate was just north of 50%.  That’s really good, especially for having so many new guys.  Our fitness continues to accelerate.

    One of the core principles of F3 is that it is open to all men.  But just proclaiming that you are open to all men doesn’t cut it.  We have to be intentional about making sure that we are welcoming to all men and that we are not unintentionally excluding anyone.  There are lots of things that can make men different from one another, but most of them have nothing to do with what F3 is about.  I just mean to say that participating in an F3 workout has nothing to do with what race you are, or what your financial situation is, or what religion you are, etc.  (Side note:  I do think it’s important to think about those things and make sure that we are not being unintentionally exclusive because of the make-up of our Pax.  My point is just that the core principles of F3 workouts could apply to anyone, anywhere).  One thing that does have a lot to do with F3 is fitness level.  That’s why diverse fitness levels have to be considered when planning every workout.  It is important that the guys that have a high level of fitness are getting smoked and it is important the that guys on the lower end of the fitness spectrum are staying with the group and are not being left behind on their own.  I would like to think that we are pretty good across F3 NOLA at making sure that each work out feels like a team event, that we all have a goal of getting better and that we are supporting each other to reach that goal, no matter what our current fitness level is. 

    One of the complaints that I have heard about the Iron Pax Challenge is that it is not consistent with F3 in that way; that it puts the focus on the individual and even worse, ranks the individuals.  Some men  that aren’t at the top feel a sense of embarrassment or shame that they aren’t comparable to the guys at the top. You could make the same argument about the H8!  There’s certainly a sense of completing it and not completing it. 

    Personally I think competition like this is really important.  If you want to run faster, you have to run with faster guys.  In order to accelerate our fitness, we need to be in the back of the pack striving to get to the front.  I enjoy competition and I think it plays an important role in growth.  But I also think that it is important that we work hard to keep the sense of comradery and teamwork that all F3 workouts have.  The H8! Is something we all want to conquer and that we want to help each man conquer. 

    There are a couple of quotes that have stuck with me from the book “Run the Mile You are In:  Finding God in Every Step” by Ryan Hall, the American Record Holder in the half-marathon and the fastest American to ever run the Boston Marathon (2:04).  He said “Competition can be a beautiful thing if we are focused on making ourselves and others better and are not concerned about how we stack up with everyone else…..this is why comparisons in athletics and in life are so fruitless.  When we compare, we miss the joy of the journey as well as the joy of the achievement.”     

    Let’s make sure we keep pushing ourselves and each other, without compromising the joy of the journey.  A common motto at an F3 work out is that it’s “You against You”, and that is very true.  But it is also true that it is “Us against H8!”

  • Roosevelt Mall Challenge

    So when I graciously handed off my Q a few weeks ago for the trail run antics of Saban, I was glad to take the Q back from Kuch who opted to take a day off in preparation for the H8! I assume. I had been contemplating a beatdown that was more run focused to avoid some strain on my aching neck. So that’s what I did. 3 men joined me at the flag and 1 opted to join in later on (more to come on this).

    Warm up:

    Mosey around the traffic circle on the side of Roosevelt Mall nearest Marconi, then circle up

    • SSH x 20 IC
    • Windmills x 10 IC
    • Hillbillies x 15 IC
    • Self love x 15 IC
    • Arm circles x 10 fwd/rev each IC

    Tha Thang:

    There are 5 intersections spaced throughout Roosevelt Mall. The goal was to perform an escalator of exercises while making back and forth throughout the Mall.

    Round 1: Run around the traffic circle and then perform 10 8-count Absolutions.

    Round 2: Run around the traffic circle then continue on to the next intersection where we perform 20 Merkins and back to the first intersection and perform 10 8-count Absolutions.

    Round 3: Run around the traffic circle then continue to intersection 3 where we performed 40 squats, back to intersection 2 for 20 Merkins, and then back to the start for 10 8-count Absolutions.

    Round 4: Run around the traffic circle then continue to intersection 4 where we peformed 80 LBCs, back to intersection 3 for 40 squats, intersection 2 for 20 Merkins, and then back to the start for 10 8-count Absolutions.

    Round 5: Run around the traffic circle then continue to the opposite end of the Mall for 160 Rocky Balboas, back to intersection 4 for 80 LBCs, intersection 3 for 40 squats, intersection 2 for 20 Merkins, and then back to the start for 10 8-count Absolutions.

    Unfortunately we were a little pinched on time so Round 5 was modified. We did not make it the full length of the mall for 160 Rocky Balboas but they were performed at intersection 4 along with the 80 LBCs. Once we had completed the 40 squats at intersection 3 it was obvious we would run out of time. So PAX was instructed to head back to the flag. This will be attempted at some point again in the future (exercise selection is subject to change) and we will complete it within the 45 min limit.

    Upon our arrival at the flag this very muscular, veiny, sweaty gentleman was standing there with a second flag. It was Belloq! He had the AO location incorrect so he took it upon himself to go for a run and once he noticed the shovel flag he opted to wait for the PAX so he could join in the COT.

    Count off, Name-o-rama, Announcements, COT. God Bless.

  • The Track S.T.O.M.P.

    Gentlemen,

    We did things a little differently at the STOMP this week, but we still got in plenty of running. After issuing the disclaimer, we mosey’d to the track. Once at the track, we circled up and did a brief warmup:

    • Side straddle hops – 15 in cadence
    • Mountain climbers – 20 in cadence
    • Windmills – 10 in cadence

    After the warmup, we partnered up for the Track S.T.O.M.P.

    1 lap Track S.T.O.M.P.

    • Partner up
    • Each group can choose what pace they want to run at
    • The partners need to stay together the whole time  
    • Once a group is done, that group joins one of the groups who hasn’t finished yet

    Then:

    • Each group does 1 lap around the track, then does 25 Low Slow Squats
    • Each group does another lap around the track, then does 25 T-merkins
    • Each group does another lap around the track, then does 25 ab O’s
    • Each group does another lap around the track, then does 25 Mountain Climbers
    • Each group does another lap around the track, then does 25 Plank Jacks

    Once all the groups were finished, High Rise gave us a 15 count to recover. After that, we did the 2 lap Track S.T.O.M.P. This is similar to the 1 lap Track S.T.O.M.P. with the only differences being that each group runs 2 laps before doing each of the exercises, and each of the exercises are 12 reps instead of 25 reps. We ran out of time before being able to fully complete the 2 lap track S.T.O.M.P., so with about 5 minutes left, we came together and did 1 final lap around the track as a group with all of the PAX. Overall I think each group logged somewhere between 2.5 – 4 miles for the morning, which is solid.

    After the final lap, we mosey’d back to the flag. We did the count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions & prayer. Thanks for the opportunity to lead, fellas. I am thankful to be a part of F3.