F3 New Orleans

Tag: Big Easy

  • Backblast for 7-8-18. The Knoll

    The Scene:

    The Knoll

     

    Conditions:

    Surprisingly refreshing for a July Saturday morning at 7am.

     

    Welcome:

    8 men posted.

     

    Disclaimer:

    Money Cat: “I am not a professional trainer….huh? Why’s that funny to y’all??? Seriously guys…why is that funny?? Stop laughing or I’ll bring back Fastball and make all of y’all feel the pain!!!”

    Warm-a-Rama:

    Money Cat led the first third of the workout. I told the guys we would start off on a mosey but would call out a change and to mimic my movement regardless if I was at the front or the back because I’m usually in the back on these running kinds of things. At the sundial I called out a fast walk. At the next change I called out a mosey and after that was a fast walk. I decided to try something different. I called out a left side straddle mosey. During the side straddle mosey I called out to switch sides and lead with the other leg…(that means we now switched to leading with the right leg.) By now we had mosey’d the course almost two times and felt for the last 50 yards (I’m guessing) to the sundial we needed to do a full sprint. I could tell the guys were itching for me open it up a bit. I had the lead the entire way until I yelled out “FULL SPRINT!” And suddenly Mega Dad passed me up. What he doesn’t know is I allowed him to pass me on my left side. I didn’t want all the attention by getting there first so I turned down the after burners and slowed up a whole lot….it’s my story and I’m sticking with that. Remember….don’t question the Q.

     

    Money Cat called out a recovery countdown….it sure seemed to go by fast.

    We began our morning exercises.

    20 Arm Circles Forward

    20 Arm Circles Backwards

    20 Raised Arm Claps

    20 Dips

    20 Mexican Dips

    20 Walking Al Gore’s

    10 Burpees

     

    I was glad to turn over the next 3rd of the Q to my F3 brother Work Horse.

    Workhorse jumping in!  Well, missing Fastball’s beatdowns I decided to combine his “quarterpounder” and the “Murph”.  We based in the Sundial as it’s called, so it went like this!

    I had four F3 brothers pick an exercise, Topanga (Al Gores), Dagwood (Little Baby Crunches), Big Easy (Merkins), and Shangeaux (Side Straddle Hop). The strategy was to do a 25 count on exercise #1 and then run a lap around the running track and at the last turn heading back to sundial, turn and run backwards to complete at sundial. Plank until the last man was in!

    #1 – 25 Merkins and Lap

    #2  – 50 Little Baby Crunches and Lap

    #3 – 75 Al Gores ( which Shangeaux hijacked from Topanga )

    #4 – 100 Side Straddle Hops (which actually “unfortunately” with Topanga’s count ended up being 200) then a Lap, but changed the turn at last corner to a sprint to the sundial.  Shout out to youngster Trooper, he was in the mix leading the charge back to complete.

    At this point, we began a mosey back to the flag to do some Mary’s to close it out.  Megadad took over from there.

    • Lay Flat sit ups
    • Buddy Back Squats (wall squats on partners back)
    • Crunchy Frogs
    • Jane Fonda’s ( 3 ways right and left) for Rocket
    • Partner Leg Toss ( 10 straight, 2 left and 2 right)

    Circle of Trust

    • Name off and prayers ( special intention for F3 brother “Trooper” recently lost his daughter )

  • Rest Up Snack Pack

    The Scene:  The Colosseum

    Conditions: Early. Cool. Not nearly as humid.

    Welcome

    High Interest joined us from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Welcome High Interest. You reminded us how humid it is here.

    Disclaimer

    Warm-a-Rama:

    Snack Pack took Q for us as we started.

    Moseyed to field by stadium for Warm a Rama

    • 10 Abe Vigodas
    • 12 jumping Jacks
    • 13 Seal Jacks
    • 10 forward arm circles
    • 10 reverse arm circles

    The Thang

    • 13 Freak Nasties

    Then moseyed to hill for…

    • Run down backwards, run up forward 10x

    At this point Snack Pack went down with a calf strain. Get better Snack Pack! T-claps to Shangeaux for helping him to get back to the flag.

    I tried to slide in as Q for Snack Pack with far less wisdom. The rest of the Pax performed

    • Lucky Number Seven- Start at bottom of the hill, do a burpee, run to base of the hill and do a merkin, bear crawl up, and then do a squat at the top. Run down, rinse repeat, but add a rep each time so at the end you do 7 burpees, 7 merkins, 7 squats. This is when we realized it’s cool, but still Louisiana and humid.

    Moseyed to our usual spot by the gym and did 23 counts of each exercise as an ode to the date being May 23. Arbitrary, I know.

    • Cryojacks 23x
    • Incline Merkins 23x
    • Upper Cuts 23x
    • Decline Merkins 23x
    • Attack 23x (sit down in squat and open hand strike, alternating hands. Wears you out fast)

    Nice job by all channeling our inner Floyd Mayweather and hope to do more soon.

    Moseyed near the Colosseum and gave the 6 a.m. workers a show as we…

    • Wide football sprints in place (think Remember the Titans; quick feet), then on my call, sprinted about 25 yards and did a burpee, and got back into wide football sprints. Did this the length of the Colosseum and got a couple ooo’s and ahh’s from the workers (I think).

    We were happy to see Snack Pack waiting at the end of our proverbial football field. He’s a trooper.

    Moseyed to the jungle gym area for…

    Mary:

    • Leg Lifts 15x
    • Ski Abs 15x
    • Crunchy Frog 15x (shout out to Snack Pack)
    • Swimming Kicks 15x (Thanks Big Easy)
    • Jane Fonda’s 15x (a Dagwood favorite)

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    COT / BOM:

    Snack Pack’s Calf!

    High Interest’s wife back home in Myrtle Beach taking care of the two kids.

    Announcements:

  • Houston sends big guns to Baton Rouge Knoll

    Baton Rouge, Knoll AO

     

    PAX – MoneyCat, Shango, Topanga, SnackPack, MistleToes, BigEasy,Workhorse, Dagwood, Worms Qs-Boyscout TP

    Conditions – Hot and Humid

    The PAX circled up. Boyscout and YHC were introduced as the co Qs.   Push yourself don’t hurt yourself. You against you. We are not professionals.  

    The Thang

    Warms ups consisted of SSH, Seal Jacks, Plank Jacks,  Smurf Jack. Without saying, a hat trick of Jacks completes a jack off.  Mountain climbers, burpees, Abe Vigoda, and Grass grabbers completes the warm up.  

    The PAX mosied to the sun dial for a Dora.  The Dora consisted of 100 burpees, 200 Merkins, and 300 Big Boy sit ups.  

    We mosied to one of the hills to look for keys while doing bear crawls.

    We mosied back to the sun dial for a Blue Falcon    Teams we’re divided into two and we had 3 min to do as many OYO exercises as possible. The other team then had to match that effort in their 3 minutes.  

    We finished with announcements and COT

    Thank you to the Baton Rouge PAX and to Worms for letting us have this Q.  You guys have created an awesome AO.

    Jason Godfrey

    281 814-7958

    Spectrum Water Technology

  • Gettysburg

    Bill, it was hard but I did find a pic from this morning.

    By: MegaDad

    The Scene:  The  Colosseum

    Conditions:  perfect. Moonlight and light fog

    Pax: 10!

    Me

    Cat 5

    Workhorse

    Tapanga

    Fastball

    Big easy

    Duracell

    Shangeaux

    Dagwood 

    MegaDad

    It was another random fluke that I was able to post on Wednesday. Maybe divine intervention, as worms reached out to me through email yesterday and that reminded me that I was working from home and could sneak away for 1hr

    I volunteered to lead, to get back in the swing of things.

    It was not planned, so I’m going to do a haphazard attempt to document what we did

    Mosey under the bridge and over to the foggy field. Tapanga pointed out that we had entered the Gettysburg scene of remember the titans. We stopped at ~3 park benches for various Merkin rotations, jump squats, SS hops,  pistol squats, etc

    We turned around next to the bayou behind Pennington. After enjoying the moonlight remove seat all the way back doing some front, sideways, backwards,  karaoke right and left, and repeat all of those while squatting.   Finished with a slow sprint to the bridge, running back to meet the six if you were fast enough. Few were by this point.   Actually, it’s probably because shangeaux and work horse are the fastest 6’s of ever seen

    We did lunges to the top of the hill then mosey to the circle in the back corner behind baseball fields. Duracell took my challenge to lead a long ring of fire. I wasn’t sure if he was ever going to stop, so I killed it finally.

    Mosey back to home point and finished with some Mary’s. Leg toss on the bench, then again at 45°.  Cat5  was, by far, the best counter.  Although, easier to count when your legs are swinging around.  Next was crunchy frogs on the table top and then CAT5 finished with a bang. I shout out to rocket. Jane Fonda on the table top. I’m sure someone  got a picture,  look for it on the onion or  Jimmy Fallon.

    Best of all, all the conversation between men. I’ve never seen that much during the work out. It was still tough, but these men are getting tougher

     

  • Cinco de Mayo with Party Hats

    F3, the Knoll, 5-5-2018, uphill in reverse, IMG_8181

     

    By: Money Cat

    The Scene:  The Knoll

    Conditions: 72° overcast and soon to be festive.

     

    Money Cat arrived at the Knoll for 6:30 to plant the F3 shovel along with the stars and stripes. The gringos began arriving one by one around 6:45. By 7AM everyone had arrived and it was time to begin.

    Welcome: 11 men posted.

    Disclaimer:

    “I am not a professional trainer and have never claimed to be.

    You are participating at your own risk.

    You are responsible for your own well-being.

    You are here voluntarily, and you are not paying to be here. Although you do receive payment in the gift of fitness, fellowship and encouragement.

    Know your limits and do the best you can; all exercises are suggestions and can be modified

    If you are still sore by Tuesday morning please understand that nothing is wrong….it’s completely natural to feel that way! You’ve done the workout correctly.”

    After the disclaimer Money Cat advised the hombres that today was a special day because it was his first time to Q an F3 workout and it happened to be Cinco de Mayo. Money Cat had planned in advanced to make this workout a celebration of the Mexico national holiday by pulling out his garbage bag of tricks and passing out straw hats purchased from a local party store. There was laughing and smiling around knowing what these muchacho’s would look like. Money Cat pulled out a much larger yellow hat. He felt proud and authoritative placing it on his head. He wanted his nino’s to know who was in charge. Money Cat has a special ability of ESP(N) and one of the caballero’s was thinking Money Cat looked like the tall man with the yellow hat in the Curious George books. Thankfully Money Cat chose not to publicly add to this uno gringo’s workout…but payback is coming!

    Warm-a-Rama:

    The men mosey’d to the sundial. Money Cat explained in celebration of Cinco de Mayo being a date with a 5, every exercise will be multiplied by 5. Basically everything would be 25 reps.

    Don Quixotes (old school Windmills) – 25

    Jumping Jack’s – 25

    Dips – 25

    At this time during our workout at the end of our dips an elderly man was walking through our workout. He got to the end of the sundial and collapsed. Immediately our men were attending to his need for help. The men spoke to him to make sure he was ok and there were no serious injuries. After what seemed like the longest minute or two our guys helped him up slowly. The old timer said he was ok and was good to walk. Money Cat pointed out how proud it was of the men rushing to this mans’ need for help…its what all men are called to do.

    Arm Circles Forward – 25

    Arm Circles Backward – 25 (The Money Cat in his keen sense of awareness, detected groaning’s.)

    Inclined Merkins – 25

    Mexican Dips – 25

    Cinco Quads

    Lil mosey down the hill over the walk bridge and stopped at the bottom of the second hill. Once Money Cat (playing the weekly role of the 6th) arrived he announced the workout. Money Cat really enjoyed the activity Snack Pack introduced several weeks ago to the guys. Backwards walking up to the top of the hill and mosey back down to the bottom. Five times the guys would perform this activity and at the end of each rep the guys had a choice of their exercise starting at one and building up to five after each rep. The Money Cat gladly allowed the men to lap him. Money Cat’s legs are short but his heart is that of a lion with an ocean size of courage!!! He was glad to watch these men execute the routine.

    El Grande Event: 

     

    The men were ordered to mosey over the walk bridge and climb the hill and report back to the sundial for El Grande workout. Once again the humble Money Cat let the men go first and he followed behind as the 6th. Arriving at the sundial the men were told to come closer inside the sundial to hear the instructions. Money Cat explained the next activity is actually named Cards of Death from the F3 list of exercises but Money Cat felt the name was not appropriate considering the activity promoted good health. So, the name has been changed to Cards of Health. A normal deck of cards (with extra face cards and four extra jokers) is needed for this physical activity. Each of the men are to draw a card, multiple the number cards by five and mosey to the other sundial to the right or left of the main sundial, complete the activity listed on the card and mosey or walk back to the main sundial for another card. The activity is over when all the cards have been completed.

     

    The cards are as followed:

     

    Twos – mosey to the spot, perform 10 burpee’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Threes – mosey to the spot, perform 15 merkin’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Fours – mosey to the spot, perform 20 lunges, mosey or walk back.

     

    Fives – mosey to the spot, perform 25 Don Quixote’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Sixes – mosey to the spot, perform 30 LBC’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Sevens – mosey to the spot, perform 35 imperial walkers, mosey or walk back.

     

    Eights – mosey to the spot, perform 40 arm circles (20 forward, 20 backward), mosey or walk back.

     

    Nines – mosey to the spot, perform 45 arm forward claps, mosey or walk back.

     

    Tens – mosey to the spot, perform 50 we are not worthy’s, mosey or walk back.

    (It was suggested the 8, 9 and 10 card activities could be done while running to the spot.)

     

    Jack – mosey to the spot while doing the Al Gore, perform 11 Al Gore’s and mosey or walk back.

     

    Queen – skip to the spot, perform 12 chorus line leg kicks, mosey or walk back.

     

    King – horse trot to the spot, perform 13 Bobby Hurley’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Ace – mosey to the spot flapping arms like a bird, perform 14 squats, mosey or walk back.

     

    Jokers – goofball run to the spot, perform 15 goofballs, mosey or walk back.

     

    Mary:

    After finishing the Cards of Health the men were instructed to mosey backwards to the shovel flag. Time was creeping away from us so there was only time enough for one Mary to spell our F3 names with our legs while laying down. Someone pointed out that 2 shoes had the easiest task of writing out a #2 and holding his foot up.

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    F3, the Knoll, 5-5-2018, uphill in reverse, IMG_8181

  • Soybean’s Red Stick Beatdown

    By: Soybean (F3 Memphis)

    The Scene:  The Knoll

    Conditions: 50* and perfect.

     

    Fastball and YHC arrived at the Knoll at 0645 to scope it out. There were some people setting up tents and cauldrons (?) for a party of some sort. F3 parties are a little different, so we went yogging to find an expanse of wet grass and a stash of CMUs. When we got back to the starting point, there were more tents/cauldrons and a handful of eager-looking 25-55 year-old men. We exchanged pleasantries, wondered aloud if the jambalaya was for us (apparently they cook it in huge cast iron pots like witches), then, oh look!, it’s 0659. By the time we formed a haphazard circle, it was 0700.

     

    Welcome

    Disclaimer

     

    I am not a professional

    You are participating at your own risk

    You are responsible for your own well-being

    You are here voluntarily, and you are not paying to be here

    Know your limits and do the best you can; all exercises are suggestions and can be modified

     

    Warm-a-Rama:

    SSH x20

    Imperial Walkers x15 (should’ve demonstrated that one…)

    Lil mosey to pick up the extra CMUs we needed and back to the start.

     

    The Thang: 

    YHC had the distinct pleasure of introducing the Red Stick PAX to Flora 1-2-3.

    PAX partnered up with their CMUs, and completed the following:
    100 Derkins (P1 does 10 while P2 holds decline plank; flapjack until the couple reaches 100)
    200 LBCs (holding CMU on chest or above head, P1 does 20; P2 holds legs at 6” with CMU above head; flapjack to 200)
    300 Goblet Squats (P1 does 25 while P2 holds Al Gore with coupon; flapjack to 300)

    Next, to the dismay of many, we did an Indian run for about a quarter mile, down a hill, and onto a damp expanse. The expanse is in the middle of a Frisbee golf course, and there were two dudes playing at 0700!

    Burpee Catch-Me-If-You-Can
    Same partners as before. P1 backpedals down the field. P2 does 3 burpees, then sprints to catch P1. Upon catching P1, P2 backpedals and P1 does burpees. Etc. Four rounds, with BBSU mixed in for the pairs that got done first.

    Mosey back to the start point.

    PAX lined up with their CMUs, shovel flag planted about 15 yards opposite. YHC demonstrated the bear block (bear crawl, pulling CMU forward). Then we did…
    Curls x20 – bear block 15 yd
    OH press x20 – bear block back
    Curl x15 – bear block
    OH press x15 – bear block
    Curl x10 – bear block
    OH press x10 – bear block

    Tank Tread: PAX line up in boat pose, alternating directions. We passed 3 CMUs down the line, and the guy at the end ran to the front with the CMU.

    Mary:

    Triple Crush OYO x20 (CMU curl to overhead press to skull crusher)
    American Hammer IC x15
    Triple Crush OYO x15
    American Hammer IC x15

    We had a couple minutes left, so I turned it over to the Baton Rouge PAX:
    Topanga – leg raises x20
    Big Easy – LBCs x30? 40? Lots of groans from the PAX when he never stopped going!
    30 sec plank until 0800

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    COT / BOM:

    YHC shared a quote from the Q Source about Disruption. “Leaders influence movement to advantage…Because it induces movement, leadership causes disruption.”

    “If a man calls himself a leader but does not cause Disruption by initiating movement, then he is not practicing leadership. He might be doing something else, like managing or engaging in politics, but he is not leading. He is a leader in name only until people begin to follow him to an advantageous place that he has visualized and articulated to them. A leader influences movement to advantage.”

    You can read the whole article here: https://f3nation.com/2017/11/26/disruption-f-1/
    The Q Source index: https://f3nation.com/q-source-index/

    Prayers for Money Cat’s daughters’ relationship, Duracell’s wife’s family in the loss of her aunt

    Announcements:

    **Shameless plug** F3 Memphis is hosting GrowRuck 12 in September this year. This is a weekend-long event that combines all 3 F’s with PAX from all over the South. Dredd and OBT, the founders of F3, will be there to lead a workout and leadership class. Then Saturday night, we’ll do a GORUCK Tough event together. It’s an incredible chance to grow personally and with the PAX. Get in touch with Soybean if you want more details.

     

  • Stairways and Tunnels of Fun

    The Scene:  The Colosseum

    Conditions: Early. Cool. Breezy. Gloom.

    Welcome

    Disclaimer

    Warm-a-Rama:

    Worms still had the flag held hostage, so we met where we felt the flag would be.  It was early and cool, so we got warm by doing the following:

    • Capri Lap – a little mosey. We ran to a little hill near Perkins Road. There was actual light here.
    • SSH – 20x
    • Butt Kicks – 20x
    • High Knees – 15x
    • Al Gores – 10X.
    • Merkins – 10x
    • Bobby Hurleys – 10x
    • Burpees – 5

    The Thang: 

    Perkins Road was a little loud, so we ran over to another little spot under a tree. With no light. While there, we found the sand volleyball court. It was tempting, but we stuck to the script (maybe next time).

    • 30 Al Gores
    • 30 Lunges
    • 30 Merkins
    • 30 LBCs – We all sat on our 6, nervous that we were about to sit on an ant pile. Rumor has it that everyone made it out ok.

    We then moseyed back to normal spot near playground. We did a mix-up version of stairway to 7 (or stairway to hell, as Rocket calls it).  We ran from parking lot to driveway. Once there, did 1 burpee.  Then ran back for 5 Merkins. Ascended to 5 burpees and descended to 1 merkin.  T-Claps to Topanga and Duracell for running at top speed, while talking somehow.

    Finished with a little Tunnel of Love.  After what seemed like 10 minutes, we looked at our progress and it appeared we had only moved about 10 yards. Shoulders were burning.  Definitely feeling the love. So we spaced out our tunnel.  Finished strong.

    It was fun.

    Mary:

    Everyone led a Mary exercise:

    • Fastball – American Hammers – 20 count
    • Dagwood – Leg Lift – 20
    • Shangeaux – Jane Fondas (or “Our Sweet Jane” as Shangeaux called it) – 12x
    • Rocket- Jane Fonda (change over)
    • Topanga – Instead of ABCs, we spelled out Josh Black.
    • Duracell – Bicycles – 20x
    • Big Easy – LBCs – 25x

     

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    COT / BOM:

    Praise – Duracell’s relative Rebecca is cancer free! She has young children and has been fighting it for some time. Praise God!

    Announcements:

     

     

     

     

  • Morning Miracle at the Colosseum

    The Scene: The Colosseum

    Conditions: Balmy.  Rainy.  Ample Puddles…..  Just Right.

    Welcome & Disclaimer:  The Q is neither bonded nor insured.  But no FNGs today, so we all knew the drill.

    Warm-a-Rama:

    Mosey twice around the parking lot  (a chance to chat and see how everyone is doing)

    Shoulder circles (lest our shoulders should atrophy)  x30 each direction

    Frankensteins (to stretch out those hamstrings)  x20

    Imperial Squat Walkers (using the big muscles to get the blood flowing)  x15, 4-count

    Windmills (hammies again, and backs)  x10

    SSH (cuz we like ’em)  x20

    The Thang:

    Partner Pullup Nasties: 5 pullups each, with help from partner as necessary; then mosey to the parking bars for 10 freak nasties; then mosey back. 3 sets.  (working on those arms)  Great teamwork!

    Gladiator Mosey:  1.5 laps around our beloved Colosseum, ending at the steps by the Gym.  A longer mosey than we’re used to – definitely saw some perseverance here – really nice work.  As usual, MegaDad sets a high bar and got to plank for the Six longer than the rest of us.  And I had a chance to chat it up with Big Easy whom I hadn’t met before.

    Baby Freak Nasties on the steps.  x10.

    Partner Windmill Pushups:  one partner on top of stairs; the other at bottom.  5 windmill pushups (4 count), then change places.  3 sets.  A bit of grunting and swearing.

    Catch Me If You Can:  Mosey back to the Shovel flag, with the last man sprinting (um, sometimes) to the front.  Lots of mutual encouragement on this part.

    Freak Nasties x10 on the parking bars to wrap it up.

    6MOM  (listen for the midwife noises)

    Since we were already soaked from the rain, no one minded getting just a bit wetter on their sixes….

    Homer to Marge (one of my favorites)  x10

    Reverse Crunches  x10

    Bicycles x10

    Jane Fondas x20 each side   (amid a few tears for Rocket, who was strangely absent)

    Then we were supposed to do some Manatee, but my notes were too wet to read by this time.  So I’ll save it for another day.  And Workhorse saved us by suggesting

    American Hammers, to close it out with a bang… banging our knuckles on the ground on each side.

    Count-O-Rama:  8 men.  A strong Wednesday.

    COT:  A strong closing in prayer by MegaDad.

    Oh, and the title of this post?  The MIRACLE of seeing MegaDad at 5:30am on a Wednesday!  Nice job making it out there, despite a late night of fellowship with the extended family.