F3 New Orleans

Tag: Bongo

  • The 4th F is for “Fun”

    The 4th F is for “Fun”

    The early moring parade goers in Mid-City were treated to some sweet F3 eye candy on Saturday for the 4th annual Mardi Gras Mambo aka Endymion Run.  Our krewe consited of 22 PAX eager to start the day off right and get in the carnival spirit.  YHC had stewed on some new ideas for the past month and decided to incorporate a “float” consisting of a jogging stroller and boom box to be pushed along the route blarring some good ole Mardi Gras music to get the juices flowing.  Some festive chatter started as the Dr. John and Professor Longhair tunes came on.  Here’s a recap of our parade: 

    Warmup near The Peristyle:  IW, Lunges, WM, SSH with “bead wave” capped off with the tradional Mardi Gras Mambo song providing the guidance for 2+ minutes of syncronized planking, merkins, and plankjacks….always a crowd pleaser!  We followed with a mosey to City Park Ave and N. Olympia and stopped to go over the gameplan for the run topped off with burpees x10, just because.   

    Route Run – Leg #1:  Run at your own pace down Orleans trying to stay in clusters.  The float/stroller acted as the kaboose and stayed in the rear, similar to the speaker trucks following the Dance Connection, minus the purple fishnets.  Once at Carrollton, turn around and sweep the six.  T-claps to the PAX for taking turns pushing the float and also to the guys carrying two F3 shovel flags….Merica!!!  Lots of intrigued and possibly jealous onlookers wishing they were running with us. 

    Route Run – Leg #2:  Right on Carrollton all the way to Canal, at you own pace, sweep the six.  The motivational cheers from the spot watchers kept coming. 

    Route Run – Leg #3:  Back down Carrollton to Orleans veering off to the neutral ground for a COP.  Some grumbling was heard when YHC started with LSS x20, PP x25, ISW x20, and Plankorama w/Merkins.  Everyone survived and the moseying resumed.    

    Route Run – Leg #4:  Run back on Orleans to our starting point on N. Olympia, sweep the six.  Good to see lots of other running groups out there…”Happy Mardi Gras” and high fives were being dolled out right and left.  Might even try to work in some beads for next year. 

    Lagniappe Leg #5:  Once back along City Park Ave, we had enough time to take the long way back along Marconi for a peek at the floats, before heading back to the Great Lawn.  A few guys were able to modify the run with a shortcut.

    Great Lawn:  YHC wanted to make sure all PAX were ready for the rest of MG season and in stellar bead catching/throwing shape, so out came a bag of beads stashed in the bushes.  All PAX grabbed a good bead to throw and parterned up for “Bead Burpees” consisting of throwing beads 15 yards away to your partner, alternating with burpees.  This was not well received by the PAX, I’m guessing due to the sloppy terrain and the presumption that we were only going to run that moring.  After a minute of some hideousness with Bead Burpees, YHC felt the need to cut it short and move on to something more challenging.  Next up we did a bead throw and bear crawl circuit across the lawn, followed by a lunge walk and bead throw back.

    Mary:  After getting rid of the beads, we had enought time left to knock out LBC x20, Flutter Kicks x30, and Plankorama. 

    COT:  YHC was a tad woozy and run-drunk at this point so not sure of all the announcements and intentions.  We did pray for, among other things, a safe Mardi Gras weekened.  We also called out Amnesty for yet again missing the annual event he co-fathered. YHC forgot to mention that we consider striving to avoid over indulging this Mardi Gras season and instead focus on making the most of our time with family, friends, or perhaps ourselves, whether that be at a parade or elsewhere.  While pigging out and/or getting hammered may be something many of us have been guilty of during the carnival season, we should consider throttling that back on the guilty pleasures and possibly replace them with something more meaningful and healthy….just a thought.

    Thanks to the PAX for going along with my antics and helping to bring in the 4th “F”….FUN!     

    Tool          

  • End of February, end of RRR

    Gloomy morning at Okwata. Last day of February, last day of 2019 RRR and YHC’s legs are definitely feeling it. Been a great month – getting pushed by all the PAX to pull a Forest Gump and just keep running.

    And as 5:30 approaches, out of the gloom emerge Kuch and Ya Mom’N’Dem – 2 PAX who have been pushing and inspiring me all month. Running to the workouts, running home. Way to go guys!

    Disclaimer given, and off we go – looking for a rare patch of dry ground in the swamplands of Okwata.

    Warm Up

    Circle up at the foot of Canal Street. Typical Warmup, as YHC is a bit of a creature of habit. As Triple Shift noted – all exercises in cadence x28 (28th day of February. SSH, Hillbilly, Peter Parker (“Stay here” yells frac, so we may as well stay here), Shoulder Taps (“stay here” the Pax grumbles, so YHC obliges), Parker Peter. Recover

    But wait – no warmup is complete without burpees. So we’ll do a Burpee Box: run the canal St loop with 7 burpees at each corner (28 total burpees). If you finish, sweep the 6 and join them for their burpees as well. Mahatma quickly identifies that the name of the game is “stay together”. But he and Cowbell sprint off anyway, earning the opportunity to sweep and pick up two more sets of burpees. Nice work!

    Animal Crossing

    A few rounds of mosey up the levee, animal walk across, and mosey back down the levee. First its Bear Crawls, then Crab Walks, then Duck Walks. Each time, plank at the bottom for the 6. Make room for the sandal-footed hippie who decided to disrupt the workout on his run to nowhere.

    Route 66

    Across the street. Route 66 with Merkins. Go. Certain unnamed PAX reached lightpole #10 and became confused with what to do next. Ole Miss apparently does not cover counting when numbers exceed fingers.

    Cirlce of Time / Benches

    Back across the street to one of the underutilized areas of Okwata – the circle of 8 benches. A PAX of 17 made this a bit crowded, but we’ll make do. Partner up at each bench. We’ll go clockwise around. PAX noted that it was wet. Quite wet. Shoes will be wet. But – no griping allowed. Persevere. Accelerate. Own It.

    • Right Leg Step Up x20 (everyone). Lunge Walk clockwise to the next bench.
    • Left Leg Step Up x20. Lunge Walk clockwise.
    • Monkey Humpers x25. Lunge Walk clockwise
    • Low Slow Squats x20. (this was to be Box Jumps – but the dampness and crowds seemed to make that a bad idea. So improvise…). Lunge Walk clockwise.
    • Dips x20. Bear Crawl clockwise
    • Incline Merks x20. Bear Crawl
    • Regular Merks x20, with the whole group throwing in extras to motivate the rest of the PAX. YHC shoulders are feeling the burn. Bear Crawl onward.
    • Derkins. AMRAP. YHC has a clock. Go. Much grumbling and groaning ensured. 1:10 of derkins.

    A soggy group of PAX gathered up and moseyed back to the flag, where we got in a last round of LBC x28

    And with that, we wrap up the end of February. 2.3 miles earned for RRR. Close out with intentions (several PAX praying for close friends and family suffering with illness). And then prayers – as always YHC asks for the grace of God’s wisdom to use the gift of a day in service of Him, and in service of his family and friends.

    Then – as a little bit of lagniappe, Team Okwata (cowbell, mahatma, kuch, ya mom’n’dem, rudy) took off on one last 2 mile run to celebrate the end of RRR. Thanks for the month – for the inspiration, and for the F2.

  • Just Being HIMs

    It’s a start of a new year.  So just get at it.  A PAX of eight on this blustery morning, waves crashing onto the promenade.  After a brief disclaimer and a mosey around the fountain and across the street, The Thang:

    Warm Up:

    • SSHs 25xIC
    • Low Slow Squats 25xIC
    • Merkins 25xIC

    First COP: Route 66 along the planters with box jumps: one at the first planter, mosey back; two at the second, mosey back; etc. up to 11 box jumps at the 11th planter.

    Second COP: Mosey down aways for

    • Dips 20xIC
    • Half V-Ups 20xIC
    • Dips 20xIC
    • Dying Cockroachs 20xIC

    Third COP: Mosey to the bottom of the levee.  Then lunge walk to the top, 50 LBCs, duck walk back down, Bernie Sanders back up, 50 more LBCs; then mosey back to the flag.

    Circle of Mary:

    • Russian Twists 20xIC
    • Big Boy Sit-Ups 20xIC
    • Flutter Kicks 20xIC
    • Penguins 20xIC
    • Dr. W’s 10xIC

    Close it out with 12 burpees.  Then count off, name-o-rama, and COT.  Thanks.  Push me harder for this year; I could use it.  –JV

  • The Power of Negativity or the Commitment to Accelerate

    In the last US Olympic Marathon Trials (2016) there were 108 finishers.  Only 3 men ran negative splits.  All three finished on the podium.

    The Thing:  Run along Bayou St. John for 20 minutes, turn around and return in less than 20 minutes.  AKA a Negative Split. Then plank and wait.

    IC Flutter Kicks 25 and Tin Snips 10

    Count, Names, Announcements, Intentions, Prayer

    There is debate whether running negative splits leads to faster race times.  I think we can all find joy in having the strength to increase our pace of movement and to ACCELERATE.   We must choose to accelerate every day.  Thanks Triple Shift for helping me make the connection.

    DAILY RED PILL: The Q’s daily Commitment to Accelerate his Fitness, Fellowship and Faith. Abbr: DRP

  • Hokie Pokey does ABC’s

    With Run Ranger Run in full effect, and with the split of the Mother Ship Saturday workout into two Pax’s, Hokie Pokey thought it would be good to get some running in between exercises.

    Warm up started with a run to the railroad tracks and back with folks circling back to the six until we were ready to gather.

    • 10 baby are circles forward
    • 10 baby arm circles backwards
    • 10 big arm circles forward
    • 10 big arm circles backward
    • Right leg lunge forward with clockwise and counter clockwise trunk stretch.
    • Left leg lunge forward with clockwise and counter clockwise trunk stretch.

    Another run to the tracks and back with leaders getting extra running in by circling back to the six.

    1st exercise ~ “A” ~ Ascending testicles with balls to the columns and hold for 1 minute, down for 30 seconds, back up for a 2nd minute, back down for 30 seconds and back up for a 3rd minute… followed by …
    Another run to the tracks and back with leaders getting extra running in by circling back to the six.

    2nd exercise ~ “B” ~ Burpee’s on the law suicide style… 1st tree and back for one burpee; 2nd tree and back for 2 burpee’s; 3rd tree and back for 3 burpee’s… the last, 10th, tree and back for 10 burpee’s. For our fitter men, they could box jump while the rest of the Pax wrapped up. This was followed by …
    Another run to the tracks and back with leaders getting extra running in by circling back to the six.

    3rd exercise ~ “C” ~ Chillcuts (Dancing Style) ~ Elbow planks with right leg up for one minute, then back to rest in the elbow plank position for 30 seconds and left leg up for one minute. This was followed by …
    Another run to the tracks and back with leaders getting extra running in by circling back to the six.

    4th exercise ~ “D” ~ Diamonds ~ Diamond Merkins ~ AMRAP style ~ as many as possible in 60 seconds followed by 30 seconds rest… 5 times … followed by
    Another run to the tracks and back with leaders getting extra running in by circling back to the six.

    5th, and last “exercise” ~ “E” ~ Elevator ~ with 10 squats, 20 jump squats, 30 second Al Gore, 40 Front Lunges and 50 back lunges.

    We mosey’d back to the flag and heard we logged 3.6 miles as we counted off to 25. No FNG’s.

    Thank you for the opportunity to workout with such a great group of guys! I admire you all and appreciate you pushing me!

  • That Was Super

    Run Ranger Run crunch time ensured that we had a healthy number of Stompers on Tuesday. In order to maximize our time, we ran the traditional route down the bayou, 22:30 out, then turned around and came back. The only rule was that you must have a negative split. We didn’t all achieve the negative split, but we were close. We circled up for COT a minute or two late and gave thanks for the day.

    NMM
    • T-claps to Smooth. He was able to make it just past Earhart. That is the farthest I’ve ever known anyone to make it. 6.5 miles for a just over a 7 minute/mile pace. That’s poster material.
    • T-claps to War Eagle. He has become a runner in the past couple of months. The young buck must have been feeling his oats as we rounded NOMA on the back stretch. Like a horse to the barn he took off as Rudy and El Guapo approached. He was a good 10-15 feet ahead of me and I was not able to close the gap. I was seriously wondering if he was going to beat me to the flag.
    • He didn’t.
    • There was a supermoon in the sky. Problem was that we couldn’t see it. If you haven’t noticed, it will be raining in New Orleans for the next two months.
    • T-claps to Amnesty and Tool who, each nursing their injuries, were willing to get out on their bikes and get some work in. The ride-by heckling was a nice touch.
    • Running in shoes is the worst. How do you all do it? It’s awful. If anyone is headed to Hawaii soon, let me know. I’ll give you $5 to pick me up a pair of Locals slippers from the nearest CVS.
    • Run Ranger Run 10 Member Team Standings as of 1512 hours on 2/20. It’s tight:
      • #5 Okwata (507 miles)
      • #6 Rock City (494 miles)
      • #7 The Birdcage-1 (476 miles)
      • #8 Mothership (470 miles)
      • #10 Northshore (461 miles)
      • #18 HNJ (362 miles)

  • Backblast – 2019-02-16

    Another day aboard the Mothership. 23 PAX total.

    Attendees: Catfish, Highrise, Gabrielle, King Kong, Jesus Juice, Screw Top, Fracsac, Care Bear, Brown Eye, Organ Grinder, Tubbs, Angie’s List, Flipper, Rudy, Two Yutes, Dewey, Bongo, Mudbug. We had three FNGs. Welcome Scrapple, Da Crane, and Sunny D!

    Started the workout with a mosey to the lawn on the side of the museum. Ran some side straddle hop, arm circles, abe vigodas, and overhead claps to warm things up. Moved to plank position for Catalina wine mixers, plank jacks, peter parkers, and parker peters.

    From here we moseyed to the museum fountain for a Dora. Dora included 100 box jumps (on the fountain), 200 dips, 300 LBC’s, while partner hopped up the steps, did 5 merkins at the top, and hopped down.

    From here we moseyed back to the field for burpee suicides. These involved suicides with length of 2, 4, then 6 trees, with 5, 10, then 15 burpees at each end.

    From here we moseyed to the paddleboat dock for monkey humpers, squat jumps, and lunges. Followed these up with a lovely long round of Jack Webb.

    Moved to the grass to round things out with some Mary – Crunchy Frog, Penguins, Leg Lifts, American Hammer.

    Thanks to everyone who pushed through, this was a good one! Can’t wait till next time!

  • 610 Stomp with 11 PAX

    The mumble chatter started the night before with the PAX anticipating a rainy run on this Tuesday morning.  The weather forecast indicated a nearly 80% chance for rain. Well the weather advisors are sometimes wrong, right?

    So 11 committed PAX met at the Stomp for 5:30 ready to log some miles for Run Ranger Run.      After a brief disclaimer, we moseyed along the normal Tuesday morning route up Roosevelt Mall, around NOMA, out of City Park, and around the Bayou and into the City.     20 minutes out and 20 minutes back.

    T-claps to da Cousin for continuing to push. Getting up out of bed and to the workout is the first challenge of the day – keep doing so and you will reach your goals.

    The legend of “Smooth” grew today  – I think he ran into downtown, saw the riverfront, stopped for coffee, and still made it back in less than 40 minutes.  Seriously though – thanks Smooth for setting the bar high for all of us to attain.    Keep pushing us.

    Meet at the flag for a few minutes of Mary – flutter kicks and penguins.  Closed the workout with 10 merkins OYO.

    Count-off, Name-o-rama, and intentions.  Thanks for the opportunity and privilege to lead.

    Keep logging your miles for Run Ranger Run – F3 is represented well by several teams – Keep going strong!!

  • The Back Nine

    After some last minute scouting, YHC pulled up without a minute to spare. The disclaimer was given, including a word of caution about possible broken ankles, and we moseyed to the Great Lawn for the warm-up

    Warm-Up

    This month is Run Ranger Run and every yard counts, so YHC forwent the customary circle warm-up and chose to go old school Jr. High football style:

    High Knees, Butt Kicks, Karaoke left, Karaoke right

    The Thang

    We divided up into 5 teams of 4. Each team received a baseball and were provided the simple rules of Rarájipari – You must kick the baseball to the Foundry. One team member can kick it the whole way or you can pass between team members. First team to the Foundry wins.

    At the Foundry we all found some pull-up space for the Bern ‘n Burp – keep your chin above the bar as long as you can. When you drop out, do 10 burpees and take a 10 second rest. Repeato until time is called. Most of us got in 3 or 4 rounds.

    Rarájipari under the 610 overpass to Zachary Taylor Drive.

    From there we moseyed to the football field between Grow Dat and the Dog Park. 100 yard Bear Crawl

    Next we moseyed to the 9th hole of the frisbee golf course for The Jack Nicklaus. Starting at the 9th hole tee box, sprint to the 9th hole (or whatever you call the contraption that you throw the frisbee into). At the 9th hole, do 9 merkins followed by 9 air presses. Then walk to the 10th hole tee box and sprint to the 10th hole where you do 10 merkins and 10 air presses. Continue this through the 16th hole. We repeated the 15th and 16th holes.

    Rarájipari to the port-a-potties on the backside of the track.

    On the track – 600m run as hard as you can.

    Mosey back to the flag

    NMM
    • Mistake #1 – We arrived at the flag late. How late? More than 3 minutes, less than 35. I don’t really know. I wasn’t using a watch. I was wearing one, but I wasn’t using it.
    • Mistake #2 – Quiche wasn’t with us.
    • Mistake #3 – It took me a minute to realize Quiche wasn’t with us anymore. Fracsac went out to find him. Somehow in the 30 seconds we had been standing at the flag, Frac forgot where we had come from and ran off in the wrong direction. Meanwhile, rumor has it that Quiche had accidentally locked himself in one of the Rock ‘n Roll Port-a-lets. Fortunately all City Park Roads lead to the Port-a-lets on the backside of the track. Frac finally made it there and through brute strength was able to free Quiche. Both returned to the circle, smelling of excrement and unwilling to speak about what had happened.
    • Mistake #4 – While playing Rarájipari on the way to the track, I mentioned to my teammates that we shouldn’t tell the groups ahead of us that they should take the street to the right up ahead. As the Q, I am apparently supposed to be taking care of the pax and so I received some instant F3 karma when the sidewalk rose up and tripped me. It felt like a pretty spectacular fall.
    • We had one FNG – Scrub. He came out on his own. I wasn’t paying close attention, but I believe a medical resident at Tulane mentioned F3 to Scrub while he was there being treated for a virus he contracted in South Central Jersey.
    • We ran a lot. It was at least 4 and half miles, no more than eight.
    • Rudy met us for the circle of trust. He’s just in it for the fellowship.

  • 610 Stomp #180 – Stretch You Big Dummy!

    Some of us are born flexible and some of us are born…well, not. Either way, good running requires good stretching before and after the actual running. I’d first like to thank the good people at Runner’s World as well as the folks at Google for helping me create this Q.

    W/U – Complete each exercise from tree to tree

    • Quad + Piriformis Walk
    • Hip Opener
    • Arm Circles
    • Frankenstein Walk
    • Karaoke Run right over left
    • Karaoke Run left over right
    • Hold a Downward Dog for the 6

    Routine was a modification of Runner’s World “The 5-Minute Warm-UP Routine You Should Be Doing Before Every Run”

    The Thang

    • Run the Traditional Route and be back for 6:10.  YHC got in 3.6 miles with some great mumble chatter & F2 from War Eagle. Thanks for the push!

    C/D

    • Hip-Flexor Stretch
    • Hamstring Stretch
    • Piriformis Stretch
    • Lower Back Stretch #1

    https://www.runnersworld.com/training/g20862016/cool-down-routine/

    Announcements

    • F1/F2 event this Thursday at Wrong Iron.  DownPAINment will begin at 18:30  sharp. 
    • This Thursday & Every Thursday is the Lakeview Running Club.  Meets up for 18:30 for a 5K or more run followed by complementary Jambalaya Girl & Cash bar.    

    Intentions

    • A family friend & fellow Holy Cross grad, Jacob Stetchmann, fell 34 floors to his death in Honolulu.   Please keep his soul and his family in your prayers through this difficult time. 

    Thank you for the opportunity to lead – Da Parish