F3 New Orleans

Tag: Bushwhacker

  • Murder Bunny Tunnel – from Russo

    Mid 40s temps means it’s almost cold enough for sleeves…no way can I keep a straight face and say that. It’s never cold enough for sleeves.

    Hammer was ready as YHC arrived and was still putting on his shoes, soon to be joined by Akbar, Bird, and Whacker, making a nifty group of 5 for some splash pad fun.

    Warmup (all 10-20x IC)
    – Sealjacks
    – Toe touches
    – Grass grabbers
    – Self love
    – Hillbillies

    Thang

    11s
    Merkins and groiners as we moseyed the columns

    Over to the stage for 10 IC imperial squat walkers, and then to the bus stop for 20 IC freak nastys and 5×2 IC Bulgarian split squats

    Mosey to the tunnel, where YHC coined the phrase “Russo memorial tunnel run”: mosey down, side shuffle through, back pedal up. It’ll be a thing soon!

    That tunnel run lasted four rounds, followed by two rounds of walk down, murder bunny through, and sprint back up.

    Mosey back, along the way stopping for 10x IC leg raises and gas pumps, as well as 10 jump overs and 10 step ups at the bus stop.

    Back at start, we wrapped up with Mary: LBCs, crunchy frogs, Rosalitas, and wife pleasers.

    COT, Name-o-Rama, Announcements and Prayer closed us out.

    Keep an eye out on Slack for a potential Nightmare reschedule, and we lifter up Akbar’s friend Ned in Jackson.

    Thank you fine gentlemen for reading and joining me this morning. Yes, it selfishly was a lot of running, but the holiday weight I’ve gained is not going to lose itself. Your camaraderie was very much appreciated.

    SYITG

  • All Star Festivities (4 year anniversary) – from Russo

    Beautiful weather this morning topping out at 60 degrees. Flags came in quickly as Shooter and JV arrived early and off we went with the mumblechatter.

    Around 4 years ago, an offhand “You should join us” from Toto began my adventure with F3, so today I thought we’d honor those folks that have shaped our beatdowns and who continue to be positive role models for their friends, family, coworkers, and in their corner of the world. While certainly not the only ones, each of these men have had a favorable impact on my F3 experience and have helped me grow tremendously over he years, with plenty of room for more growth and learning to go. Despite objection, SmashMouth was NOT played.

    Warmup (mostly IC)
    – Sealjacks
    – Arm circles
    – Self love
    – Imperial squat walkers
    – Toe touches

    All Star recognition 1: Zoolander – the HIM most likely to EH someone (and then we never see them again) – Goofballs and then 5 knuckle merkins

    Thang
    All star Speedy – the Crazy Ivan Ringer – mosey to the gazebo

    All star recognition 3 and 4:
    Hammer: pushed me as hard mentally as I’ve ever been pushed by F3 with 1,000 burpees, and Grundy, whose cakewalk is the hardest non-Iron Pax I’ve ever been pushed – cakewalk of 5 merkins

    Mosey to the shaft for more All Star recognitions:

    WaterPik- King of Form: 10 8 count bodybuilders IC

    Moby: Leader of the chain gang – without his chain, we subbed with an Indian bear crawl

    Turbo: the Godfather – mosey back to the flag, teams of 3, passing the tennis balls (NOT golf balls). If the ball hits the ground, team performs 3 merkins (in honor of All Star Akbar: Mr. Merkin Trap). Many T claps to Wicket and JV for being in sync all the way, and leading like they’ve been QBs and/or WRs all their lives.

    On the wall, we honor All Star Bushwacker: King of the impromptu Q: 10 IC freak nastys and 10 durkins, rinse and repeat. We skipped the additional 15 rounds he made us do one week.

    Move to All Star Barely Legal: Who knew his crab walk skills? Crab walk to the street and back to the wall. Bird, I hope your hands are ok.

    Mosey around Noah’s Ark where we honored All Star Jose 10k: most Supportive, Mr. Will Do Anything Another Brother Asks, always one of the first to join in, NOT Mr. Grumble, who “won” White Elephant 2021, by doing cherry pickers while moseying.

    At the block, we stopped to honor All Star Cowbell, Prince of Punctuality: 25 crunchy frogs (just enough for Jose to note “He’s waiting for everyone to just stop”)

    Back at the sea wall, we honored (1) All Star Steve: Most likely to outwork you and smile the entire time: 5 Kraken burpees

    and then (2) All Star Shooter: Most 6 pickups (at least when I was 6): 10 donkey kicks, where MVP was Bird and his handstand yoga walk

    followed by (3) the Futures portion: the 2.0s

    – Pickax
    – Wicket
    – FNG Wookie!
    – Yoda
    – Pixie stick
    – Hazard
    – Chainsaw
    – Gilligan
    – Minnow
    – Bear
    – Trakbar
    – Grover (Welcome back!)
    – Machete

    In their honor we performed 26 Smurfjacks IC (13 x 2.0)

    Moving over to Rip’s, we paused for the In Memorium portion of the festivities, up the steps and back down to honor those that we hope rejoin us one day, including but not limited to:
    – Bypass
    – Butt paste
    – Mick
    – Stock boy
    – Coconuts
    – Amnesia
    – Bends
    – Slider
    – Toto
    – Ocho
    – Pelican
    – Pea shooter
    – Swoll patrol

    Back at the sea wall, it was my pleasure to honor All Star Manny: Encouragement personified, the first to tell me “Just keep coming” – 10 LMCs IC

    Quickly running out of time, we wrapped up with our final All Star: Maverick: the Music Man, who makes me hate Roxanne to this day. Performed to “She’s so Cold” by The Rolling Stones, high knees, with a squat every time you hear “hot” or “cold”.

    Mosey back to the flag where COT, count, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer closed us out.

    Announcements about NOLA convergence next week, Bushwacker’s camping trip and wife’s birthday party, upcoming potential Halloween beatdown on Sunday 10/30, among others. Check Slack for more info.

    Special welcome to Wookie, Chewy’s 2.0 and our newest HIM.

    One final note: as each year passes, I remember less and less of that first October post back in 2018: pre-COVID, pre-Joe Burrow becoming Joe Burrow, pre- many of our newest brothers, 10 pounds lighter.

    I remember I was late, Buttsplice had Q, we did some yoga. But I’ll never forget feeling sore for at least 3.5 days after, and loving it. Doing something different. Outside with no weights.

    Not wanting to make that same mistake, lest I be judged, I was about 20 minutes early, either the next week or the week following that, and made the mistake of being TOO early, to where I joined the pre-Thang run and after about 40 yards, thought “This was a mistake”.

    But then either Tank or Shooter picked me up as the 6 (details aren’t important, because both have done it repeatedly and offered encouragement). Having started off on the wrong foot, not one but twice, would have normally sent me packing and wishing the group the best in future endeavors. But the encouragement sparked me. That kept me coming back.

    I said it last year, and the statement holds true: Because of what we do, and what our mission is, our reach extends beyond losing a few pounds, getting bigger arms for the gun shows, or finding our abdominal muscles again. If we’re doing it right, we’re improving confidence in those around us, encouraging each other to be impactful in our commmunity, and exemplifying Christ’s disciples in our words and actions. My prayer is that we keep doing that. Whatever “that” is, keep doing it. We’re doing something right.

    That’s my goal, and even if I fall short, I know I’ll have another opportunity to do it soon enough.

    Thank you for making that commitment and for all that you do. SYITG

  • 1-2-3 Go! – from Russo

    Surprise surprise it was hot and humid this morning for a pax of 5.

    Warmup (10x – 16x, all IC)
    – Sealjacks
    – Self love
    – Toe touches
    – Hillbillies
    – Good mornings
    – High knees

    Thang

    1-2-3 GO! (Exercise one, move up a column, exercise two, move up a column, exercise 3…), then up, around, and back down the pilot house)

    Rounds 1 and 2: Absolution

    1 groiner
    2 Mahktar N’dyiae’s
    3 chill jacks

    Round 3 and 4: 8 count body builders

    1 half burpee (ignoring the merkin)
    2 burpees
    3 plank jacks

    Rounds 5 and 6: Front and Back
    1 Crab cake
    2 Parker Peters
    3 Big boi sit-ups

    Round 7: Prey to Predator
    Crab walk one column
    Duck walk two columns
    Bear crawl three columns

    Rounds 8 and 9: Famous People
    1 Kneel Diamond / 1 Apollo Ohno
    2 SMCs
    3 Bobby Hurley’s

    No time for Mary today. COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer to close us out. Reminder that Hammer’s Bible study (this Wednesday) and the September 11 5k (on 9/10) are both quickly approaching. Check Slack for more info.

    Thanks for joining. SYITG

  • Independence Day After – from Russo

    This sounds like a broken record these days, but it was 78 degrees and HUMID at Granny’s this morning. What was new(ish) was the return of Cowbell (dare I say on time?), fresh off an amazing stretch of wedding/ national title / honeymoon, a Bird sighting, Bushwhacker and what has become his trusty walkie, and Akbar. They joined “regulars” Hammer, Steve, and YHC to close out Independence Day weekend in style with a 1776 themed beatdown. Doing a quick count of fingers, pax of 7 appeared to have all digits accounted for, so amateur firework festivities seemed to have gone well.

    Warmup (all 10x-20x IC)
    – seal jacks
    – cherry pickers
    – arm circles
    – grass grabbers
    – windmills
    – toe touches
    – imperial walkers

    Thang
    Varying exercises around the number 1776, with a mosey / back pedal / side shuffle jaunt sprinkled between every two rounds or so.

    1 8 count body builder
    7 wide merkins
    7 diamond merkins
    6 burpees

    17 merkins
    76 plank jacks

    17 jump squats
    76 shoulder taps (1 is 1)

    17 monkey humpers
    76 high knees (1 is 1)

    17 freak nastys
    76 calf raises

    17 durkins
    76 squats

    17 groiners
    76 SSHs

    17 urkins
    7/6 Bulgarian split squats
    7/6 step ups

    17 side squats (2 is 1)
    76 butt kicks

    Betsy Ross (Mary)
    17 leg raises
    76 flutter kicks (1 is 1)

    17 big boy sit-ups
    76 American hammers

    17 box cutters
    7 hello Dolly’s
    6 Rosalitas

    17 crunchy frogs
    76 SSHs

    COT, Name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer closed us out. Reminder that the Grarly Nutria (July 20) and St. Vincent 500 (August 13) are both quickly approaching. Check Slack for more info.

    Generally speaking, we take a lot of freedoms and blessings for granted, at least I know that I do. It’s easy to be distracted and go about our daily lives with its worries and chores and tasks and not take a minute to give thanks. On July 4th, I’m reminded of just how blessed I am to live in a country where, despite its flaws and fights, disagreements and ideologies, we are allowed to practice freedoms and have rights that others do not have. My challenge to all of us is that we take a minute to give thanks, reflect on how we’re blessed, and then go out and use that to provide good things for those around us.

    I appreciate each of you joining, pushing me to work harder and make myself better, and look forward to doing it again.

    Checking the notes from the pre-blast:
    1 – Minimal burpees (6, 7 if you count an 8 count bodybuilder): check!

    2 – minimal moseying, staying close to home base: check!

    3 – sweat: check!

    4 – math: check!

    5 – bats: check! (Although I only briefly caught a glimpse on the stage as we were moseying, no attacks noted)

    SYITG

  • Old reliable – from Russo

    70 degrees and humid this morning for a group of 6 to conquer the semi-regular (when I have put less thought into Q than I’d like) deck of death. Old reliable was supposed to be the deck, but it also meant:

    – JV and Cowbell continuing their verbal sparring / encouragement
    – Hammer coming up with yet another brilliant analogy
    – Sweat angels from YHC that confounds Bushwhacker

    Warmup – all IC 10x -20x

    – Sealjacks
    – Arm circles
    – Toe touches
    – Grass grabbers
    – High knees

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

    Split the deck into 3 groups for rounds. Rounds included:
    Spades – Wide merkins
    Clubs – crab cakes
    Diamonds – jump squats
    Hearts – circle ups

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

    Spades – Freak nastys
    Clubs – Monkey Humpers
    Diamonds – side squats (2 is 1)
    Hearts – box cutters / Cowbell Saturday Night Special (size of boxes varied)

    Mary (with bonus definition of Mary for the Pax from Bushwhacker):

    – 20 freak nastys
    – 20 shoulder tap plank jacks
    – American hammers 10 IC
    – Wife pleasers 20 IC
    – Gas pumps 10 IC
    – Hello Dollie’s 10 IC
    – 10 donkey kicks (what’s up Shooter?!?!)

    COT, name-o-rama, announcements and prayer closed us out. Special intention for those traveling.

    MVP to JV for accepting constructive criticism and encouragement from Cowbell with grace and style.

    Thanks for joining, gents, and yet ANOTHER all star krewe this week.

  • 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

  • Streaking – from Russo

    YHC believes streaks were meant to be broken, and then celebrated. Cal Ripken wasn’t penciled in for game number 2,633. DiMaggio went 0-fer in game 57. The Patriots couldn’t overcome a miracle play from David Tyree and Ei Manning and finished the season 18-1. YHC can only eat the same lunch for 5 or 6 days in a row.

    So hearing that Steve had Q’ed Granny’s for 4 or so straight weeks, I thought he might need a break and let someone else count cadence for once.

    Pretty decent weather on Tuesday morning for a Pax of 7, including a returning Bushwhacker, with temps topping out at 77 degrees, plenty warm enough to sweat profusely.

    Working in a profession that requires balance, order, and consistency, YHC carried that over to rep count.

    Warmup (all IC 15x)
    Seal jacks
    Imperial walkers
    Toe touches
    Cherry pickers
    Mummy kicks

    Thang
    With Granny’s still feeling the effects of a spruce up, remodel, and/or renovation, her benches were not available behind fence, so Pax moseyed over to the Rusty P for some work:

    At benches:
    15 freak nastys
    15 step ups
    15 derkins
    15 more freak nastys

    Some more moseying took us to the bus stop, where 15 box jumps were in order, and then more mosey to the tunnel, where we knocked out the main portion of the beat down:

    5 merkins, a mosey through the tunnel, where it was 5 more merkins in the center, and then a reverse mosey and 5 more merkins at the top, repeated 5 times.

    Heading back home, we knocked out 15 squats IC around coffee st., and then wrapped it up with some Mary:

    15 plank jacks IC
    15 LMCs IC
    15 six inch drill IC

    COT, name-o-Rama, announcements (F3 and FIA game night 10/21 at what’s left of the Mandeville Gazebo at 6:15, NOLA convergence on Saturday), and prayer closed us out.

    Thank you gents for joining and making it another good one.

    And If you’ve read this far because of the title and hoping to hear about us going streaking through the quad Old School Will Farrell style, I hate to disappoint you. But there’s always next week!

    SYITG

  • Rising Up, Back On The Street – from Russo

    YHC was taught in 2nd or 3rd grade that if you want to attract eyeballs to your writing, you need a hook: a catchy title or an opening sentence or paragraph that draws attention.

    I may not always be successful, but that’s my goal with these. I had no hook for this morning: that is, until the twin muses of Eagle 98.1 and the band Survivor provided inspiration from the 80’s classic “Eye of the Tiger”.

    Good looking pax of 10 braved the heat and humidity this morning to “rise up” and get “back on the street”…literally. They did their time and took their chances, went the distance, and got back on their feet: just men and their will to survive.

    Warm-up (all IC 15x to 20x)
    – Seal jacks
    – Grass Grabbers
    – Cherry Pickers
    – Self Love
    – Torso Twists
    – Goofballs
    – Imperial Walkers

    Thang

    Tabata today, 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest, 1 to 3 exercises per stop, mosey a block or two between stops.

    – 8 Count Bodybuilders
    – Squats
    – LBCs (multiple rounds)
    – Shoulder taps
    – Scissor kicks (definitely NOT flutter kicks)
    – Lunges
    – Flutter kicks (definitely NOT scissor kicks)
    – Peter Parker’s
    – Crab cakes
    – Burpees
    – Monkey Humpers (Not at Steve’s front door desire the request)
    – Star Jumps
    – Freak Nastys
    – Step UPS

    A mosey took us back to start, where YHC could sense Shooter itching to stretch out his calves, so we did 3 calf raises at each step of the pilot house.

    Back at the bottom, a few more LBCs, a standard plank, and a chill cut wrapped things up.

    COT, Name-o-Rama, Announcements (sign up for Iron Pax, leadership meeting tonight on SS), and Prayer closed us out.

    Thanks, gents, for joining me. It’s always enjoyable, especially when we’re graced with a Bushwhacker sighting. Best of luck to you as you start your new adventures!

    It was encouraging seeing a couple newer faces (Bends and Swoll Patrol). I hope these two stick around! And the same goes for the “regulars”.

    Until next time, SYITG.

  • Hold it now, hit it – from Akbar

    5 strong today with the Wacker of all Bushes and Steve in the mix. Noticing that everyone brought gloves without a reminder, YHC felt like laying off the blocks today for a traditional mosey to the lakefront and back. Listening to the Beastie Boys song Hold it Now, Hit It! last week, a thought emerged and became a beatdown.

    Warm Up: IW, Cherry Pickers, Self-Love, Grass Grabbers, Arm Circles (f/b), SSH, Torso Twist x 10 to 20

    The Mumblechatter started early, slightly delaying the start of the beatdown, and kept up all the way past COT. Pixie Stix’s lacrosse, Grover’s graduation dinner and work, weekend plans, trips, Bush’s tower of doom, are firemen are stronger than policemen? Billy’s departure from Reigers (will he actually post one day?); Sandbar’s trek across the lake from Nola to the Marsh last week (should we go knock on the FNG’s door? Its’ only 3 houses down) Baby Yoda making Bush chase balls, and then him. Pickleball is getting serious – how about taking all the courts one Friday night? YHC’s anniversary spend the night party with mama, most of us need more time weekly with our beloved wives. On and on, one of many things to look forward to every Monday at the Marsh.

    Time to get to work:

    The Thang

    Mosey down to the lakefront wall stopping along the way. Start with a 10 count hold mid exercise, then return to the top for ICx10 each. Example: Hold Al Gore for 10 count, then return to the top of the exercise for Squats x10IC. Exercises are below.

    Mosey to the playground

    1. Chin up, Supine Pull up

    Mosey to the swings for plank tucks on the swing x10 IC no hold

    Mosey to the lakefront, stopping along the way for:

    2. Stone Mountain, Shoulder Taps
    3. Squats, Monkey Humpers
    4. Dirkin, Freak Nasty
    5. Irkin, Freak Nasty
    6. Stone Mountain, Shoulder Taps
    7. Squats, Monkey Humpers

    There’s inherent danger when passing counts off because you know some jackwater will mess it up. In this case, you guessed it, Bushwacker brought out his painfully slow count in an Irish/Scottish voice during Monkey Humpers. More pain, more gain though.

    Mary: Merkins with 10s hold, Hello Dolly x10 IC low, mid, high, LMC x20, finish with 100’s (Hello Hummingbird)

    Count, Name, and YHC prayed us out.

    Announcements: WW2 trek sign up by July 4th; Gnarly Nutria July 21st

    Thanks for letting me lead, always enjoy a Monday morning at the Marsh.

    SYITG – Akbar

  • Celebrating the Six

    Conditions:  Humid and Partly Cloudy.  73 degrees, 100% humidity.  Wind 4 mph from the NW

    The Thang

    We divided up into nine teams to play some Rarájipari.  Teams of 4 or 5 kick a baseball as they run.  No real rules other than you have to kick it everywhere you go.  Today each team had to visit four landmarks to collect a playing card.  They could collect the cards in any order. First team to make it back with all four cards and the ball was the winner.  The landmarks were the Peristyle, The Dueling Oak, The Singing Oak, and the Rugby Pitch.  Overall mileage was roughly 3 miles for the efficient teams, over 3.5 for some of the more directionally challenged teams. 

    Cool Down

    As teams arrived back to the start High-Rise led as he took stretch requests and YHC closed us out with a little Mary before we sealed the deal.

    NMM

    • Chaos ensued at the start.  A couple of Pax went down with turned ankles and balls were lost.
    • We started with nine balls.  We ended with five.  Not sure of the specifics, but one team was rumored to have lost two balls somehow.
    • One team lost a ball off the Wisner Bridge.  That leads to a number of questions.
    • The teams that went to the Peristyle first had to weave their way through a Zumba class to get to the flag. 
    • This workout was much more compliant with Corona restrictions than what Papa Smurf did on Monday.  Although our pods were sharing the same ball, YHC was the only one without shoes.  CDC guidelines limit shoeless Rarájipari players to one per team.  In an abundance of caution, other teams shod all of their players.    
    • Some teams were looking for Dueling Oaks.  Just to clarify, the Oaks themselves have no beef with one another.  The Dueling Oak, singular, was the location of many a human duel back in the day. 
    • T-claps to Rudy, Boo-Boo, and Kuch for helping YHC put the flags out this morning. 
    • T-claps to Bushwhacker and Cowbell for making the trek from the frigid North.  Cowbell was showing off a strong sock game today.
    • Every Rarájipari team has a 6.  And depending on what group we are in, that could, for the most part, be any one of us.  The fast guys are usually controlling the ball up front and the 6 is keeping a consistent pace trying to keep up.  You may be falling farther and farther behind, but you keep running.  You keep plugging away.  Inevitably someone kicks the ball into the shrubs, or into a giant mud hole, or off the Wisner Bridge and you catch up.  It’s hard to overstate the importance of consistency in every aspect of our lives.  Keep plugging away – you’ll get there.