F3 New Orleans

Tag: Cowbell

  • 40 Days ’til Mardi Gras

    January 24th, 2019. Only 40 days until March 5th – Mardi Gras! And what better way to celebrate than a traditional Okwata 40?!? Even better, its a blustery sub-forty degree day at the Lakefront (YHC’s car said 37 degrees – but that didn’t account for the gales). Good Times!

    8 hearty PAX braved the chill. Some, like YHC, were bundled in full winter (aka “Marlin”) gear. Smooth managed to have his entire face covered, while DaParish seemed to be sporting some fancy earmuffs. Then, of course, there was JV wearing his tank top and calling the rest of us a bunch of cowards. Disclaimer issued – including warnings to try and keep warm – and we were off.

    Due to yesterday’s rain, and with Surge’s strong urging, YHC modified the 40 in an effort to keep our shoes dry. PAX moseyed down to Canal Street and over the levee, seeking shelter from the wind. Instead of over-and-back, we would instead just do up-and-down, always staying on the sheltered side of the levee. Other than that, its a traditional 40: 10 exercises, each done in 4 sets (40 sets!). In between each set, up-and-down the levee (40 trips up the levee!). Each set is 10 reps (40 reps!). When PAX finishes his set for one exercise, keep repping or plank until the 6. No rest until everyone’s done. The exercises (and some 40-themed Mardi Gras trivia that helped keep the PAX entertained…..):

    • Burpees first, of course.
    • Penguins. 2nd Modification: lets do the reps at the top of the levee rather than the bottom. Sure its windy up there. But its a heck of a lot dryer.
      • Did you know there are 40 parades in February (from Chewbacca through Muses)
    • Low Slow Squats.
      • Per NOLA.com in February 2018, there are 40 marching groups too. YHC doesn’t fact-check, just reports.
    • Cross-fit Merkins
      • Who remembers Mardi Gras 40 years ago? That’s right – the 1979 Police Strike!
    • Peter Parkers
      • Bacchus 40 years ago? Ron Howard.
      • Bacchus XL? The one, the only Hulk Hogan
      • Bacchus this year? 40 year old Jensen Ackles.
    • Box Cutters
      • Who’s playing Endymion? 40 year old Flo Rida.
      • Lionel Ritchie – hit the charts with Sail On 40 years ago
    • Lunges
      • One Krewe turns 40 this year. No one could guess it. And YHC was not surprised: Krewe of Bilge from Eden Isles.
    • Plank Walks
      • Did you know…. (apparently JV did, as he tried to correct YHC): King of Comus and King of Carnival (not King of Rex…) meet at 40 minutes past 9:00 on Mardi Gras night.
    • Mountain Climbers
    • LBC

    Mosey back to the flag – which was leaning with the wind, but still standing. Thanks to Cowbell for his constant encouragement for all the PAX to keep after it; keep pushing up the levee. Nice work M-Bop! Remember, the workouts get easier, because you get stronger! Great to have you out with us.

    Fast trip through announcements (RRR), intentions and prayers. Then fast mosey back to cars to start the long process of thawing toes. Thanks everyone for letting me lead.

  • Stomps and Sprints

    Thanks to Gabrielle, YHC had a different take on his usual Stomp-and-Sprint workout. So Tuesday am, time was right to give it a test run. I think it has some potential, but needs some help. We will definitely try again soon.

    12 PAX gathered in the gloom. Nice to see a good sized crowd on a Tuesday am – thanks, brothers! Warmer than expected, causing YHC to regret the choice to bundle up. Oh, the fun of winter weather cycles in NOLA. After a disclaimer, the PAX set off for 30 minute run: meet back at the track at 6am.

    Not surprisingly, Smooth, El Guapo and Mahatma took off to the front. Even less surprisingly, Mr. Freedom-Hammer himself decided he didn’t want to hang back with El-G or M-Ice, and bolted. Smooth sure can fly. YHC enjoyed the chance to catch up with Sesame Street – I wish I had his dedication when travelling. 5 days in NOLA and 4 workouts. Nice work!

    Back at the track at 6am (Hawg straggling in late at his 11:45 pace), we gathered to try Gabrielle-themed workout. Split into groups of 4. 3 of the 4 take their position on the track roughly 1/3 apart from each other for a sprint relay. The 4th toes the line to get ready….

    • Position 1: 25 LBC
    • Position 2: 25 PJ
    • Position 3: 25 Merkins

    Go… PAX sprints to the Position 1. Tag, you’re it! PAX from Position sprints to the next spot, while the arriving PAX does the exercise and waits for the relay to come back around. That’s the cycle. Sprint when its your turn, do your exercise on arrival, and wait. As YHC says – needs a bit of work, but everyone got 3 or 4 sprints in before we headed back to the flag.

    COT ends with our count-off, name-o-rama, and close with a prayer to use the gift of Tuesday, January 22nd wisely.

  • YaMomAnEm’s VQ

    Warm Up: 30 side straddle hops, 25 imperial walkers, 20 plankjacks, arm circles (10 forward, 10 backwards)

    The Thang: Route 66 – there was some debate on whether or not there were 10 or 11 planters on the lakefront. Turns out i miscounted, and there was actually only 10 planters. One Pax ran to each of the ten planters and did an increasing number of decline merkins (ended with 10 decline merkins on the 10th planter), while the other Pax did dying cockroaches. The Pax partnered up and alternated until all 10 planters had been completed. We then mosey’d down the lakefront and did a set of BLIMPS (5 burpees, 10 lunges, 15 imperial walkers, 20 merkins, 25plankjacks, 30 squats). We then mosey’d to the levee and did 2 sets of Bernie Sanders while the Pax at the bottom of the levee did burpees. We then mosey’d to the flag for the COT

  • #42

    Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”. Today, 42 men showed up in the soggy gloom to face the Mountain. Today, we caught a glimpse of the incredible impact F3 has had on a growing number of lives as we set yet another AO record for attendance.

    “Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you’re wasting your life.”

    No spectators here – we jumped right into the thing after the disclaimer and an awe-inspiring cartwheel demonstration by Crop Duster.

    • Brief mosey to Tulane’s front yard for an oval warmup
      • Side Straddle Hop x 25
      • Imperial Walker Squats x 20
      • Arm Circles Forward/Back x 15
    • Mosey to top of the Mountain via the stairs
      • 11’s comprised of Leg Raises and Burpees
      • LBC’s OYO to wait for the 6
      • Merkins x 10
    • Mosey down the Mountain to Touchdown Jesus via stairs
      • Pax formed groups of 3
      • Pax 1 executed Squats AMRAP style at one end while Pax 2 held a Plank at the opposite end of the lawn. Pax 3 ran to tap out Pax 2 and take his spot so that he could then take Pax 1’s position doing Squats. Continued this rotation allowing each Pax to complete Squats, then Jumping Lunges, followed by Monkey Humpers. This is tough to explain in writing, but much tapping occurred and all were jolly.
      • DIZZY BEAR! – Traditional Bear Crawl that leads into a Reverse Bear Crawl upon Q yelling, “DIZZY BEAR!”
      • Merkins x 10
      • Dying Cockroach x 20

    “This ain’t fun. But you watch me, I’ll get it done.”

    It sure ain’t always fun, but it’s worth it.

    I’ll leave y’all with one last Jackie Robinson quote as I think it ties even more directly into what we’re doing than the previous ones, “F3 is great.”

    Lobsta (FNG), Grimace (FNG), Pops (F3 Cleveland), Monty (F3 Cleveland), Sesame Street (F3 Naperville), Crop Duster (F3 Naperville and visiting cartwheel extraordinaire), Gabrielle, Willie, King Kong, Medulla, Peppa, Douille, Saban, Sandbar, Brown Bag, Chiquita, Two Yutes, Fracsac, Bad Moon, Chowda, Jingle Vader, G-Spot, Bartman, Piranha, Landing Strip, Mariah, Reluctant Yankee, Flaming Lips, Giligan, Wash n’ Fold, Cavalier, Bones, Quincy, False Start, Cowbell, Angie’s List, Quarter Pipe, Tinkles, 86, Nine Lives

  • Amnesty’s New Sneaks

    Amnesty made a special request for a dry workout. He recently purchased some new sneaks, and hoped to keep them mud free. The request was honored. After all, it’s Amnesty. His new neon green sneakers offered a beacon of light on this gloomy morning. 13 men showed up for the challenge. The usual disclaimer and off we go.


    Warm-up COP:

    SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Plank Jacks, x 20 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Arm Circles 10 forward 10 backward IC, Mountain climbers x 20 IC

    Route 66 down Roosevelt Mall: Dips. 5 dips at first bench, increase 1 dip each bench, ending at 17.

    Next we moseyed to NOMA.

    Right leg power-ups x 20 IC, Left leg power-ups x 20 IC. Then a Merkin ladder up the steps of NOMA, with 8 Merkins on the bottom step and 1 Merkin at the top. Back to the fountain for 10 box jumps, right leg step-ups x 20 IC, left leg step-ups x 20 IC. And back to the steps to repeat another Merkin ladder.

    Next, partner up for Dora 1-2-3. 100 Floyd Mayweathers, 200 Squats, 300 LBC’s, while the other Pax runs around NOMA.

    Then we moseyed back to the flag, stopping halfway for some Mary. Flutter kicks x 20 IC, Hello Dolly x 20 IC, Dying cockroach x 20 IC. We ended back at the flag, and succeeded in our mission. We kept Amnesty’s sneakers dry. Count-off, Name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. Thanks for letting me lead.

  • In the Morning when you Rise Unwillingly – WHO DAT!

    In the morning when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present- I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world? Or have I been made for this, to lie in the bed-clothes and keep myself warm? – The Meditations, Marcus Aurelius, Book 5.

    This pretty much summed up my feelings on getting out of bed this morning, and also serves as a constant reminder as to why to do so on a regular basis. After all, was I put here to sleep?

    After having an appropriate amount of fun at the game yesterday but having fallen victim to the bartender several times making my drinks a bit too strong, I was a little fuzzy, hence the counting.

    Warmup:

    SSHx20; Peter Parkerx14; Imperial Walkersx20; Grass Grabbersx14; Arm, Circlesx20; Windmillsx14 … or something like that.

    The rules: We are all happy that our Saints vanquished Philly and some of its loud obnoxious fans (F3 brotherhood excluded, of course) from the Crescent City. During the workout, if someone gets a little excited about the Saints and wants to let everyone know how much they love their Saints, they are encouraged to yell out “WHO DAT”, at which point the PAX, regardless of whether they are carrying a rock (or boulder, like Triple Shift), will drop what they are doing – not on Hawg’s bare feet – and do 6 burpees to celebrate the margin of victory. All PAX are encouraged to support the Saints in this fashion throughout the workout whenever they feel it’s appropriate.

    First St[WHO DAT!]ation:

    And we were off. An unexpected but enjoyable part of the workout was the regular cheers of Who Dat! while I attempted to explain the next station. Well done.

    Traverse the field, stopping at each tree to remember one of the Saints’ notable vanquished foes as follows. Bring your rock:

    5 burpees for the Buccaneers; 10 curls for Carolina; 15 second count Al Gore for Atlanta; 20 Merkins for Minnesota; 25 Rows for the Rams; 30 Elf on the shelves for the Eagles. People’s chair /plank for 6, and then head back doing the same thing swapping out the Curls and Elves on the shelf due to some mumble chatter.

    Second Station

    Finish the job, like the Saints finished off the Eagles in the playoffs after beating them during the season as well.

    11’s. Deadlift on one side, run 5 trees with the rock, and complete the movement with a clean and press.

    Finale

    Some quick abs, American Hammers w/ rockx10, Dying cockroachesx20 and lbc’sx20 oyo and Mosey quickly to flag to arrive right at 6:15.

    We prayed for Terrabyte and Mathlete and their family, Brad Brechtel, and several other F3 brothers and friends of F3 brothers.

    Total Who Dat Count: At least 10

    Honored to lead this group. T-claps to all for all the Who Dats and Triple Shift for regularly choosing the meteor that hit Arizona for his rock and refusing to quit.

    Thanks for letting me Q. – Kuch

  • Championship Monday

    Championship Monday

    Clemson vs Alabama
    January 7th, 2019

    For may this was just a normal Monday. For YHC, this is Championship Monday! The Alabama Crimson Tide vs. that orange team in South Carolina. Living in New Orleans, I have come to obtain a lot of respect for the boys in Baton Rouge, but at Rock City, there seems to be a lot of mumble chatter about the Fighting Irish. The Irish live by one motto:

    Image result for work like a champion everyday

    Unfortunately, playing like a champion at times gets you a point in the loss column, but hey at least they look good doing it. Alabama, on the other hand, has learned to be champions in everything they do, every day. Championships don’t start on the football field. Champions try to push themselves in everything. Coach Saban said it best:

    Image result for work like a champion everyday alabama

    So today the disclaimer--work like a champion. For YHC, that ended at the warm-up.

    Warm-Up

    SSH X 18…no make that 20.

    Hillbillies X 0 (now this where the train really derailed) Q can’t call a cadence to save his life. “Must be from Bama,” they said.

    Mountain Climbers X 25

    Arm Circles X 10 (forwards and backwards)

    The important thing to remember is that champions sometimes have to take one on the chin first. Like in 2009, when the #1 ranked Alabama had to block a field goal at the end of the game to beat unranked Tennessee 12-10.

    Or when the 2011 Alabama team got cheated out of a 9-6 game at home against LSU (I still argue OJ Howard caught that ball on the goal line)…

    Or when the 2012 Alabama team had to recover from getting sucker punched by Johnny Football 29-24 at home…

    Or when the 2015 Alabama team lost to Ole Miss in week three 43-37…

    Or when the 2017 Alabama team lost to that cow college in the Iron Bowl…

    You get it. Sometimes champions get sucker punched, but it is not how you start it is how you finish. So let’s look beyond a botched warm-up and move on to a championship style beatdown.

    The Thang

    Grab a rock and mosey to the football field for an extended version of Dora. Pair up. As a team, complete the following:

    Curls X 250

    Squats X 200

    Rows X 150

    Shoulder Presses X 100

    Burpees X 50

    One Pax member works while the other Pax member runs a 40-yard dash and back.

    Cowbell and KimChi finished early rewarding all who finished 100 LBCs.

    Post-Thang

    The PAX really did not like this idea. “I thought that was the workout,” they moaned. (Maybe in Gainesville or Knoxville but not here).

    Bear crawl or lunge walk 20 yards and do 10 merkins, 20 more yards 10 merkins. (Rinse and Repeat).

    Return Rock and mosey back to flag.

    “We still have two minutes. On your six.”

    Flutter Kicks X 20

    Penguins X 25

    “We still have 30 seconds. I paid for 45 minutes,” said Rev Sox

    5 Burpees OYO

    COUNTERAMA

    NAMERAMA– Welcome FNG Rougarou (from Cajun Country)

    COT- Lord Jesus, allow us to seek you in everything we do. Make us the husbands, fathers, and coworkers that you have called us to be. In Jesus name, Amen.

    Gentlemen, thank you once again for allowing me to lead. I could not do the things I do without the support of my F3 Family.

  • God Make you Mighty, Gentlemen!

    This was my birthday Q (51 yrs old) and I wanted to make it special for the PAX NOLA. As Christmas day is tomorrow, I wanted to not only strengthen the body but also strengthen the mind as well. As I was thinking about the direction I wanted to go in the Christmas Eve themed workout, I realized that we already done a couple of 12 days of Christmas beatdowns and desired to go a different route. During the Christmas holiday season, the pace of life slows down enough for me to be more contempletive and I have more time to read. As I was reading a book by Ace Collins called ‘Stories behind the best-loved songs of Christmas‘, I came across the ‘real’ history of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman which fit the theme of the beatdown today. Here is an excerpt.

    “When people today say “Merry Christmas!” the word merry means “happy.” When “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” was written, merry had a very different meaning. Robin Hood’s Merry Men might have been happy, but the merry that described them meant ‘great and “mighty.” Thus in the 15th century (Middle Ages), a strong army was a merry army, a great singer was a merry singer, and a mighty ruler was a merry ruler….the word rest in the title means to ‘make’ or ‘keep’. As the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy.” That joy and the power of faith can be felt and experienced in every note and word of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” You just have to know how to translate the words into the language of the day in order to have a very ‘Mighty Christmas!”

    WARMUP

    Run over to the field by the rock pile and proceed with the following

    51 SSH x IC, 20 Imperial Squat Walkers x IC, 10 Abe Vigodas x IC, 10 Arm Circles x IC (Forward and Backward), 20 J-Los x IC

    THE THANG

    I instruct the PAX to get a medium sized rock and we head to the football field for Bearicides. Because we had 15 men, I had to break the groups up into 3s. We line up on the sideline and PAX 1 and 2 perform 100 lunges, 150 goblet squats and 100 straight leg deadlifts. Meanwhile, PAX 3 bear crawls out and pushes the rock forward to the middle of the field then bear crawls back while continuing to push the rock.

    After the bearicides, we did a Febreeze. This exercise consists of WW2 situps followed by air presses with feet 6 inches off the ground while in a sit up position. The count was 2 situps / 10 air presses, 3 situps / 20 air presses…all the way up to 5 situps / 51 air presses. Whew….that hurt!

    Running out of time we did a Jack Webb with a rock press up to 7 merkins / 14 rock presses.

    Time is running out so we put our rocks back and mosey back to the virtual flag.

    COUNTOFF, NAMERAMA AND COT

    Prayers for peace, hope and healing for Brad Brechtel, Hawg’s mom, Disclaimer’s 2.2 and all the intentions we hold in our hearts. Truly honored to be leading such a great group of men looking to get stronger physically, relationally and spiritually! Many blessings to you and yours this Christmas Season!

  • Sprinting the Canal St Mountain

    Warm Up

    All in cadence x 15 except where noted

    Single leg swings

    Side lunges

    Front Lung with elbow touch the ground – hold for 5 count – introduced by Tool at Foundry

    Scorpion kicks

    Star Plank – hold for 30 count

    One leg lung jumps – this would need practice to be effective.

    1st – Thang – Catch me if you can – run around the fountain

    Pax lined up – Shoulder Press to 20 – Each Pax would count their rep out loud, once reaching 10 the Pax to their left would start, 1st Pax reaching 20  would sprint around the fountain with the next pax once reaching his 20 in chase this continued until all Pax completed 20 reps and attempted to catch the pax ahead of them.

    Rinse and repeat except 20 jump squats

    Mosey to the Canal St. Mountain

    Pax split into 2 groups of 4 –

    1st effort sprint to the top of Canal St Mnt. – do 10 Merkins walk back down same side- 10 more merkins

    2nd effort sprint to the top of Canal St. Mnt – 10 Merkins walk down back side 10 more merkins

    3rd effort sprint up and over to starting point. 10 Merkins

    Mosey midway back – introduce new effort – All PAX got into a high plank then did a double under (both feet forward) into a jump squat (legs spreading apart like a jumping jack), transition down to a low plank with a double Peter Parker back to a high plank x 5

    Mosey to levee – EMOM – 1-5 start with decline merkin x 1 – run up and over the other side there perform Prison up down (hands over head dropping to alternating knees) x 5 run up and over now decline merkins x 2 up and over then Prisoner Up down x 4 continue until the # are reversed.   Key is PAX only got as much rest they earned completing the task in 1 minute before having to start again.

    Mosey to flag for some Mary

    All 25 x 4 count – Between each effort PAX would transition into high plank for 30 sec count

    LBC

    Crunch with heel touch

    Crunch with legs straight up touching toes (similar to DC)

    Crunch while reaching hands between legs

    Straight leg scoops over head

    Circle Up – Count Off – Name O – Prayer of Thanks giving

  • Spartacus II….again…

    DISCLAIMER, let’s mosey…

    COP: -SSH x 20 IC

    -IW x 20 IC

    -Mt Climbers x 20 IC

    -Arm Circles x 20 IC (10 ea. dir.)

    Grab a rock, medium, one you won’t drop on your head…Let’s mosey to the shelter (cuz it has benches).  With a timer: 1 min exercise and 15 secs rest.

    1. Bulgarian Split Lunge (30 sec/ea leg)

    2. Shoulder Press

    3. Goblet Squat

    4. T-pushup

    5. Alternating Step-up w/rock

    6. Squat Press

    7. Side Lunge with Touch (Elf on the Shelf)

    8. Merkins

    9. Lunge and Rotation

    10. Elevated Wife Pleasers Rinse and Repeat for a total of two rounds.

    Time to send your rock home and time for some Mary:

    -LBC x 20 IC

    -Flutter Kicks x 20 IC

    -Hello Dolly’s x 20 IC

    -Penguins x 20 IC

    -Dying Cockroach x 20 IC

    -J-Lo’s x 20 IC

    Let’s mosey to the SF. Countoff, namerama, announcements, and a prayer. It was an honor to lead. SYITG…