Tag: Gabrielle

  • Last Mothership Before COVID-19 Changes Everything

    Back in January, I have already heard about the Coronavirus because of my family living in Hong Kong. My father, who is still currently stuck in Hong Kong due to the travel restriction, had informed me how bad this thing is and how many people had already died in China. I knew it was somewhat serious, but I never expect it to be THIS bad where it will affect everyone of us for a very long time. Particularly, I remember my parents were in Hong Kong when SARs broke out in 2003. Because Hong Kong did a great job containing SARs, I never thought a similar highly contagious respiratory infection would hit us all the way to NOLA.

    Before City and Statewide stay-at-home mandate, we get a chance for one last Saturday beatdown. 20 PAX showed up on a beautiful morning. I gave my standard disclaimer and off we went!

    We started off with a lap around the great lawn and back to the Peristyle for our warmups in cadence:

    SSHs x 20

    Forward & Backward Arm Circles x 10 each

    Windmills x 10

    Grassgrabber x 10

    Hill Billies x 20

    Peter Parker x 15

    Mountain Climbers x 15

    Parker Peter x 15

    Part 1

    Picked a column at the Peristyle. In plank position, each Pax did hands on the wall x 20. Then did 20 right leg step ups. Then back to a column and did another 20 hands on the wall in plank position. Then back to the bench to finish with 20 left leg step ups.

    Part 2

    Walked across the street to the Great Lawn. We were using palm trees on the right as our markers. At the first tree, we started off with 1 lunge (Two is One). At the second tree, we did 2 lunges (Two is One), at the third tree, ….. all the way to the eighth tree. Then sprinted back to the very first tree and planked / waited for the Six. Then we added another layer of exercise. At the first tree, we started off with 1 lunge (Two is One) and 1 big boy sit-up. At the second tree, we did 2 lunges (Two is one) and 2 big boy sit-ups. At the third tree…. all the way to the eighth tree then sprinted back to the beginning and waited for the Six again. Final layer of exercise we added on was everyone’s favorite: burpees. At the first tree, we did 1 lunge, 1 big boy sit-up, and 1 burpee….. all the way to the eighth tree again. So in total, each PAX ponied up 108 lunges (2 is 1), 72 big boy sit-ups, and 36 burpees.

    Part 3

    We moseyed to the fountain in front of NOMA. We picked a partner and did DORA 1, 2, 3. The exercises were 100 leg raises, 200 inclined merkins, and 300 LBCs. While one pax was doing the exercise, the other partner was burpee broad-jumping towards NOMA on the flat surface and bunny hopped on the steps. Then ran back to flapjack with the partner.

    We ran back to the flag for COT. We went overtime by a minute or so. At every COT, I always mention how grateful I am able to do this with the PAX on a regular basis. F3 is a big part of my life. I do this 4 to 5 times a week. I enjoy the F2 part the most. We had our last Cafe Navarre breakfast together. Now, I still workout with few PAX in a smaller group and keeping our social distance. I’ve been running into other smaller F3 groups here and there in the gloom. I cannot wait till we can all get back together with 30 plus PAX at the WPM, Mothership, Rock City, The Skinny, Chamber of Horrors, 610 Stomps, Tsunami, The Birdcage, Foundry, Popeyes, Okwata, Stiffler’s Mom, Master Melvin, Wally Run, Uptowner, Sweaty Bells, and Renaissance. Until then, stay safe!

    King Kong

  • Backb-LAST

    Who knew when we posted Monday AM that would be the last Skinny for awhile? Not me. I texted Hawg on Sunday night to make sure we were good still fighting the good fight and I felt reassured. Monday’s beatdown was healthy socially, mentally and physically. We kept our distance. We got the work in. By Monday night group sizing had been reduced to 10 or less. Some saying that the family unit was big enough-shouldn’t get any bigger than that. Monday night at 730. Hawg called me again and this time we both knew that we had to shut it down. F3 sites around the Nation were shutting down -so that we can do the right thing and be good citizens. PRactice what we preach and live 3rd. So we now have a F3 hiatus. So for now and for Uptown NOLA this is the Last Backb-LAST. Until we can gloom again.

    El Wire was the Q – Wire and Jingle Vader are technologically challenged – I wanted to record this last workout for posterity – so I will pen El Wire’s Q.

    Circle UP-

    Jack OFF – ssh x 20, seal jack, plank jacks, smurf jacks x 20

    Then we mosey’d to the bandstand/oak alley.

    At the alley. We had a MERK station by bandstand – run to row bars and do Burpees, run along the track to pull ups for VUPS then run through parking lot to the tables and do DIPS. We started round one with 10, round 2 with 15, round 3 with 20, round 4 with 20, backdown to 15, and then we finished before we could continue the cycle.

    Nice Q El Wire – thanks for stepping up. Fingers crossed that when Covid-19 is done that you will finally start writing some BBS.

  • Birdcage and the labrynth

    Man I am writing this on 3/15 but the innocence of 3/4 seems so long ago – so pre-corona. That was good times.

    I had a big PAX for this beatdown.

    Ran us over the field in front of the zoo.

    At the zoo – we did the normal warmup – SSH x 20, Imp Walker squats x 20, merks x 20, and Mtn climbers x 20.

    Ran to the audubon park – we did a circle of core. All abs.

    Peter Parkers, Parker Peters, Mat Jumps, walking plank and some monkey humpers.

    Ran to the soccer field. Lined up and did some cardio sprints.

    Sprints, jogs, grape vine, high knees, butt kicks, walking dead, etc.

    Ran to the labyrnth – long run with ping pong back to the 6.

    At the labyrnth did some bench work! Dips, step ups bulgarian splits.

    Back to the flag for some Plank o Rama

  • No touch NOLA is back

    OK so I started today wanting to build a workout in honor of Roots – who began our WPM AO. It was our 3rd workout and it continues to be a fan favorite. We welcomed back Amnesty who posted hoping to be led by Roots but got stuck with me. We also welcomed a FNG from Oregon – a law school buddy of Moana who we names Quarantine. No touching on the beatdown – so its like the old days for us.

    Beatdown got straight to work at the MTN.

    Did a circle with SSH, Imp Walker Squats, Dying Roaches and Mtn Climbers x 20IC

    Then we ran to the base of the MTN.

    At the base: there was a chalk instruction for each floor in mulitples of 13 for Friday the 13th.

    26 Lunges – 2nd, 39 plank jacks, – 3rd floor 52 monkey humpers, – 4th floor

    We did 13 hand release merks at the top of each ramp

    At the 4th floor we did some wall sits, some wall climbs (dirty dates or something) and then some wall walk ups

    Back to the ramps and we did 26 – shoulder taps and 39 – Russian Twist, and 52 – Monkey Humpers. More wall sits at the top. We also did 20 Flutter KIX in cadence.

    At the top of the MTN – we went back down the stairs and ran up LIL WPM.

    Here we had 4 exercises: LBCs, LBTs , Freddies, and Bird Dogs.

    One partner did exercise while the other went down the stairs and back up.

    Ran back to Audubon Park via the benches – at the benches we did dips x 30 OYO.

    Then we ran back to the FLAG. Arrived at 615am. Done.

    COVID – 19 prep starts after this beatdown.

  • Just the Bell, Just to See How it Feels…

    Fresh off of a month of running for Run Ranger Run (congrats to everyone that crushed it), QIC decided to slow things down a bit, and focus strictly on kettlebell exercises. We circled up right next to the river for the following warm up all in cadence:

    SSHx20, Arm Circles F/Bx10, Imperial Walkersx20, Grass Grabbersx10, Abe Vagoda’sx20, Halosx10 each way. 

    We stayed in our circle and performed the following exercises all in a slow cadence:

    Single Arm x15 both sides, Single Arm Triceps x15 both arms, Double arm curlx20, Double arm Tricepx20

    After a short suitcase carry to the shelter the following was completed for the lower body portion of the workout, all exercises in cadence:

    KB swingsx20, Goblet Squatsx20, Bulgarin Split leg squatsx20 each side

    The PAX then suitcase carried to the soccer field for the following shoulder and core exercises all in cadence:

    Overhead Press x20 each arm, Rowsx20 each side, Romainian dead lift (this was interesting)x10 each side, Big Boy Sit Ups x 20, Thrustersx15 each side, Russian Twistx15 each side.

    We circled up for count off, nameorama, and prayer, then adjourned to PJs for coffee.

  • Catfish Semi-Challenge (Mothership 2020-03-07)

    Nice chilly spring Mothership with 18 PAX in attendance: iHeart, Hokie Pokie, Tool, Angie’s List, Landing Strip, Jingle Vader, Triple Shift, Gabrielle, Willie, Squeal, Douille, King Kong, Two Yutes, Beignet, Belloq, Blowout, War Eagle, Catfish (Q).

    Started at the peristyle with Abe Vigoda, Grass Grabbers, and Side Straddle Hop. On to our faces with Peter Parkers, Plank Jacks, Parker Peters, and Mountain climbers. Finished out the warmup with some 8-count bodybuilders.

    Moved to the Great Lawn and partnered up for B.O.M.V.S. (combined 50 burpees, 100 overhead claps, 150 merkins, 200 V-ups, and 250 squats). Once completed, moved to the southeast end of the lawn for some Mary while waiting for the six (got in some LBCs and dying roaches).

    After a quick 10 count and a quick side straddle hop, moved to the base (south end) of the field, then did a quick throwback round to September 2019 Iron PAX Challenge – hop a tree length, 10 burpees, 10 bonnie blairs, 10 big boy situps, rinse and repeat 3x. Did plank jacks waiting for the six.

    Once we got to the end, split into two circles for some rings of fire. First ring was monkey humpers (2 rounds, hold the position between rounds), next ring was al gore position with bonnie blairs.

    After the rings, moved on to one of the Q’s personal favorites – Jack Webb. Got up to 13 today, not too shabby.

    Returned to the peristyle for calf raises and 8-counts to finish up.

    Great day, great workout. Thanks to all what participated!

  • Rain Rain go away! We want to Route 66 today!

    Raining cats and dogs as YHC pulled up to the AO at the Fly.  Would the PAX show???  Lucky for me Willie and Kong texted that they were on their way.  My trip out into the great, wet, gloomy gloom would not be for naught!  Here they are with Jingle Vader sprinkled in for good luck.  Let’s get this party started.  Disclaimer and off we go.

    Mosey to Shelter for Warm Up:

    • Toy Soldiers
    • Self-Love
    • Windmills
    • Jane Fonda’s
    • Open Gates
    • Close Gates

    Thing 1

    Stay in Shelter for

    • RL Step Ups with KB X11
    • Dips with KB X11
    • LL Step Ups with KB X11
    • Dips with KB X11

    Thing 2

    Time to get wet!

    Mosey to First Light for Route 66

    Starting at First Light  

    Manmaker’s – Merkin followed by right arm and left arm renegade rows with KB. Jump feet in then bring the weights up to shoulders while squatting. When coming out the squat shoulder press at the top.

    Start with 1 rep and walk/run to next light add a rep at each light up to 11 for a total of 66 manmaker’s.

    Thing 3

    Mosey back to Shelter and Circle up for:

    • Single Arm Switch Swings OYO 40 seconds
    • Tick Tock Lunge L OYO 40 seconds
    • Tick Tock Lunge R OYO 40 seconds
    • American Swing OYO 40 seconds
    • Rocky Balboas OYO 40 seconds
    • Squat to Press R OYO 40 seconds
    • Squat to Press L OYO 40 seconds

    Stay in circle for some Core/Arm work:

    • Skull crushers w/wife pleasers on upstroke IC X20
    • Flutter Kicks with Bell IC X20
    • Finish with Curls IC with Left Knee Raised then Right Knee Raised

    Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions and prayer.

    Thanks for letting me lead!

  • 9 holes Mardi Gras golf

    Got the park early for a little Birthday Q!

    After a quick disclaimer we did the small loop and met at the stage for warmup

    SSH, grass grabbers, mountain climbers, plank jacks, toy soldiers

    Next we moseyed over to the First hole for 9 holes of Mardi gras golf

    1st hole – Merkins 10x

    2nd hole- American hammers

    3rd hole- Rosalitas

    4th hole- Dying cockroach

    5th hole- Imperial Walkers

    6th hole- Gorilla humpers

    7th hole- Reverse crunckes

    8th hole- Alternating shoulder taps

    9th hole- Squats

    Next we moseyed over to the shelter for:

    Incline merkin, RLSU, decline merkin,Dips, LLSU. There was a little chatter about the increase in pace. Sorry

    Next we circled up for Mary: crunchy frog, leg lifts, sorry forgot the other 2

    We had a few minutes to spare so we did another small loop around the parking lot and moseyed back to the flag for name-o- rama and a little mardi gras prayer.

    Second Q was definitely a lot easier than the first thanks to a lot of those early morning F3 workouts.

  • Wait… WPM on a Monday???

    During coffeeteria after Sweaty Bells, YHC asked Douille “Who has the Q tomorrow for the Skinny?” Good thing YHC asked because Douille responded “You got the Q tomorrow!” With Run Ranger Run in mind, YHC knew he wanted to incorporate the workout with more than 3 miles within 45 minutes.

    YHC ran to the AO. YHC did this last year and will continue to do so in 2020 Run Ranger Run month. Upon arrival, he realized few others were doing the same thing. Roots got there early and ran a lap around Audubon Park. Angie’s List, Squeal, and Yankee all ran to the AO. T-claps to all the PAX who did extra homework to start the day!

    At 5:30, YHC gave his disclaimer and informed the PAX that they will be running today. Fast guys can log in extra mileage by sweeping the Six at every stop point. Everyone started with the warm-ups in cadence at the AO meeting spot:

    Forward Arm Circles (No reverse because Seaman was there) x 10

    SSHs x 20

    Windmills x 10

    First Leg – PAX got on the track and moseyed to the first stop, which was the bridge to the golf course. YHC was very happy to see high participation of sweeping the Six. Once the Six got there, the PAX did 20 mountain climbers in cadence.

    Second Leg – PAX moseyed to the Shelter where we met at the annual Gnarly Nutria. Everyone did 15 dips in cadence.

    Third Leg – YHC told the PAX to cross St. Charles and to head towards the base of Wolfpack Mountain. Few PAX got excited while they were entering uncharted territory on Monday! PAX once again swept the Six once they arrived to the base of the WPM. PAX formed 2 lines and Indian ran up the garage to the top, where everyone did 20 plankjacks in cadence, Held in position, then went right into slow merkins x 10 in cadence. PAX took the stairs back down and headed towards the fountain in front of Audubon Park

    Fourth Leg – At the fountain, everyone did 20 declined shoulder taps in cadence, then moseyed to the water fountain, then formed 2 lines and Indian ran from the water fountain to the monkey bars. PAX circled up at this spot and did the following exercises in cadence: LBCs x 20, Flutterkicks x 20, American Hammers x 20.

    Final Leg – PAX got back on the track and took a detour back to the flag by crossing Magazine Street towards the statue in front of Audubon Zoo and back to the track back to the flag. Everyone arrived at 6:14 a.m. so the PAX planked for 1 minute.

    On average, most PAX got approximately 3.2 miles while some got around 3.8 because of the multiple sweeping the Six.

    We ended with COT praying for the passing of F3 Noonan from Naperville and Pauly D’s colleague. We also prayed for speedy recovery for my sister after giving birth to Nephew Kong! I ended the workout by running back home with Angie’s List. What a way to start the week!!! Thank You for pushing me every morning!!!

  • Ab-Solutely

    Where are my keys, YHC kept muttering to himself.  Tick tock tick tock.  YHC roared in half a minute late to lots of mumblechatter.  Disclaimer easy to give. Definitely not a professional trainer.  So off go the PAX with a mosey around the track to the flag pole.

    Warmup: SSHs 31xIC, Squats 29xIC, Grass Grabbers 25xIC, Merkins 19xIC

    Mosey to the Row Station for the first COP.  The PAX divided into five groups: first group, 10 burpees for the count; second group, monkey humpers AMRAP, third group, merkins AMRAP; fourth group, dying cockroaches, AMRAP; fifth group, inverted rows, AMRAP.  Rotate around, and then rinse and repeat.

    Mosey to the Labyrinth for some ab work that went something like this: Russian twists 20xIC; Flutter kicks, 20xIC; Russian twists 18xIC; LBTs 20xIC; Russian twists 16xIC; Protractors; Russian twists 14xIC; Hello Dollys 20xIC; Russian twists 12xIC; Dying bugs 20xIC; Russian twists 10xIC; Low country crab 20xIC; Russian twists 8xIC; Real Freddy Mercuries 20xIC; Russian twists 6xIC; LBCs 20xIC; Russian twists 4xIC; Dying cockroaches 20xIC; Russian twists 20xIC. That’s 128 Russian twists in cadence, or 256 total.

    To the benches for a wrap up.  Too dark for box jumps, but…  Right leg stepups 20xIC; dips 20xIC; left leg stepups 20xIC.  Then mosey to the lights on Oak Alley.  Sprint ASAP to the last light and then back to the flag.

    Count Off, Name-O-Rama with video off, Announcement for Coffeteria, Intentional, COT.  At Coffeteria, YHC realized yet again that he is incapable of taking a video; all he got was two seconds of clapping after the PAX had all given their names.  Some day, Alice, some day.  Thanks, JV