F3 New Orleans

Tag: Grandma's House

  • The Blind Leading the Blind – from Steve

    But hey, at least there were no shot puts involved!

    As sometimes is the case, the most amusing part of the beatdown happened in the first few minutes, as Jose entertained us with tales of being a track coach.

    Coach 10k has got some stories, and it dawned on me that if he could hone his sound effect skills over the next 20 years (a la that dude from Police Academy), he might just take over storytime for Frank.

    YHC came somewhat prepared today with a car full of props (ok, not all-in Mathlete style, with the full gym in tow). Bush had reached out the day before to poke and prod as he is prone to do, insisting (correctly!) that we always do the same ol’ shit. Touché. Well, you gotta step up and Q it yourself then, Bush!

    Anyway, he personally requested balls to the wall, which YHC would’ve happily included, but alas, there was no Bush to be found this gloom.

    Cycled through each of the following stations twice. Second time through we replaced the merkin rows, which were brutal, with a core exercise. Once everyone had two turns at each station, hit the slalom and up the stairs for a round of SMKs/Lunges up top. Rounds were:

    Jump Rope
    Merkin Rows w/ Dumbell (R2: Leg Raises)
    Squat Thrusters (x30)

    Up Stairs – 20 SMK’s (2:1)

    Jump Rope
    Merkin Rows w/ Dumbell (R2: Crunchy Frogs)
    Curls (x40)

    Up Stairs – 20 Lunges (2:1)

    Jump Rope
    Merkin Rows w/ Dumbell (R2: Gas Pumps)
    Chest Presses (x40)

    Up Stairs – 20 SMK’s (2:1)

    Jump Rope
    Merkin Rows w/ Dumbell (R2: Freddie Merc’s)
    Alpos (x30)

    Up Stairs – 20 SMK’s (2:1)

    Once Jose departed, Russo and I discussed how snow days work when you’re home schooling, as well as the ins and outs of starting a global crochet empire. Forget Etsy, these baby blankets, beanies, and booties come with Kardashian endorsements and are featured in viral Tik Tok dances. Russo already booked flights to Shenzhen to tour their manufacturing plant and see if their knitting is up to snuff.

    All in all, if not an inventive beatdown, it was at least effective one. COT and Russo took us out. RCR is rapidly approaching, if you don’t have a team, get one today. I believe the Pork Chop Express might still need a few guys.

    And thanks to these two gents who make it a point to be consistent and keep people like myself accountable. I am incredibly appreciative to be out there with you two.

  • What are we doing here? – from Shooter

    YHC signed up prior to looking at the future cast of weather. The previous Thursday Q, multiple PAX mentioned the potential of freezing and snow and it was then that I started to pay attention. With a few early commits, I figured it would be one of those epic beatdowns of the past, when relationships were formed sledding through slush and ice to get to the Gipper with Steve and Bushwhacker.
    Unfortunately, though some of those commits were reduced the night before due to sickness.

    But then there had to be the one, Steve texting to confirm the night before was the icing before the actual icing that would later come..

    We kept it close and simple utilizing the dice and incorporating some laps around and through the brick columns.
    Exercises were mostly core and Wild Qs and then we wrapped it up and got home before the blizzard of 2025 began.

    Appreciate the post Steve and until the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • Because Jose said I have to – from Russo

    In my former life as an auditor, excluding the requisite beauty and brains, one of the attributes we were told we should have was “professional skepticism”: the ability to question what you see or hear and find the truth. With just a little more thought, I bet I could now see where I became such a fan of conspiracy theories, although I’m not sure how I’m not a fan of the X-files.

    In order to do that successfully, there were two separate but related directives that were pounded into our skulls: “Trust but verify” and “If it wasn’t documented, it wasn’t done.”

    Jose lives by the latter. He upholds the standard we all begrudgingly accept, and so yes, he’s correct we should backblast away. I’m 25.5 hours beyond the COT for this beatdown, so that means in his eyes it’s “late”. But we’re on Northshore homeschool soccer parent time, where the idea of time and deadlines and schedules are a novel concept and not really a thing.

    No weather report since that’s too generic, but it was “cold”. Not cold enough to keep Steve and Cowbell from joining, however, and I’m glad that they did.

    Warmup 10x IC
    SSHs
    Seal Jacks
    Self Love
    Torso twists
    Imperial walkers
    Arm circles

    Thang
    Mosey to the bridge, stopping at each block for 14 squats and 14 Merkins (not 15).

    At the bridge, back and forth back and forth, stopping on each side.

    Various traversements (it’s a word) included:
    Mosey 2x
    Side shuffle 2x
    Carioca 2x
    Back Pedal 2x
    Skip 1x

    Various exercises included, all core work,
    10 of one of the following on each side
    – Crunchy frogs and Leg raises 2x
    – American hammers and gas pumps 2x
    – Rosalitas and Hello Dolly’s 2x
    – Penguins and LBCs 2x
    – E2K and LMCs 1x

    COT, with count, NOR, announcements and prayer to close us out.

    Thanks to you for joining, reading, and keeping us all in order, Jose!

    SYITG

  • Bit Nipply Out There – from Steve

    Well, new year, same ol’ me. Still taking 24-48 hours to produce a backblast. My new year’s resolution: be more like Jose. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be too much like Jose – that would be exhausting and I’m not into jailbird cosplay. I’m also not trying to post 40 days in a row or write a BB before the guys have even reversed out of the parking lot. (Not to mention writing a BB for someone else’s Q?? Ha!)

    But…. I could certainly use a bit of his tremendous willpower and motivation.

    As could we all, right Cowbell? Got a late text from our resident runner saying he would be there, but alas, there was a crying baby and it wasn’t meant to be. Though he has ditched the running coach and promises to be posting steadily on Tuesdays, so look out!

    Now I would say we got right into the usual warmorama but this was no usual warmup. How are these men so awake at 0515? And below freezing, no less (or maybe the bitter cold was the reason?). Whatever it was, Jose and Bush created their own little raucous griping party, I don’t know what was being yelled out in that circle because I was so laser-focused on keeping cadence during the madness. Felt like a Beautiful Mind just trying to make it to 15x Seal Jacks. I did break out of it long enough to hear Russo get thrown under the bus at one point. I guess no one makes it out unscathed.

    Then over to the not-quite-as-festive stage for Bush’s favorite – some block work.

    R1: Squat thrusters x15, Merkins x20, ST x15, Squats x30, ST x15, LBCs x40, ST x15. Lap.
    R2: Curls x20, Wide Merkins x20, Curls x20, Lunges x30, Curls x20, Hammers x40, Curls x20, Lap.
    R3: Chest Presses x30, Diamond Merks x20, CP’s x30, Jump Squats x30, CP’s x30, Boxcutters x40, CP’s x30, Lap.
    R4: Coupon Presses x20, Ranger Merkins x20, CP x20, Side Lunges x30, CP x20…

    And out of time before we could hear Bush complain about his coccyx while doing x40 Big Boys.

    COT where Russo prayed us out. Appreciate you men keeping me honest and getting me out there in such frigid conditions!

  • Out with old, here comes the new!! – from Shooter

    Taking the final beatdown of 2024, you had to know YHC would incorporate some type of relation to numbers.. And while I did learn there were 2 square roots to 25 thanks to our very own math genius Jose10k. I still stayed with my basic mathematics and picked 24 and 25 as our most utilized numbers of the day..
    The rest of our numbers would come from the dice we took along for the Mosey down to the Lakefront..
    Brief warmup in number of exercises as we only completed four. 24 Imperial walkers and Cherry pickers. 25 SSH IC and selflove.
    Off down Girod Street stopping at each corner down with 24 Mountain climbers and 25 shoulder taps followed by a roll of the dice..
    Multiple Merkins, Putin’s and Burpees..
    The return changed to 24 SMKs and 25 squats.
    Less numbers rolled with opportunities on the six leg lifts, crunchy frogs 🐸 and SSHs.
    With 5 mins remaining we took to the six for Hello Dolly 24IC, 25 Penguins IC, ETKs 24 each side, 25 LBCs to close..

    Appreciate the post gentlemen!

    Most importantly, I thank you for the amazing dedication and discipline both of you men demonstrated throughout 2024. I look forward to sharing many more glooms with you in the New year and years ahead!!

    Just a reminder gentlemen reading this to reach out and check on fellow F3 brothers, a long lost friend or family member. Our words or simply our voice may be just what they need during this time of the year…

    Until the New Year and next gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!!

  • Frost Hard: Yippee Ki-Yay, Cold Weather Gains! Merry Fitmas, you Filthy Animals! – from Jose10k

    Warm-up:ssh, grass grabbers, torso twists, imperial walkers, self love (all to Christmas Time in Hollis Queens). Where the first trivia question, who was John McClain’s limo driver? Russo didn’t know the answer to this question last year, however, this year he was prepared for this question (which was the theme of the beatdown). Argyle was the answer.
    The next question was what was John McClain’s wife’s name: Russo was right yet again. Holly Generro
    The thang: After the warmups, the PAX moseyed to the end of the trailhead. The tragedy at Nakatomi plaza occurred on Christmas Eve, and we gathered today to honor the hero of Nakatomi: John McClain. The event occurred on the 30th floor, so that’s where we started. 30 merkins, 30 squats, 30 big boy sit-ups, 30 leg lifts. In between each exercise ran the length of the trailhead leading up to the stairs, up the stairs and then back down.
    Next question up, and again Russo was ready. How many terrorists took over Nakatomi plaza? 12 Terrorists entered Nakatomi: 12 burpees
    We now stopped on the side of the courthouse.
    ‘‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring,except for the four assholes coming in the rear in standard two-by-two formation.
    Paired up. Partner one : side lunges the entire grass section to the concrete and back, partner 2= holds an al gore thoroughgood. Repeat.
    We took a quick run to the marsh to continue the rest of the workout.
    The terrorists planned to use C4 to blow up Nakatomi Tower. The PAX completed in cadence 30 reps of these 4 “c”ore exercises: little Manny crunches, flutter kicks, Freddy Mercury’s, and penguins

    Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs.
    Famous line from the air ducts: time to do some ac duct crawling, We crawled the baseline to the half court. Mosey back to the playground to do a Hans Gruber pull-up: the pax hung from the raptors for 45 seconds then did 30 Superman’s (he did fall 30 stories) .back to the Grandmas to run the length of the trailhead, salom style, and back up the stairs one more time. And time was up.
    Trivia Question: What type of watch was Holly wearing that Hans hand was caught on? Russo was correct with Rolex. Who was the officer who helped out John McClain, who were the two FBI agents who came in and took over the investigation, these are where I stomped Russo, but luckily, Steve was on top of this.
    And to further celebrate the heroics of John McClain, a yell of Yippee Ki-yay Motherfu**er. The Trivia Question that Russo finally got correct. Thanks for letting me lead gentleman
    COT with Shooter praying us out with special thought for all those traveling. Thank you for letting me lead. I took another 30 minutes for a run/jog/walk around Mandeville. Came back to see Parrott getting for a long run on the trail head.

  • The December 17 Beatdown: A Gripping Tale of Sweat, Strangers, and the Wind Beneath Jose’s Wings – from Steve

    The morning air bit with the ferocity of a thousand tiny knives as we gathered at the trailhead. Steve, our fearless leader, had a gleam in his eye that promised pain and growth—or maybe just chaos. The big news was the triumphant return of Cowbell, whose absence had left a void only filled with awkward burpees and wistful murmurs of “I need more Cowbell?”

    Enter Jose, the early bird who, instead of getting the worm, opted to destroy the trailhead and stairs with solo laps—a full 40 minutes before the rest of us even started moving. While most were still negotiating with their alarms, Jose was out there redefining what it meant to be extra.

    Bushwacker rolled in on time, a feat in itself, and immediately solidified his status as Mr. Grumble Grumble. His truck, dubbed the “piece of shit,” welcomed us with its nostalgic vibes—turns out it’s the same clunker Cowbell used to cruise in back in high school. Talk about a blast from the past. Grumbling aside, we dove into the warm-up, marching headlong into the discomfort we all secretly crave.

    The stage awaited us, as did an assortment of strange teenagers who seemed utterly transfixed by the bizarre spectacle of grown men willingly torturing themselves. Were they judging us? Plotting their escape? Just vibing? Who knows, but their silent presence made our suffering even more surreal.

    The workout itself was pure madness: five brutal exercises—burpees, squats, lunges, big boys, and merkins—starting at a grueling 28 reps of each. After every round, we ran a lap around the trailhead, decreasing reps by 7 each time. It was a rinse-and-repeat system that quickly had us questioning our life choices. And yet, every lap brought us back to the stoic teen peanut gallery, still watching, still silent. It felt like a scene from some dystopian fitness reality show.

    At one point, Bushwacker and I casually debated whether Santa’s sleigh, parked nearby, would make a suitable workout station. But even in our delirium, we decided that push-ups on Santa’s ride might be crossing a line.

    Midway through the chaos, Jose slipped away, duty calling him to mold the minds of America’s youth. He is, without question, a hero, a legend, the wind beneath our collective wings.

    We closed with a Circle of Trust (COT), sweaty, sore, and better for it. Cowbell, it was good to have you back. To the strange kids at the stage: we hope you were entertained. And to everyone else, see you at the next beatdown—bring your grumbles and your grit.

    Okay, so Steve might be sick and I(Jose10K) wrote this backblast because of my abnormal obsession to reach my stupid goal!

  • Someone used to be reliable with those backblasts. – from Russo

    Let me tell you about this morning’s workout from the perspective of Jose10k, who, mind you, wasn’t leading but set a personal goal with paxminer. The only way to achieve the goal is to get credit for the workout.

    First off, Jose10k, being the overachiever he is, strapped on a 25-pound ruck sack and decided to play Man vs. Mandeville before we even started. He ran through the downtown streets, up and down the Trailhead, and even made the stairs his personal Everest—for 40 minutes. This man was on a mission to redefine cardio. My backblast, my own personal compliments.

    Then Russo, the designated leader (but clearly not the main character), took over. He started with a warmup—nothing too fancy, just enough to make us wonder if Jose had extra oxygen tanks in that ruck sack. Afterward, we moseyed to the well-lit arches on the trail, probably so Russo could see the look of regret in our eyes as he introduced 11s: shoulder-tap plank jacks and merkins. Shooter made light work of the situation. Performing each exercise with perfect form and precision. He thoughts of the buck he’s been seeing on his deer cameras. His focus was on bagging this deer, and the pavement felt his wrath.

    Here’s the kicker: to get from one end to the other, we lunge-walked. Yes, lunge-walked, like we were auditioning for a low-budget version of the nutcracker. Then we backpedaled to the start, because apparently walking forward wasn’t hardcore enough. To top it off, we had to slalom the entire Trailhead back. By “slalom,” I mean weaving like we were training for the Winter Olympics, except instead of snow, it was pavement, sweat, and a faint sense of dread.

    Russo’s idea of “rinse and repeat” wasn’t so much about refreshing us as it was about turning our legs into spaghetti. Meanwhile, Jose10k cruised through it all with the casual intensity of a man who already ran a marathon before breakfast. Shooter set the pace, while we chased after him as fast as we could. Plus, as per the norm, Jose had to duck out early to educate the future leaders of tomorrow. As I heard through the grapevine, Shooter crushed the remaining 11s, and God help that Buck try to survive Shooter’s pursuit.

    In summary: Russo led the workout, but Jose10k was the workout.

  • Jose Can You See, By The Dawn’s Early Light – from Steve

    Yeah, I don’t know – I’m not spending 10 minutes racking my little brain for good title today.

    So it was a raucous start to the beatdown this morning, which was surprising considering both Russo and YHC were still half asleep when the gun went off. And that gun? Well, that would be everybody’s favorite jailbird, Jose 10k, fresh off the chain gang and coming in hot with a 5k already under his belt.

    Russo mentioned offhandedly that Shooter had signed up to Q for “like, the whole week,” and man oh man, that was when the fireworks began.

    “The whole week? 2 Q’s equal the ‘whole week’?! Do you Mandevillans know how to count?!?”

    I get it, though – don’t disrespect both math and the man’s 6-day Q streak in the same breath. Too soon, Russo, too soon.

    Well, it was time to get this party started, so naturally Russo took off his long sleeve shirt because yeah, even before the warmorama, 42 degrees is just too hot for him.

    Usual warm up before relocating to the beautifully lit archway on the trace (even Jose will allow that it is a “feature” of Granny’s/Splashpad) for a set of 11’s: T-merkins on one end, merkins on the other. We got maybe a third of the way through before Jose had to make his usual early departure, whereupon Russo and I quickly shut down the 11’s and headed out to the tunnel.

    20x lunges at every intersection. Then a quick incremental ladder of B.O.M.B.S with backwards run up the ramp between sets, and it was time to return, stopping for Bulgarians and calf raises and an abbreviated Mary.

    COT, with prayers for JV’s flight test today (he passed!). Thanks Russo and Jose for the laughs, the conversations, the push – appreciate you both.

  • Tunnel of Love: Nope, the Ladder of Hate – from Jose10k

    Muscle memory had me up early this morning, so YHC ran 2 miles before the beatdown. Of course there was music, classic soundtrack from American Pie inspired me to dance before the warm-up. It amused the guys.
    Simple warm-up- then to the tunnel……To the tunnel, are ya’ll crazy? Jose doesn’t do the tunnel. We moseyed to the outside of the stage where we were joined by an out of town visitor: Drillbit. Here is where we started the thang: Ladder Time. 10 reps of sumo squats, then run to the stairs, up the stairs, and back to the beginning. 10 more sumo squats and 10 lunges, run up and down the stairs again. Sumo squats, lunges, monkey humpers, dirkings, freak nasties, stone mountains, burpees, big boy sit ups, crunches, American Hammers, Penguins, and flutter kicks. Great mumble chatter and some grumble grumble. COT with Russo praying us out for safe travels for DrillBit and all those traveling for the Holidays. Thanks for letting me lead/reading this backblast if it posts….SYITGhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq8dCkkhYsk