Tag: High Rise

  • “The 12 Days of Christmas” or maybe “The 12 Exercises of Christmas”

    YHC was relaxing at home after a calm and quiet Christmas day with the family, when he received a reminder text for his Q at Okwata tomorrow morning.   So, after a few minutes of thought I had a basic workout prepared and was ready for the next morning.    As I dozed off to sleep, I was inspired by the Christmas spirit, hopped out of bed, and scribbled some notes on a random piece of paper.    YHC had to incorporate a Christmas theme to the workout

    11 PAX (JV coming in hot) met at the flag at Okwata the morning after Christmas and moseyed to the intersection of Canal Blvd and Lakeshore Drive for warmup.   Warmups consisted of SSH x 26, Imperial Walkers x 15, Grass grabbers x 10, Shoulder taps x 30, Arm circles x 10, and self-love.  

    The PAX remained in our circle and counted off.  We did one round of the following exercises at the count / number of reps next to the exercise.  

    1. 8 Count body builders
    2. Jack Webbs
    3. American Hammers
    4. Squats
    5. BURPEES
    6. Penguins
    7. Merkins
    8. Monkey Humpers
    9. Hillbillies
    10. Bonnie Blairs / Lunges
    11. Big Boy Sit Ups
    12. Flutter Kicks

    After the first round – PAX were ready to go again.    This time to the theme of the Christmas classic – The 12 Days of Christmas”. Shuffles started us out with “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – 1 8 ct. body builder. After the first 2-3 rounds of the song, the PAX got the hang of it.  Each PAX enthusiastically called out their exercise and we were able to complete the entire song with a few minutes to spare.

    In the remaining time, PAX did two laps of Bernie Sanders (run backwards up the hill and forward back down the hill).   Mosey back to the flag for finish at 6:15. 

    COT, announcements, intentions, and gratefulness for the Christmas holiday.  YHC is thankful for the opportunity to lead and for the participation of the PAX in the post-Christmas workout.  

  • I’m not modifying, you’re modifying

    My boy Screw Top was still nursing an injury following his marathon so for what felt like the 20th time I chose to step in for him as Q. I had not been a Q for a few weeks and wasn’t scheduled to Q for several more (not sure how I let that happen) so I took the opportunity to lead. 11 PAX joined myself on what has to be the greatest collection blacktops in the city at UNO. Disclaimer was given and off we went.

    Warm up:

    Took a lap around said parking lot and circled up.

    • SSH x 20 IC
    • Windmills x 10 IC
    • Concrete grabbers x 15 IC
    • Self love x 15 IC
    • Arm circles Fwd/rev x 10 each IC
    • Mountain climbers x 15 IC

    Thang 1:

    Moseyed over to the sidewalk along Elysian Fields. PAX gathered for what felt like the traditional Indian Run. However I found something on the exicon to change it up and we did a Prisoner Indian Run down to the traffic circle at Elysian Fields and Lakeshore Dr.

    Thang 2:

    Here is where the modification begins. I wanted to do 11s. But in honor of Michael Thomas being a bad man and breaking the single season catch record we did 13s. The modification didn’t stop there. I was inspired by Tua’s VQ a few weeks ago and stole from his playbook. So for the Double Modified 11s (AKA 13s) the PAX would run in the bike lane of the traffic circle. Once they ran half the circle they would stop and perform 12 Carolina dry docks and 1 squat jump. Run the other half the circle and do 11 CDD and 2 squat jumps, etc. until the last round was complete with 1 CDD and 12 squat jumps. The Q was stunned to find that much traffic at 5:40 AM 2 days prior to Christmas but thankfully we were able to avoid any incidents.

    Thang 3:

    Mosey over to the nearest parking. With Christmas coming up I was inspired when I found Santa’s Ladder on the exicon. PAX would start at one end of the parking lot and run to a randomly selected spot (that huge light post looks good) where we would perform 10 burpees, run back to start and perform 9 burpees, and so on until we got to round 5. Rounds 5-1 would be merkins. Plank and wait for the 6. As everyone was catching their breath I explained to the PAX that completing the ladder consisted of also performing the runs with rounds 10-6 being merkins and 5-1 being burpees. However due to time constraints I opted to modify and perform only 6 rounds.

    Mosey back to the flag in time for some Mary. Flutter kicks, Freddy Mercury’s and some other exercise that I can’t remember x 20 each IC. Count off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and sweaty ball of man. As always it was a great time leading the men of F3. Hopefully trying the new location at the traffic circle didn’t scare anyone but there was WAY more traffic than I anticipated so I will store that in memory for future beatdowns.

  • Tony Little’s haircut

    Gentlemen, it was a brisk morning on the Lakefront today; which got me thinking about how working out indoors might be nice; which then got me thinking about which exercises I would do if I were in the gym; which then got me thinking about the different gym equipment I could use; which then got me thinking about the elliptical machine; which then got me thinking about the ‘Gazelle Freestyle’ machine; which then got me thinking about Tony Little’s haircut. But I digress.

    T-claps to Jingle Vader for showing up in shorts & a sleeveless shirt this morning. Most of the other PAX came bundled up in winter gear. Once my watch hit 5:30am, I issued the disclaimer, and then we mosey’d to the concrete part of the levee. Once we got there, we hit a lap up & down the concrete levee, and then did the warmup.

    Warm Up:

    • Side straddle hops – 30 cadence count
    • High knees – 20 cadence count
    • Mountain Climbers – 25 cadence count
    • Windmills – 10 cadence count
    • Self Love – 10 cadence count

    The Thang:

    • Side Straddle Hops – 10 cadence count
    • 1 burpee
    • Repeat 7 times
    • Al Gore – 10 cadence count
    • 2 burpees
    • Repeat 5 times
    • Mountain climbers – 10 cadence count
    • 3 merkins
    • Repeat 6 times

    Hit a Lap up & down the concrete levee

    • Seal jacks – 10 cadence count
    • 5 burpees
    • Sean jacks – 10 cadence count
    • 4 burpees
    • Repeat until we got down to 1 burpee
    • Bonnie Blairs – 10 count
    • 5 burpees
    • Bonnie Blairs – 10 count
    • 4 burpees
    • Repeat until we got down to 1 burpee
    • Mary:
    • Flutter kicks – 30 cadence count
    • LBC’s – 25 cadence count
    • Penguins – 20 cadence count
    • Dying Cockroaches – 20 cadence count
    • Double-reverse reverse crunches – 30 cadence count (majestic exercise)

    Hit a lap up & down the concrete levee

    • Rocky Balboas – 25 cadence count
    • Floyd Mayweathers – 25 cadence count

    After that, we headed to the flag for the count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions & prayer. Thanks for the opportunity to Q, fellas. I always enjoy it.

  • J

    praise the Lord it wasn’t raining!!!

    Was gonna skip this one due to the cold front but then briefs reminded me the night before that I was q ing. Yikes

    warm up: ssh, self love, windmills, mosey to the track with high knees, butt kicks, karaoke.

    we used half the track as an out and back. This way everyone could run at their own pace yet still do the exercises “together”. When the first member made 100m, they did ten Merkins, everyone else would stop where they were and also do ten Merkins, this happened at 200m also, at which point we turned around and ran back. I scepter whenever the first person gets back to the 100m mark, we all do 10 Merkins together. Run back to starting point, plank and wait for the 6. The fast runners would catch the slow runners on the way back. Once the 6 arrives, Merkins in cadence.
    the next round followed the same format except with squats. Round three was burpees.
    next we took a jog around the track to catch our breath and did it in reverse order. This time only doing 5 of each exercise at each stop. Finished off with some rock climbers, hillbilly’s, imperial walkers, stretches and a mosey back to the flag.

    There was a record prayer request/answered prayer session. So many praises and still so many needs. Guidance for our children/youth, Fathers/in laws with cardiac issues and upcoming cath, basketball head injury, the coach recovering from major surgery, prostate cancer recovery, The spine tumor that ended up benign benign, challenges in business, Bongo’s dad, special intentions. We better get to praying!

    glad y’all all came out and let me be a part of your morning! Please let screwtop know I signed him up for New Years morning (2020, 2021, and 2022)

  • It’s All About the Benjamins

    Well done is better than well said.” ― Benjamin Franklin

    Another Monday in the books at The Chamber.  Today we had 9 men and 1 K-9 looking to sweat out the frustration of a Saints loss, and also sweat out any celebratory weekend libations of LSU’s win and/or holiday festivities.  Since we haven’t ventured much to the westward region of the AO, YHC figured we’d explore a bit and check out the area near Ben Franklin High School, and use the namesake as our theme for the day. Here’s what we did: 

    Warmup – quick lap around the lot, IW, WM, PP, Plank Roll

    Moseyed to the front of BFHS, kicked around the F3 mantra of “male leadership”, followed by an intro about Ben Franklin’s impact as a leader of his time.  Since he’s on the $100 bill, 100 would be our number of the day….cause “it’s all about the Benjamins“, according to Puff Daddy.    

    Wall Sit for 100 sec to start things off while YHC shared a refresher of BF’s accomplishments, contributions, and accolades….

    Benjamin Franklin played an important role as one of the eight Founding Fathers, helping draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. He never served as president but was a respected writer, printer, political philosopher, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat.”  Then a few quotes to stew on….“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”……….“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is bacteria.” ― Benjamin Franklin

    BF stop #2 at the front steps, partnered up for a Dora-ish circuit…..PAX #1 works on 100 Step Jumps (2nd step) followed by 100 Declined Hip Slappers  while PAX#2 runs the parking lot loop, where some good F2 was had along the way.  T-claps to Pop Tart for the brisk runs!  

    BF stop #3 near the rear of the building for another Dora-ish circuit…PAX#2 works on 100 Hand Release Merkins followed by 100 Low Slow “Real Man” Squats, cause Ben Franklin didn’t shortcut anything, while PAX#2 runs a similar parking lot loop….more good F2.   

    Since ole Ben was a smart fella, most would assume he was no stranger to the library, so that’s where we headed next.  As the centerpiece of UNO’s campus, the Earl K Long Library boasts some of the finest concrete ledges and sprawling grass around, ideal for some staple F3 exercises.  The plan called for 100 total reps on each of the 4 sides of the building…

    #1 – Dips x25, Calf Raises x25, rinse and repeat  

    #2 – Wall Sit for 100 sec while we brushed up on the history of Earl Long, a former Louisiana governor, leader, and lover of the ladies.    

    #3 – 25 merkins, 25 step lunge walk, rinse and repeat

    #4 – no time left sooo….

    Indian Run back to the flag, getting back just in time.  Capped off with a COT, announcements, and prayer intentions for several families battling serious medial issues, along with those fighting addiction, and for guidance to continue to be strong men, husbands, fathers, and leaders.  

    YHC then remembered to share yet another Franklin quote on the wanke, this one with a bit more substance and relative to what we strive for through F3, and Holy Grove was really digging it, so it was requested that it be read again…      

     “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” ― Benjamin Franklin

    Thanks for the opportunity to lead.  

    Tool 

  • A great turnout at WPM

    First, apologies for the very late BB.   I generally try to get these done relatively soon after, but the days/weeks quickly came up and here we are……

    So, on to the important details….

    34 pax including 1 FNG arrived for a beautiful, fall morning at Wolfpack Mountain.  Warmup consisted of a short mosey and then everyone circled up for the following:

    • SSH x 20 IC
    • windmills x 20 IC
    • Hillbillies x 20 IC
    • Mountain climbers x 20 IC
    • Alternating hand/foot touches x 15 IC
    • Shoulder taps x 20 IC

    Thang 1

    • Pax formed 3 lines and Indian run to top level 

    Thang 2

    (2 rounds) Circuit of Following –

    • Staggered merkins (each arm x 20)
    • Alternating toe touch crunch x 10 IC each leg 
    • Diamond merkins x 20 IC
    • Crunchy frog x 20 IC
    • Multi level merkins (high, low, mid)
    • Levels/protractor- pax on back lifting legs at different levels 

    Thang 3

     – 4 rounds of catch me if you can

    • Pax in front runs down to next level while the pax behind does 3 burpees.  Once finished he try’s to catch first pax.  

    Finished up with the COT for Countoff, Naming of FNG (Neckbrace), and intentions.  

    This was YHC’s has first time Qing WPM and I enjoyed the opportunity to lead.   Thanks for coming out and until next time…

  • Mountain Music

    Conditions: 47 degrees, dry and WINDY

    First Sub 50 degrees post for this Q who came prepared. 

    Mosey to open green space for warmup 

    • SSH x 20 IC
    • Arm circles x 15 (front and back)
    • Windmill x 15
    • Hillbillies x 15
    • Grass grabbers x 15

    Jog to fountain mountain for a version of Burp Back Mountain with a variation of 2 rounds to the sounds of mountain themed music:

    Round 1 – with a partner, one back peddled up and ran forward down 5 times (decline by 1 on each switch) while other does burpees (50 total). By Exicon definition, it called for 100. Ouch.

    Round 2 – with a partner, bear crawl up and run down 2 times, while other does squats (150 total)

    Bench Work (near by):

    Right leg step ups x 15

    Left leg step ups x 15

    Dips x 20

    Box jumps X 15

    Decline merks x 13

    Mary (on Amphitheater stage):

    Dolly

    Flutter kicks

    LBC’s

    Freddie mercuries

    Dying cockroaches

    Penguin 

    Side Planks

    Jog / return to flag for Stretching & COT. 

    FNG EH’d by Kuch was named Da Pope by Da Parish. Da Pope was a QB at Slidell High so he will forever pay tribute to his rival. 

    Thanks for letting me lead for my second time and thanks for showing up!

  • The Freaking Exception (?)

    After reading the email this morning, it occurred to me that I may have forgotten something important last week. It wasn’t my wife’s birthday, remembered that. Thanksgiving? Who could forget it. Black Friday? My coffee at uptown PJ’s only cost an arm and half a leg in celebration of Black Friday, so it wasn’t that. No, YHC may have (allegedly) forgotten (potentially) to post a BB from the Foundry this week. I may have (according to some sources) been mentioned in the weekly email. For this – if it refers to me – I am deeply sorry (allegedly). Regardless, as I have gotten on others before about failing to post a BB, no excuses. Just like it’s better to send a wedding gift six months late than not at all, please allow the following to serve as YHC’s BB from last week.

    On Wednesday, we were joined by 1 FNG and 3 out of towners – Side Effects, Charmin, and Uptown Girl – for out traditional foundry workout, consisting of offensive music, an appropriate amount of mumblechatter, and Tabata. The mumblechatter is because we always forget the rotation halfway through; Tabata is because it’s a rockin good time; and offensive music is required by law as a tribute to Jesus Juice, whose playlists consist mainly of people screaming obscenities over 300 beats per minute.

    But first, on a muggy morning, we did a quick warmup on the track of

    • SSHx20
    • Arm Circlesx20
    • Mountain Climbersx20
    • IWx20
    • Self love OYO as we walked to the lanes of the track

    From there, the usual: 2 lines, Indian Run to the Foundry.

    When we arrived, 8 stations of Tabata, consisting of

    • Snake Derkins (just a Derkin on the thing we call a snake, not some cool new exercise that involves slithering around while doing merkins. although….)
    • Upright rows 
    • seated dips
    • Squats 
    • Shoulder taps
    • Hanging crunches 
    • Plank + alternating arms up in the air
    • Burpees

    We got 5 rounds in, and Indian ran back to the track for some cyo Mary, including

    • LBC’s
    • Doctor W’s
    • flutter kicks
    • something else

    We moseyed to the flag where we arrived at 6:15 sharp. COT, prayer, and then coffeeteria at PJ’s on Canal. Thanks for coming out. – Kuch

  • Campus tour

    Nine pax arrived on time at the Chamber for my first Q; one of which was an FNG who Gideon brought in after meeting on a plane. The PAX warmed up with head rotations, self love, grass grabbers and general stretching.

    The PAX then did an Indian run up Elysian Fields to station one where I spoke of the artist Tom Sachs and his daily studio practice “work is a privilege, it is not that you have to do 50 push ups but that you can. ” with this in mind the pax did 50 Merkins.

    Indian Run to station 2 – Water Feature / here Pax concentrated on core with crunchy frogs, American hammer, J-Lo and dying cockroach – sets of 25 in cadence

    Indian Run to station 3 – The Levee / Pax partnered up for Dora, 200 cumulative dips timed by partners running up and down the the levee.

    Indian Run to station 4 – UNO Sign / Pax partnered up, 50 lung walks while partners sat in Al Gore.

    Indian Run back to the flag – 10 burpees every minute for 4 minutes completing the work out.

    Countorama, nameorama / FNG centered up and was officially named Bonvoy. Prayer spoken was centered around gratefulness.

    I had a great time leading this work out and look forward to more in the future.

    Tom Sachs:
    Website
    10 bullets, “Working to Code”

  • Double Reverse Crunches…Is This Guy Serious?!

    It was a beautiful morning on Lake Pontchartrain, and 17 PAX gathered for a good old fashioned beatdown. I issued the disclaimer, and we headed across the street to the concrete planters along the Lakefront. Once across the street, we circled up for the warmup

    Warmup:

    • 20 side straddle hops
    • 20 plank jacks
    • 10 windmills
    • Self love
    • 15 low slow squats

    The Thang:

    • We sprinted to planter #1, did one burpee, then sprinted back to yellow line
    • We sprinted to planter #2, did two burpees, then sprinted back to yellow line
    • We sprinted to planter #3, did three burpees, then sprinted back to yellow line
    • We sprinted to planter #4, did four burpees, then sprinted back to yellow line
    • We sprinted to planter #5, did five burpees, then sprinted back to yellow line

    Next, we circled back up and did the following:

    • Hand plank for 1 ½ minutes. While planking we did a merkin every time I said “down”
    • Kept legs 6 inches off the ground for 1 ½ minutes. Every time I said “go” we did flutter kicks for 5 seconds
    • 20 Carolina Dry Docks
    • Kept legs 6 inches off the ground for 1 ½ minutes again. This time when I said “go” we would bring our legs toward our chest and do a reverse crunch
    • Box Jump / dip routine on the planter. Started with 7 box jumps / 14 dips, then went to 6 box jumps / 12 dips, etc

    After that, we did another run / burpee routine:

    • We sprinted to planter #5, did five burpees, then sprinted back to yellow line
    • We sprinted to planter #4, did four burpees, then sprinted back to yellow line
    • We sprinted to planter #3, did three burpees, then sprinted back to yellow line
    • We sprinted to planter #2, did two burpees, then sprinted back to yellow line
    • We sprinted to planter #1, did one burpee, then sprinted back to yellow line

    Next, we circled back up and did the following:

    • Mission impossible plank position for 45 seconds. While planking we did a merkin every time I said “up”
    • Did flutter kicks for 45 seconds. Every time I said “stop” we would just hold feet 6 inches above ground
    • 10 Carolina Dry Docks
    • Got on our six, and kept legs close to our chest in the crunch position. Then every time I said “go” we would put our legs out and bring them back to our chest. This is the oft talked about yet rarely attempted double-reverse crunch. Breathtaking
    • Box Jump / dip routine on the planter. Started with 4 box jumps / 8 dips, then went to 3 box jumps / 6 dips, etc

    After that, we headed back to the flag for the count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions & prayer. Thanks for the opportunity to lead, fellas. I always enjoy it