F3 New Orleans

Tag: Okwata

  • 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.

  • 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

  • On the Third Day of Christmas . . .

    My true love gave to me three French hens. Got it? THREE French hens! THREE!

    The Pax moseyed west along the seawall with a stiff SE wind at its back to the U-turn at Canal and Lakeshore. There the Pax warmed up with THREE exercises, 25 reps, rinse and repeat THREE time: SSH, Imperial Walkers, and Mountain Climbers.

    The Pax moseyed west again along the seawall to the three benches just west of Canal for the thang – a THREE-stop ladder with burpees and then squats. (We couldn’t do THREE exercises because we ran out of time.) The Pax ran to the farthest of the three benches and did twelve reps. Next, the Pax ran back to the second bench and did eleven reps. Next, the Pax ran back to the first bench and did ten reps. The Pax then ran out to the
    farthest of the three benches and did nine reps. Next, the Pax ran back to the second bench and did eight reps. The pattern continued finishing with one rep at the first bench. In between exercises, YHC did a Twelve Days of Christmas count-off.

    The Pax then moseyed east along the seawall for Mary with THREE exercise, 25 reps, and thirty second plank in between each
    exercise: Partridge twist, Turtle Dove crunches, and the Dying French Hen.

    Announcements, intentions, prayer, and then count-off and Nameorama, which YHC almost forgot.

    The Pax didn’t know what type of weather it would face . It could have been a flood causing rainstorm, but there was only wind (and plenty of it). Sky Q was looking after us this morning.

  • 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

  • A Few of my [least favorite] Things

    When YHC set out to plan this workout, I first considered a few exercises that I felt I could handle with little threat of splashing Merlot or generally embarrassing myself. But then it dawned on me: this is my chance to repay those who have made me so sore I can barely lift my arms the next day and reduced me to a sweating, panting mess. So at 5:30 AM, after a quick disclaimer, we set off, 12 PAX strong, to see about returning the favor to some of my F3 brothers gracious enough to appear for my VQ.

    WARMUP

    YHC had a few tricks up my sleeve for the warmup, but the conditions quickly caused a change of plans. So we did a more traditional warmup:

    SSH, Peter Parker, Imperial Walkersx20

    Run in place, high knees, butt kicks, chop feet (this was a hs wrestling warm-up that would normally include some up-downs, but YHC decided it would be unpopular to get everyone completely drenched in the first 5 minutes). Mosey to Canal blvd for

    Station 1

    Pair up. One partner, Bernie Sanders up the hill, while the other works on 200 Floyd Mayweathers, 100 big boy situps, and 25 burpees. Cross the street very carefully in the fog for…

    Station 2

    Route 55 with burpees on the way out, Merkins on the way back in. PAX instructed to begin in opposite directions on this very foggy morning so as not to collide. Mosey to the leveee for…

    Station 3

    What is an Okwata workout without an Indian Run? A bit of mumblechatter about how Indian Run + disperse would have been the more manly option, but at this point, I was just glad to be still moving. Maybe next time we can thrown in a Bataan Death March.

    Mosey to Flag and Finish Up

    Continuing the theme, I had picked out several of my least favorite exercises to share with the PAX

    Planking, high, low, one arm up, other arm up for about as long as I could go

    Monkey Humpersx20

    Dying cockroachesx20

    LBC’sx20

    Flutter Kicksx20 (led by the flutter kick king, JV)

    Frac Sac’s favorite exercise that I cannot remember the name ofx20

    And a few rounds of burpees o/y/o to close it out.

    Count-o-rama, Name-o-rama, we discussed the Crazy Ivan, prayed for Brad Brechtel, and Rudy led us in a fine prayer.

    On a serious note: I’m infinitely grateful for all of you who have pushed me, made me do countless [hated] burpees, made me plank until I felt like my arms would crumble, and inflicted all other sorts of punishment that made me tougher both mentally and physically. To name all the names of those who have pushed me – especially since I’ve been back the past few months – would be like writing out the entire members list, but I’m especially grateful to Mahatma, Frac Sac, Jingle Vader, Rudy, Mambi, Abacus, Tool, Two Yutes, and too many others to name, who never spare words of encouragement and motivate me to better.

    Getting to lead an F3 workout of such a strong group is a honor, and I hope I was able to deliver. It means a lot that so many of you showed up for my VQ, and I look forward to doing it again soon.

    -Kuch

  • Roll The Bones

    A good showing considering the fine turnout and time we all had at Urban South Brewery and Christmas party last night!  Thanks to all that brought or cooked food! 

    A quick disclaimer and off we go to the fountain for typical warm up:

    Running exercises:  butt kicks, high knees, carioca, etc around the fountain

    IW x (21)

    Happy Jack X (20)

    Mountain Climbers X (20)

    Peter Parkers X (25)

    Arm Circles X (30)

    Off to the levee for an 11 using the entire levee for the exercise.  Merkins on the north side, plank jacks on the south side.

    Mosey down to Canal blvd. via of a group Indian run, and then to the Lakefront area.   

    Last time I was at Dave and Busters I was fortunate (and good enough) to earn enough tickets to earn an “exercise dice”.  All the exercises similar to our normal routines,  so now the opportunity to put it to use and “Roll the Bones”.  Each PAX got their chance for a roll and took ownership in the beat down,  some in cadence some on our own.  Here are some of the exercises if I recall we were busy with, but not limited to:

    Burpees — (20)

    Squats (25)

    Lunges — (30)

    Plank (1) minute

    Crunches — (30)

    Dips (15)

    Burpees — (20)

    Lunges (30)

    etc.

    Mosey back over to the flag,  for some final Mary:

    Leg Throws with partners (10) each

    Plank ~ 1 minute or so

    Normal countoff, namearama, announcements, intention, COT. 

    Thanks for the opportunity to lead. 

     

     

  • Okwata Single Leg Beatdown (plus)

    The cold relented, and YHC was bringing a classic beatdown to the PAX.   Disclaimer and then . . .

    Warm-Up: mosey to the fountain and then circle up for SSH x25, Abe Vigoda x15, Arm Circles x 20 (10 each direction), Imperial Walkers x25, Peter Parkers x20, Parker Peters x20, Grass Grabbers x15.

    The PAX moseyed around the fountain and went to the fountain barricade for the single leg beatdown.

    COP1: 3 exercises (Single-leg lunge, Side leg raise, Pistol squat), 3 Sets with a mosey after each set, 1st Set x20, 2nd Set x15, 3rd Set x10 (each leg, i.e. 1st Set 20 on left and 20 on right)

    COP2: The PAX moseyed to the sea wall for a Hurricane Hoedown (counting down from 7 with flutterkicks in 4 positions – upright, hands, elbows, flat) and Wife Pleasers in between sets.

    COP3: The PAX moseyed to the Cabana of Pain for 2 rounds of stations – bear crawl and quadrophelia up/down the levee as the timer, AMRAP pull-ups, and dips and crossfit merkins.

    Mosey back to the flag and Count off, Nameorama, announcements, intentions, and prayer. Thank you for the gloom, Sky Q. Teach us to be generous!

    Moleskin: With this classic workout, the PAX did a lot of work in a short amount of time.  The beatdown started with the legs and worked its  way up so that the whole body got hit.   Focusing on a single limb causes a bunch of muscles that are usually on the sidelines to fire off and provide stability.  YHC is getting sore right now.

     

     

     

  • Turkey Day – Okwata

    9 Pax showed up for a Pre-Turkey Thanksgiving Feast Beatdown at the one and only Okwata. With 4 shovel flags planted, possibly a record at Okwata, the clock turned 0530, a brief disclaimer was given, and we were off on a mosey toward the mardi gras fountain….

    High knees and carioca around the fountain, circle up on the grass.

    SSH IC x 31
    IW IC x 15
    Abe Vigodas IC x 10
    Grass Grabbers IC x 10
    Arm Circles 10 fwd – 10 bwd IC

    Thang 1

    Double Shots with Jack Webb at the Barre

    1 merkin, 2 air presses in the peoples chair at the bar
    2 merkin, 4 air presses in the peoples chair at the bar
    ….
    ….
    10 merkin, 20 air presses in the peoples chair at the bar

    Thang 2

    4 Corners at Lakeshore and Canal

    Corner 1 – Cataline Wine Mixers IC x 10
    Corner 2 – Jump Lunges IC x 20
    Corner 3 – Shoulder Taps IC x 30
    Corner 4 – Squats IC x 40

    Mosey to the top of the levee for Disperse Indian Run
    Last Pax sprints to front, calls disperse and an exercise, all Pax run down levee to complete 3 of said exercise, then regroup at the top of the levee to continue Indian Run until all Pax get a shot at glory.

    Indian Run back to the House of Pain for Stations – Groups of 3

    Station 1 – Merkins AMRAP
    Station 2 – Pull Ups Amrap
    Station 3 – Bear Crawl Up Levee, 5 Plank Jacks, Bear Crawl down – Timer

    Mosey back to Shovel Flags

    Flutter Kicks IC x 20
    Tin Snips IC x 15
    LBC’s IC x 20

    Burpees x 10 OYO to seal the deal

    COT

    Count Off, Name-o-Rama, Announcements, Intentions, and close with a prayer to the Sky Q.

    NMM

    YHC and Da Parish completed Okwata, then gathered at Morning Call in City Park for Coffeteria, as we were scheduled to run the 5 mile Turkey Day Race at 0830. This is a truly manly accomplishment, and a feat only the likes of YHC and Da Parish could serve up. We were joined by the crew from the Dome Patrol, fresh off their victory with Stiffler’s Mom. Thanks for the great F2 Hawgcycle and Swampcock!

    YHC and Da Parish truly sealed the deal with an amazing 5 mile run at Tad Gormley, where we were joined by a number of other F3 brothers!

    Thanks for posting with me today, and for allowing me to be a part of F3. I am thankful for many things, and my F3 brothers are very high up on that list!

    SYITG!

  • The 4 Frozen Horsemen

    Winter is here.  But that didn’t stop 4 hardy PAX from appearing on the angry shores of Okwata, where the winds were howling.  YHC’s car said 37 degrees.  Alas, YHC’s car does not have a wind-chill measurement; perhaps that is for the best.  Somethings are best left unknown.  5:30 arrives, so the 4 frozen horsemen from setting off.

    The Thang

    YHC abandoned the planned Q in order to seek shelter behind the levee.  Lets mosey!  10 seconds later, time for a quick return to the sidewalk to find an alternate path.  Thank you, trailblazing Abacus, for alerting us to the puddles of mud and water!  Sorry you had to step in it to discover for us…

    Instead: Mosey down to Canal St, up and over the levee, seek shelter and dry ground on the City side of the levee.

    Warmup with SSH, IW, then plank-o-rama.  Cold seems to mess with Frac’s counting abilities.  But we persevere…

    Dora 1-2-3

    Burpees x100, Merkins x200, Squats x300.

    While Pax 1 reps, Pax 2 Lunge Walks up and down the levee – feel that howing, freezing wind hit your face at the top!  The walk down added the extra “don’t slip and slide” risk.  Frac and JV got the benefit of extra reps waiting on YHC and Abacus.

    Head to the top for a 20 count (and grumbling about why we didn’t do the 20 count in the shelter at the bottom.  Because we’re tough, that’s why)

    HOP

    Mosey to HOP for 4 stations: Bear crawl Up/Down the levee (the timer), Dips, Pull-Ups, LBCs.  2 rounds.  I’m not exactly sure what JV does on the bear crawl down, but I think it involved frequent stops to smell the flowers.  We don’t have all day, here….

    Mosey back through the mud and puddles to the flag.  Dang, that water is C.O.L.D. on the feets.

    Time for Flutter Kicks x25.

    Then close up with the faster countoff, name-o-rama, intentions and prayers that I’ve ever been a part of.  “Nice seeing you gents, gotta run….” says everyone as they hustle back to their cars to try and restore feeling to extremeties.

  • Rain, Respect, and Route 66

    Rain pelted the gloom as five wise men – the RESPECT PAX – formed around the flag.  They knew a beatdown in the rain was to be savored and not avoided.  They knew as long as the mind was moving and counting, the rain did not matter.  First, DISCLAIMER.  Now for the thang:

    For the Warm Up, mosey to the seawall in front of the fountain and SSH x 25, Sun Gods x 10 (both directions), and Abe Vigoda x 10.  Another short mosey to shake off the rain and Peter Parker x 15, Parker Peter x 15, Hillbillies x 15, and Woodchucks x 10.

    1st ROUTE 66 (descending): burpies out and jump squats back

    2nd ROUTE 66 (descending): crab cakes out and lunges back

    3rd ROUTE 66 (descending): dying cockroach out and flutter kicks back

    Back to the flag for COUNTOFF, NAMEORAMA, ANNOUNCEMENTS, INTENTIONS, PRAYER

    This was the first PAX at OKWATA that consisted of only 50+ year olds, as far as anyone can remember.  YHC appreciates and congratulates these wise men for coming out on a rainy, windy morning for F3.