F3 New Orleans

Tag: Reluctant Yankee

  • The 4th F is for “Fun”

    The 4th F is for “Fun”

    The early moring parade goers in Mid-City were treated to some sweet F3 eye candy on Saturday for the 4th annual Mardi Gras Mambo aka Endymion Run.  Our krewe consited of 22 PAX eager to start the day off right and get in the carnival spirit.  YHC had stewed on some new ideas for the past month and decided to incorporate a “float” consisting of a jogging stroller and boom box to be pushed along the route blarring some good ole Mardi Gras music to get the juices flowing.  Some festive chatter started as the Dr. John and Professor Longhair tunes came on.  Here’s a recap of our parade: 

    Warmup near The Peristyle:  IW, Lunges, WM, SSH with “bead wave” capped off with the tradional Mardi Gras Mambo song providing the guidance for 2+ minutes of syncronized planking, merkins, and plankjacks….always a crowd pleaser!  We followed with a mosey to City Park Ave and N. Olympia and stopped to go over the gameplan for the run topped off with burpees x10, just because.   

    Route Run – Leg #1:  Run at your own pace down Orleans trying to stay in clusters.  The float/stroller acted as the kaboose and stayed in the rear, similar to the speaker trucks following the Dance Connection, minus the purple fishnets.  Once at Carrollton, turn around and sweep the six.  T-claps to the PAX for taking turns pushing the float and also to the guys carrying two F3 shovel flags….Merica!!!  Lots of intrigued and possibly jealous onlookers wishing they were running with us. 

    Route Run – Leg #2:  Right on Carrollton all the way to Canal, at you own pace, sweep the six.  The motivational cheers from the spot watchers kept coming. 

    Route Run – Leg #3:  Back down Carrollton to Orleans veering off to the neutral ground for a COP.  Some grumbling was heard when YHC started with LSS x20, PP x25, ISW x20, and Plankorama w/Merkins.  Everyone survived and the moseying resumed.    

    Route Run – Leg #4:  Run back on Orleans to our starting point on N. Olympia, sweep the six.  Good to see lots of other running groups out there…”Happy Mardi Gras” and high fives were being dolled out right and left.  Might even try to work in some beads for next year. 

    Lagniappe Leg #5:  Once back along City Park Ave, we had enough time to take the long way back along Marconi for a peek at the floats, before heading back to the Great Lawn.  A few guys were able to modify the run with a shortcut.

    Great Lawn:  YHC wanted to make sure all PAX were ready for the rest of MG season and in stellar bead catching/throwing shape, so out came a bag of beads stashed in the bushes.  All PAX grabbed a good bead to throw and parterned up for “Bead Burpees” consisting of throwing beads 15 yards away to your partner, alternating with burpees.  This was not well received by the PAX, I’m guessing due to the sloppy terrain and the presumption that we were only going to run that moring.  After a minute of some hideousness with Bead Burpees, YHC felt the need to cut it short and move on to something more challenging.  Next up we did a bead throw and bear crawl circuit across the lawn, followed by a lunge walk and bead throw back.

    Mary:  After getting rid of the beads, we had enought time left to knock out LBC x20, Flutter Kicks x30, and Plankorama. 

    COT:  YHC was a tad woozy and run-drunk at this point so not sure of all the announcements and intentions.  We did pray for, among other things, a safe Mardi Gras weekened.  We also called out Amnesty for yet again missing the annual event he co-fathered. YHC forgot to mention that we consider striving to avoid over indulging this Mardi Gras season and instead focus on making the most of our time with family, friends, or perhaps ourselves, whether that be at a parade or elsewhere.  While pigging out and/or getting hammered may be something many of us have been guilty of during the carnival season, we should consider throttling that back on the guilty pleasures and possibly replace them with something more meaningful and healthy….just a thought.

    Thanks to the PAX for going along with my antics and helping to bring in the 4th “F”….FUN!     

    Tool          

  • 2nd Annual Death Star Trench Run

    OK my Disclaimer – I am not as creative as Tool. No babystroller with a speaker. No bead burpees. Tool is the man. This is a no frills, no extras run.

    The plan: Run down St Charles Ave in the valley of the ladders aka the Trench. Not Angie List’s trench. That is a totally different Trench. You don’t want any of that TRENCH.

    Brown Bag picked me up at 545am. On the way out the door we had our first strange encounter. A guy and a girls laughing or crying or fighting. Brown Bag and I made sure they were OK and we discovered she was crying because she was wasted and lost her cellphone.

    Then we moseyed down Napoleon to the launch site at Napoleon and St Charles. On our mosey Brown Bag informed me that in Jan and Feb of 2019 Urban South has sold more beer than their first 9 months! #tclaps Also got offers of beer , and the quote of the leg “i will drink for you, you run for me!”

    At NAP and ST CHUCK we assembled the Xwings for a serious trench run. A motley crew of men ready for the 5.5 mile Gnarly Nutria training run. Angie’s List was taking pics of the 80 yr old sleeping on the corner guarding her spot. It was a truly gloomy – gloom.

    First leg Napoleon to Louisiana – this is where the run gets its name. Lots of people protecting their spot. Ladders wall to wall on both sides of the route. You really do feel like you are running a trench.

    Second leg Louisiana to Jackson – things thin out – you could get a spot if you wanted one – apparently we saw Willie’s crew setting up their ladders for him. Let me say again that Willie was not setting up his ladders – a crew was doing it FOR #Willie. Could be Gabrielle and Mudbug just messing with Willy. This is the trophy table guys leg. They heckled us hard. Tclaps to Gabrielle for the hard e-headlock.

    Third leg from Jackson to the Circle formerly known as Lee. Tool and Hokey hit the circle and started back to Napoleon. Things really really thin out here. One person chilling per block. I learned here that Tool is a weed smelling expert.

    Fourth leg from the circle to Poydras – uneventful – the bleacher trenches. At Poydras we turned around. I am thinking next year we might push it through the quarter to Esplanade then back. On the circle back leg 5 – a Mazerati tried to impress us, then Voodoo had beads stuck in his shoes, then a guy stumbling back to his hotel looking for the Holiday Inn express he ran two blocks with us in jeans and a pink oxford shirt. LOL. The highlight of this leg was being behind the porta-potty emptying truck. I am still gagging on the smell of that – it was awful. Like running behind El Wire or Seaman.

    Leg 5 was the Circle to Jackson. More weed, more drunk kids, more sleeping people on the route.

    Leg 6 Jackson to Louisiana – just wanted to finish now – ran past the trophy crew again. Still getting rowdy.

    Leg 7 Louisiana to Napoleon – back in the trenches. Lots more people coming out of the wood work. Caught up with Tool and Hokie.

    We circled up – 12 pax and closed with a prayer. Angie’s List said it best – there is no way I would have got up today to run without the PAX making it easy to be out there together. It was a gloomy Sunday! #HailThoth #HailBacchus #HailMid-City #HailOkeanos


  • And so it begins…

    Yes, yes, YHC recognizes that Mardi Gras festivities started several weeks ago now (Hail Chewbacchus!), but it really starts in earnest today, Wednesday, with Nyx and Druids (geaux F3 Druids!).  Why don’t we get some work in so we don’t feel so guilty with what we are going to do to our bodies in the next week?  Oh, and we do need to get just a few more miles for RRR (looking at you F3 NOLA HNJ).  With a short disclaimer, off we go!

    Mosey to track form 2 columns:

    March to High Kicks till Q yells Halt then

    • IW I/C X15

    March to Butt Kicks till Q yells Halt then

    • Forward Arm Circles I/C X10 Reverse Arm Circles I/C X10

    High Kicks (aka Supreme Leader’s aka Kim Jong-Un’s aka Un’s till Q yells Halt then)

    • Hillbillies I/C X15

    Open Gates till Q yells Halt then

    • Self Love I/C X10

    All of the above were done in columns.

    Mosey in Columns to Row Workout station for:

    • 4 station-workout
      • 10 burpees is count
      • Plank Jacks
      • Rows
      • Peter Parkers

    Cycle through until PAX completes all stations.

    Indian Run to Fountain (watch out for ducks crossing) for:

    • Incline Merks I/C X15
    • SL Stand Ups LL Up I/C X8
    • Dips I/C X15
    • Decline Merks I/C X15
    • Dips I/C X15
    • SL Stand Ups RL UP I/C X8

    Indian Run to Middle Green for Jack Webbs I/C X11 (1 extra for Catfish)

    Back to track for Indian Run to Pull-Up Station

    10 Count Pull Ups

    • 10 Pull Ups is count
    • Jump Squats
    • LBC’s
    • SSH’s

    Cycle through until PAX completes all stations.

    Indian Run to Shelter

    • RL Step Ups I/C X10
    • LL Step Ups I/C X10

    Mosey around horseshoe back to flag.

    Count-Off, Name-o-rama, Announcements (lots of Mardi Gras-themed workouts coming up, Endymion Run, Death Star Trench Run on St. Charles on Sunday, Tsunami/Rex Run on Mardi Gras day), and Prayer.

    Thanks PAX for letting me lead.  Have a safe and happy Mardi Gras!

  • Bones VQ

    20 Men gathered in the gloom on Monday February 25th to join Bones on his VQ

    Warmup:

    Run the loop to the bandstand. 19 Sidestraddle hops. 10 Forward Arm Circles. 10 Backward Arm Circles. 20 Peter Parkers. 20 Parker Peters.

    Run down Oak Alley with ascending burpees at each lightpost 2-4-6 then bearcrawl to the track.

    Run to the zoo, 10 windmills, 20 hillbillies, 20 imperial walkers.

    The Thang:

    Dora The Explorer: 100 Dips, 200 Jump Lunges (2 is 1), 300 LBCs, 10 Murkins to finish.

    Run to levee: 7s with Burpees and Jump Squats

    End at the Flag with Protractor, 20 Freddie Mercuries.

    How could I forget to tag Nip/Tuck, the one who EH’d me into this whole deal in the first place?? This has been addressed, thanks to my man for changing my life.

  • CYCLOPS brings the FORT to the Mountain

    34 #HIM gathered on a muggy February morning to accelerate and get better.  The turnout brought the feel of a mini-convergence and great fellowship.  After the disclaimers were outlined, and a handful of the PAX moseyed off for a 4-5ish mile run, the remaining 20 something PAX moseyed to the parking deck and straight to the 7th (top) level for a foggy view of NoLa and a little COP:

    COP – all IC:

    Moroccan Night Clubs x 20, Arm circles forward and backward x 10

    Mumble chatter and one of the PAX counting backwards, distracted YHC and the count.  As a result, 5 penalty burpees were promptly called.  The backward counting of the PAX ceased.

    Side straddle hops x 30 – varying speeds

    Double count Merkins X 15 with a hold to plank – salutations to the left and right then to down dog, a few repeats of planks at normal height and 6 inch holds.

    Low slow squats x 20

    COP complete – Mosey to the 6th level

    YHC and the PAX of the Fort have spent much of 2019 talking about getting comfortable with discomfort.  Given that the NoLa Nantan (aka Reluctant Yankee) talked of doing 11’s on the morning ride to the AO, it seemed only appropriate for YHC to call, of course, 12’s.  Therefore:

    Partner wheelbarrow carries – 2 rounds (just to warm up), then:

    Jacobs Ladder – Burpees, lunge walks roughly 25 yards (YHC’s rough math), LBC’s and mosey 25 yards (roughly) back to the start.  11 burpees, lunge walk 25 yards, 1 LBC, mosey back.  10 burpees, lunge walk 25 yards 2 LBC’s, mosey back.  You get the idea.  Al Gores or LBC’s done by early finishing PAX until the 6 was in. 

    Mosey down 6 flights, out the deck, through the courtyard to the front circle for a partner Dora

    Dora 100 – YHC had to shorten Dora (normally a 1-2-3) due to time and, of course, saving the last 5 minutes for (what else?) Mary (more to follow).  So a partner dora of 100 merkins and circular shuttle runs got the PAX their fill of shoulder work for the morning before moving on to a little ab work…….but just a little.

    Mary:

    Protractor – 1 minute, varying angles and stopping short to allow unanticipated cars to park and pass.

    Hello Dollys IC x 15

    Box Cutters IC x 15

    Mosey back to COT YHC chose intentional as his word for 2019.  In trying to become a #HIM, being a part of F3 teaches us all  that the real benefits and gains we realize in our lives are from intentionally living 3rd, getting out of our comfort zone and pushing our limits to break through thresholds we may have felt were not possible before.  Whether it is the opportunity to Q at a new AO or step up in any other way, getting outside your own comfort zone, serving and leading are reminders of why it is important for each of us to fully and intentionally engage in every role to which we are called to serve and why we seek to accelerate in our development – physically, emotionally and spiritually.  It is always a special occasion for YHC to post away from home.  I have been lucky to be made better by PAX from all over F3 nation and considered this past Friday morning both a privilege and an honor to get uncomfortable and better with a great group of #HIMs.  Thanks to Reluctant Yankee and the PAX of NoLa for the opportunity and a great 2nd F as well.

    Cyclops       

  • Rocky Balboa at the Birdcage

    Rocky Balboa at the Birdcage

    Pre-Thang

    YHC scoped out the AO the day before his Q. Glad he did. He noticed all the blocks hidden behind the Fountain of Youth were gone!!! Not sure who took them. Could it be Valerio, the killer Jaguar??? Could it be a Pax from Metry or Lakeview? With the blocks gone, YHC had to come up with another plan. 23 PAX managed to meet up on a moist, wet, humid, warm Wednesday morning in the middle of Feb. At 5:30, YHC gave his standard disclaimer and off the PAX.

    Warm-ups

    Moseyed to the band stand and did the following in cadence:

    SSHs x 20

    Windmills x 10

    Grass Grabber x 10

    Imperial Walkers x 20

    Then an easy mosey to the track within the Oak Alley and back to the Band Stand.

    The Thang

    Starting off behind the Band Stand surrounded by duck droppings, each Pax did the following:

    Round 1 – Rocky Balboa x 50 IC, climbed over the stage to the other side, slow Merkins x 10 IC, moseyed to the next light post within the Oak Alley with Plank Jacks x 20 IC, moseyed to the next light post with Peter Parkers x 20 IC, moseyed to the track with 10 burpees OYO. Moseyed on the track to the parking lot to the shelter then to the back of the Band Stand. (YHC originally wanted to stop by the Shelter to do exercises but was scared off by the Yoga ladies). YHC had to call an audible.

    Round 2 – Rocky Balboa x 40 IC, climbed over the stage to the other side, LBCs x 20 IC, bear crawled to the 2nd light post within the Oak Alley, Mountain Climber x 20 IC, moseyed to the track with 10 burpees OYO. Moseyed on the track to the parking lot then to the back of the Band Stand. (Yoga ladies were still at the shelter).

    Round 3 – Rocky Balboa x 30 IC, climbed over the stage to the other side. Burpees broad jump to the first light post. Then side hopped (switched sides halfway) toward the track. Then 10 burpees OYO. Moseyed on the track to the parking lot to the SHELTER!!!! Yoga ladies were gone by 6:05 a.m.

    Round of Mary & More

    Pax picked a spot on the benches at the Shelter and did the following in cadence:

    Slow Dips x 15

    Slow Derkins x 10

    Box Jumps x 20

    Dying Cockroach x 20

    Hello Dolly x 20

    Penguins x 20

    Flutter Kicks x 20

    Right Leg Step Up x 20

    Left Leg Step Up x 20

    Then moseyed through Oak Alley back to the Flag at 6:16 a.m.

    COT

    Count-O-Rama 23PAX, Name-O-Rama, announcements, intentions. We prayed for a safe Mardi Gras season. Thank You all again for the opportunity to lead. The Pax motivates me everyday to push harder than I would ever do on my own. SYITG

    King Kong

  • Chilly, wet and windy, but no farts

    It was a cold, wet and windy morning at The Skinny. I broke my own rule of long-sleeve shirt when the temp is below 57. At 56 with some strong wind and light drizzle, I immediately regretted my short sleeves. Being the wuss that I am, we started under the pavilion with a warm-up and nine rounds of tabata. Russian twists, squat jumps and Peter Parkers got our blood flowing and let the drizzle die down. We may have annoyed a couple of ladies on yoga mats, but nobody farted, so it was a win overall. We then headed to the track for six sprint/jog running man intervals before stopping at the pull-up bars. We did a round of pull-ups, high knees, burpees and squat jumps before another six sprint/jog running man intervals. We then hit another round of tabata before doing an Indian run back to the start. One more tabata there before heading back to the pavilion for some alternating step/power-ups and dips. We finished right on time at 6:15.

  • Run Mountain Run

    37 Pax showed up on this cool Friday morning for some fitness and fellowship. YHC was leading a run up the mountain, and 86 lead the Angry (Tepid) Wave for some miles around the Tulane and Loyola campus. The usual disclaimer and off we go.

    We started with our usual jog, making a short loop down St. Charles Ave and back to the horseshoe lawn at Touchdown Jesus. There we circled up for our warm-up COP:

    SSH x 20 IC, IW x 20 IC, Peter Parkers x 20 IC, Windmills x 10 IC, Arm Circles 10 Forward 10 Backwards IC, Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    Next we moseyed to the bottom of Wolfpack Mountain. The entire Pax ran up the mountain, forward running on the inclines, side-hopping the ends, and back peddling the staright aways. Once at the top, a COP with Merkins x 10 IC, Penguins x 20 IC, Left leg cross over Merkins x 10 IC, Dying Cockroach x 20 IC, Right leg cross over Merkins x 10 IC.

    At the top of the Mountain, we knocked out some Dora 1-2-3. Apologies to the Pax, as YHC misjudged the amount of time Dora would take. We split into pairs. One Pax ran down the stairs one floor and back up the ramp, while the other Pax exercised. 100 Floyd Mayweathers, 200 Squats, 300 LBC’s.

    We ran down the stairs to hit the park benches. Left leg step-ups x 20 IC, Dips x 20 IC, Right leg step-ups x 20 IC, Dips x 15 IC.

    We moseyed to the quad for a couple quick sprints. Sprint the quad, 10 Merkins, sprint the quad, 10 Merkins. Then we moseyed back to the flag for the finish.

    86 lead his Pax on a 5 mile run to Yulman stadium and back, hitting all 3 mountains along the way.

    Count off (37 Pax today!), Name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. I am truly grateful to have F3 Nola in my life. You guys are good friends, and you push me and hopefully make me a better man. Thanks for letting me lead today.

    Walleye

  • It never rains in the Ukraine

    With a spot on rain forecast by Chiquita, YHC opted to forgo a trip to levee. Instead we had a heavy dose of shoulder & core work. JV grumbled a bit but nevertheless 14 PAX stayed close to shelter as the skies opened up.

    First we mosyed to bandstand for a warm-up COP and a healthy amount of duck fecal matter:

    SSHx20, PPx20, HBx20, PPx20 & SJx20

    Moseyed to the track for some fun with the running man:

    1 burpee at the 1st man, 2 at the second and so forth not knowing the end result until we reached the monkey bar. Finished with nine burpees then hit the bar:

    4 four groups rotated with 7 pull-ups, squats, LBCs & Dips

    Lined up back on the track for another run round of running man:

    2 shoulder-tap merkins at the 1st increasing by 2 until we finish with 18. YHC pulled an audible after 10 to finish with squat jumps from 12-18.

    Moseyed to the shelter as the rain starts coming down.

    COP of mary:

    Flutter Kicks x20, Cockroach x20, Dolly x20, Russian Twist x20, Real Freddie x20

    On the benches:

    RLSU x30, Dips x20, RLPU x20, Incline Mekins x20, Right Leg Bulgarian Split Lunges x20

    Back to a COP:

    Plank-o-rama with 10 Nolan Ryans on each side

    Back to bench:

    LLSU x30, Dips x15, LLPU x20, Left Leg Bulgarian Split Lunges x20

    Last COP:

    Rosalita x20, Elbow MCs X20 & mission impossible for 20 sec

    Moseyed back to flag for count off, name-o-rama & prayer.

    Thanks for good start to the week…

  • It Was a Ducky Kind of Morning

    After the disclaimer and a quick announcement about my tweaked knee, we took a short mosey disrupting the breakfast of about 500 whistling ducks and settled in for warm up in front the bandstand. The PAX did the following exercises:

    SSH -25

    Self Love – 10

    Arm Circles Forward – 10

    Arm Circles Backwards (Seeman style cadence) – 10

    Imperial Walkers – 20

    The PAX then moseyed to the track where we performed alternating Running Man sprints until we hit the pull up bars. At the pull up bars the PAX split into 5 groups and rotated through the following stations.  The pull up station had the count.

    Pull Ups – 12

    Burpees

    Plank Jacks

    Hillbillies

    Mercans

    The PAX again gathered at the track where we again did alternating running man sprints to the fountain at the front of the park. Once there, we grabbed some bench and did the following exercises:

    LEft leg step ups- 20

    Derkins – 12

    Right leg step ups – 20

    Irkins – 12

    Dips – 20

    The PAX moseyed on there own to the bridge for a short lived MARY

    Ammerican Hamers – 20

    Penguins – 20

    Wife Pleasers – 20

    We proceeded to mosey back to the flag for COT. We welcomed one FNG, Mr. Rogers,  into the fold.  For those counting RRR miles we finished at 2.68 miles.