F3 New Orleans

Tag: Reluctant Yankee

  • The Fools of April – from Reluctant Yankee

    1/2 dozen pax posted for a workout meant to spark the metabolism enough to digest the anticipated breaking of fast at Panolas post beatdown. Quite a few pax out of rotation due to Hawgs for the Cause.
    I like to keep things moving so a quick jog over the base of WPM.
    COP 1: SSH, Paul Imperial Walkers, Mtn Climbers and Roaches x 20
    Run up to the 4th floor – plank using the wall for leverage.
    Leg lifts right and left from the captains chair
    COP 2: walking plank using wall x 20, walking plank with legs using wall x 20
    Run to the 6th FLOOR – use the park stop aka curb aka Almonaster knew the name of it
    COP 3: to do MERKS round the clock x 12 facing 12 oclock, 3oclock, 6 oclock, 9 and then finished
    Run to the top of Wolfpack Mtn
    COP 4: Fire hydrants x 20 each leg, bird dogs x 20 each side, Lil baby obliques left and right x 20
    DO A LAP ON THE STAIRWELL – down and then back up
    COP 5: Plank Jacks x 20, Jlos x 20, Shoulder taps x 20 and Freddies mercurys x 20
    DO A LAP ON THE STAIRWELL – down then back up
    COP 6: Nolan Ryans and Hip dips each side x 20, Low Country Crabs
    Back down the stairs to the bench alley
    Here will did a quick 20 dips then a slow cadence 20 dips.
    Back to flag. Glad to get a solid beatdown in with these guys.

  • Another RARE Uptown Backblast – from Reluctant Yankee

    Man…I did NOT want to post when I opened my eyes at 5AM. I rolled over and laid there thinking about it…at 5:18 I was still awake somehow thinking about posting or sleeping. Its funny how even after 8 plus years of this – every gloom – I reluctantly drag my tired body out of bed. I knew there wasn’t a Q signed up. I knew I would need to step up. Pulled in to Birdcage – wheels on fire bc I sped to the workout due to my sleepy hesitation.
    Quick disclaimer while I yelled follow me – no stopping and we were off to the field in front of the ZOO. I noticed Peppa was here. I was happy to see Pep bc he has been out of town a bunch. I saw Quincy who hasn’t been posting regularly and I was happy to see him. I saw Angie’s List who is always talking with El Wire during the first circle of pain and I was happy to see him. As I looked at each PAX I was happy to see all of them. I started making a mental list of who wasn’t there – no Brown Bag, no Seaman, no Sphinxter, no Moana. I made a mental note that if I am happy to see these PAX and disappointed not to see some PAX – there must be others who feel the same way right. I was thinking I need to post more on Monday. 4 posts a week is usually my goal. Lately it has been only 2 a week.
    I never want to post – I never REGRET posting.

    1st CIRCLE OF PAIN: SSH x 20, Imperial Scott walkers x 20, 20 Hand Release Merks and 20 MTN CLIMBERS
    ran to Audubon Statue
    Partnered up for 3 laps with a partner: Lap 1 – Dips Lap 2 Left leg steps Lap 3 Right leg steps
    ran to the FLY – River view.
    Circled up for some Shoulder Taps, Plank Walks, J-Los, and Toe Tappers
    Ran to the Hill.
    Did 20 LBCs ran to midfield of soccer field 10 Hand Release Merks – decrease by 2
    back to Hill 20 LBCs ran back to midfield for 8 HR merks
    same and stopped after 6 HR merks.
    Long run to Labyrinth with Ping Pongs back to collect the 6.
    2 quick exercises at Labyrinth. Decline Should Taps, then 20 Plank Jacks.
    Back to FLAG
    Had to hustle to get there on time.

    I am taking the list of PAX who posted and filling in the calendar until June! You have been signed up.
    I will do my best to send a friendly reminder.
    I will also harass you to write a backblast.
    Thanks for posting. Without you out there in the gloom – I am certain that I would sleep in comfort

  • Step Back, Security Coming Through – from Willie

    One of the ways we earned money for our fraternity was to work as security guards for concerts at the UNO Lakefront Arena. I was able to see several great bands over the years! I created a playlist for this workout of songs from bands that I worked security for back in the 90s. Not all of the shows were for popular bands, so there are a few doozies in the playlist too. If one of the PAX wanted to skip a song, the entire PAX did 10 burpees. Only one skip was allowed at a time, you cannot skip two songs in a row. Oduls hit shuffle, and we were off, “Everything Zen” by Bush blaring, on our way for a warm up at the base of the big mountain. The following were done in cadence:
    SSHx20, Imperial Walkers x20, Arm Circles F/B x10, Grass Grabbers x10, Hillbillies x20

    Between Arm Circles and Grass Grabbers, “Children Will Listen” by Barbara Streisand played and was promptly skipped by Jingle Vader. 10 Burpees for the PAX.

    Next we broke into two lines and did an Indian Run to the 4th floor. YHC was running with the speaker in the center of the lines to make sure everyone was enjoying the music.

    Once we were on the 4th floor, we circled up for a Monkey Humper ring of fire. This was hilarious to watch! The PAX were holding Al Gore, one Pax did 20 MHs, the next started at 10, and so on… Next was a more traditional Merkin ring of fire with a 15 and 10 split while we are all holding plank.

    Before starting the Merkin Ring of Fire, ole Babs struck again with “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.” Couch skipped, PAX did 10 Burpees

    We proceeded to the top of the Mountain mosying on the flats and running backwards on the incline. At the top I called for a 20 count from Manchovy. We had a mid-workout stretch (We don’t stretch enough) immediately following.

    The next thang were BLIMPS down the Mountain. 5 Burpees to start on the top floor, then 10 Lunges on the next floor down, followed 15 IWs, 20 Merkins, 25 Plank Jacks, and 30 Squats on the 1st floor. We hit a run of good music, so there were no more skips to this point.

    Next we ran to Rosy Palm Court for a little Mary all exercises in cadence. I led off with Penguins x15, Angie’s List was next with 30 LBCs, King Kong with 20 Hello Darlenes, Gabby with 15 Crunchy Frogs.

    Right when we were about to head back to the flag, Douille called skip on “Hey Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms… The PAX did 10 Burpees. No one plays the villian role better than Douille!

    We ended with a COT then adjourned for coffee at PJs. Its always an honor to lead this group of great men!

  • Workout Tribute to Cardinal’s VQ – from Willie

    Like many AOs around the country, we paid tribute to the passing of Cardinal by performing his VQ workout in the big mountain at WPM. All of the running referenced in the workout was done up the mountain. In addition to Cardinal’s workout, I did bring a bluetooth speaker and a new playlist for 2023. If any of the PAX wanted to skip a song, the entire PAX incurred a 10 burpee penalty. Cardinal’s workout is already stacked with burpees, so the PAX endured some pretty rough music. We were almost skip free, but @douille pulled a skip at the very end…. Not a surprising move from @douille. Cardinal’s VQ workout is as follows:

    Warm-o-Roma

    15- Side Straddles Hops
    10- Tempo Merkins*
    10- Flutter Kicks Double Count
    10- Little Baby Arm Circles Forward
    10- “ “ Backward
    10- Hallujahs
    10- Knoxville Cherry Pickers*
    20 Sec. Samson Hold*
    PHELPS it out
    10- Willie Mayes Hayes

    Workout
    “Card’s Run and Repeat”

    5- Burpees – We suggest a moment of silence for our brother Cardinal after completing this first set. -Rampart Burpee Counter 10
    Big Boys
    Heels to Heaven
    Run to the sign and repeat (each run to the sign is 160 meters)

    10- Burpees Burpee Counter 30
    Little Baby Crunches
    Mt. Climbers Double Count
    Run to the sign and repeat

    15- Burpees Burpee Counter 60
    Air Squats
    Freddy Mercury’s
    Run to the sign and repeat
    When you return hold squat until all Pax have finished

    As a group if there is time

    20- Burpees Burpee Counter 100

    At the COT we offered up intentions to Cardinal and his family. It’s always an honor to lead such a great group of men!

  • First WPM of 2023 – from King Kong

    I wanted to start the first WPM of 2023 the right way… so I brought couple friends, two coupons, to the workout. I heard some mumblechattering when I rolled up with those presents. Needless to say, they were with us for the rest of the beatdown.

    We ran through Tulane campus towards PJ’s Cafe. We circled up and did some warm-ups: SSHs, Windmills, Armcircles, Grass Grabbers, Imperial Walkers, Hill Billies.

    After warmup exercises, we moseyed to Tulane Howard-Tilton Library, which is named after El Wire’s grandfather. Partnered up and did the following exercises (declined shoulder taps, squats, and American hammers) while one person was running a lap around the parking lot. Flap jack.

    After the partner workout, we ran to the other side of the UC building. We were facing the steps. We bear crawled to the first step and did one merkin, then onto the second step and did another merkin, to the third step…. etc I think there were 9 steps in total. Once we got to the top we worked our way back down. We bear crawled down the steps and did one merkin at each step. After, we headed towards the bench and did high step ups x 10 each leg.

    We then ran to the base of the Baby Garage. We formed 2 lines and Native American ran up to the top with the coupons. At the top, we circled up for a ring of fire. While one pax was doing 10 hand released merkins, the other Pax were in plank position. We did 2 rounds.

    Finally, we arrived to the base of the WPM. We formed 2 lines and Native American ran all the way to the top with coupons. At the top, we finished the workout with some Mary’s. (Leg Raises, LBCs, and flutterkicks.

    Moseyed back to the flag.

    SYITG

    King Kong

  • Hands free – Argentina won the cup! – from Reluctant Yankee

    YHC had the Q for a Monday chilly skinny. 18 PAX circled up for a quick disclaimer kind of and we were off joined by a FNG-soon to be named Hands Free – Headlocked by Whopper.
    Took off to big field across from Zoo.
    Warmup COP SSH x 20, Imp Walkers x 20, Shoulder Taps x 20, and Roaches x 20
    Run over to the Audubon statue for a modified Dora.
    Partner up – Plank Jacks for #1 while #2 runs a lap – then flip flop
    Then Dips for #1 while #2 runs a lap – then flip flop

    Then we ran to fly by the river for a COP –> walking plank, hip dips, jlos, and nolan ryans

    Then we ran to the hill. Merks 20 run over the hill drop 4 and do 16 merks repeat and drop by 4 again to 12 drop to 8 and drop to 4.

    Indian run off the FLY – RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNN! TRAIN.
    We didn’t make it – TRAIN blocked us but lucky us only one car.

    Ran to the LABRYNTH. I swept the 6 with the 29 year old FNG -Hands Free and even though he said the workout wasn’t hard he was suckin air a la Jingle Vader. LOL.

    At the LAby we did 20 Dips, 20 Wife pleasers using the bench and 20 decline merks.

    Ran to the flag for the complete 2.35 mile loop.

    Nice Monday gloom!
    Always fun to lead. See you on Friday for my next FROZEN Q.
    Peace – and Gratitude.
    RY

  • A backblast for Bogey in the Mists of Misty Mtn – from Reluctant Yankee

    I have been able to post for some Saturdays recently – a nice change after a year of Saturdays full of early volleyball matches and activities. I am RELUCTANTLY writing a backblast after mostly quitting on the habit of recording the actions of men committed in the gloom. Not all regions write them. Its not a required rule. During the PANDEMIC we quit putting a focus on the process of recording this. I used to value it but really for the last 36 months – I didn’t see the point other than recording the date and actions of the men who got their butts out of bed. However I was recently at a Christmas party with BOGEY and man that guy guilted men back to the habit – he is dying to read and see what he missed. The thing I value the most from a backblast isn’t the ideas for future workouts but rather the recording of the date and who posted – especially for FNGS. So after a year or so they can look back and remember who Qd and what they did. I guess that’s the loss to me. I honestly haven’t read anyone’s backblast in 2 years. Bogey informs me that I am missing out on some great creative writing.

    Today we posted in the a real GLOOM. It was thick. I couldn’t see past the steeple of Holy Name. I took the Q yesterday’s gloom when I asked GABRIELLE who might be the Q in charge- his answer was no one yet. My cousin F3 HUEY – Austin Jones – was planning on a rare post – so I stepped up and took the lead.

    We ran to the base of Misty Mtn for SSH x 20, IMP WALKS x 20, Merks x 20 and Roaches x 20.
    Then at the base – we sprinted up the inclines and mosey’d on the flats up to the 4th floor. Here we circled up again and focused on our obliques. Hip Dips x 15 L and R, NOLAN RYANS x 20 L/R, and LB-Obs x 20 L/R, Bird dogs x 15 – slo
    Then we ran the incline and mosey’d the flats up to the 6th floor. Here we used the wall for wall sits, wall sits with leg lift R/L, wall base walking plank and 15 decline merks feet on the wall.
    We ran the incline and mosey’d the flat up to the 7th floor. Here we circled up for the 12 days of Christmas. 1. Burpee 2. Imp Walk Squat 3. Merks 4. Shoulder Tap 5. SSH 6. Bonnie Blairs 7. Freddie Mercs 8. Shoulder Taps 9. Plank Jacks 10. JLOS, 11. Flutter Kicks 12. LOW COUNTRY CRAB
    WILLIE had to cut out early to the ACT. Good luck getting yourself into college.

    After ROUND 7th we took a break with a LAP down a floor and up a floor.
    That was time so we mosey’d back to the FLAG.
    COT: Enjoyed the accountability, enjoyed the fellowship, prayed for family
    BOGEY – IF you read this – Thanks for the push to get back to writing BACKBLASTS. I promise a personal commitment to writing BBs again. Thanks for the accountability. You the man.

  • Cool Hand Grenada – from Hand Grenada

    Conditions: Clear and 60 degrees. Humidity 63%. Wind 7 m/h from the North

    Pax: Belloq, Bolt, Fast Tax, Frac, Hand Grenada, Klinger, PVC, Yankee, Tiny Dancer, Triple, War Eagle, and YHC

    It started when I realized that HG was way over the workout requirement, but didn’t have enough Qs to get his name on the bat. Leading a workout is not a problem for HG. He’s a great leader. His problem is that he never signs up to Q on the website. He just kind of appears each week, coming from somewhere beyond the railroad tracks with a cup of coffee in hand. We assume he lives over there somewhere on the other side of the tracks. We’re not sure if he has a car or even a house for that matter. He clearly has access to coffee and some type of precise instrument for keeping time, as he always appears within 15 seconds of the start of the workout.

    So working off the premise that he doesn’t have a computer, I scheduled five Qs for him so he can get his name on the bat. After the first one, I realized that I would also have to write the backblast. Then he sent me a text (who knew he had a phone?) and said he needed to go to the dentist. I recommended one and then he asked if I could check and see if they had availability on Tuesday at 3:00. Next thing you know I’m receiving calls from people wanting to meet with him on my phone. I reach out to him and he says it might just be easier if he shares his calendar with me online. That way I can just set up the meetings. At this point, I’m starting to think he does have a computer. By the way, he also has a car. I took it in for an oil change last Friday.

    While I was at Target this past weekend, picking out Christmas gifts for his wife’s family, I started to get a little upset about the situation. But that changed at this morning’s workout. I realized that HG is not using me as his personal secretary. He is seeking my guidance in every aspect of his life. He looks to me as a mentor. Every morning he gets up and reads my Back Blasts, the same way one my start their day with the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Since starting F3, HG has worked to commit all of my writings to memory. This morning he reflected on the first two F3 workouts at Pontiff.

    The Thang

    • Gather at the track and mosey out near the tennis courts for our Warm-Up – This was executed flawlessly by HG.
    • Warm-up COP: SSH x 30; Low Slow Squats x 20; Merkins x 15; Imperial Walkers x 25; Mountain Climbers x 20; X-fit Push-ups x 10 – Here HG abbreviated some of the exercises. He only did 10 merkins in a two count cadence. At this point Triple Shift pointed out – the back blast had more merkins and if you read the teachings of Hawg, you can infer that they were done using a four count cadence. It please YHC to see that HG is not the only man meditating on my writings.
    • Mosey to the Rock Pile and select your rock, then mosey with your rock to the flag football field for the next COP – Good execution here, although he went to the actual football field.
    • Rock COP: Squat and Press x 12; Cusak Squats x 7, Shoulder Press x 12; Curls x 12, Hot Foot left leg x 12; Hot Foot right leg x 12 – HG went a little of script here. He dropped the Shoulder presses and the Hot foots, opting instead for chest presses and more squats. We did 12 reps of all exercises in the first round, then he added another round of 10 reps each.
    • Mosey Cusak style to the restrooms – watch out for tree roots – The execution here started out well, but I think he got lost at the end of the parking lot and ended up at the pump instead of the bathrooms. This was also out of order.
    • People’s chair with rock in lap x 20 seconds; Stay in People’s Chair and do 5 Chest Presses IC; Rinse and Repeat. Grab your rock and head for some light. – Excellently executed by HG. He actually added an additional 2 rounds to impress the ladies on the track.
    • Lunges with Rock 10 strides; 5 burpees OYO; Lunge back to starting position with rock; 5 more burpees OYO. Pile the rocks. – This was replaced with a pearl from the first Rock City workout. We spider-man crawled 10 yards, did 5 burpees, repeated and sprinted to the other side. We then did the same thing using lunges.
    • Boss Keane’s Rock Pile: Spread out in arms length next to Boss Keane’s rock pile. In cadence, first man picks up a rock and sets it down between him and the next man. Continue until rock pile has been moved to the end of the line. HG brought back one of Amnesty’s favorites here. Only a few pax have done this before and it showed. HG chose not to count it in cadence. The pax were just grabbing rocks and tossing them to the side. PVC and Bolt showed no regard for the shoeless pax among us. Once the rock pile was moved, HG did make us move it back. Although I was disappointed he didn’t count it in cadence, I was impressed by his embodiment of Boss Paul
    • Come to find out, that is not where Boss Keane wanted his rock pile…move it back – We did this, but not impressively.
    • I thought I said to move Boss Keane’s rock pile…Yes Boss – Skipped it.
    • What’s Boss Keane’s rock pile doing over here – I don’t know boss – Move it back. – Skipped it.
    • Mosey to the hill and drop off your rock. Extended Mosey to baseball field for 6 MOM. – We kept our rocks and did mary by the pump.
    • 6 MOM: Crunchy Frog x 15; LBC x 30; Russian Twist x 20; Freddy Mercury x 30; Ran out of time before he got to the Freddy Mercuries. Other wise it was perfect. Given the political climate of 2022 compared to 2014, HG led us in American Hammers as opposed to Russian Twist.
    • Mosey back to the hill (running over it this time) Grab a rock and take it back to the rock pile. Mosey (horse to barn style) back to the shovel flag for COT – Dropped the rocks off at the pile and sprinted to the flag.

    HG lead us in prayer to close it out. He did a great job today. I’m proud to be this young man’s mentor.