F3 New Orleans

Tag: Reluctant Yankee

  • Caught By the Fuzz (only if you are last) – from Reluctant Yankee

    10 PAX for a muggy but gloomy workout. My last Q for the year. My first backblast for the year I think. I caved to pressure from FracSac and decided I would no longer just leave my BB on Strava.

    So we gathered at a virtual flag and welcomed F3 Flush from Naperville.
    We quickly ran off to the Labyrinth for a warmup. At the Labyrinth we did the normal warmup COP. SSH x 20, imperial walkers x 20, dips on the benches x 20, dying roaches x 20
    What is that I hear in the distance? A train so my plan to loop the FLY is blocked.
    We added the parking garage at Childrens. We were going to run to the garage but we were denied entrance by the security guard after El Wire asked permission.

    Much to our surprise there was a well lit winter wonderland in front of the hospital. We circled up in front of the giant peacock. Hand release merks, lunges, squats, grass grabbers, and windmills. Seeing the opportunity of the empty stairwell at the back of the garage we ran to the top of the garage. 10-Hand release merks at the flat of each level. We ran by the security guard on the way out of the garage and he let Jingle Vader know his displeasure. I made sure to encourage everyone not to be last out – sorry JV.

    Back to the Labyrinth. Used the benches for dips, step ups, decline merks, incline merks.

    Ran to the base of Audubon statue. Wife pleasers, pickle pounders, lbcs, lbts, and dying bugs. IC.

    Then back to the flag. Ran by the tomatoes for Angies List and El Wire. or in order to keep the shoes dry.

    Thanks for the opportunity to lead. – RY

  • MISTLETOE, part deux (F3 traditional arr. By Sandbar, at a Caroling Pace) – from Sandbar

    Pax were forewarned that by the end of the beatdown, they would be the jolliest bunch of a-holes this side of the nut house.

    Mosey down St. Charles and back to Loyola. Warmups in front of the crèche. SSH, grassgrabbers, windmills. PAX divided into 4 groups, each had to select a carol they knew and could lead bc F3 is about leadership!

    Group 1 led the first mosey to the mountain with “We wish you a Merry Christmas.” Group 1 ran out of verses before we reached the mountain.

    At the mountain, PAX reformed for a Native American Run, and Group 2 led dashing through the garage while caroling with “Jingle Bells.” Running while singing is HARD.

    At level 5 we stopped for the 6 and did 15x Parker Peters, Mountain Climbers, and Peter Parkers IC. PAX reformed into a wassailing group and Group 3 led “All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth,” in honor of Bieber’s crash on Oak St. on Tuesday. It lasted for about 50 yards.

    On the top deck, PAX paired off for flapjack M-I-S-T-L-E-T-O-E. One pax did the exercise, while the other went down the stairs on level and ran back up.
    Merkins
    Imperial Walkers
    Squats
    Twists (LBTs)
    Louisville Lip
    Toe Taps (Penguins)
    Elf on the Shelf
    One leg calf raises
    El BCs

    After MISTLETOE, Group 4 led the caroling into the stairwell, with the 12 Yats of Christmas. YHC and other transplants only knew the traditional lyrics, but neither effort improved the other.

    Back the flag for COT.

  • Christmas Nostalgia on Canal St – from Sandbar

    YHC changed up the traditional route for a few Christmas stops. Text gathered below from various sources. Letmegooglethatforyou.com

    WWII MUSEUM – Andrew Higgins Blvd.
    From 1944 the true story of how American and German soldiers actually spent the night together in a tiny cabin in the Ardennes Forest, along the German-Belgian border, on Christmas Eve during the Battle of the Bulge. The senior german soldier said, “It is the Holy Night and there will be no shooting here.” The next morning he gave a compass and a map to the Americans to find their way home.

    ON TH LEVEE by the Aquarium
    Quick stop for the bonfires. Intended to light the way for “Papa Noël,” the Cajun Santa Claus, on his airborne journey to the area. Or, according to some sources, the bonfires may have also been a way of lighting the path to the nearest Catholic church for Midnight Mass. The origins of the bonfires tradition is unclear. They may date back to French Marist priests who came to Louisiana just after the Civil War to teach at local cottages, and adapted an ancient tradition that’s found throughout western Europe. Oral histories dating to the 1880s include mention of these fires.

    Then up Canal Street and all the glowing palm trees and the center of New Orleans Christmas tradition for over 100 years.

    DH Holmes 819 Canal (founded 1842, 800 block)
    What is now the Hyatt. The DH Holmes Christmas display was a must-see during the holidays. Also the clock which hung over its entrance was a favorite place for friends to arrange a meeting. All you had to say was “I’ll meet you under the clock” and everyone knew what you meant. A statue of Ignatius Reilly now stands under that clock.

    Maison Blanche (921 Canal)
    Now the Ritz Carlton. This department store was founded in 1897 by Isidore Newman, an immigrant from Germany. Maison Blanche is perhaps best remembered for introducing the locally popular Mr. Bingle (1948) Christmas mascot and for its landmark flagship store on Canal Street.

    We ran by the Roosevelt and YHC for a moment contemplated running through it’s bright and shiny foyer, but thought better of it.

    SEARS ROEBUCK 201 Baronne St.
    From the 1940s through 1979, Sears and Roebuck had a 4 story santa over the entrance, and it was a must stop and must see during the shopping rush along canal.

    Fast pace back the flag. Thanks for joining the nostalgic celebration and my birthday Q.

  • F3 NOLA Convergence 2021 (a.k.a.”Crew Change”) – Mothership 2021-10-16 – from Reluctant Yankee

    A fine morning, with a change in the weather providing a fitting backdrop for the changing of the guard on the F3 New Orleans Leadership Team.

    Kicked off at the flag zone with naming of the F3 NOLA Rookie of the Year and F3 NOLA Man of the Year. These went to Almonaster and Hokie Pokie, respectively. High praise and congratulations to both of these high-impact men for their efforts during the past year!

    Yankee then kicked things off on the Great Lawn with:
    Side Straddles Hops x27
    Hillbillies (in honor of Hawg’s prom) x 20
    OYO burpees x10
    Side Lunges x20
    Low Country Crabs x20
    Dying Cockroaches x20

    Moseyed to the track where Hawgcycle took over. Hawg brought the hurt with a modified Dirty Mac Deuce featuring:

    Larry Craigs x12
    Sumo Squats x12
    LBC x12

    Pax then partnered up. One pax sprinted 200 m around the tracks while the other moseyed across, then vice versa. Pax reassembled for announcement of the new SLT.

    It was time. Time to give a speech that would last generations, a speech commemorating the past 7 years, and one that would empower the incoming SLT for what was yet to come. Reluctant Yankee reached deep within his well of indisputable high octane expressions, and it was there and then he passed the torch of F3 Nola to Fracsac and Catfish, his great words of wisdom spreading across the field of F3 Nola men, leaders of this Fitness Fellowship and Faith thing we simply refer to as F3. Did anybody write down what he said?

    Fracsac circled the pax up on the field and did 5 SSH IC, followed by 10 burpees OYO. Many thought Shock and Awe was in the works, but nay, just an attention grabber. Next up was the mental challenge.

    6 SSH IC followed by 11 more in silence, all must end with the Q or a penalty would be handed out. The Pax passed with flying colors….but did they?

    4 corners on the track with 10 x 8 count body builders on 2 corners and 10 x burpees on the other 2. Circle back up for mental challenge again.

    This time there was a failure, with 10 x 8 count body builders as the penalty. The pax completed it the next go flawlessly.

    Pax had had enough mental abuse at this point, so there was much rejoicing when the workout was handed to Catfish. Catfish gently led things forward with:

    8-Counts x10
    Low Slow 8-Count Squats x20
    Bonnie Blairs x15
    Mosey back to the Great Lawn, with a quick stop at the baseball field behind Tad Gormley to do some Jack Webbs (up to 13, 11 got skipped). Continued the mosey back to the Great Lawn.

    At the Great Lawn, LBTs waiting x15 for the six. Frac then came back for a rousing round of Catalina Wine mixers (x15) for the finish.

    Back to flag for COT.

    Announcements: Roast on the Coast Starting Nov 5; GoRuck Tough NOLA the following weekend on NOV 12; Almonaster Qing a Christmas charity effort related to Operation Sweet Tooth (details to come)

    Delicious coffee and breakfast followed. Thanks to all who assisted with preparation for this.

    Thanks to all who attended and assisted with today’s convergence, and stay tuned for further announcements from the new leadership team!

  • More Rarajapari – from Reluctant Yankee

    The PAX of uptown got some rarajapari on with RY as the Q. Ball and a partner. Mosey to John James Audubon.

    At the statue we did a mini – macdeuce 2 sets of 4 exercises x 12 (I struggled to hit 12 – not sure why I couldn’t remember)

    Then we long mosey’d to the HILL. At the HILL we lined up on the soccer field – 10 laps sprint to the other side jog back with 10 freddie merks/ 10 monkey humpers at the line.
    After 7 laps the train was getting too close.

    Sudden change – hustle to the other side of the train tracks so we don’t get stuck. Ran into a group of men exercising. El Wire with the attempted headlock.

    Mosey’d to labrynth but the clock was ticking – Douille had to bail. Made it to the flag one minute late – sorry my boys. Picked up balls and reset for next time.

    Reminder to be good humans and people. Gratitude for time and life.

  • Leave Some Men Behind (And then find them) – from Tinkles

    It was a nice morning for workout. The park still looks like a firewood farm in many of our usual locations. Good excuse to stick the track for some running. A lighter but spirited crew brought their A-game today.

    Warm-up: Arm circles (forwards and back), Grass Grabbers

    First Thing: 1.8 mile Indian run around the park. 2 modifying pax finished along with the main group. 2 additional pax were still modifying.

    Next Thing: Ring of fire merkins x 2. Still missing two guys.

    Next Next Thing: Mosey to lot in front of the zoo for some 4-corners BLIMPS. Pretty sure they will catch up with us soon.

    Next Next Next Thing: Head to the parking lot for some Mary. The girls workout is going full blast and who is that over there doing their own Mary… the missing pax! Great instincts to seek out friendly foe! Rewards with Russian Twists, LBCs, Penguins, Dying Cockroaches.

    Last Thing: One more four corner BLIMPS modified to take us back to the flag.

    Extra Credit: planks with mission impossible.

    COT: count off, namorama, and intentions. T-claps to our lost friend Pauly D who is town for a brief stopover and came out to the gloom. Welcome back friend! Have a great week.

  • Lawn Dart for Pinwheels – from Reluctant Yankee

    I took Squeal’s scheduled beatdown. We welcomed Stuart Hill aka Lawn Dart for his first beatdown.
    I wanted to bring the tooth fairy and the pinwheel to WPM.
    Started with a longish mosey to Tulane near McAllister.
    COP1: SSH IMP walker-squats, Dying Roaches
    Mosey’d to the Field at Yulman
    COP2: Tooth Fairy – pushups up the stairs while partner did low country crab
    COP 3: PINWHEELs on the Field at Yulman – Plank Jacks – maybe we should make this a new AO one day a week? Just a thought.
    COP 4: Headed over to Little WPM – 20 Russian Twists every floor to the top
    down the stairs and over to WPM
    RUN TO THE TOP OF WPM at each level we did 10 merks
    Down the stairs and back to the FLAG. We had to hustle! arrived 30 secs late.

  • Saints / Packers Beatdown Commemoration – from Landing Strip

    In honor of the thing of beauty that was yesterday’s Saints “home opener” vs. the Packers, the PAX performed a game-themed workout with high efficiency. The cadence of each exercise was tied to a key stat.

    Warmup
    First we moseyed to the front of Tulane’s campus and did SSHs (50 – O/U) and burpees (3 – spread (to GB)).

    Tha Thing
    We then moseyed to the base of the Loyola Rec Plex garage where we Cleveland Guardian-ran to the top. Finding our usual stairwells filled with HVAC tubing, we ran up and down a spacious, brick-paved and fully air conditioned stairwell after performing each one of the following exercises:
    -LBCs (171 – rushing yards (modified to 100))
    -Merkins (22 – first downs)
    -Dying roaches (60 – total plays)
    -Burpees (3 – turnovers)

    We then moseyed to the base of WPM and again Guardian-ran to the top. From there, we did more exercises and up-downs, this time in smelly, cramped, un-air conditioned stairs:
    -Shoulder taps (39 – total rushes)
    -J-Los (34 – time of possession)
    -8 count body builders (2 – INTs)
    -Burpees (2 – sacks)

    We then moseyed back to the flag for a final set of 20 low country crabs, in honor of starting QB Jameis WInston’s feast on a W yesterday!

    WHO DAT

  • SLT 2.0 – Summary – from Reluctant Yankee

    This is a no frills backblast summary of our organizational meeting on Tuesday 8/18/21 7pm at the PJS on Magazine St. I am sure if Hawgcycle wrote this – it would be witty and clever but I am neither of those things. I assigned it to the Birdcage AO but this really belongs to ALL AOs.

    The rain tried to keep us away, but we would NOT be deterred. Even non-beatdowns happen rain or shine. During the meeting the PAX enjoyed bourbon produced by a PAX member and beer brewed by a PAX member. Seaman brought his own stuff.

    The PAX – assembled…Tool, Roots, Catfish, Triple Shift, Mahatma-Ice, Cowbell, Fast Tax, Kuch, Seaman, Vagabond, Sandbar, FracSac, Rudy, Rev Sox and Baywatch. We were missing Hawg and Gabby due to RONA, several PAX out of town, several PAX had other obligations.

    Tclaps to Aubry Miller – owner of PJS magazine for reserving the space for us!

    The outline of the meeting was…
    1. The History of SLT 1.0
    -Here I explained how I landed the sweet job of Nantan for the last 7 years-(not really 7 but since we became a region). How Hawgcycle became Weasel Shaker and how Tool, Roots, and Rudy(Comz) ended up becoming part of the SLT 1.0 although we never truly embraced this idea. Instead, we focused on the Starfish and all of us equally stepping up and in when and where needed-along with many other PAX of F3 NOLA over the years. Side Fx, Woz, Amnesty and some other PAX have been part of the “undefined” SLT in the past.

    2. Leadership Roles in F3 Nation (typically)
    Nantan – Q of the Region “the guy”
    Weasel Shaker – Support for Nantan but also the guy that keeps people from weaseling out of things. Q school guru. Finger on the pulse of our region guy.
    1st F Q -Fitness: Checks and makes sure we have site Qs, Q schools, checks to see if all Aos are viable,etc. **This is just the surface but you get the idea
    2nd F Q Fellowship– Mr Party Pants “the glue” CSAUPS, etc
    3rd F Q Faith – Dr Dynamite. This is Qsource, Bible Studies, Shield Locks, Outreach, Service opportunities, etc (This model isn’t compulsory- just what is typically done)
    And Comz.
    NOT part of SLT but part of the regional leadership are the Site/AO Qs.
    Each AO has a site Q – we will start to push for yearly leadership change at each AO.
    Site Q duties are:
    a.) Manage Q schedule for AO, headlocks Qs.
    b.) Welcomes Fngs – gets their information to COMZ
    c.) Sells AO, and the mission. Qs when Q fartsacks.
    d.) Harass Qs to write BBs. 1 year term.

    3. The plan for SLT 2.0 — We spent a chunk of time debating selection of the SLT members outside of Nantan and Weasel. Hawg’s wacky lottery idea and my more normal idea that comes from almost all of the other F3 regions concerning selection of SLT by Nantan and Weasel. The end result merged both ideas.
    -Term will start at the CONVERGENCE 10/16/2021
    -SLT 1.0 will not be permitted to serve on SLT 2.0
    -2 year terms (maybe first two appointees only serve one year so that we can change the rotation of leadership to every year we have 2 new leaders every year)
    –New Nantan and Weasel Shaker will be selected by SLT 1.0
    –New SLT breakdown will be 2 selections by the new Nantan/Weasel. 2 selections by self selected lottery. If you agree to be in the lottery – you agree to also be selected by new Nantan/Weasel for the two positions of their choice.
    –Rudy will be COMZ until we find a suitable replacement – that change can happen as soon as we find “the guy” otherwise our leadership is stuck with him
    –SLT 2.0 will need to have meetings (don’t commit to this if you don’t have time)
    –I will reach out to the PAX via the weekly email to volunteer to be in the lottery this weekend.

    4. The plan for future growth (for the SLT 2.0)
    a.) 501c – Tool and the $$, Gaby and Moana
    b.) Slack vs Groupme
    c.) Growth of AOs in the region (Northshore region plan, Thibodaux, West Bank,etc)
    d.) EH Outside our demo

    5. CSAUP calendar
    a.) IRON PAX – Sept – start getting Pax registered now
    b.) 10 yr anniversary in Wilmington, NC aka CAPE FEAR Oct 9/10
    c.) Roast to Coast – first weekend in NOV
    d.) Go Ruck Vets beatdown in NOV
    e.) Christmas Party – Almonaster has the Q

    I am looking forward to pushing forward with SLT 2.0. I can’t wait for some explosive growth in 2022. I hope that we can keep our own regional identity and stay true to the starfish and really insist that we are all the F3 NOLA leadership. Also – NO Otisbombs. If you have a great idea for F3 NOLA – you step up and you Q it!
    SYITG –
    Reluctant Yankee

  • 5 Years Of Brotherhood, Bonding and Burpees – from Belloq

    I woke up at 4:20 to a very special day. Eagerly got ready and made the 21-minute drive from the Lakefront to Audubon Park where I have only been to the The Birdcage once to celebrate our 6 Year Convergence last year. How appropriate that I celebrate the start of my 5th year where F3 NOLA truly planted it’s flag and grew? To my delight, I saw both Reluctant Yankee (site Q) and King Kong (Q last time I was at this AO) in the gloom so my confidence in help if needed was growing as I was beginning the disclaimer promptly at 5:29.

    My standard disclaimer expanded to tell the PAX why today was special…Biegnet’s (Matthew Joubert’s) 17th birthday, start of his Senior Year at Jesuit and my 5-Year Manniversary. The looks from the PAX was telling that many didn’t know who this foreigner was and wondered if I was going to talk the rest of the work out so we began…

    Moseyed to the field across Magazine.

    As I could see the confused faces of most of the PAX as they were still wondering who the hell was this guy, who allowed him to Q and how have they not met me if I have been around for 5 years. I decided to introduce myself by asking the PAX to circle up on me.

    Warm-up
    8-Count Body Builders IC X 20 (I could tell I would be popular from this choice moving forward)
    Arm circles front and back IC X16
    Seal claps IC X 20
    Overhead presses IC X 20
    Overhead arm claps IC x20
    Moroccan nightclub IC X 16 (dancing was allowed and welcomed)

    Initially my plan was to honor Shorty’s workout which had 16 reps but I screwed up the whole process because for the first time ever in the history of F3…8-count arm circles were performed.

    I then walked over to complete the circle for our final warm-up
    Low slow squats IC X 20

    The Thang

    Ring of fire Merkins/Plank switching to Monkey Humpers/Al Gore X 3 Rounds

    PAX became talkative so I threw in 10 Burpees

    Ring of fire Catalina Wine Mixers/Plank and Bonnie Blairs/Al Gores X 1 Round

    Merkincides
    10 Merkins, sprint to first tree, return to start for 10 Merkins, sprint to second tree, rinse and repeat to 5 trees out.

    PAX was less talkative so we did 10 burpees as a reward.

    Traditional Belloq Core Routine: (Borrowed from Jeff Cavalier)
    Halos Clockwise 30s
    Halos Counterclockwise 30s
    Reverse Corkscrew 60s
    Dynamic Plank 60s
    Chainsaw 60s
    Slow, controlled Big Boy Situps 60s

    Cool down

    Slow 8-count bodybuilders x 5 IC
    Stretch to sky with hands in air breathing deeply.
    Really, Really Slow Abe Vigodas IC X 5
    Touch toes

    Mosey back to the flag

    COT
    15 PAX
    Intentions for children, families and everyone dealing with going back to school. Giving strength to F3 Brothers in need of a friend(s) to lean on if they need support.

    A special thanks to Rudy for gifting me the greatest F3 name ever, Jingle Vader, Cowbell, Shorty, Bubba and Douille for being there for my initiation into the F3 brotherhood.

    “Btw, worst FNG naming process was held in the gloom today. Took over 10 min. Seems like none of us were on topic at all.” -Shorty’s BB 8/11/2016

    To start year 6, I’ll be back at Okawata for my Manniversary. Consider this an early invite. SYITG