F3 New Orleans

Tag: Rock City

  • Leadership Exemplified – from Hawgcycle

    Conditions: 72 degrees, 98% Humidity, Wind 2 mph from the SSE.

    Many times the Disclaimer is mumbled at the start of the workout, something like “I’m not a professional trainer, push yourself don’t hurt yourself, follow me.” But what makes for a good disclaimer? It’s really the Q’s first act of leadership in the workout. So it’s worth giving some thought to it and using it to set the tone. The bare minimum that you want to accomplish with the disclaimer is to attempt and disavow yourself from any liability if things go terribly wrong in the workout. Now, I am not a lawyer, and I am fairly certain that a no-good, unscrupulous, slick, Yankee lawyer like Kuch could easily side step our good intentions and find a way to use the law to his advantage, but at least you will have tried. So the basic starting point of the Disclaimer is to inform the Pax that:

    • You are not a professional trainer
    • They are all present on their own accord
    • They are responsible for their own well being
    • That the workout may involve times where caution must be exercised (strenuous physical activity, running in the dark, uneven ground, lifting heavy objects, etc.)
    • That they should modify the exercises at any point if they believe their safety is in Jeopardy and that they can seek your advice for such modifications if needed (all the while remembering that you are not a professional trainer and that it was your original direction that lead them to this place of peril in the first place).

    That’s the bare minimum, but a good Q will use the Disclaimer for much more. Our number one goal as Q is to make sure everyone makes it through the workout safely. In addition to the minimum disclaimer, give any specific safety advice needed at this point. For example, if it is a running workout, talk about busy intersections, making sure you are running against traffic, and not leaving anyone to run alone. Make sure someone in the group has a phone. Assign someone to watch out for the six if needed.

    If you want to go above and beyond, this is a good time to reinforce the mission and core principles of F3, especially if new guys are present. If you have planned an interactive workout, you can also take this time to forewarn the pax of questions you may ask during the workout, e.g., what is the mission of F3, what are the five core principles, why did you post this morning, etc…

    Not all disclaimers will be the same, but you know when you hear a good one. When they are really good, they become a topic of conversation. After I gave the disclaimer this morning, we ran to the rock pile. I could hear Rev Sox and Boo Boo discussing the merits of the disclaimer I had just given. They wondered aloud if the new leadership would meet this level of excellence. Personally, I believe they can, but please, don’t get too disappointed if it takes a while.

    Near the rock pile, we circled up for the warm-up. I led the group in 31 SSHs in honor of our playground’s namesake, followed by 15 Imperial Walkers. After that, we did a series of plank like exercises in succession (15 Peter Parkers, 15 Mountain Climbers, and 15 Parker Peters). Back on our feet, we closed it out with 15 grass grabbers and 10 Windmills.

    The Thang

    I spent months preparing for this Q. I read (and re-read) the book Primal Endurance by Mark Sisson. There is a great chapter in the book focused on Maximum Sustained Power. By taking some basic MSP concepts and adapting them to Rock City, I developed today’s workout. The basic principles were to find a heavy rock (mine was marked 52) and do the prescribed exercises at maximum speed. We would hopefully come close to our maximum power output in each set. We used a stack to form the basis of the workout and gave ourselves about 20 seconds to recover between sets. We gave our selves a two-minute recovery time between stacks starting with the 4th stack.

    This was the workout with approximate reps included. Some may have done more or less:

    • 5 Manmakers
    • 5 Manmakers, 10 Shoulder Presses
    • 5 Manmakers, 10 Shoulder Presses, 15 Squats
    • Recovery – Plank, Tree Pose each leg
    • 5 Manmakers, 10 Shoulder Presses, 15 Squats, 20 Curls
    • Recovery – Southern Gentleman, Yankee Aggressor, Karate Kid each leg
    • 5 Manmakers, 10 Shoulder Presses, 15 Squats, 20 Curls, 25 Rows
    • Recovery – Reverse Plank, Warrior III each leg
    • 5 Manmakers, 10 Shoulder Presses, 15 Squats, 20 Curls, 25 Rows, 30 Bench Presses
    • Recovery – 10 Nolan Ryans each side

    After this, we did some balance work. I listened to an hour-long podcast in preparation for this Q that discussed the value of unbalanced work and core stability. In an effort to build those intrinsic muscles responsible for so much of our balance and stability we performed the following:

    • Curls x 5 with one foot off the ground…flapjack
    • Shoulder presses x 5 with one foot off the ground…flapjack
    • Rows in Warrior III x 5….flapjack

    We finished with some Core work – 20 LBCs, 15 flutters, 10 side crunches each side.
    Then we headed back to the flag.

    NMM

    About 25 minutes into the workout, Bolt prostrated himself. Was he injured? Should I check on him? Possibly, but unlikely. It seemed more likely that he was new to the Islamic faith and it was time for his morning prayer. How did I know he was new to the faith? He was totally facing the wrong way, unless he was trying to face Mecca, TX. I politely paused the workout and offered that East was the other direction. Leadership exemplified

    At one point, a train stopped on the tracks. One of the young women, running in the park needed to get back across the tracks. As soon as Rudy saw this, he dropped his rock and ran toward her and the train to offer his assistance. He is a gentleman and a scholar…well, at least a gentleman. The young woman seemed to recognize him as he sprinted toward her yelling “Perv! Perv!” Did she confuse Paul with Perv? We will never know. Just as he arrived the train started back up, she yelled “God help me!” (which Bolt had already been praying for), threw herself under the train and disappeared.

    On the way back to the flag, I EH’d a dog walker. I told him we meet in the park everyday at 5:30. He said, “I know (pause…sigh) you all park in my yard.” I feel good that he will join us in the gloom.

    After the workout, I had to pay up on a bet to Hand Grenada for the Ole Miss – Arkansas game. One burpee for every point scored in the game. Arkansas lost the game 51-52. Hand Grenada made me yell “Hoddy Toddy” as I completed each burpee, otherwise he wouldn’t count them. I got to 53 burpees before I had to take a break. At that time, Hand Grenada yelled “No breaks! Start over!” I was too gassed to protest. Looking a lot like Paul Neman’s character in Cool Hand Luke, I wearily began the burpees over. Fortunately, for Cool Hand Hawg, Rudy and Mahatma jumped in to tell Hand Grenada that he was being unreasonable. They pleaded to him to show me mercy and that his demands were jeopardizing my safety. Hand Grenada explained that my mistake was made when I made the bet. If I was not willing to pay up, regardless of the physical harm I may undergo, I should have never made the bet. Rudy and Mahatma continued to grovel for my mercy until Hand Grenada exclaimed, “Weak…I have to go to work. Parten – I’ll see you at El Diablo.”

  • RevSox – the Prophet – from Rudy

    5:23am. That’s what time it was when YHC realized he had the Q. Just drove up to RockCity in the gloom. Getting out of the car, taking one last peek at the phone. Lo and Behold: calendar reminder that its my Q this am. Quick! Think! I’ve got one go-to Rock City exercise routine. A good time killer.

    Little did I know at this time that RevSox had predicted EXACTLY this Rudy workout at 3:40pm the day before. If YHC had paid attention to Slack, I would have known both that I had the Q and that I had better devise something new. But alas, RevSox apparently knows me too well. Better than I know myself, even.

    So 8 men (including Marlin again – maybe he’s becoming a regular!) welcomed the new week, and departed into the gloom for “The Usual”.

    Warm up at the Rock Pile with SSH, Stretching, some Peter Parkers, some Glute work till I got bored. Grab a rock, lets go.

    The Thang: 11s with Shoulder Presses and Curls mixed in. Not sure what this is? Either search my backblasts, or ask RevSox. He’ll tell you.

    Next: Core work. 2 PAX mosey off to pull-ups while the remaining PAX do an in-cadence core exercise. Flutters, Matahtma-X’s, Cockroaches and something else. Throw in some Wife Pleasers to work those glutes.

    Finally: Diver Down at the stairwell. Rows. “Diver Up” (Diver Down, but irkins, going up). More Rows. Then get them rocks back and get back to the flag.

    Wrap up around the virtual flag.

  • CPR at The Real Rock City – from Fracsac

    8 pax at The Real Rock City looking to put some work in to improve and get stronger. Humidity is back, but not too bad. The 72 degrees weather was well received by Bogey, Scantron, Hand Grenada, RevSox, War Eagle, Marlin, Pai Gow and YHC.

    Disclaimer given, then mosey to the rock pile.

    Warmup was typical with some bat wings to get the arms ready!

    Grab a rock and rifle carry back to the field inside the track.

    The Thang

    CPR

    Cones are set up about 20 yards apart. Starting on one end:
    Curls IC x 10
    Presses (Overhead) IC x 10
    Rows IC x 10

    Bear crawl 20 yards, complete 10 x 8 count body builders, bear crawl back 20 yards. Then run a lap around the track.

    Completed 4 evolutions, mixing in some lunges with the bear crawls.

    Rifle carry rocks back to the pile, then complete 10 x 8 count body builders IC to get us to 50 total.

    Mosey back to the flag

    COT

    NMM

    -55 was the magic number for 8 count Body builders, it’s the Iron Sharpens Iron task of the month. Only 5 more OYO! Join on Slack for non stop fun!
    -The Pax thoroughly enjoyed the variety brought today, YHC could tell by the enthusiasm displayed!
    -Coffeteria was awesome as always, joined by the men from The View!

    SYITG

  • Copycat – from Rudy

    YHC was devoid of inspiration late Sunday night. The Q was his in the am. He’d just fallen back on his usual (Rock 11s) very recently, and couldn’t risk disappointing RevSox again. Fortunately, Mr. Arkansas unintentionally came to the rescue as he posted his pre-BB. It looked brutal. So… Sounds about right for Rock City.

    Call me a Copycat. I’m ok with that. After clarifying what an “alpo” was, and realizing that would only cause problems at Rock City, YHC modified slightly, and had a game plan. Alas, despite having promised it to a few other Pax (looking at you Frac – thanks for coming anyway), the Yippee Bag was still in the closet waiting to be filled up with treats for another future workout.

    At 5:30, YHC issued the disclaimer, tried to give our FNG some fair warning (thanks, Vagabond, for bringing him out!) and we were off to the rock pile.

    Quick WarmUp. YHC fumbled through the explanations of Peter Parker and Imperial Walker, falling back on “uh, just move this thingy towards that thingy.” I think I actually used the words “appendage”. Scantron seemed to offer necessary clarity to our FNG.

    Grab a Rock. Feel free to go big – once we get to the Tree Field, we won’t be moving.

    The Thang: Rock Pyramid. Once again, YHC struggled mightily with his “words” during the explanation of this. The PAX were not bashful at calling out my multiple verbal fumbles. Thanks for keeping me honest – I can only imagine how I might have responded as a PAX to this kind of mumbo-jumbo I was spouting. But anyway…

    Manmakers, Overhead Presses, Curls, Squats, Rows, BB Situps, Bench Presses were the exercises. Do the pyramid. The one catch: YHC was the timer – x5, then x5/x10, then x5/x10/x15 etc. etc. etc. Everyone else: push yourselves and do as many as you can in the same interval. So we stay together in time, but everyone is going OYO. Makes about as much sense here as I write it as it did while I tried to say it.

    Ample resting to try and recover, intermingled with a few penalty laps for PAX heckling. But we got through it. Must have pushed the PAX because things DEFINITELY got quieter after about 15 mins.

    Bring the rocks back (Rifle Carry as much as possible). Head back for some LBCs, a few burpees. And welcome Triple Shift, who seemed to be joining us after a leisurely walk around the park.

    COT, including naming of our new guy “Water Pistol” (last name was Cannon – Thanks Hand Gernada, for what might go down as the fastest naming ever….) Welcome back Bagpipes – may we see you again soon!

  • Rush and the Giant – from Fast Tax

    It was a pleasantly coolish morning as eight Pax manned-up to start the week appropriately at Rock City, eagerly anticipating what YHC had in store.
    After disclaimer, we headed to the rock pile.

    Warmups consisted of:
    o Abe Bagodas X 10 IC
    o Matt Biondis X 20 IC
    o Seal Jacks X25 IC
    o Mountain Man Poopers X10 IC
    o Swan Dives X 10 IC

    After med-heavy rock selections, we headed to the field.
    The first exercise was Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, starting on the line with your rock.
    Each Pax performed the following sequence OYO: Squat, double arm shotput rock, broad jump toward rock, lunge the remaining distance, pick up and overhead press rock, and repeat the sequence for 40ish yards, then, turn around and repeat back to the starting point.

    Colt 45s (basically a broken down curl) were next, with rock IC: 15 reps go from the bottom of the movement up to the halfway point (with your arms at a 90 degree angle and hands at elbow level). 15 reps go from the halfway point up to the top of the bicep curl (hands up near shoulder level). 15 reps Start at the bottom of the movement and complete a full range of movement all the way up.

    Captain Thor followed, a 1:4 ratio of BBS to American Hammer, performed OYO, increasing by 1:4 each rep (i.e. ending with 10 BBS and 40 Amer Hammer).

    The Red Barchetta was the next event (should have been done to the musical accompaniment of Rush’s 1981 hit – Red Barchetta if YHC had remembered to bring his phone).
    Sequence OYO but plank after each sequence until last Pax completes:
    o 100 yard dash, 100 SSH, run back to goal line
    o 75 yard dash, 75 mountain climbers (2 is 1), run back to goal line
    o 50 yard dash, 50 BBS, run back to goal line
    o 25 yard dash, 25 merkins, run back to goal line
    o 10 yard dash, 10 Burpees, run back to goal line

    Then it was back to the rock pile.

    With a little time to spare, YHC thought a little absolution would be good for everybody…make that 15 Absolutions OYO followed by 5 burpees (for Fracsac) and a mosey back to the flag for COT.

    Thanks for the fellowship!
    SYITG

  • Gimme the Usual – from Rudy

    Gathering around the flag early. RevSox emerges from the gloom and emits a quite audible groan when he learns YHC is the Q. Thanks for that vote of confidence! The 8 PAX are muttering about how the esteemed Site Q seems to never appear anymore. But lo-and-behold, just as YHC starts the disclaimer, Mahatma appears! Great to see you brother!

    Today for the disclaimer: YHC has been thinking about and praying for his sister lately. She and her daughter are having a very challenging summer. So today, YHC asked all of the PAX to think of someone they know who is struggling – physically, emotionally, mentally, whatever. Offer the workout for them today. Offer our pains and struggles in the gloom as a way of trying to relieve their struggles. And use thoughts of their struggles to keep pushing us forward. So with a silent prayer for my sister – we were off to the rocks.

    Grab a rock, and lets head to the field. (The Tree field, not the football field, as Hand Grenada needed some clarifications).

    Circle up. Because Hand Grenada asked, we’ll start with 2 burpees OYO. Go. OK, now the warm up. Usual stuff – SSH, IC, Peter Parkers. Then some Glute Bridges – pinch some diamonds and really really activate them glutes.

    Then line up. Its the Rudy Special. Or Rudy Standard. Or “No, not this again.” Or “Rudy is just a one-trick pony”. Whatever.

    11s. Burpees and Big Boy Situps. When you pass the rock (left in the middle): 10 Overhead Presses in one direction, 10 curls in the other. Go.

    War Eagle was off to the races! Whoever he was praying for clearly motivated him to push push push. Needed to throw a few more reps his way just to keep him going while the rest of the PAX finished.

    Next Up: Groups of 3 in the parking lot. PAX1: Start LBC/LBT. PAX2: Start Rows. PAX3: Sprint to the gym door and back. Then rotate. And keep rotating till everyone got 2 of each set in. Pai Gow helpfully pointed out that the Row -> Sprint transition helped emphasize good form for the rows, or your back would really feel it in the sprint. Wise man!

    Rifle carry the rock back to the pile, and mosey back to the flag. YHC had the privilege of having to help a lumbering Triple Shift. When YHC attempted to pick up that rock, he better understood just why TS was lumbering…. That rock was a wee bit heavier than YHC’s rock.

    At the flag, we closed with COT and prayers – specifically remembering again those that we offered the workout for. Thanks for letting me lead!

  • Roasted Pig – from Hawgcycle

    Conditions: 80 with 88% Humidity. Heat Index of 85. Wind 4 mph from the SSW

    Pax: Rev Lifts, Mopster, Spouse o’ Science Weaver, It’s Just a Rash, Poolside, Annie Liebovitz, The Perfect Merk, Benthere Dunthat, and me, Hawg

    Warm-up: SSH x 31, IW x 20, DQ x 10, Peter Parker x 15, Grass Grabbers x 10, Parker Peter x 15, LSS x 14, Tempo Merks x 14

    The Thang: The guys clearly wanted to search for Plutonium. One look at this group and I knew there would be casualties…lots of them. But maybe we could find some less dangerous isotopes near the rock pile. In retrospect, I know, that sounds stupid. We did find three isotopes of Plutonium-9 at the rock pile. I didn’t know what would happen, but I knew there was only one way to find out. There were children present, there were old geezers present (whom I fully respect) and then there was HG and me who were still hurting from our last exposure. It might kill us all. It was too dangerous, but I couldn’t resist.
    The exposure lasted for all but 5 minutes of the workout. It burned me bad. I had to step away several times. I had to have several guys count to ten to make sure I didn’t go back in too soon. It was an embarrassing number of 10 counts, but my body was burned badly. Maybe it was for the best. We were clearly infiltrated by a German spy, but all of his pictures were of us standing around, protecting ourselves from more exposure.

    Mary: With about 4 minutes left, we circled up for some Mary. Rudy needed burpees and YHC agreed.
    • Burpees x 10
    • Dying Cockroach x 20
    • Burpees x 10
    • Flutter Kicks x 15
    A wise man once said that if you don’t do at least 50 burpees in a workout, you have failed as a Q. YHC failed in ohhhh so many ways today.

    Mosey back to the flag for COT

    After all was done, almost everyone made it back to their car. It was a stronger group than I thought. The child seemed to be doing the best of all. Rudy got to the top of the levee and could go no farther. I never got out of the park. I’m laying here on my back speaking text to Siri so that I can finish this BB. Thirty-five people have stepped over me to get to the track. I’ve had a dog defecate within 18 inches of my head. Rudy’s caterer is now on lap 56. The basketball ref that wears the jorts is about to start mowing. I pray he sees me. If I am here tomorrow when you all show up for the Wally Sprint, please move me to a safer place and tell my daughter that I am sorry I broke the phone stand she made for me. That was a bad omen. I should have heeded the warning.

  • Not a Dry Shoe in Sight – from Fast Tax

    Only 4 pax braved the sloppy Rock City soup to see what new creative adventures Fast Tax had put together.

    After disclaimer, we headed to the rock pile.
    Warmups consisted of:
    o Abe Vigodas X 10 IC
    o Happy Jacks X 15 IC
    o Bat Wings FAC, RAC, SC, OH, MNC X 20 IC

    We grabbed our rocks and headed to the field for the first routine, Field of Dreams.
    Partner Sequence OYO consisted of: PAX 1 begins to traverse the field as follows: lunge with rock to 25yd line, drop rock, bear-crawl to 75 yd. line, lunge remaining 25 yds. 50 BBS at goal line, repeat back. PAX 2 does 15 rows, 15 curls, and 15 O/H press then runs to switch with PAX 1 who runs back and does the rows, curls, etc. Cycle repeats until they are back at the starting point.

    After Field of Dreams, it was time to get our rocks off (or up). Holding wife pleaser position with rocks on the ground past their head, sequence is IC:
    As YHC called “up,” triceps lift to overhead and back down. 3 sets of 10 reps.

    Next was Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes: a 10 count arm and shoulder workout with rock, 20 reps IC.

    Following 2 cycles of an Indian Crabwalk, the festivities on the field culminated with Captain Thor, a 1:4 ratio of BBS to American Hammer, performed OYO, increasing by 1:4 each rep (i.e. ending with 10 BBS and 40 Amer Hammer). Then it was back to the rock pile and a quick mosey to the flag for COT.

    Coffeteria at PJs followed.

    Thanks for the fellowship!
    SYITG

  • WF3Q: all the hits, all the time – from Bolt

    This early morning radio show included classics by artists such as Ludacris, Kenny Chesney, Darude, and Survivor, so basically a playlist created by a total nut job.

    Guest appearances by WB Pax (Frozone and Short Bus—thank you!) that’s what happens when cocktail-ing with Mahatma…

    Warmup IC: SSH, arm circles forward/back, tclaps, seal claps, Moroccan night clubs, self love (all 15x); Toy soldiers, IW, hillbilly squats (15x)

    Mosey to bleachers for dry docks up the bleachers, increasing by one rep each row except top one for 10 reps. Tricep dips down the bleachers staring with 10 reps, decreasing by one each row.

    Mosey, grab rocks, carry to parking lot and place pairs of rocks at each tree. Pair up for 5 rock station circuits (10 reps each) plus bonus track (Deca-die of pain): Squat , OH press, Curls, Lying press, tricep press. 3 rounds, moving between stations differently each round: mosey, reverse crab walk, bear crawls. Fracsac, ever the masochist, rolled out first deca-die after which we had to perform the move/count it landed on.

    Return to rock pike and circle up for Mary, Pax choice/lead in cadence. Return to flag for COT; thanks men for showing up and allowing me to lead!

  • SPACE – The Final Frontier – from Rudy

    Cool gloomy morning – the best kind for a workout. Remember mornings like this when we are in the dog days of July and August. 4 PAX set off after a mislocated disclaimer (YHC was just testing whether the PAX were listening when announcing “Welcome to Okwata”).

    60 years ago today: Yuri Gargarin becomes first man in space. 40 years ago today: First takeoff of the US Space Shuttle (Columbia). So a quick SPACE warmup with Side straddle hops, Plank jacks, Abe vigodas, Crunchy frogs and Eight count body builders. Then get a rock. The field was wet. Too wet, even for YHC, so instead head to the parking lot and line up.

    Elevens with 8 count body builders and Squat Jumps. 10x Curls or Presses whenever you pass your rock. Then walk/mosey/meander to the gazebo for 2 rounds of Step Ups, Dips, Irkins and Derkins. Grab our rocks and rifle-carry back to the pile for a few rounds of Mary before the run back to the flag.

    NMM: Thanks for letting me Q. Weekend reading had included one prayer that prompts me (and all of us) to always strive to be better today than we were yesterday. Each day, we will fall short of our ambitions, our goals, our calling. But that can never let us stop trying to be the man we are called to be the next day. Each morning as the sun comes up, we have a new opportunity, a new gift of a day, to lead by example, by word, by deeds. Let us use this gift of today. Prayers especially for Bolt’s father-in-law, who is in need of those prayers.