F3 New Orleans

Tag: Rock City

  • ND and the Ladder of Despair

    The PAX are all painfully aware of YHC’s deep love affair with the Irish, and all things related to Notre Dame. The PAX are also fond of pointing out the flaws in my beloved Irish – “What a cupcake schedule”, and “You should join a conference”. This year’s CFB Playoff offered the Irish another chance to silence the doubting PAX.

    Returning from Dallas angry and a wee bit humbled, YHC asked the scheduled Rock City Q if he would be willing to give up his Q so the PAX could share in my pain. “Manbun” Hawg willingly agreed. So the PAX got to ring out 2018 with the Notre Dame Ladder of Despair.

    Warm Up

    Perhaps you are not already aware, but Clemson drummed the Irish in the Cotton Bowl by the score of 30-3. (YHC will happily discuss how the game was closer than that – but you’d have a hard time hearing him over the howls of outraged PAX).

    Burpees, of course. 10x OYO. Repeat. Repeat. That’s 30 (for Clemson). 3 more (poor lonely 3 for ND).

    SSH x30. 3 more burpees.

    IW x30. 3 more burpees.

    PP x30. 3 more burpees.

    The Thang – The Ladder of Despair

    Most PAX know that this was not ND’s first time getting blown out on the big New Year’s Day stage. But they may not understand the full depths of my despair. This morning, they will learn just how many consecutive times ND has gotten embarrassed this way. With a ladder. A ladder that calls out each of these games. How long will it take? How far back in time? Only YHC knows.

    • Game 1: 2018 Cotton Bowl. Clemson romps. 5 Burpees
    • Game 2: 2015 Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State destroys. add 10 Shoulder Presses
    • Game 3: 2012 National Championship. Alabama cruises. add 15 Curls
    • Game 4: 2006 Sugar Bowl. LSU crushes. add 20 Merkins
    • Game 5: 2002 Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State pancakes. add 25 Squats
    • Game 6: 2000 Fiesta Bowl. Oregon State thwacks. add 30 Rows
    • Game 7: 1995 Orange Bowl. Florida State trucks. add 35 Chest Presses
    • Game 8: 1994 Fiesta Bowl. Colorado routs. add 40 LBT 

    Fortunately for the PAX – the clock ran out, coinciding with the end of the streak. 1993 Cotton Bowl, ND romped over the Texas A&M Aggies. But now it was time to return the rocks. Final Tallies: 40 Burpees, 70 Presses, 90 Curls, 100 Merkins, 100 Squats, 90 Rows, 70 Chest Presses, 40 LBT. And worst of all – the cumulative scores of those 8 games? Foes: 304, Irish: 138. Average defeat of 38 – 17. Yikes.

    Return to the flag for our COT. Count-off for 20 PAX. Nice showing, gang! (Even if the uptown members were too scared to show). Lots of upcoming stuff (Krazy Ivan, BR convergence, Mobile Spartan, Jackson Day race). Always exciting to hear all of the opportunities that PAX are pursuing. Remember – if you hear something you want to do, DO IT. Q IT. Talk it up with the PAX, you will almost certainly find someone to do it with you!

    Thank you Rev, for taking us home with a thoughtful prayer, challenging us to be better men, better leaders, better followers into the New Year.

    Thank you, as always, for the chance to lead you all.

  • God Make you Mighty, Gentlemen!

    This was my birthday Q (51 yrs old) and I wanted to make it special for the PAX NOLA. As Christmas day is tomorrow, I wanted to not only strengthen the body but also strengthen the mind as well. As I was thinking about the direction I wanted to go in the Christmas Eve themed workout, I realized that we already done a couple of 12 days of Christmas beatdowns and desired to go a different route. During the Christmas holiday season, the pace of life slows down enough for me to be more contempletive and I have more time to read. As I was reading a book by Ace Collins called ‘Stories behind the best-loved songs of Christmas‘, I came across the ‘real’ history of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman which fit the theme of the beatdown today. Here is an excerpt.

    “When people today say “Merry Christmas!” the word merry means “happy.” When “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” was written, merry had a very different meaning. Robin Hood’s Merry Men might have been happy, but the merry that described them meant ‘great and “mighty.” Thus in the 15th century (Middle Ages), a strong army was a merry army, a great singer was a merry singer, and a mighty ruler was a merry ruler….the word rest in the title means to ‘make’ or ‘keep’. As the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy.” That joy and the power of faith can be felt and experienced in every note and word of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” You just have to know how to translate the words into the language of the day in order to have a very ‘Mighty Christmas!”

    WARMUP

    Run over to the field by the rock pile and proceed with the following

    51 SSH x IC, 20 Imperial Squat Walkers x IC, 10 Abe Vigodas x IC, 10 Arm Circles x IC (Forward and Backward), 20 J-Los x IC

    THE THANG

    I instruct the PAX to get a medium sized rock and we head to the football field for Bearicides. Because we had 15 men, I had to break the groups up into 3s. We line up on the sideline and PAX 1 and 2 perform 100 lunges, 150 goblet squats and 100 straight leg deadlifts. Meanwhile, PAX 3 bear crawls out and pushes the rock forward to the middle of the field then bear crawls back while continuing to push the rock.

    After the bearicides, we did a Febreeze. This exercise consists of WW2 situps followed by air presses with feet 6 inches off the ground while in a sit up position. The count was 2 situps / 10 air presses, 3 situps / 20 air presses…all the way up to 5 situps / 51 air presses. Whew….that hurt!

    Running out of time we did a Jack Webb with a rock press up to 7 merkins / 14 rock presses.

    Time is running out so we put our rocks back and mosey back to the virtual flag.

    COUNTOFF, NAMERAMA AND COT

    Prayers for peace, hope and healing for Brad Brechtel, Hawg’s mom, Disclaimer’s 2.2 and all the intentions we hold in our hearts. Truly honored to be leading such a great group of men looking to get stronger physically, relationally and spiritually! Many blessings to you and yours this Christmas Season!

  • Can we get a WHO DAT!

    Cool and crisp conditions this morning at Rock City, perfect “football weather” for a black and gold themed beatdown on the heels of the Monday night Saints vs. Panthers game.  A few die-hards were sporting team gear and after the disclaimer along with a brief explanation of what lied ahead, we brought it in for a “Who Dat on 3″…not quite the same coolness as Brees in the Dome but it helped get the juices flowing.  Then a mosey to the usual field for a quick warmup of SSH, Arm Circles, Imperial Walkers, Windmills, and LS Squats.

    Made our way to the rock pile to select a companion for the morning and over to the large field for some drills.  First up would be a round of exercises paying homage to the Saints 11-2 record so far this season.  What better way to celebrate the 11 wins than with 11’s!  Here’s how it went:-Curl Press with rock (10-1)-Backpedal to parking bumpers (approx 15-20yds)-Hand Release Derkins w/feet on parking bumpers (1-10) -Lunge Walk back 

    Now we couldn’t forget about the 2 losses so in an effort to push ourselves to get stronger, we circled up for 2 minutes of Up-Downs.  Might have been a bit ugly at the end but the PAX hung in there for a long two minutes.  

    Next up would be a “Heisman Run” giving a shout out to Mark Ingram and Cam Newton that would be taking the field later that night.  In order to be considered for the Heisman Trophy, one must show superb running skills with the ball, maintain possession of the ball, and be fast.  Using our rocks as footballs and making sure not to fumble, we warmed up with Squat Press x20 before tucking in the rock(ball) for a run weaving around the trees(defenders) and finishing with an endzone celebration of Squat Press x10.  Then waited for the six with a wall con roca sit on the fence. 

    Still time for another circuit so this time we partnered up in a line for some “Boom and Zoom” to give props to our elite running backs, Ingram and Kamara.  YHC assumed it was common knowledge that the talented duo is nicknamed “Boom and Zoom” but apparently he was wrong.  After some heckling and discussion, we noted that to be a star running back you must be strong enough to keep from coughing up the ball and fast enough to gain yardage.  Therefore PAX #1 stayed put for “Boom” curls AMRAP to work on the guns while PAX #2 “Zoom” ran around the tree and back (50yds total?) as the timer.  We did this for approx 4-5 minutes with some grumbling from the peanut gallery after a few minutes in.

    Two minute warning was approaching so we called an audible to keep rocks overhead as we made our way back to the rock pile.  From there a mosey back to the flag, a few minutes of planking, concluded by a “Who Dat” plank/merkin circle. 

    COT included some lewd yet fitting nickname suggestions for our FNG but we landed on Piper…welcome!  Also an announcement for Crazy Ivan race coming up in Jan.  Prayer intentions for Brad Brechtel and for a good, safe, injury free football game tonight. 

    Thanks for letting me lead.  Hopefully we’ll be 12-2 by the time anyone reads this.  Who Dat! 

    Tool  

  • Spartacus II….again…

    DISCLAIMER, let’s mosey…

    COP: -SSH x 20 IC

    -IW x 20 IC

    -Mt Climbers x 20 IC

    -Arm Circles x 20 IC (10 ea. dir.)

    Grab a rock, medium, one you won’t drop on your head…Let’s mosey to the shelter (cuz it has benches).  With a timer: 1 min exercise and 15 secs rest.

    1. Bulgarian Split Lunge (30 sec/ea leg)

    2. Shoulder Press

    3. Goblet Squat

    4. T-pushup

    5. Alternating Step-up w/rock

    6. Squat Press

    7. Side Lunge with Touch (Elf on the Shelf)

    8. Merkins

    9. Lunge and Rotation

    10. Elevated Wife Pleasers Rinse and Repeat for a total of two rounds.

    Time to send your rock home and time for some Mary:

    -LBC x 20 IC

    -Flutter Kicks x 20 IC

    -Hello Dolly’s x 20 IC

    -Penguins x 20 IC

    -Dying Cockroach x 20 IC

    -J-Lo’s x 20 IC

    Let’s mosey to the SF. Countoff, namerama, announcements, and a prayer. It was an honor to lead. SYITG…

  • 12-0 at #Rockne City

    What a beautiful, cool, crisp day for football. Or at least to celebrate football. So 18 men gathered in the gloom at Pontiff Park in a celebration of Notre Dame’s undefeated season, Rockne style. OK, so maybe 1 man was celebrating Notre Dame’s perfect season, but that man was the Q (YHC) so he forced his opinions on everybody else. I know Rudy was with me in spirit. A quick disclaimer and off we go.

    The Warm-Up:

    SSH x 20 IC
    Peter Parkers x 20 IC
    Hill Billies x 20 IC
    Plank Jacks x 20 IC
    Arm Circles IC, 10 Forward, 10 Backwards
    Windmills x 10 IC
    Mountain Climbers x 20 IC

    Grad a rock and head to the track.

    The 12:
    Notre Dame finished the 2018 season undefeated at 12-0. Our last undefeated season was 2012. Notre Dame was the only college football team to beat 12 FBS schools this season. And if we win 2 more games, we will win our 12th national championship. The Pax could hardly contain their excitement. Da Parrish and Bogey marveled at Notre Dame’s gauntlet of a schedule. Rev Sox and Hand-Granada were speechless. War Eagle knew it was coming, and did not show because he could not bear it. Hawg removed his shoes in homage. Mahatma was so inspired, he almost removed his Clemson orange t-shirt (but he didn’t…)

    12 reps of each rock exercise to celebrate the 12 victories this year. 3 rounds to celebrate the #3 ranking.
    Rock shoulder press x 12 IC
    Rock curls x 12 IC
    Rock rows x 12 IC
    Rock squats x 12 IC
    Rock chest press x 12 IC
    One lap around the track, sprint the straight aways, jog the curves.

    Rock shoulder press x 12 IC
    Rock curls x 12 IC
    Rock rows x 12 IC
    Rock squats x 12 IC
    Rock chest press x 12 IC
    One lap around the track, sprint the straight aways, jog the curves.

    Rock shoulder press x 12 IC
    Rock curls x 12 IC
    Rock rows x 12 IC
    Rock squats x 12 IC
    Rock chest press x 12 IC
    One lap around the track, sprint the straight aways, jog the curves.

    Circle up for some Mary
    LBC x 20 IC
    Penguins x 20 IC
    Flutter kicks x 20 IC
    Dying cockroach x 20 IC
    Hello Dolly x 20 IC
    American Hammer x 20 IC

    Finally, rock lunges with a twist x 10 IC.

    The we returned our beloved rocks, and moseyed back to the flag.
    High plank for 30 sec, left arm plank for 30 sec, right arm plank for 30 sec.
    Left leg cross-over Merkins x 10, Right leg cross-over Merkins x 10.
    Hamstring stretches for a cool down, and a strong finish.
    Count off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. Hawg thoughtfully offered a prayer for Notre Dame to beat Clemson (at least I think that’s what he meant…)

    Thanks for letting me lead. Here’s to a great season. Go Irish!
    Walleye

  • Stop me if you’ve heard this before

    Today marks year 3 of YHC’s F3 addiction.  Thanks to the brotherhood which has welcomed me, challenged me, improved me.  Its been a great ride, and one I look forward to for many more years.  I hope that in some small way, I’ve helped other F3 members in the same way that everyone around the Flag has helped me.

    So – what better way to celebrate 3 years than by replaying the workout that first got me hooked on this.  Back before Hawg became a stoner, he was a thrust into the role of Emergency Q, as the Q for the morning of November 23rd, 2015 failed to show.  No, it was not “Shorty”.  It was a true and faithful brother of a slightly different height.

    In hindsight, I have no idea how I survived that workout.  As Mambi referred to his first workout – I would echo that description for mine: “From Couch to F3”.  But it hooked me, and set me on a path.

    So here we are – November 19th, 2018.  Anniversary #3.  What did I do for the anniversary?  Uh, the same thing I did on November 23rd, 2015.  Same as I did on November 21st, 2016.  Same as I did on November 20th, 2017…  I’ve never been called “creative”.

    Mosey to the Rock Pile!  Oh wait, an old-school Cowbell Special: 10 Burpees OYO before we get started

    Warm Up

    SSH x5.  Then grab a rock.  Some muttering about how the warmup was as hard as Notre Dame’s schedule.  I will remember that comment, Rev-Sox.  But we’ve got to get busy.

    The Thang

    The thang that hooked me.  The Lieutenant Dan.  Yes, Bogey – WITH A ROCK.  At the end of the tree line, start Lunging and Squatting until you get to the fence.  x2.  x4.  x6.  Must. Keep. Going.  That’s a loooong way to that fence.  When you get there, no rest for the weary!  Grab a People’s Chair on the fence while we wait on the 6.  Mix in some curls while waiting for Triple Shift to finish hauling the largest rock ever seen.

    Once everyone gathered at the fence, it was time to give the legs a breather.  What better way to rest the legs than with The Jack Webb.  Yes, Amnesty – WITH A ROCK.  Merkins (one arm on the rock), Rock Presses.  1x/2x.  2x/4x.  Up to 8x/16x.  Hand Grenada 20 count, please!

    Circle up for some Mary.  One group of 4 PAX scoot over to the playground.  Everone get in a solid 10 Pull Ups, with spotting if needed.  Then hurry back.  Rest of the PAX are doing Mary.

    • Dying Cockroaches while PAX group 1 followed King Kong’s slow mosey return, hanging us out to dry.  31.  32.  33.  34……
    • Hello Dolly for PAX group 2, who seemed to understand that they should try and move a bit faster.
    • Leg Raises for PAX group 3
    • Flutter Kicks for PAX group 4

    Time to start moseying back.  And by Moseying back, I meant The Lieutenant Dan.  Yup, go the other way down the field.  Same as the first time.  Only Al Gore at the end.  Thanks, Kuch, for explaining the Al Gore to Momma and Dem.  “You see, you’re hugging a tree.  A tree hugger.  Get it?  Get it?”  As we again waited on Triple Shift, the PAX were given the choice of modifying the Al Gore: do it with your rock, or do it like Rudy (sans Rock).  Bogey tried with a rock for about 10 seconds, then decided he’d rather be like Rudy.  Good choice!

    Next up – another Hawg special from my second week: the Bloom Where You Are Planted.  Grab your rock.  The goal is to NOT PUT IT DOWN.

    • Shoulder Press, Curl, Row, Squat, Bench Press x12
    • Repeat x10
    • Repeat x8

    Time to return.  But Mambi wanted more – so one more Shoulder Press x6, just for you.  Now return the rocks and head back to the flag.

    Back at the Flag, PAX did 10 more OYO burpees, just because Rev-Sox thought we needed a bit more from the workout.

    Count Off, Name-o-Rama, Announcements, Intentions and circle up for the sweaty Circle of Trust.  Thank you all for what you’ve given me.  And thanks for the opportunity to lead again.

  • Spartacus II…why you’re here

    DISCLAIMER, let’s mosey…
    COP:
    -IW x 30 IC
    -Mt Climbers x 30 IC
    -Arm Circles x 30 IC (15 ea. dir.)
    Grab a rock and let’s mosey to the shelter:
    1. Bulgarian Split Lunge (30 sec/ea leg)
    2. Shoulder Press
    3. Goblet Squat
    4. T-pushup
    5. Alternating Step-up w/rock
    6. Squat Press
    7. Side Lunge with Touch (Elf on the Shelf)
    8. Merkins
    9. Lunge and Rotation
    10. Elevated Wife Pleasers (Rudy, stop looking…)

    Rinse and Repeat for a total of two rounds. Times is almost up…send your rock home and on your six for some Mary:
    -LBC x 20 IC
    -Flutter Kicks x 20 IC
    -Hello Dolly x 20 IC
    -Penguins x 20 IC
    -Dying Cockroach x 20 IC
    Times up, mosey to the SF…
    Countoff, namerama, announcements, and a prayer. It was an honor to lead. SYITG…

  • Monday Mayhem – the 11th hour of 49

    My plan is to never give in to a number so although on my last day this side of 50 I won’t blame age on forgetting I had the Q…..must have been the foggy brain left over from the LSU tailgating this weekend.  That said I’m glad that I checked the Q list driving in this morning which at least gave a few minutes to come up with something that resembled a beat down.

    After a quick disclaimer, 22 men strong we left the gated bullpen and head towards open fields near the rock pile.

    Warm Up – in Cadence

    SSH – 26

    Side Lunges  – 10

    Peter Parkers – 20

    Mnt Climbers 10 slow and 10 fast

    Wind Mills x 10

    Peter Parkers Oh wait Parker Peters x 20

    Go grab a rock……head to the hill, I’ll come up with something.  Switched to the Shelter….the aroma was way to inviting not to add it to our workout challenge!

    3 rounds of Tabata 30 sec on with 20 secs rest ONE minute reset between rounds.  At some point during this fun our FNG – now known as Seabiscuit had to much of the rock/smell combination and took a breather –

    Rnd 1

    Mnt Climbers (I think we already did these during warm up…..here you go that age thing creeping in)

    Overhead triceps press

    Squat with OH Press

    Curls

    Lunges

    Rnd 2

    Box Jumps

    OH Triceps

    Squat with OH Press

    BO Rows

    Lunges

    Rnd 3

    Switch Leg step up (with extension)

    OH Triceps

    Squat with OH Press

    Curls

    Lunges

    NOW on to EMOS – a little extra breather will Q fiddled with timer APP

    10 minutes of “Work”

    25 BO Rows

    5 Man Makers – Burpees with rock jump at the end

    Lateral Raises x 15

    OH Press x 20

    Wall  Squat Sit – 10 reps with a 2 second pause in the sitting position

    Rinse and Repeat – Exception – adding reps

    30 BO Rows

    10 Man Makers

    20 Lateral Raises

    25 OH Press

    Wall Squat Sit – Same

    Head back to the pile to return rocks – NOTE to those that were running back with Pebbles in hand; challenge yourself and grab a ROCK next time out.

    PAX assumed a plank position while waiting for all to return; Q while yelling out some encouragement (as would expect) got some chatter for not “fully” participating?!

    Upon all rocks being returned – there was little time for Mary:

    1:30 of plank – rotating contact points

    Head back to flag…..my only regret of the morning; not attempting to accept the challenge Cowbell threw out in his sprint; thanks for the push as that will drive me for a while!

    COT

    FNG – Q was being pressed at the end to tie his F3 name brief break during the Tabata but his commitment to step back in and finish with the PAX definitely earned respect that is reflecting of the name bestowed (I can’t take credit for it but Q in this case gets the final word).  Welcome Seabiscuit!

    F3 2.0 partner workout – Oct 28th 7:30 Brees sandbox – more to come I’m sure via other F3 announcements.

    Special intentions – especially for those in Florida – Thumper is part of a group coordinating some relief effort – please reach out to him with donations as well as the potential to be part of the physical on hand support.

    God Bless Brothers – we are held accountable to lead!

     

     

  • 10 and 1

    Welcome to October.  Fall is here!  Or maybe not.  Nope, down here in the swamp, summer heat and humidity remains the norm.  YHC had spent a weekend up north with the 2.0s, and enjoyed a run in crisp, cool fall weather.  How enjoyable – I hadn’t actually been cold in about 6 months.  But, YHC was slapped with reality twice when stepping off the plane at 9:30 Sunday night – first, HEAT and HUMIDITY.  I suppose fall will arrive someday.  Second – #TClaps to King Kong for letting YHC know he had the Q at Rock City!  What to do, what to do….  October 1st.  10/1.  I wonder what that could lead to?

    PAX appearing left and right in the gloom on Monday morning.  The Uptowners are rapidly becoming a (welcomed) infestation at Rock City (As Angie’s List noted – “You’ve been Gentrified!”).  As the clock struck 5:30, a Rock City record 21 PAX headed out the gate and off to the rocks.

    Super Brief Warm Up

    Circle up in the Pontiff Swamp.  Much grumbling and searching for high ground.  Lets get this party started

    • SSH x38 – as RevSox correctly pointed out, ND scored 38 in their crushing victory over Stanford.  But
    • Peter Parker x25 – face down in the swamp.  More tears of agony from the Uptowners

    Lets just get on with it, shall we?  Grab a rock and mosey to the trees.

    10/1 – Thats an Eleven!

    YHC is rapidly turning into Amnesty – a One-Trick-Pony at Rock City.  No, this wasn’t Spartacus.  It was the 11s.

    Line up in the middle of the field, trees on each side.

    • Burpees on one side (starting at 10x going down)
    • Jump Squats on the other side (starting at 1x going up)
    • Pass your rock heading to the Burpees?  Shoulder Press x11
    • Pass your rock heading to the Jump Squats?  Curls x11

    Go.

    When you finish, on your 6 and do LBC waiting for the 6.  Nice work JV, Bogey, RevSox and King Kong leading the PAX.  As a reward, they get to do more LBCs then everyone else.

    Over to the Parking Lot with your Rock.  Quick dose of Hydration.

    Dora

    Partner Up.  PAX 1 lunge walks (with Rock) out and back 5 parking spaces.  PAX 2 does exercise till PAX 1 returns.  Flapjack.  Rinse and Repeat till all exercises are done.

    • 100 hand-release Merkins
    • 100 Squats
    • 100 LBCs

    Grab the rock and mosey back to deliver our friends to their home.  Then dash back to the flag.  Hold Mission Impossible while we wait for the 6.

    Then wrap it up.  Count-off (21 PAX!), Name-o-Rama, including naming two FNGs: Left Eye (came along with the Uptowners – YHC not entirely sure he followed the connection that left to Left Eye, but it came from references to Lisa Lopes).  Friar Tuck (via Marlin, finishing his formation).  Welcome aboard!

    Convergence on October 13th.  See you there.

    Wrap up with intentions and close out with a prayer.  St. Ignatius, Teach me to be generous.

  • Spartacus II Redux


    DISCLAIMER, let’s mosey…
    COP:
    -SSH x 30 IC
    -Mt Climbers x 20 IC
    -Arm Circles x 30 IC (15 ea. dir.)
    -J-Lo’s x 20 IC
    Grab a rock, medium, one you won’t drop on your head…and let’s head to the shelter for the benches.
    1. Bulgarian Split Lunge (30 sec/ea leg)
    2. Shoulder Press
    3. Goblet Squat
    4. T-pushup
    5. Alternating Step-up w/rock
    6. Squat Press
    7. Side Lunge with Touch (Elf on the Shelf)
    8. Merkins
    9. Lunge and Rotation
    10. Elevated Wife Pleasers (Rudy, stop looking…)
    Rinse and Repeat for a total of two rounds.
    Times up, send your rock home and head to the SF.
    Countoff, namerama (welcome FNG-Mayfly), announcements, and a prayer. It was an honor to lead. SYITG…