F3 New Orleans

Tag: Rocket

  • The Return of the Cusak

    The Q wanted to make sure he was on time this morning so he did not give Rudy any additional reasons to harass the Q.   Was a nice, warm, and muggy morning as the PAX met at the normal spot for Rock City.

    A quick disclaimer and PAX moseyed near the rock pile for some warm-ups as follows:

    Side Straddle Hops – 25x

    Hillbillies – 25x

    Peter Parkers – 25x

    Parker Peters – 25x

    Arm Circles – Forward – 10x, Backward – 10x (or maybe 9, I lost count), Overhead – 10x, and Seal Claps – 10x.

    Grab a rock from the rock pile and mosey to the football field for some fun.   Pax line up on the goal line with back to the goal post and facing the other end zone.   Start with 5 shoulder presses at the goal line, with the first press holding rock long enough to sing “In Your Eyes” – a nod to the Cusak – as defined in the F3 lexicon as follows:  (exercises completed while holding/carrying a CMU or block overhead, usually in conjunction with running or walking. A la John Cusak’s character in the popular 1980s movie “Say Anything.” Also allows for really poor versions of “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel to be introduced as #mumblechatter. )

    After 5 shoulder presses at the goal line, bear crawl to the 10 yard line for 5 merkins.    Lunge walk back to the goal line for more shoulder presses.   Increase number of reps by 5 for each exercise with each 10 yard increase in distance.  Finish the round with 25 shoulder presses, bear crawl to the 50 yard line, 25 merkins, and lunge walk back to the goal line.

    For active recovery – thanks Mahatma – run one lap around the track.

    Back to the goal line for more rocks.   After 5 curls at the goal line (Singing “Sledgehamer” on each curl was optional for second set), bear crawl to the 10 yard line for 5 monkey humpers.  Lunge walk back to the goal line for more curls. Increase number of reps by 5 for each exercise with each 10 yard increase in distance. Finish the round with 25 curls, bear crawl to the 50 yard line, 25 monkey humpers, and lunge walk back to the goal line.

    Mosey back to the rock pile and the flag, but wait we did not have a flag this morning.   We still knew where to circle up.     Count off, Name-o-rama, special intentions, and Ball of Man.   We named FNG “Frenchie” who was EH’d by Disclaimer.   Great Monday with 17 Pax at Rock City!

    Thanks to all for the opportunity to lead.

  • The Thrillabon in the Audubon

    Being an F3 Nation member for only 10 months (last race I was nothin but a gleam in a Hawg’s eye), the Gnarly Nutria was the stuff of legend. A back and forth sporting event like the world has not witnessed since Ali vs. Frazier. Two heavyweights going toe to toe for 5.4 miles with the Uptowners dominating Gnarly Nutria I and The World squeaking by with a narrow victory in Gnarly Nutria II.

    This year The World looked to overwhelm the smug Uptowners with numbers, and we have been recruiting. I was even dreaming of running the first race of my life but fell to the wayside with a calf injury on Friday. Although The World would now be missing their best runner, they still persevered and began the race with a distinct advantage in numbers.

    Following an epic lightning storm, the race began at 9:10pm. Our first finishers were a family group, and hat’s off to Sandbar who brought two of his 2.0s who finished the first lap in solid time.

    I knew the Uptowners were going to be in trouble when the first runners to not complete all three laps were Uptowners. Then the top two finishers of all three laps were both from the World and the landslide began. Like an over-the-hill Frazier against Ali, the Uptowners were no match for The World in Gnarly Nutria III.

    The final score was 446 The World and 354 Uptowners. The World is so fast, we turned off the lights in our bedrooms when we got home last night and we were in bed before the room was dark.

    We welcomed 4 FNGs into our numbers in the largest sweaty ball of man I have ever seen. I got to hand it to the runners, the names for our new members were great. We welcome Tubbs, Tramp Stamp, Right Cheek and his brother Left Cheek to F3. May we forget your real names and always refer to you by your F3 names in public.

    Here are your Gnarly Nutria top finishers:

    1. Smooth – The World

    2. Turbo Tax – The World

    3. Pony Boy – Uptowner

    4. El Guapo – The World

    5. Mulligan – Uptowner

    6. End Time – The World

    7. YSR – Uptowner

    8. Swampcock – Uptowner

    9. Cavalier – Uptowner

    10. Mahatma-Ice – The World

    11. Right Cheek – The World

    12. Nip/Tuck – Uptowner

    13. Jadaveon – Uptowner

    14. Cowbell – The World

    15. Hawgcycle – The World

    16. Thighs – The World

    17. Freedo – Uptowner

    18. Cornbread – The World

    19. El Wire – Uptowner

    20. Mariah – Uptowner

    21. Rudy – The World

    22. Rocket – The World

    23. Peppa – Uptowner

    24. Saban – Uptowner

    25. Tubba – The World

    26. Tramp stamp – The World

    27. Bubba – The World

    28. Shorty – The World

    29. Brownbag – Uptowner

    30. Landing Strip – Uptowner

    Left cheek, Bad Moon, Two Yutes, Shooter, Bushwacker, Einstein, 86, Pi, Walleye, King Kong, Triple Shift, Reluctant Yankee, and Roots fell just outside the top 30 in this order. I couldn’t keep up with the names after Roots. Congrats to all who finished and all who completed 1 or 2 laps. Thank you for helping us all be better men as we do stupid, pointless things like run for no reason in the middle of a lightning storm while chased by Jaguars.

    I’m inviting you to our next AO at “the Boxing Match” sculpture in Kenner’s Rivertown. The first Wednesday of September will be the launch of the F3 NOLA “Fight Club.”

    Your Humble Scorekeeper (I don’t plan on doing this next year, so someone else better get hurt right before the race in 2019),

    RevSox

  • No Cowbell, No Problem

    The clock ticked steadily towards 5:30.  The growing herd of PAX started to get restless.  Mutterings of “Who’s the Q?” were heard.  YHC had checked the sheet the night before – Cowbell was on the list.  Surely Cowbell would have also checked the list, or his email.  Right?

    Wrong.

    5:30 arrives.  No Cowbell.  But the PAX wait on no man, and the Workout must go on.  So YHC grabs the Disclaimer, and leads the PAX off to the rock pile – with the warning that others better be planning their own part of the workout.

    Rudy – The Warmup

    Typical Rudy start. SSH, Smurf Jacks, Monkey Humpers, IW, then Plank-o-rama with Peter Parker, Mountain Climber, Parker Peter.

    Go grab a rock.

    Mahatma – The Ruck

    Line up in 2 lines for a Ruck.  Follow Mahatma’s lead.  Start with the rock held on one side (NO RESTING ON THE SHOULDER).  Then up above your head.  Then to the other side.  Ruck down to the tree line.

    Line Up and Partner Up.

    • PAX 1: Carry Rock #1 out about 30 yards.  Bear crawl back.
    • PAX 2: Simultaneously start bear crawling out to Retrieve said rock and return it.
    • PAX 1: On return, grab Rock #2 and carry out about 60 yards.  Sprint back.
    • PAX 2: On return with Rock #1, sprint out to retrieve Rock #2 and carry back.

    Rinse and repeat.

    Bogey – The Slllllllooooooowwwwww Count

    All exercises in slow count cadence.  Up in 4, Down in 4.  x20 (or so) each

    • Curls
    • Straight Out in front (ok, this one was “not easy”).
    • Rows
    • Squats

    Pai Gow – The DangerFEST

    Line up.  Be watchful – its time for rock throwing!

    • 5 Burpees
    • Throw rock, bear crawl to it.  Throw it again.  Try to avoid bear-crawling PAX in the vicinity.  Bear crawl some more.  Until Tree #1.
    • 10 Merkins.
    • Throw rock, lunge walk to it.  Repeat. Until Tree #2.
    • 20 Shoulder Press.
    • Return following roughly the same pattern.  Or we may have gone out to Tree #3 for another set of exercises before the return.  Sorry, YHC memory is faulty, caused by high humidity, high sweat, and high fear of falling rocks.

    King Kong – Work them Abs

    Circle Up.  King Kong runs us through some Core, while holding the rock.

    • American Hammer.  Twist that rock.
    • Scissor Kicks.  Keep the rock in the air.
    • Flutter Kick.  Keep the rock in the air.
    • One other set.

    Then Mahatma led us on a Ruck back to the Rock Pile.  Then a final sprint back to the flag.

    Walleye then took us home with the Count-off, Name-o-rama, Announcements and a closing Prayer.

  • Track to the Foundry

    YHC arrived at the Foundry AO a few minutes early, allowing for a sincere welcome to each Pax as they arrived.  One never knows how many will post at the Foundry, some weeks it’s a few, others it’s a pack.  This day we had 11 total, which is a great number.  0530 hit, time for the disclaimer.  During the disclaimer, YHC revisited the term “Whiskey Dicking”, which is basically the act of not doing something because it’s too hard.  The disclaimer is to modify to prevent injury, while pushing yourself beyond what you thought you could do.  YHC doesn’t see Whiskey Dicking as an issue in our ranks, but it is fun to say!  Give it a try!

    Mosey to the track warm up area for the warm up

    SSH IC x 31
    ISW IC x 10
    Sun Gods IC x 20 (10 fwd, 10 bwd)
    Peter Parker IC x 20
    Shoulder Taps IC x 20
    Mountain Climbers IC x 20

    Mosey onto the track for Bataan Death March
    Line up in 2 columns
    Regular Indian Run with last man dropping off to do 5 burpees, then sprint to front.
    Continue doing Indian run until each pax in both columns complete 5 burpees

    Back to the warm up area for

    Catalina Wine Mixers IC x 10 (gotta fit them in!)

    Mosey to the Foundry for Stations

    Station 1 – Dips AMRAP
    Station 2 – Rower Situps AMRAP
    Station 3 – Step ups/Box jumps AMRAP
    Station 4 – Pull Ups AMRAP
    Station 5 – Run to walking/biking trail, 10 burpees, run back (timer)

    Completed 2 evolutions with second round of 5 burpees due to time.

    Mosey back to Shovel Flags

    Rower situps IC x 10 while waiting for the 6.

    COT

    Count off, Name-o-Rama, Announcements, closed with a prayer.

    Lots of events coming up, check the email and group me. Several Pax and families traveling in the upcoming week, prayers to keep them safe on their journey.

    NMM

    Thibodaux is back in town and has been posting at numerous AO’s. We always enjoy seeing him, and look forward to his next visit. On Saturday he is headed back to Shanghai, and we wish him a safe journey.
    YHC looked back to find when the term Whiskey Dicking (verb) was first used in F3 Nola.  On 27 April, 2016, Tool led the beatdown at the Birdcage, and encouraging everyone to give 100%, he tossed out the term from the lexicon defined as “Half stepping through a workout or other event.  More generally, execution of anything without sufficient zeal.”  Well said!

    Great looking group at the Foundry! Thanks for posting with me today!

  • VQ for the Mambi at Rock City

    YHC had a hard time falling asleep the night before his VQ. YHC wanted to be PRO, thinking about his workout, the F3 Lingo / Lexicon, and time management. Finally fell asleep, it seemed as if the alarm went off shortly after.

    Pulled up to the infamous Rock City, (where F3 Men workout) to already see a handful of PAX ready to train, YHC walked up to wait for 5:30 to start. It was time for the disclaimer and we began.

    14 Hard Charging F3 brothers (PAX) mosey to the PIT for the warmup

    • SSH IC x 25
    • Sun Gods (Arms Circles) 10 fwd, 10 back
    • Windmills IC x 15
    • Peter Parker IC x 10
    • Parker Peter IC x 16
    • Burpees x 10

    PAX pick out his ROCK and mosey to the running track.

    Part 1

    • 25 Squats with ROCK
    • 25 Arm Curls with ROCK
    • 25 Military Press with ROCK
    • Run 1 Lap

     

    • 25 Squats with ROCK
    • 25 Arm Curls with ROCK
    • 25 Military Press with ROCK
    • Run 1 Lap

     

    • 25 Squats with ROCK
    • 25 Arm Curls with ROCK
    • 25 Military Press with ROCK
    • Run 1 Lap

     

    • 25 Squats with ROCK
    • 25 Arm Curls with ROCK
    • 25 Military Press with ROCK
    • Run 1 Lap

    Part 2

    Line up on the back of the end zone line with ROCK

    • Lunge walk with ROCK overhead to the 25-yardline
    • 10 LBC’s
    • Lunge walk with ROCK overhead to the 50-yardline
    • 10 Merkins
    • Lunge walk with ROCK overhead to the 25-yardline
    • 10 Monkey Humpers

    Mosey with ROCK back to the PIT return PAX ROCKS to the ROCK PIT

    Circle up for Mary

    • LBC IC x 20
    • Leg lifts IC x 20
    • Dying Cockroach IC x 10
    • American Hammer IC x 10
    • Penguins IC x 10

    Mosey back to flag

    COT

    Count off, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Intentions, Closed with a prayer to the Sky Q

  • RED Friday – Jenkins Hero WOD

    8 men (1 FNG) posted for a RED Friday workout tribute to British serviceman Garreth Jenkins.

    Warm-up

    SSH x 20 (I could tell Frac was disappointed), Imperial Walkers x 20, Windmills x 15, then some self-love on your own while YHC gave the instructions to…

    The Thang

    Partner up for

    • 50 Burpees
    • 400 meter run
    • 50 Kettle Rock Swings
    • 400 meter run
    • 50 Pull-ups
    • 400 meter run
    • 50 Merkins
    • 400 meter run

    Partners split reps for exercises however they want for 50 cumulative, then run the 400 meters together.  Complete as many rounds as possible in the 40 minutes.

    NMM

    • First time I’ve seen Mahatma and T-Shift since the bike accident last week.  Glad to see them both.
    • Rocket works at Lockhead Martin and builds cool space vehicles.  I’m pretty jealous.  He walked away with a pretty good name, mainly because we want him to like us and post at the Gnarly Nutria.
    • I’ve never seen Fracsac run so hard.  He was partnered with Triple Shift and I think he was worried that Triple was going to run over him.
    • You would think I would be faster at burpees.  After all, the man behind the curtain running the @f3nation twitter feed posted a video of my perfect barefoot burpee form as a lesson for all.  Yet, I could not keep up with Mahatma.
    • Abacus continues to stand out among the Pax with his understanding of the RED Friday dress code.
    • Notre Dame should hire Walleye as a recruiter.  Show up to Audubon Park at 2100 hours on July 18th and you will see what I mean.

  • Stretching & Sweating in the Sun

    Backblast.  June 30, 2018

    So who else is noticing that after exercising for a couple of months and more that your T shirts must be shrinking?

    By Worms, with comedic assistance from Moneycat | June 30, 2018

    The Scene:  The Knoll

    Conditions: 82F, got warmer as it went. Ahhhh….the “cool of the morning” in BR.

    Welcome: 9 men posted.

    Disclaimer:

    “I am not a professional trainer….well, you guys know the rest.”

    (Sorry about the pics guys.  Even if I flip the image upside down on my computer before uploading the photos they still come out upside down on the Backblast posts.  Just so everyone knows, we were not doing head stands to take our photo.  That came later.)

    Warm-a-Rama:

    The local MADD group had a festive event going on at the park this morning, not to be confused with DAMM, Drunks Against Mad Mothers. They were taking over OUR parking places, so we moved over a little down the parking lot.

    Had some new exercises this morning requiring new coordination. Some of us neared falling down on some of these.

    Capri lap Squirm.  Not a “run” but can still call it a “mosey”.  (A squirm is a fast walk  To be “walking” you have to have one foot on the ground at all times.  “Running involves a moment in time where no foot is touching the ground. Its about 4-9/13  microseconds, I believe.)

     

    Goofball – A standing mountain climber (running in place) while you alternate your arms up and down (like climbing a ladder). Call it goofball b/c you look exactly like one when doing this.

    Annie – This exercise instructs pax on the art of clean floors, be warned some pax may break out in song and dance. Hold plank and rotate one arm in a circular motion while holding plank with the opposite arm.

    Sky Reaching – Long reaching upwards with your fingertips high.  Can be as strenuous as you want to make it.  You can be lazy and just point up like you want to ask a question, or you can stretch about 64 muscles till they hurt if you like.  If someone was asking a question I ignored them. Sorry. No questions can be asked once the counting begins.

    Sun God’s – This exercise is the rotating of shoulders through act of moving outstretched arms (with purpose and intensity) forward or backward in circular motion – Options for little Sun Gods and/or Big Sun Gods for desired effect.

    Batwings – Progression of arm exercises that are deceivingly difficult and named after Austin’s bats. Start with 20 x Forward Arm Circles, hold, 20 x Backwards Arm Circles, hold, 20 x seal claps, hold, 20 x overhead claps. Everything is on a 4-count. Remember to enjoy the pain on the faces of your fellow men.

    Fabreze – Certainly not the first production run of “Fabreeze” air “freshener”.   How do you make air “fresher” by contaminating it with “pretty” smells?   My sinuses rebelled with that stuff and I told my wife to throw it out and never buy it again. On your six, do 2 Big Boy Situps. Remain upright after last BB and lift feet up 6″.  Do 10 Air Presses.  (Thanks to Sparknut, visiting from Raleigh, pointing out that this is an arm press in the air, not a leg press.)  Back down for 4 BB followed by 20 Air Presses with legs held 6″. Repeat using increments of 2:10 ratio. (2:10, 4:20, 6:30, 8:40, 10:50, etc…). Didn’t quite do the numbers as planned because the Worms was tuckering out.

    Goose Step – Marched 65 paces just like the Nazis though we don’t hold to the fascist model otherwise.  A real leg muscle stretcher.

    Finkle Swing – Named for the infamous kicker “Ray Finkle” it is said that this was the stretch that lost him the big game. Pax swings one leg at a time back and forth to warm up those hips.

    Happy Jacks – Do 5 side straddle hops in cadence then after the 5th one everyone does two jump squats. Like this… Side Straddle Hops IC: One, two, three, ONE! One, two, three, TWO! One, two, three, THREE! One, two, three, FOUR! One, two, three, FIVE! Quickly followed by two jump squats. Repeat 4x or until no one can breathe.  Cool activity twist on some familiar exercises.

     

    Mozy to the sundial for da thang……..

    Dem Thang

    Freak Nasties – One stand, straddle other’s head.  Man on ground feet up high grasps the standing man’s ankles for support.   The stander throws the other man’s feet straight away 2 times.  To left 2 times, to right 2  times then over again.  SWAP positions.  That was the plan but I think most of us just did the throw straight away routine.  16 reps

    Hillbillies – Similar to Imperial Walkers but knee comes up to elbow on same side of body as side that knee is raised. About 16 reps

    Happy Feet – Arms out to sides.  Feet do rapid running in place but spread shoulder width apart.  Commonly a football exercise.  20 reps.

    Stormtrooper: Another similar to Imperial Walker but with a twist. Extend arms straight out in front of the body. Twist arms to one side of the body while raising and twisting the knee and hip the opposite direction. Can be done IC or OYO. Repeat both sides until the Q halts. Like a pretzel, twisting, sprinkler head thingy. Good back and hip stretch. Sound effects optional.  16 reps

    Ring of fire with a twist: A spin on ring of fire. Pun intended. In a walking side squat, rotate in a circle until the Q gives an order to “SPRAWL” then back to the squat walk. We went in CW and then CCW directions.  The Q would instruct everyone to “sprawl” after a varying number of steps.  (“Sprawl:  body straight like in a plank. Arms straight.  Bow your middle body down deeply towards the ground while attempting to face upwards as high as possible.  This is an exercise used by wrestlers and other marshal arts as a beginning to other actions.  I’m not talking about the scripted, choreographed entertainment some of you watch with the wild outfits and raging threats to their opponents, then the girls with the signs. What do those signs say?)

     

    Sometime during the exercises at the sundial Moneycat took a catnap in the shadow of the sundial brick. The Cat looked a bit woozy in the sun. It was probably the heat. We all heard him loudly purring on the other side of the wall. The cool of the dew must have caused him to fall asleep very fast. But his catnap didn’t last long as he quickly woke up to go play with rocks. He must have heard ball…….

     

    Mosey to the creek for fun with rocks (coupons).

    -find the rock you like and lineup

    -chest pass the rock with 2 hands, up the hill, as far as you can, pick it up and chest pass over and over until we make it to the plateau of the hill. About 6-10 throws, depending on how well you chose your rock and how far are your throws.  Choosing the pea gravel ain’t fair.

    -chest pass up the hill.  Rocks don’t move uphill by themselves, despite evolutional theories to the contrary.

    -Alternating right arm then left arm shotput throws, down the hill.

     

    Posed for a rock picture at the base of the hill by the creek.  We’ll call that a Rock Shot. The “older” guys might be mistaken for Rolling Stones ( minus Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. ) There was much “Satisfaction” in this exercise.

     

    Mosey to benches at the pavillion.   Did step up with right leg first, 20 reps.  Then did step up with left leg first.

    Mosey’d back to the flag for Circle of Trust and a group pic.

     

    Circle of Trust, COT

    Welcome to the new member Cyborg and thanks to Sparknut for bringing him.  Sparknut is from BR but now lives in Raleigh.  Super glad you all posted with us this morning and looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

    Ended with prayer.

     

    Five met at Starbucks for coffee, water, cool down and man-talk.  Great conversation. After a quick search on Facebook,  Moneycat realizes he went to college with Sparknut’s wife! Amazing connections.  This means 4 men missed out on the social time with the Pax:(

    Thanks to all for posting this morning and putting up with the old man’s beat down.  Did you sweat?  Its been 16 hours now and I’m still sore from this mornings beat down, but I know I’m getting stronger for it.

  • Fastball honorarium event exercise

    By: Money Cat

    The Scene:  The Knoll

    Conditions: Sunny (longing for arctic air in June.)

     

    The men of F3 Baton Rouge gathered together in a circle. A voice spoke up, “who’s going to Q?” Immediately the men’s eyes darted skyward and downward. A look so reminiscent from childhood as if their mother’s caught them with their hands in the cookie jar. You could cut the fog of silence with a dull butter knife like Scooby-Doo did in his weekly cartoon. A lone wolf could be howling out on the football field. Suddenly, Fastball spoke up…”I’ll do it!” And thus was born the Ballad of Fastball.

     

    Welcome: 11 men posted.

     

    Disclaimer:

    After the disclaimer Fastball informed the men this was his last week in F3. He explained his job with Home Depot ( cue Home Depot music ) will take him out of town for 2 weeks and after that he’ll be home to help family pack up and make the move to Georgia. This sudden news caught the men by surprise. We knew Fastball would be leaving us soon, but not this soon! The men began loudly weeping and tearing their shirts!!! Runners near us stopped in their tracks, cupped their hands to their ears and headed back in the direction they came. Thankfully someone made a joke about all of us receiving Home Depot gifts (free orange aprons) Fastball would send back to us. Aprons are nice for making lemon zest bundt cakes but I believe many of the men secretly longed for one thing and one thing only…power tools and bandoleer’s filled with beef jerky (GRUNT!) (GRUNT!) (GRUNT!)

    Warm-a-Rama:

    We mosey’d around the track once and cut into the middle for warm ups.

    Jumping Jack’s, arm circles-forward and backward, goof-balls, Bobby Hurley’s were all done in cadence.

    Merkins and burpee’s were done on our own in a count of 10.

    The Money Cat was breathing heavily when Fastball gave the order to mosey to the football field. 

    The Thang: 

     

    Out on the football field Fastball explained the routine.

     

    • Sprint out 25 yards and perform 25 merkin’s. Run backwards to start.

     

    • Sprint out 50 yards and perform 50 Al Gore’s. Run backwards to start.

     

    • Sprint out 75 yards and perform 75 crazy leg stretchy thingy’s. Run backwards to start.

     

    • Sprint out 100 yards and perform 100 jumping jacks. Run backwards to start.

     

    After each man lost 5 pounds of sweat on the field, Fastball told us to mosey to the sundial for more back breaking exercises.

     

    At the sundial many F3 men planked while waiting for Worms and Money Cat who was ripely turning into a Smelly Cat. The next group of exercises started at 25 and decreased at increments of five. There were two sets: merkins and dips. The Money Cat was running on his 7th life and ready to give up his 8th when the tiny twinkling stars appeared in his eyes. He began pawing at them like a real cat would and was meowing loudly. Money Cat realized it would be best to lie down on the concrete bench and perform standard flapping motions with his arms. The amusement was seen by all but just like the Honey Badger…..Money Cat don’t care!

     

    Fastball gave the order to mosey to the pavilion for some warm tepid water. At the pavilion Fastball noticed Money Cat hiding in the slender shadow of a pole. Fastball asked him if he was ok. Money Cat gave him a thumbs up as he figured it would be impolite to give him the middle finger of friendship. Fastball yelled out, “hey gang….lets go have a groovy time across the street on the baseball field” or at least that’s what I think I heard??? The Money Cat realized he needed water. He lumbered to the Catmobile and secured his iced cup of H2O. He and worms made it over to the ball field where the guys partnered up. Half the guys ran around poles out in the outfield and the other guys did grunting exercises. Money Cat couldn’t see what the exercises were because his concentration was on the clear frosty water cascading down his throat providing well needed relief to his thirsty soul. Not excited to pass on a raging case of cooties to the other men…Money Cat drank alone.

     

    The guys made it back to finish up with Mary’s at the Pavillion. Not wanting to have all the “Q” glory to himself, Fastball started the first set but called out F3 names to lead a Mary. The called on dudes did as they were told and there was great splendor in the grass……well, not the 1961 dramatic romance movie staring Natalie Wood type of splendor in the grass. That…would…just…be…wrong…..

     

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    Circle-o-Rama 

    ***TISSUE ALERT***

    All of us F3 dudes are going to miss Fastball saying, “I’ll go ahead and Q, but you guys are going to hate me!” We are going to miss the pain our F3 brother put us through. I recall being partnered up with Fastball when he used baseball seasons’ opening day as his theme. When we ran the foul poles 5X’s in the outfield…I thought I was gonna die!!! But I didn’t and if I had…the Money Cat has 8 more lives to give. I went back to read all the back blasts that he led on those early Saturday mornings. Reading these memories are good for the soul! It reminds me what I was and where I’m headed. I believe I speak for all of us F3 guys that Josh Black aka FASTBALL lives the F3 Credo: leave no man behind, but leave no man where you find him. Fastball, you have left your mark on F3 Baton Rouge -The Knoll and The Colosseum. We all thank yeaux for molding us into better and thinner men. We know you’ll leave your mark with more guys where ever the Lord leads you.

    Friends – Michael W. Smith

    And friends are friends forever
    If the Lord’s the Lord of them.
    And a friend will not say never
    ‘Cause the welcome will not end.
    Though it’s hard to let you go
    In the Father’s hands we know.
    That a lifetime’s not too long
    To live as friends.

  • Cinco de Mayo with Party Hats

    F3, the Knoll, 5-5-2018, uphill in reverse, IMG_8181

     

    By: Money Cat

    The Scene:  The Knoll

    Conditions: 72° overcast and soon to be festive.

     

    Money Cat arrived at the Knoll for 6:30 to plant the F3 shovel along with the stars and stripes. The gringos began arriving one by one around 6:45. By 7AM everyone had arrived and it was time to begin.

    Welcome: 11 men posted.

    Disclaimer:

    “I am not a professional trainer and have never claimed to be.

    You are participating at your own risk.

    You are responsible for your own well-being.

    You are here voluntarily, and you are not paying to be here. Although you do receive payment in the gift of fitness, fellowship and encouragement.

    Know your limits and do the best you can; all exercises are suggestions and can be modified

    If you are still sore by Tuesday morning please understand that nothing is wrong….it’s completely natural to feel that way! You’ve done the workout correctly.”

    After the disclaimer Money Cat advised the hombres that today was a special day because it was his first time to Q an F3 workout and it happened to be Cinco de Mayo. Money Cat had planned in advanced to make this workout a celebration of the Mexico national holiday by pulling out his garbage bag of tricks and passing out straw hats purchased from a local party store. There was laughing and smiling around knowing what these muchacho’s would look like. Money Cat pulled out a much larger yellow hat. He felt proud and authoritative placing it on his head. He wanted his nino’s to know who was in charge. Money Cat has a special ability of ESP(N) and one of the caballero’s was thinking Money Cat looked like the tall man with the yellow hat in the Curious George books. Thankfully Money Cat chose not to publicly add to this uno gringo’s workout…but payback is coming!

    Warm-a-Rama:

    The men mosey’d to the sundial. Money Cat explained in celebration of Cinco de Mayo being a date with a 5, every exercise will be multiplied by 5. Basically everything would be 25 reps.

    Don Quixotes (old school Windmills) – 25

    Jumping Jack’s – 25

    Dips – 25

    At this time during our workout at the end of our dips an elderly man was walking through our workout. He got to the end of the sundial and collapsed. Immediately our men were attending to his need for help. The men spoke to him to make sure he was ok and there were no serious injuries. After what seemed like the longest minute or two our guys helped him up slowly. The old timer said he was ok and was good to walk. Money Cat pointed out how proud it was of the men rushing to this mans’ need for help…its what all men are called to do.

    Arm Circles Forward – 25

    Arm Circles Backward – 25 (The Money Cat in his keen sense of awareness, detected groaning’s.)

    Inclined Merkins – 25

    Mexican Dips – 25

    Cinco Quads

    Lil mosey down the hill over the walk bridge and stopped at the bottom of the second hill. Once Money Cat (playing the weekly role of the 6th) arrived he announced the workout. Money Cat really enjoyed the activity Snack Pack introduced several weeks ago to the guys. Backwards walking up to the top of the hill and mosey back down to the bottom. Five times the guys would perform this activity and at the end of each rep the guys had a choice of their exercise starting at one and building up to five after each rep. The Money Cat gladly allowed the men to lap him. Money Cat’s legs are short but his heart is that of a lion with an ocean size of courage!!! He was glad to watch these men execute the routine.

    El Grande Event: 

     

    The men were ordered to mosey over the walk bridge and climb the hill and report back to the sundial for El Grande workout. Once again the humble Money Cat let the men go first and he followed behind as the 6th. Arriving at the sundial the men were told to come closer inside the sundial to hear the instructions. Money Cat explained the next activity is actually named Cards of Death from the F3 list of exercises but Money Cat felt the name was not appropriate considering the activity promoted good health. So, the name has been changed to Cards of Health. A normal deck of cards (with extra face cards and four extra jokers) is needed for this physical activity. Each of the men are to draw a card, multiple the number cards by five and mosey to the other sundial to the right or left of the main sundial, complete the activity listed on the card and mosey or walk back to the main sundial for another card. The activity is over when all the cards have been completed.

     

    The cards are as followed:

     

    Twos – mosey to the spot, perform 10 burpee’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Threes – mosey to the spot, perform 15 merkin’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Fours – mosey to the spot, perform 20 lunges, mosey or walk back.

     

    Fives – mosey to the spot, perform 25 Don Quixote’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Sixes – mosey to the spot, perform 30 LBC’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Sevens – mosey to the spot, perform 35 imperial walkers, mosey or walk back.

     

    Eights – mosey to the spot, perform 40 arm circles (20 forward, 20 backward), mosey or walk back.

     

    Nines – mosey to the spot, perform 45 arm forward claps, mosey or walk back.

     

    Tens – mosey to the spot, perform 50 we are not worthy’s, mosey or walk back.

    (It was suggested the 8, 9 and 10 card activities could be done while running to the spot.)

     

    Jack – mosey to the spot while doing the Al Gore, perform 11 Al Gore’s and mosey or walk back.

     

    Queen – skip to the spot, perform 12 chorus line leg kicks, mosey or walk back.

     

    King – horse trot to the spot, perform 13 Bobby Hurley’s, mosey or walk back.

     

    Ace – mosey to the spot flapping arms like a bird, perform 14 squats, mosey or walk back.

     

    Jokers – goofball run to the spot, perform 15 goofballs, mosey or walk back.

     

    Mary:

    After finishing the Cards of Health the men were instructed to mosey backwards to the shovel flag. Time was creeping away from us so there was only time enough for one Mary to spell our F3 names with our legs while laying down. Someone pointed out that 2 shoes had the easiest task of writing out a #2 and holding his foot up.

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    F3, the Knoll, 5-5-2018, uphill in reverse, IMG_8181

  • Soybean’s Red Stick Beatdown

    By: Soybean (F3 Memphis)

    The Scene:  The Knoll

    Conditions: 50* and perfect.

     

    Fastball and YHC arrived at the Knoll at 0645 to scope it out. There were some people setting up tents and cauldrons (?) for a party of some sort. F3 parties are a little different, so we went yogging to find an expanse of wet grass and a stash of CMUs. When we got back to the starting point, there were more tents/cauldrons and a handful of eager-looking 25-55 year-old men. We exchanged pleasantries, wondered aloud if the jambalaya was for us (apparently they cook it in huge cast iron pots like witches), then, oh look!, it’s 0659. By the time we formed a haphazard circle, it was 0700.

     

    Welcome

    Disclaimer

     

    I am not a professional

    You are participating at your own risk

    You are responsible for your own well-being

    You are here voluntarily, and you are not paying to be here

    Know your limits and do the best you can; all exercises are suggestions and can be modified

     

    Warm-a-Rama:

    SSH x20

    Imperial Walkers x15 (should’ve demonstrated that one…)

    Lil mosey to pick up the extra CMUs we needed and back to the start.

     

    The Thang: 

    YHC had the distinct pleasure of introducing the Red Stick PAX to Flora 1-2-3.

    PAX partnered up with their CMUs, and completed the following:
    100 Derkins (P1 does 10 while P2 holds decline plank; flapjack until the couple reaches 100)
    200 LBCs (holding CMU on chest or above head, P1 does 20; P2 holds legs at 6” with CMU above head; flapjack to 200)
    300 Goblet Squats (P1 does 25 while P2 holds Al Gore with coupon; flapjack to 300)

    Next, to the dismay of many, we did an Indian run for about a quarter mile, down a hill, and onto a damp expanse. The expanse is in the middle of a Frisbee golf course, and there were two dudes playing at 0700!

    Burpee Catch-Me-If-You-Can
    Same partners as before. P1 backpedals down the field. P2 does 3 burpees, then sprints to catch P1. Upon catching P1, P2 backpedals and P1 does burpees. Etc. Four rounds, with BBSU mixed in for the pairs that got done first.

    Mosey back to the start point.

    PAX lined up with their CMUs, shovel flag planted about 15 yards opposite. YHC demonstrated the bear block (bear crawl, pulling CMU forward). Then we did…
    Curls x20 – bear block 15 yd
    OH press x20 – bear block back
    Curl x15 – bear block
    OH press x15 – bear block
    Curl x10 – bear block
    OH press x10 – bear block

    Tank Tread: PAX line up in boat pose, alternating directions. We passed 3 CMUs down the line, and the guy at the end ran to the front with the CMU.

    Mary:

    Triple Crush OYO x20 (CMU curl to overhead press to skull crusher)
    American Hammer IC x15
    Triple Crush OYO x15
    American Hammer IC x15

    We had a couple minutes left, so I turned it over to the Baton Rouge PAX:
    Topanga – leg raises x20
    Big Easy – LBCs x30? 40? Lots of groans from the PAX when he never stopped going!
    30 sec plank until 0800

    Count-o-Rama

    Name-o-Rama

    COT / BOM:

    YHC shared a quote from the Q Source about Disruption. “Leaders influence movement to advantage…Because it induces movement, leadership causes disruption.”

    “If a man calls himself a leader but does not cause Disruption by initiating movement, then he is not practicing leadership. He might be doing something else, like managing or engaging in politics, but he is not leading. He is a leader in name only until people begin to follow him to an advantageous place that he has visualized and articulated to them. A leader influences movement to advantage.”

    You can read the whole article here: https://f3nation.com/2017/11/26/disruption-f-1/
    The Q Source index: https://f3nation.com/q-source-index/

    Prayers for Money Cat’s daughters’ relationship, Duracell’s wife’s family in the loss of her aunt

    Announcements:

    **Shameless plug** F3 Memphis is hosting GrowRuck 12 in September this year. This is a weekend-long event that combines all 3 F’s with PAX from all over the South. Dredd and OBT, the founders of F3, will be there to lead a workout and leadership class. Then Saturday night, we’ll do a GORUCK Tough event together. It’s an incredible chance to grow personally and with the PAX. Get in touch with Soybean if you want more details.