F3 New Orleans

Tag: Russo

  • Iron Pax week 4: We’re all super ants! – from Russo

    Pretty nice weather, a little on the humid side, but that’s picking nits, for the final week of the 2021 Iron Pax at the Lakefront this morning.

    Between a storm, a sinus infection, and vacation, YHC has been MIA for most of this year’s IPC, so my goal was to at least proctor and attempt some of the fun this week.

    As we gathered, Tanked Up took things to that next level with a (homemade) tee showing off his Raider Pride. Any Rummel alumni worth his salt (admittedly not much) knows the story of the Super Ants: an underdog Raider football team defeated the might Chalmette Owls (!!!) back in the day, and the moniker Super Ants made it into the newspaper write up (remember those?). From them on, a super ant is anyone that displays courage, heart, fight, and a motor that never quits (all characteristics of your typical college football “possession receiver”). Think Don Beebe running down Leon Lett. Danny Amendola. Abram Booty. Any Iowa receiver.

    I digress, but this week there was a colony of super ants that gave an incredible effort and pushed themselves HARD in the gloom.

    Pre Thang
    Quick warmup of seal jacks, cherry pickers, toe touches, and mummy kicks approx. 10x each, all IC)

    Thang
    A descending ladder, each set 25 reps, with a 25 yard run, followed by three burpees, and then 25 yards back for the next round of 25 reps.

    Rounds were:
    8 sets of curls (200 total)
    7 sets of squats (175 total, you get the picture)
    6 sets of overhead presses
    5 sets of kettle bell swings
    4 sets of merkins
    3 sets of thrusters
    2 sets of Bonnie Blair’s
    1 set of blockers

    Finish those, and you work your way back up the ladder, times for a total of 52:30.

    Major T claps to Grundy and Tanked up for setting the pace, but incredible effort and very little resting (excluding YHC) from what I saw.

    A mosey back from the Shaft and a COT closed us out with name-o-rama, announcements (F3/FIA mixer on the 21st and NOLA convergence on the 16th), and a prayer. Special appearance by Speedy and Cowbell, while Bean, Swoll Patrol, and an FNG had to scamper out early.

    Much respect to Zoolander for commandeering the coupons and markers and helping to coordinate this week. It was very much appreciated.

    Raider Pride and SYITG

  • Red Light, Green Light – from Russo

    Sometimes the most fun and effective way to get some something done is to take it back to when we were kids, when it seemed like everything was simpler.

    That was the goal this morning at Grandma’s. Grover owns the “Duck Duck Goose” beatdown, and I still haven’t found a way to plan an effective “Red Rover Red Rover Send Bushwhacker On Over” beatdown in a Post-COVID world, so in the meantime a fine looking Pax of 7 took to the old Mandeville streets to play some Red Light Green Light.

    Warmup (all IC 15x to 20x)
    SSH
    Grass Grabbers
    High Knees
    Cherry Pickers
    Imperial Walkers
    Mummy Kicks

    Thang
    Very simple: mosey around, call “Red light” randomly along the way, and perform exercises of varying reps (e.g. 10 burpees, 50 butt kicks) and distance (e.g. Duck walk), call “green light” to pick the mosey back up.

    The goal was to push the pace a little, but keep it light enough to figure out what our favorite football teams would do in the fall, and if there was time left, solve the world’s problems.

    Beatdown included the following:
    – circle ups
    – merkins
    – squats
    – Apollo Ohnos
    – Bobby Hurleys
    – monkey humpers
    – gas pumps
    – plank jacks
    – shoulder taps
    – butt kicks
    – duck walk
    – murder bunnies (what’s up, IRON Pax, we’re ready)
    – freak nastys
    – step ups
    – LBCs
    – big boi sit-ups

    YHC timed it relatively well, leaving no time for Mary, but plenty of time for a COT, name-o-Rama, announcements, and prayer from Hammer (thank you, sir).

    Announcements included kick ball this Thursday, Iron Pax starting up soon (register, earn points good toward nothing but pride and fellowship), and Akbar’s anny Q on Saturday.

    Thank you, gents, for joining and wishing Cowbell a safe and enjoyable trip out to Oregon this week.

    SYITG

  • Rising Up, Back On The Street – from Russo

    YHC was taught in 2nd or 3rd grade that if you want to attract eyeballs to your writing, you need a hook: a catchy title or an opening sentence or paragraph that draws attention.

    I may not always be successful, but that’s my goal with these. I had no hook for this morning: that is, until the twin muses of Eagle 98.1 and the band Survivor provided inspiration from the 80’s classic “Eye of the Tiger”.

    Good looking pax of 10 braved the heat and humidity this morning to “rise up” and get “back on the street”…literally. They did their time and took their chances, went the distance, and got back on their feet: just men and their will to survive.

    Warm-up (all IC 15x to 20x)
    – Seal jacks
    – Grass Grabbers
    – Cherry Pickers
    – Self Love
    – Torso Twists
    – Goofballs
    – Imperial Walkers

    Thang

    Tabata today, 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest, 1 to 3 exercises per stop, mosey a block or two between stops.

    – 8 Count Bodybuilders
    – Squats
    – LBCs (multiple rounds)
    – Shoulder taps
    – Scissor kicks (definitely NOT flutter kicks)
    – Lunges
    – Flutter kicks (definitely NOT scissor kicks)
    – Peter Parker’s
    – Crab cakes
    – Burpees
    – Monkey Humpers (Not at Steve’s front door desire the request)
    – Star Jumps
    – Freak Nastys
    – Step UPS

    A mosey took us back to start, where YHC could sense Shooter itching to stretch out his calves, so we did 3 calf raises at each step of the pilot house.

    Back at the bottom, a few more LBCs, a standard plank, and a chill cut wrapped things up.

    COT, Name-o-Rama, Announcements (sign up for Iron Pax, leadership meeting tonight on SS), and Prayer closed us out.

    Thanks, gents, for joining me. It’s always enjoyable, especially when we’re graced with a Bushwhacker sighting. Best of luck to you as you start your new adventures!

    It was encouraging seeing a couple newer faces (Bends and Swoll Patrol). I hope these two stick around! And the same goes for the “regulars”.

    Until next time, SYITG.

  • Alvin Kamara LITE – from Waterpik

    Scrounge around the garage for some coupons and emerge with a punching bag, a kettle bell, and some empty large pool chlorine buckets. There are some Alvin Kamara offseason training videos floating around you tube and this was an exceptionally weak attempt at replicating his workout.

    Here’s what happened.
    Strap a rope to the punching bag and drag it to the shaft on the Lakefront and back. Each Pax completed that at least once.

    YHC filled the chlorine buckets with water. Each pax competed step ups on the seawall and well as carrying the buckets the the street and back.

    Use the kettle bell for 50 reps of American hammer.

    Cot and thanks for letting me lead. Thanks to true coat for praying is out.

  • No legs workout for the runners and cyclists among us – from Amnesia

    Warmup:
    20 x SSH, MC, IW, Peter Parkers, Windmills – all IC.

    The Thang:
    EMOM – first minute, 5 reps of merkin variant; next minute, 15-25 reps of other upper body exercise, all OYO. Next round, increase merkin variant reps by 5. Got through two rounds and started the third before YHC noticed we wouldn’t have enough time. Good thing, too. YHC wouldn’t have made it through round 3, but don’t tell any of the PAX that attended!

    Merkin variants: vanilla, diamond, clerpin, derkin, Carolina Dry Dock, diamond derkin
    Others: first round was mostly overhead press w/coupon (with some chest presses thrown in there); second round was more consistent: 20 coupon curls. Third round was coupon chest presses. Since only one merkin variant was completed on round 3, the coupon chest press was rolled over to the 6MOM.

    6(ish)MOM:
    20 ab exercise reps IC alternated with 30 coupon chest presses OYO. Abs exercises were leg raises, flutterkicks, plank (chillcut, both sides, and reverse), dying cockroaches, Freddy Mercuries, and finished with crunchy frogs led by the man himself. No presses after last ab exercise.

    COT:
    Count-o-rama, Name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and prayer. Happy 3 years to YHC!

  • 1 year anniversary – from Jose10k

    Warm-up: ssh, grass grabbers, arm circles, windmills all reps of 15 in honor of my daughter turning 15 on Tuesday. The thang: moseyed to the courthouse for some dora. 100 merkins, 200 squats, 300 lbcs partner work. While one partner was performing each exercise, the second partner climbed the walkway rails hand over hand. Once finished, moseyed back to the parking garage entrance, then sprint up the inclines up to the top. Once at the top, Moby busted out the chain. We gathered in a line and each man pulled the chain across the parking garage. Last 5 minutes, busted out some mary. Leg raises, crunchy frogs, etc.. COT and Shooter prayed us out. BBQ busted out some birthday brownies along with some party poppers. Thanks to his wife for the tasty treats.
    Thanks for letting me lead, thanks for celebrating 1 year at the A1C, and thanks for the support for creating the AO. Y’all push me to be better.

  • Some things old, some people new – from Russo

    Based on reading backblasts and personal witness, it’s the opinion of YHC that the MVP of summer beatdowns is Jose 10k. But recently, Bypass is giving Jose a run for his money for July. Joining us just over a week ago, not only has he continued to post, but he already EH’ed Deep Six into joining us, even if it’s only temporary.

    The “new” were joined by 4 “old” Pax for one of my favorite standbys. Rainy, humid conditions at Granny’s this morning, where we managed to avoid most of the torrential rain both before and after beatdown. We were able to witness the, ahem, progress, the city is making on the splash pad (hence the need for fence construction). Let’s just say there are a few new holes from broken concrete and some more mud than usual.

    Warmup (10-20x, IC)
    – SSH
    – Arm circles
    – Self Love
    – Toe touches
    – High knees
    – Goof balls
    – Imperial Walkers

    We moseyed all around Granny’s and the warehouse to stretch our legs before….

    Thang
    More math with the return of the Deck of Death/Destruction/Discomfort/Delineation

    Suits from a standard card deck represent an exercise, the number/face the number of reps (Aces high at 15 reps). Flip over the card, perform the exercise, rinse and repeat.

    4 Rounds, 13 cards each round….Math!!!
    Spades – Shoulder Tap Merkins
    Clubs – Crab Cakes
    Diamonds – Jump squats
    Hearts – Circle Ups

    Spades – Merkins
    Clubs – Calf Raises (2x)
    Diamonds – SMCs
    Hearts – Leg raises

    Spades – Carolina Drydocks
    Clubs – Monkey Humpers
    Diamonds – Squats
    Hearts – 6 inch drill (IC)

    Spades – Peter Parker’s (2 is 1)
    Clubs – Plank Jacks (2 is 1)
    Diamonds – High knees (5x)
    Hearts – Gas Pumps

    In between rounds, we moseyed through the columns at Granny’s slalom style. YHC has to note that Jose must have known his MVP status was in jeaopardy, because he absolutely killed the last mosey.. He and Zoolander completely left the rest of the pax in their wake.

    With just a minute or so left, old fashioned merkin wave closed us out, where again Jose outperformed!

    We closed with the COT, name o rama, announcements, and prayer.

    Reminders:
    Gnarly Nutria tomorrow! Meet at 7:45 around the old Winn Dixie

    Friday: A1C one year anniversary – 5:15AM and PickleBall at Pelican Park around 6:30 (I think)

    Thank you again for the opportunity to lead, and I hope if you’re reading this, you’re safe, high, and dry from today’s storms.

    SYITG

  • Bunch of Dora’s – from Akbar

    16 PAX arrived at the Lakefront Saturday to get better. Today’s agenda would be simple, a Steve workout if you will. Dora 123 * 3. Great to be back with my brothers after a 10 day vacation.

    WU – SSH, Merkins, High Knees, Butt Kicks x 25. Grass Grabbers, Self-Love, Arm Circles (F/B) x 10

    THANG: 3 Doras, partners switch each time

    Mosey to the wall at Rips

    Dora 1

    Partner 1 runs to the top of the stairs at Rips, 10 Calf Raises, return to relieve Partner 2

    100 Stone Mountain (feet on wall)

    200 Freak Nasty

    300 Halleluiah Squat (hand up in the air)

    Mosey to the wall at the Gazebo

    Dora 2

    Partner 1 Bear Crawls to sidewalk, mosey back to relieve Partner 2

    100 Dirkins

    200 Gas Pumps

    300 Superman Rows

    Mosey back to the flag

    Dora 3

    Lightning round, partner 1 runs to the street and back, relieve partner 2

    50 Big Boy Situps

    100 American Hammers (2 is 1)

    150 Step Ups (1 is 1)

    Most were finished with 2 minutes left, but not all. QIC called recover and we circled up to honor The Manny with 25 Little Manny Crunches.

    Count, Name-o-Rama. Welcome Swole Patrol!

    NMM – T Claps to The Manny for making the trip from Picayune, great to see you brother. Manny will try and make 2 workouts a month going forward. And to Grundy for the EH of Swole Patrol, who walked up late with no fear and jumped right in. Going head-to-head in Bear Crawls with Swole was quite impressive, he gave it all he had. Chainsaw and Pickaxe teamed up with YHC for the lightning round, with impressive modifications and counts. Also great to see Bypass again for his 3rd beatdown of the week. We worked a lot more shoulders than I thought, mine are still burning at this writing. Hammer named Swole, reminiscing back to his working days on the West Bank – where he saw a stout dude in a truck with Swole Patrol emblazoned on the front. Good work men.

  • No Monkey business at the A1c!! – from Shooter

    Knowing YHC would be out the next 2 days I wanted to give the PAX something to remember. There was no Monkey business but there was Monkey Humpers which brought a comment from Moby that had the PAX in stitches 😂😂 for some of the warmup.. Don’t quite remember the exact statement but I believe he shared “They’ll be no Monkey Humping from me in my future.” or something along those lines.. Either way the PAX really enjoyed his statement and if you want to confirm just ask the next tome you see him..

    Warmup
    Variations of 10IC/20IC arm circles, Cherry Pickers, Windmills, Butt kicks, Mummy kicks, SSH, Toe Touches and of course Monkey 🐵 Humpers..

    Thang
    YHC planted a special delivery at the northern side base of the parking garage.
    You guessed it coupon Friday.
    Picking the 7 of diamonds ♦️ from the Exicon for today’s beatdown.
    The attempt was 7 rounds of exercise. Brief description four corners or in our case 4 lamppost. Increasing rep count by 7 each round to 28 and backdown to 7. For the Qs sake an audible was called for the 28 count exercise 😰😰. 4 rounds of each
    7 rep count each lamppost 8count body builder with a thruster replacing the Plank Jack Tanked.. 14 rep count kettle swings, 21 block Merkins, 28 curls for the girls, 21 chest press, 14 squat thrusters and time expires.. PAX carried the coupon at all times and between each round… T👏🏼👏🏼to all the men on this day for sticking with it and pushing through.. We all agreed that Tanked seemed to just be getting warmed up as he grunted through the finish line, however he graciously informed the Q he was feeling toward the end and the grunts were an assist to finish strong 💪🏼 💪🏼…

    Count, announce and COT with the Q closing out with intentions for my neighbor and prayers for Amnesia’s wife..

    Thanks for posting and and keeping me accountable you fine men!!

    Till the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!

  • The (Birthday) “Cake Walk” – from Grundy

    One might ask why someone would willingly hang around a group of guys who without fail would say that they hate them at the end every workout. To continue to endure that type of verbal abuse for 4 and a half years seems insane. But on this specific July 10th, those words would not be obligatorily uttered any more. The word “hate” would be replaced by silence. On this specific day, YHC moved over into the realm of “Those Who Shall Not be Named” (Those Who Shall Not be Named = The age group of 30-49 where you earn no extra “hate” or “respect”).

    I was now free of hate but had strangely grown accustomed to hearing it! So, in order to receive the word I had heard every workout for 4 ½ years, I had to give the PAX another reason to “hate” me. No problem, that would be a “cake walk”.

    Pre-Thang
    Normal warmup sequence commenced In Cadence ranging from 10-30 counts.
    • SSH
    • Windmills
    • Good Mornings
    • Arm Circle Series

    The Q then took the PAX on a longer than typical mosey to Milestone Marsh where the cake walk would begin.

    The Thang
    Credit Zoolander for saying the week previously that it would be funny to create a workout sequence called the “cake walk” that actually was really difficult. Challenge accepted! Since the beatdown would be on the Qs actual 30th birthday, it just made too much sense to create a workout that had the word “cake” in it. After a quick poll via GroupMe from both the Northshore and Southshore, a quick list of most “hated” exercises were gathered. From there, the Q just worked in the number of the day “30” and the (birthday) “cake walk” was born.

    The cake walk goes like this. Start on the baseline of the basketball court, you will begin with 30 lunge pulses on the right side pausing on every fifth rep for a five count hold before continuing the reps. Continue until every rep is complete. Once finished, you crab walk to half court (you can thank Zoolander again for suggesting this one on GroupMe) to do 29 Sister Mary Catherines. Crab walk back to the baseline for 28 Carolina Dry Docks. Crab walk to half court for 27 Bulgarian split squats (right side). Crab walk one more time back to the baseline for 26 manmakers in cadence (a real crowd pleaser). After you finish that, this is where you can insert a ten count or two since there is no crab walk after the manmakers which means you will still be on the baseline of the basketball court.

    You repeat the sequence of descending reps of Lunge Pulses, Sister Mary Catherines, Carolina Dry Docks, Bulgarian Split Squats, and Manmakers starting now on 25. For every sequence of the 5 exercises, you switch which leg you would do for the lunges and Bulgarian split squats. So, in the second sequence you would do your left side. Continue this sequence until you do the last manmaker!

    Finishing this was quite a challenge and the lack of mumblechatter just further evidenced that fact. Although, legend has it that Barely Legal is still out there doing his speedy crab walks! The workout was done, and the time showed 7:29 AM when we finished the last manmaker. We were half a mile from the lakefront flag but the PAX was gracious with their sentimental Q on this day. We decided that despite the time, we would take a nice walk back most of the way to the flag.

    Once we arrived around the flag we were able to officially welcome our newest FNG Pro Bono! After that I was able to express my gratitude to a group of men who quite literally shaped the man I am today. A group who showed me that as we strengthened our bodies we were also strengthening our friendships, leadership capabilities, and character. I wouldn’t trade this group of men and the lessons I’ve learned for anything and am beyond honored to simply be a part of the group. And although I will never hear the required berating of “hate” after my name again, I will never stop feeling the care that I’ve felt from the first day when I showed up one Saturday morning back in February of 2017. A feeling of care that has continued to grow and which actually feels a lot like love.

    Until Next Time,
    Grundy (He Who Must Not be Named)