F3 New Orleans

Tag: The Birdcage

  • Rise of the Q

    El Wire couldn’t Q this AM – has been getting his butt kicked at work! So I decided to take the Q for him. I haven’t been taking the DAILY RED PILL the last few glooms. After some nudges from Tinkles and Angie’s List – I knew 4 misses were too many in a row – so I was back out in the GLOOM.

    We started with a heckle from Swamp Cock to quit talking and get to work. We mosey’d over field across from the zoo. Here we had our first COP:

    SSH x 20, Slow Squats x 20, Dying Bugs x 20, Mtn Climbers x 20 and Morning Glories x 10.

    Mosey’d over to the FLY. On the way we got crushed by the stench of dead crawfish.

    Circled up by the RIVER – beautiful view of the Mississippi.

    Here we did IC Merks x 20, Walking Planks x 20, Wife Pleasers x 20, One leg left wife pleasers x 15, one leg right wife pleasers x 15, fire hydrants each leg x 20, Donkey Kicks x 20 (supposed to switch at 10, Bartman forgot now one butt cheek is bigger than the other!)

    From here we Mosey’d over to Monkey Hill. At Monkey Hill we did MONKEY HUMPERS 20 on one side, climbed over and did 18, then back for 16, and bounce 14,12,10, 8. At 8 we stopped.

    We lined up for some head to head sprints: Tinkles vs I Love You Man – I love you man won. Yankee vs Stubing – Yankee lost, Stubing won but it was close, Sandbar vs Saban, GSpot vs NipTuck, etc I didn’t check in to see who the victors were but I definitely ran faster bc I was running against another human. I plan on bringing more of this type of thing – I need this kind of pressure.

    After our sprints we did the long mosey to the labyrinth. PAX was required to PINGPONG back and forth to sweep the SIX. Before the mosey we did 20 LBT and PICKLE POUNDERS to catch our breath – then we took off.

    At the labyrinth we did 20 dips IC on the benches, 20 dying roaches, 20 lbcs, 20 Russian twists, and 20 low country crabs. After that we did some backward bear crawls, sideways bear crawls.

    After this we mosey’d back to the FLAG. At the FLAG we did a plank rotation to fill the last 2 minutes.

    Always a pleasure to lead, thanks for the nudges aka mini headlocks to get me back to the gloom. I usually resist the wake up but I have NEVER regretted posting in the gloom.
    See you in the gloom every Mon, Wed, Fri for the near future!

  • Respect is Hell and then the Clock Stops

    #TClaps to Hokey Pokey, Green Screen and Marlin: with PAX who’ve been at this mortal coil for longer than YHC, whose 57th BDay was yesterday.  Since his M has strongly urged YHC not to post in the gloom on the same day he does his slow weight training and since YHC has long ago figured out #MakingMHappyKeepsYHCHappy, YHC didn’t post on his BDay, so today was his BDay Q.  After his usual, crappy disclaimer, the PAX was off for a loop around the golfing parking lot to the Newman bandstand for

    COP1:

    • SSHs 57xIC (lots of mumblechatter: what’s they expect?)
    • Low Slow Squats 20xIC
    • Hill Billies 20xIC
    • Arm Circles 20xIC (one set forward, the other backwards

    Line up between the trees for an animal exposition: bear crawl to the first light, then 5 burpees, duck walk to the second, then 5 more burpees, inch worm to the third for another 5 burpees, gorilla hop to the fourth for 5 more burpees and crab walk to the fifth and last with yet another 5 burpees.

    Mosey to the soccer field, where with a little hiccup from Angie’s List the PAX was successfully able to split themselves into five groups.  Group One, Jump squats AMRAP; Group Two, merkins AMRAP; Group Three, Observations (like LBCs but holding the crunch for a three count, #TClaps for the Northshore PAX for introducing this to the Southshore) AMRAP; Group Four, pulses AMRAP; and Group Five, ten pullups on the soccer goal, five on each side.  Rinse and repeat.

    Mosey to the Audubon statue for an attempt at Dora.  While half the PAX was moseying around in front of the statue around the grass being waters, the other half was doing Dora’s work; flap-jack, etc..  Round One: 100 burpees; Round Two: 200 shoulder taps; Round Three was supposed to be 300 jump squats.  But YHC wasn’t too good at keeping track of time.  Even though Reluctant Yankee wasn’t around to #BustMyAss, YHC decided to cut Dora short so that the PAX could timely arrive at precisely 6:15 with not a second to spare.

    Thanks for letting this old guy lead.  It’ll be four years for him later this month, and he’s in better shape than he’s ever been in his life.  JV

  • Techno-Free Beatdowns

    YHC knows he’s old school, old fashioned, and just plain old.  #RespectHasItsDrawbacks.  For the COT, he utterly–and proudly–failed in his effort to record the names of the 28!!! PAX who posted in the gloom.  Even with Mariah’s held (#TClaps), it was hopeless.  Thank God our beatdowns are (generally) techno-free.

    With a quick disclaimer (and YHC’s failure yet again to ask whether there were any FNGs, of which there were none), the PAX was off to the soccer fields in front of Audubon for the first COP:

    • SSHs 25xIC
    • Imperial Walkers 25xIC
    • Grass Grabbers 25xIC
    • Merkins 25xIC
    • Low Slow Squats 25xIC (with a lagniappe of 5 burpees OYO in the middle)

    Mosey over to the levee for some Elevens: ten burpees down to one at the bottom of the levee, and one jump squat up to ten at the top.

    Then mosey over to the Audubon statue for some Dora 1-2-3: PAX paired up for 100 dips, 200 squats and 300 LBCs.

    Then mosey back to one of the soccer fields (to get our of ears’ reach of the Clipboard barking out numbers and orders to the hapless Wallets in Tights) for a quick round of Mary:

    • American Hammer 20xIC
    • Dying Cockroach 20xIC (keep feet up for next round)
    • Flutter Kicks 20xIC (keep feet up for next round)
    • Hello Dolly 20xIC
    • Crunchy Frog 20xIC

    Mosey back to the flag for COT and YHC’s complete inability to work either a video or audio stream on his cell phone.  There was a PAX of 28, but YHC (with the help of other PAX, @TClaps) could recall all but one.  So apologies to that one PAX, who gets credit from the SkyQ even though he’s anonymous (at least for now) to us mortals.


  • 2 is 1

    It was a cold 40 so a PSA from Brown Bag Below 57 longs sleeves, below 50 pants and hat.

    Quick mosey to the Zoos mud field and warm up of SSH, Mountain Climbers, Parker Peters.

    We then formed into a line and did BLIMPS 5,10,15,… to the parking lot and back. As a group finished our squats we headed closer to the Zoo from some DORA.

    The DORA 2 is 1;

    100 Decline Mericans w/ Shoulder Taps (2 is 1 for taps) Thank you Tinkles!

    200 Power Ups Left and Right (2 legs are 1)

    300 Russian Twist (2 is 1)

    Quick 20 dips then back to the flag or final minute of LBCs, Box Cutters, and Pickle Pounders.

  • Nutria? Is it gnarly? Nope a beaver!

    Desperate to burn some king cake and booze, I decided to Q on ASH Wednesday so that I could beginning the healing process and recovery post-Mardi Gras. I wanted to start things off right with a nice little beatdown to get the ball rolling the right direction.

    IT was a very cold 37 degrees and windy to start. I like to remind myself that they have 0 degree beatdowns in Pennsylvania and Minnesota but it doesn’t make me warm up.

    We started off with a quick mosey over by the zoo. At the zoo we did a basic circle of pain warm up: SSH x 20, Reg Squats, x 20, Merks x 15, Mtn Climbers x 20, Peter Parkers x 20 On the way to this COP we lost GSpot- Nature calls when nature calls. We also gained 9 lives – meow!

    Then we mosey’d to Audubon Statue. Here we did 20 Dips – did a lap, 20 dips did a lap, and 20 dips and did a lap. So 20-20-20.

    After that we mosey’d up to the riverview at the FLY. Here there was all kinds of wildlife in the river. Probably a nutria. Angie’s swears it was a beaver. or a river otter or an eel or a snake.

    At the river we did a ring of fire. Merks and bear crawls.

    Then we did a mosey over the hill. At the hill Mariah was 100% sure he saw a fox but as we approached it was evident that it was NOT a fox but rather a cat. A huge cat but a cat. Not a jaguar.

    At the hill we did 20 hillbillies and then 19 low country crabs – 18-17-16-15-14-13-12-11. Evens were hillbillies and odds were crabs.

    Then we did a long MOSEY to Nip/Tuck’s pimp station. Guys did a BLIMPS and wait for the 6. Once the 6 arrived we all waited in plank while each PAX did pullups AMRAMP.

    After we got through the entire PAX we mosey’d back to the flag – we had an extra minute for a mission impossible plank.

    Thanks to the PAX for putting up with me.

    See you in the gloom.

  • And so it begins…

    Yes, yes, YHC recognizes that Mardi Gras festivities started several weeks ago now (Hail Chewbacchus!), but it really starts in earnest today, Wednesday, with Nyx and Druids (geaux F3 Druids!).  Why don’t we get some work in so we don’t feel so guilty with what we are going to do to our bodies in the next week?  Oh, and we do need to get just a few more miles for RRR (looking at you F3 NOLA HNJ).  With a short disclaimer, off we go!

    Mosey to track form 2 columns:

    March to High Kicks till Q yells Halt then

    • IW I/C X15

    March to Butt Kicks till Q yells Halt then

    • Forward Arm Circles I/C X10 Reverse Arm Circles I/C X10

    High Kicks (aka Supreme Leader’s aka Kim Jong-Un’s aka Un’s till Q yells Halt then)

    • Hillbillies I/C X15

    Open Gates till Q yells Halt then

    • Self Love I/C X10

    All of the above were done in columns.

    Mosey in Columns to Row Workout station for:

    • 4 station-workout
      • 10 burpees is count
      • Plank Jacks
      • Rows
      • Peter Parkers

    Cycle through until PAX completes all stations.

    Indian Run to Fountain (watch out for ducks crossing) for:

    • Incline Merks I/C X15
    • SL Stand Ups LL Up I/C X8
    • Dips I/C X15
    • Decline Merks I/C X15
    • Dips I/C X15
    • SL Stand Ups RL UP I/C X8

    Indian Run to Middle Green for Jack Webbs I/C X11 (1 extra for Catfish)

    Back to track for Indian Run to Pull-Up Station

    10 Count Pull Ups

    • 10 Pull Ups is count
    • Jump Squats
    • LBC’s
    • SSH’s

    Cycle through until PAX completes all stations.

    Indian Run to Shelter

    • RL Step Ups I/C X10
    • LL Step Ups I/C X10

    Mosey around horseshoe back to flag.

    Count-Off, Name-o-rama, Announcements (lots of Mardi Gras-themed workouts coming up, Endymion Run, Death Star Trench Run on St. Charles on Sunday, Tsunami/Rex Run on Mardi Gras day), and Prayer.

    Thanks PAX for letting me lead.  Have a safe and happy Mardi Gras!

  • Rocky Balboa at the Birdcage

    Rocky Balboa at the Birdcage

    Pre-Thang

    YHC scoped out the AO the day before his Q. Glad he did. He noticed all the blocks hidden behind the Fountain of Youth were gone!!! Not sure who took them. Could it be Valerio, the killer Jaguar??? Could it be a Pax from Metry or Lakeview? With the blocks gone, YHC had to come up with another plan. 23 PAX managed to meet up on a moist, wet, humid, warm Wednesday morning in the middle of Feb. At 5:30, YHC gave his standard disclaimer and off the PAX.

    Warm-ups

    Moseyed to the band stand and did the following in cadence:

    SSHs x 20

    Windmills x 10

    Grass Grabber x 10

    Imperial Walkers x 20

    Then an easy mosey to the track within the Oak Alley and back to the Band Stand.

    The Thang

    Starting off behind the Band Stand surrounded by duck droppings, each Pax did the following:

    Round 1 – Rocky Balboa x 50 IC, climbed over the stage to the other side, slow Merkins x 10 IC, moseyed to the next light post within the Oak Alley with Plank Jacks x 20 IC, moseyed to the next light post with Peter Parkers x 20 IC, moseyed to the track with 10 burpees OYO. Moseyed on the track to the parking lot to the shelter then to the back of the Band Stand. (YHC originally wanted to stop by the Shelter to do exercises but was scared off by the Yoga ladies). YHC had to call an audible.

    Round 2 – Rocky Balboa x 40 IC, climbed over the stage to the other side, LBCs x 20 IC, bear crawled to the 2nd light post within the Oak Alley, Mountain Climber x 20 IC, moseyed to the track with 10 burpees OYO. Moseyed on the track to the parking lot then to the back of the Band Stand. (Yoga ladies were still at the shelter).

    Round 3 – Rocky Balboa x 30 IC, climbed over the stage to the other side. Burpees broad jump to the first light post. Then side hopped (switched sides halfway) toward the track. Then 10 burpees OYO. Moseyed on the track to the parking lot to the SHELTER!!!! Yoga ladies were gone by 6:05 a.m.

    Round of Mary & More

    Pax picked a spot on the benches at the Shelter and did the following in cadence:

    Slow Dips x 15

    Slow Derkins x 10

    Box Jumps x 20

    Dying Cockroach x 20

    Hello Dolly x 20

    Penguins x 20

    Flutter Kicks x 20

    Right Leg Step Up x 20

    Left Leg Step Up x 20

    Then moseyed through Oak Alley back to the Flag at 6:16 a.m.

    COT

    Count-O-Rama 23PAX, Name-O-Rama, announcements, intentions. We prayed for a safe Mardi Gras season. Thank You all again for the opportunity to lead. The Pax motivates me everyday to push harder than I would ever do on my own. SYITG

    King Kong

  • I’m sorry @Reluctant Yankee, I suck at this.

    Once again, I am posting a couple of weeks late.

    Started off with a circle in the clubhouse parking lot.

    • SSH X 20
    • Forward Arm Circles X 20
    • Mountain Climbers X 20
    • A little plank yoga stretching

    We headed to the track for some interval sprints. Jogged to the first running man and then sprinted to the next. Then jogged two running men and sprinted two, etc. Kept this up until we got to the pull-up bars.

    Split into 4 groups and rotated through the following:

    • Pull-ups X 20 as the count
    • Carolina Dry Docks
    • Jump Lunges
    • Squats

    Repeated the jog sprint interval pattern to the Mary area by the drinking fountain for the following:

    • Freddy Mercury X 20
    • Penguins X 20
    • LBC X 20
    • American Hammer X 20

    One more set of jog sprint intervals to the fountain. Stopped there for some benches.

    • Dips X 15
    • Box jumps on the bench X 15
    • Dips X 15
    • Diamond Derkins X 15
    • Dips X 15

    Indian run with two lines to the row bars. Did some group led Mary while we waited for the 6.

    Moseyed to the flag for name-o-rama and SBOM.

  • Choppa Style or just 60-45-30

    I took the time last night to plan a beautiful beatdown for the PAX this am. Unfortunately I over planned and I did NOT get to the special CHOPPA part of the beatdown.

    28 PAX posted – It was a chilly 44 degrees but decent weather.

    Not modeling good F3 form – we started at 531. We moseyed around the golf course lot to the bandstand in Oak Alley.

    We started with a warm up: SSH x 20, Imp Walker Squats x 20, Peter Parkers x 10, and Parker Peters x 20. We sealed the warm up with 5 burpees in honor of Terabyte.

    Then we ran a lap in Oak Alley and back.

    Once we were back we did the 60-45-30 workout. AMRAP we did MERKS, PLank Walk, and Jump Squats

    60 secs Merks, 60 sec Plank Walk, 60 sec Jump Squats , 20 sec rest

    Then we did 45 sec Merks, 45 sec Plank Walk, and 45 sec Jump Squats, 20 sec rest

    Then we did 30 sec Merks, 30 sec Plank Walk, and 30 sec Jump Squats, 20 sec rest

    That was one full – exercise group.

    After that we did a long mosey up Oak Alley around the golf course and back to the bandstand

    We did 60-45-30 again with Burpees, Low Country Crab and Mtn Climbers.

    Pushed it up Oak Alley for another lap.

    Back to the shelter for one last 60-45-30.

    We did dips, step ups left leg (sorry! no right leg – that left leg is going to be huge), and wall sits lifting legs

    After that session was planning on a big finish with the right leg step ups sorry. better do those on your own and then my finale was going to be CHOPPA STYLE

    Play the song CHOPPA STYLE

    When he says CHOPPA style do a feet to hands jump, when he says choppa choppa plank jack and when he says who dey’ – do a merk.

    Hopefully I get someone to let me do this in the next week!

    Always a pleasure to lead in the GLOOM!

  • CBGB Block Party

    CBGB Block Party

    YHC has appreciated the staged “coupons” at the Skinny and Birdcage, and after some creative festivities by Medulla Oblongata (see Halloween and Christmas) thought it appropriate to greet the new year with 36lb CMUs. Disclaimer, block party announcement and we’re off.

    1. WARM UP
      Mosey the parking lot, back behind the bandstand. Up and over. Then 20 SSH IC, 20 Mountain climbers IC, 20 Peter Parkers IC, followed by 50 LBCs OYO.
    2. THANG 1 – A BLIMPS at the lightpost intervals, followed by….another BLIMPS across magazine to the CMU honeyhole.
    3. WARM UP 2 – Circle up for a Block warm up. (10) 4-count IC clean and press left shoulder, then (10) 4-count IC clean and press right shoulder, followed by (20) Chest Press OYO
    4. THANG 2 – One block exercises – PAX paired up for CBGB (Curls, Blockbys, Goblet Squats, B-rows ), one PAX lifts while the other carries the block up to one light and back and flapjack , two cycles on each.
    5. THANG 3 – Two block exercises. YHC demo’d some lego configurations of the CMUs to do Merks and Dips. Pax stayed in pairs. One PAX appreciates the gravity of the block while the other runs agassi suicides (1 then 2 lights), flapjack, two cycles
    6. THANG 4 – Three block exercises – The PAX reorg’ed into 3 PAX groups (surprisingly quickly!) while YHC demo’d Bulgariann split leg lunges (one leg on a 2 CMU stack, while holding a 3rd) and kettle bell swings (feet a bit wider than shoulder width on 2 CMUs, while kettle swinging a 3rd). Two PAX run two light agassis, while 3rd appreciates the block. Flapjack till all PAX had their go.

    There was mumble chatter about the time so YHC through in some impromptu coupon cool-down. 10 4count curls IC, 10 4count overhead press IC, 10 4count kettle swings IC. At about count 3, YHC realized there is no good rhythm for 4 count kettle swings and settled for sloppy syncopation instead.

    Then we returned the block to their resting places, moseyed back to the flag for count-off, name-0-rama, announcements and prayer. Thankful in the New Year. Not much running today but enough fun to get the heart pumping.