6.0mi at 60#, 104:14, 31 DEC 07, Fort Leavenworth KS

iThink:
Throwing Muses, "Mania"
Throwing Muses, "Flood"

WX at 1000: 28 (-2) DP 24 (-4) BP 29.89 (1012) NW 8 light snow RH 86

Odometer B1: 28mi

Z2-3.

The weather conditions outside made it unsafe to walk at any legitimate speed, so I had to slow down.

I had two good wipeouts. The first happened walking downhill. The second happened, and I honestly think I would have cracked my head open had I not had my ruck or body armor on. I wasn't wearing a helmet, but I need to recheck my ruck to make sure I didn't break anything when I landed on it trying to kill myself.

It is surprising how little snivel gear I need to wear when I'm roadmarching with body armor on. I had a sweatshirt, pants, and gloves, and nothing else.

I was in a singularly shitty mood this morning when I started, so I knew I was going to finish the road march dead or alive. It was a matter of time when, but I frankly didn't fucking care how shitty the weather got. It's been a while since I roadmarched in snow flurries.

One of the gifts I received this x-moose was the box set for My So-Called Life. It, then makes sense to think of this quotation, that "Hatred can become like food. It gives you this energy. You can, like, live off it." Curiously appropriate, I think.

Splits
SGMT AGGRGTE SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.32 0:05:02 05:02 15:44 15:44 0.32
0.89 0:19:27 14:25 16:12 16:04 1.21
0.68 0:30:25 10:58 16:08 16:06 1.89
3.77 1:38:41 08:16 18:06 17:26 5.66
0.32 1:44:14 05:33 17:21 17:26 5.98

3.4+3.4mi, 28:58+30:13, 28 DEC 07, Carlisle PA

iThink:
"Jester" from the PC video game Terminal Velocity
Everlast, "All Along the Watchtower"

WX at 1100: 44.1 (6.7) DP 30.0 (-1.1) BP 30.32 (1026) SE 6 RH 57
WX at 0900: 37.0 (2.8) DP 30.9 (-0.6) BP 30.33 (1027) Calm haze RH 78

Odometer 4: 352.5mi

Z3.

The run itself was not particularly hard today. It was the heavy lifting at Thorpe Hall at Carlisle Barracks that really made today difficult. That was an exercise in suck.

This is what happens when I lay off the weights for a few weeks. All my improvement from the last few weeks evaporates like an illusion. Still, this is just to hold the line before going to Air Assault School in January.

On the other hand, if I'm not going particularly hard just to run 8:39/mi, then I guess I can live with that. For now, at least. I'm still working off the sins of the last few days, and our family trip to Hershey Park yesterday probably didn't help much...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
3.42 28:58 28:58 08:28 08:28 3.42
3.42 59:11 30:13 08:50 08:39 6.84

3.4mi, 29:19, 27 DEC 07, Carlisle PA

iThink:
Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"
The Cure, "A Forest" (from Concert, 1984)

WX at 0900: 37.9 (3.3) DP 35.1 (1.7) BP 30.03 (1016) E 3 mist RH 89

Odometer 4: 344.5mi

Z3.

Nothing too hard after yesterday's run, but today wasn't exactly slow either for a relative recovery run.

I needed to do something as I got in some suds last night at the Market Cross Pub with my old professor from Carlisle Barracks from a few years ago. Mmmm, Stella Artois. Actually the other poison of choice was a Snakebite, which is a half Woodpecker Cider, half Harp, and is quite good.

I wore normal snivel gear as I wasn't trying to go particularly fast. Tomorrow I grind out a good one - or I may end up going to Carlisle Barracks to get in some gym work.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.13 09:55 09:55 08:47 08:47 1.13
1.30 20:56 11:01 08:28 08:37 2.43
0.79 27:35 06:39 08:25 08:34 3.22
0.22 29:19 01:44 07:53 08:31 3.44

7.0mi, 57:45, 26 DEC 07, Carlisle PA

Neil Young, "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World"
R.E.M., "Driver 8"

WX at 0900: 34.0 (1.1) DP 28.0 (-2.2) BP 30.23 (1023) Calm RH 78

Odometer 4: 342.0mi

Z4.

It sure is weird being back at Carlisle again. I'm visiting my brother-in-law and his family, along with my other brother-in-law and his two boys. Having nine kids in the house sure makes it exciting.

It most certainly did NOT feel like 34 degrees at all this morning. It could be because I have more hair than I usually do (2 weeks between haircuts does that) or it's because I'm working off the sins of the day prior. I went out initially with tights and a sweatshirt, and gloves, and after about 200m, returned to the start, jettisoned all snivel gear, and ran in shorts, long-sleeve shirt, and gloves. My legs were pink from the cold, but I didn't overheat.

I was pleasantly surprised to hold low 8-minute pace. I'm sure the environmental conditions had something to do with it, and the fact that I haven't done a damn thing aside from lug baggage and shovel snow in the last week.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.65 05:01 05:01 07:43 07:43 0.65
1.51 17:53 12:52 08:31 08:17 2.16
0.80 24:17 06:24 08:00 08:12 2.96
0.66 29:47 05:30 08:20 08:14 3.62
1.29 40:38 10:51 08:25 08:17 4.91
1.51 52:32 11:54 07:53 08:11 6.42
0.65 57:45 05:13 08:02 08:10 7.07

Oh hell yeah

"Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd, who served a dark and a hungry god..." I haven't felt this motivated to see a film on the big screen in a long time.

When I was in 8th grade, my music teacher had us watch a videotape of the Angela Lansbury version of Sweeney Todd. Looking back, I don't think that would have ever happened in a public school. I may malign some of the folks with whom I went to school...but I don't think I can argue with the education I got there.

The fact that Sweeney Todd is coming out for x-moose only sweetens the deal...since my favorite x-moose song is, of course, FEAR's "Fuck Christmas."

Oh hell yeah.

4.7mi, 37:50, 20 DEC 07, Fort Leavenworth KS

iThink: Rob Zombie, "Feel So Numb"

WX at 1200: 45.0 (7.2) DP 34.0 (1.1) BP 29.8 (1009) NNW 5 RH 65

Odometer 4: 335mi

Z4.

Fast start, level off, and probably no negative splits...but a hard run nonetheless. I was running at just inside oxygen debt, so I think this was a decent race-like pace. Probably not a good workout right after a roadmarch, but we'll see tomorrow.

I'm not sure why I felt like going so fast at the start, though.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.27 02:00 02:00 07:26 07:26 0.27
1.24 11:35 09:35 07:43 07:40 1.51
0.85 18:44 07:09 08:25 07:56 2.36
1.24 28:33 09:49 07:55 07:56 3.60
0.85 35:40 07:07 08:22 08:01 4.45
0.27 37:50 02:10 08:01 08:01 4.72

4.7mi at 60#, 72:54, 19 DEC 07, Fort Leavenworth KS

iThink:
Cub, "Pillow Queen"
Cub, "Green Eyes"
Rob Zombie, "Feel So Numb"

WX at 1100: 39.9 (4.4) DP 28.9 (-1.7) BP 30.1 (1019) S 9 RH 64

Odometer B1: 22mi

Z3.

I'm not breathing all that hard - but I know my legs are working pretty hard.

Unfortunately, I'm not able to hold the kind of pace I need to hold with all this on. This is not encouraging if I want to ruck 12 miles in less than 3 hours. The big question mark is whether I do so with body armor or not.

Having 35 pounds of body armor changes things. Actually, in some ways, it makes it easier than having just the ruck since body armor tends to distribute weight better.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.27 04:14 04:14 15:44 15:44 0.27
1.24 22:56 18:42 15:04 15:11 1.51
0.85 36:21 13:25 15:47 15:24 2.36
1.24 55:16 18:55 15:15 15:21 3.60
0.85 08:42 13:26 15:48 15:26 4.45
0.27 12:54 04:12 15:33 15:27 4.72

4.48mi at 60#, 72:36, 17 DEC 07, Fort Leavenworth, KS

iThink: a variety of x-moose songs and "Jester" from the old computer game Terminal Velocity

WX at 1000: 27.0 (-2.8) BP 19.9 (-6.7) DP 30.18 (1022) SSW 9 RH 74

Odometer B1: 17mi

Z3.

For it being below freezing, I had to take off my hat because I was sweating so much.

It also didn't help that there was all sorts of ice all over the ground from the ice storm last weekend and a few days prior.

I'm not sure how much credence to give these splits as I was going faster later on.

Weights were 35# for body armor, 25# for rucksack. The ruck sure didn't feel like only 25 lbs...it felt lighter.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.27 04:06 04:06 15:14 15:14 0.27
2.09 32:51 28:45 13:45 13:55 2.36
2.09 68:18 35:27 16:58 15:21 4.45
0.27 72:36 04:18 15:56 16:13 4.48

30min on elliptical, 13 DEC 07, Clarksville TN

Michael Manring, "Blue Orleans"

WX at 1100: 46.0 (7.8) DP 44.1 (6.7) BP 30.13 (1020) WNW 6 RH 92

Odometer 4: 330mi estimate

Z3.
Average heart rate = 141, Max HR = 180

I woke up late, and had to do something. I need to stop doing these "do nothing but eat" days because they're not helping me!

30 minutes is about all I could spare. Nothing too hard, but nothing particularly easy either.

5.1mi, 46:27, 11 DEC 07, Clarksville TN

Kristin Hersh, "Peggy Lee"
"Girl From Ipanema" (various covers)
Everlast, "All Along the Watchtower" (yes, the one from Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, which I don't play)

WX at 0700: 52.0 (11.1) DP 51.1 (10.6) BP 30.21 (1023) SE 3 mist RH 96

Odometer 1: 78.3mi

Z3.

Today was not quite a day of wogging - but pretty close. I think the initial pace reflected that, although the continuous negative splits (less the first leg) was an indicator that as I loosened up, I'm in better shape than I'd originally thought.

That I was running sub-8 by the end at the same relative effort was actually a good sign.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.21 01:52 01:52 09:06 09:06 0.21
1.35 14:39 12:47 09:30 09:27 1.55
1.01 24:11 09:32 09:26 09:27 2.56
1.01 33:14 09:03 08:58 09:19 3.57
1.35 44:47 11:33 08:33 09:06 4.92
0.21 46:27 01:40 07:56 09:03 5.13

45min on elliptical, 10 DEC 07, Clarksville TN

Bear McCreary, "One Year Later"

WX at 0800: 45.0 (7.2) DP 44.1 (6.7) BP 30.27 (1025) N 6 mist RH 96

Odometer B1: 12mi

Z4.
Avg heart rate = 144, max = 170

It was drizzling outside. I didn't feel very industrious, or more properly, brave.

So I ellipticaled. No problem.

I might go for an easy run tomorrow as I've back-to-backed two hard days on the elliptical.

60min on elliptical, 9 DEC 07, Clarksville TN

Bear McCreary, "Dirty Hands"

WX at 1200: 68.0 (20.0) DP 64.9 (18.3) BP 30.21 (1023) SW 12 RH 89

Odometer 4: 327.0mi estimate

Z4.
Average heart rate = 153, max 178

It was raining, so I decided to chicken out instead of putting the Big Green Tick on. So...I decided to go high on resistance and went for 60 minutes.

I'm probably at the point where I could grind out a 12-mile road march...but it'd be ugly. But it can be done.

Add some heavy lifting today for the first time in about five days. Better than Doing Nothing But Eat, admittedly.

5.13mi, 41:25, 4 DEC 07, Clarksville TN

Chris Stamey, "On The Radio (For Ray Davies)"
For Against, "Stranded in Greenland"

WX at 0700: 26.1 (-3.3) DP 21.0 (-6.1) BP 30.1 (1019) Calm RH 81

Odometer 4: 321.9mi

Z4.

At last, the Girl From Ipanema leaves me alone, atleast this morning...
...although I did have have that song suck in my head most of yesterday at work.

Today was a crapshoot after yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised to be running sub-8-minute pace this morning, although I suspect I can attribute some of that to the usual 25-minute warmup period. Still, I didn't feel like I was particuarly going VERY hard to keep the pace leading in...so I guess I shouldn't be too bent out of shape.

It is, however, winter, and I always run faster in the cold than in the heat.

And...I also did some lifting this morning not - mostly to keep myself honest on some of that too.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.21 01:40 01:40 08:08 08:08 0.21
1.35 12:50 11:10 08:18 08:17 1.55
1.01 21:11 08:21 08:16 08:16 2.56
1.01 29:16 08:05 08:00 08:12 3.57
1.35 39:48 10:32 07:48 08:05 4.92
0.21 41:25 01:37 07:42 08:04 5.13

5.1mi at 45#, 74:38, 3 DEC 07, Clarksville TN

in the iThink:
Girl From Ipanema (again)
Michael Kamen, Band of Brothers Suite No. 2

WX at 0800: 28.9 (-1.7) DP 21.9 (-5.6) BP 30.42 (1030) NW 8 RH 74

Odometer B2: 5.1mi

Z3.

I felt like I was shuffling but not going particularly fast. That's not a big deal, but I thought it was interesting that I was still holding sub-15 minute pace with 45 pounds, which is a good (but not excessively heavy) working load.

No weapon, no helmet.

I did break my rucksack frame. Time to replace it, grr...

I'll probably ramp up the weight at some point, but the speed is encouraging, mostly.

The last split was due to a late stop on the watch.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.21 02:57 02:57 14:23 14:23 0.21
1.35 22:33 19:36 14:34 14:33 1.55
1.01 37:21 14:48 14:39 14:35 2.56
1.01 52:02 14:41 14:32 14:35 3.57
1.35 61:18 19:16 14:16 14:30 4.92
0.21 74:38 03:20 15:52 14:33 5.13

5.31mi, time indeterminate, 1 DEC 07, Brentwood TN

Katee Sackhoff's rendition of "Girl from Ipanema" from the Battlestar Galactica Season 3 Gag Reel

WX at 1500: 57.9 (14.4) DP 28.0 (-2.2) BP 30.2 (1022) E 6 RH 32

Odometer 4: 316.4mi

Z4.

Ordinarily I don't consider hashes hard runs, but a look at the terrain around the start meant that I was going to be working for every splash of hash on the ground.

I FRBed today - although it was mostly out of dumb serendipity rather than actual skill. The hills were killing me...which might underscore that I need to get back on the stick and start working again.

I cannot describe in words the massive cognitive dissonance at running uphill, hard, and having "Girl from Ipanema" stuck in the back of my head. It was the gift that truly would keep on giving...