7.8mi, 63:58, 30 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 47 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Bats, "Courage"
Juliana Hatfield, "Rider"
Aly & AJ, "Chemicals React"

WX at 1930: 62 (17) DP 24 (-4) BP 30.00 (1016) NW 29 RH 23

Odometer 1: 220.1mi

Z3-Z4.

Today was not intended to be a particularly fast run - but I had a lot of energy from doing Nothing But Eating over the last few days.

The Intrepid Coworker had intended on a longer run, so he did a full lap, then met me about 2/3 of the way around the airfield where we are. I had the benefit of running with a tailwind for much of today, and by I very nearly hit a PR. I didn't feel like I had started all that fast - which frankly bodes well for the future.

I was thankful that the Intrepid Coworker decided to pace me in - this was one of the strongest finishes I've had in a long while.

This is more than I can say about the Johns Hopkins lacrosse team, which has been having a bad, bad, season. Losing four games in a row is a bad trend for the defending national championships. It would be catastrophically bad if the team did not make the NCAA Division I championships...which I can actually foresee.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
7.78 63:58 03:58 08:13 08:13 7.78

35min on elliptical, 27 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 44 of the campaign.

iThink: nothing

WX at 1630: 64 (18) DP 24 (-4) BP 30.00 (1016) NNE 8 RH 22

Odometer 1: 213.4mi relative

Z3 low.

I didn't feel like running outside, so I decided on the elliptical and weight approach today. I felt like I was working harder, but my breathing was so relaxed that it was a confirmation of what my heart rate monitor was already telling me, which was that today was going to be a recovery day. And so it goes.

7.8mi, 63:05, 26 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 43 of the campaign.

iThink:
Def Leppard, "Photograph"
The All-American Rejects, "It Ends Tonight"

WX at 1730: 55 (13) DP 41 (5) BP 30.06 (1018) SE 8 RH 59

Odometer 2: 47.7mi

Z4.

Today was a totally unintentional start to what would be my PR running the perimeter here by about 3 minutes. I was pleasantly surprised to know that in all of about 9 days, I'd gotten into better aerobic conditioning. The Intrepid Coworker picked up on this and turned on the jets accordingly.

He paced me into a PR, improving by some 3:19, which at almost eight miles is somewhat respectable.

I didn't think I was going to run a PR today - but it sure feels good to do so. Today also marks the last day I spent in command, six years ago. There are some who probably miss it - at least where I came from - but I don't...and frankly, neither does Household6.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:05 08:05 08:05 08:05 1.00
1.00 16:49 08:44 08:44 08:24 2.00
1.00 24:52 08:03 08:03 08:17 3.00
1.00 32:58 08:06 08:06 08:15 4.00
1.00 40:57 07:59 08:00 08:12 5.00
1.00 48:52 07:55 07:55 08:09 6.00
1.00 57:01 08:09 08:09 08:09 7.00
0.78 63:05 06:04 07:50 08:07 7.77

4.5mi approximate, 40:23, 24 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 41 of the campaign.

iThink: The Bats, "Courage"

WX at 1630: 71 (22) DP 8 (-13) BP 29.97 (1015) Variable 3 RH 8

Odometer 1: 209.9mi

Z3.

Today wasn't intended to go very hard, and it wasn't. It was a recovery day for The Intrepid Coworker, who then also indulged over half an hour of throwing the rock around in the courtyard outside our headquarters building.

I did, after all, make it a point to pack my lacrosse sticks first before loading much of anything else.

My other indulgence today was cake, as it was the one thing I could think of on my wedding anniversary.

Approximate Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
4.50 40:23 40:23 08:58 08:58 4.50

7.92mi, 71:30, 23 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

D+40 of the campaign.

iThink:
Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"
The All-American Rejects, "It Ends Tonight"

WX at 1830: 64 (18) DP 15 (-9) BP 30.06 (1018) NNW 9 RH 15

Odometer 2: 39.9mi

Z3.

The Intrepid Coworker decided to go fast and hard today, so I decided to go on my own - which allowed me a relatively relaxed recovery run (or something like it). I wasn't killing myself for the first time in a while, although there was a hell of a headwind (and it was really apparent at the third mile where I was transitioning to running fully aerobically).

This is probably the easiest I can get away with in a non-recovery period, though. I guess I should be gratified I can run what I can - but I want to go faster.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:04 09:04 09:03 09:03 1.00
1.01 17:53 08:49 08:46 08:55 2.01
1.00 27:13 09:20 09:20 09:03 3.01
1.00 36:19 09:06 09:06 09:04 4.01
1.00 45:11 08:52 08:54 09:02 5.00
1.00 54:03 08:52 08:52 09:00 6.00
1.00 63:09 09:06 09:06 09:01 7.00
0.92 71:30 08:21 09:08 09:02 7.92

3.11mi, 25:06, 22 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

D+39 of the campaign.

iThink: theme from "The Easter Bunny Hates You"

WX at 1730: 62 (17) DP 21 (-6) BP 30.00 (1016) NNW 14 RH 20

Odometer 1: 204.1mi

Z4.

I had to get back for a weekly ceremony and so only went about 25 minutes out and back. What I didn't realize is that, after turning around at about the 13 minute mark, that the Intrepid Coworker would turn on the jets and I would do a full up tempo run.

I was actually doing some good belly breathing to try to keep up with the Intrepid Coworker. It sucked, and he pulled away, as he does (he has far more running talent than I'll ever have), but there's always improvement - and it was useful to run at just under anaerobic threshold. It's painful - but there's definite benefit to it, especially at altitude.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.56 12:58 12:58 08:20 08:20 1.56
1.56 25:06 12:08 07:48 08:04 3.11

About 6 miles, time indeterminate, 20 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

D+37 of the campaign.

iThink: None

WX at 2230: 59 (15) DP 23 (-5) BP 29.97 (1015) ESE 12 RH 25

Odometer 1: 201.0mi approximate

Z3-4.

Wasn't sure how much today's hash was, but it involved some clever trail setting by the hares. I was also witness to folks who don't really know how to name hashers, and so heard some pedestrian names being dished out to folks getting named.

I wax on this topic because the point is not to give someone a name that's long and vulgar as much as it is another name that they can occasionally say in more casual company.

8.3mi, 73:24, 19 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

iThink: Armor for Sleep, "Dream to Make Believe"

D+36 of the campaign.

WX at 1730: 64 (18) DP 5 (-15) BP 29.88 (1012) NE 3 RH 9

Odometer 2: 32.0mi

Z4.

Today was a day I went out because the Intrepid Coworker decided to run and it would be criminal not to get a run in when the prevailing winds were less than 15 knots here.

I felt like utter and complete crap, and between almost woofing midway, hit the wall where I was grinding out max effort just to hold 8:45/mi pace.

What is the sound of suck? I don't know for certain but I sure heard some today.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.01 09:23 09:23 09:18 09:18 1.01
1.00 18:00 08:37 08:39 08:59 2.01
1.00 26:23 08:23 08:21 08:46 3.01
0.99 34:50 08:27 08:30 08:42 4.00
1.00 44:11 09:21 09:21 08:50 5.00
1.00 53:24 09:13 09:12 08:54 6.00
1.00 62:05 08:41 08:40 08:52 7.01
0.99 70:57 08:52 08:55 08:52 8.00
0.28 73:24 02:27 08:43 08:52 8.28

3.1mi, 28:51, 18 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

iThink: Game Theory, "You Drive"

WX at 1730: 62 (17) DP 8 (-13) BP 29.91 (1013) N 12 RH 11

Odometer 1: 195.1mi

Z3 low.

So much for progress...today was an easy wog based on my need to expend lard. It was better after warmup, just as I was about to finish, but at least I got out and got at it.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
3.08 28:51 28:51 09:22 09:22 3.08

7.8mi, 66:24, 17 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

iThink: The All-American Rejects, "It Ends Tonight"

WX at 1830: 60 (16) DP 26 (-3) BP 29.94 (1014) NNW 14 RH 26

Odometer 2: 23.7mi

Z4.

This started ugly, then turned into a respectable run...for the circumstances. After a week at sea level, I could feel the altitude right away...but after about 30 minutes, I was fully warmed up and had transitioned to a tempo run, where I was running right at anaerobic threshold, as I was almost the entire run. I just felt a hell of a lot better at the end.

Usually I get slower when increasing altitude, but I felt surprisingly good today. Maybe I'm reaping some benefits, but there's plenty of work remaining to go.

I have no doubt that I negative splitted this run, but I didn't keep score by mile.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
7.84 66:24 66:24 08:28 08:28 7.84

3.1mi, 26:02, 15 MAR 08, As Sayliyah, Qatar

iThink: "Rendezvous with Destiny"

WX at 2000: 71 (22) DP 37 (3) BP 29.97 (1015) NNW 10 RH 37

Odometer 1: 192.0mi

Z3 start, Z4-Z5 finish.

Easy run that turned into a painful challenge at the end, courtesy of the Intrepid Coworker. I needed it!

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:10 09:10 09:10 09:10 1.00
1.00 18:00 08:50 08:50 09:00 2.00
1.10 26:02 08:02 07:18 08:24 3.10

6.2mi, 55:40, 14 MAR 08, As Sayliyah, Qatar

iThink: Aly & AJ, "Speak for Myself"

WX at 1900: 77 (25) DP 48 (9) BP 29.91 (1013) NNW 17 widespread dust RH 34

Odometer 1: 187.9mi

Z2.

Easy slug run to burn lard. Much of the run included conversation with the Intrepid Coworker, who normally runs fast enough to burn me straight into the ground. Fortunately, he was interested in an easy run to shake things out. That's good, since I've been eating far too much over the last few weeks and I need to get back into a disciplined program.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
3.10 27:58 27:58 09:01 09:01 3.10
3.10 55:40 27:42 08:56 08:59 6.20

3.2mi, 27:19, 13 MAR 08, As Sayliyah, Qatar

iThink: Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"

WX at 0700: No reading.

Odometer 1: 181.7mi

Z3.

I didn't feel quite as froggy as on my previous run, and it showed. I was working a good bit harder for all of about 8:45/mile pace. No matter. Today was a day I needed to get out the door and run, any distance, any pace, since I could feel myself starting to get a little tubbier. That's the way it is.

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
3.15 27:19 27:19 08:40 08:40 3.15

6.2mi, 52:36, 11 MAR 08, As Sayliyah, Qatar

iThink: Aly & AJ, "Chemicals React"

WX at 1800: No reading.

Odometer 1: 178.5mi

Z4.

I started off relatively slow and by the end, with the Intrepid Coworker, was going some 7:30/mile pace. Needless to say, I was going full tilt, but I'd say in the aggregate it was a zone 4 run as I was not beyond anaerobic threshold until near the end. That's not a bad sign, actually, as it indicates that if I lost a few pounds or so, I might be significantly faster as my cardiovascular system is not as bad off as I thought it was.

Splits:
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
3.10 27:42 27:42 08:56 08:56 3.10
3.10 52:36 24:54 08:02 08:29 6.20

3.0mi, 25:40, 10 MAR 08, As Sayliyah, Qatar

iThink: "Ice Fishing" from the on-line game Club Penguin

WX at 0600: No reading.

Odometer 1: 172.3mi

Z3.

Being back at sea level is strange. I'm at Qatar for work-related reasons, and not surprisingly, it was easier to breathe. I was running some 8:30 pace this morning, and although I had to work to maintain that speed, I could tell the overall speed was faster.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
3.00 25:40 25:40 08:33 08:33 3.00

7.8mi, 69:13, 8 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

iThink:
Mims, "This Is Why I'm Hot"
The All-American Rejects, "Move Along"

WX at 1800: 57 (14) DP 28 (-2) BP 30.09 (1019) NNE 6 RH 33

Odometer 2: 15.9mi

Z3.

This was a deliberately easy run until the end, when El Gato (one of my running partners and coworkers) decided to turn on the jets. Most of the run otherwise was just under anaerobic threshold, which was good; I'm not sure how much I would've wanted to run working hard after the last few days, which have been anything but consistent.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
7.76 09:13 09:13 08:55 08:55 7.76

7.2mi, time indeterminate, 6 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

iThink: None.

WX at 2100: No recording.

Odometer 1: 169.2mi

Z3.

I got volunteered to be a hare for this week's hash. That's fine, because it turned into a tutorial on how to do it. I took two inexperienced and one first-time hasher and ran what I thought to be a fairly respectable trail, all things being equal.

I'm really cramped by the available space at Bagram, but it makes for fun when taking the pack through very tightly compacted terrain. It makes for a fun challenge.

That should not be construed as meaning that I'd be willing to hare every week!

6.1mi, 52:01, 4 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

iThink: nothing

WX at 1800: 55 (13) DP 30 (-1) BP 29.97 (1015) NNW 5 RH 38

Odometer 2: 8.1mi

Z4.

I was out for a relatively moderate pace run (one that I could still talk on) and it turned into an unintentional time trial.

I had to return for a fallen warrior ceremony here at Bagram, which necessitated a change in clothes and paying appropriate respect for the dead. There is a noticeable shift in speed, although I find it disconcerting that all I'm good for these days is an 8-minute mile. That's weak.

My knees don't hurt anywhere near as much as they used to - which makes me think that there's a lot less life left on pair 1 than I thought I had.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.01 08:57 08:57 08:54 08:54 1.01
1.00 17:24 08:27 08:28 08:41 2.00
1.00 26:20 08:56 08:55 08:46 3.01
1.00 35:04 08:44 08:46 08:46 4.00
1.00 43:17 08:13 08:13 08:39 5.00
1.00 51:19 08:02 08:02 08:33 6.00
0.08 52:01 00:42 08:20 08:33 6.09

10,000m on Concept2 Model C, 44:57, 3 MAR 08, Kabul, Afghanistan

iThink: nothing particularly memorable...

WX at 0700: 57 (14) DP 14 (-10) BP 30.06 (1018) WSW 14 RH 18

Odometer 2: 2.0mi equivalent

Z4.

First time spinning in over a month, and I felt every bit of it. The drag factor (and in turn, the relative speed I was going) was lower based on higher altitude, so I was killing myself just to spin 45 minutes/10000m, which is unusually slow, even for being relatively out of shape.

I'm sure altitude also had something to do with the relative effort as well.

Splits
Distance: 10000
Time: 0:44:57
Per 500m: TBD
Drag Factor : 155
Per Mile: 7:14

about 2mi, time indeterminate, 1 MAR 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

iThink: DinBOT, "Hot Buttered Bizkits"

WX at 1700: 59 (15) DP 19 (-7) BP 30.00 (1016) ENE 6 RH 21

Odometer 1: 162.0mi

Z2.

I was done before I started, for the most part. Lack of sleep over the last few days has really squashed me, and today was no exception.

I did do some legitimate lifting, and I felt a lot better. I need to lift much more regularly if I want to avoid larding out since I hit the scale at over 190lbs, which even with shoes on means another seven or so pounds of lard that needs to get burned.

Splits
Indeterminate - and probably irrelevant.