4.6mi, 39:24, 30 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
The Cure, "Grinding Halt"
Above and Beyond feat. Oceanlab, "On A Good Day"

WX at 1000: 59.0 (15.0)     DP 44.1 (6.7)     BP 30.29 (1025)     N 9  RH 57

Odometer 11B: 55.1mi

Z4.  Average/max heart rate = 155/177

About 85 pushups this morning, about 90 situps this morning, and then I mulled over whether I wanted to go short or long.  I did two laps of the golf course block, which was almost one.  After one lap, I decided to go for the second.  Both laps were done, with a short 100-150m slower portion in each, remainder hard.

My knees will probably feel it, but I guess it was better than the alternative of going for a short run that didn't do anything.

Splits
SGMT    AGGRG    SEGMT    PERMI    AVGPC    DIST
1.00    08:18    08:18    08:18    08:18    1.00
1.00    16:59    08:41    08:41    08:30    2.00
1.00    25:34    08:35    08:35    08:31    3.00
1.00    34:18    08:44    08:44    08:34    4.00
0.59    39:24    05:06    08:39    08:35    4.59

2.4mi + 5,000m on Concept2 Model E, 21:09 + 22:55, 29 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Above and Beyond feat. Oceanlab, "On A Good Day" (Daniel Kandi remix)

WX at 0800: 60.1 (15.6)     DP 52.0 (11.1)     BP 29.94 (1013)     W 8 RH 75

Odometer 11A: 415.9mi equivalence

Z3.  Average/max heart rate = 146/164

I still feel pretty beat, but part of that is not getting more than 5 hours of sleep.  I need to consciously turn that shit around.

Today was a deliberately easy day on the Concept2.  Ironically, for going that much easier, I was only about a minute slower.  Today is still a recovery day, regardless.  I am too tired otherwise.

Splits
SGMT    AGGRG    SEGMT    PERMI    AVGPC    DIST
1.21    10:30    10:30    08:41    08:41    1.21
1.21    21:09    10:39    08:48    08:44    2.42

Distance:    5000
Time:    00:22:55
Avg/500m:    02:18
Drag Factor:    108
Per Mile:    00:07:23

5.42mi, 48:46, 28 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: The Bats, "Flowers and Trees"

WX at 0800: 54.0 (12.2)     DP 51.1 (10.6)     BP 29.91 (1012)     Calm  RH 90

Odometer 11B: 49.5mi

Z3.  Average/max heart rate = 153/174

I felt so-so this morning.  I was out most of yesterday after a colonoscopy.  Yay.

I didn't want to do anything very ambitious.  So I didn't.

Splits
SGMT    AGGRG    SEGMT    PERMI    AVGPC    DIST
1.00    09:09    09:09    09:09    09:09    1.00
1.00    18:18    09:09    09:09    09:09    2.00
1.00    27:13    08:55    08:55    09:04    3.00
1.00    36:22    09:09    09:09    09:05    4.00
1.00    45:14    08:52    08:52    09:03    5.00
0.42    48:46    03:32    08:25    09:00    5.42

2.4mi + 5,000m on Concept2 Model E, 21:52.5, 26 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Magnapop, "Lay It Down"
U2, "I Will Follow"
The Bats, "Flowers and Trees"

WX at 0900: 52.0 (11.1)     DP 46.0 (7.8)     BP 29.92 (1013)     W 8 RH 80

Odometer 11B: 44.0mi equivalence

Z3 run, Z4 erg.  Average/max heart rate = 150/173

I felt surprisingly good on the erg for feeling like complete crap this morning.  Run in was deliberately slow, erg was surprisingly faster than I thought it would be, and run back sucked as bad as it always does after erging that hard. 

And the weather was about as good as it gets.  It'd be a crime not to take advantage of it.


Still, I probably need to do this more...

Splits
SGMT    AGGRG    SEGMT    PERMI    AVGPC    DIST
1.21    11:23    11:23    09:24    09:24    1.21
1.21    23:07    11:44    09:42    09:33    2.42

Distance:    5000
Time:    00:21:52
Avg/500m:    02:11
Drag Factor:    103
Per Mile:    00:07:02

5.0mi, 42:30, 25 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: The Bats, "Flowers and Trees"

WX at 1000: 55.0 (12.8)     DP 44.1 (6.7)     BP 29.95 (1014)     ENE 7  RH 67

Odometer 11B: 40.1mi

Z4.  Average/max heart rate = 158/177

No run yesterday as the post yard sale was going on and I was pretty much crushed flat.

I went out hard today, the weather was good, but not as long as I'd have liked.  Tomorrow will be a day on the Concept, I think.

Splits
SGMT    AGGRG    SEGMT    PERMI    AVGPC    DIST
1.00    08:33    08:33    08:33    08:33    1.00
1.00    16:40    08:07    08:07    08:20    2.00
1.00    25:01    08:21    08:21    08:20    3.00
1.00    34:00    08:59    08:59    08:30    4.00
1.00    42:28    08:28    08:28    08:30    5.00

Ill-monikered popcorn

Dude.

I love shopping at Target.

Because nothing says family values like the AC-130 "Death From Above" mission.  After all, family values should include good crew coordination and some black hot thermal imaging.

The real deal looks like this.

And then there's some unintended irony.  Kill me if you can, Dick Cheney.  Oh, dude.

2.4mi + 5,000m on Concept2 Model E, 22:31 + 22:02, 23 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Maritime, "Pearl"

WX at 0700: 50.0 (10.0)     DP 44.1 (6.7)     BP 30.11 (1019)     ENE 8  RH 80

Odometer 11B: 35.1mi equivalence

Z3 high.  Average/max heart rate = 146/169 run only.  Averaged about 161-165 on erg.

First time on the erg in a while.  First 1000m felt promising, then I started to suck really bad.  When you don't do it for a long while, your times get worse.  Got it.

I should do this more often, though.  Since I don't see myself buying my own Concept2 anytime soon, maybe so.

Splits
SGMT    AGGRG    SEGMT    PERMI    AVGPC    DIST
1.21    11:27    11:27    09:28    09:28    1.21
1.21    22:31    11:04    09:09    09:18    2.42

Distance:    5000
Time:    00:22:02
Avg/500m:    02:12
Drag Factor:    107
Per Mile:    00:07:06

The Coolest Thing Ever

I played Traveller when I was growing up.  It was hard enough SF that it appealed to me after I got away from fantasy, more gritty than Star Frontiers, but not quite as suicidally glum as Twilight: 2000.

The Traveller Map pretty much rules.

4.6mi, 43:37, 22 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
The Soviet national anthem (no shit.)
Dan Latarski and Kim Nagel, title music to the 1990 computer game Stellar 7

WX at 0800:     48.9 (9.4)     DP 46.0 (7.8)     BP 30.2 (1022)     NNE 3  RH 89

Odometer 11A: 416.6mi

Z3 easy.  Average/max heart rate = 148/163

The weather was nice and I was tempted to go harder but I know I'll pay for it later on if I do that.  So today was a pretty easy-feeling recovery run, mostly.

I'll go long on Saturday.

Splits
SGMT    AGGRG    SEGMT    PERMI    AVGPC    DIST
1.00    09:20    09:20    09:20    09:20    1.00
1.00    18:36    09:16    09:16    09:18    2.00
1.00    28:11    09:35    09:35    09:24    3.00
1.00    37:45    09:34    09:34    09:26    4.00
0.60    43:37    05:52    09:47    09:29    4.60

5.0mi, 42:52, 21 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
The Killers, "When You Were Young"
Maritime, "Pearl"

WX at 0700: 54.0 (12.2)     DP 46.0 (7.8)     BP 30.1 (1019)     W 7 RH 74

Odometer 11B: 31.1mi

Z4.  Average/max heart rate = 157/172

Today did not start feeling like I was going to go hard, but I settled in after the first 100m and went at what I thought I could hold for 5 miles going at effort.  Today turned into a tempo run, and it was productive.

Uphills of any kind were more work than expected, perhaps a sign that my legs are tired and maybe I should work raw strength on some days.  Then again, I like to eat, so I like to run.  I should eat to run, but I run to eat.

Maybe when graduate school is over, I might do better.  That might be denial talking too since my schedule will return to its usual structured self afterwards.

Tomorrow will be an exercise in discipline as those are the days I need to start working on pushups and situps.  It's coming up to that time of the year again.

Splits
1.00    08:39    08:39    08:39    08:39    1.00
1.00    16:54    08:15    08:15    08:27    2.00
1.00    25:38    08:44    08:44    08:33    3.00
1.00    34:30    08:52    08:52    08:37    4.00
1.00    42:52    08:22    08:22    08:34    5.00

3.67mi, 35:59, 20 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: The Bats, "Flowers and Trees"

WX at 0900: 64.0 (17.8)     DP 53.1 (11.7)     BP 30 (1015)     S 13 RH 67

Odometer 11A: 412.0mi

Z2.  Average/max heart rate = 146/178

I wasn't sure what I was going to be up for, but as it turns out, recovery mileage was about all it was good for.  I was too beat for much of anything else.

Splits
SGMT    AGGRG    SEGMT    PERMI    AVGPC    DIST
1.00    09:41    09:41    09:41    09:41    1.00
1.00    19:24    09:43    09:43    09:42    2.00
1.00    29:24    10:00    10:00    09:48    3.00
0.67    35:59    06:35    09:50    09:48    3.67

6.22mi, 55:15, 19 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Maritime, "Pearl"
The Bats, "Afternoon in Bed"

WX at 0700: 55 (13) DP 55 (13) BP 30.06 (1017) WNW 3 fog RH 100

Odometer 11B: 26.1mi

Z3 high. Average/max heart rate = 153/168

I took yesterday off partly because my legs were totally beat. Today was a pleasant run in comparison, although I only got 4 hours of sleep last night.

The humidity and temperature were a nice counterpoint this morning. No problems with shoes once I had them laced properly. I have less latitude with these than the GT-2160s I had beforehand.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:01 09:01 09:01 09:01 1.00
1.00 17:36 08:35 08:35 08:48 2.00
1.00 26:31 08:55 08:55 08:50 3.00
1.00 35:36 09:05 09:05 08:54 4.00
1.00 44:31 08:55 08:55 08:54 5.00
1.00 53:18 08:47 08:47 08:53 6.00
0.22 55:15 01:57 08:52 08:53 6.22

4.61mi, 41:18, 17 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: R.E.M., "Driver 8"

WX at 1100: 55.0 (12.8) DP 53.1 (11.7) BP 30.13 (1020) SE 13 mist RH 93

Odometer 11B: 19.9mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 153/173

Not too hard, not too easy. Not junk miles either as I was getting some kinks out from yesterday and the day before.

Eating two pieces of bread a half hour before made for a better experience - rather than gearing up at the 25-35 minute mark, I felt better at the 17:30 mark. It could also be that I slept with all alarms off and slept a blissful 9 hours last night.

The weather was damp, overcast, and altogether quite pleasant.

I think the GT-2150s are starting to break in.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:02 09:02 09:02 09:02 1.00
1.00 18:07 09:05 09:05 09:03 2.00
1.00 27:00 08:53 08:53 09:00 3.00
1.00 35:50 08:50 08:50 08:58 4.00
0.61 41:18 05:28 08:58 08:58 4.61

4.0mi, 39:16, 16 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Maritime, "Tearing Up the Oxygen"

WX at 0700: 52.0 (11.1) DP 42.1 (5.6) BP 30.24 (1024) SE 6 RH 68

Odometer 11B: 13.3mi

Z3 low. Average/max heart rate = 140/153

Easy recovery run after yesterday's hard run. My legs were not up to much else today. Cool, overcast, and damp after a brief rainstorm earlier this morning.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:38 09:38 09:38 09:38 1.00
1.00 19:25 09:47 09:47 09:43 2.00
1.00 29:31 10:06 10:06 09:50 3.00
1.00 39:16 09:45 09:45 09:49 4.00

7.35mi, 63:23, 15 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Maritime, "Pearl"

WX at 0700: 42.1 (5.6) DP 35.1 (1.7) BP 30.36 (1028) N 5 RH 76

Odometer 11A: 408.4mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 156/170

Today was cool and the run was glorious. Nothing better than to get out there and just crank hard without feeling like I was going to redline.

This weather, of course, won't last more than a few days before it heats up again.

My old GT-2160s have more life on them than I thought - or it could be that I just haven't broken in the GT-2150s because my feet felt so much better in the old shoes, which is unusual. Most of the time I've been able to run hard in new Asics shoes right out of the box, but these GT-2150s are an exception.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:23 08:23 08:23 08:23 1.00
1.00 16:43 08:20 08:20 08:21 2.00
1.00 25:18 08:35 08:35 08:26 3.00
1.00 34:09 08:51 08:51 08:32 4.00
1.00 42:48 08:39 08:39 08:34 5.00
1.00 51:36 08:48 08:48 08:36 6.00
1.00 60:19 08:43 08:43 08:37 7.00
0.35 63:23 03:04 08:46 08:37 7.35

4.27mi, 38:59, 13 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
30 Seconds to Mars, "Closer to the Edge"
The Cranberries, "Twenty One"

WX at 0700: 64.9 (18.3) DP 57.0 (13.9) BP 29.94 (1013) NNE 8 RH 75

Odometer 11B: 9.3mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 149/165

Nothing hard. Another run to not sleep in and to try to see if these shoes will work for me. Left foot seemed okay, but right foot still had some blistering problems. It was better than yesterday, which is an encouraging sign.

I'm absolutely not 21 anymore.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:17 09:17 09:17 09:17 1.00
1.00 18:10 08:53 08:53 09:05 2.00
1.00 27:25 09:15 09:15 09:08 3.00
1.00 36:34 09:09 09:09 09:09 4.00
0.27 38:59 02:25 08:57 09:08 4.27

5.0mi, 45:45, 12 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Maritime, "German Engineering"

WX at 0700: 57.9 (14.4) DP 55.0 (12.8) BP 30.06 (1017) S 8 RH 90

Odometer 11B: 5.0mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 145/159

Today was supposed to be a 7-miler, but my legs were not up to it. The desire was there, but today's run went down shitty. That's about the most accurate descriptor for it. Shitty.

New shoes may be another factor, since I ran in a pair of ASICS GT-2150 trail shoes for the first time and must admit I don't like them as much as the GT-2140s (which I loved) or the GT-2160s (which I liked). Maybe they'll break in. Today was the first time I had to stop to readjust shoes because I was at risk of blistering my feet. It's been a while.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:58 08:58 08:58 08:58 1.00
1.00 17:52 08:54 08:54 08:56 2.00
1.00 27:04 09:12 09:12 09:01 3.00
1.00 36:38 09:34 09:34 09:09 4.00
1.00 45:45 09:07 09:07 09:09 5.00

Some thoughts, a decade after 9/11

I had occasion to go to a commemoration of the attacks on September 11, 2001 at my children's school. I realize I look at patriotism a little differently than many other I know.

Being there around lots of children reminds me of why I feel uncomfortable around them; they still have their innocence, something I lost a long, long time ago.

I was a company commander the day of the attacks. I told my troops to get ready to go, because it might happen. I also told them to squelch any rumors and I would tell them what I knew as soon as I found out. I kept to that promise, and while my cavalry troop didn't deploy under my watch, it did a year after I turned the troop over to my successor.

The students sang three of the verses of the national anthem, omitting the one perhaps most important to me as a servant of the Republic:

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

For a variety of reasons, the children don't sing that verse. I suspect because we don't want to share the fact that sometimes, however unpleasant, we must kill the enemies of the state to defend the people who live in it. The other might be that we don't want to dust off discussions of indentured servitude or worse still, slavery with our children. Better they be high schoolers before we really start digging into the bucket of poo and start slinging some of the really unpleasant truth about the origins of the United States.

The other thing about being around children, certainly those who still have their innocence, is that I don't want them to get the same view of purpose that I hold. I don't want my children to inherit my belief of "dear lord, make me an instrument of your vengeance." But as I boil down what I used to describe to my former students as the "Hannah Montana Theory of Victory in the Long War," I will freely advocate an ethnocidal war of annihilation using mostly nonlethal means. My preferred weapons include portable energy generation, delivery of essential services, the internet, and satellite TV.

I say mostly nonlethal means. The ones who don't want to embrace modernity and can't accept peaceful coexistence...well, I'd be perfectly happy to kill every last one of those motherfuckers. While I'm out of the Close Combat Industry by choice, I realize that there was some dark satisfaction to some of the plans I wrote years ago; reports that insurgents were going hungry and were cold and didn't have shelter because coalition forces were taking it to them in the middle of the winter brought me some dark glee. The insurgency was acting at odds to what we were seeking to accomplish, so I hope those assholes fucking froze to death. I have no regrets and no compunctions. None.

That's why I don't like bowdlerized patriotism. Sometimes you have to do terrible things because the alternative is worse, and freedom usually costs more than $1.05, for those who have seen the film Team America: World Police.

As Thomas Paine said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."

Postscript: I realized the other thing that really just gets me on the fucking rag -- it's the "under god" part of the Pledge of Allegiance. I'll say it, but not those two words. Oh well. At least my dog tags say ATHEIST on the religious preference line, so I don't have any pretenses either way.

The war continues. In the meantime, I have a new bottle of Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey. It's time for some goddamn catharsis drinking tonight.

That's how you do it, bitch!

Oh, I adore poking eternal fun at Disney...

5.0mi, 44:19, 9 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Velocity Girl, "Labrador"
Maritime, "It's Casual"
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 "Eroica," Scherzo-Vivace

WX at 0700: 55.0 (12.8) DP 54.0 (12.2) BP 30.06 (1017) NW 5 RH 96

Odometer 11A: 396.9mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 151/167

Not too fast, not too slow, but today actually felt okay.

I had brief glimmers of schadenfreude-induced speed. Woot.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:52 08:52 08:52 08:52 1.00
1.00 17:28 08:36 08:36 08:44 2.00
1.00 26:42 09:14 09:14 08:54 3.00
1.00 35:37 08:55 08:55 08:54 4.00
1.00 44:19 08:42 08:42 08:52 5.00

6.0mi, 50:48, 7 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Maritime, "Tearing Up the Oxygen"

WX at 0700: 48.0 (8.9) DP 46.0 (7.8) BP 30.25 (1024) NE 6 RH 93

Odometer 11A: 391.9mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 158/175

Today was pleasantly fast relative to my other runs all year.

I felt two bursts of speed this morning, the first from the usual full bore warmup at about 30 minutes, and the second coming mostly from the burning schadenfreude I get from burning people on the sidewalk. I don't care if that sounds antisocial.

It was a glorious 48 degrees, and I went out hard, right from the start. I am SO glad I didn't sleep in this morning.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:31 08:31 08:31 08:31 1.00
1.00 16:38 08:07 08:07 08:19 2.00
1.00 25:17 08:39 08:39 08:26 3.00
1.00 34:01 08:44 08:44 08:30 4.00
1.00 42:14 08:13 08:13 08:27 5.00
1.00 50:48 08:34 08:34 08:28 6.00

4.04mi, 39:40, 6 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Maritime, "Pearl"

WX at 0700: 51.1 (10.6) DP 45.0 (7.2) BP 30.19 (1022) E 6 RH 79

Odometer 11A: 385.9mi

Z2. Average/max heart rate = 140/165

I felt like complete trash this morning, so I figured I'd run, but I had no grand expectations. Circadian rhythms being what they are, waking up on a workday after 4 days of dissolute weekend sleep habits is always a barrel of laughs.

At least I didn't sleep in.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:57 09:57 09:57 09:57 1.00
1.00 19:44 09:47 09:47 09:52 2.00
1.00 29:59 10:15 10:15 10:00 3.00
1.04 39:40 09:41 09:19 09:49 4.04

4.59mi, 43:07, 5 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Maritime, "Tearing Up The Oxygen"
The Dust Brothers, "Stealing Fat"

WX at 1000: 62.1 (16.7) 50.0 (10.0) 30.21 (1023) NNE 12 RH 64

Odometer 11A: 381.9mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 148/164

Deliberately easy in spite of a few minor lapses in judgment. I couldn't pass up a day where it was still 62F by 10am.

It's been a while since I thought about the opening credits music to Fight Club as an iThink. I think the last time I did that was sometime in 2008, in Qatar, of all places.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:07 09:07 09:07 09:07 1.00
1.00 18:44 09:37 09:37 09:22 2.00
1.00 28:17 09:33 09:33 09:26 3.00
1.00 37:31 09:14 09:14 09:23 4.00
0.59 43:07 05:36 09:29 09:24 4.59

7.37mi, 66:32, 4 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Maritime, "Pearl"
Maritime, "Paraphernalia"
Velocity Girl, "Labrador"

WX at 1000: 66.0 (18.9) DP 51.1 (10.6) BP 30.15 (1020) N 14 RH 58

Odometer 11A: 377.3mi

Z3 high. Average/max heart rate = 154/170

What a pleasant surprise from yesterday's run...although I suspect it took a run like yesterday's to set one up for today.

The weather was absolutely glorious this morning. When I can roll out just shy of 10am and it's still 63 degrees (and it goes up to all of 66) I can deal with that.

Comparative speed for effort was no comparison. I felt a big, big difference in today and in days that the temperature is over 70F, let alone 80F.

Yay. I felt so moto that I even went a bit extra. First time I've done a 7-miler in a while.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:55 08:55 08:55 08:55 1.00
1.00 17:40 08:45 08:45 08:50 2.00
1.00 26:38 08:58 08:58 08:53 3.00
1.00 35:55 09:17 09:17 08:59 4.00
1.00 45:00 09:05 09:05 09:00 5.00
1.00 54:09 09:09 09:09 09:01 6.00
1.00 03:12 09:03 09:03 09:02 7.00
0.37 06:32 03:20 09:01 09:02 7.37

What Would Adama Do?

Hat tip I Never Disrobe Before A Gunfight.

Hrm.

From a few years ago...

"The lack of serious discussion about war that goes on leads to a great deal of compromise, lack of intellectual rigor, and a lot of mushiness, and a tendency of strategy by slogan, or strategy by acronym, or strategy by buzzword and not to talking about the actual philosophy behind this is. When people start dialoguing about this at this level, then when they get to 3-star and 4-star, they actually have some concept or philosophy to fit in a new environment."

- Brian McAllister Linn, guest speaker at the US Army Command and General Staff College
about The Echo of Battle, his 2007 book about the U.S. Army's schools of thought.

I see what's out there in military literature lately, and I am not sanguine.

3.30mi, 31:11, 3 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Maritime, "Pearl"

WX at 1000: 82.0 (27.8) DP 69.1 (20.6) BP 29.88 (1011) SSW 15 RH 64

Odometer 11A: 369.6mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 148/168

It might be only 82 degrees air temperature, but under the sun, JESUSTITTYFUCKINGCHRIST is it hot as shit.

The Girl Formerly Known As the Sledgehammer went for a bike ride with me. I realize I don't like doing multi-modal workouts (someone else rides, I run) because of the inherent disparities in uphill/downhill. I didn't mind her going, but I usually don't have to yell out direction to someone on the run.

By itself, not a big deal. However, running in direct sunlight (which usually makes me cranky) is a big catalyst for my general irritatedness. Also, and I haven't explained this to people, but I dislike of running in the day also manifests itself as a desire to start RIGHT THE FUCK AWAY.

Maybe I need to lay off the caffeine. Either that, or maybe a bottle of Jeremiah Weed might fix that shit.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:16 09:16 09:16 09:16 1.00
1.00 18:34 09:18 09:18 09:17 2.00
1.00 28:17 09:43 09:43 09:26 3.00
0.30 31:11 02:54 09:40 09:27 3.30

I find this curiously motivational.

So say we all.

H/T Frak Yeah! BSG

Girls with Bren guns make me hot.

I was reading badassoftheweek.com tonight and chanced across a photo of a girl firing a Bren gun on cyclic, so I had to look it up.

I have to admit it. Girls with Bren guns make me hot.

4.59mi, 42:31, 2 SEP 11, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Let's Active, "Co-Star"
Chris Stamey, "14 Shades of Green"

WX at 1100: 86.0 (30.0) DP 66.9 (19.4) BP 29.95 (1014) SSW 12 RH 53
WX at 1000: 82.9 (28.3) DP 66.0 (18.9) BP 29.94 (1013) SSW 10 RH 57

Odometer 11A: 365.3mi

Z3 start, Z4 mostly. Average/max heart rate = 157/176

I was not particularly planning on going that hard, but with the heat and starting late, with some of the hills, it was going to be hard no matter how I went. Running in the late morning means I will run faster to get out of the heat. That's just the way it is.

The weather might be the reason for my late onslaught of North Carolina jangle-pop. I remain unrepentant.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:19 09:19 09:19 09:19 1.00
1.00 18:22 09:03 09:03 09:11 2.00
1.00 27:38 09:16 09:16 09:13 3.00
1.00 36:56 09:18 09:18 09:14 4.00
0.59 42:31 05:35 09:28 09:16 4.59

Egad

It's true, even if nobody wants to admit it. Not publicly, at least.


Hat tip XKCD.