5.0mi, 50:20, 30 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 159 of the campaign.

iThink:
Tommy Keene, "Running For Your Life"

WX at 4 PM (20) Apr 30 60 (16) 48 (9) 30.18 (1022) ENE 7 RH 63

Odometer 13B: 295.0mi

Z3 low. Average/max heart rate = 146/155

Easy wogging because my usual window of opportunity was eaten up by meetings and a dinner with some civilians. It was good to talk about things with folks who are intellectual but not military. I knew I had to get in some light wogging in tonight, though - I missed my golden opportunity to get a run in the rain, which hit this afternoon when I was chained to my desk in the office. Occupational hazard.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:55 09:55 09:55 09:55 1.00
1.00 20:05 10:10 10:10 10:02 2.00
1.00 30:16 10:11 10:11 10:05 3.00
1.00 40:29 10:13 10:13 10:07 4.00
1.00 50:20 09:51 09:51 10:04 5.00

3.02mi, 27:15, 29 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 158 of the campaign.

iThink:
Tommy Keene, "Running For Your Life"

WX at 3 PM (19) Apr 29 64 (18) 42 (6) 30.15 (1021) Variable 2 RH 45

Odometer 14A: 95.4mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 148/159

I was planning on going for four miles. Then about 2.5 miles in, I was hit by a colossal case of the munchies and realized if I didn't stop at the 3-mile mark, I'd miss midrats - and I hadn't eaten since lunch. So I stopped, got back into battle dress while still sweaty, and stuffed my face. Because I was hungry.

Today was surprisingly quick for the level of effort, but I deliberately was not going much beyond anaerobic threshold pace. No worries.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:01 09:01 09:01 09:01 1.00
1.00 18:00 08:59 08:59 09:00 2.00
1.02 27:15 09:15 09:04 09:02 3.02

6.05mi, 55:52, 28 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 157 of the campaign.

iThink:
Max, "Aim"

WX at 5 AM (9) Apr 28 77 (25) 28 (-2) 30.15 (1021) Variable 5 RH 16

Odometer 13B: 290.0mi

Z3 first two miles to Z4 threshold to Z4 hard last mile. Average/max heart rate = 156/171

My legs felt tired at first, but after two miles, I decided to pick up the pace. I guess if I look at it dispassionately, I'm probably overtraining, thus the dead legs, but I don't deal well with people who lie to me to my face who I otherwise believe to be trustworthy. So I ran, I was angry, and I was going to run hard at some point once my legs warmed up. So I did, and the last mile was filled with rage.

It is perhaps appropriate that I've started reading John Steakley's Armor in the last day or so. Because I have a lot of rage.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:27 09:27 09:27 09:27 1.00
1.00 18:38 09:10 09:10 09:19 2.00
1.00 27:52 09:14 09:14 09:17 3.00
1.00 37:19 09:27 09:27 09:20 4.00
1.00 46:39 09:20 09:20 09:20 5.00
1.00 55:31 08:53 08:53 09:15 6.00
0.05 55:52 00:21 06:53 09:14 6.05

6.51mi, 62:19, 26 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 155 of the campaign.

iThink:
Tommy Keene, "Running For Your Life"
Sabrina, "Boys(Summertime Love)"
The Smiths, "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" (from sound check at Glasgow Barrowlands, July 16, 1986)

WX at 3 PM (19) Apr 25 53 (12) 42 (6) 30.18 (1022) SSE 3 RH 66

Odometer 13B: 284.0mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 150/157

It's hard to believe April has gone by so quickly. This month has gone by fast, if only because this month has been so fucking busy. That's about the only rational explanation I can think of for the level of intensity and the general lack of sense of time passing.

Today had to be a relatively easy run. I was thinking about long slow distance, but I've been largely resistant to one of my coworker's entreaties to go CrossFit with him. I realize one thing - as I get older, when I don't really care about something, I really don't give two shits about it. That has been the tale of the last few years, but that's really come out in the last few months when I don't have anything to prove to anyone. Today was not recovery, but at the same time, it wasn't quite the LSD I intended it to be. Well, I guess it was if I consider relative effort and heart rate.

Today is ANZAC Day, so today marked my introduction of Michelle Jenneke's pre-hurdling dance for the rest of my coworkers since there was no way in hell I was waking up at 4:45am for an ANZAC Day dawn ceremony.  Not going to happen.  Not with my work hours.

The attack of the Smiths continues unabated.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:38 09:38 09:38 09:38 1.00
1.00 19:32 09:54 09:54 09:46 2.00
1.00 29:08 09:37 09:37 09:43 3.00
1.00 38:29 09:20 09:20 09:37 4.00
1.00 48:02 09:33 09:33 09:36 5.00
1.00 57:34 09:33 09:33 09:36 6.00
0.51 62:20 04:46 09:20 09:34 6.51

5.56mi, 48:49, 24 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 153 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Smiths, "I Want the One I Can't Have"
The White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army"
Above and Beyond feat. Oceanlab, "On A Good Day" (Daniel Kandi Mix)

WX at 11 AM (15) Apr 24 55 (13) 46 (8) 30.09 (1019) N 15 RH 71

Odometer 14A: 92.4mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 158/170

Today was going to be quick for two reasons: I got a haircut, and it rained this afternoon, making tonight's evening pleasantly cool and slightly breezy behind the parapets of Camp Cupcake. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel, but after a fast first lap, I ran a positive split, then ran generally faster as I got through. Today was an exercise to see how deep I could push my max VO2, rather than just running for base or lard burning. Today was a pretty good day - one after which I need to be careful so I don't squander the gains of the day.

My attack of the Smiths continues unabated.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:39 08:39 08:39 08:39 1.00
1.00 17:47 09:09 09:09 08:54 2.00
1.00 26:38 08:50 08:50 08:53 3.00
1.00 35:32 08:54 08:54 08:53 4.00
1.00 44:15 08:43 08:43 08:51 5.00
0.56 48:49 04:33 08:08 08:47 5.56

4.06mi, 40:02, 23 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 152 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Smiths, "Barbarism Begins At Home"
Tommy Keene, "Running For Your Life"

WX at 5 AM (9) Apr 23 71 (22) 35 (2) 30.15 (1021) E 12 RH 26

Odometer 13B: 277.5mi

Z3 low. Average/max heart rate = 148/158

Recovery run today. I knew my legs weren't up to much after last night's hard erg session. I felt better by mile 4, and deliberately ran below anaerobic threshold rate, with one minor slipup in the last quarter mile.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:56 09:56 09:56 09:56 1.00
1.00 19:49 09:53 09:53 09:54 2.00
1.00 29:48 09:59 09:59 09:56 3.00
1.00 39:29 09:41 09:41 09:52 4.00
0.06 40:02 00:33 09:14 09:52 4.06

A reminder of my past

For some reason, I've had snippets of the album Meat is Murder by the Smiths stuck in my head.  About 25 years ago, about this time or so, that album was the soundtrack of my life at the time.  "The Headmaster Ritual," "Rusholme Ruffians," and "The Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" in particular were the ones that really got traction.

I was very much in love at the time, but I had much to learn about what that was going to mean or become.

I attended three summer camps that year; a one-week program at West Point, a one-week program at the Naval Academy, and the Governor's School, a four-week program at Radford University at for the fine arts.  That was the summer that made me realize that my future did not lie back in my hometown, but that I was destined to go elsewhere.  It was that week at West Point that was perhaps most memorable, for the direction my life took a year later.  It was that week that was punctuated by that Smiths album.

But that was a long time ago.

10,000m on Concept2 Model D, 43:39.9, 22 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 151 of the campaign.

iThink:
Kirsty MacColl, "Terry"

WX at 2 PM (18) Apr 22     51 (11)     46 (8)     30.30 (1026)     NNW 5 RH 81

Odometer 14A: 86.8mi

Z4 with Z5 finish.  Average/max heart rate = 163/179

I can only cite the Sandie Shaw bit for the reason why I was thinking of a song by Kirsty MacColl.

My goal today was to erg less than 44 minutes.  I was successful, but it was pretty painful, and at the end, I was racing the guy who closes the gym.  I didn't want to be left short of the 10,000m I was meaning to crank, and I got it in, only through going full bore where I was pulling as fast as 1:44.  The session was consistent with others, where I started fairly strong, initially below 2:05/500m, then working to keep 2:10/500m.  Beyond the 30-35min mark, I was trying hard to hold 2:13/500m as my heart rate started to go into the high 160s.  The last 400m was a pure flat out sprint at max effort.

I got my 10,000m in, but I'll need to go easier tomorrow.

I miss my kids.  That is all.

Splits
Distance:    10000
Time:    43:39.9
Avg/500m:    02:11.0
Drag Factor:    102
Per Mile:    00:07:02

Another reason why I don't sleep enough

I just spent the last hour looking up photos of Sandie Shaw on the internet.  This is what I get for listening to the Smiths after midnight. 

Of all the things to mentally take me away from my current digs, this is as unusual as any - if it weren't such an obvious throwback to my teenage years when I really used to listen the hell out of the Smiths.  Also, because Sandie Shaw was pretty easy to look at when she was my age - let alone half that, for that matter.

4.6mi, 43:02, 21 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 150 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Killers, "When You Were Young"

WX at 5 AM (9) Apr 21 57 (14) 44 (7) 30.18 (1022) E 6 RH 62

Odometer 14A:86.6mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 154/161

I felt much, much better than a few days ago. I took yesterday off as a deliberate attempt to recover from the dead legs I'd been feeling as of late. It worked, but I need to be judicious about how hard or how far I go this week to avoid overtraining like I think I did last week.

Today was intended to be 4, but the loop I've been running doesn't always render the exact same distance due to differences in reception. Today was okay, though.

Hard to believe it's already been five months since I departed home, though.  Some of my coworkers call their hooch home.  I have never, nor do I think I'll ever use that convention, because my room in the barracks is not home - home is over 6,944mi away.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:30 09:30 09:30 09:30 1.00
1.00 18:54 09:24 09:24 09:27 2.00
1.00 28:20 09:26 09:26 09:27 3.00
1.00 37:31 09:11 09:11 09:23 4.00
0.60 42:59 05:28 09:07 09:21 4.60

7.13mi, 72:22, 19 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 148 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Bats, "Courage"
The Bats, "Straight Image"
Velvet Crush, "Atmosphere"

WX at 11 AM (15) Apr 19 60 (16) 8 (-13) 30.06 (1018) N 7 RH 12

Odometer 13B: 273.4mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 154/162

I think if I had more in my legs, I might've gone harder. Today was a textbook case of dead legs, which I decided to grind my way through. I will probably pay for this run in spades tomorrow, which probably needs to be a day off. The alternative is to erg something at a slow speed, but I have no power at all. That might be an indicator of overtraining, or of just being tired, which I am.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:54 09:54 09:54 09:54 1.00
1.00 20:32 10:38 10:38 10:16 2.00
1.00 30:51 10:19 10:19 10:17 3.00
1.00 40:44 09:53 09:53 10:11 4.00
1.00 50:47 10:03 10:03 10:09 5.00
1.00 60:54 10:07 10:07 10:09 6.00
1.00 71:04 10:10 10:10 10:09 7.00
0.13 72:22 01:18 10:00 10:09 7.13

3.26mi, 32:13, 18 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 147 of the campaign.

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

WX at 11 AM (15) Apr 18 51 (11) 41 (5) 30.09 (1019) ESE 3 RH 66

Odometer 13B: 266.3mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 149/155

Short recovery run because my legs are totally beat.  Beat down beat.

I also need to call home because today is the Younger's birthday.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:42 09:42 09:42 09:42 1.00
1.00 19:47 10:05 10:05 09:53 2.00
1.00 29:44 09:57 09:57 09:55 3.00
0.26 32:13 02:29 09:33 09:53 3.26

8,000m on Concept2 Model D, 34:48.6, 17 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 146 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Goo Goo Dolls, "Broadway" (no, I don't know why)

WX at 5 AM (9) Apr 17     66 (19)     30 (-1)     29.97 (1015)     ESE 8

Odometer 13B:263.0mi

Z4.  Average/max heart rate = 161/172

The spot on my right foot is still pretty sore, so I decided to back off the running and go for a row instead.  Today was an exercise of "I want to erg faster than 35 minutes" once I settled into target pace, and that turned into a balance of how hard I went (so I didn't go too far into oxygen debt) versus required speed and power.  As usual, as I got further into it, it got easier, but that's also tempered by the fact that I got more and more tired as I got into it.  How long I can hang on before I start petering out is always a challenge.

Splits
Distance:    8000
Time:    34:48.6
Avg/500m:    02:10.5
Drag Factor:    122
Per Mile:    00:07:00

4.50mi, 43:07, 16 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 145 of the campaign.

iThink:
Juliana Hatfield, "Perfection"

WX at 11 AM (15) Apr 16 60 (16) 30 (-1) 30.03 (1017) NNE 16 RH 31

Odometer 14A: 82.0mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 15/162

My legs weren't up to much today but I needed to get out and do something. There are no junk miles at this point in my life. It always accomplishes something. In this case, it's lard expenditure.

More troublingly, today's iThink is a reflection of my thoughts at receiving an email today that all but stated that I had not been a good friend - a statement that bothers me, not because of how I felt about it, but that one of my actions had led to that perception. Juliana Hatfield writes about damaged relationships, so perhaps it was apropos today.

And if I had
A dime for every chance
I want something so bad
And if I saved
For a hundred years
I still wouldnt have
Enough to buy the perfect gift
For somebody who don't exist
Do I want too much?
Would perfection be enough?
And if it came to me
Would it be what I really need?
Do I want too much?
You piss me off
But not a lot
I forget to forget(forgive?)
Why can't I see
Your qualities
That are not negative
You're so sweet to me
So why?
Do I want too much?
Would perfection be enough?
And if it came to me
Would it be what I really need?
Do I want too much?
And if you are
Ever to be pleased
By what it is to recieve
You must learn to be
Much happier than me
Yeah I want too much
Perfection never is enough
And when it comes to me
I think of something else to need
You give me everything
But it's not enough

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:27 09:27 09:27 09:27 1.00
1.00 19:12 09:45 09:45 09:36 2.00
1.00 28:46 09:34 09:34 09:35 3.00
1.00 38:24 09:38 09:38 09:36 4.00
0.50 43:07 04:43 09:26 09:35 4.50

8.01mi, 70:49, 15 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 144 of the campaign.

iThink:
Sarah Polley, "The Sweet Hereafter"
The Bats, "Courage" Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"

WX at 11 AM (15) Apr 15 60 (16) 35 (2) 30.12 (1020) ESE 8 RH 38

Odometer 13B: 262.8mi

Z3 mid. Average/max heart rate = 154/160

Today was the first run since Saturday, and I was at risk of breaking my rule of no more than two days off in a row. The work has been bad; really, really bad. The exhaustion of the last few days is mostly mental, but there has been no real break. I am approaching my fifth month away from home, and while that's some time, I still have a long way to go.

I was good for moderate effort, over a long period, and I think that's about all I should've undertaken. One of my coworkers wants me to try Crossfit again, and while I certainly don't begrudge those who practice it, what it does isn't very useful to me - and I don't need a cult of fitness since I tend to be pretty bluntly utilitarian about why I exercise - either weight control or mindfulness. Crossfit is probably okay for the former, but for me it was absolutely counterproductive to the latter. So I have my own preferences to long distance work instead, either on the erg or on the road.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:26 09:26 09:26 09:26 1.00
1.00 19:06 09:40 09:40 09:33 2.00
1.00 29:10 10:04 10:04 09:43 3.00
1.00 39:11 10:01 10:01 09:48 4.00
1.00 49:25 10:14 10:14 09:53 5.00
1.00 59:45 10:20 10:20 09:57 6.00
1.00 60:14 10:29 10:29 10:02 7.00
1.01 70:49 10:35 10:29 10:05 8.01

Some thoughts on my forty-second birthday

I've looked back on the April 13 (or thereabouts) entries in this blog over the last five years, ever since I got back from Afghanistan the first time.  They are pretty bleak, in a way that makes me wonder how much remains unresolved in my life of the things that bother me.

It's late, about 2am as I write this, and while I'm going to modify the timestamp to put this on the 13th of April, I realize I was not like this before I left for that tour.

My current duties in Afghanistan this time are not like my last; they are stressful, but not as emotionally destructive as my duties my last tour.  One of my friends told me I should not go back, that I would not get the closure I wanted from that tour, but I think he may be wrong in some ways.

Back in Afghanistan, the greatest threats I've faced in my job this time were not from the enemy, but from people who were nominally on the same side as me.  I was thinking about this poem, for which the provenance is unknown, but I know it was one that kept James B. Stockdale going when he was locked up in the Hanoi Hilton.  I've thought about it a lot today, if only for something I wanted to say when I eventually leave here.

We asked for strength that we might achieve;
He made us weak that we might obey.
We asked for health that we might do great things;
He gave us infirmity that we might do better things.
We asked for riches that we might be happy;
We were given poverty that we might be wise.
We asked for power that we might have the praise of men;
We were given weakness that we might feel the need of God.
We asked for all things that we might enjoy life;
We were given life that we might enjoy all things.
We received nothing that we asked for
But all that we hoped for.
And our prayers were answered.
We were most blessed.

Closure is elusive.  But the dark undertone of the last few years was surprisingly absent today, and I'm not sure why.  There are things I will take with me to the grave, that I doubt I will ever release, but I will eventually learn to live with them, and steel my children so that they deal with it better than I did, I would hope.

6.18mi, 58:13, 12 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 141 of the campaign.

iThink:
Los Campesinos!, "It's Never That Easy Though, Is It (Song for the other Kurt)"
The Bats, "Courage"
The Bats, "Dancing as the Boat Goes Down"

WX at 11 AM (15) Apr 12 55 (13) 32 (0) 30.09 (1019) N 22 RH 40

Odometer 13B: 254.8mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 159/168

I should've known better than to try to go for a longer run today and my desire to run 7 was quickly curtailed to 6 after I realized how beat my legs actually were.

I'm also trying to figure out my Garmin Forerunner 310XT. It's a welcome change because my Forerunner 305 was on its last legs, one of the buttons having depressed into the chassis so I couldn't push it. I figure for the almost exactly six years I got out of it, I should be pretty happy, especially if this one lasts anywhere near as long. I figure I could easily spare 7 cents a day for about as much as I paid for it. I can comfortably pack it away, wondering if I'll just trash it here since, appopriately enough, I bought it in Afghanistan in 2008.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:06 09:06 09:06 09:06 1.00
1.00 19:07 10:01 10:01 09:33 2.00
1.00 28:41 09:34 09:34 09:34 3.00
1.00 38:04 09:23 09:23 09:31 4.00
1.00 47:30 09:26 09:26 09:30 5.00
1.00 56:38 09:08 09:08 09:26 6.00
0.18 58:13 01:35 08:48 09:25 6.18

9,429m on Concept2 Model D, 41:21:89, 11 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 140 of the campaign.

iThink:
Above and Beyond pres. Oceanlab, "On A Good Day"

WX at 2 PM (18) Apr 11     57 (14)     32 (0)     30.12 (1020)     WNW 5 RH 38

Odometer 14A: 76.5mi

Z4.  Average/max heart rate = 165/173

Tonight was an attempt to outrun two things - one was to finish within 44:00 for 10km, and the other to outrun the wanker who closes the gym at 11:00pm.  I think I was on track (just barely for the first).  I didn't make the second.

This is my great opportunity to vent on why coalition warfare is a necessary evil that I fucking loathe.  The gym I used at Bagram was open.  All the time.  There was a distinct focus on the mission (or perhaps combat readiness) that is singularly lacking here at Camp Cupcake.  One of my German coworkers, knowing my generalized inability to suffer fools well, said that if I were posted to his headquarters in Szeczin, Poland, that I would fucking kill someone or commit suicide.

So much for erging 10,000.  It's the thought that counts.  As I got more and more tired, I knew I had to set a faster pace in the first half so I could hang on for the second.  I was starting to get really tired, but started getting better near the end at about the 35 minute mark.

Nonetheless, IHTFP and this place pretty licks my ass raw.

Splits
Distance:    9429
Time:    41:21.9
Avg/500m:    02:11.6
Drag Factor:    108
Per Mile:    00:07:04

7.51mi, 67:36, 10 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 139 of the campaign.

iThink:
Velocity Girl, "Drug Girls"

WX at 5 AM (9) Apr 10 68 (20) 24 (-4) 30.15 (1021) Variable 3 RH 19

Odometer 13B: 248.6mi

Z4. Average/max heart rate = 164/173

Mid-day runs are starting to get harder with the weather getting better. I didn't have a chance to get at it yesterday, so I decided to get at it today while I had the chance. I ate something this morning that didn't agree with me, so I'm trying to work it out of my system. I hope.

Today started promising, and then got rougher and rougher - until the end. For some reason, and maybe it was just after the hour mark, but my last lap felt a little better. Whether it was glycogen regenesis or knowing I was on the last lap of this compound, it was a bit faster.

I'm pretty confident I'm gonna hurt tomorrow.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:30 08:30 08:30 08:30 1.00
1.00 16:59 08:29 08:29 08:30 2.00
1.00 25:51 08:52 08:52 08:37 3.00
1.00 34:59 09:08 09:08 08:45 4.00
1.00 44:12 09:13 09:13 08:50 5.00
1.00 53:27 09:15 09:15 08:54 6.00
1.00 62:58 09:31 09:31 09:00 7.00
0.51 67:36 04:38 09:05 09:00 7.51

3.08mi, 30:01, 8 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 137 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Bats, "Courage"
Porter Robinson, "Language"

WX at 62 (17) 21 (-6) 30.15 (1021) SSE 5 RH 20

Odometer 14A: 76.2mi

Z3. Average/max heart rate = 154/168

Easy recovery run. Partly because I have a hot spot on my right foot, and partly because my legs are tired from yesterday.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 10:06 10:06 10:06 10:06 1.00
1.00 19:49 09:43 09:43 09:54 2.00
1.08 30:01 10:12 09:27 09:45 3.08

7.4mi, 67:09, 7 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 136 of the campaign.

iThink:
Above and Beyond feat. Oceanlab, "On A Good Day"

WX at 5 AM (9) Apr 07 59 (15) 19 (-7) 30.18 (1022) N 13 RH 21

Odometer 13B: 241.1mi

Z3-Z4. Average/max heart rate = 158/168

It's been about a week since I last ran, so I decided to get one in. Rather than it being easy, I decided to run it at anaerobic threshold pace, which I did, somewhat inconsistently, in the last half.

The weather was pretty awesome for running. Unfortunately, it's also pretty awesome for enemy activity, so I guess I'll be watching intelligence reporting and the news to see what happens after the last few days of rain.

The other enjoyable thing about today's run is that I had run exactly 6.66mi in an hour, and that my 7-mile split spells out 1:3:37 when I key it into Excel. I am such a geek to laugh about spelling out "leet" on the computer.

I need to get in a photo of the whitecaps around Kabul before they disappear for the summer.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:57 08:57 08:57 08:57 1.00
1.00 18:09 09:12 09:12 09:04 2.00
1.00 27:18 09:09 09:09 09:06 3.00
1.00 36:20 09:02 09:02 09:05 4.00
1.00 45:33 09:13 09:13 09:07 5.00
1.00 54:36 09:03 09:03 09:06 6.00
1.00 63:37 09:01 09:01 09:05 7.00
0.40 67:09 03:32 08:50 09:04 7.40

10,000m on Concept2 Model D, 44:27.6, 5 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 134 of the campaign.

iThink:
Font 48, "The Look In Your Eyes"

WX at      6 AM (10) Apr 05     50 (10)     46 (8)     30.12 (1020)     NNW 3     light rain showers RH 87

Odometer 14A: 73.1mi

Z3.  Average/max heart rate = 156/163

I have no rational explanation for today's iThink.  None whatsoever.

Today I felt a lot better, in spite of getting about the same amount of sleep as yesterday.  Yesterday I was just dead on my feet.  Today I felt better, so I decided to work off my sins from yesterday (do nothing but eat).  Today was an experiment in how fast I could go while not exceeding anaerobic threshold (too badly).  I think it was not all bad, and perhaps most interesting is how close this time was to my last erg, considering the differences in relative effort.

Today is raining.  It's also Afghan election day.  I figured if I was going to take any chances, I'd take it in the gym, rather than being outside, in the event we took rocket fire today, just in case.

Splits
Distance:    10000
Time:    44:27.6
Avg/500m:    02:13.4
Drag Factor:    120
Per Mile:    00:07:09

10,000m on Concept2 Model D, 44:12.7, 3 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 132 of the campaign.

iThink:
Los Campesinos!, "The Sea Is A Good Place to Think of the Future"
R.E.M., "Driver 8"
Font 48, "The Look in Your Eyes"

WX at 6 AM (10) Apr 03     55 (13)     37 (3)     30.09 (1019)     N 9 RH 50

Odometer 14A: 72.9mi

Z4.  Average/max heart rate = 162/169

Something other than running, so I decided to erg out 10,000.  I didn't do anything yesterday, but should've slept more to catch up.  Today is going to be a long day at the desk.

Splits
Distance:    10000
Time:    44:12.7
Avg/500m:    02:12.6
Drag Factor:    118
Per Mile:    00:07:07

Some idle thought

I've been spending more time on the computer at the hooch than I think normally would lately.
 
Some of this is undoubtedly the pressures of my current job, which is pretty much the most frustrating job I've had.  There are very few extrinsic motivators in this job - all of it is either protecting the people who I work with, or knowing that I was able to get some things in that needed to be said.

Other than that, I've spent a fair amount of time reading or listening to things that take me away from this place.  Of the deployments I've been on, this is the one after which I will probably never look back.  There's a sense of closure that I'm getting out of this job that I wouldn't have gotten out of my last trip to Afghanistan.  But there's no sense that I still have unfinished work to do.  When I'm done, I will leave with no regrets.

Maybe the job will change - but right now, I don't think so.  I'm not a Christian, but Acts 13:51 comes to mind as I think about this job.  I'll do the best I can at it - but it is increasingly harder to be emotionally invested.

4.11mi, 40:27, 1 APR 14, Kabul, Afghanistan

Today is day 130 of the campaign.

iThink:
New Model Army, "Running in the Rain"
Los Campesinos!, "The Sea is A Good Place to Think of the Future"

WX at 10 AM (14) Apr 01 51 (11) 42 (6) 29.97 (1015) SSE 10 rain showers RH 71

Odometer 14A: 72.5mi

Z2-Z3. Average/max heart rate = 145/153

Finally, at long last, a proper recovery run. For once. Four miles of easy wogging. In the rain. And it was good.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:38 09:38 09:38 09:38 1.00
1.00 19:36 09:58 09:58 09:48 2.00
1.00 29:32 09:56 09:56 09:51 3.00
1.11 40:27 10:55 09:50 09:51 4.11