6.8mi, 55:28, 4 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Day 235 of the campaign.

iThink:
Death Cab for Cutie, "Your Heart Is An Empty Room"
Death Cab for Cutie, "What Sarah Said"

WX at 0700: 54.0 (12.2) DP 46.9 (8.3) BP 30.08 (1018) ESE 7 RH 77

Odometer 3: 191.9mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 167/185

I can't believe that I'm not yet 50% through this deployment.

I am on emergency leave back at home. Household6 had to go in for surgery and 44 hours after showing up for manifest call at Bagram, I was back at home.

The sense of dislocation is absolutely fucking staggering. It is no accident that "What Sarah Said" is on my mind.

Today marked my first real PT in what's been about a week. I also managed to pick up a cold. I'm not sure if it's because I went from cool (at Bagram) to smoking hot (at Al Udeid Air Base) to long plane ride to cool at Kansas City. It could also be that I went maybe 60 hours without horizontal rack time and I was absolutely incoherently tired by last night.

Today's run proved a few things - altitude acclimation works (I felt pretty good starting off) but it's not a substitute for regular training.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:48 07:48 07:48 07:48 1.00
1.00 16:06 08:18 08:18 08:03 2.00
1.00 24:23 08:17 08:17 08:08 3.00
1.00 32:32 08:09 08:09 08:08 4.00
1.00 40:48 08:16 08:16 08:10 5.00
1.00 48:53 08:05 08:05 08:09 6.00
0.82 55:28 06:35 08:02 08:08 6.82

Distant memory

I grudgingly claim to be a member of Facebook. As a result, I was witness to a photo I hadn't seen, ever, and was from the fall of 1990, when I was a lot younger, thinner, and perhaps a bit more idealistic. It is amazing how many memories get sharply brought back after over a decade of dormancy.

It also reinforces how certain songs get imprinted in your memory because the first thing that came to mind, bizarrely enough, was an old Game Theory song, "Bad Year at UCLA." I remember that mostly because I'd bought their album Tinker to Evers to Chance when I had met the person who I ended up taking to this event.

These are strange things to remember almost two decades after the fact, but life gets strange in Afghanistan.

Except I'm not in Afghanistan. I'm headed back to the USA on emergency leave since Household6 is in the hospital.

5.1mi, 49:35, 27 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 228 of the campaign. Just barely.

iThink:
Rob Zombie, "Feel So Numb"
W.G. Snuffy Walden, opening credits to My So-Called Life

WX at 2330: 68 (20) DP 24 (-4) BP 30.00 (1016) Variable 6 RH 19

Odometer 3: 185.1mi

Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 151/157

I was a bit tired, and have been weighing a few things in the back of my mind lately, but about the last thing I was expecting to hear last night after finishing my run has been the news that Household6 was in the hospital after what should have been a fairly routine procedure.

I knew it was going to be a long deployment, but there is altogether too much going on in my life right now.

Tonight was one run where I just didn't care how slow I went - and I wanted to avoid setting myself up for overtraining anyway, so I deliberately went easy. I think what I did two weeks ago, trying to do a number of perimeter runs back-to-back, had a lot to do with why I got sick. I can't afford that right now. Most of the time, slow runs bring me some degree of peace, but if there's one word that doesn't describe my state of mind, it's equanimity. Sure wish I had some right now.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:29 09:29 09:29 09:29 1.00
1.00 19:21 09:52 09:52 09:40 2.00
1.00 29:21 10:00 10:00 09:47 3.00
1.00 39:18 09:57 09:57 09:49 4.00
1.00 49:09 09:51 09:51 09:50 5.00
0.05 49:35 00:26 09:14 09:49 5.05

7.8mi, 65:33, 27 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 228 of the campaign.

iThink:
John Williams, "Stored Memories"
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"

WX at 0030: 62 (17) BP 28 (-2) DP 30.00 (1016) Variable 3 RH 27

Odometer 2: 299.2mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 171/181

This is perimeter run 44.

First real PT in about a week. I was sick with a bacterial cold that was pretty bad, bad enough where I was on Augmentin, Tylenol, Motrin, and Flonase for a week. That bad.

Then I was at Qatar on temporary duty. I was by myself, so I didn't get much in the way of support, so I passed up on PT. Self-medicating some of my frustrations was preferable to physical exercise. I'm denied that in Afghanistan, so I'll drink when I get the chance. I suspect don't have a drinking problem because I don't have an opportunity to contribute to it much.

This was my last opportunity to catch up with my good friend Rico, too, and it was gloriously good to see him one last time before he goes home.

For not running in a week, I guess I'm not too unhappy about the outcome, but I have much to rebuild as I've been dilatory at best with staying in shape.

The John Williams was after watching snippets of the movie AI: Artificial Intelligence, but that's a bad movie to watch if I miss my children...and I miss my children.

I've thought about a great many things lately, but nothing I feel like writing about. Yet.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:17 08:17 08:17 08:17 1.00
1.00 16:41 08:24 08:24 08:20 2.00
1.00 24:57 08:16 08:16 08:19 3.00
1.00 33:34 08:37 08:37 08:23 4.00
1.00 41:58 08:24 08:24 08:24 5.00
1.00 50:37 08:39 08:39 08:26 6.00
1.00 59:14 08:37 08:37 08:28 7.00
0.76 05:33 06:19 08:19 08:27 7.76

7.8mi, 68:17, 13 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 214 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Bats, "Courage"
New Model Army, "Bloodsports"

WX at 0030: 69 (21) DP 28 (-2) BP 29.97 (1015) S 5 RH 21

Odometer 2: 291.4mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 160/177

This is perimeter run 43.

I decided to force out a run tonight - work has been more fucking insane than I thought it was going to be, and there is some catharsis to be had in getting out of the large metal box and hitting the streets.

There's an awful lot of schadenfreude in my life lately; perhaps that's why I had New Model Army (a band not casually known for its mellow lyrics) on the mind tonight. It's an unusual mood for me to have NMA stuck in my head - usually I save those songs for truly black moods...and yet, I'm not sure why.

It is instructive to note that one of the visiting folks from our successor unit was asking rhetorically why my boss rated a PSD (personal security detachment). He was talking about how there's always some pissed-off looking Asian guy with a rifle and advanced infantry optics walking around at the low ready.

There are times that people look really uneasy; my level of basic aggression at work tends to make people uneasy - and the fact that I'm the only joker with optics on his bullet launcher compounds that. That...and the fact that last time I went to the range, and had target problems (it started moving around in the wind) I got a mite assed up...and got mostly head shots. That was downright motivational.

I need to go back out to the range and shoot man-sized targets again. It makes good catharsis.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:52 08:52 08:52 08:52 1.00
1.00 17:42 08:50 08:50 08:51 2.00
1.00 26:49 09:07 09:07 08:56 3.00
1.00 35:45 08:56 08:56 08:56 4.00
1.00 44:33 08:48 08:48 08:55 5.00
1.00 53:30 08:57 08:57 08:55 6.00
1.00 02:01 08:31 08:31 08:52 7.00
0.76 08:17 06:16 08:15 08:48 7.76

Some minor pleasures

Picking up a copy of T.H. White's The Once And Future King in the conference room of our headquarters company and realizing it had been some two decades since I really read it for detail.

And yet, it's compelling in a way that I don't associate with most of the reading I've done lately. How do you humanize one of the most enduring love triangles in literature? Read it.

My private chuckle today: At my desk at work: Oscar Wilde, "The Importance of Being Earnest." Now I feel compelled to listen to some Morrissey and wear a pink reflective belt here in the combat zone.

7.8mi, 70:12, 9 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Still day 210 of the campaign.

iThink: Hilary Duff, "Wake Up" (yes.)

WX at 2230: 68 (20) DP 41 (5) BP 30.00 (1016) W 3 RH 37

Odometer 2: 283.6mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 158/179.

This is perimeter run 42.

I decided to do something daring, I actually ran twice in a row - something I haven't done in a while. I had a few hours to kill, so I decided to try to knock out a run while I still could. Unfortunately, I starting having acid reflux-like symptoms about a third of the way through the run and I felt like I was going to woof. I didn't, but it was awful close. I suppose I would've run faster than 70 minutes had I not stopped to almost spew, but I'm more gratified that I actually worked out two days in a row and I might actually have some fighting chance to beat the lard monster.

Today warranted a run of this nature, though. There's nothing like working on two orders, going in front of the commanding general, and then his pointing out some truly bush league mistakes. I was livid, but not at him, by any stretch. I know it's going to be a bad day when the first word I utter when I get to my desk is "fuck!" The rest of the day followed suit.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:35 08:35 08:35 08:35 1.00
1.00 17:29 08:54 08:54 08:45 2.00
1.00 26:23 08:54 08:54 08:48 3.00
1.00 35:37 09:14 09:14 08:54 4.00
1.00 44:34 08:57 08:57 08:55 5.00
1.00 53:43 09:09 09:09 08:57 6.00
1.00 63:27 09:44 09:44 09:04 7.00
0.74 70:12 06:45 09:07 09:04 7.74

7.8mi, 73:04, 9 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 210 of the campaign.

iThink: Dos Gringos, "Sammy Small" and a host of other equally politically correct running cadences

WX at 0030: 62 (17) DP 41 (5) BP 30.03 (1017) Variable 1 RH 45

Odometer 3: 183.0mi

Z2-3 low.
Average/max heart rate = 147/154

This is perimeter run 41.

I was feeling a mite tired when I started, but it remains a basic fact that I've been getting a bit tubbier in the last few weeks. My eating hasn't slowed down and I don't work out that much, so the extra calories go to my gut, my chin, and my fat ass.

I didn't feel up to going very hard, and I want to experiment with a LOT of LSD to see if I can get back into trying to be able to do 15.5 (a two-lapper) on a regular basis - which I think I can.

I certainly don't intend to that overnight, though.

Now that it's cooling off some, maybe there's a possible start.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:20 09:20 09:20 09:20 1.00
1.00 18:38 09:18 09:18 09:19 2.00
1.00 28:00 09:22 09:22 09:20 3.00
1.00 37:34 09:34 09:34 09:23 4.00
1.00 46:53 09:19 09:19 09:23 5.00
1.00 56:17 09:24 09:24 09:23 6.00
1.00 65:56 09:39 09:39 09:25 7.00
0.76 73:04 07:08 09:23 09:25 7.76

7.8mi, 64:30, 7 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 208 of the campaign.

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

WX at 0130: 59 (15) DP 44 (7) BP 30.00 (1016) S 3 RH 57

Odometer 2: 275.8mi

Z3 mostly, Z4 high finish.
Average/max heart rate = 155/177

This is perimeter run 40.

I was going to sleep earlier tonight, but have a pretty bad chest cold and was totally unable to sleep, so I decided to go for a run.

I should probably go to the aid station to do something about this cold, since it's starting to really get under my skin.

Still, the weather has been getting quite nice lately, so I was pleasantly gratified to get the tmie I did. I desperately need to run more often than I do. Taking four days in between workouts is not going to work! If there's any indicator, I've gained three pounds in the last two weeks...not a good sign.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:23 08:23 08:23 08:23 1.00
1.00 16:53 08:30 08:30 08:26 2.00
1.00 25:12 08:19 08:19 08:24 3.00
1.00 33:41 08:29 08:29 08:25 4.00
1.00 42:07 08:26 08:26 08:25 5.00
1.00 50:22 08:15 08:15 08:24 6.00
1.00 58:38 08:16 08:16 08:23 7.00
0.76 64:30 05:52 07:43 08:19 7.76

2.9mi, time indeterminate, 4 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 205 of the campaign.

iThink: Nancy Sinatra, "You Only Live Twice"

WX at 2130: 75 (24) DP 26 (-3) BP 29.91 (1013) NNW 14 RH 16

Odometer 2: 268.0mi

Z2-3.

I was going to run this morning, but was so destroyed from lack of sleep and energy that I slept through two of my alarms. That's a bad sign.

This was probably one of the most clever hashes I've ever seen. It started with a direction that took them directly back to where the pack had come from, and then turned into a number of titty checks, followed by a detention by the MPs, that turned into an opportunity to eat jelly doughnuts, and then do pushups, and then say the Pledge of Allegiance, and some others.

Seriously, it was a great hash, which could have, in the words of the lead hare, "turned out to be one of the best trails ever, or one of the worst trails ever." I'd definitely have to say one of the best I've seen so far. This took some substantial time to plan out, and the results were well worth it.

7.8mi, 67:26, 2 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 203 of the campaign.

iThink:
Rob Zombie, "Feel So Numb"
Juliana Hatfield, "Perfection"

WX at 1830: 80 (27) DP 17 (-8) BP 29.97 (1015) N 21 light blowing widespread dust RH 9

Odometer 2: 265.0mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 162/175

This is perimeter run 39.

There's nothing quite like thinking we were done with 120 days of wind, and instead running in a 21mph headwind. Normally I don't expect to get sandblasted when I run, but I was checking the weather observations prior to starting and am damned glad I wore clear glasses on this run. Windburn sucks, but it's a fact of life. I don't think I've ever seen it this dry before, though. 9% relative humidity is low even for here.

I guess it's okay that I didn't go too hard - and it's certainly different running during the day rather than at the middle of the night. I'm hoping maybe I'll actually go to sleep at a more reasonable hour than I have in the last few months.

Yeah, right.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:18 08:18 08:18 08:18 1.00
1.00 17:09 08:51 08:51 08:34 2.00
1.00 25:48 08:39 08:39 08:36 3.00
1.00 34:36 08:48 08:48 08:39 4.00
1.00 43:12 08:36 08:36 08:38 5.00
1.00 51:45 08:33 08:33 08:37 6.00
1.00 60:51 09:06 09:06 08:42 7.00
0.76 67:26 06:35 08:40 08:41 7.76

7.8mi, 64:14, 31 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 201 of the campaign.

iThink: Rob Zombie, "Feel So Numb"

WX at 0030: 68 (20) DP 23 (-5) BP 29.91 (1013) WNW 6 RH 18

Odometer 2: 256.2mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 162/179

This is perimeter run 38.

If you're wondering whether I really took four days off from running, I did. Work has been that bad lately.

I forced myself to run tonight, although I much rather would have gone to sleep, but as a function of personal discipline, I need to hit the roads - and in spite of being tired, I am running faster. My finishes are markedly faster, which is always an encouraging sign.

Part of my not running is that unlike some people whose basic lack of professionalism and failure to exercise any legitimate work ethic is the norm, I've been grinding away at our next major order, and as one of the nominal standard bearers in the plans group, I have been a mite dogmatic. I'm not kidding about the dogma part.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:14 08:14 08:14 08:14 1.00
1.00 16:48 08:34 08:34 08:24 2.00
1.00 25:04 08:16 08:16 08:21 3.00
1.00 33:27 08:23 08:23 08:22 4.00
1.00 41:43 08:16 08:16 08:21 5.00
1.00 49:58 08:15 08:15 08:20 6.00
1.00 58:10 08:12 08:12 08:19 7.00
0.76 64:14 06:04 07:59 08:17 7.76

7.8mi, 71:16, 28 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 198 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Cure, "A Forest"
"The All-American Soldier" (yes, the 82d Airborne Division's song)
Juliana Hatfield, "Perfection"

WX at 1230: 75 (24) DP 23 (-5) BP 29.97 (1015) NNE 18 RH 14

Odometer 2: 248.4mi

Z2-3.
Average/max heart rate = 146/171

This is perimeter run 37.

As I look at my deployment counter, I realize I'm just a bit over 40 percent through my tour. Man, does that feel weird.

Today was a day to counteract some of the bad stuff I ate for dinner, namely a slice of apple pie and two scoops of ice cream. It's not that I'm getting fat - but I do need to be more judicious about what I eat, and most of the time, I come back thinner than when I left. I'm not so sure about this one.

Today, as a result, entailed some good wogging since my legs certainly weren't up to any hard work after the last two runs, especially that last one. Even with a day's rest, I felt like today needed to be easy, and it was.

It was kind of therapeutic to know that I could wog along to the tune of 9:10/mi or so and not feel any pressure at all.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:10 09:10 09:10 09:10 1.00
1.00 18:30 09:20 09:20 09:15 2.00
1.00 27:27 08:57 08:57 09:09 3.00
1.00 36:37 09:10 09:10 09:09 4.00
1.00 45:36 08:59 08:59 09:07 5.00
1.00 54:41 09:05 09:05 09:07 6.00
1.00 64:16 09:35 09:35 09:11 7.00
0.75 71:16 07:00 09:20 09:12 7.75

5.0mi, 39:30, 26 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 196 of the campaign.

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

WX at 0030: 71 (22) DP 46 (8) BP 30.00 (1016) Variable 3 RH 46

Odometer 3: 175.2mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 164/178

This was a burner, and I'm not sure why.

I'm not sure why I have a Juliana Hatfield song stuck in my head that was never formally released.

But I'm not debating the results. It is noticeably cooler, and that matters a LOT when I run. It's no accident my best times were right around the 45 degree F mark.

Of course, I guess I have to do some expectation management when I think that 39:30 is good for 5 miles. Aging sucks.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:58 07:58 07:58 07:58 1.00
1.00 15:43 07:45 07:45 07:52 2.00
0.51 19:53 04:10 08:10 07:55 2.51
1.00 27:54 08:01 08:01 07:57 3.51
1.00 35:50 07:56 07:56 07:57 4.51
0.50 39:30 03:40 07:20 07:53 5.01

7.8mi, 64:41, 24 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 195 of the campaign.

iThink: the day of SXSW...
Rachel Loy, "Love Me Too Much"
Housewife, "Channel Noir"
The Amazing Pilots, "The Price of Winter"

WX at 2330: 71 (22) DP 48 (9) BP 30.00 (1016) Variable 1 RH 44

Odometer 2: 240.6mi

Z4.
Average heart rate = 165

This is perimeter run 36.

Today was the first run in a while. Work has been so bad that there has been no way to actually get runs in. The end result is that today was a fast run because I wasn't sure when I was getting the next one in and I don't really think that hash a few days ago really counted.

I was belly breathing and experimenting with posture and gait. I think I get psyched out when I stare at the GPS and get track and speed under way; I think I can go faster when properly motivated. Problem is actually holding that pace. That's the challenge.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:27 08:27 08:27 08:27 1.00
1.00 17:05 08:38 08:38 08:32 2.00
1.00 25:19 08:14 08:14 08:26 3.00
1.00 33:43 08:24 08:24 08:26 4.00
1.00 41:50 08:07 08:07 08:22 5.00
1.00 50:08 08:18 08:18 08:21 6.00
1.00 58:29 08:21 08:21 08:21 7.00
0.75 04:41 06:12 08:16 08:21 7.75

2.8mi, time indeterminate, 21 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 191 of the campaign.

iThink: none

WX at 2330: 69 (21) DP 53 (12) BP 29.94 (1014) S 5 RH 57

Odometer 2: 232.8mi

Z2-Z4.
Average heart rate = 127, max = 171

This was actually a pretty cleverly done hash. One of the hares was a guy who, when laying trail off road here, makes me a little nervous as his hash name, "Senim," comes from the word "mines" backwards. But it was a good trail, and we didn't see any minefields...

It also involved running up a giant dirt clod, and some well laid trail. It did a pretty good job of keeping the group together and most everyone had a good time. Many of my coworkers didn't show up - work has been worse than usual lately - but tonight was well worth it and it's always good to take a break from the usual Groundhog Day-like grind.

7.8mi, 62:33, 20 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 190 of the campaign.

iThink:
Juliana Hatfield, "Perfection"
mewithoutYou, "January 1979"
Kutless, "Somewhere in the Sky"

WX at 0130: 68 (20) DP 41 (5) BP 29.91 (1013) WNW 5 RH 37

Odometer 2: 230.0mi

Z4 high.
Average heart rate = 166, max 178

Fastest run in a while. Weather was the biggest contributor, by far.

I also haven't run in three days, so that might have something to do with it also. Some of this is attributable to pacing, but I definitely started too fast. That said, the fact that I was holding anywhere between 7:40 and 8:30 on the average or so was pretty encouraging, actually.

I do need to do other things than just run, though.

Aside from my unintentional Christian emo kick, I had a song stuck in my head almost all day, from about the time I woke up to about the time I left for my run about 15 hours later.

I have no idea why I thought of "Perfection" by Juliana Hatfield, but there are far, far worse songs to have stuck in the back of my head, at least at work. Of course, being married, perhaps the song isn't quite as appropriate as I'd think...a brief excerpt follows.

You piss me off
But not a lot
I forget to forget
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?

I don't want to say "words to live by," but certainly thought provoking enough.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:40 07:40 07:40 07:40 1.00
1.00 15:39 07:59 07:59 07:50 2.00
1.00 23:43 08:04 08:04 07:54 3.00
1.00 31:54 08:11 08:11 07:58 4.00
1.00 40:07 08:13 08:13 08:01 5.00
1.00 48:20 08:13 08:13 08:03 6.00
1.00 56:29 08:09 08:09 08:04 7.00
0.74 62:33 06:04 08:12 08:05 7.74

7.8mi, 72:17, 16 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 187 of the campaign.

iThink: Bear McCreary, "All Along the Watchtower"

WX at 2230: 75 (24) DP 24 (-4) BP 29.80 (1009) NNW 17 RH 15

Odometer 3: 170.2mi

Z2-3.
Average heart rate = 151

This is perimeter run 34.

Today is National Airborne Day. Ironically, I forgot to put on my 82d combat patch as that's the last airborne division in the Army. There are some in the 101st Imperial who would see that as disloyal, but I think that's a function of being insecure.

I freely admit to being a product of the 82d, where those nonperformers were publicly crucified, which sounds draconian, but is one of the ways of keeping discipline in the ranks.

Today was a slow run trying to get one in while not going too fast. My coworkers didn't want to go too fast - and my GPS kept us mostly honest. Mostly.

The 17mph headwind near the end was always entertaining for the wrong reasons.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:22 09:22 09:22 09:22 1.00
1.00 18:43 09:21 09:21 09:21 2.00
1.00 27:46 09:03 09:03 09:15 3.00
1.00 37:10 09:24 09:24 09:18 4.00
1.00 46:28 09:18 09:18 09:18 5.00
1.00 55:48 09:20 09:20 09:18 6.00
1.00 65:31 09:43 09:43 09:22 7.00
0.74 72:17 06:46 09:09 09:20 7.74

7.8mi, 66:13, 15 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 186 of the campaign.

iThink:
Kristin Hersh, "Cold Water Coming"
The Bats, "Courage"
Aly & AJ, "Chemicals React"

WX at 0030: 71 (22) 55 (13) 29.80 (1009) Variable 3

Odometer 2: 222.2mi

Z4.
Average heart rate = 161

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel after the last few days, but I got one evening of blissful, mostly uninterrupted sleep. This, I'm sure, had a material effect on how I was going to run tonight.

I'm pretty sure the winds were not variable 3mph like the weather report says it is. I had a sizeable tailwind and I was running more efficiently than I normally do, so it was quick and a fairly good run.

I'm glad I did, though - it keeps me mostly honest. Mostly, I'd like to think. I also felt like I'm getting faster, which is always a good piece of feedback.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:43 08:43 08:43 08:43 1.00
1.00 17:52 09:09 09:09 08:56 2.00
1.00 26:26 08:34 08:34 08:49 3.00
1.00 34:53 08:27 08:27 08:43 4.00
1.00 43:03 08:10 08:10 32:37 5.00
1.00 51:19 08:16 08:16 08:33 6.00
1.00 59:58 08:39 08:39 51:25 7.00
0.77 66:13 06:15 08:07 41:11 7.77

7.77mi, 78:29, 13 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 183 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Bats, "Straight Image"
Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"

WX at 2230: 77 (25) DP 59 (15) BP 29.80 (1009) E 8 RH 53

Odometer 2: 214.4mi

Z3 start, Z4 finish.
Average heart rate = 162

This is perimeter run 32.

Today started slow and finished unexpectedly fast. I was tired, and very nearly chickened out, but I decided to stay with it and ran the usual loop.

Two factors at hand - one was the elevated humidity (at least more so than usual for here) and the other was the relative lack of wind compared to most nights. I think that had a lot to do with it.

That, and I really do need to get more disciplined about running daily - the problem is one of time and opportunity. I don't feel very compelled to work out in the day because it's hot...and at the same time, I stay late at work, and I'm too old to burn the candle at both ends at the level of effort that I normally hold in the office.

The other reason I ran today was that I got a somewhat slipshod haircut today and I had to do something to get the loose hairs off. Might as well work out if I'm going to take a shower regardless.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:02 09:02 09:02 09:02 1.00
1.00 18:05 09:03 09:03 09:03 2.00
1.00 27:01 08:56 08:56 09:00 3.00
1.00 35:59 08:58 08:58 09:00 4.00
1.00 44:38 08:39 08:39 08:56 5.00
1.00 53:22 08:44 08:44 08:54 6.00
1.00 02:06 08:44 08:44 08:52 7.00
0.77 08:29 06:23 08:17 08:49 7.77

7.8mi, 66:08, 11 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 182 of the campaign.

iThink:
Aly & AJ, "Shine"
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"
Aly & AJ, "Chemicals React"

WX at 2330: 78 (26) DP 23 (-5) BP 29.77 (1008) N 20 RH 12

Odometer 3: 162.4mi

Z3-4.
Average heart rate = 162

This makes up for my day of inveterate wogging. I knew I needed to go for a run - and by the time I was out of the workplace it was almost 11:30pm. That still didn't stop me from getting out there and hitting the road, especially since I've been larding up over the last few weeks. It's time to start burning fat again - the hard part is just being disciplined enough to get back out and hit it.

Today marked the day I decided to switch out weapons with one of my coworkers. He wanted a pistol - and although I was assigned a pistol, I really felt a lot more comfortable with a rifle as a personal security blanket...so we decided to switch weapons. I also was able to get the rifle configured for my shooting style - finally - after carrying it around while he was out of the office. It feels, honestly, a lot better.

I would imagine, that my walking around with a long gun gives some people reason for pause. No matter...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:35 08:35 08:35 08:35 1.00
1.00 17:22 08:47 08:47 08:41 2.00
1.00 25:46 08:24 08:24 08:35 3.00
1.00 34:15 08:29 08:29 08:34 4.00
1.00 42:29 08:14 08:14 08:30 5.00
1.00 50:57 08:28 08:28 08:30 6.00
1.00 59:35 08:38 08:38 08:31 7.00
0.77 66:08 06:33 08:30 08:31 7.77

7.8mi, 75:11, 9 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 179 of the campaign.

iThink:
R.E.M., "Driver 8"
Aly & AJ, "Chemicals React"
Aly & AJ, "Shine"
Dmitri Shostakovitch, Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102
Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"

WX at 0030: 84 (29) DP 26 (-3) BP 29.77 (1008) N 23G36 light blowing widespread dust RH 12

Odometer 2: 206.6mi

Z2.
Resting heart rate before start = 61
Average heart rate = 154

This is perimeter run 30. Hard to believe I'm six months into my combat tour with another ten or so to go...

In the meantime, 23mph gusting to 36mph. Yeah!

Today was a day of nothing but wogging. It was my slowest run around the perimeter. I didn't care, though!

I spent most of the afternoon launching bullets at paper targets since I said I'd zero a rifle for one of my coworkers...upon which I decided that he and I should probably switch weapons anyway, so I did. I guess that's okay - I feel about 100% sure of my zero when I'm firing up iron sights or optics. And right it is...

In the meantime, I sweated most of the afternoon (although the breeze this afternoon helped).

The highlight of today's range was inadvertently catching hot brass from one of my coworkers, who was firing adjacent to me, as well as discovering the particular suck that firing in frag vest and helmet entails when you're used to firing without body armor on. Kneeling...which is particularly unpleasant if you don't have a lot of flexibility in the lower legs.

To add insult to injury, on my second-to-last evolution (I would fire over 150 rounds today in the space of 2.5 hours) my target started flapping in the wind. I was so irritated that I stayed in position, continued to engage, and in my irritation got mostly head shots on the zero target. The fact that they were on a moving target only added to the inadvertent catharsis at getting mostly head shots on a 300m-size target...

I gotta admit, there's something cathartically therapeutic about shooting stuff.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:26 09:26 09:26 09:26 1.00
1.00 19:14 09:48 09:48 09:37 2.00
1.00 28:35 09:21 09:21 09:32 3.00
1.00 38:13 09:38 09:38 09:33 4.00
1.00 47:46 09:33 09:33 09:33 5.00
1.00 57:41 09:55 09:55 09:37 6.00
1.00 67:32 09:51 09:51 09:39 7.00
0.79 75:11 07:39 09:41 09:39 7.79

~3.5mi, about an hour, 7 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 177 of the campaign.

iThink: None

WX at 2230: 84 (29) DP 28 (-2) BP 29.71 (1006) N 17 RH 13

Odometer 3: 154.7mi

Z3-Z4 segments.
Average heart rate before start = 153

After the last hash debacle, I decided to hare the next one. This one was a lot better received. Ironically, we only had about 8 people show up, and while I was worried about getting caught, I had scouted a pretty well-thought out trail and my cohare was prepared as we had talked through how we were going to lay the trail.

The end result was a fairly enjoyable trail, although there were segments that I really had to hotfoot because we had long straightaways, which is dangerous for hares.

There's something to be said about prior preparation and planning for trail - and although getting everything together was painful - it all paid off in the end...

Splits
None really.

7.7mi, 65:29, 6 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 176 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Cure, "Disintegration"
The Bats, "Straight Image"

WX at 0630: 69 (21) DP 60 (16) BP 29.88 (1012) S 3 haze RH 73

Odometer 2: 198.8mi

Z4.
Average heart rate before start = 163

This is perimeter run 29.

Today was hard, but I wasn't going all that terribly fast. At least I didn't think so. Then I was lashed up with someone going about the same speed as me and I ended up running pretty hard the last 3.5mi. I was in the hurt box - but this will probably pay dividends later on.

The average heart rate at the end is an indicator of the level of suck. On the other hand, if I don't work any harder, I don't get any better. That's the way it is.

I was tempted to sleep in though. The temperature was downright pleasant...for being the middle of the summer. I'm sure it'll be crazy hot soon enough.

On a slightly different note, I realized that today is the 63rd anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. I'm not sure why I remember August 6 and 9 for their events - but I do. I don't think about nuclear weapons much as a planner - when I do, I'm usually ill at ease for a while afterwards.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST AHR
1.00 08:26 08:26 08:26 08:26 1.00 150
1.00 17:06 08:40 08:40 08:33 2.00 155
1.00 25:33 08:27 08:27 08:31 3.00 156
1.00 34:07 08:34 08:34 08:32 4.00 164
1.00 42:24 08:17 08:17 08:29 5.00 166
1.00 50:47 08:23 08:23 08:28 6.00 172
1.00 59:18 08:31 08:31 08:28 7.00 173
0.78 65:29 06:11 07:56 08:25 7.78 174

7.8mi, 70:09, 3 AUG 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 174 of the campaign.

iThink:
Tommy Keene, "Away From It All"
Haddaway, "What Is Love"

WX at 2330: 86 (30) DP 33 (1) BP 29.85 (1011) N 20 blowing widespread dust RH 15

Odometer 3: 151.2mi

Z2 start, Z3 finish.
Average heart rate = 161

This is perimeter run 28.

I was absolutely hell bent on getting a run in tonight. It had been some four days since my last run, which is borderline unacceptable. I just haven't been able to pursue running with the discipline that I need.

I decided to start easy since it was still pretty warm after today's relatively hot day. Not Kuwait or Qatar kind of hot, but it was unpleasantly hot today during the day. I didn't have any problem waiting until night where things would cool off some. If I was really industrious, I'd wait until tomorrow morning and go hard, but I wouldn't wake up that early.

No dog, alas.

I just finished reading Kim Stanley Robinson's The Years of Rice and Salt and indulge on some of these long runs the thought of being tied in a jati - and if I had to espouse a religion, I'd argue Buddhism is starting to emerge beyond the others...but a thought-provoking read, one of the most so in the last few years.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:59 08:59 08:59 08:59 1.00
1.00 18:11 09:12 09:12 09:05 2.00
1.00 27:30 09:19 09:19 09:10 3.00
1.00 36:34 09:04 09:04 09:08 4.00
1.00 45:44 09:10 09:10 09:09 5.00
1.00 54:59 09:15 09:15 09:10 6.00
1.00 63:45 08:46 08:46 09:06 7.00
0.76 70:09 06:24 08:25 09:02 7.76

7.7mi, 72:48, 31 JUL 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 170 of the campaign.

iThink:
Scott Cossu, "The Triumph"
R.E.M., "Driver 8"
They Might Be Giants, "Older" (as in Rollercoaster Massacre)
Rob Zombie, "Feel So Numb" (since you can see the first three seasons of Battlestar Galactica in 5 minutes)

WX at 0730: 80 (27) DP 64 (18) BP 29.83 (1010) Variable 2 haze RH 57

Odometer 2: 191.0mi

Z2 start, Z3 finish.
Average heart rate = 160

This is perimeter run 27.

I gotta admit, it's kind of nice going out running in the middle of the summer and it's only 80 degrees in Afghanistn.

Today was a day of little sleep - my circadian rhythms are still jacked, so I'm waking up at 3:00am sharp...wide awake. This is not helpful.

On the other hand, it does provide some incentive to get out and run in the mornings rather than at night.

Today was a day of wogging after the last two runs. I could feel it in my knees after about 5.5 miles. I think they're tired, but getting tougher. At least that's what I'm trying to say to myself as self justification for running nothing but long slow distance.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:18 09:18 09:18 09:18 1.00
1.00 18:27 09:09 09:09 09:14 2.00
1.00 27:39 09:12 09:12 09:13 3.00
1.00 36:40 09:01 09:01 09:10 4.00
1.00 45:49 09:09 09:09 09:10 5.00
1.00 55:05 09:16 09:16 09:11 6.00
1.00 64:09 09:04 09:04 09:10 7.00
0.74 72:48 08:39 11:41 09:24 7.74

7.8mi, 68:20, 28 JUL 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 168 of the campaign.

iThink: Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"

WX at 0530: 68 (20) DP 48 (9) BP 29.85 (1011) Variable 2 RH 48

Odometer 3: 143.4mi

Z3-4.
Average HR 163.

This is perimeter run 26.

Today was suck. I thought I was going easy, but I woke up at 4:30am and couldn't get back to sleep, so I decided to grit out a run. Oh, what a grind that was. I started running progressively positive splits, (or so I thought) but it got harder and harder. My legs were tired - but running this same run within 30 hours probably had something to do with it also.

Still, the weather was pleasant, which is more than I can say about most other places around here, like Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq...

I saw my erstwhile running partner dog walking down the main drag here at Bagram. As much as we're not supposed to mess with the local fauna, I hope he's doing okay. I suppose.

I also had to reinstall Windows XP on my computer today. Grr. My BlueTooth stack was malfunctioning and that's the only way I can get my computer to go online without a Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. Suck.

I'm taking tomorrow off.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:41 08:41 08:41 08:41 1.00
1.00 17:29 08:48 08:48 08:45 2.00
1.00 26:17 08:48 08:48 08:46 3.00
1.00 35:17 09:00 09:00 08:49 4.00
1.00 44:01 08:44 08:44 08:48 5.00
1.00 52:49 08:48 08:48 08:48 6.00
1.00 61:51 09:02 09:02 08:50 7.00
0.78 68:20 06:29 08:19 08:47 7.78

7.78mi, 65:30, 26 JUL 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 166 of the campaign.

iThink:
Dos Gringos, "Jeremiah Weed"
Dos Gringos, "Sammy Small"

WX at 2330: 64 (18) DP 57 (14) BP 29.85 (1011) E 6 RH 78

Odometer 2: 183.3mi

Z3 high.

This is perimeter run 25.

First perimeter run since getting back. The weather was remarkably cooperative - given the fact that it rained for the first time in a few months and as a result, it was much more humid than I normally expect.

I started off pretty quick in the first mile, and then shifted back to my old speed, unfortunately. Going from sea level back to 4900 feet MSL is a big change.

I have no idea why I had the lyrics to Jeremiah Weed stuck in my head...in a place where I can't have any...but the ones that really come to mind are this excerpt:

Now everyone is curious and they all want to know
Does it make you smarter will it make your penis grow
It won't bring ya women and it won't bring ya luck
So why do we drink it? ‘Cause it tastes like fuck!

Fox 1, when you've got nothing left
Fox 2, it's that heater in your chest
Fox 3, the only friend you'll ever need
That cocksucker motherfucker Jeremiah Weed

The most unusual part of this run was my unintended running companion. As I was passing by the cement factory on the base, about 2 miles from my start point, I heard some barking and then heard a dog approaching fast from the rear. Normally I get pretty jittery about local wildlife, and this was no exception. This dog must have been looking for some companionship, because he followed me the entire way through back to the start.

I have to admit I was thinking to myself "what a great time not to be packing heat." As a result, I continued to run regardless of whether this dog was with me or not. (If it was going to attack me, I needed to be ready, but there was no way I was outrunning this dog.) It did make the end of my run a bit faster, but I was so spent by the end that I reverted to my old speed-- slow.

This dog was actually friendly - I thought back to the last time I was running with my old dog Thor. But it's generally a bad habit to play with the local wildlife.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:45 07:45 07:45 07:45 1.00
1.00 16:10 08:25 08:25 08:05 2.00
1.00 24:29 08:19 08:19 08:10 3.00
1.00 32:58 08:29 08:29 08:14 4.00
1.00 41:24 08:26 08:26 08:17 5.00
1.00 50:11 08:47 08:47 08:22 6.00
1.00 58:37 08:26 08:26 08:22 7.00
0.78 65:30 06:53 08:49 08:25 7.78

6.5mi, 1:48:26, 24 JUL 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 164 of the campaign.

iThink: None.

WX at 2330: 78 (26) DP 30 (-1) BP 29.77 (1008) N 18 RH 17

Odometer 1: 262.5mi

Z3.

This hash was craptacularly bad. This was hallmarked by two red flags, one a new hare who was deathly paranoid of getting caught, and two, an experienced hasher who had very strong opinions about what trail should look like. The end result was trail laid through very broken terrain that wasn't within line of sight of itself and consequently, I ran straggler control almost the entire hash.

It's rare that it takes almost two hours to get the entire pack together, but this was so badly laid that I was just disappointed. Not even beside myself, but just disappointed.

I'm laying the next one as lead hare.

Uh-huh

I'm not sure what it is lately, but sitting at an Air Force base the last few days has generated two things...

An attempt to nearly fucking kill myself by drinking a third of a bottle of Jeremiah Weed,

And bizarre aviation shit like this.

What military aircraft are you? B-52 Stratofortress You're a B-52. You are old and wise, and you absolutely love destruction. You believe in the principle of "peace through deterrence" and aren`t afraid to throw your weight around.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

I'm not so sure about the "old and wise" bullshit, though. I do love destruction, though.

That's why I'm trying to kill off the Jeremiah Weed bottle before I return to the combat zone...because there's nothing quite like waking up and realizing I was still trashed.

7.3mi, 60:23, 17 JUL 08, Scott AFB IL

Day 156 of the campaign.

iThink:
The Bats, "Courage"
The Rolling Stones, "Gimme Shelter"
Inspiral Carpets, "Gimme Shelter"

WX at 0600: 66.9 (19.4) DP 65.8 (18.8) BP 30.15 (1020) Calm mist; shallow fog RH 96

Odometer 3: 135.6mi

Z3 high.

Today was a bit more painful, but I've been dilatory in staying steady and actually running day to day. This is one of the few instances in the last few months where I've actually been diligent on doing so.

Today was nowhere near as fast as yesterday - nor should it have been. I noticed that even small uphills make a major difference to how I feel. I need to start hitting the weights again.

I also need to be better about not jackrabbiting my starts. This was particularly apparent as I started my first few hundred meters going about 7:30 pace. This is neither prudent nor useful.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:06 08:06 08:06 08:06 1.00
1.00 16:24 08:18 08:18 08:12 2.00
1.00 24:53 08:29 08:29 08:18 3.00
1.00 33:28 08:35 08:35 08:22 4.00
1.00 41:35 08:07 08:07 08:19 5.00
1.00 49:59 08:24 08:24 08:20 6.00
1.00 58:14 08:15 08:15 08:19 7.00
0.28 60:23 02:09 07:41 08:18 7.28

4.1mi, 32:04, 16 JUL 08, Scott AFB IL

Day 155 of the campaign.

iThink: Wire, "Outdoor Miner" (admittedly a strange choice.)

WX at 0600: 68.5 (20.3) 67.1 (19.5) 30.16 (1021) Calm RH 95

Odometer 3: 128.3mi

Z4.

Nothing gets you going faster than the realization that you started too late!

I cranked probably my fastest run in a while. Now, it's a mite humid from what I was used to previously, but the temperature was probably a little better.

I was pretty happy to find that I could hold steady at the pace that I did today. I'm sure all that will tank at altitude.

What I'm really curious is to see what I weigh right now as I think I might have lost some weight on leave...lard weight, maybe, because I was walking everywhere. There's something to be said for that...and why you see a lot more fat Americans than fat Europeans.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:58 07:58 07:58 07:58 1.00
1.00 15:50 07:52 07:52 07:55 2.00
1.00 23:51 08:01 08:01 07:57 3.00
1.00 31:35 07:44 07:44 07:54 4.00
0.07 32:04 00:29 06:54 07:53 4.07

Should I be disturbed that I'm two hot chicks

And I even share a name with one of them...

Which Battlestar Galactica Cylon Are You?

More on Battlestar Galactica. Created by BuddyTV

Which Battlestar Galactica Character Are You?

Which Battlestar Galactica Character Are You?
Created by BuddyTV

This bothers me, and I'm not sure why

SPC Joseph Dwyer, a medic from the 3d Squadron, 7th Cavalry photographed in 2003, died of substance abuse on 28 June. This article tells some of the background behind the story and the photo.

I think of a line from David Drake's Redliners, the one book that I will always pack when going to a combat zone:

"Do you believe that the Unity owes its soldiers nothing but burial or a pension, Miss Chun?" I said. My voice didn't rise, but it had less give than the face of an anvil. "Do you think it is to the long-term benefit of the Unity that our citizens regard discharged soldiers as trash that litters our streets and occasionally explodes lethally? Do you?"

I have a hard time relating to civilians, and I certainly did at some times in this leave (which is about to wrap up). I was sitting at a wedding last night in Sligo, Ireland and there were two things I couldn't shake.

One of them was of what we expect our troops to do in places like Nuristan province, Afghanistan...and the unbelievable cognitive dissonance I feel at being at a wedding when people who execute the plans I write are in places like that. That grates on my conscience, sometimes more than at others.

The other was that I was sitting in a place which sits near Northern Ireland, an area which fought an insurgency for forty years. Does every democracy have to fight a civil war? I don't know - and while I certainly don't support the Irish Republican Army, I do have to wonder if the Sinn Fein sign I saw up in a traffic circle here in town is necessarily a bad thing.

That said, the unease I feel about Joseph Dwyer's passing is that we take our soldiers for granted. We take the conflict they fight in as something that no one really wants to pay attention to, and that bothers the hell out of me.

Then what do you do when those soldiers come back as damaged goods?

The mills of the gods, they grind slowly...

4.1mi, 35:01, 11 JUL 08, Sligo, Ireland

Day 150 of the campaign.

iThink:
Philip Aaberg, "Marias River Breakdown" (from the 1986 Windham Hill Sampler, no shit)
The Bats, "Courage"

WX at 0900: 51 (11) DP 44 (7) BP 29.77 (1008) NNW 15 RH 76

Odometer 3: 124.2mi

Z3.

Today wasn't very long, but it was promising. I was running mostly to get lactic acid out of my legs, but noticed steady positive splits after the first uphill. I was gratified to find out that I was holding just below 8:00mpm on the way back, mostly on level ground, and was accelerating at the end - even at what I'd normally call high Z3 effort.

The big variable is the weather. I was cold this morning - first time in a while I've worn more than shorts and a shirt for a run! I'm headed back to the US for a week or two after this - I'll totally incinerate when I get back there after these temperatures. 51 degrees in the summer. Huh!

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:28 08:28 08:28 08:28 1.00
1.00 17:37 09:09 09:09 08:48 2.00
0.10 18:34 00:57 09:48 08:51 2.10
1.00 26:43 08:09 08:09 08:38 3.10
1.00 34:41 07:58 07:58 08:28 4.10
0.05 35:01 00:20 06:31 08:26 4.15

The price of freedom

remains eternal vigilance...

I made a big point of getting a poster of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms for my children. I saw this and while I don't see myself getting a set of these for the kids, if you're an American and you don't feel some tinge of conscience, something is wrong.

This picture of Fred Phelps to the left illustrates a lot of what bothers me about America from time to time. If it doesn't bother you, then you need to do some soul-searching about your national identity.

Also, for some background...

9.25mi, 80:10, 8 JUL 08, IVO Knocknarea Mountain, Ireland

Day 147 of the campaign.

iThink:
Aly & AJ, "Chemicals React"
Let's Active, "Ornamental"
The Cure, "Primary" (Red Mix)
Bear McCreary, "All Along the Watchtower"

WX at 1300: 57 (14) DP 50 (10) BP 29.74 (1007) WSW 16 RH 76

Odometer 3: (with constructive credit from walking all over Paris and London) ~120.0mi

Z3.

First run since going to Paris and London, and I felt surprisingly okay - although a bit of it is attributable to the weather and not running for a while.

Surprisingly, for going up the killer hills I went up, I felt pretty fit going up - less the killer uphill returning from the turn-around.

Hills are killing me - but I have fairly decent return from altitude training.

The last few days in London were fine - the hotel we were at had no Disney Channel - thank fuck - because returning to Ireland, I realize how much I fucking hate That's So Raven and Cory In The House, which never cease to insult the shit out of the viewing intelligence - whatever is left.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:05 08:05 08:05 08:05 1.00
1.00 16:37 08:32 08:32 08:19 2.00
1.00 25:50 09:13 09:13 08:37 3.00
1.00 34:50 09:00 09:00 08:43 4.00
0.61 40:01 05:11 08:30 08:41 4.61
1.00 50:01 10:00 10:00 08:55 5.61
1.00 58:29 08:28 08:28 08:51 6.61
1.00 66:35 08:06 08:06 08:45 7.61
1.00 74:56 08:21 08:21 08:42 8.61
0.64 80:10 05:14 08:11 08:40 9.25

Words to live by

Probably not coming to an elementary school near you anytime soon:

Oh my name is Sammy Small, fuck em' all
Oh my name is Sammy Small, fuck em' all
Oh my name is Sammy Small and I've only got one ball
But It's better than none at all, so fuck em' all

9.74mi, 85:56, 29 JUN 08, Sligo, Ireland

Day 138 of the campaign.

iThink:
Catherine Wheel, "Broken Nose"
Bear McCreary, "All Along the Watchtower"
mewithoutYou, "January 1979"

WX at 0800: 51 (11) 48 (9) 29.85 (1011) WSW 14 RH 87

Odometer 3: 94.0mi approximate.

Z3.

I needed to get out and hit the roads for the first time while on leave. It's been a few days - and I don't get nearly as bent out of shape when it's 115F (45C) outside There were segments where it was obviously easier to work (partly because of temperature, partly because of elevation, since I'm at sea level). It was the hills that required some more concerted work.

I am on leave with the OPFOR Commander, the Princess, and the Sledgehammer. I should be thrilled, but it's not necessarily thrilling. Going on deployment doesn't fix things by itself that need to be fixed with more deliberate effort. Sometimes it just gets put on hold, sometimes it gets worse. It is what it is.

All I know is that I have 386 days until I get paroled for good.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:59 07:59 07:59 07:59 1.00
1.00 16:49 08:50 08:50 08:24 2.00
1.00 25:37 08:48 08:48 08:32 3.00
1.00 34:31 08:54 08:54 08:38 4.00
1.00 43:53 09:22 09:22 08:47 5.00
1.00 52:44 08:51 08:51 08:47 6.00
1.00 01:35 08:51 08:51 08:48 7.00
1.00 10:19 08:44 08:44 08:47 8.00
1.00 19:05 08:46 08:46 08:47 9.00
0.74 25:56 06:51 09:15 08:49 9.74

9.1mi, 79:13, 23 JUN 08, As Sayliyah, Qatar

Day 132 of the campaign.

iThink:
Killing Zone, "All Along the Watchtower"
The Reputation, "Let It Rest"
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"

WX at 0600: no reading
WX at 0700: no reading

Odometer 3: 81.1mi

Z3.

I started much earlier, about 5:30am, but it was still too late. The first of my three laps was bad enough - the second was easier, and by the time I was hitting my third, it was just unpleasant. The negative split at the end was because of the desire to just get it over with. The acceleration at mile 3 didn't feel as sharp as it actually was, but I was probably just warmed up.

Heat matters out here. Walking from the PX here to the building I was working in was crazy hot.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:41 08:41 08:41 08:41 1.00
1.00 17:39 08:58 08:58 08:50 2.00
1.00 25:55 08:16 08:16 08:38 3.00
1.00 34:25 08:30 08:30 08:36 4.00
1.00 42:56 08:31 08:31 08:35 5.00
1.00 51:45 08:49 08:49 08:37 6.00
1.00 60:31 08:46 08:46 08:39 7.00
1.00 69:29 08:58 08:58 08:41 8.00
1.00 78:17 08:48 08:49 08:42 9.00
0.12 79:13 00:56 07:47 08:41 9.12

3.0mi, 24:50, 21 JUN 08, As Sayliyah, Qatar

Day 130 of the campaign.

iThink: Kristin Hersh, "Strange Angels"

WX at 0700:

Odometer 3: 72.0mi

Z4.

I waited too long to start. I was waiting for El Gato (one of the last of the few left after The Intrepid Coworker's unit rotated out) and he doesn't like to run outside.

It gets hot outside, and markedly so after 6:00am. I was trying to hold faster than 8:00/mi, but I didn't factor in a late start, so probably not.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
3.00 24:50 24:50 08:17 08:17 3.00

7.8mi, 67:47, 15 JUN 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

iThink:
Bear McCreary, "Gaeta's Lament"
Bear McCreary, "All Along the Watchtower"
The Cure, "A Forest"


WX at 2230: 82 (28) DP 26 (-3) BP 29.68 (1005) N 15G32 light blowing widespread dust RH 13

Odometer 3: 68.0mi

Z3.
Average heart rate = 163

This is perimeter run 24.

I am officially under a year left.

It was really 15mph gusting to 32. Seriously.

I felt like I need to do these long runs to occasionally clear my mind. Lately, my mind sticks on one or two things at work, and bizarrely enough, about ex-girlfriends from the distant past.

Tangentially, I also remember that today's Father's Day. It sure doesn't feel like it at all. At all.

The thought that I can't shake at work, especially after starting to watch Season 4 of Battlestar Galactica, is that every sustainable democracy has had to fight a civil war. As we are trying to build a sustainable democracy, where one didn't really exist before, I wonder about the validity of that statement from time to time. I also wonder if we're really doing the right thing from time to time.

For what it's worth, "Gaeta's Lament" is, as you might guess, from this season of Battlestar Galactica.

Alone she sleeps in the shirt of man
With my three wishes clutched in her hand
The first that she be spared the pain
That comes from a dark and laughing rain
When she finds love may it always stay true
This I beg for the second wish I made too
But wish no more
My life you can take
To have her please just one day wake


Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:34 08:34 08:34 08:34 1.00
1.00 17:31 08:57 08:57 08:45 2.00
1.00 26:12 08:41 08:41 08:44 3.00
1.00 35:01 08:49 08:49 08:45 4.00
1.00 43:33 08:32 08:32 08:43 5.00
1.00 52:15 08:42 08:42 08:42 6.00
1.00 61:10 08:55 08:55 08:44 7.00
0.75 67:47 06:37 08:49 08:45 7.75

3.4mi, time indeterminate, 12 JUN 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 122 of the campaign.

iThink: none

WX at 2330: 82 (28) DP 12 (-11) BP 29.83 (1010) NNW 14 RH 7

Odometer 1: 256.0mi

Z3.

Tonight is a great example of failure to coordinate activities in a hash being almost catastrophic. We had almost no beer left at the end, the hares didn't use much flour, the trail was poorly marked, and the hares were inexperienced, the vehicle left without coordination, and we lost a member of the pack. Yet, people had a good time.

It did underscore the importance of having people sweep the trail. We absolutely must have people police the trail so that you don't lose any more. Other than that, it was more practice, and something different from the beaten path.

7.8mi, 77:29, 10 JUN 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 120 of the campaign.

iThink: Morrissey, "You're The One For Me, Fatty"

WX at 0630: 75 (24) DP 48 (9) BP 29.94 (1014) NNW 3 haze RH 38

Odometer 2: 175.6mi

Z1.
Average heart rate = 142

This is perimeter run 23.

I decided to take one of our troops out for a run of the perimeter. This was partly a wakeup call for him, as he had just failed his physical fitness test. The goal was to get him to run this at 9:00/mi pace. He was unable to hold much in the way of that pace beyond two miles.

There were large chunks of this run that had to be walked. The guy I was running with isn't used to running distance, and he was in the hurt box, bad. I had to remind him that we were hardly moving and part of the challenge of running almost eight miles was that it was a gut check for his basic ambition to lead troops. It's real hard to justify sending a junior soldier down to the line to work with troops if he can't physically lead them. He has the potential. But he has to show the desire...and stop smoking, and eat better, and stop feeling sorry for himself.

This got me the easiest run in a long, long while. It's bad news when someone's killing himself to hold 10 minute pace.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:02 09:02 09:02 09:02 1.00
1.00 18:10 09:08 09:08 09:05 2.00
1.00 27:35 09:25 09:25 09:12 3.00
1.00 36:49 09:14 09:14 09:12 4.00
1.00 47:38 10:49 10:49 09:32 5.00
1.00 58:46 11:08 11:08 09:48 6.00
1.00 69:34 10:48 10:48 09:56 7.00
0.75 77:29 07:55 10:33 10:00 7.75

7.8mi, 65:54, 9 JUN 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Still Day 118 of the campaign!

iThink:
Aly & AJ, "Chemicals React"
Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"
(No, I don't know why these stuck tonight.)

WX at 2330: 78 (26) DP 24 (-4) BP 29.91 (1013) NE 12 RH 13

Odometer 3: 60.2mi

Z3-4.
Average heart rate = 163

The headwind wasn't nearly as bad - but it still warranted my wearing clear eyeshields when I run, which is about the norm for when I do.

I felt the need to get in a long run after only running two this morning. Admittedly, it was a physical fitness test, but two miles is only two miles. Two miles is not enough.

I figure running about ten today should be enough.

Fortunately, I held fairly steady pace - the only distinct difference was that my average heart rate continued to increase, as I worked progressively harder. I may do this again Wednesday night, but at a substantially reduced pace.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:31 08:31 08:31 08:31 1.00
1.00 17:06 08:35 08:35 08:33 2.00
1.00 25:34 08:28 08:28 08:31 3.00
1.00 34:14 08:40 08:40 08:33 4.00
1.00 42:43 08:29 08:29 08:33 5.00
1.00 51:03 08:20 08:20 08:30 6.00
1.00 59:36 08:33 08:33 08:31 7.00
0.75 05:54 06:18 08:24 08:30 7.75

Record APFT, 281 points, 9 JUN 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 118 of the campaign.

iThink:
Aly & AJ, "Chemicals React"

WX at 0630: 75 (24) DP 51 (11) BP 29.91 (1013) Variable 2 haze RH 43

Odometer 2: 166.8mi

Z4.

The PT test is over. Now I can start getting back at it. The goal before I leave is to run the perimeter. Twice. At once. It's achievable. It might suck, but it's achievable.

Not the slowest PT test ever, but not exactly the fastest by any stretch.

You know it's going to be bad when the first word out of your mouth is "fuck!" I'd been meaning to wake up at 5:30am, but maybe not. I woke up at 6:02, leading to my first word of the day.

There's an old superstition I was told where if you say "bunny" when you wake up at the beginning of every month, it'll bring you good luck. I don't believe in superstitions, but it doesn't stop me from remebering to say "bunny" at the beginning of each month, most of the time. I guess it's good today wasn't the first of the month!

The temperature is deceptive. If it had been overcast, it would have been fine. By the time things got started, the sun had been up for over an hour and it was starting to heat up. Not to the point where it was really going to affect how I did, but it was warm. There is a very noticeable temperature difference between being out in the open (under the sun) and in the shade. It was actually pleasant in the shade. It'll be over 90F later today, though. It was almost 95F yesterday. However, because the relative humidity is so low, I don't really notice it. I think it may be more arid here than it was in Iraq. I know that sounds ironic, but I was a few miles away from the Tigris River and I was technically in the Tigris River Valley on my last combat tour. All I gotta say is it's a dry heat!

My goal is 290, which I didn't meet. I didn't run as slowly as I did at SAMS, but today was nothing to write home about. My personal standard today is at least 280. I met it, but not by much. I was disappointed, but not crushed. I realize that as I get older, I just don't get that bent out of shape about getting 300 on the PT test...not that I've done that since 1999, by the way.

The run starting promisingly, but after the first 400m I realized it was just going to be intensely painful. I don't do speedwork, and I run usually much further than just two miles. When you're running 8 miles, it's hard to get settled into any good run without a 2-3 mile warmup. I could make the excuse that I'm sitting at almost 5,000 feet MSL, but I'm not that convinced of that excuse, and after having been here four months, it's an excuse. Excuses don't hold water...but at least it's not my slowest.

On the bright side, I finally made weight for the first time in a minor eternity. It's the first time I haven't had to have been checked for body fat percentage in years. Literally.

Splits

Pushups: 82 in 1:40 or so
Situps: 80 in 2:00 (ran out of time, first in a while)

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
2.00 15:15 15:15 07:37 07:37 2.00

6.0mi, 53:38, 4 JUN 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 113 of the campaign.

iThink:
Morrissey, "Seasick, Yet Still Docked" (I'm not sure why this keeps coming back up)
Frank Mills, "Music Box Dancer" (I'm not sure about this one either.)

WX at 2330: 77 (25) DP 19 (-7) BP 29.94 (1014) NNW 10G22 RH 19

Odometer 2: 164.8mi

Z2 start, z3 finish.
Average heart rate = 158

Still feeling my attempt to set a PR from a few days ago, so I decided on six miles of light wogging. That's fine so long as you're not running into a 22 knot gust headwind!

I was running relaxed, and while I finished faster (average HR for the last two miles was 161, then 168), the splits reflect the change in effort.

I didn't run very consistently, but I think a lot of that had to do with shifting winds of fairly brisk speed!

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:51 08:51 08:51 08:51 1.00
1.00 17:59 09:08 09:08 08:59 2.00
1.00 26:53 08:54 08:54 08:58 3.00
1.00 36:24 09:31 09:31 09:06 4.00
1.00 45:10 08:46 08:46 09:02 5.00
1.00 53:38 08:28 08:28 08:56 6.00

7.8mi, 63:38, 2 JUN 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 111 of the campaign.

iThink:
Trey Parker, "America, Fuck Yeah" (Theme Song to Team America: World Police)
Killing Zone, "All Along the Watchtower" (yes, the one from the video game Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter)
George Sanger, "Defend" from the video game Wing Commander (yes, the one from 1990)

WX at 1930: 78 (26) DP 33 (1) BP 29.91 (1013) N 17G29 RH 19

Odometer 3: 52.5mi

Z4 high.
Average heart rate = 177
Max heart rate = 190

This is perimeter run 21.

Today was going to be windy - I didn't realize to the point where I'd be running into a 29mph headwind. I was pleasantly surprised at the pace I was holding, but I thought for a little while I might be able to pull off a PR. I didn't do it, but the sustained speed today was encouraging. Of course, having a tailwind of the magnitude of what I had didn't hurt either.

Still, when the wind was relatively low, I was still holding about 8 minute pace at the midpoint, before I started to get dehyhdrated. I was concentrating on form, and it helped, but I could stand to be a little more disciplined in that department.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:09 08:09 08:09 08:09 1.00
1.00 16:27 08:18 08:18 08:13 2.00
1.00 24:28 08:01 08:01 08:09 3.00
1.00 32:35 08:07 08:07 08:09 4.00
1.00 40:26 07:51 07:51 08:05 5.00
1.00 48:34 08:08 08:08 08:06 6.00
1.00 57:13 08:39 08:39 08:10 7.00
0.78 63:38 06:25 08:14 08:11 7.78

7.8mi, 67:57, 31 MAY 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 109 of the campaign.

iThink: Morrissey, "Seasick, Yet Still Docked"

WX at 2130: 77 (25) DP 26 (-3) BP 29.94 (1014) N 20 RH 15

Odometer 2: 158.8mi

Z3 mid.
Average heart rate = 160

This is perimeter run 20.

I wasn't planning on anything ambitious, but I did mean to run the perimeter of the base today. Today was a pretty relaxed run with one of my coworkers, but the 20 mph wind was a hindrance at times - and at other times a hell of an aid. It was no accident that I was holding 8:30 pace for a few miles with a 20mph tailwind.

The heart monitor was another check of proof to see whether I was making headway or not. I was able to do a much better job of gauging relative effort based on heartrate and that was a valuable tool.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:09 09:09 09:09 09:09 1.00
1.00 18:16 09:07 09:07 09:08 2.00
1.00 27:02 08:46 08:46 09:01 3.00
1.00 35:43 08:41 08:41 08:56 4.00
1.00 44:12 08:29 08:29 08:50 5.00
1.00 52:46 08:34 08:34 08:48 6.00
1.00 61:24 08:38 08:38 08:46 7.00
0.78 67:57 06:33 08:24 08:44 7.78

3.0mi, 24:40, 29 MAY 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 107 of the campaign.

iThink: The JudyBats, "Always"

WX at 0830: 71 (22) DP 33 (1) BP 29.94 (1014) SSE 5 RH 24

Odometer 3: 44.7mi

Z3 high.

Short run, little time, but I probably needed it. I slept in more than I thought I would, so I was planning on running more, but I don't really have the time.

So, short run is better than no run. Much of the positive split on mile 2 versus the massive negative split on mile 3 was due to a before-and-after pit stop I had to take along the way.

And so it goes...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:22 08:22 08:22 08:22 1.00
1.00 16:54 08:32 08:32 08:27 2.00
1.00 24:40 07:46 07:46 08:13 3.00

7.8mi, 62:32, 26 MAY 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 104 of the campaign.

iThink:
"The All-American Soldier"
Anberlin, "Cold War Transmissions"
Dan Latarski and Kim Nagel, title music to the 1990 computer game Stellar 7

WX at 1830: 60 (16) DP 48 (9) BP 30.03 (1017) NNW 15 light rain showers RH 63

Odometer 3: 41.6mi

Z4.
Average heart rate before start = 163

Today's the first run I decided to strap on the heart rate monitor, and it was pretty good. I don't trust the reading I got from it - there is no way I was running in zone 5 for almost 28 minutes, so I guess it's worth recalibrating so long as I find a max heart rate test somewhere out there.

This is the coolest day in a while - and I was running in driving rain, which I always like. I ran an unintentional PR today - not thinking that I was going to do one, but I did. There are reasons why I like running in the rain, but it's always therapeutic when I do.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:07 08:07 08:07 08:07 1.00
1.00 16:26 08:19 08:19 08:13 2.00
1.00 24:24 07:58 07:58 08:08 3.00
1.00 32:37 08:13 08:13 08:09 4.00
1.00 40:31 07:54 07:54 08:06 5.00
1.00 48:37 08:06 08:06 08:06 6.00
1.00 56:45 08:08 08:08 08:06 7.00
0.78 02:28 05:43 07:20 08:02 7.78

Even from Afghanistan, we want more

Awesome. Truly, truly, awesome.

Johns Hopkins pulls off quite possibly the biggest upset in NCAA lacrosse history by beating Duke 10-9.

After the most disastrous losing streak in Hopkins lacrosse history, the Blue Jays are advancing to the final game against Syracuse who upset Virginia in two overtimes after not even making the tournament last year.

And the best part...is that I got to watch it live on satellite TV, even though I'm sitting in Afghanistan.

We want more!

4.0mi, 33:57, 24 MAY 08, Bagram, Afghanistan

Day 102 of the campaign.

iThink: "Cart Surfer" from Club Penguin (A Disney MMORPG. Really.)

WX at 0730: 68 (20) DP 55 (13) BP 29.94 (1014) SSE 2 RH 64

Odometer 2: 151.0mi

Z3 high-Z4.

Quick run to get done before something I gotta attend at 8:00am!

A little jerky start - but I think it will pay dividends. I was starting to stretch it out at the finish - although I was starting to tighten up around the midpoint...and after a brief pit stop, it was a lot better.

My hamstrings are still pretty tight. It might also help if I actually stretched, too.

Still, if I can keep this up, I can finally get back to something approximating a regular running habit. This day on-day off running schedule is probably not doing me any favors.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
2.00 17:12 17:12 08:36 08:36 2.00
0.79 24:16 07:04 08:57 08:42 2.79
1.22 33:57 09:41 07:56 08:28 4.01