5.05mi, 42:54, 25 JAN 10, Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy

iThink:
Sarge, "Clearer"
Loquat, "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
Edison Shine, "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
Jupiter Blue, "A Forest"
Unsensored, opening theme to Life with Derek

WX at 0600: 32 (0) DP 23 (-5) BP 30.36 (1028) NNE 8 RH 69

Odometer 1: 297.5mi estimated

Z3 high.

Average/max heart rate = 159/175

I was up early enough where I decided to get at it and go for a run. That run was circuitous since Caserma Ederle is so tiny and I don't feel ambitious enough to run off-post right now. Starting with two miles or so on the track, I had to take a brief pit stop and then I got out on the road. My attack of Smiths and Cure covers is from downloading them off Amazon last night to expend a $5 credit I had before the end of the month. I'm not sure about the Sarge song, and I have absolutely no idea why I thought of Ashley Leggat, which is what triggered the Unsensored song.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:33 1.00
1.00 16:49 08:16 08:16 08:24 2.00
1.00 25:21 08:32 08:32 08:27 3.00
1.00 34:02 08:41 08:41 08:30 4.00
1.00 42:28 08:26 08:26 08:30 5.00
0.05 42:54 00:26 08:40 08:30 5.05

lift + 60min of elliptical, 24 JAN 10, Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy

iThink: none.

WX at 1500: 37.0 (2.8) DP 23.0 (-5.0) BP 30.28 (1025) Calm RH 56

Odometer 1: 292.5mi estimated

Z3.

Average/max heart rate = 148/158

I got in yesterday after almost a full day of travel and although I was too beat (and it was too late) to work out yesterday, I needed to get some work in today, and did.

The lifting seemed easier for some reason, but the running was inconsistent.

There's a 400m running track near where I'm staying, so I may just run outer ring laps until I hit the requisite distance. It beats trying to run on the dreadmill.

There are 2 Concept2s here, but their flywheels are all kinds of screwed up and the drag factors and speeds are consequently all wrong, so I guess they're not really an option either.

4.1mi, 35:25, 20 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: djnick, psy-trance remix of theme from Capital Punishment (an ancient Amiga game)

WX at 0600: 41 (5) DP 41 (5) BP 29.53 (1000) ESE 12 fog RH 100

Odometer 2: 99.1mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 156/172

I ran substantially harder this morning for one reason alone - and that's competition. There were enough runners out there this morning that I decided to go hard because I saw people I wanted to burn.

That's not very charitable, but I don't care.

On the bright side, I guess I haven't lost all of my fitness, but my legs are still tired as hell. I'm hoping this will pass, but I suspect it'll be a few weeks before that happens.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:27 08:27 08:27 08:27 1.00
1.00 17:25 08:58 08:58 08:43 2.00
1.00 26:36 09:11 09:11 08:52 3.00
1.00 34:50 08:14 08:14 08:43 4.00
0.07 35:25 00:35 08:20 08:42 4.07

4.0mi, 37:14, 18 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Philip Aaberg, "The Gift"

WX at 0900: 36.0 (2.2) DP 36.0 (2.2) BP 29.95 (1014) E 3 fog RH 100

Odometer 1: 288.5mi

Z3 low.
Average/max heart rate = 150/171

After yesterday's long run, I decided to get out there to work off some of the soreness, but my legs are pretty beat. Still, if I can get used to keeping up a streak of actually working out, it'll be worth it since I need to get back into shape after what was a disastrous November/December on the workout front. At least the roads are clear, which is a big improvement over last week.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:22 09:22 09:22 09:22 1.00
1.00 18:40 09:18 09:18 09:20 2.00
1.00 27:50 09:10 09:10 09:17 3.00
0.99 37:14 09:24 09:30 09:20 3.99

8.6mi, 80:19, 17 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"

WX at 0900: 33.1 (0.6) DP 33.1 (0.6) BP 29.91 (1012) SSW 7 fog WC 26 (-3) RH 100

Odometer 1: 284.5mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 154/171

After taking a day off yesterday, today's Sunday, and that means a long run, traditionally. That's fine, but I worked quite a bit harder than expected due to the presence of snow for large chunks of Chief Joseph Loop. This meant mud in some places and snow and ice in many others. Not surprisingly, I had to work a lot harder to get any purchase on a slick surface. The return leg was all clear pavement, so it was clear sailing, but I was more concerned about burning lard since my fatness is getting to the point where I may actually do something about it. In the meantime, I'm going to continue to take Naprosyn to treat my knees, among other things...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:57 08:57 08:57 08:57 1.00
1.00 17:37 08:40 08:40 08:48 2.00
1.00 27:15 09:38 09:38 09:05 3.00
1.00 36:52 09:37 09:37 09:13 4.00
1.00 46:35 09:43 09:43 09:19 5.00
1.00 56:17 09:42 09:42 09:23 6.00
1.00 05:39 09:22 09:22 09:23 7.00
1.00 14:56 09:17 09:17 09:22 8.00
0.59 20:13 05:17 08:57 09:20 8.59

3.1mi, 30:39, 15 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Johnny Cash, "Hurt" (the cover of the Nine Inch Nails song)
Sad Kermit, "Hurt" (the cover of the cover)

WX at 0600: 24.1 (-4.4) DP 24.1 (-4.4) BP 30.24 (1024) NNE 8 freezing fog WC 15 (-9) RH 100

Odometer 1: 275.9mi

Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 143/158

Today was almost as unsafe running as yesterday. Much of the ice that melted yesterday is now broad sheets of black ice. That had Death by Misadventure(tm) written all over it, so it meant nothing but wogging today.

Wogging was probably the prudent course of action today, though. My legs were dead from yesterday.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:29 09:29 09:29 09:29 1.00
1.00 19:44 10:15 10:15 09:52 2.00
1.00 29:43 09:59 09:59 09:54 3.00
0.11 30:39 00:56 08:29 09:51 3.11

6,000m on Concept2 Model E, 25:33.2, 14 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Senses Fail, "Dreaming A Reality"

WX at 1400: 39.9 (4.4) DP 37.0 (2.8) BP 30.06 (1017) W 8 RH 92

Odometer 1: 272.8mi equivalence

Z3 high, Z5 finish.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

After this morning's near-debacle, I decided to go to the gym and self-mutilate myself, starting with 6,000 meters on the Concept2. This turned out well - I was pushing hard, but not insanely hard, in spite of the Z5 finish - I think I could've cranked out 25:30, but wasn't in the mood to completely obliterate myself.

Then I lifted, with particular attention paid to cutting the breaks shorter between the various sets. I'm still working on getting my strength back, which will take some time. It took me almost all of April to build that base, which is not completely gone - but mostly so.

Splits
Distance: 6000
Time: 00:25:33
Avg/500m: 02:08
Drag Factor: 105
Per Mile: 00:06:51

.73mi, 6:49, 14 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: nothing

WX at 0700: 41.0 (5.0) DP 36.0 (2.2) BP 29.98 (1015) SW 13 RH 82

Odometer 1: 270.8mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 140/158

It's rare that my first words during a given day are "fuck it," but that what they were when I almost wiped out over 15 times in the first half mile.

The sidewalks are covered in black ice and I don't feel like potentially killing myself on a day like today.

Maybe tomorrow. I may go to the gym later today.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.73 06:49 06:49 09:20 09:20 0.73

3.1mi, 28:53, 13 JAN 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Linkin Park, "Numb"
Descendents, "'Merican"
Descendents, "Cool To Be You"

WX at 0600: 30.0 (-1.1) DP 23.0 (-5.0) BP 30.13 (1020) SSW 18 WC 17 (-8) RH 74

Odometer 1: 270.1mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 154/170

I almost chickened out this morning. My legs for whatever reason are sore, and I suspect it's mostly the snow running over the last few days that's to blame. On the bright side, the splits are starting to approach what they were beforehand, which still indicate lots of need for improvement, but are an improvement over not running at all.

My running mechanics on snow are different than they are for fair-weather running. I find that I often become a heel striker in a way that I'm not when I'm running on more permissive terrain. Much of that is to gain the traction that I need, things I don't worry about most of the time.

I spent over four hours yesterday in a doctor's office, waiting for a rediagnosis of my right hand, which says exactly what an Army neurosurgeon said a while back - that my C6 and C7 vertebral disks are compressed, and that I may need a steroidal injection to reduce the inflammation to a reasonable level. Awesome. I guess it beats spinal surgery!

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:13 09:13 09:13 09:13 1.00
1.00 18:39 09:26 09:26 09:19 2.00
1.00 27:54 09:15 09:15 09:18 3.00
0.12 28:53 00:59 08:12 09:15 3.12

3.1mi, 32:06, 12 JAN 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Bauhaus, "St. Vitus Dance"
Bauhaus, "Terror Couple Kill Colonel"
Bauhaus, "In The Flat Field"
Peter Murphy, "Cuts You Up"
Carl Orff, "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (O Fortuna)" from Carmina Burana

WX at 0600: 21.0 (-6.1) DP 18.0 (-7.8) BP 30.5 (1032) S 3 freezing fog RH 87

Odometer x: N/A (old pair of shoes)

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 152/165

Running in shoes that I had sheet metal screws put into a few years ago works like a champ, but I only wear them when it's icy out there. The shoes are ancient otherwise, but I won't put sheet metal screws into any pair of shoes that has less than 300 miles on them because putting those screws in tends to be, well, permanent.

I'm not sure what sparked the attack of Bauhaus (and Peter Murphy) this morning, but it is what it is. From Bauhaus to Peter Murphy is logical, although I'm not sure what sparked the O Fortuna, short of a really entertaining Carlton Draught commercial from Australia.

There's also a Dillon Aero M134 machine gun short that also features it, and I love to watch footage of M134s laying stuff to waste.

I have to disassociate the slow times for what I'm actually doing because of the amount of work required to go through the snow and ice still out there.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 10:09 10:09 10:09 10:09 1.00
1.00 20:39 10:30 10:30 10:19 2.00
1.00 30:56 10:17 10:17 10:19 3.00
0.13 32:06 01:10 08:58 10:15 3.13

6,000m on Concept2 Model E, 25:35.1, 11 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Anberlin, "Cold War Transmissions"

WX at 1300: 30.0 (-1.1) 21.9 (-5.6) 30.35 (1027) N 12 RH 71

Odometer 1: 267.0mi equivalence

Z3 high, Z5 finish.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

Too slushy to run outside, and I'm not running the day after rubbing part of my big toe raw yesterday because of the Yaktrax compressing parts of my shoe.

I'll see how I feel tomorrow morning.

The average pace on the Concept was around 2:09-2:10/500m but the last 500m was done at a pace that steadily accelerated up to the finish, which was reading 1:50/500m. Naturally, at that pace, I almost had the dry heaves after finishing.

I find that lower drag factors have improved my form somewhat, where I concentrate on pulls and not on just raw power.

The lifting I did (first in a long while, really) is an attempt to take care of the latter. Unfortunately, I've lost much (but not all) of what I built up in mid-2009, so I have some work to do in that department.

Splits
Distance: 6000
Time: 00:25:35
Avg/500m: 02:08
Drag Factor: 115
Per Mile: 00:06:52

8.73mi, 89:18, 10 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"
The Cure, "A Forest"
The Bats, "Courage"
The Buckweat Boyz, "Peanut Butter Jelly Time"

WX at 1000: 9.0 (-12.8) DP 3.9 (-15.6) BP 30.46 (1031) SSW 13 WC -7 (-22) RH 79
WX at 0900: 5.0 (-15.0) DP 3.0 (-16.1) BP 30.47 (1031) SSW 13 WC -12 (-24) RH 91

Odometer 2: 95.0mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 153/170

Slow, slow, slow, and exacerbated by my Yaktrax digging into my shoes, so I have a nice blood blister on my right big toe. Awesome.

If you're trying to figure out why an otherwise unremarkable song by the Buckwheat Boyz might figure into the iThink, look at this blog.

I guess I'll have to drag my old shoes out, the ones with sheet metal screws driven into the soles.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:46 09:46 09:46 09:46 1.00
1.00 19:16 09:30 09:30 09:38 2.00
1.00 29:04 09:48 09:48 09:41 3.00
1.00 39:09 10:05 10:05 09:47 4.00
1.00 49:07 09:58 09:58 09:49 5.00
1.00 59:48 10:41 10:41 09:58 6.00
1.00 70:25 10:37 10:37 10:04 7.00
1.00 81:25 11:00 11:00 10:11 8.00
0.73 89:18 07:53 10:48 10:14 8.73

1.1 + 1.1mi, time not recorded, 7 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: none.

WX at 0900: 6 (-14) DP 1 (-17) BP 30.29 (1025) WNW 21 blowing snow RH 79
WX at 1800: 3.9 (-15.6) DP -2.0 (-18.9) BP 30.39 (1029) WNW 16 blowing snow RH 75

Odometer: N/A

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.

This was a walk through snow to work this morning, and back. 1.1mi there, 1.1mi back along a different route. Part of this is an attempt to keep up some kind of a streak (although yesterday was a day of do nothing but eat, aside from about an hour of snow shoveling). I recognized I wouldn't be doing much running today the day after a major snowstorm, so I decided to walk in since I didn't trust the roads enough to drive. There was something curiously therapeutic in it all.

The winds were a tailwind coming out, so not as bad - although on the return leg, the winds stayed in the same direction and the temperature had dropped. I addressed some of that by a thin layer of Carmex on my face (not just my lips) which helped some. My Oakley M-Frames were fogged over with ice by the time I got back home. I'd originally started using Carmex when I was a Bradley scout platoon leader some 14 years ago. All the time I spent standing up in the hatch while on the go (generally sucking down engine exhaust) led to chapped lips. Carmex helped a lot.

I may consider packing my uniform in an assault pack and running on Yaktrax and wearing sweatgear. It'd be faster.

No Splits.

3.5mi, 35:22, 6 JAN 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Frank Sinatra's cover of "The Girl From Ipanema"

WX at 0600: 14.0 (-10.0) DP 3.0 (-16.1) BP 30.23 (1023) ESE 7 WC 3 RH 60

Odometer 1: 265.0mi

Z3 low.
Average/max heart rate = 147/162

I think, if the weather forecast holds, that today's the last run for a little while. My legs are tired from the last few days, so I decided to run without the Yaktrax for a bit and see how it went. Not as much ice out there as the last few days, but the contractors responsible for maintaining Fort Leavenworth have been slacking on certain roads, some of which are still covered in now-tightly-packed snow.

The last split was sizeable faster than the others in large part because I was able to run almost 500m on pavement.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 10:10 10:10 10:10 10:10 1.00
1.00 20:24 10:14 10:14 10:12 2.00
1.00 30:37 10:13 10:13 10:12 3.00
0.48 35:22 04:45 09:54 10:10 3.48

Why I learned to appreciate art

Some of my peers are surprised to find that I had a not-insubstantial grounding in the fine arts (primarily music and theater).

I chanced across Maira Kalman's blog (now recently concluded) The Pursuit of Happiness after I returned from Afghanistan. It was the Memorial Day part of this blog that, in a single reading, ensured that I'd follow this blog all the way to its end.

That Memorial Day blog entry was particularly poignant - having just left Fort Campbell, there was something about that part that really digs at me.

4.1mi, 40:10, 4 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Philip Aaberg, "The Gift"
Journey, "Only the Young"

WX at 0600: 1.9 (-16.7) DP -2.0 (-18.9) BP 30.45 (1031) WNW 6 WC -9 (-23) RH 83

Odometer 2: 86.3mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 155/166

Today's running was more efficient and a bit faster. Some of that can be attributed to road conditions, as the Yaktrax are more efficient on tightly packed snow. There were some patches of ice on which I was able to move more quickly.

I was mostly unable to dislodge the Philip Aaberg from my head. Of course, running by myself in the mornings over snow covered hills is somewhat pastoral, so it might lend itself to that more than, say, Dos Gringos (which I unsuccessfully tried to jam into the iThink today).

I'm getting in my runs now before the weather becomes so shitty that running is no longer an option and I'm back on the Concept2. It's also useful not to have to do graduate school homework right now also.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 11:14 11:14 11:14 11:14 1.00
1.00 21:04 09:50 09:50 10:32 2.00
0.05 21:40 00:36 11:24 10:33 2.05
1.00 31:00 09:20 09:20 10:09 3.05
1.00 39:43 08:43 08:43 09:48 4.05
0.05 40:10 00:27 09:52 09:48 4.10

4.2mi, 41:31, 3 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Senses Fail, "Garden State"
Tokyo Police Club, "Tessellate"

WX at 0600: 0.0 (-17.8) DP -7.1 (-21.7) BP 30.51 (1033) N 12 RH 71

Odometer 2: 82.2mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 156/176

I was somewhat dismayed at the times, but I was also running with Yaktrax on packed snow and ice, so this was infinitely better than slipping and falling.

Running was preferable to not running, though.

It didn't seem that cold until I got to the top of the hill (I did a shortened Teardrop of Suck this morning) and realized how much sweat and vapor had built up on my hood.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 10:54 10:54 10:54 10:54 1.00
1.00 20:59 10:05 10:05 10:30 2.00
1.00 30:47 09:48 09:48 10:16 3.00
1.00 39:42 08:55 08:55 09:56 4.00
0.22 41:31 01:49 08:15 09:50 4.22

8,000m on Concept2 Model E, 33:50.7, 3 JAN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Senses Fail, "Garden State"

WX at 0900: 8 (-13) DP 3 (-16) BP 30.43 (1030) ENE 10 light snow; mist RH 80

Odometer 1: 261.5mi equivalence

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

First time on the Concept in a while. I came back to Kansas last night to the tune of snow, snow, snow. There was more snow that landed this morning.

After cranking out what I felt to be reasonable (not particularly hard) pace on the Concept, I did some bench, incline bench, and bicep curls this morning to finish out.

Being back here, it is so wrong that I think 30F was warm, but it was, compared to this.

Splits
Distance: 8000
Time: 00:33:51
Avg/500m: 02:07
Drag Factor : 112
Per Mile: 00:06:49

X-moose Ain't Over yet

If you get this, sound off.

30 minutes on elliptical/dreadmill + lifting, 31 DEC 09, Billerica, Massachusetts

iThink: Philip Aaberg, "The Gift"

WX at 0800: 26.1 (-3.3) DP 15.1 (-9.4) BP 30.25 (1024) S 3 RH 62

Odometer 1: 259.0mi rough equivalence

Z2/Z4.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.

I'm trying to figure out something different than running on the elliptical or on the dreadmill. Pulling 14 minutes on the elliptical and 16 minutes on the dreadmill was an exercise in "when do I get this over with?"

I did some lifting instead to kill some other time and get through some of the other things I'd been meaning to do. It's a shame it's so cold - otherwise I'd go for a run through the neighborhood.

No splits.

A guilty feeling and some irritation

I was walking from Faneuil Hall in Boston today and while it was cold as hell, the children and adults I was with saw the steam rising from the New England Holocaust Memorial. I didn't realize it until I saw the Martin Niemoeller quotation at the end and I stopped right there.

The adults and children were more concerned with some place to get warm and absolutely did not share my awful realization that I absolutely did not want to have anyone playing any grabass anywhere near there.

I really would've liked to have gone by the Robert Gould Shaw memorial, but it was a few hundred meters away and nobody else in the group really gave a flying fuck about the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, let alone have any familiarity with Robert Lowell's "For The Union Dead."

I was in a group which included an adult who had no idea what tilting at windmills was until I tied it to Don Quixote, as in Cervantes' literature work from the 1600s, not to be confused with some movie.

I swear to god I'm not fucking making this up.

3.0mi on dreadmill + 15 minutes on elliptical, 29 DEC 09, Billerica, Massachusetts

iThink: Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"

WX at 0800: 21.9 (-5.6) DP 8.1 (-13.3) BP 29.59 (1002) W 16 RH 54

Odometer 1: 256.0mi rough equivalence.

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 157/167

I forget from time to time how much I loathe running on dreadmills. I hate it. But when it's too cold to run outside (for all intents and purposes) then it is what it is.

Part of why I dislike dreadmills is that my actual pace tends to vary much more than what a dreadmill will allow.

This gives me a chance, however to watch TV news. Aside from schlock human interest stories (about which I care not at all), I get to hear about a Korean missionary whose zeal to bring Xtianity to North Korea far outweighs his common sense and then leads to some potential Combat Darwinism.

The other top story is the paradox of security and civil liberties. There are some people who are concerned that backscatter scanners will show that many Americans are actually fat, somewhat jiggly, and may have less endowment than they want to claim. If someone wants to see that, and be safe, so be it. I frankly couldn't give two flying fucks about civil liberties when security is an issue, but I have a slightly more draconian view of the universe than many bleeding-heart Americans. The other 800 pound gorilla that nobody wants to touch is profiling, but the fact remains that the security threat from little old ladies is substantially lower than guys who might be Muslims from Nigeria. The political and social implications of that are a little too touchy for most people to address honestly.

Harrumph. Or, if I want to be topically relevant, humbug.

No splits.

60 minutes of wogging on the elliptical, 28 DEC 09, Billerica, Massachusetts

iThink: Linkin Park, "Crawling"

WX at 0800: 28.0 (-2.2) DP 27.0 (-2.8) BP 29.66 (1004) Calm RH 95

Odometer 1: 252.0mi rough equivalence.

Z2.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.

I was going to get in about an hour on the elliptical. I intended to do some reading on the elliptical, but for whatever reason, it's been a while and I couldn't get much into it. Of course, the fact that the book is Pyong Gap Min's Ethnical Solidarity for Economic Survival: Korean greengrocers in New York City might have had something to do with it.

I'm meeting up later today with my old friend and School of Advanced Military Heresy classmate Eric Larkin, who's back visiting his parents in Rhode Island. Eric and I kept each other from going insane in our respective plans jobs while we were out in our respective combat theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan last year.

No splits.

Distance indeterminate, ~60:00, 27 DEC 09, Billerica, Massachusetts

iThink: Ultimate Fakebook, "Liferaft Halo"

WX at 0800: 51 (11) DP 51 (11) BP 29.86 (1011) SE 17 rain; mist RH 100

Odometer 1: 249.0mi rough equivalence

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = no reading, but average ~145-150.

I dislike ellipticals but not as much as I loathe dreadmills. I was intent on getting at it after not doing much yesterday, flying most of yesterday.

The trip wasn't bad, but I knew the crosswinds going into Chicago (admittedly, the Windy City) were bad when we were crabbing in on the final approach. The plane touched down right wheel, left wheel, front wheel.

When we flew into Manchester NH last night, we flew in instruments only at night on a zero-zero approach. Awesome.

I've forgotten that I need to read the map when I'm driving with Household6, every time. I have gotten lazy and I didn't want to stop on the side of Interstate 93 (the wrong way but it was my fault for not personally navigating it) to vet directions. This generated a 20 mile detour but at that point, I didn't want to try to debate it since I tend to be a tad rigorous about map reading ability and directions on the interstate and no one else in my immediate household meets that standard. I also sort of didn't fucking care at that point after a day of travel.

No splits.

A slightly different take on x-moose

I don't go in much for comics, but I do read Lio. Today's strip particularly stuck at me.

I used to read Non Sequitur pretty regularly, but I found that I don't find it as funny as I used to. Lio cracks me up a lot more - a lot closer to what I think is funny lately, but sometimes it hits home, as it did today.

4.1mi, 36:50, 24 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Sarah McLachlan, "Fear"
James Horner, opening credits to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Senses Fail, "Bonecrusher"

WX at 0700: 35.1 (1.7) 35.1 (1.7) 29.78 (1008) NNW 12 light drizzle; mist RH 100

Odometer 2: 78.0mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 156/170

Keeping the streak going, although today felt slow. In reality probably not much faster or slower than any other given day, but I can tell the recovery period is getting easier after these runs the next day.

I have no idea what sparked the James Horner relapse - apart from remember a scene from Star Trek III where the Enterprise gets destroyed and the leadup to it. I haven't seen that movie in years. Not sure why I thought of it.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:58 08:58 08:58 08:58 1.00
1.00 17:53 08:55 08:55 08:56 2.00
1.00 27:14 09:21 09:21 09:05 3.00
1.00 35:53 08:39 08:39 08:58 4.00
0.11 36:50 00:57 08:38 08:58 4.11

6,000m on Concept2 Model E, 25:59.6, 23 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Senses Fail, "Garden State"

WX at 0600: 37 (3) 37 (3) 29.78 (1008) E 21 light rain; mist RH 96

Odometer 1: 246.0mi equivalence

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.

It was raining this morning and I didn't want to break the streak, so I went in and hit the erg for the first time in a little while. I guess I should've gone running anyway since the rain wasn't hard.

I guess I need to get back to lifting since I'm barely holding down paces that I would've considered pedestrian a few months ago.

Splits
Distance: 6000
Time: 00:26:00
Avg/500m: 02:10
Drag Factor : 104
Per Mile: 00:06:58

4.1mi, 36:12, 22 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Mark Van Dale With Enrico, "Water Verve"
Albinoni, Adagio in g minor

WX at 0700: 32.0 (0.0) 30.0 (-1.1) 29.89 (1012) ENE 3 RH 92

Odometer 2: 73.9mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 156/174

Almost slept in, but decided to try to keep the streak. Nothing special, but I was running a little easier today.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:45 08:45 08:45 08:45 1.00
1.00 17:34 08:49 08:49 08:47 2.00
1.00 26:36 09:02 09:02 08:52 3.00
1.00 35:10 08:34 08:34 08:47 4.00
0.11 36:12 01:02 09:24 08:48 4.11

3.5mi + 0.3mi, 31:02, 21 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Thomas Newman, "Oscar and Lucinda"

WX at 0700: 42.1 (5.6) 28.0 (-2.2) 30.14 (1020) S 6 RH 57
WX at 0600: 30.9 (-0.6) 28.9 (-1.7) 30.13 (1020) SSE 3 RH 92

Odometer 1: 244.1mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 153/170

The iThink was brought on by my just being able to get the TV off the Disney Channel long enough to watch a snippet of Oscar and Lucinda, which is one of my favorite movies.

Almost didn't go out, but I decided not to go to the gym this early and then went to the track for 3 miles of wogging.

Splits

SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST

1.00 08:52 08:52 08:52 08:52 1.00

1.00 17:48 08:56 08:56 08:54 2.00

1.00 26:34 08:46 08:46 08:51 3.00

0.48 31:07 04:33 09:29 08:56 3.48

5.1mi, 46:17, 20 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Marine Research "Hopefulness to Hopelessness"
Senses Fail, "Rum is For Drinking, Not For Burning"

WX at 0900: 30.9 (-0.6) 30.0 (-1.1) 30.07 (1018) SSW 13 mist RH 96 WC 21 (-6)

Odometer 1: 239.3mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 156/174

Today was slow. Really slow. At least it felt really slow. I also realized after the first mile that I was overdressed for today as I had on a shirt that stopped almost all wind coming through, which in itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but I was glad I left my hat at home for this one. I was sweating, big time.

Still, I had to remind myself that I wasn't out there to run fast, I was out there to burn lard.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:18 09:18 09:18 09:18 1.00
1.00 18:23 09:05 09:05 09:11 2.00
1.00 27:20 08:57 08:57 09:07 3.00
1.00 36:24 09:04 09:04 09:06 4.00
1.00 45:13 08:49 08:49 09:03 5.00
0.12 46:17 01:04 08:53 09:02 5.12

4.7mi, 42:05, 19 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Senses Fail, "NJ Slides Into the Atlantic"
Albinoni, Adagio in g Minor
Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"

WX at 0900: 24 (-4) 23 (-5) 30.15 (1020) NNW 12 mist RH 92 WC 12 (-11) snow

Odometer 2: 69.8mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 157/174

I was sore enough that I thought about not going out, but I want to try to start a streak of actually exercising every day for as long as I can - if possible. No graduate school for a little bit is the window of opportunity.

It was pretty cold this morning where I had to squint because of the frozen snow particles (more ice than fluffy snow) coming down. Today started slow and got better as I progressively warmed up. The first mile was from a jackrabbit start.

I was thinking of the film Rollerball (the 1975 one) when Albinoni came to mind. Wikipedia says the Albinoni Adagio isn't really Albinoni. I'm waiting for more conclusive scholarship than Wikipedia.

I do notice my knees reacting to this workload again, though. Time to start eating NSAIDs again.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:42 08:42 08:42 08:42 1.00
1.00 17:57 09:15 09:15 08:58 2.00
1.00 26:52 08:55 08:55 08:57 3.00
1.00 35:44 08:52 08:52 08:56 4.00
0.72 42:05 06:21 08:49 08:55 4.72

4.0mi, 34:21, 18 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Senses Fail, "Rum is For Drinking, Not For Burning"
Senses Fail, "Stephen"

WX at 0600: 28.0 (-2.2) 25.0 (-3.9) 29.99 (1015) NW 9 mist RH 88 WC 19 (-7)

Odometer 1: 234.2mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 162/180

Was meaning to run yesterday, but if I'm napping for 10 minutes and that 10 minutes includes REM sleep, it means I should probably practice some discretion.

Today was about as expected, although the relative lack of wind was not bad.

My lack of work over the last few weeks has come to roost as running uphill at almost any grade is harder work than I'd like.

On the bright side, I'm done with my second and last paper this semester...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:17 08:17 08:17 08:17 1.00
1.00 17:00 08:43 08:43 08:30 2.00
1.00 26:04 09:04 09:04 08:41 3.00
0.98 34:21 08:17 08:27 08:38 3.98

Oh Hell Yeah

In the bookstore at the Command and General Staff College, where I teach:

Because nothing goes together with the first year of parenting than Hostage Rescue Teams and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

This was not a staged photo! I'm serious. This really was NOT a staged photo.

4.1mi, 36:21, 16 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Sarah McLachlan, "Fear"

WX at 0600: 17.1 (-8.3) 12.0 (-11.1) 30.42 (1030) S 9 WC 6 (-14)

Odometer 1: 230.1mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 158/179

First run in over a week, but really, for all intents and purposes, first run in about 3 weeks. Woot!

Today was cold, but not as crazy cold as I thought it might have been. The relative lack of wind compared to yesterday and the fact that it was 8F warmer had something to do with it.

I'm going to deliberately not worry about speed since I'm in the position of just about having to completely rebuild my mileage base. Urgh.

The Sarah McLachlan snippet comes from an old episode of Due South ("A Cop, a Mountie and a Baby,") which featured the song. Ironically, I used to watch Due South in the afternoons when I was attending the Combined Arms and Services Staff School at Fort Leavenworth over a decade ago.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:22 08:22 08:22 08:22 1.00
1.00 17:17 08:55 08:55 08:39 2.00
1.00 26:32 09:15 09:15 08:51 3.00
1.00 35:19 08:47 08:47 08:50 4.00
0.12 36:21 01:02 08:37 08:49 4.12

2,000m/5,000m on Concept2 Model E, 8:24/22:05, 14 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Senses Fail, "Bonecrusher"

WX at 2000: 14 (-10) 8 (-13) 30.28 (1025) NNW 13 RH 77 WC 0

Odometer 4: over 400mi (no more readings)

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I got on the Concept2 while the Sledgehammer was at gymnastics practice and thought it might be a good workout. Well, it was, and it was proof positive that three weeks of doing nothing but eating doesn't help much.

I had to step off after the first 2,000, pulling a bit around 1:59-2:00/500m for the first 500m, then realizing that it sucked too bad to stay at that pace. I backed off to 2:08/500m by the end when I finally quit.

I then went back, drank some water, and cranked out a fairly aerobic 5,000 at a much more realistic pace of about 2:10-2:15/500m. My goal was explicitly not to feel like I was going to ralph at the end, which is usually the end of most of my sessions on the Concept2.

I'm going to try to run tomorrow morning. Should be fun since the wind chill was 0F. Yes, ZERO F. Once again, I refer you back to my previous post of Frak. It's. Cold. I think I'll just be happy to run slow distance in an attempt to burn lard until I can regain my base (and shave off some of the weight I've gained in the last month).

Splits
Distance: 2000
Time: 00:08:24
Avg/500m: 02:06
Drag Factor : 114
Per Mile: 00:06:46

Distance: 5000
Time: 00:22:05
Avg/500m: 02:12
Drag Factor : 114
Per Mile: 00:07:06

Frak. It's. Cold.

Not a slipped decimal point, sports fans.

The measuring station for this website is 300 meters away from my house.


It is so unpleasant driving out there that the most reliable method of getting to/back from work is dismounted. Several inches of snow and ice on the ground = outstanding potential for death by misadventure.

4.1mi, 35:49, 7 DEC 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Senses Fail, "Rum Is For Drinking, Not For Burning"

WX at 0600: 23.0 (-5.0) 19.0 (-7.2) 30.19 (1022) NNW 13 RH 84

Odometer 1: 226.0mi

Z3 mid-high.
Average/max heart rate = 159/177

Today didn't feel that hard, but it was, based on heart rate readings. I don't think I would've worked nearly that hard had it not been for all the patches of ice that were out on the road. That's a powerful incentive to run carefully.

It also makes today the first workout in almost two weeks. I don't remember the last time I took a 2-week hiatus in exercising since, well, when I broke my leg over a decade ago.

This is at least partial acknowledgement that most of what I need to for my papers is revision, since most of the heavy lifting behind the papers are done and I need to sharpen them prior to final submission.

I realize I've gotten slower, but this was an unavoidable consequence of limited time during the day.

I guess I could lay off the occasional Jeremiah Weed and Chartreuse nightcaps, but lately, I don't have much incentive not to. I started with Chartreuse but I have no idea how long that'll last, so I figured I'd go for the much less-expensive (and much less-refined, at that) substitute of Jeremiah Weed...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:31 08:31 08:31 08:31 1.00
1.00 17:21 08:50 08:50 08:41 2.00
1.00 26:26 09:05 09:05 08:49 3.00
1.00 34:54 08:28 08:28 08:43 4.00
0.11 35:49 00:55 08:20 08:43 4.11

You've gotta be shitting me

Peace...love...75TH RANGERS?

This is the same Ranger Regiment that has had posters made of it to the tune of Orwell's immortal quotation "people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

The same 75th Ranger Regiment that I'll now associate with peace...love...and two rounds in the lethal zone.

The Coolest Thing Ever

Even the URL cracks me up:

http://twitter.com/Shitmydadsays

I was tipped off to it by one of my coworkers who's oddly enough, a member of the State Department. I saw it and the first words that came to mind were "fucking awesome."

There's a statistically reasonable chance that I'll end up like this in, oh, maybe 25 years or so.

In the meantime, my crashing on getting papers done for graduate school has pretty much guaranteed that my exercise program has stopped since, well, Thanksgiving. Fucking awesome.

2.0mi+2.0mi, time indeterminate, 26 NOV 09, Fairfax, Virginia

iThink: Ice Fishing from Club Penguin (the Disney MMORPG)

WX at 2100: 50.0 (10.0) 46.9 (8.3) 29.73 (1006) N 3 light rain; mist

Odometer 1: 221.9mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

I'm in the Hyatt Fair Lakes, Fairfax VA. I don't know the area and the best running trail I know is too far to get from here (the one alongside the Potomac River). As a result, I ground out two miles on the elliptical (which bores me to tears) and then two miles on the dreadmill (a feeling akin to watching paint dry).

I got in some lifting, and three sets of kipping pull-ups, but this is only maintenance for trying to prevent from completely ballooning up after eating pretty much nonstop for the last two days.

Better than nothing, but I dislike trying to work out on the road. The lifting I did, though, was therapeutic, as I did an abbreviated version of the Rehab Workout tonight.

Splits
No splits, but averaging about 8:25/mi for the last two miles on the dreadmill.

3.0mi + lift, 25:43, 22 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Boston, "Carry On My Wayward Son"
Velocity Girl, "Labrador"

WX at 0900: 52.0 (11.1) DP 44.1 (6.7) BP 30.01 (1016) SSE 14 RH 74

Odometer 1: 217.9mi

Z4 out, Z3 back.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

Time to start lifting more than once a week. I've lost enough where I need to get back at it.

My fast start out was based on wanting to burn someone I saw in the distance. Just because.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.51 11:55 11:55 07:54 07:54 1.51
1.51 25:43 13:48 09:08 08:31 3.02

5.1mi, 42:54, 21 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Sounds of SWC, "What Ya Gonna Do PL" (previously and erroneously called the "RI Theme Song")
Sounds of SWC, "Ring of Fire" (which made the Johnny Cash song stick for reasons unknown)
The Afghan Whigs, "Debonair"

WX at 0800: 37.9 (3.3) DP 37.0 (2.8) BP 30.08 (1018) E 5 patches of fog RH 96

Odometer 2: 65.1mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 158/171

I woke up earlier than I expected, but as I've observed over the last few days, I haven't slept for shit the last few weeks.

I realized, though, that I. Need. To. Fucking. Exercise. The absence of any significant physical activity (due to trying to get momentum on a paper) is a risk that I recognize but still don't like.

The weather was pleasant running weather. After the first two miles, I was warmed up and today was not a bad run, if a little pushed.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:18 08:18 08:18 08:18 1.00
1.00 16:40 08:22 08:22 08:20 2.00
1.00 25:01 08:21 08:21 08:20 3.00
1.00 33:44 08:43 08:43 08:26 4.00
1.00 41:58 08:14 08:14 08:24 5.00
0.10 42:54 00:56 09:20 08:25 5.10

4.1mi, 33:59, 18 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Silverstein, "Sound of the Sun"

WX at 0600: 41.0 (5.0) DP 39.9 (4.4) BP 29.97 (1014) N 7 overcast RH 95

Odometer 1: 214.9mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 159/176

I'm getting fatter and the spare tire is enlarging. Therefore, I run.

Today started iffy and turned fast, but I haven't done anything but eat (and study) over the last three days, so it shows.

For getting fatter, today was fast (relatively speaking, I have gotten noticeably slower in the last two years). It was also about as perfect running weather as it gets, aside from it being overcast and dark.

Discipline, discipline, discipline! Wish I had some.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:05 08:05 08:05 08:05 1.00
1.00 16:24 08:19 08:19 08:12 2.00
1.00 25:02 08:38 08:38 08:21 3.00
1.00 32:59 07:57 07:57 08:15 4.00
0.13 33:59 01:00 07:42 08:14 4.13

3.0mi + lift, 27:02, 15 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Rush, "Countdown"
Corrosion of Conformity, "What(?)"
R.E.M., "Driver 8"

WX at 0900: 43.0 (6.1) DP 41.0 (5.0) BP 30.04 (1017) NE 14 RH 92

Odometer 2: 60.0mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

First attempt to go pump aluminum in a while, and I could tell I've lost some strength. Of course, it's been over a month since I went to the gym for any significant work, so I guess I should be happy that I did what I did.

I didn't decrease weights today, but instead had to work a lot harder and took slightly longer breaks. It does validate the weights I've been using for the various exercises.

The run was somewhat disheartening since today (cold, wet, drizzly) is about perfect for running weather, for me, at least. Admittedly, I did run six yesterday, so I guess I should have something to show for it.

I woke up at 6:00am this morning, like a clock. I find that somewhat irksome since I didn't go to sleep until about midnight last night and I think I need more than six hours a day (regardless of whether I get it or not) - unless my previous observations were from other causes.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.51 13:21 13:21 08:50 08:50 1.51
1.51 27:02 13:41 09:04 08:57 3.02

5.96mi, 51:05, 14 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
William Ackerman, "The Impending Death of the Virgin Spirit"
Anberlin, "Cold War Transmissions"
Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah"
Aram Khatchaturian, Adagio from Gayane ballet suite

WX at 0700: 48.0 (8.9) DP 48.0 (8.9) BP 29.84 (1010) NNW 7 light drizzle RH 100

Odometer 1: 210.8mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 155/174

I woke up earlier than I usually do on Saturdays, but this is consistent with my not sleeping for shit lately. After waking up, I decided to read some mail, then figured it was time to go for a run since I hadn't gone on one since, well, Wednesday.

I'm not even going to try to divine the rationale for the spread of music this morning.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:22 08:22 08:22 08:22 1.00
1.00 17:16 08:54 08:54 08:38 2.00
1.00 25:45 08:29 08:29 08:35 3.00
1.00 34:18 08:33 08:33 08:34 4.00
1.00 42:59 08:41 08:41 08:36 5.00
0.96 51:05 08:06 08:26 08:34 5.96

I chortle my ass off

There's schadenfreude, and then there's Wrath.

I have not laughed this hard at a game in, well, a long, long time.

The other game I used to do well at was Bloody Day, Part I, but that's partly because I used the pistol to get headshots. One round in the incapacitating zone!

3.6mi, 31:26, 11 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Starflyer 59, "Play the 'C' Chord"

WX at 0600: 42.1 (5.6) DP 39.0 (3.9) BP 30.37 (1028) E 5 RH 88

Odometer 1: 204.9mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 152/169

I debated briefly about going out as I need to bring my copy of Jen Trynin's Everything I'm Cracked Up To Be (her retrospective to her days of rock stardom in 1995) back to the library. However, it's the library in downtown Kansas City, so I guess I'll barge through it today, somewhat like my reading for graduate school...

This morning was about as good as conditions as it gets, but I started a little later than I wanted. I'm going to try running short distances in an attempt to maintain momentum. If I do, maybe I'll actually keep to running instead of going 3 or 4 days in between workouts.

I should also go back to the gym at some point too, but I guess I'll see what the neurosurgeon has to say after my appointment today. I have the sneaking suspicion 69 parachute jumps had something to do with that. Maybe roadmarching too.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:33 1.00
1.00 17:30 08:57 08:57 08:45 2.00
1.00 26:19 08:49 08:49 08:46 3.00
0.61 31:26 05:07 08:23 08:42 3.61

The Coolest Thing Ever

The Matrix in the Silent Films Era!

3.0mi, 26:45, 10 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Morrissey, "Suedehead"

WX at 0600: 51.1 (10.6) DP 48.9 (9.4) BP 30.34 (1027) NNE 12 RH 92

Odometer 2: 57.0mi

Z2-3.
Average/max heart rate = 147/166

Today I went out only because I didn't feel too exhausted this morning - and was glad I did. I was only going out for a three miler, but stopped by the gym this morning just to see what was there.

My bench press has not decreased much, from what I can tell - and the Concept2 Model E that was at the gym has not moved when all the Crossfit stuff that had been there was moved elsewhere.

Of course, I guess I should wait until after my neurosurgeon appointment before I decide to get back into pumping aluminum.

Part of my relative restedness is getting a presentation knocked out that I had to do for one of my graduate school classes, along with the knowledge that the professor for the class I consider my hard one thinks I'm in the A-range for grades, which is some validation for the amount of work I've had to crank into that course...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:10 09:10 09:10 09:10 1.00
1.00 17:39 08:29 08:29 08:49 2.00
1.00 26:26 08:47 08:47 08:49 3.00
0.04 26:45 00:19 07:55 08:48 3.04

4.3mi, 37:14, 9 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

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

WX at 0600: 60 (16) DP 57 (14) BP 30.22 (1023) NW 6 RH 87

Odometer 1: 201.3mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 149/168

For not running in five days, I guess this isn't bad.

Graduate school homework was the killer of the weekend, as usual. It also resulted in almost missing Household6's birthday, which, I guess when I think about it, is the first one I've physically been around for in, well, three years.

I realize that when I have to plan social events, I get really fucking demotivated. Unfortunately, when those include my wife's birthday, it's problematic.

Trying to get homework done (I read over 850 pages in the last three days) is crushing me. That and my general feeling of disconnectedness from everyone - I realize when things get too crazy, I just let things drop without much care, unless it turns into a hard turn, which those birthday plans were.

I had an okay plan A that was invalidated by Household6 being sick and I did not have a plan B in place. That was FISTCONed into existence, but like most FISTCON solutions, it required ridiculous exercise of willpower.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:02 09:02 09:02 09:02 1.00
1.00 17:43 08:41 08:41 08:51 2.00
1.00 26:13 08:30 08:30 08:44 3.00
1.00 34:37 08:24 08:24 08:39 4.00
0.29 37:14 02:37 09:01 08:41 4.29

5.1mi, 43:28, 4 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Dmitri Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5 in d minor, Movement No. 4, Allegro non troppo (again)

WX at 0600: 45.0 (7.2) DP 35.1 (1.7) BP 30.24 (1024) WNW 7 RH 68

Odometer 1: 197.0mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 155/177

The forecast was calling for colder than 45F this morning but it was nippy enough. I was able to stretch out the legs some and it was pretty good.

I've been gaining weight over the last few weeks, so I need to start shaving lard again...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:33 1.00
1.00 17:16 08:43 08:43 08:38 2.00
1.00 25:45 08:29 08:29 08:35 3.00
1.00 34:28 08:43 08:43 08:37 4.00
1.00 42:31 08:03 08:03 08:30 5.00
0.11 43:28 00:57 08:38 08:30 5.11

5.25mi, 50:24, 2 NOV 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Dmitri Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5 in d minor, Movement No. 4, Allegro non troppo

WX at 0600: 48.0 (8.9) DP 44.1 (6.7) BP 30.14 (1020) N 8 RH 86

Odometer 1: 191.9mi

Z3 low.
Average/max heart rate = 151/174

The classical iThink this morning was based on listening to Shostakovich this weekend while working on some historiography - and reading the description that came with it on NPR:

"The resounding march that ends the movement represents the triumph of evil over good. The apparent optimism of the concluding pages is, as one colleague of the composer put it, no more than the forced smile of a torture victim as he is being stretched on the rack."

Oh hell yeah.

The 1959 New York Philharmonic recording of the Allegro non troppo is far faster than his 1979 recording (also with the NY Philharmonic) at Bunka Kaikan. I like speed and fury more, and it lends a sense of urgency that isn't present in the 1979 recording.

There was no speed or fury in this morning's run, although I also haven't slept for shit this weekend, and if I think I need 8 ounces of Jeremiah Weed to sufficiently gear down at night, maybe it's a problem.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:20 09:20 09:20 09:20 1.00
1.00 19:17 09:57 09:57 09:39 2.00
1.00 29:10 09:53 09:53 09:43 3.00
1.00 39:00 09:50 09:50 09:45 4.00
1.00 48:09 09:09 09:09 09:38 5.00
0.25 50:24 02:15 09:00 09:36 5.25

Record APFT, 289 points, 30 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"

WX at 0600: 46 (8) DP 44 (7) BP 29.56 (1001) SSW 20 RH 93

Odometer 2: 54.0mi

Z4 high.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

My first PT test in almost a year. Yes, almost a year.

I was pleasantly surprised at what I did on today's PT test. After the relative lack of physical exercise over the last few months, I didn't expect to max the pushups and situps as cleanly as I did - perhaps this is the long-term benefit of pumping aluminum from time to time. Even the situps weren't that bad.

I realize, looking back at the last few APFTs, that I'm pretty happy if I score above 280. I'd really like to score 290, and almost did (missed it by two seconds this morning) but I'm really not quibbling about scoring 289 when I was afraid I wasn't even going to get 80 points on the run.

My pushups and situps remained their usual, 100 points in each event. I continue to find it curiously ironic that the events on which I spend the least amount of time, I do the best. This has been the case for APFTs since, oh, when I was in college. My norm for the first two events has been 100 points each; I can count maybe one or two times in my career (less my brief stints at Ranger School) where I didn't have 200 points going into the run.

Splits

Pushups: 75 in 0:45
Situps: 80 in 1:38
14:50 2 mile run:
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.25 01:39 01:39 06:36 06:36 0.25
0.25 03:31 01:52 07:28 07:02 0.50
0.25 05:23 01:52 07:28 07:11 0.75
0.25 07:18 01:55 07:40 07:18 1.00
0.25 09:12 01:54 07:36 07:22 1.25
0.50 13:03 03:51 07:42 07:27 1.75
0.25 14:50 01:47 07:08 07:25 2.00

The Coolest Thing Ever

Awesome. Totally awesome.

7.44mi, 63:11, 25 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
R.E.M., "Driver 8"
Carmine Coppola, end credits from Gardens of Stone
Philip Glass, "Hamburger Hill Theme"

WX at 1000: 52.0 (11.1) 48.0 (8.9) 29.86 (1011) SSW 7 RH 86

Odometer 1: 186.6mi

Z4 first two miles, Z3 remainder.
Average/max heart rate = 159/179

I decided to get a copy of Gardens of Stone on disk, finally, after buying it on tape in 1994. Gardens of Stone has been one of my favorite films on Vietnam because of how it captures some essential truths about life in the Army. For people with no family, it can be paternalistic (as depicted in the film) up to a point.

The Vietnam theme might explain the Philip Glass note, which is appropriate for long runs over hills, perhaps.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:46 07:46 07:46 07:46 1.00
1.00 15:12 07:26 07:26 07:36 2.00
1.00 24:05 08:53 08:53 08:02 3.00
1.00 32:59 08:54 08:54 08:15 4.00
1.00 41:41 08:42 08:42 08:20 5.00
1.00 50:48 09:07 09:07 08:28 6.00
1.00 59:31 08:43 08:43 08:30 7.00
0.44 03:11 03:40 08:20 08:30 7.44

5.0mi, 43:18, 23 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Chris Cornell, "You Know My Name"
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 "Eroica," Scherzo-Vivace

WX at 0600: 41 (5) 39 (4) 29.65 (1004) WNW 14 light drizzle

Odometer 2: 51.5mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 149/174

I have no idea what sparked what I've come to call the LtCol T.C. McQueen Workout Video. Until the 2003 Battlestar Galactica reboot, Space: Above and Beyond was my favorite TV show, bar none - and I tend to be picky (my average TV viewing a month is maybe 10 hours at the MOST). I was in a T.C. McQueen kind of mood. Lately, I'm in a T.C. McQueen kind of mood, a lot.

The weather this morning was breezy, cold, and damp. I might've gone a little heavy with snivel gear, but it was worth it when I was running into an 18mph headwind. The weather reading was deceptive - there was a sensor here at Fort Leavenworth that read 38F.

"This one's for you, Winslow..." Awesome.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:32 08:32 08:32 08:32 1.00
1.00 17:15 08:43 08:43 08:37 2.00
1.00 25:54 08:39 08:39 08:38 3.00
1.00 34:37 08:43 08:43 08:39 4.00
1.00 43:18 08:41 08:41 08:40 5.00

3.7mi, 34:23, 21 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Starflyer 59,"I Drive A Lot"
The Connells, "Fun & Games"

WX at 0600: 62.1 (16.7) DP 54.0 (12.2) BP 29.95 (1014) S 17 RH 74

Odometer 1: 179.2mi

Z2-Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 139/164

Not a hard run, but I wanted to get out and do some light running that wasn't so short as to be perfunctory - but it sure feels that way if I'm going less than 4 miles.

It wasn't as breezy as the report says it is, but the sensor is also out in the open at Kansas City International Airport, about 15 miles away...and, as it turns out, the sensor at my kids' elementary school (about 200m away) reads 7mph.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:36 09:36 09:36 09:36 1.00
1.00 19:05 09:29 09:29 09:32 2.00
1.00 28:17 09:12 09:12 09:26 3.00
0.70 34:23 06:06 08:43 09:18 3.70

The Coolest Thing Ever

I have to admit, I don't see too many professional academics who can also claim to have been a Syracuse lacrosse player. As someone who grew up in the 1980s, and remember seeing Bacharach Rasin helmets, STX SAM and Brine Superlight 2 sticks as a 4th grader, it's always interesting to see those memories of my childhood...and others. I didn't start learning how to play lacrosse until I was in 6th grade. At that point I largely taught myself, so I never really developed much in the way of skills. It would take a combat deployment to Iraq before I really learned how to throw left-handed.

I never would've thought that I would've ended up at Johns Hopkins when I got my first STX Laser-Lite back in 1984. How strange things are after 25 years...

4.5mi, 39:04, 19 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Starflyer 59, "I Drive A Lot"

WX at 0600: 51.1 (10.6) DP 45.0 (7.2) BP 29.94 (1013) SSW 16 RH 79

Odometer 1: 175.5mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 152/176

I woke up earlier than expected and deliberated a bit on whether I wanted to run or not today. I'm starting to taper (although there's not much to taper from) for a physical fitness test, which I expect pretty close to the lowest score of my career, if only because exercise hasn't really been one of my priorities lately. It is, but only when I think it's becoming a problem.

There's a certain regretful tone to the Starflyer 59 song that stuck in my head today that makes it apropos. That, and for it being as crystal clear this morning (Orion was clearly visible as I looked up from my front doorstep) it wasn't as cold as I would've guessed. The only reason I wore a long-sleeve shirt was the supposed wind, and I wouldn't have needed it, in retrospect.

After a grinder of a start, I think the finish went well, but this is the last hard run I do this week. Today was surprisingly brisk - but hardly fast for the standards I need to meet for the physical fitness test. I guess I should probably do some pushups and situps too while I'm at it.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:46 08:46 08:46 08:46 1.00
1.00 17:36 08:50 08:50 08:48 2.00
1.00 26:33 08:57 08:57 08:51 3.00
1.00 35:14 08:41 08:41 08:48 4.00
0.49 39:04 03:50 07:49 08:42 4.49

3.7mi, 32:57, 17 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Descendents, "'Merican"

WX at 1000: 45.0 (7.2) DP 39.9 (4.4) BP 30.46 (1031) N 7 RH 82

Odometer 1: 171.0mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 157/178

I decided to get a short one in - not so short as to be ineffectual, but at least something other than just sitting at a desk most of the day.

Household 6 and the kids are out shopping. That's fine.

I think, as I've read through some of the less savory aspects of our national history, that the Descendents song for today's iThink is particularly appropriate.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:31 08:31 08:31 08:31 1.00
1.00 17:38 09:07 09:07 08:49 2.00
1.00 26:42 09:04 09:04 08:54 3.00
0.71 32:57 06:15 08:48 08:53 3.71

The price of freedom

I had occasion to take a break from work for about an hour today to pay my respects to Sergeant Aaron Smith, who was killed in Wardak Province, Afghanistan while serving with the 2d Battalion, 87th Infantry, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He was buried at Fort Leavenworth today.

I was talking with Household6 about the size of the Patriot Guard Riders contingent escorting Sergeant Smith's remains and his family to the cemetery here at Fort Leavenworth and being surprised at the size of the contingent, but I had mentioned part of it was due because of Fred Phelps and his followers in picketing previous military funerals - and that Phelps is from Kansas. Household6 was unaware of Phelps, but it honestly wouldn't bother me at all if his entire congregation were struck by precision-guided lightning some day. After trying unsuccessfully to explain why Fred Phelps might have been a factor today, I didn't want to talk to Household6 anymore today. I realized that Fred Phelps doesn't figure much on someone who likes to watch the Disney Channel.

Standing on the side of Grant Avenue here at Fort Leavenworth as the group passed by, I remembered Hal Moore's basic truth, that "When your men die, and you don’t, you feel guilty. You’re the leader." I'd been talking to some of my students today prior to the group passing by, but I realized it's probably bad form to weep in front of my students, so I didn't say much after the group passed by.

Acknowledging that Sergeant Smith (who I did not know) died in the execution of the last phase of the campaign plan I wrote two years ago, I realize that while I've been physically living in my house for the last six months, there is a very significant part of me that has not returned home. I realize that I still haven't been able to disassociate myself from my last combat tour, where I spent a lot of mental and emotional energy turning myself into a razor. This is that much more ironic since I was literally walking out of a video teleconference about Afghanistan this morning on the way to pay my respects.

I guess there's a reason why David Drake's Redliners is a book that I hold particularly dear, especially after spending 14 months as a campaign planner. Another science fiction writer alludes to part of my anguish:

Any ship we lose, thought Bean, means that grown men and women have died. Any carelessness on our part takes lives. Yet they don't tell us that precisely because we can't afford to be burdened with that knowledge. In wartime, commanders have always had to learn the concept of "acceptable losses." But those who keep their humanity never really accept the idea of acceptability. Bean understood that. It gnaws at them. So they protect us child-soldiers by keeping us convinced that it's only games and tests.

Therefore I can't let on to anyone that I do know. Therefore I must accept the losses without a word, without a visible qualm. I must try to block out of my mind the people who will die from our boldness, whose sacrifice is not a mere counter in a game, but of their lives.

Orson Scott Card, Ender's Shadow

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, but there is an obligation of memory by the society for those who pay the opportunity cost of that freedom.

4.5mi, 37:55, 16 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Angst, "Die Fighting"
Husker Du, "Eight Miles High"
"Have You Heard of the 173rd Airborne Brigade" (remake)

WX at 0500: 45.0 (7.2) DP 39.0 (3.9) BP 30.11 (1019) NW 9 RH 79

Odometer 2: 46.5mi

Z3-Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 151/168

Once again, another day where I briefly debated going out. The tipper this morning was thinking back to the fat Apollo from the remake Battlestar Galactica being told "You lost your war, Lee. And the truth is, you're a soldier who needs a war." Since I saw some unpleasant parallels between Fat Apollo and myself, I rolled out.

And so it was. Going light on snivel gear (and maybe going a lot easier yesterday) made for what felt like a brisk run, even if the clock doesn't say so. Certainly more so than the last few days.

The tie between Angst and Hüsker Dü was from an old SST compilation called The Blasting Concept, Volume 2, which I recall from 21 years ago. The 173rd ballad...well, that has more immediacy. That, and it has a desperate quality (reflective of the circumstances that bred it) that the earlier version doesn't have.

Another cautionary note from the same episode: "These are things you just don't do, Colonel, not even in war."

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:19 08:19 08:19 08:19 1.00
1.00 16:41 08:22 08:22 08:20 2.00
1.00 25:19 08:38 08:38 08:26 3.00
1.00 33:42 08:23 08:23 08:26 4.00
0.51 37:55 04:13 08:16 08:24 4.51

3.64mi, 33:15, 15 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: The Verve, "Bittersweet Symphony"

WX at 0600: 44 (7) DP 42 (6) BP 29.92 (1013) WNW 3 light drizzle RH 93

Odometer 1: 167.3mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 131/163

The morning debate is the same. Sleep or run? I woke up and wasn't so dead at 5:00am that I decided to get at it. First, though, I did some reading for grad school on some online databases. This cut into my run time.

I was also overdressed this morning. I was cold when I started, but it was apparent after a mile that I had put on too much snivel gear. I think the last segment being faster was also partly because I had two people behind me and I didn't want to get passed.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:18 09:18 09:18 09:18 1.00
1.00 18:26 09:08 09:08 09:13 2.00
1.00 27:37 09:11 09:11 09:12 3.00
0.64 33:15 05:38 08:48 09:08 3.64

3.0mi + lift, 27:03, 12 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Bear McCreary, "Dirty Hands"

WX at 1200: 46.0 (7.8) DP 42.1 (5.6) BP 30.13 (1020) WNW 3 RH 85

Odometer 1: 162.6mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

Easy run trying to keep up momentum, otherwise known as not sleeping in. For running as slowly as I thought I was going, it wasn't as slow as I actually thought.

I lifted as well. More weight on bench and incline bench but not nearly as much power left afterwards - less the row. It could be that the extra weight might have taken more energy from later on. Still, the increased bench and incline bench were encouraging.

More studying to do. It was warmer than yesterday, but that's not saying much for mid-October!

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.51 13:12 13:12 08:45 08:45 1.51
1.51 27:03 13:51 09:10 08:57 3.02

4.1mi, 36:51, 11 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Bear McCreary, "Gaeta's Lament"

WX at 0900: 37.0 (2.8) DP 27.0 (-2.8) BP 30.37 (1028) NE 8 RH 67

Odometer 1: 159.6mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 158/180

Once again, a day I didn't really want to go out, but once I was out about two miles, it was fine.

I was thinking about whether I wanted to term this as junk miles or not but I decided any day I was doing something other than just eating was of value.

I followed it up with a 12+4 ab session and will be feeling it the rest of the day...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:46 08:46 08:46 08:46 1.00
1.00 17:54 09:08 09:08 08:57 2.00
1.00 26:56 09:02 09:02 08:59 3.00
1.00 36:07 09:11 09:11 09:02 4.00
0.09 36:51 00:44 08:19 09:01 4.09

7.4mi, 66:32, 10 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Descendents, "Cool to Be You"

WX at 0900: 37 (3) DP 32 (0) BP 30.32 (1026) N 14 RH 80 first snow!

Odometer 2: 41.0mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 156/178

I didn't really feel like going for a run this morning, but since I don't seem to get much done on Mondays and Tuesday because of graduate school, I need to get out there and hit the road.

There were some bird hunters out at the airfield, so I was hoping I wouldn't catch a slug in the head. That might hurt. I realized I was one of the few people not wearing blaze orange this morning out there, which I might want to remember as an anti-fratricide measure...

There were flecks of snow (nothing more than occasional flecks) but it's still snow. Before Halloween. It's going to be a cold winter.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:17 09:17 09:17 09:17 1.00
1.00 18:07 08:50 08:50 09:03 2.00
1.00 27:22 09:15 09:15 09:07 3.00
1.00 36:13 08:51 08:51 09:03 4.00
1.00 45:01 08:48 08:48 09:00 5.00
1.00 54:22 09:21 09:21 09:04 6.00
1.00 02:58 08:36 08:36 09:00 7.00
0.41 06:32 03:34 08:42 08:59 7.41

Memory and forgiveness

Today, I had occasion to run into an ex-girlfriend who I had not seen in 17 years. I realize that, after all this time, I still cannot forgive her for what she did to me. There's a line from the Iliad that stuck as a result:

Looking darkly upon Hector,
Swift-footed Achilles answered,
“I cannot forgive you,
As there are no trustworthy oaths between men and lions,
There can be no love between you and me.
One or the other must fall before then
To glut with his blood
Ares, the god who fights under the shield’s guard.
Remember every valor of yours,
For now the need comes hardest upon you
To be a spearman and a bold warrior.
There shall be no escape for you. You will pay in a lump
For all the sorrows of my companions you killed
In your spear’s fury.

Homer, The Iliad, book XXIII

3.5mi, 31:08, 9 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Bear McCreary, "Earth"

WX at 0600: 44 (7) DP 39 (4) BP 29.98 (1015) N 16 light rain RH 81

Odometer 1: 155.5mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 157/175

Cold today, but I figured I'd try to keep some momentum from yesterday, and compensate for not working out literally all week long.

First day it's been cold enough (and the drizzle probably was a factor as well) for me to warrant wearing snivel gear.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:45 08:45 08:45 08:45 1.00
1.00 17:51 09:06 09:06 08:56 2.00
1.00 26:55 09:04 09:04 08:58 3.00
0.47 31:08 04:13 08:58 08:58 3.47

10,000m on Concept2 Model E + 3.1mi elliptical, 43:53 + 22:30, 8 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: "Have You Heard of the 173rd Airborne Brigade" (OEF 07-09 version)

WX at 1200: 55 (13) DP 53 (12) BP 29.91 (1012) NNW 3 rain; mist RH 93

Odometer 1: 152.0mi equivalency

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.

It was raining outside this morning and I needed the sleep, so I slept in. I didn't have classes today, so I went to the gym and cranked away, the first time all week. I'd initially set up for 15,000 but called it quits after 10. It's been a long, long time since I've tried to row 15km. I was just too tired to stay in for another 23 minutes. I got on the elliptical and ran out the other 5km I had left.

As I was walking to the gym, I passed someone wearing a maroon beret, which is a rare sight on Fort Leavenworth. Turns out this guy had been assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade, who had a rough tour in Afghanistan two years ago. Today's iThink, for being recorded in theater (if the pre-fab buildings, aircraft sounds in the background and the Chigo air conditioners are any indicators, I'm guessing it's FOB Fenty, which I visited once), is a haunting song. I have my own reasons; although I was never in the 173d, they had to fight parts of the campaign plan I primarily wrote.

I was reminded of something I'd heard from LTG(Ret) Hal Moore, who had commanded the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry at Ia Drang in 1965: "When your men die, and you don’t, you feel guilty. You’re the leader."

As a former member of the 7th Cavalry, those words seem fittingly apropos.

Splits
Distance: 10000
Time: 00:43:53
Avg/500m: 02:12
Drag Factor : 105
Per Mile: 00:07:04

3.0mi + lift, 28:03, 4 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Warren Zevon, "Johnny Strikes Up The Band"

WX at 0800: 44 (7) DP 42 (6) BP 30.07 (1018) NNE 6 patches of fog RH 93

Odometer 1: 145.8mi

Z2-3.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.

I have no idea what sparked Warren Zevon this morning, other than the possibility of feeling more mundane than usual. Or not. Warren Zevon's dead.

Today was the first day of lifting in about two weeks. I needed it. I could tell that overhead press, bicep curls, and tricep pulldowns all had deteriorated in the meantime. Not nearly so much for bench press and shoulder curl, but still a factor.

Time to go back to studying.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.51 14:02 14:02 09:18 09:18 1.51
1.51 28:03 14:01 09:17 09:17 3.02

8.57mi, 1:14:14, 3 SEP 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Bear McCreary, "Laura Runs"
Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"

WX at 1500: 57.9 (14.4) DP 41.0 (5.0) BP 29.94 (1013) NW 6 RH 53

Odometer 2: 33.6mi

Z3 high-Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 162/177

Today was the first run that wasn't on a third day basis in a while, or so it seems. Today was painful, partly because I haven't done a long run all week, and the weather today was excellent (although I don't much care for running under direct sunlight), good enough where I decided to push a little harder.

I also saw some people about mid-run that suckered me into attempting to reel them in. I almost did, so I ran pretty hard (sub 8:00/mi pace) trying to catch a runner who had a roughly 300m head start on me. I was within 50m when I finally turned off.

My knees hurt like hell when I finished, though. I'll be paying for this one later on...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:26 08:26 08:26 08:26 1.00
1.00 16:44 08:18 08:18 08:22 2.00
1.00 25:38 08:54 08:54 08:33 3.00
1.00 34:19 08:41 08:41 08:35 4.00
1.00 43:04 08:45 08:45 08:37 5.00
1.00 51:36 08:32 08:32 08:36 6.00
1.00 00:06 08:30 08:30 08:35 7.00
1.00 09:15 09:09 09:09 08:39 8.00
0.57 14:14 04:59 08:45 08:40 8.57

3.4mi, 29:44, 2 OCT 09, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Peter Langston, background music to the game Ballblazer

WX at 0600: 48.9 (9.4) DP 35.1 (1.7) BP 29.71 (1006) WSW 13 RH 58

Odometer 1: 142.8mi

Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 152/174

Today was a day that I ran not because I really wanted to run, but because I felt I had to run. I've been noticing my expanding waistline and this is about as much as I can do about it.

Today was a great day for running. If I weren't so beat (or felt like I was behind on homework) I'd run more.

The competing factor is being tired all the time. Either that or six hours is not enough, which means a pretty significant change for me. When I'm doing daily homework reading until 11:00pm though, it's a factor.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:01 09:01 09:01 09:01 1.00
1.00 17:31 08:30 08:30 08:45 2.00
1.00 26:03 08:32 08:32 08:41 3.00
0.42 29:44 03:41 08:46 08:42 3.42