4.26mi, 36:23, 3 SEP 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Bruce Springsteen, "The River"

WX at 0700: 55.9 (13.3) DP 53.1 (11.7) BP 30.14 (1020) NW 7 RH 90

Odometer 3: 112.5mi

Z3 mid-high.
Average/max heart rate = 158/173

What a great day for a run. Best weather in a long, long while. Based on the forecast, I couldn't pass today up for a run even though I needed to walk our dog and let her out.

It still doesn't change the fact that I ran negative splits at the end, and it was good.

Off to the salt mines. Or the classroom. Or both.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:37 08:37 08:37 08:37 1.00
1.00 17:12 08:35 08:35 08:36 2.00
1.00 26:02 08:50 08:50 08:41 3.00
1.00 34:16 08:14 08:14 08:34 4.00
0.26 36:23 02:07 08:08 08:32 4.26

1.7mi + 2,000m on Concept2 Model D, 15:32 + 8:08, 31 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: David Bowie, "Life on Mars"

WX at 0600: 80.1 (26.7) DP 73.0 (22.8) BP 29.94 (1013) S 16 RH 79

Odometer 3: 108.2mi equivalency.

Z3 run, Z4 high erg.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.

Not enough sleep, but I forced myself to get out there. The run back really was unpleasant, but I'm starting to crank faster, which is a promising sign. I guess.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.85 07:54 07:54 09:18 09:18 0.85
0.85 15:32 15:32 18:16 09:08 1.70

Distance: 2000
Time: 00:08:08
Avg/500m: 02:02
Drag Factor: 109
Per Mile: 00:06:32

6.35mi, 53:19, 28 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Daft Punk, "Fragile" (allegedly from the upcoming Tron: Legacy soundtrack, although this may be apocryphal)

WX at 0800: 68.0 (20.0) DP 57.0 (13.9) BP 30.01 (1016) S 10 RH 67

Odometer 3: 105.2mi

Z3 high-Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 156/186

The weather was good and I needed to get out there. What I didn't count on was a road race being run on the same day, so I ran through a giant water sprinkler, which helped some. Weather was about as good as it gets for this time of the year, although that's probably a good explanation for why today was consistently faster. My ideal running weather is about another 20F cooler.

I also have to chalk up a little schadenfreude to this morning's run. When I'm competing (and when I run alongside racers, I'm competing) I was drawing more energy from burning people going uphill. It wasn't fast, but that little mental energy boost I would get from passing people going uphill was no joke, especially when passing 10-15 or so runners.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:11 08:11 08:11 08:11 1.00
1.00 16:35 08:24 08:24 08:17 2.00
1.00 24:57 08:22 08:22 08:19 3.00
1.00 33:38 08:41 08:41 08:24 4.00
1.00 42:01 08:23 08:23 08:24 5.00
1.00 50:34 08:33 08:33 08:26 6.00
0.35 53:19 02:45 07:51 08:24 6.35

Some Light Viewing

I've been watching By Dawn's Early Light, the longboxes of which I've seen from time to time in some Wal-Marts but had always passed by. I guess I need to go looking again now.

I never thought about it, in spite of its considerable cast list, until I saw a reference to it from a British animated film about nuclear war called When The Wind Blows. I have occasional discussions about nuclear strategy and deterrence with one of my coworkers. I grew up in the Cold War, so the thought of nuclear war was always a possibility.

Two comments on By Dawn's Early Light:
1. Rebecca DeMornay isn't just a random hot actress and does a credible role in this film.
2. I'm singularly unforgiving of a lot of films that portray the military. I may not be completely qualified to comment on this since I'm not an Air Force officer and have no immediate experience in nuclear weapons, but this movie feels generally authentic to me. Whoever made this movie had done their homework to a degree I don't normally associate with Hollywood (although this is a HBO Original Film and never went to the big screen.) Then again, I could be wrong.

Granted, the last film about nuclear war that I saw was Threads, which absolutely unsettled the living shit out of me. This is almost as depressing in some ways, but brings up thoughts of professional ethics and morality in a context I normally don't bring up in coffee table discussion. Then again, not much of what I discuss is coffee table discussion anymore.

2.97mi + 2,000m on Concept2 Model E, 26:52+8:24.0, 26 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
AC/DC, "Thunderstruck"
Bruce Springsteen, "The River"

WX at 0600: 61.0 (16.1) DP 60.1 (15.6) BP 30.22 (1023) Calm RH 96

Odometer 2: 212.4mi equivalency

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 151/171
No formal reading during erg, but leveled off at about 171-173 bpm.

I almost slept in, but realized I can't afford to take more than two days off. I think it's two days. At least the weather was about as good as it gets.

As usual, any run before, erg during, run after guarantees a ridiculously slow run back. This is one of the few times I had my HRM on so that I could make a reasonable argument that I wasn't just sandbagging it on the way back, seeing as how my average HR was at least 10 bpm higher than it was before. Yay.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.51 13:16 13:16 08:47 08:47 1.51 out
1.46 26:52 13:36 09:19 09:03 2.97 back

Distance: 2000
Time: 00:08:24
Avg/500m: 02:06
Drag Factor: 103
Per Mile: 00:06:46

1.6mi, 14:20, 24 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Randy Edelman, snippets of the soundtrack to Gettysburg

WX at 0600: 71.1 (21.7) 69.1 (20.6) 30.09 (1018) N 8 RH 93

Odometer 3: 98.8mi

Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 142/163

I woke up much too late to get anything in beyond a desultory run (especially after having to take a pit stop), but I was up late since graduate school has geared up again and I'm grinding my way through readings I need to get out of the way. I also woke up with killer leg cramps in my right calf which were distinctly un-fun.

No Splits.

6.36mi, 58:57, 22 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Senses Fail, "Garden State"
Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"

WX at 0800: 75.9 (24.4) DP 75.9 (24.4) BP 30.08 (1018) Calm mist RH 100

Odometer 2: 208.7mi

Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 151/166

Intent was for some light wogging, and it was, albeit over a long distance. It's been a while since I've done LSD and on a morning where I wasn't really charged up about going out for a run, it was the most reasonable way to get one in.

I needed to burn lard after two days of doing nothing but eating (although I got in a few bike commutes on Friday). There are also extenuating factors that led me to reintroduce myself to my old pal Jeremiah Weed from time to time.

Problem is that the circumstances that lead me to catharsis drinking are not really fixable of my own volition alone and are unavoidable in my current life.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:23 09:23 09:23 09:23 1.00
1.00 18:25 09:02 09:02 09:13 2.00
1.00 27:31 09:06 09:06 09:10 3.00
1.00 36:43 09:12 09:12 09:11 4.00
1.00 45:52 09:09 09:09 09:10 5.00
1.00 55:18 09:26 09:26 09:13 6.00
0.36 58:57 03:39 10:08 09:16 6.36

5.32mi, 48:56, 19 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
David Bowie, "Life on Mars"
New Model Army, "Heroes"

WX at 0600: 68.0 (20.0) DP 64.9 (18.3) BP 29.92 (1013) SSE 3 mist RH 89

Odometer 3: 97.2mi

Z3 low.
Average/max heart rate = 153/170

Finally, I woke up early enough and didn't get sidetracked in something else and I got in a deliberate, if not leisurely (which I generally don't get during the work week) run. Leisurely runs become very, very short. It's been a while since I've done something that felt like LSD, though. Long slow distance is a rarity for me lately.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:06 09:06 09:06 09:06 1.00
1.00 18:25 09:19 09:19 09:13 2.00
1.00 27:35 09:10 09:10 09:12 3.00
1.00 36:55 09:20 09:20 09:14 4.00
1.00 45:56 09:01 09:01 09:11 5.00
0.32 48:56 03:00 09:22 09:12 5.32

4.5mi, 37:53, 18 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Death Cab for Cutie, "Marching Band of Manhattan"
Death Cab for Cutie, "Soul Meets Body"
background music to the flash games Solipskier (metal) and Canabalt (techno)

WX at 0700: 70.0 (21.1) DP 66.0 (18.9) BP 30.03 (1016) E 5 RH 87

Odometer 3: 91.9mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 154/181

Hard run because of late start. Will have to figure out what to do with dog at night because I don't want a canine sleeping partner. I'd much rather have a human one.

The splits belie the level of effort, or so I'd like to think. Either that, or maybe I'm just that out of shape.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:07 08:07 08:07 08:07 1.00
1.00 16:40 08:33 08:33 08:20 2.00
1.00 25:16 08:36 08:36 08:25 3.00
1.00 33:48 08:32 08:32 08:27 4.00
0.49 37:53 04:05 08:20 08:26 4.49

3.34mi, 30:45, 16 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: David Bowie, "Life on Mars"

WX at 0600: 66.9 (19.4) DP 63.0 (17.2) BP 30.15 (1020) NNE 3 RH 87

Odometer 2: 202.3mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 154/174

I was thinking about cranking away on the Concept this morning, but after stepping outside, I knew today was going to be a running day.

The Concept can wait until tomorrow. The limiting factor, predictably, is time.

There were quite a few people out today, probably with the same idea I had - run while the weather has let up somewhat. Befitting the weather, today's run was faster than usual lately.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:44 08:44 08:44 08:44 1.00
1.00 17:34 08:50 08:50 08:47 2.00
1.00 26:06 08:32 08:32 08:42 3.00
0.54 30:45 04:39 08:37 08:41 3.54

Warning: offensive in almost every way imaginable

Over the last decade or so I've been a faithful reader of Private Murphy's Law. Seeing as how it's been a while, Tim Murphy isn't a private anymore - indeed, he's a staff sergeant, which is probably consistent with some of the things depicted in the comic.

There are PML T-shirts, done by a rather unsubtle company called RangerUp. Although I have philosophical differences with some of their shirts, I admit they are well done.

They also feature a clever (and grossly offensive, even by my standards) spoof of the PowerThirst spoof, this one instead about (you guessed it) Ranger School.

I may be on unsteady ground here, as I am not a graduate of the Ranger Course, but even I got a huge laugh out of quite possibly the most offensive short video I've seen in a long, long while.

An Attractive Nuisance

I realize that Flash games are the bane of my existence, especially when they come with guilty pleasures like the metal soundtrack of Solipskier - a clever name if I ever heard one.

5.9mi, 50:53, 15 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 "Eroica," Scherzo-Vivace
David Bowie, "Life on Mars"

WX at 0900: 73.9 (23.3) DP 62.1 (16.7) BP 30.09 (1018) N 9 RH 66

Odometer 2: 198.9mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 163/184

I was out for my first run and the oppressive heat wave that's been hitting Kansas the last few days has finally abated. Sort of. It was cool enough and dry enough where today wasn't a killer, and I felt surprisingly froggy, although much of that could be attributed to the four days off I had. Duty on a mid-week added with getting my spine shot full of cortisone really put a damper on doing shit.

There may be hope for the future, although it needs to back off some so I can run more comfortably. For that, there's autumn, my favorite time of the year, and perhaps why I enjoyed running cross-country so much more than I did track.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:16 08:16 08:16 08:16 1.00
1.00 16:50 08:34 08:34 08:25 2.00
1.00 25:34 08:44 08:44 08:31 3.00
1.00 34:23 08:49 08:49 08:36 4.00
1.00 43:03 08:40 08:40 08:37 5.00
0.90 50:53 07:50 08:42 08:37 5.90

The Pentagon's Mad Men

Only at the US Naval Institute do I find something that mixes the only currently running TV show I watch with my chosen profession in a thought-provoking rundown of why the Department of Defense sucks ass at Strategic Communication.

Hell yeah.

8,000m on Concept2 Model E, 35:40.1, 11 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"

WX at 0500: 80.1 (26.7) DP 71.1 (21.7) BP 29.87 (1011) S 7 RH 74

Odometer 3: 87.4mi equivalency

Z3/Z4.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

I was the duty officer at Fort Leavenworth last night, something which virtually guarantees almost no sleep because I stay up late finishing up and have to wake up early to get ready for the next duty day. I was feeling pretty destroyed, but still got in 8,000m on the Concept2 nearby. I'm starting to get back into the groove as I was averaging much faster than I had last week, always an encouraging sign.

I also didn't do anything yesterday, but it was so oppressively hot that I didn't feel like doing much other than just sweating my ass off.

Splits
Distance: 8000
Time: 00:35:01
Avg/500m: 02:11
Drag Factor: 101
Per Mile: 00:07:03

The Coolest Thing Ever

World War II on Facebook.

Courtesy of Blog Them out of the Stone Age, a clever blog written by Ohio State history professor Mark Grimsley, currently the visiting professor of history at the Army War College.

2.3mi, 20:02, 8 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Lush, "Hypocrite"

WX at 0600: 81.0 (27.2) 73.0 (22.8) 29.84 (1010) S 9 RH 76

Odometer 3: 84.9mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 144/168

Woke up later than I needed to get in a substantial run, but didn't want today to turn into a day of Do Nothing But Eat, especially with a National Weather Service forecast that predicts the following:

Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Heat index values as high as 116. South southwest wind between 11 and 14 mph.

It wasn't very fast, and it wasn't very long, but it was more than nothing.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:44 08:44 08:44 08:44 1.00
1.00 17:15 08:31 08:31 08:37 2.00
0.30 20:02 02:47 09:17 08:43 2.30

1.7mi + 8,000m on Concept2 Model E, 36:40, 7 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
David Bowie, "Life on Mars"
Ministry, "Thieves" (from In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up)

WX at 1100: 90.0 (32.2) DP 75.0 (23.9) BP 29.86 (1011) SSW 15 RH 61 HI 100.2 (37.9)

Odometer 2: 193.0mi equivalency

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

Today was hot. I misjudged when my wife and kids were going to church and waited until after they left, not realizing that I should've rolled out at 7:50 just in time to get to the gym, get my punishment in, and get back before they left. Oh well.

The HVAC at the gym was out, so I erged at outside temperature. Heat index 100.2F was awesome, awesome, awesome.

I decided to go for a more moderate pace, and only cranked at about 2:20/500m, which was a judicious choice for how goddamn hot it actually was today.

The return run was fun too, as I revisited how much a run after erging sucks. It's still necessary.

I'm not sure where the Ministry flashback (no pun intended) came from.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
0.85 08:01 08:01 09:26 09:26 0.85
0.85 16:32 16:32 19:27 09:44 1.70

Distance: 8000
Time: 00:36:40
Avg/500m: 02:17
Drag Factor: 105
Per Mile: 00:07:23

1.9mi + 5,000m on Concept2 Model E, 21:58, 5 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Lush, "Hypocrite"
Lush, "Lovelife"

WX at 0700: 72.0 (22.2) DP 71.1 (21.7) BP 29.98 (1015) N 3 fog RH 96

Odometer 2: 188.8mi equivalency

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

The gym nearer my house has a battery of five Concept2 Model E ergs, so I decided to get back at it figuring I didn't need to do two runs over 4mi back to back yet. (Oh how the mighty have fallen.)

Run + erg + run was always challenging since rowing just destroyed me for the run back. It would take at least a 1km recovery before I even felt okay running again, and today was no exception.

The other reason I felt more motivated to row this morning is that it directly feeds my physical therapy that I've been doing to strengthen my back given that I have a compressed spine. Yay me.

I'm pretty sure I'm not ready to do much beyond 5,000m right now. If I'm working hard just to hold 2:12/500m I have some work to do.

This morning's iThink stems from ripping parts of the Lush album Split, a disk I bought less than a month after graduating from college. I remember this peculiarly since I was driving around Fort Bragg in summer 1994 listening to that album...and the Circle Jerks' "Gig." The other album I was ripping was my old Minor Threat Discography, in some vain attempt to rediscover my childhood, or at least my teenage years. Minor Threat might be a bit precocious even for my girls, even if I wish I had the discipline to be straight edge again. I took that iconoclasm in other directions.

Splits
Distance: 5000
Time: 00:21:58
Avg/500m: 02:12
Drag Factor: 106
Per Mile: 00:07:04

4.76mi, 42:16, 4 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: James Horner, "Battle in the Mutara Nebula"

WX at 0700: 75.9 (24.4) DP 73.0 (22.8) BP 29.96 (1014) NNW 8 RH 90

Odometer 3: 82.6mi

Z3-4.
Average/max heart rate = 160/179

I almost slept in, but realized I'd taken a rest day yesterday and needed to get out there. Today rewarded me with a run that felt more efficient than usual, even though none of the usual indicators that preceded it (good sleep, good hydration) were present.

OTOH, maybe it was not drinking so much that helped.

I have no idea where this morning's iThink came from.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:54 08:54 08:54 08:54 1.00
1.00 17:42 08:48 08:48 08:51 2.00
1.00 26:38 08:56 08:56 08:53 3.00
1.00 35:36 08:58 08:58 08:54 4.00
0.76 42:16 06:40 08:46 08:53 4.76

The Coolest Thing Ever

I so fucking laughed my ass off uncontrollably. These movies are a textbook example of why you can never have too much dakka.

There's also a reason why the cheat code for two pistols in Rise of the Triad was "johnwoo".

I'm not sure which is my favorite but I think it's a tossup between A Better Tomorrow II (76) and Shoot'Em Up (95) for sheer bodycount. I can't say no to Nikki Sixx's background song and I definitely can't say no to Monica Bellucci. Just saying.

3.5mi, 30:57, 2 AUG 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Patsy Cline, "Never No More"
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 "Eroica," Scherzo-Vivace

WX at 0600: 75.9 (24.4) DP 70.0 (21.1) BP 29.89 (1012) S 10 RH 81

Odometer 2: 184.5mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 156/171

This morning's iThink is a direct consequence of watching my favorite episode of Space: Above and Beyond yesterday (in the interests of disclosure, "The Angriest Angel") as I was screwing around with VLC player.

Being in my usual bright, shiny, ultra-Hobbesian self, I was thinking briefly about what I call the T.C. McQueen workout video, which also features a nice bit of character introspection.

I didn't want to run, but needed to this morning. Today's going to be crazy hot.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:55 08:55 08:55 08:55 1.00
1.00 17:48 08:53 08:53 08:54 2.00
1.00 26:31 08:43 08:43 08:50 3.00
0.50 30:57 04:26 08:52 08:51 3.50

5,000m on Concept2 Model E, 22:44, 31 JUL 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: none

WX at 1600: 89.1 (31.7) DP 71.1 (21.7) BP 29.91 (1012) N 8 RH 56

Odometer 2: 181.0mi equivalency

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = no reading

Good god did today suck monkey ass.

I set the Concept for 10,000 meters in some vain thought that I actually had 10,000m of effort in me. Not a chance. I was dying after only cranking out 2,000. I should be happy initially that I was grinding out 2:05/500m at the beginning but the bottom totally fell out of that one after the first few minutes. The remainder of it was done about 1km at a time, with breaks to gasp ineffectually as I realized just how bad I had let myself slide by not rowing the last few months.

Then I did some lifting with physical therapy in mind. Yay me. I suck.

This is the most embarrassingly slow erg I've done in a long, long while. I suspect having the remnants of lunch as I cranked away on the C2 probably didn't help either. That's just one exercise I really need to do on an empty stomach.

Maybe I should shift away from running as erging also addresses some of my physical therapy requirements.

Splits
Distance: 5000
Time: 00:22:44
Avg/500m: 02:16
Drag Factor: 106
Per Mile: 00:07:19

3.17mi, 29:19, 29 JUL 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
EastEnders theme song (note alternative lyrics below)
The Johns Hopkins Band, "To Win"
The Johns Hopkins Band, "Johnny Hopkins On To Victory"

WX at : 75.9 (24.4) DP 73.9 (23.3) BP 30.11 (1019) NE 7 RH 93

Odometer 3: 77.8mi

Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 154/172

My legs were beat from yesterday's long run combined with cycling back and forth, which marked a sweatathon I haven't experienced since being in Qatar. Easy wogging on the track as a result. I wasn't even going that hard.

Today's iThink might have something to do with the EastEnders (a British TV show I've never seen) theme song being stuck in my head "Everyone is going to die/We're all gonna die/In a variety of different ways"

I don't know why it stuck, but I'd seen some stuff on nuclear attack when I chanced across this exceedingly campy uploaded video that features the EastEnders theme, followed by getting whacked, mushroom-cloud style. That's what stuck.

I have no idea why any of the iThinks stuck today.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:04 09:04 09:04 09:04 1.00
1.00 18:22 09:18 09:18 09:11 2.00
1.00 27:41 09:19 09:19 09:14 3.00
0.17 29:19 01:38 09:36 09:15 3.17

My vengeful heart

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

This is probably Bad for the Soul but I don't fucking care. The last sentence really sticks in my mind for some reason, but I've always been really, really slow to forgive. Ever.

revision: Yes, this is the Space: Above and Beyond rendition. I bought a copy of the Iliad afterwards.

5.9mi, 52:30, 28 JUL 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Dos Gringos, "Going in for Guns"

WX at 0700: 75.0 (23.9) DP 73.9 (23.3) BP 30.03 (1016) SSW 3 RH 96

Odometer 2: 207.1mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 158/181

Today wasn't intended to be a hard run, but I knew I was going a bit longer since I had a rest day. I figured I'd be good for about 6, and that was the case, albeit quite a bit faster than I expected.

This wouldn't have been a particularly auspicious day for that since it was a little warmer than I like, but for whatever reason, I could hold about 8:30/mi at the start, so I did, with the usual variations.

Either that, or acclimatization has finally occurred, just in time for the end of the summer. Awesome.

Today's iThink was a commander's override. My kids, in their usual, sugary Disney Channel fare, have been hearing a lot of Selena Gomez's "Round and Round," which means I've been hearing a lot of that. This is, I suspect, part of Disney's TV division's attempts to play up their stars and revenues before they grow some legitimate T&A and are too old for that channel and find horizons elsewhere (e.g., Hilary Duff.) There was no motherfucking way I was going tolerate a Disney Channel song in the back of my head this morning, so I forced one of my favorite Dos Gringos running mantras and went.

And the world was a little righter this morning.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:35 08:35 08:35 08:35 1.00
1.00 17:17 08:42 08:42 08:39 2.00
1.00 26:10 08:53 08:53 08:43 3.00
1.00 35:25 09:15 09:15 08:51 4.00
1.00 44:28 09:03 09:03 08:54 5.00
0.90 52:30 08:02 08:56 08:54 5.90

So, so, true

Yes, I read XKCD also.

Crowning Moment of Awesome

I so fucking laughed my ass off.

3.6mi, 32:55, 26 JUL 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Michael Kamen, "Band of Brothers Suite 2"

WX at 0700: 75.0 (23.9) DP 73.0 (22.8) BP 30.08 (1018) SE 6 RH 93

Odometer 3: 74.6mi

Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 150/166

I woke up later than I should've, but wanted to sleep in while the opportunity permitted. Then I decided to get in a recovery run, which today most certainly was.

Continuing to march...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:56 08:56 08:56 08:56 1.00
1.00 18:02 09:06 09:06 09:01 2.00
1.00 27:28 09:26 09:26 09:09 3.00
0.62 32:55 05:27 08:47 09:06 3.62

5.1mi, 44:59, 25 JUL 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Metallica, "Master of Puppets"

WX at 0800: 73.0 (22.8) DP 72.0 (22.2) BP 30.11 (1019) Calm RH 96

Odometer 2: 201.2mi

Z3, Z4 uphills.
Average/max heart rate = 159/177

First run in a few days. I took a few days off because of sleep reasons, and I've had solid REM sleep the last few days, which might be an indicator of being just Tired As Shit. Yesterday was a day off for family reasons, the two days prior were days off because "I'm too tired to get at it."

Today was surprisingly faster than usual, but the temperature was low, the sky was overcast, and I had a few days of rest. I was going to say quick, but it'll be a cold day in hell when I say 8:18/mi is quick. Of course, my days of running 19-minute 5km races were two decades ago.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:18 08:18 08:18 08:18 1.00
1.00 16:56 08:38 08:38 08:28 2.00
1.00 25:54 08:58 08:58 08:38 3.00
1.00 35:00 09:06 09:06 08:45 4.00
1.13 44:59 09:59 08:50 08:46 5.13

4.1mi, 35:41, 22 JUL 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: The Bats, "Courage"

WX at 0700: 78.1 (25.6) DP 73.0 (22.8) BP 29.95 (1014) SSW 12 RH 84

Odometer 2: 196.1mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 160/180

I didn't start intending on going out hard, but there were enough people on the roads today where I felt stupidly compelled to make it a Dick Comparison Contest. That, and the scenery normally absent in the mornings was present, so I went at a solid Zone 4 for the last two miles of the run. It doesn't change the fact that I was sucking monkey balls through a straw for most of the run, but it is gratifying to know that I'm still getting faster, which means progress on the road to recovery...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:20 08:20 08:20 08:20 1.00
1.00 17:09 08:49 08:49 08:34 2.00
1.00 26:15 09:06 09:06 08:45 3.00
1.10 35:41 09:26 08:35 08:42 4.10

Songs of my childhood

I'm not really straight edge anymore, but I remember when I once was...
and I remember how much Minor Threat fucking rocked.

4.16mi, 36:38, 20 JUL 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Hans Zimmer, Geoff Zanelli, Blake Neely, "Honor"
The Strawbs, "Lay Me Down"

WX at 0700: 75.0 (23.9) DP 68.0 (20.0) BP 29.93 (1013) ENE 12 RH 79

Odometer 2: 192.9mi

Z3 high/Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 152/171

A surprisingly pleasant run for as insanely hot as it's been the last few days. The heat index in Leavenworth hit somewhere around 113 yesterday. Surprisingly, this morning was not bad at all, which I attribute to an incoming cold front and maybe some rain.

After the last few weeks, I was going faster than I thought I would - so once I was warmed up, this was a pretty good shakeout run to see what I could do at a reasonable level of effort.

Of course, I should probably check that against the Chartreuse yellow I had last night. I'll probably kill that off sooner than later since it doesn't really compare to Chartreuse green, as jwer advised me.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:17 08:17 08:17 08:17 1.00
1.00 17:01 08:44 08:44 08:30 2.00
1.00 26:29 09:28 09:28 08:50 3.00
1.00 35:13 08:44 08:44 08:48 4.00
0.18 36:38 01:25 07:52 08:46 4.18

8.0mi, 74:24, 16 JUL 10, Cary, North Carolina

iThink: The Strawbs, "Lay Me Down"

WX at 0900: 81.0 (27.2) DP 68.0 (20.0) BP 30.09 (1018) NNE 3 RH 64

Odometer 3: 71.0mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 155/173

First run away from the coast and the lowered humidity was blissful. I got a later start but I wanted to make sure I was fully hydrated before taking on eight miles. Somewhere around 40 minutes I was fully warmed up and running what I think was about half marathon pace, even going uphill.

It's been a while since I've had a long run that was as therapeutic as this one. It felt pretty damn good, until I started playing chicken on my egress from the American Tobacco Trail, which doing so, as a rule, has always basically sucked monkey balls.

The Strawbs iThink was dead on for this morning, not only for pacing but also for thematics. I don't mind travel, but it's come to return to home station. My Incipient Case of the Ass has flared up a lot lately. Leading indicators normally include the incidence of the phrases of "motherfucker" or "jesus titty fucking christ" used as expletives, which has increased a lot recently. Nothing new, of course.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:12 09:12 09:12 09:12 1.00
1.00 18:20 09:08 09:08 09:10 2.00
1.00 27:40 09:20 09:20 09:13 3.00
1.00 37:07 09:27 09:27 09:17 4.00
1.00 46:14 09:07 09:07 09:15 5.00
1.00 55:15 09:01 09:01 09:12 6.00
1.00 04:59 09:44 09:44 09:17 7.00
1.01 14:24 09:25 09:19 09:17 8.01

3.8mi, 36:37, 14 JUL 10, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

iThink:
The Bats, "Courage"
Metallica, "Master of Puppets"
David Bowie, "Life on Mars"

WX at 0800: 84.0 (28.9) DP 79.0 (26.1) BP 29.99 (1015) SW 10 RH 84

Odometer 3: 60.6.mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 148/160

The heart rate is deceptively low for the amount of work I felt like I was doing, although it accurately reflects speed. There are two possible explanations for this. One could be that my legs are tired, which might be the case since I've done more sustained running the past three weeks than I have in a long, long while.

Another reason might be running on sidewalks and grass rather than pavement. I can feel some of that since my legs are tired in ways they usually aren't, which implies I'm using stabilizer muscles I don't normally use at Fort Leavenworth or on pavement.

Another could just be the heat and humidity. I don't normally run when it's above 80 if I don't have to, and the humidity was lower than usual at 84. Consequently, i just don't feel normal while running.

I still need to get at it. I know for a fact I'll pick up involuntary rest days because of an impending drive back to Kansas from here.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:31 09:31 09:31 09:31 1.00
1.00 19:26 09:55 09:55 09:43 2.00
1.00 29:05 09:39 09:39 09:42 3.00
0.80 36:37 07:32 09:25 09:38 3.80

4.2mi, 40:28, 13 JUL 10, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

iThink: Metallica, "Master of Puppets"

WX at 0700: 78.1 (25.6) DP 73.9 (23.3) BP 29.94 (1013) SW 5 RH 87

Odometer 3: 56.8mi

Z2-Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 144/162

The last few days of being around small children has really skewed the iThink in directions which I hadn't explored in a while. Although Metallica was this morning's iThink, I was instantly reminded of a somewhat disturbing but ridculously entertaining (in a pedestrian way) mashup of the Wiggles and Drowning Pool's "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor." I still laughed my ass off.

Pacing this morning was uneven this morning on what was undoubtedly a slow run, but I needed to get out there. I had no expectations of not sucking complete fucking monkey balls since the humidity was killer - and this morning was far better than what yesterday entailed.

I'll be driving back to North Carolina with four small lobsters disguised as children based on the degree of sunburn they sustained yesterday.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00 1.00
1.00 19:37 09:37 09:37 09:48 2.00
1.00 29:04 09:27 09:27 09:41 3.00
1.00 38:05 09:01 09:01 09:31 4.00
0.21 40:28 02:23 11:21 09:37 4.21

6.0mi, 55:38, 11 JUL 10, Cary, North Carolina

iThink: Metallica, "Master of Puppets"

WX at 0900: 80.1 (26.7) DP 72.0 (22.2) BP 29.95 (1014) Calm RH 76

Odometer 3: 52.6mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 155/172

I had carne a la tampiqueña yesterday at Mia Casita yesterday in Fayetteville. I was feeling those jalapenos big time this morning. AWESOME.

Driving around yesterday in Fayetteville was once again, a Kafkaesque part of this vacation. We had occasion to see a few people we hadn't seen in a while.

Running the American Tobacco Trail the last few days has been good for the knees. Running on compacted dirt rather than on pavement or asphalt has been good because otherwise I'd be in the hurt box.

After dealing with kids yesterday, though, I needed something to counteract it. Metallica cranking Master of Puppets live in Nimes, France was the fucking heat.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:05 09:05 09:05 09:05 1.00
1.00 18:11 09:06 09:06 09:05 2.00
1.00 27:07 08:56 08:56 09:02 3.00
1.00 36:21 09:14 09:14 09:05 4.00
1.00 45:50 09:29 09:29 09:10 5.00
1.03 55:38 09:48 09:31 09:14 6.03

The Knight in Sour Armor

"You're surrounded by armed bastards" has more relevance to me than I thought.

That, and this is Frakking Awesome.

8.03mi, 78:34, 9 JUL 10, Cary, North Carolina

iThink: Hans Zimmer, Geoff Zanelli, Blake Neely, "Honor"

WX at 0800: 81.0 (27.2) DP 66.0 (18.9) BP 30 (1015) NNE 3 haze RH 60

Odometer 3: 46.5mi

Z2 start, Z3 low finish.
Average/max heart rate = 147/167

I've been in Cary a few days and I'm trying to figure out what about this place puts me so ill-at-ease.

Part of it is the way the place is laid out. I grew up around cities, and places that are based off old country roads but have been subject to runaway development like this place has really severely fucks with my urban feng shui. What ends up resulting is that there are small enclaves of new money by subdivision but it's like trying to fight your way from place to place to get anywhere. There's something that just doesn't feel right and I'm not sure what it is.

The other part of it is similar to the kind of disconnection I've associated with being back in Richmond, namely that it's so removed from my existence in the Army that I can't really feel at ease here. It's no accident that the past few weeks has marked David Bowie's "Life on Mars?" as one of my mantras.

I took a longer than usual run this morning, but part of it was to get a decent interval from my nephews. I love them but I can take them only in controlled doses. That's why I got in 8 miles of easy running this morning even though today promises to be a fucking ballbuster of a hot day. It's also why I can also enjoy the joys of "you're surrounded by armed bastards!" Hell yeah.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 10:06 10:06 10:06 10:06 1.00
1.00 19:46 09:40 09:40 09:53 2.00
1.00 29:40 09:54 09:54 09:53 3.00
1.00 39:36 09:56 09:56 09:54 4.00
1.00 49:17 09:41 09:41 09:51 5.00
1.00 58:55 09:38 09:38 09:49 6.00
1.00 08:53 09:58 09:58 09:50 7.00
1.03 18:34 09:41 09:24 09:47 8.03

5.0mi, 44:39, 7 JUL 10, Cary, North Carolina

iThink: The Connells,"Fun & Games"

WX at 0800: 78.1 (25.6) DP 64.0 (17.8) BP 30.07 (1018) Calm RH 62

Odometer 3: 38.5mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 155/173

I found out this morning that I was selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel. Woot.

I had to get out a quick one as I'm sallying forth with my kids and nephew to a free movie. I wasn't going to miss out on the run, though, so it was time to get at it.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:45 08:45 08:45 08:45 1.00
1.00 17:35 08:50 08:50 08:47 2.00
1.00 26:14 08:39 08:39 08:45 3.00
1.00 35:16 09:02 09:02 08:49 4.00
1.04 44:39 09:23 09:01 08:52 5.04

5.1mi, 48:12, 6 JUL 10, Cary, North Carolina

iThink:
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"
Jan and Dean, "Little Old Lady from Pasadena"
The Cure, "Primary"

WX at 0800: 73.9 (23.3) DP 64.9 (18.3) BP 30.11 (1019) SW 3 RH 74
WX at 0900 after run: 81.0 (27.2) DP 63.0 (17.2) BP 30.12 (1019) W 6 RH 54

Odometer 3: 33.4mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 147/169

I was pretty intent on getting a run in this morning since today's forecast was going to be Hot as Hell. I was hoping to get in a few miles, but since the mileage just to get out to the American Tobacco Trail is 1.3mi one-way, I knew it was going to be at least 4, maybe 5.

My legs were tired after the last few days, but I think today was a good run. Most of what I'm doing on this trip is just not getting fat, anyway.

Running slowly, even at effort, was probably the reason why "Primary" stuck in my mind. Aging sucks.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:15 09:15 09:15 09:15 1.00
1.00 18:31 09:16 09:16 09:15 2.00
1.00 28:17 09:46 09:46 09:26 3.00
1.00 37:47 09:30 09:30 09:27 4.00
1.00 47:11 09:24 09:24 09:26 5.00
0.11 48:12 01:01 09:15 09:26 5.11

Indulging my dislike of many things Disney...

7 Classic Disney Movies Based On R-Rated Stories. Oh hell yeah.

6.8mi, 62:17, 5 JUL 10, Cary, North Carolina

iThink:
David Bowie, "Life on Mars"
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"

WX before run at 0700: 64.9 (18.3) DP 62.1 (16.7) BP 30.11 (1019) WSW 6 RH 91

WX at 0800: 72.0 (22.2) DP 64.0 (17.8) BP 30.11 (1019) WSW 7 RH 76
WX at 0900: 77.0 (25.0) DP 64.0 (17.8) BP 30.12 (1019) WSW 7 RH 64

Odometer 3: 28.3mi

Z3-Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 152/176

The morning temperature was supposed to be in the 60s. What I didn't expect was the level to which the temperature had risen in only an hour. I also neglected to drink enough water, so this turned into a gut festival of "grind it out until I'm done."

I occasionally need to do those runs to remind myself of what is required to dig in and grind out a shitty experience, although I don't usually need to go out of my way to dig up shitty experiences.

Fortunately, most of this morning's run was on the American Tobacco Trail, which is well-paved and well-shaded. Otherwise today's run would really have sucked monkey balls. In the meantime, the Bowie song continues to ring true, as it's my first time in North Carolina in two years and it's strange being back near a place where I lived for seven years.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:57 08:57 08:57 08:57 1.00
1.00 18:01 09:04 09:04 09:00 2.00
1.00 27:22 09:21 09:21 09:07 3.00
1.00 36:23 09:01 09:01 09:06 4.00
1.00 45:26 09:03 09:03 09:05 5.00
1.00 54:57 09:31 09:31 09:10 6.00
0.82 62:17 07:20 08:57 09:08 6.82

3.7mi, 33:30, 4 JUL 10, Richmond, Virginia

iThink:
David Bowie, "Life on Mars"
The Bats, "Courage"

WX at 0900: 73.9 (23.3) 55.9 (13.3) 30.12 (1019) W 6 RH 53

Odometer 3: 21.5mi

Z2-Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 147/160

I didn't really feel like going very far, but I figured some easy running would be in order since I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to get in tomorrow. My legs were pretty tired from yesterday, but speed was not the issue at hand today. We drive to Raleigh, North Carolina today, so thankfully, no crusher of a drive.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:10 09:10 09:10 09:10 1.00
1.00 18:21 09:11 09:11 09:11 2.00
1.00 27:32 09:11 09:11 09:11 3.00
0.68 33:30 05:58 08:46 09:06 3.68

7.0mi, 62:39, 3 JUL 10, Richmond, Virginia

iThink: The Cure, "Primary"

WX at 0900: 77.0 (25.0) DP 53.1 (11.7) BP 30.25 (1024) W 7 RH 43

Odometer 3: 17.0mi

Z3-Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 159/174

After three days on the road, and not doing anything yesterday (woke up too late) and almost nothing the day prior (two miles on the dreadmill = homicidal rage), I'm at my parents' house and put in 7 on the road. I feel better.

We've been driving three days which have been over 8 hours a day for me in the seat. I've been holding down driving duties because I can do long drives a lot better than Household6 and sometimes I have to bring out my old DC Beltway kung fu driving around large cities like St. Louis. Yesterday we left Louisville, KY; the day prior to that was Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Driving from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Leonard Wood entails some of the most painful driving on back roads I've done in a long, long while.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:41 08:41 08:41 08:41 1.00
1.00 17:23 08:42 08:42 08:41 2.00
1.00 26:24 09:01 09:01 08:48 3.00
1.00 35:20 08:56 08:56 08:50 4.00
1.00 44:36 09:16 09:16 08:55 5.00
1.00 53:35 08:59 08:59 08:56 6.00
1.00 62:39 09:04 09:04 08:57 7.00

3.5mi, 32:33, 30 JUN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Guided by Voices, "Wormhole"

WX at 0700: 66.9 (19.4) DP 57.9 (14.4) BP 30.22 (1023) ESE 6 RH 72

Odometer 2: 188.8mi

Z2/Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 150/170

My legs were beat but I figured on the day I'm about to leave on a long driving vacation, it was probably advisable to get in a run. 3.5mi of wogging did not go down well but at least the weather was nice. I'm not surprised my legs are tired after the tremendous mileage increase of the last two weeks or so. Of course, any mileage increase is tremendous compared to nothing at all.

My neighborhood is starting to repopulate with new students about a month after all the others have gone off to their follow-on assignments. The summer exodus/influx cycle begins anew.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:09 09:09 09:09 09:09 1.00
1.00 18:30 09:21 09:21 09:15 2.00
1.00 28:01 09:31 09:31 09:20 3.00
0.48 32:33 04:32 09:27 09:21 3.48

5.9mi, 51:32, 29 JUN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Guided by Voices, "Wormhole"
Ke$ha, "Tik Tok"

WX at 0700: 68.0 (20.0) DP 60.1 (15.6) BP 30.12 (1019) E 8 RH 75

Odometer 2: 185.3mi

Z3 mid-high.
Average/max heart rate = 157/172

After yesterday's rest day, I decided to get back out there. This is a good example of a day where I'm glad I forced myself to get out there. I felt far better after the run than I would've had I just slept in.

It's been a little over a decade since I bought Guided by Voices' Do the Collapse, which is the album from today's first iThink. I was thinking of it as I saw the remains of earthworms my wife had killed by pouring salt on them. I saw them jumping around as they died and I felt guilty.

I am an earthworm following
There is a nighthawk
Watching me crawling

La, la, la, la, it's a lonely night
I'll take the airwaves home tonight
Crawl with me into the hole
Where everyone can hide

We're in the wormhole
Seeking to be safe again
Without a single brave soul
Leaking out tonight, tonight

After the fire there's a falling rain
Washin' us free of the daily pain
Off the hook and down the drain
And out to the other side

To where the soil is rich
And muddy in the riverbed
Feed on the urgent promise
Of the dead tonight, tonight

I'm reminded of the "not great, but mostly okay, and anyway you better get used to it because that was life was going to be until you died" a lot lately.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:53 08:53 08:53 08:53 1.00
1.00 17:30 08:37 08:37 08:45 2.00
1.00 26:08 08:38 08:38 08:43 3.00
1.00 35:01 08:53 08:53 08:45 4.00
1.00 43:43 08:42 08:42 08:45 5.00
0.93 51:32 07:49 08:24 08:41 5.93

A little reflection

He didn't think about the creche much, but it wasn't that he'd had a bad time there. It was a lot like the army. Not great but mostly okay; and anyway you better get used to it because that was what life was going to be until you died.

David Drake, Redliners

6.6mi, 63:12, 27 JUN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Bear McCreary, "Wander My Friends"
David Bowie, "Life on Mars"

WX at 0900: 82.0 (27.8) DP 73.0 (22.8) BP 29.7 (1005) S 15 RH 74

Odometer 2: 179.4mi

Z3 low.
Average/max heart rate = 157/175

I woke up later than expected, but also intended to get in a long run, something which I traditionally had done on Sunday mornings.

One of the mistakes I made during the spring, and some of it may have been just the general intensity of stress I felt this past spring semester, but I didn't do any exercise on mornings that, had I thought about it more logically, I should've gotten out and gotten something in. I'll be more disciplined about it in the fall, partly because I'll actually be studying something about which I actually give a flying fuck.

It's not to say that early American history isn't important, but it has fuck-all to do with my dissertation, and I know myself well enough to know that when I don't care about something, it might as well not exist, because I really don't care.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:44 09:44 09:44 09:44 1.00
1.00 19:02 09:18 09:18 09:31 2.00
1.00 28:27 09:25 09:25 09:29 3.00
1.00 38:05 09:38 09:38 09:31 4.00
1.00 47:36 09:31 09:31 09:31 5.00
1.00 57:25 09:49 09:49 09:34 6.00
0.59 63:12 05:47 09:48 09:35 6.59

Why I loved Battlestar Galactica

If this isn't evocative, I don't know what is. Was rewatching a few old episodes of BSG this afternoon and had momentarily forgotten about this scene. Or to quote this from Television Without Pity, "Guest Starring Laura Roslin as Tisiphone, The Fury of Vengeance."

Of course, it goes without saying that I have a lot of rage. What else is new?



Yes, the video sucks. That's not the point! Go buy the disks. Season 4.5, Episode 14, "Blood on the Scales."

4.5mi, 41:04, 25 JUN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: David Bowie, "Life on Mars"

WX at 0700: 70.0 (21.1) DP 64.0 (17.8) BP 30.07 (1018) SSE 6 RH 81

Odometer 2: 172.8mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 152/171

I went to sleep late but needed to get my licks in for a run while the weather was still good. Maybe tomorrow will entail some real wogging, but while it's only 70F outside, I have to get out there, and for a day of what was supposed to be light wogging, it was actually kind of productive. I was going distinctly easier than yesterday, but today felt better, not the least of why because I was going easier.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:26 09:26 09:26 09:26 1.00
1.00 18:41 09:15 09:15 09:20 2.00
1.00 27:38 08:57 08:57 09:13 3.00
1.00 36:31 08:53 08:53 09:08 4.00
0.50 41:04 04:33 09:06 09:08 4.50

5.9mi, 52:25, 24 JUN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
Bruce Springsteen, "The River"
The Cure, "Primary" (live)

WX at 0700: 68.0 (20.0) DP 63.0 (17.2) BP 30.16 (1021) NNE 7 RH 83

Odometer 3: 8.0mi

Z3/Z4 uphills.
Average/max heart rate = 158/176

Yesterday was a rest day because was totally beat.

Today meant I needed to go longer, and I did. It's a sad sign when I consider just shy of 6 miles a "long" run, but it is lately. That, and I had a new pair of Asics GT-2140 trail shoes that I wanted to check out.

The weather was a good break from the scorching heat of the last few days, so it was a day I could ill afford to pass up - especially since it's a good 10F cooler than it was yesterday. That makes a huge difference in speed and how I felt, but temperature differences have always killed me.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:35 08:35 08:35 08:35 1.00
1.00 17:17 08:42 08:42 08:39 2.00
1.00 26:13 08:56 08:56 08:44 3.00
1.00 35:18 09:05 09:05 08:49 4.00
1.00 44:19 09:01 09:01 08:52 5.00
0.90 52:25 08:06 09:00 08:53 5.90

The Coolest Thing Ever

From DragonCon 2009, which I'm not sure I'd attend, but...

This is not necessarily to say that "chicks with guns make me hot" but you could argue that point. Then again, I can't pass up a meta-tag like "IDF Death Babes."

Only at DragonCon will you see Firefly tied-in with English literature. I'd so party with these ladies anytime.

Against my better judgment...

Although I don't admit to being a Star Trek fan, I couldn't pass this up. This is some exceptional editing. I can only imagine the man-hours spent putting this together.

I've heard the Ke$ha song, but otherwise know nothing about her.



Embarrassing, but respectable...

3.46mi, 31:16, 22 JUN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink: Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"

WX at 0600: 78.1 (25.6) DP 73.0 (22.8) BP 29.95 (1014) SSW 8 RH 84

Odometer 2: 168.3mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 150/169

My legs are starting to hurt, which makes me wonder if I did enough concerted work while in Virginia. I think not.

It also could be that it's oppressively humid here, more than I expected and today's forecast calls for high 90s. No matter, continue to march...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:08 09:08 09:08 09:08 1.00
1.00 18:01 08:53 08:53 09:00 2.00
1.00 27:08 09:07 09:07 09:03 3.00
0.46 31:16 04:08 08:59 09:02 3.46

4.6mi, 42:22, 21 JUN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
David Bowie, "Life on Mars"
The Laziest Men on Mars, "Invasion of the Gabber Robots"

WX at 0600: 69.1 (20.6) DP 66.9 (19.4) BP 29.97 (1014) SSE 3 RH 92

Odometer 2: 164.8mi

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

For not working that hard (supposedly) I didn't feel that great. Some of it could be all the hills here at Fort Leavenworth, which could contribute to what feels like dead legs.

Life on Mars was the only appropriate song for how I feel being back at home after a month away. I gets stranger every time I leave.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:19 09:19 09:19 09:19 1.00
1.00 18:50 09:31 09:31 09:25 2.00
1.00 28:12 09:22 09:22 09:24 3.00
1.00 36:57 08:45 08:45 09:14 4.00
0.59 42:22 05:25 09:11 09:14 4.59

Epic Fail

I have returned to Kansas.

Instead of my grandiose goal of losing 10 pounds, I have gained 6. This is, to put it mildly, fucking bullshit.

I know what I'm doing the rest of the summer...intensifying the rabbit food diet and running LSD until the school year starts. This has astronomical potential for suck.

Speaking the truth too freely

And the only word that comes to mind is...dude.

4.8mi, 42:52, 17 JUN 10, Colonial Heights, Virginia

iThink:
Gary Glitter, "Rock and Roll" (no shit.)
The Bats, "Courage"

WX at 0600: 72.0 (22.2) DP 69.1 (20.6) BP 29.94 (1013) NW 5 RH 90

Odometer 2: 160.2mi

Z3/Z4 uphills.
Average/max heart rate = 150/170

Last night was my mother's birthday, and we were going to head to a vaguely swanky restaurant, until we called and found out the restaurant was closed because there was a power problem at the mall where it was. We ended up heading to Angela's, an Italian restaurant that's not too far from my parents' house and has been around for about 25 years. I remember when that location was a Milton's Pizza back when I was in elementary school, but Angela's has become somewhat of an institution in the West End, or at least that part of it.

Running this morning, I stopped after the first 2.5 miles to prevent what would've been a craptactularly bad run. After a brief pit stop, I cranked out the second lap in decent order. I was rather surprised, actually, that my start was as quick (relatively) as it was. I knew mile 4 was going to be painful since it was mostly uphill - which may explain why the last .8 was so fast in comparison, since it was gentle downhill.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:13 09:13 09:13 09:13 1.00
1.00 18:13 09:00 09:00 09:07 2.00
1.00 26:50 08:37 08:37 08:57 3.00
1.00 36:04 09:14 09:14 09:01 4.00
0.80 42:52 06:48 08:30 08:56 4.80

Ghosts of Ramen past, redux

My old friend JWER has decided to reboot his blog. Fortunately, through the tabbed browsing feature of Firefox, I have retained three rows worth of tabs, one of which was still showing what I consider my future eulogy.

I seesaw between whether I'll outlive my friends or not. JWER is a good case in point; while I exercise a lot more and indulge far fewer physical vices than he does, perhaps (aside from the Weyerbacher Merry Monks' Belgian Style Golden Ale - a triple much like Delerium Nocturnum and about the same level of potency, w00t!), but he chose a much less hazardous profession. So the tossup is still out there.

That said, if I get spammed before he does, I need him to be the alternate candidate for a Speaker for the Dead at my funeral. The other candidate is the Midnight Tree Bandit, who I have known just a bit longer than JWER, but not by much.

With that said, rescued from the dead, here's my future eulogy, with apologies to JWER. I remember the official purpose of this trip - it was because of my duties for the Army's Strategic Readiness System, a part of which I had some nominal responsibility:
--
August 20, 2004: "Ghosts of Ramen Past"

Last week my friend Decrepitude was (almost*) in town for a couple of days, and in the spirit of reliving my nomadic, spartan college days, I crashed on the armchair in his hotel room two nights running. Missing was the girly power pop, the green and black BBS screen, and the ramen. Especially the ramen. Back when we were sophomores at JHU, shortly after my parents had moved an embarrassingly short distance from campus, I embarked upon a trek from house to apartment to Reading Room in search of a place to sleep and/or weather a hangover so as not to arouse the suspicions of the aforementioned parents (they tend to wonder when you're sleeping when you clearly ought to be in SOME class). I tried not to be a burden on any one friend for too long a stretch, but Decrepitude was a different story; he lived close to campus, by himself, and kept conveniently weird hours. We ran a BBS together (actually, he ran it, I just put it on my resume), we listened to a lot of College Tunez™, we watched violent movies frame-by-frame, and I spectated as he played all manner of homicidal video games. When food was imperative, it was either off to that paragon of the culinary arts, CC Carryout (which is still there, thank Bulgogi) or, more likely, his endless supply of ramen. I’m glad he wasn’t keeping track, because I’m pretty sure I ate about $700 worth of ramen that year.

The sleeping arrangements were rather austere, as befit the lodgings of a cheap-ass Army ROTC cadet, and I spent a lot of time on a spare sleeping bag on the hardwood (since I spent all of high school sleeping on a twin futon mattress that was about 3 inches thick, this was not a big deal. In fact, I think most of the back pain of the last few years has had to do with my foolish insistence on sleeping on actual mattresses). We were both more or less perennially single, and spent a lot of time bitching about that, and absolutely zero time actually attempting to change the state of affairs in any way. Of course, this was before JHU lowered their acceptance standards to let more beautiful people in, so all the remotely attractive women were already well spoken for, but it is barely possible that occasionally leaving a small dark room with no women in it might increase one’s prospects of scoring (it’s the BIG dark rooms where all the magic happens, especially if the floor is sticky). We also have something in common that I shared with pretty much none of my other friends, which is a deeply ingrained sense of honor which more or less completely embarrasses the hell out of me to even talk about, and yet is at the very core of my personality. I blame my upbringing in the shadow of the Naval Academy. Decrepitude was in the Army, so he was expected to be like this, but I met many of his classmates over the years, and very few of them even came close. He is a rare duck. I believe I am some sort of infrequent waterfowl, as well. To stave off the inevitable comments, most of you will recognize this trait in me as my complete unwillingness to ever let anything go, ever, if I believe that it is Cosmically Unjust. You may think I've let one or two things go over the years, but they're still in there somewhere. Eventually, my head will explode. I'll try to warn you if you're standing nearby.

We met up after I got off work on Tuesday, and by the time I finally figured out where in the hell his hotel was, it was too late to do much but drink, so we did just that. I am both proud and horrified that I can still out-drink most of my college friends, but it was never much of a challenge with Decrepitude, who is known the world over for highly entertaining drunken antics, usually ensuing mere moments after the alcohol was introduced (there are stories about me, too, but most of them aren’t very funny). He held his own this time; I think he’s been practicing. Either that or I was off my game. That, and I had forgotten to pack my Chartreuse. We talked and drank and drank and talked, about the state of our lives and the state of the world, and when it was starting to get late, we started back for the hotel and I had an extremely ill-advised cheese steak from Jerry’s, which I was almost certain had been banned in the mid-90’s. Alas no. I slept a fitful, and yet apparently quite snore-laden, sleep on the armchair (it was a big bed, ‘tis true, but the only friends of mine I’m willing to spoon with have always been tragically unwilling to spoon with me. Also: don’t ask, don’t tell).

He had talked about running around Arlington National Cemetery in the morning, and while he was to eventually wuss out and run a less gigantic circuit, I was still pretty damned impressed that he’s still in good enough shape to run a greater distance that I’ve run in my entire life, all at once, the morning after a small herd of beer. He did whine a little about the hills later, but they were eminently whine-worthy, and I was only walking them.

The next night, he had some Green Polyester event to attend, so I got my haircut and bought a crapload of books at KramerBooks and Olsson’s and schlepped them back to scenic Food Court, I mean Courthouse. I got a bit of a head start on the beer while waiting for him to get back, and then we went to the always excellent Brickskellar, where our need for beer was somewhat curtailed by the rather epic price of our first selection. Still, it was a good time, and I’m glad I decided to come down; we don’t get to see each other very often at all (i.e.: just like all my other good friends, including the supposedly pregnant one that lives 5 miles away). We’ve both gone through a lot since we first met, we’re still good friends, and I think our shared feeling that there’s a right way to live one’s life, even if we don’t completely agree on the particulars, is still very much intact. I just hope he never tries to collect on the ramen tab.

* good LORD does Northern Virginia suck ass

5.0mi, 45:22, 15 JUN 10, Colonial Heights, Virginia

iThink: David Bowie, "Life on Mars"

WX at 0600: 73.0 (22.8) BP 70.0 (21.1) DP 29.96 (1014) NNE 7 RH 90

Odometer 2: 155.4mi

Z3/Z4 uphills.
Average/max heart rate = 158/174

I went to sleep a little later than I wanted last night, but I got up about 10 minutes before my alarm went off at 5:30am. I went back to sleep, determined to get as much as I could get.

I realized I couldn't take two rest days in a row, not while I have the wherewithal to do it, so I decided to take on a 5-miler. My legs are still pretty beat, which irritates me, but at least I'm still getting back at it. I am deliberately trying not to get too bent out of shape because I'm running so slowly. I have a few months of self-destruction to make up before I get back at the grinder again this fall.

Being around my parents as much as I have the last few weeks is part of why the Bowie song is stuck in my head.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:20 09:20 09:20 09:20 1.00
1.00 18:35 09:15 09:15 09:17 2.00
1.00 27:40 09:05 09:05 09:13 3.00
1.00 37:00 09:20 09:20 09:15 4.00
1.00 45:30 08:30 08:30 09:06 5.00

3.1mi, 29:09, 13 JUN 10, Richmond, Virginia

iThink:
Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston, "It Takes Two"
Dos Gringos, "Jeremiah Weed"
Edmund Butt, opening theme from Ashes to Ashes

WX at 1000: 82.0 (27.8) DP 72.0 (22.2) BP 29.92 (1013) WSW 9 RH 71

Odometer 2: 150.4mi

Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 152/170

Yes, I've been binging out on British police procedurals lately. I am singularly unapologetic, but maybe it's because I enjoy seeing nontraditional characters like Philip Glenister's Gene Hunt.

Short run today. My legs were beat up from yesterday's long one; it's been a while since I've kicked out 6 miles. I kept at the run by heart rate rather than pace, but since I was going a shorter distance, it wasn't as big a deal.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:08 09:08 09:08 09:08 1.00
1.00 18:48 09:40 09:40 09:24 2.00
1.00 27:54 09:06 09:06 09:18 3.00
0.14 29:09 01:15 08:56 09:17 3.14

6.15mi, 62:41, 12 JUN 10, Richmond, Virginia

iThink:
Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"
82d Airborne Division, "The All-American Soldier"
Oasis, "Wonderwall"

WX at 1300: 90.0 (32.2) DP 68.0 (20.0) BP 30.08 (1018) SSW 8 RH 48

Odometer 2: 147.2mi

Z3/Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 159/171

Today was a late, late start. I realized that starting in the mid-day in June in Virginia I was going to run based off heart rate rather than pace. This was probably wise.

In my usual disdain for American television, I've recently started watching the BRITISH version of Life on Mars. It doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence the way that most American television incessantly does. The ending of the respective British and American series is an excellent case in point. I'd rather not watch a show that implies that viewers can't take the truth.

I realized that Life on Mars also provides a rather pointed allegory for my own life. I realize this particularly when I'm around my mother, who can't understand why I cultivate being such a fucking asshole from time to time. My mother is a sheep. I'd like to think I'm a sheepdog with some wolf-like tendencies. I am singularly unapologetic. I can't stand being around sheep for very long, though. They spark my incipient rage.

This is where I quote Thomas Paine: "If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:44 09:44 09:44 09:44 1.00
1.00 19:41 09:57 09:57 09:50 2.00
1.00 29:32 09:51 09:51 09:51 3.00
1.00 39:40 10:08 10:08 09:55 4.00
1.00 50:40 11:00 11:00 10:08 5.00
1.00 01:18 10:38 10:38 10:13 6.00
0.15 02:41 01:23 09:13 10:12 6.15

So, so true...

5.0mi, 43:29, 8 JUN 10, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

iThink:
David Lowe, "BBC News 24 Countdown" (Megamix 2)
Hilary Duff, "Wake Up"
Dos Gringos, "Going In For Guns"

WX at 0600: 63.0 (17.2) DP 52.0 (11.1) BP 30.08 (1018) N 8 RH 67

Odometer 2: 141.0mi

Z3 high/Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 158/170

I'd seen the BBC news theme while I was in Qatar a few years back, since there was a TV tuned to that particular news channel and I didn't feel like my brain was rotting away like it feels when I watch Fox News.

I also saw it in a dramatization of a nuclear attack on Britain (which I think I saw from a related web search of the 1983 TV movie The Day After a few months back).

As an occasional fan of trance music, David Lowe's theme, remixed, is not bad.

Today was as good a day as it'll get. I woke up late and the only thing that woke me up was the train passing by as it blew its horn. I'm okay with that, since I'd forgotten to set my alarm last night. Oops.

A little different route, and a rewarding run, although dodging traffic on Jefferson Davis Highway (US Route 1) can get occasionally dicey. I was also racing the train signal as it started to drop, and was trying to make a corner quickly so I wasn't stopping a bus from making a wide turn it needed to make. Yay, opportunities for death by misadventure!

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:53 08:53 08:53 08:53 1.00
1.00 17:50 08:57 08:57 08:55 2.00
1.00 26:10 08:20 08:20 08:43 3.00
1.00 34:46 08:36 08:36 08:41 4.00
1.00 43:29 08:43 08:43 08:42 5.00

4.6mi , 41:22, 7 JUN 10, Colonial Heights, Virginia

iThink:
Descendents, "Coolidge" (thanks, jwer.)
Los Campesinos, "The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future"

WX at 0600: 63.0 (17.2) DP 55.9 (13.3) BP 29.81 (1009) Calm RH 72

Odometer 2: 136.0mi

Z3 start, Z4 finish.
Average/max heart rate = 155/171

I was running after a sybaritic (sort of) weekend of high school reunion, on which I'll comment later.

I was tired, but didn't really have a choice. I needed to get at it, so I did, and I felt better, naturally, by about the 30-35 minute mark.

The miles were mostly consistent as I started to settle - and I started picking up more speed later as is customary...but after I hit the last mile split, I realized I'd felt a lot better and would run to appropriate intensity. I was also racing a train signal I was desperately hoping would not drop before I got there, so I was closing the gap at glimpses of 7:37/mi, which I couldn't have done at the beginning of the run.

I guess I should run in the afternoons, but I feel like too much of a wimp to do that when it was hot this past week. This week, maybe better.

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:08 09:08 09:08 09:08 1.00
1.00 18:17 09:09 09:09 09:09 2.00
1.00 27:20 09:03 09:03 09:07 3.00
1.00 36:31 09:11 09:11 09:08 4.00
0.60 41:22 04:51 08:05 09:00 4.60

3.3mi, 31:46, 5 JUN 10, Richmond, Virginia

iThink: none

WX at 0900: 82.0 (27.8) DP 70.0 (21.1) BP 29.84 (1010) W 10 RH 67

Odometer 2: 131.4mi

Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 159/185

It absolutely did not feel like 67% relative humidity. Today was the alumni run here at St Christopher's, where I spent 12 of my formative years, three of which were on the cross-country team.

It was good to see people I hadn't seen before, and realized that some of my ire at my classmates may have been misplaced. Either that, or maybe I've gotten mellower in some of my later age and part of my burning rage I felt my senior year and after graduation has perhaps gone away. Maybe.

I certainly haven't gotten much mellower in the last few years, but two decades brings some perspective. Some people have not changed. Some people have. I know I have, and have a degree of self-confidence I never possessed when I was there.

Strange, the power of memory...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:21 09:21 09:21 09:21 1.00
1.00 18:48 09:27 09:27 09:24 2.00
1.00 28:50 10:02 10:02 09:37 3.00
0.32 35:30 06:40 20:50 10:42 3.32

Creepy as all hell

It bugs my parents that I'm such a twinkie, but this is some creepy ass shit.



I find it, in some ways, even creepier than Threads, which is downright the scariest movie I've ever seen about nuclear war.

4.57mi, 40:51, 3 JUN 10, Colonial Heights, Virginia

iThink: The Bats, "Courage"

WX at 0600: 72.0 (22.2) DP 69.1 (20.6) BP 29.76 (1007) SSW 6 mist RH 90

Odometer 2: 128.0mi

Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 152/174

Today was overcast, which meant less motivation to go out. It was also warm, and humid. I went out anyway. I need it after the last few days of sybaritic eating and drinking in Washington DC the last two days.

The only other veneer of exercise I got yesterday was walking from Main State to a parking garage a mile away. It beat paying for parking. I'm cheap, if not quite as lazy as once thought.

That sill doesn't change the fact that my Weight Loss Plan is not working the way I intended...

Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:05 09:05 09:05 09:05 1.00
1.00 18:07 09:02 09:02 09:03 2.00
1.00 26:58 08:51 08:51 08:59 3.00
1.00 36:10 09:12 09:12 09:02 4.00
0.57 40:51 04:41 08:13 08:56 4.57