Day 261 of the campaign.
iThink: None.
WX at 2200: 48 (9) 39 (4) 30.24 (1024) E 2 mist RH 71
Odometer 3: 231.5mi
Z3.
First hash in a while, and I actually didn't want to go. I was pretty well squashed by work and was going to play hooky, but the Grand Mattress for the hash here had asked and so, I came out.
I was good to unload, even for a little bit, but workload has been uncomfortably bad since I got back. Some of this is attributable to trying to catch up at the same time as going full bore, but even by normal standards, work is more than usual lately.
No Splits.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
5.1mi, 43:04, 28 OCT 08, Bagram, Afghanistan
Day 259 of the campaign.
iThink: The JudyBats, "Ugly On the Outside"
WX at 1730: 66 (19) DP 14 (-10) BP 29.94 (1014) ENE 12 light blowing widespread dust RH 13
Odometer 2: 304.3mi
Z3 approximate.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.
First PT in a week. This was preceded by pushups (40x30x30x30) and sit ups (50x40x40). I got notice that I have a physical fitness test in about a week and a half. Ah, the advance warning.
I don't worry about passing it, but I don't think I'll get the score I want to get on this upcoming one.
I also revisited why going from sea level to 4,950 feet MSL really kicks my ass. I'm headed to Kabul tomorrow which sits another 1000 feet higher. Awesome!
I also revisited the reason why I hate running during the day here. I was competing with traffic and dust almost the entire time. Reading Rico's answer to the qu3estion whether he had any respiratory problems while in Iraq...I can only imagine what kind of smart quip I want to give for this one after almost a year and a half in Afghanistan.
I find it ironic that while I hate to be alone, there are times that I frankly don't want to be around other people.That's an odd dichotomy, but I don't care.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:27 08:27 08:27 08:27 1.00
1.00 17:03 08:36 08:36 08:31 2.00
1.00 25:41 08:38 08:38 08:34 3.00
1.00 34:11 08:30 08:30 08:33 4.00
1.00 42:32 08:21 08:21 08:30 5.00
0.07 43:04 00:32 08:05 08:30 5.07
iThink: The JudyBats, "Ugly On the Outside"
WX at 1730: 66 (19) DP 14 (-10) BP 29.94 (1014) ENE 12 light blowing widespread dust RH 13
Odometer 2: 304.3mi
Z3 approximate.
Average/max heart rate = no reading.
First PT in a week. This was preceded by pushups (40x30x30x30) and sit ups (50x40x40). I got notice that I have a physical fitness test in about a week and a half. Ah, the advance warning.
I don't worry about passing it, but I don't think I'll get the score I want to get on this upcoming one.
I also revisited why going from sea level to 4,950 feet MSL really kicks my ass. I'm headed to Kabul tomorrow which sits another 1000 feet higher. Awesome!
I also revisited the reason why I hate running during the day here. I was competing with traffic and dust almost the entire time. Reading Rico's answer to the qu3estion whether he had any respiratory problems while in Iraq...I can only imagine what kind of smart quip I want to give for this one after almost a year and a half in Afghanistan.
I find it ironic that while I hate to be alone, there are times that I frankly don't want to be around other people.That's an odd dichotomy, but I don't care.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:27 08:27 08:27 08:27 1.00
1.00 17:03 08:36 08:36 08:31 2.00
1.00 25:41 08:38 08:38 08:34 3.00
1.00 34:11 08:30 08:30 08:33 4.00
1.00 42:32 08:21 08:21 08:30 5.00
0.07 43:04 00:32 08:05 08:30 5.07
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
4.7mi, 37:41, 21 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth KS
Day 252 of the campaign.
iThink: Death Cab for Cutie, "What Sarah Said"
WX at 0600: 46.0 (7.8) DP 34.0 (1.1) BP 30.3 (1026) ENE 8 RH 62
Odometer 3: 228.0mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = NO READING
Last run at Leavenworth. I was hoping to get up earlier and run the Teardrop of Suck, but I decided to sleep in a little bit and went for two laps of the golf course block here, which has enough hills to work me over pretty well.
Relative speed was promising, tempered by the realization that when I get back to altitude, it's back to suckage.
The DCFC song was stuck in my head after browsing through some of the videos (and concert footage) for the song on YouTube...that, and the realization that I'm home for a short while because Household6 would have probably died had she not gone to surgery.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:51 07:51 07:51 07:51 1.00
1.00 15:58 08:07 08:07 07:59 2.00
1.00 24:01 08:03 08:03 08:00 3.00
1.00 32:08 08:07 08:07 08:02 4.00
0.69 37:41 05:33 08:03 08:02 4.69
iThink: Death Cab for Cutie, "What Sarah Said"
WX at 0600: 46.0 (7.8) DP 34.0 (1.1) BP 30.3 (1026) ENE 8 RH 62
Odometer 3: 228.0mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = NO READING
Last run at Leavenworth. I was hoping to get up earlier and run the Teardrop of Suck, but I decided to sleep in a little bit and went for two laps of the golf course block here, which has enough hills to work me over pretty well.
Relative speed was promising, tempered by the realization that when I get back to altitude, it's back to suckage.
The DCFC song was stuck in my head after browsing through some of the videos (and concert footage) for the song on YouTube...that, and the realization that I'm home for a short while because Household6 would have probably died had she not gone to surgery.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:51 07:51 07:51 07:51 1.00
1.00 15:58 08:07 08:07 07:59 2.00
1.00 24:01 08:03 08:03 08:00 3.00
1.00 32:08 08:07 08:07 08:02 4.00
0.69 37:41 05:33 08:03 08:02 4.69
Monday, October 20, 2008
Taps
As I was unloading groceries from the car today, I heard small arms fire. I realized, right afterwards, that it was actually a funeral. I always have a hard time with Taps, but none more so than when I hear it at a military cemetery.
My work is not done yet.
My work is not done yet.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
9.0mi, 75:09, 19 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth KS
Day 250 of the campaign.
iThink:
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Russian Easter Overture
Antonin Dvorak, Adagio-Allegro molto, Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World"
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"
Killing Zone, "All Along the Watchtower" (yes, the one used for the trailer for Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2)
WX at 0800: 51.1 (10.6) DP 44.1 (6.7) BP 30.15 (1020) S 13 RH 77
Odometer 3: 223.3mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 158/182
First time running the run I used to call the Nine Miles of Suck due to its extensive hill work in a long, long while. In the process, I set an unintentional PR for this distance.
There's something to be said about altitude training, but like I've said before, it's not a substitute for legitimate training.
I was pleasantly surprised, but didn't realize it at the time. There were some segments that were done faster than I expected. Of course, it might also help if I were lighter and wasn't packing as much weight.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:19 09:19 09:19 09:19 1.00
1.00 17:43 08:24 08:24 08:51 2.00
1.00 25:23 07:40 07:40 08:28 3.00
1.00 33:14 07:51 07:51 08:18 4.00
1.00 41:41 08:27 08:27 08:20 5.00
1.00 50:15 08:34 08:34 08:22 6.00
1.00 58:33 08:18 08:18 08:22 7.00
1.00 67:32 08:59 08:59 08:26 8.00
0.94 75:09 07:37 08:06 08:24 8.94
iThink:
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Russian Easter Overture
Antonin Dvorak, Adagio-Allegro molto, Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World"
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"
Killing Zone, "All Along the Watchtower" (yes, the one used for the trailer for Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2)
WX at 0800: 51.1 (10.6) DP 44.1 (6.7) BP 30.15 (1020) S 13 RH 77
Odometer 3: 223.3mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 158/182
First time running the run I used to call the Nine Miles of Suck due to its extensive hill work in a long, long while. In the process, I set an unintentional PR for this distance.
There's something to be said about altitude training, but like I've said before, it's not a substitute for legitimate training.
I was pleasantly surprised, but didn't realize it at the time. There were some segments that were done faster than I expected. Of course, it might also help if I were lighter and wasn't packing as much weight.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:19 09:19 09:19 09:19 1.00
1.00 17:43 08:24 08:24 08:51 2.00
1.00 25:23 07:40 07:40 08:28 3.00
1.00 33:14 07:51 07:51 08:18 4.00
1.00 41:41 08:27 08:27 08:20 5.00
1.00 50:15 08:34 08:34 08:22 6.00
1.00 58:33 08:18 08:18 08:22 7.00
1.00 67:32 08:59 08:59 08:26 8.00
0.94 75:09 07:37 08:06 08:24 8.94
A personal reminder
Sometimes we have to leave people behind so that we can go on. So that we can continue to fight. Sometimes we have to do things that we never thought we were capable of, if only to show the enemy our will...
...When you can be this for as long as you have to be, then you're a razor. This war is forcing us all to become razors.
Because if we don't, we don't survive. And then we don't have the luxury of becoming simply human again.
I saw Battlestar Galactica: Razor as I was writing a campaign plan last year. I found that remarkably evocative for what I was about to do as a strategic planner. I'm about to go back to theater soon, and have been asked to come back with my head screwed on tight. And it will be. But I wonder whether I can live with being around people for whom the Long War is not a reality.
I say this because I've had a hard time adjusting back to life back at home, even for a short time, when I'm starting to think I need to be back, because my work is not done yet. I came to peace with being a razor a while ago - but also recognize that it can be corrosively unhealthy for my relationships outside the combat zone.
...When you can be this for as long as you have to be, then you're a razor. This war is forcing us all to become razors.
Because if we don't, we don't survive. And then we don't have the luxury of becoming simply human again.
I saw Battlestar Galactica: Razor as I was writing a campaign plan last year. I found that remarkably evocative for what I was about to do as a strategic planner. I'm about to go back to theater soon, and have been asked to come back with my head screwed on tight. And it will be. But I wonder whether I can live with being around people for whom the Long War is not a reality.
I say this because I've had a hard time adjusting back to life back at home, even for a short time, when I'm starting to think I need to be back, because my work is not done yet. I came to peace with being a razor a while ago - but also recognize that it can be corrosively unhealthy for my relationships outside the combat zone.
Friday, October 17, 2008
5.2mi, 42:05, 17 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth KS
Day 248 of the campaign.
iThink:
mewithoutYou, "January 1979"
Silverstein, "Defend You"
WX at 0600: 43.0 (6.1) DP 36.0 (2.2) BP 30.25 (1024) SSE 7 RH 76
Odometer 3: 214.3mi
Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 160/177
Today was about what I expected. I'd woken up earlier wanting to go for a longer run, but I'll save that for Sunday.
I did need to get up and going given my impending return to the combat zone soon.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:54 07:54 07:54 07:54 1.00
1.00 16:14 08:20 08:20 08:07 2.00
1.00 24:26 08:12 08:12 08:09 3.00
1.00 32:28 08:02 08:02 08:07 4.00
1.00 40:50 08:22 08:22 08:10 5.00
0.18 42:05 01:15 06:57 08:07 5.18
iThink:
mewithoutYou, "January 1979"
Silverstein, "Defend You"
WX at 0600: 43.0 (6.1) DP 36.0 (2.2) BP 30.25 (1024) SSE 7 RH 76
Odometer 3: 214.3mi
Z3 high.
Average/max heart rate = 160/177
Today was about what I expected. I'd woken up earlier wanting to go for a longer run, but I'll save that for Sunday.
I did need to get up and going given my impending return to the combat zone soon.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:54 07:54 07:54 07:54 1.00
1.00 16:14 08:20 08:20 08:07 2.00
1.00 24:26 08:12 08:12 08:09 3.00
1.00 32:28 08:02 08:02 08:07 4.00
1.00 40:50 08:22 08:22 08:10 5.00
0.18 42:05 01:15 06:57 08:07 5.18
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
5.15mi, 43:00, 14 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth KS
Day 245 of the campaign.
iThink:
Death Cab For Cutie, "All is Full of Love"
New Model Army, "Bloodsports"
WX at 0700: 52.0 (11.1) DP 46.0 (7.8) BP 30.32 (1026) NE 6 RH 80
Odometer 3: 209.1mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 157/172
It gets harder to wake up every morning here. I also realize that I need to eventually start shifting my clock back to Afghanistan time.
Today was a pretty disappointing run, but it's better than no run at all. I realized I've been slacking lately and I'm going to be in the hurt box again when I'm back at 5000 feet MSL.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:33 1.00
1.00 16:59 08:26 08:26 08:30 2.00
1.00 25:24 08:25 08:25 08:28 3.00
1.00 33:39 08:15 08:15 08:25 4.00
1.00 41:44 08:05 08:05 08:21 5.00
0.15 42:58 01:14 08:13 08:21 5.15
iThink:
Death Cab For Cutie, "All is Full of Love"
New Model Army, "Bloodsports"
WX at 0700: 52.0 (11.1) DP 46.0 (7.8) BP 30.32 (1026) NE 6 RH 80
Odometer 3: 209.1mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 157/172
It gets harder to wake up every morning here. I also realize that I need to eventually start shifting my clock back to Afghanistan time.
Today was a pretty disappointing run, but it's better than no run at all. I realized I've been slacking lately and I'm going to be in the hurt box again when I'm back at 5000 feet MSL.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:33 1.00
1.00 16:59 08:26 08:26 08:30 2.00
1.00 25:24 08:25 08:25 08:28 3.00
1.00 33:39 08:15 08:15 08:25 4.00
1.00 41:44 08:05 08:05 08:21 5.00
0.15 42:58 01:14 08:13 08:21 5.15
Friday, October 10, 2008
3.0mi, 25:29, 10 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth KS
Day 241 of the campaign.
iThink: end credits music to Robot Chicken
WX at 0700: 55.9 (13.3) DP `48.0 (8.9) BP 30.02 (1016) SSE 9 RH 74
Odometer 3: 203.9mi
Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 153/169
Waking up is getting harder. Jet lag is still beating my ass and I still have my basic antisocial tendencies at work.
Today was slow and I frankly didn't fucking care.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:22 08:22 08:22 08:22 1.00
1.00 17:04 08:42 08:42 08:32 2.00
0.98 25:29 08:25 08:35 08:33 2.98
iThink: end credits music to Robot Chicken
WX at 0700: 55.9 (13.3) DP `48.0 (8.9) BP 30.02 (1016) SSE 9 RH 74
Odometer 3: 203.9mi
Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 153/169
Waking up is getting harder. Jet lag is still beating my ass and I still have my basic antisocial tendencies at work.
Today was slow and I frankly didn't fucking care.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:22 08:22 08:22 08:22 1.00
1.00 17:04 08:42 08:42 08:32 2.00
0.98 25:29 08:25 08:35 08:33 2.98
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
4.7mi, 37:50, 7 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth KS
Day 238 of the campaign.
iThink: Starflyer 59, "I Drive A Lot"
WX at 1000: 57.9 (14.4) DP 55.9 (13.3) BP 29.93 (1013) NW 13 light rain RH 93
Odometer 3: 200.9mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 162/180
Today ended up being much shorter than I'd intended. I've been reinstalling software on my computer over the last few days based on having to reinstall Windows because my wireless card wasn't working right.
Today was relatively quick but was driven externally by time stressors. Having to reset the computer is really starting to fucking piss me off.
Of course, there's a sizeable amount of things that have to be done with stuff at the house that I haven't had a chance to do either because they're time intensive and I can't carve out enough time to do them.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:46 07:46 07:46 07:46 1.00
1.00 16:11 08:25 08:25 08:06 2.00
1.00 24:15 08:04 08:04 08:05 3.00
1.00 32:11 07:56 07:56 08:03 4.00
0.72 37:50 05:39 07:51 08:01 4.72
iThink: Starflyer 59, "I Drive A Lot"
WX at 1000: 57.9 (14.4) DP 55.9 (13.3) BP 29.93 (1013) NW 13 light rain RH 93
Odometer 3: 200.9mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 162/180
Today ended up being much shorter than I'd intended. I've been reinstalling software on my computer over the last few days based on having to reinstall Windows because my wireless card wasn't working right.
Today was relatively quick but was driven externally by time stressors. Having to reset the computer is really starting to fucking piss me off.
Of course, there's a sizeable amount of things that have to be done with stuff at the house that I haven't had a chance to do either because they're time intensive and I can't carve out enough time to do them.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:46 07:46 07:46 07:46 1.00
1.00 16:11 08:25 08:25 08:06 2.00
1.00 24:15 08:04 08:04 08:05 3.00
1.00 32:11 07:56 07:56 08:03 4.00
0.72 37:50 05:39 07:51 08:01 4.72
Sunday, October 05, 2008
4.3mi, 35:00, 5 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth, KS
Day 236 of the campaign.
iThink: Death Cab For Cutie, "What Sarah Said"
WX at 1000: 69.1 (20.6) DP 57.9 (14.4) BP 30.05 (1017) S 20 RH 68
Odometer 3: 196.2mi
Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 165/181
I decided to get one in while my girls and mother were off at church. I don't go to church.
After visiting Household6 in the hospital and helping her take care of just basic daily activities - and seeing her in a lot of pain in the process of doing so, that Death Cab For Cutie song really sticks in my mind.
I'm trying to reconcile that with the basic desire to choke the shit out of everyone I meet lately. I know those tend to be mutually exclusive motivations, but there is a fucking compelling reason to give people decompression time after they get back from combat. Going from working in a plans shop, balls to the wall, to being home 44 hours later is pretty goddamn disconcerting.
I ran faster than I expected; I was doing lap repeats on the track in lane 4. I got in my 16 laps and I'll probably go long slow tomorrow.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:51 07:51 07:51 07:51 1.00
1.00 16:08 08:17 08:17 08:04 2.00
1.00 24:34 08:26 08:26 08:11 3.00
1.00 32:46 08:12 08:12 08:11 4.00
0.28 35:00 02:14 07:59 08:11 4.28
iThink: Death Cab For Cutie, "What Sarah Said"
WX at 1000: 69.1 (20.6) DP 57.9 (14.4) BP 30.05 (1017) S 20 RH 68
Odometer 3: 196.2mi
Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 165/181
I decided to get one in while my girls and mother were off at church. I don't go to church.
After visiting Household6 in the hospital and helping her take care of just basic daily activities - and seeing her in a lot of pain in the process of doing so, that Death Cab For Cutie song really sticks in my mind.
I'm trying to reconcile that with the basic desire to choke the shit out of everyone I meet lately. I know those tend to be mutually exclusive motivations, but there is a fucking compelling reason to give people decompression time after they get back from combat. Going from working in a plans shop, balls to the wall, to being home 44 hours later is pretty goddamn disconcerting.
I ran faster than I expected; I was doing lap repeats on the track in lane 4. I got in my 16 laps and I'll probably go long slow tomorrow.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:51 07:51 07:51 07:51 1.00
1.00 16:08 08:17 08:17 08:04 2.00
1.00 24:34 08:26 08:26 08:11 3.00
1.00 32:46 08:12 08:12 08:11 4.00
0.28 35:00 02:14 07:59 08:11 4.28
Saturday, October 04, 2008
The other extreme of my life
This comes to mind a lot lately at work, for a variety of reasons, all different from why I think of the aforementioned Death Cab for Cutie song.
Nothing but the hurt left here.
Nothing but bullets and pain
and the bled out slumping
and all the fucks and goddamns
and Jesus Christs of the wounded.
Nothing left here but the hurt.
Believe it when you see it.
Believe it when a 12-year-old
rolls a grenade into the room.
Or when a sniper punches a hole
deep into someone’s skull.
Believe it when four men
step from a taxicab in Mosul
to shower the street in brass
and fire. Open the hurt locker
and see what there is of knives
and teeth. Open the hurt locker and learn
how rough men come hunting for souls.
Nothing but the hurt left here.
Nothing but bullets and pain
and the bled out slumping
and all the fucks and goddamns
and Jesus Christs of the wounded.
Nothing left here but the hurt.
Believe it when you see it.
Believe it when a 12-year-old
rolls a grenade into the room.
Or when a sniper punches a hole
deep into someone’s skull.
Believe it when four men
step from a taxicab in Mosul
to shower the street in brass
and fire. Open the hurt locker
and see what there is of knives
and teeth. Open the hurt locker and learn
how rough men come hunting for souls.
- Brian Turner, "The Hurt Locker"
One extreme of my life
As I waited with Household6 in the hospital yesterday, and as I flew over on the plane from Afghanistan, I thought of this song.
And it came to me then that every plan is a tiny prayer to father time
As I stared at my shoes in the ICU that reeked of piss and 409
And I rationed my breaths as I said to myself that I'd already taken too much today
As each descending peak on the LCD took you a little farther away from me
Away from me
Amongst the vending machines and year-old magazines in a place where we only say goodbye
It stung like a violent wind that our memories depend on a faulty camera in our minds
But I knew that you were a truth I would rather lose than to have never lain beside at all
And I looked around at all the eyes on the ground as the TV entertained itself
'Cause there's no comfort in the waiting room
Just nervous pacers bracing for bad news
And then the nurse comes round and everyone will lift their heads
But I'm thinking of what Sarah said that "Love is watching someone die"
So who's going to watch you die?
And it came to me then that every plan is a tiny prayer to father time
As I stared at my shoes in the ICU that reeked of piss and 409
And I rationed my breaths as I said to myself that I'd already taken too much today
As each descending peak on the LCD took you a little farther away from me
Away from me
Amongst the vending machines and year-old magazines in a place where we only say goodbye
It stung like a violent wind that our memories depend on a faulty camera in our minds
But I knew that you were a truth I would rather lose than to have never lain beside at all
And I looked around at all the eyes on the ground as the TV entertained itself
'Cause there's no comfort in the waiting room
Just nervous pacers bracing for bad news
And then the nurse comes round and everyone will lift their heads
But I'm thinking of what Sarah said that "Love is watching someone die"
So who's going to watch you die?
- Death Cab for Cutie, "What Sarah Said"
6.8mi, 55:28, 4 OCT 08, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Day 235 of the campaign.
iThink:
Death Cab for Cutie, "Your Heart Is An Empty Room"
Death Cab for Cutie, "What Sarah Said"
WX at 0700: 54.0 (12.2) DP 46.9 (8.3) BP 30.08 (1018) ESE 7 RH 77
Odometer 3: 191.9mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 167/185
I can't believe that I'm not yet 50% through this deployment.
I am on emergency leave back at home. Household6 had to go in for surgery and 44 hours after showing up for manifest call at Bagram, I was back at home.
The sense of dislocation is absolutely fucking staggering. It is no accident that "What Sarah Said" is on my mind.
Today marked my first real PT in what's been about a week. I also managed to pick up a cold. I'm not sure if it's because I went from cool (at Bagram) to smoking hot (at Al Udeid Air Base) to long plane ride to cool at Kansas City. It could also be that I went maybe 60 hours without horizontal rack time and I was absolutely incoherently tired by last night.
Today's run proved a few things - altitude acclimation works (I felt pretty good starting off) but it's not a substitute for regular training.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:48 07:48 07:48 07:48 1.00
1.00 16:06 08:18 08:18 08:03 2.00
1.00 24:23 08:17 08:17 08:08 3.00
1.00 32:32 08:09 08:09 08:08 4.00
1.00 40:48 08:16 08:16 08:10 5.00
1.00 48:53 08:05 08:05 08:09 6.00
0.82 55:28 06:35 08:02 08:08 6.82
iThink:
Death Cab for Cutie, "Your Heart Is An Empty Room"
Death Cab for Cutie, "What Sarah Said"
WX at 0700: 54.0 (12.2) DP 46.9 (8.3) BP 30.08 (1018) ESE 7 RH 77
Odometer 3: 191.9mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 167/185
I can't believe that I'm not yet 50% through this deployment.
I am on emergency leave back at home. Household6 had to go in for surgery and 44 hours after showing up for manifest call at Bagram, I was back at home.
The sense of dislocation is absolutely fucking staggering. It is no accident that "What Sarah Said" is on my mind.
Today marked my first real PT in what's been about a week. I also managed to pick up a cold. I'm not sure if it's because I went from cool (at Bagram) to smoking hot (at Al Udeid Air Base) to long plane ride to cool at Kansas City. It could also be that I went maybe 60 hours without horizontal rack time and I was absolutely incoherently tired by last night.
Today's run proved a few things - altitude acclimation works (I felt pretty good starting off) but it's not a substitute for regular training.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 07:48 07:48 07:48 07:48 1.00
1.00 16:06 08:18 08:18 08:03 2.00
1.00 24:23 08:17 08:17 08:08 3.00
1.00 32:32 08:09 08:09 08:08 4.00
1.00 40:48 08:16 08:16 08:10 5.00
1.00 48:53 08:05 08:05 08:09 6.00
0.82 55:28 06:35 08:02 08:08 6.82
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Distant memory
I grudgingly claim to be a member of Facebook. As a result, I was witness to a photo I hadn't seen, ever, and was from the fall of 1990, when I was a lot younger, thinner, and perhaps a bit more idealistic. It is amazing how many memories get sharply brought back after over a decade of dormancy.It also reinforces how certain songs get imprinted in your memory because the first thing that came to mind, bizarrely enough, was an old Game Theory song, "Bad Year at UCLA." I remember that mostly because I'd bought their album Tinker to Evers to Chance when I had met the person who I ended up taking to this event.
These are strange things to remember almost two decades after the fact, but life gets strange in Afghanistan.
Except I'm not in Afghanistan. I'm headed back to the USA on emergency leave since Household6 is in the hospital.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
5.1mi, 49:35, 27 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan
Day 228 of the campaign. Just barely.
iThink:
Rob Zombie, "Feel So Numb"
W.G. Snuffy Walden, opening credits to My So-Called Life
WX at 2330: 68 (20) DP 24 (-4) BP 30.00 (1016) Variable 6 RH 19
Odometer 3: 185.1mi
Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 151/157
I was a bit tired, and have been weighing a few things in the back of my mind lately, but about the last thing I was expecting to hear last night after finishing my run has been the news that Household6 was in the hospital after what should have been a fairly routine procedure.
I knew it was going to be a long deployment, but there is altogether too much going on in my life right now.
Tonight was one run where I just didn't care how slow I went - and I wanted to avoid setting myself up for overtraining anyway, so I deliberately went easy. I think what I did two weeks ago, trying to do a number of perimeter runs back-to-back, had a lot to do with why I got sick. I can't afford that right now. Most of the time, slow runs bring me some degree of peace, but if there's one word that doesn't describe my state of mind, it's equanimity. Sure wish I had some right now.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:29 09:29 09:29 09:29 1.00
1.00 19:21 09:52 09:52 09:40 2.00
1.00 29:21 10:00 10:00 09:47 3.00
1.00 39:18 09:57 09:57 09:49 4.00
1.00 49:09 09:51 09:51 09:50 5.00
0.05 49:35 00:26 09:14 09:49 5.05
iThink:
Rob Zombie, "Feel So Numb"
W.G. Snuffy Walden, opening credits to My So-Called Life
WX at 2330: 68 (20) DP 24 (-4) BP 30.00 (1016) Variable 6 RH 19
Odometer 3: 185.1mi
Z2.
Average/max heart rate = 151/157
I was a bit tired, and have been weighing a few things in the back of my mind lately, but about the last thing I was expecting to hear last night after finishing my run has been the news that Household6 was in the hospital after what should have been a fairly routine procedure.
I knew it was going to be a long deployment, but there is altogether too much going on in my life right now.
Tonight was one run where I just didn't care how slow I went - and I wanted to avoid setting myself up for overtraining anyway, so I deliberately went easy. I think what I did two weeks ago, trying to do a number of perimeter runs back-to-back, had a lot to do with why I got sick. I can't afford that right now. Most of the time, slow runs bring me some degree of peace, but if there's one word that doesn't describe my state of mind, it's equanimity. Sure wish I had some right now.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 09:29 09:29 09:29 09:29 1.00
1.00 19:21 09:52 09:52 09:40 2.00
1.00 29:21 10:00 10:00 09:47 3.00
1.00 39:18 09:57 09:57 09:49 4.00
1.00 49:09 09:51 09:51 09:50 5.00
0.05 49:35 00:26 09:14 09:49 5.05
Friday, September 26, 2008
7.8mi, 65:33, 27 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan
Day 228 of the campaign.
iThink:
John Williams, "Stored Memories"
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"
WX at 0030: 62 (17) BP 28 (-2) DP 30.00 (1016) Variable 3 RH 27
Odometer 2: 299.2mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 171/181
This is perimeter run 44.
First real PT in about a week. I was sick with a bacterial cold that was pretty bad, bad enough where I was on Augmentin, Tylenol, Motrin, and Flonase for a week. That bad.
Then I was at Qatar on temporary duty. I was by myself, so I didn't get much in the way of support, so I passed up on PT. Self-medicating some of my frustrations was preferable to physical exercise. I'm denied that in Afghanistan, so I'll drink when I get the chance. I suspect don't have a drinking problem because I don't have an opportunity to contribute to it much.
This was my last opportunity to catch up with my good friend Rico, too, and it was gloriously good to see him one last time before he goes home.
For not running in a week, I guess I'm not too unhappy about the outcome, but I have much to rebuild as I've been dilatory at best with staying in shape.
The John Williams was after watching snippets of the movie AI: Artificial Intelligence, but that's a bad movie to watch if I miss my children...and I miss my children.
I've thought about a great many things lately, but nothing I feel like writing about. Yet.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:17 08:17 08:17 08:17 1.00
1.00 16:41 08:24 08:24 08:20 2.00
1.00 24:57 08:16 08:16 08:19 3.00
1.00 33:34 08:37 08:37 08:23 4.00
1.00 41:58 08:24 08:24 08:24 5.00
1.00 50:37 08:39 08:39 08:26 6.00
1.00 59:14 08:37 08:37 08:28 7.00
0.76 05:33 06:19 08:19 08:27 7.76
iThink:
John Williams, "Stored Memories"
Bear McCreary, "Storming New Caprica"
WX at 0030: 62 (17) BP 28 (-2) DP 30.00 (1016) Variable 3 RH 27
Odometer 2: 299.2mi
Z4.
Average/max heart rate = 171/181
This is perimeter run 44.
First real PT in about a week. I was sick with a bacterial cold that was pretty bad, bad enough where I was on Augmentin, Tylenol, Motrin, and Flonase for a week. That bad.
Then I was at Qatar on temporary duty. I was by myself, so I didn't get much in the way of support, so I passed up on PT. Self-medicating some of my frustrations was preferable to physical exercise. I'm denied that in Afghanistan, so I'll drink when I get the chance. I suspect don't have a drinking problem because I don't have an opportunity to contribute to it much.
This was my last opportunity to catch up with my good friend Rico, too, and it was gloriously good to see him one last time before he goes home.
For not running in a week, I guess I'm not too unhappy about the outcome, but I have much to rebuild as I've been dilatory at best with staying in shape.
The John Williams was after watching snippets of the movie AI: Artificial Intelligence, but that's a bad movie to watch if I miss my children...and I miss my children.
I've thought about a great many things lately, but nothing I feel like writing about. Yet.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:17 08:17 08:17 08:17 1.00
1.00 16:41 08:24 08:24 08:20 2.00
1.00 24:57 08:16 08:16 08:19 3.00
1.00 33:34 08:37 08:37 08:23 4.00
1.00 41:58 08:24 08:24 08:24 5.00
1.00 50:37 08:39 08:39 08:26 6.00
1.00 59:14 08:37 08:37 08:28 7.00
0.76 05:33 06:19 08:19 08:27 7.76
Friday, September 12, 2008
7.8mi, 68:17, 13 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan
Day 214 of the campaign.
iThink:
The Bats, "Courage"
New Model Army, "Bloodsports"
WX at 0030: 69 (21) DP 28 (-2) BP 29.97 (1015) S 5 RH 21
Odometer 2: 291.4mi
Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 160/177
This is perimeter run 43.
I decided to force out a run tonight - work has been more fucking insane than I thought it was going to be, and there is some catharsis to be had in getting out of the large metal box and hitting the streets.
There's an awful lot of schadenfreude in my life lately; perhaps that's why I had New Model Army (a band not casually known for its mellow lyrics) on the mind tonight. It's an unusual mood for me to have NMA stuck in my head - usually I save those songs for truly black moods...and yet, I'm not sure why.
It is instructive to note that one of the visiting folks from our successor unit was asking rhetorically why my boss rated a PSD (personal security detachment). He was talking about how there's always some pissed-off looking Asian guy with a rifle and advanced infantry optics walking around at the low ready.
There are times that people look really uneasy; my level of basic aggression at work tends to make people uneasy - and the fact that I'm the only joker with optics on his bullet launcher compounds that. That...and the fact that last time I went to the range, and had target problems (it started moving around in the wind) I got a mite assed up...and got mostly head shots. That was downright motivational.
I need to go back out to the range and shoot man-sized targets again. It makes good catharsis.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:52 08:52 08:52 08:52 1.00
1.00 17:42 08:50 08:50 08:51 2.00
1.00 26:49 09:07 09:07 08:56 3.00
1.00 35:45 08:56 08:56 08:56 4.00
1.00 44:33 08:48 08:48 08:55 5.00
1.00 53:30 08:57 08:57 08:55 6.00
1.00 02:01 08:31 08:31 08:52 7.00
0.76 08:17 06:16 08:15 08:48 7.76
iThink:
The Bats, "Courage"
New Model Army, "Bloodsports"
WX at 0030: 69 (21) DP 28 (-2) BP 29.97 (1015) S 5 RH 21
Odometer 2: 291.4mi
Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 160/177
This is perimeter run 43.
I decided to force out a run tonight - work has been more fucking insane than I thought it was going to be, and there is some catharsis to be had in getting out of the large metal box and hitting the streets.
There's an awful lot of schadenfreude in my life lately; perhaps that's why I had New Model Army (a band not casually known for its mellow lyrics) on the mind tonight. It's an unusual mood for me to have NMA stuck in my head - usually I save those songs for truly black moods...and yet, I'm not sure why.
It is instructive to note that one of the visiting folks from our successor unit was asking rhetorically why my boss rated a PSD (personal security detachment). He was talking about how there's always some pissed-off looking Asian guy with a rifle and advanced infantry optics walking around at the low ready.
There are times that people look really uneasy; my level of basic aggression at work tends to make people uneasy - and the fact that I'm the only joker with optics on his bullet launcher compounds that. That...and the fact that last time I went to the range, and had target problems (it started moving around in the wind) I got a mite assed up...and got mostly head shots. That was downright motivational.
I need to go back out to the range and shoot man-sized targets again. It makes good catharsis.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:52 08:52 08:52 08:52 1.00
1.00 17:42 08:50 08:50 08:51 2.00
1.00 26:49 09:07 09:07 08:56 3.00
1.00 35:45 08:56 08:56 08:56 4.00
1.00 44:33 08:48 08:48 08:55 5.00
1.00 53:30 08:57 08:57 08:55 6.00
1.00 02:01 08:31 08:31 08:52 7.00
0.76 08:17 06:16 08:15 08:48 7.76
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Some minor pleasures
Picking up a copy of T.H. White's The Once And Future King in the conference room of our headquarters company and realizing it had been some two decades since I really read it for detail.
And yet, it's compelling in a way that I don't associate with most of the reading I've done lately. How do you humanize one of the most enduring love triangles in literature? Read it.
My private chuckle today: At my desk at work: Oscar Wilde, "The Importance of Being Earnest." Now I feel compelled to listen to some Morrissey and wear a pink reflective belt here in the combat zone.
And yet, it's compelling in a way that I don't associate with most of the reading I've done lately. How do you humanize one of the most enduring love triangles in literature? Read it.
My private chuckle today: At my desk at work: Oscar Wilde, "The Importance of Being Earnest." Now I feel compelled to listen to some Morrissey and wear a pink reflective belt here in the combat zone.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
7.8mi, 70:12, 9 SEP 08, Bagram, Afghanistan
Still day 210 of the campaign.
iThink: Hilary Duff, "Wake Up" (yes.)
WX at 2230: 68 (20) DP 41 (5) BP 30.00 (1016) W 3 RH 37
Odometer 2: 283.6mi
Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 158/179.
This is perimeter run 42.
I decided to do something daring, I actually ran twice in a row - something I haven't done in a while. I had a few hours to kill, so I decided to try to knock out a run while I still could. Unfortunately, I starting having acid reflux-like symptoms about a third of the way through the run and I felt like I was going to woof. I didn't, but it was awful close. I suppose I would've run faster than 70 minutes had I not stopped to almost spew, but I'm more gratified that I actually worked out two days in a row and I might actually have some fighting chance to beat the lard monster.
Today warranted a run of this nature, though. There's nothing like working on two orders, going in front of the commanding general, and then his pointing out some truly bush league mistakes. I was livid, but not at him, by any stretch. I know it's going to be a bad day when the first word I utter when I get to my desk is "fuck!" The rest of the day followed suit.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:35 08:35 08:35 08:35 1.00
1.00 17:29 08:54 08:54 08:45 2.00
1.00 26:23 08:54 08:54 08:48 3.00
1.00 35:37 09:14 09:14 08:54 4.00
1.00 44:34 08:57 08:57 08:55 5.00
1.00 53:43 09:09 09:09 08:57 6.00
1.00 63:27 09:44 09:44 09:04 7.00
0.74 70:12 06:45 09:07 09:04 7.74
iThink: Hilary Duff, "Wake Up" (yes.)
WX at 2230: 68 (20) DP 41 (5) BP 30.00 (1016) W 3 RH 37
Odometer 2: 283.6mi
Z3.
Average/max heart rate = 158/179.
This is perimeter run 42.
I decided to do something daring, I actually ran twice in a row - something I haven't done in a while. I had a few hours to kill, so I decided to try to knock out a run while I still could. Unfortunately, I starting having acid reflux-like symptoms about a third of the way through the run and I felt like I was going to woof. I didn't, but it was awful close. I suppose I would've run faster than 70 minutes had I not stopped to almost spew, but I'm more gratified that I actually worked out two days in a row and I might actually have some fighting chance to beat the lard monster.
Today warranted a run of this nature, though. There's nothing like working on two orders, going in front of the commanding general, and then his pointing out some truly bush league mistakes. I was livid, but not at him, by any stretch. I know it's going to be a bad day when the first word I utter when I get to my desk is "fuck!" The rest of the day followed suit.
Splits
SGMT AGGRG SEGMT PERMI AVGPC DIST
1.00 08:35 08:35 08:35 08:35 1.00
1.00 17:29 08:54 08:54 08:45 2.00
1.00 26:23 08:54 08:54 08:48 3.00
1.00 35:37 09:14 09:14 08:54 4.00
1.00 44:34 08:57 08:57 08:55 5.00
1.00 53:43 09:09 09:09 08:57 6.00
1.00 63:27 09:44 09:44 09:04 7.00
0.74 70:12 06:45 09:07 09:04 7.74
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