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