okay- so it has been awhile since my last blog- but the internet in Afghanistan really is that bad- combined with the frequent "black out" times when Soldiers from our task force get wounded or worse yet killed... but on a more lively note- I find myself sitting in the O'Hare airport- my least favorite of airports- although the newly renovated bathrooms are very eurotastic.... I am impressed... either way I am awaiting my flight to Kansas City- which is super exciting- heading to Sophia and the Mud Babes... and by this time tomorrow morning I will be on a 20 mile quest at Lou Joline's Dude, Where's the Trail... a fun super low threat race which will- I am sure- prove to be a test of my less than stellar training over the last 9 months.... but being relatively injury free I am hoping that we will have more fun than last year- there was much getting lost and a really nasty ITB issue...
Which sort of brings me to my next topic- getting back into running... really running... so to motivate myself I am reading the Dean Karnazes book- Ultra Marathon Man- silly I know but in many ways I can relate- having been a pretty good runner in High School and at West Point- afterward running was fun- but the pavement running and constant stress really took a toll on my body- the final straw was the stress fracture in my femur... a year away from running... and then running just became a necessary evil to accomplish my job in the Army.. and now it is time for a renew on the contract with myself...
I ran a little on my second deployment to Iraq- it was a good stress reliever.... then I redeployed and started getting set up in California... new job new area- there did not seem to be an open community of runners in Stockton- so I started doing other stuff... in come adult fighting... and then it was off to Kansas... where I found trail running and the Mud Babes- albeit six months into my assignment but so happy I did... how did I jump back in.... a ten-miler at WYCO- insane- completely! and with Rippin' who was in way better shape than I... it got me thinking- and so I signed up for the Free State Marathon- and then the Psycho Psummer 50k- which the goal was to finish- I did and it wasn't pretty... and then Flat Rock where I learned about calorie deprivation (not a good thing) and then started training for Rocky Raccoon... that was quickly thwarted by the deployment to Afghanistan... a really bad storm... and I can't forget about that pesky ITB...
Now... well a little mandatory (only for my section) run in costume for Halloween- and a Soldiers desire to run a marathon has fueled desire to run... and at the age of 35.... well I think it is about time- it has been about 13 years since I was busting out sub 18 minute 5ks on the track... so it is possible I can find it again- although this time it is about running farther and in more insane locations- really testing the limits of my mind and resolve to get 'er done in the words of my buddy Chris McLean...
The Test... well that is the ability to get up everyday and run... the next goal... not so sure yet- April is looking like a fine month to push the limits... and the Marathon- well that will be in May and I am super excited to help her run it... I mean my first marathon was really assisted by Bill- Bill Barnett. I think I ran about 24 miles with him- he was giving me pointers the whole way... so it is time to pay back... and maybe get another one hooked... okay enough for now... I will give a good report on Dude....
No comments:
Post a Comment