The training continues. Yeah!

In stark contrast to my last post, I am bouyant and pleased now. :)

I got up early and went for a little more than a 5k run this a.m. I need to keep running four to five times per week and, initially, just continue adding time rather than distance, in order to build up my endurance. I have increased my lifting totals, both in numbers of repetitions and in over all weight. I have gained muscle mass, and am still losing fat, which is awesome.

My immediate goal is to add approximately five minutes per week to my run time, which should, ultimately add a little over a half mile each week (hey, I'm old and the longer I go, the slower I get! lol) I would like to be up to seven or eight miles by mid January, in order to have a good base to build on for my final goal of 14 miles. While I'm not trying to run a half marathon, I am indeed hoping to have more gas in the tank for the ten mile, obstacle laden Tough Mudder, as well as the 13 mile Spartan race (if I opt for that one...looks a bit goofy). Besides, if I can get to 14, then I can get to 24, and then I can shoot for the Iron Man, which is the end all, be all of what I would consider my finest physical achievement.

Going to Utah in mid January is going to put a bit of a drag on my progress, as I'll be running in elevation, as well as trying to find time to run in the snow, and in between classes. I don't think I can gain at first, but I sure hope that I don't lose too much either.

Have a great week!

Details, details....

I find that the little things, when viewed in the end result, are not so little. A little lie, a little extra dessert, a little thing forgotten; The butterfly effect perhaps? My week was filled with little things that, in and of themself, weren't a big deal, but the cumulative effect was awesome in its damage! lol. All things, well... most things, can be fixed; As with my confluence of disaster. There is always another day, week, effort, attempt, etc; A great end to a tumultuous time, says I!
One of my dearest friends is on a Scotland/Ireland trip right now and, as if I needed any further prompting, has me realizing just what I've been missing. Time to get my kit in order and make that trip happen. I would dearly love to go in 2012, but between the two Army schools that I have tried (and succeeded) to get, the Tough Mudder, and my two vacations planned (oh..and work), it'll have to wait until 2013. Now...Tough Mudder IS advertising an Ireland 2013 venue. Hmmmmmmm.
My running, weights and, especially, pull ups are coming along GREAT! I should be right where I need to be by January, and most definitely by race time. The goal is to finish, but to finish strong (especially for the old guy, both in school as well as in T.M.) would really kick some ass.
I love the Fall....running, smelling the crisp air, feeling the rain, and being able to wear long sleeves! lol. Makes me yearn for my wonderful Boston. Great times.

God through my iPod....

Had a terrible morning, and was pretty down, thinking about my ex girlfriend (seemingly out of the blue, no less) and my iPod started shuffling nothing but random shite songs... Waiting in Vain, Cathy's Clown, Ode to Joy, Suspicious Minds... the day seemingly was going down hill. (Today, I hate her... she said she did, and changed to...what? Have some hook up in a filthy place, with some fucking random guy(s)? Fuck you. Yeah, fuck right off). I prayed and gave thanks, for the many things that I do have, and for forgiveness for my many sins (I like to sock fellas and cuss a whole lot, and be hateful, unfortunately), and went about my business. Within an hour I had two amazing meetings and three potential recruits.

Believe what you like, and I won't put my beliefs on you, but I believe that sometimes the good lord puts a little something in our gas tank, and I appreciate it.

The bike trip, due to work and personal conflicts, has been pushed back to next year. Sunshine, longer days, less rain, and less stress. I'm down for that! My running is getting back into shape, and I hope to get up to 5 times per week, and a five mile average by mid December. Been lifting weights, with a focus on climbing rope, and pull ups, as well as lats to push my body over the walls. Gotta get myself ready for Tough Mudder!

Off to the Sawbones'!

This is my greatest prize, earned during Race the Reaper, and it hurts like a motherfucker! I went to the Doctor's office and he told me that it wasn't infected, but rather only inflamed. As well, he told me that anti-biotic ointments, while disrupting infections, also disrupt healing. No more ointments. Let the cracking scab begin! Ugh..

The gal who checked me in, BTW, (Lindsay) was friendly, cute, and seemingly made a lovely moment of eye contact with me. I'm sure my fever was playing tricks on my brain, but a nice trick it was! lol.

Got a flu shot, and now I feel like a big sissy. Run tonight, and hopefully get the nastiness out of my system.

Bruised and happy!

I ran a short and slow two miles before shower and bed last night, and stepped on a rock or root, thus bruising my left heel. Decided to run the (above pictured) Burnt Bridge Creek Trail today, and holy crap does the heel hurt. I cut it short and only ran three and a quarter, but at least I could test out the trail. It's all paved, and has a lot of gradual hills.

Essentially, the designers just paved a path under the power lines and through the green belt that stretches through Vancouver. It's scenic enough, has good access and parking, is 8 miles long and is used enough to not feel too secluded. I'll run it again, if only to train up to the 15 miles I'll need for Tough Mudder and, respectively, a half marathon.

In other news, I need to get off of my ass and get over to Don's to get some more money and ideas into my bobber. It has been sitting much too long.

What a couple of weeks!

Holy smokes...Since my last post I did a warm up/break in 30 mile ride on my new road bike. It was a great effort; lots of hills, and getting used to the gearing and pedals. What sucks is the damage that I did to my nether regions. I still can't 100% feel my privates. Suuuuck. I was pretty happy with my time and the guys that I'm riding with. One of them, Mark, is a friggin' dynamo and should probably tour with how strong he rides. *laughs* Our 370 mile coast ride, next month, should be pretty awesome!

Completed the Race the Reaper run last weekend. 5.1 miles, 1000 feet elevation, and 18 obstacles. It was totally awesome, and an ass kicker for me. A great first experience! I'm signing up for the Zombie Apocalypse run (at the end of the month) and plan on Warrior Dash, and Tough Mudder next year. Looking for a few other runs to participate in (meaning, every single one that I can find) and am seeing quite a few popping up. The folks running in them are simply an awesome group of people, and the after event is just as fun as the run. Hung out with a new batch of really nice and fun people that I had never met before. Very excellent experience!

Getting prepared for Drill Sergeant School right now. A lot of memory work, and a lot of physical too. The school is in a location with elevation, so I need to plan on running twice as far here, to try and make it there. I applied for Air Assault School today as well. Rappelling out of helicopters seems to be a damned good idea, in my book at least :) I love the badges, and the accomplishment of doing what a lot of my cohorts (civilian and soldier alike) don't do.