Fast Running Soldier

Wow, I felt really tired today. This is the most miles I have run in one week for a while. I should be able to keep this up through the rest of the deployment. Gotta get used to the mileage now, so I can pick it up when I get back to Italy and get ready for that Marathon!

Got it, hit my 40 miles for the week. Today's longer run was at a slower pace. An average of about 8:27, however the last mile was just under 8:00. I felt pretty good.

A day of rest, and my body is needing it. Not only have I been doing this running, but I have been coming back to the gym later in the day to lift weights with some of the guys in my platoon...my body is tired!

Well, we had a long patrol yesterday...probably could have made the run in the morning but I stayed up too late and was acting lazy.

Anyway, today's run was better. I wanted to average a faster pace, so I ended up averaging just under a 7:45 for the entire run.

So, the goal today was to warm up with a mile, then run the next 5.2 at a 7:30 pace. Goal achieved! I also had the treadmill on a hill workout, so that made it hard, but good!

Today was a good run. I was feeling it. I started the first 4 miles at an 8:00 pace and then hit the last two miles at a 6:15 pace. 12:30 two mile time...sweet! 

I make a big deal about my 2 mile times a lot because in the Army, that is the distance we are tested on. For better or for worse, in order for me to get 100% in the running category I need to run two miles in 13:00. So I am always pumped to get that low. My best is an 11:52 and hopefully when I get back down to sea level and can actually run on ground instead of a treadmill I should be close to a 12:00 again.

Wow, i didn't even feel very sore today. Usually, after I run a fast two miles, the next day I am running at like a 8:30 average, but today I was comfortable at an 8:00. My average BPM was 155 which was nice to see. I can tell by looking at my BPM, that my heart is getting stronger and I can run at a bit of a faster pace and still keep the same BPM. Cool!

I have also started to take some advice from Sasha. Something I read in the discussion forum. He mentioned once that he notices a lot of people getting really hyped up before races and how that is the worst thing that you can do. You only have so much adrenaline, plus you don't want to burn glycogen to early, all of which can happen if you get really pumped before a race. Also, what caught my attention, was he mentioned that most likely people were getting pumped up because they were listening to iPods which probably had very upbeat and tempo music. The past few days, I have stopped listening to upbeat music and settled for the good old Mormon Tabernacle Choir music and I have been able to focus so much more on my breathing, form, and just staying relaxed. I am not looking at the treadmill as much to see how far I have gone...it has been VERY nice. I think Sasha is on to something here!

My long run for the week. I wish I could do more, but it kills me to run 8 miles on a treadmill. I ran about a 8:30 pace. I have been trying to run a little slower on my longer run days. Another week done.

Today was another good start to the week. Felt pretty good, and the time went by fast. It is hard running exclusively on a treadmill...

Felt good today, just went at an easy 8:00 pace. Not much more to really say...

Went a little longer today. I did a "rolling hills" workout on the treadmill and it went for time instead of distance, so it set it at 50 minutes and went with it. Still trying to stay at about an 8:00 pace on most days. It is pretty easy and keeps my BPM at about 153, so that is good for my aerobic base stuff. 

another sweet run on the treadmill!

A good run. It was later in the night than I like, but doesn't matter. I made the goal to make sure I got my run in no matter what, and I did it. Don't you love achieving your goals?

Today's long run felt really good. I ran at about an 8:30 for the first 7 miles. Then picked up the last mile and a half. Every 400m I would increase my speed until the last .25 I was at a 7:30 pace. 

It wasn't anything spectacular, and I know that I could have run that last mile and a half a lot faster, but I wanted to end on a high note, but not do something stupid and get injured or whatever.

Three weeks in a row are encouraging, should be good for the next little while too.

A great day of rest. My body needed it and is feeling good.

Today was a good run. I am starting to try and work on my Marathon Race Pace. Something that Ed Eyestone suggests (X-country coach at BYU). So I warmed up with two miles at an 8:00 pace, then did the middle 3 miles at what I hope will be my pace...7:15 and then I cooled down the last mile and a half at just under an 8:00 pace. Felt good.

Trying to pick it up a little bit in the final three weeks or so that I have here in Afghanistan. The more I can do now, the less distance I will need to do at home and can start working on my speed and goal marathon pace.

I wasn't sure that I was going to make it to 7 miles today...but I overcame the mental difficulties and finished the run I had planned to do. Running is SO mental sometimes...

I felt good though. Here were my splits:

8:00   7:41   7:41   7:41   7:41   7:30   7:30

Today was just a good run, no tempo or anything, just consistent with a faster second half.

Felt good today. Had to run later in the day because of an early mission.

Another good run. Had to push through the mental block that wanted to stop around mile 6. Most of the mental aspect is due to running on a treadmill...

Today's long run was good. I went the distance I wanted and ran the last two miles at a much faster pace. I have been running the long runs about 30-40 second slower than my normal runs, but wanted to pick up the last few miles to get my body used to running faster on the back end of runs. It was good!

A good run to start the week. I went four miles at my GMP at 7:13. It was a bit difficult, but I think I could have hit five if needed. This should start setting me up good for adding a mile per week at GMP.

I felt a bit sluggish today. I have picked up my daily pace to 7:40 and I seem to be feeling good.

Good run, felt really sluggish in the morning, so I just ran 3.5, then later in the day I ran the other 3.5. Hopefully this doesn't become a trend!

Today's run felt great. I don't know if that was because it was done at 8:00pm and I had the day to warm up, but it was nice! Ran a hill workout on the treadmill at a 7:41 pace and my average HR was 152.

Today felt good, I think I had my heart rate monitor moved. It was about 15-20 BPM higher than what it normally is and what the treadmill said. Either way, I warmed up at an 8:00 pace then ran the remainder at 7:40.

Wow, that is the farthest I have ever been on a treadmill. It stinks. It only lets you run for 60:00, so I had to stop and then get back and finish the run. I guess it was okay because I needed to go to the little boys out house! This place is pretty funny.