Fast Running Soldier

Wow, I can't even remember the last time I got on the blog... It makes me kind of sad especially since I was running so well a few years back. Well, my focus has changed and I got into the weight lifting thing quite heavily. I jumped up to about 190 lbs at my heaviest and was having a lot of fun lifting. But I plateaued and with my current job haven't been able to hit the gym up as much. So, I think I will make a resurgence in the running world. I'll need to drop about 15-20 lbs to be at an ideal weight which may be a problem, but I won't be in the gym as much either. 

Today was a decent run, but I averaged an 8:40 pace. That had more to do with the people I ran with and the terrain. I am in better shape than that! 

Today was an awful run day with the PVTs. My goodness they couldn't keep up and we were running slow. Sometimes I wonder about this generation of youth. We see some awfully out of shape and unfit (physically and mentally) soldiers.

8:07   8:56  8:24   = 8:29avg

I can't wait to be able to run by myself again.

Good evening run today without the PVTs. It was a bit chilly at first, but once you get moving it gets warm fast. The wind was blowing a good 15-20mph from my right to left on the way out and from my left to right on the way back. I'm not sure if that has any effect on time since it was a head or tail wind... I felt good though and ran at a comfortable pace.

7:47  7:44  7:49   3:58 (.5 mile) = 7:48 avg at 171bpm avg

Not really surprised at anything here given what I perceive as my level of fitness. It is crazy to think that just a couple years back running at this pace my average bpm would be in the mid 140s... Oh well, the thing I love about running is that there is NO rush!

Wow, this morning woke up to 32 degrees in Columbus, GA. Crazy. That being said I just went to our BN gym and ran on the treadmill. I have no problem running in that temp, but give the Army's pt uniforms and the fact I wasn't ready for that temp, the treadmill looked like a great option!

According to the treadmill (not sure how accurate this one is calibrated):  8:55   8:20  8:05  = 172 average BPM.

Slowly but surely.

Today was a great run in freezing weather. We had a coldfront come through the last few days. I started running at about 8:00am and it was probably 38 degrees. It was that cold part of the morning when the sun is just beginning to rise...brrrr! I haven't run 5 miles or more in a LONG time. Can't run that far with the PVTs. Although I felt weak, it was great to get out and get in a longer run.

8:09  7:57   8:01   7:57   7:45   =  7:58 average pace at an average of 176 BPM

All in all, not bad. I am just amazed at where my BPM are right now. At that pace I have been about 30 BPM less. Crazy how the heart works. A couple months or so and that should start to come down, probably a few weeks and it will start to be noticeable.

We did a Company run today for the end of the phase. It was not awful, but we had like 1/3 of the Company that couldn't keep up at an 8:30 pace. Embarassing! I kept my watch going when we turned around to pick up the stragglers, so our average time will look even slower.

8:24 (no turning around)   8:58 (turn around)   8:59 (turn around)  4:51 (.5 mile)   = 8:51 average

160 BPM average

I like seeing my BPM down from the 170s, but sad it has to be at a 8:51 pace...

Didn't run today, had a Scout Campout and got to bed pretty late, didn't sleep at all. Of course! It was okay though, I think 5 days of running was pretty good right now.

Good run today. I ran about 1.6 miles to our start point and then ran a 2 mile PT test with the soldiers. I ran the first mile fairly fast (6:50ish) and since I was the only Cadre member running, I stayed back with the stragglers. Our slowest guy did two miles in 20:33.... :(

7:58   7:36   7:47   4:53 (.5 mile)  =  8:06 avg at 162 BPM

Today felt good. It was a little chilly when I started, but not like last week. I bet it was around 43 degrees. Cold at first, but I warmed up and so did the temp by the end. I think I will make Tuesdays and Saturdays my longer run days each week. It gives me some down/recovery time in between. Just trying to focus on consistency right now.

My goal was to try and hit 40min or just over. Early on I was feeling really good and my body kept trying to creep down to 7:40-ish, so I had to keep pulling myself back. Towards the end of the run I started speeding up again, but this time I let it go. I have a hard cutting back on the last mile or so of a run. It is like I see the light at the end of the tunnel and just have to go for it!

8:04   7:52   7:59   8:09   7:40  =  7:57 AP  at 164BPM

A good run today. Started with a 1.5 mile jog on the dirt track as the soldiers warmed up. Felt nice, took a couple laps to get the body warmed up and feeling good. Today was a sprint workout for the soldiers. 60/120s, 60 seconds of sprint and 120 seconds of cool down jogging. This was their first time doing this, so we did 6 iterations. That was the other 2+ miles.

8:21   8:54   8:29   4:11 (.5 mile)  = 8:37AP at 156BPM

At some point I was sprinting at a 5:13 pace.

Another good loop today! The weather was great, around 47 degrees or so. I felt a bit fatigued, maybe a combination of running a bit more than I have been and not sleeping as much as I should.

8:09   7:54   7:38   3:54 (.5 mile)  = 7:53 AP at 171 BPM

Alright, well I am sitting here in Portage, Indiana awaiting the BYU vs ND game tomorrow. Dad and I met in ATL and flew here yesterday afternoon. We will go into Chicago today and spend the day checking things out. Then on Saturday head into South Bend and hopefully see the Cougs take care of the Irish. I just saw the Irish will be without one of their stud defensive linemen for the rest of the season, so hopefully that will bode well for our run game!

Last year we were here for the game and found a nice little gym that let us in for free since I was with the military. That is an awfully nice perk when traveling. I can almost always find a gym that will let me in for free if I show my ID card.  So I got on the treadmill and took care of business. I am still getting used to treadmill running again, but things went pretty well. It is SO windy right now!

  8:35   8:12   8:00   3:29 (.5 mile)   = Not sure what that averaged breaks down to, 8:15(?)  My average heart rate was 167BPM

I was slow on the first mile since I started it and was fiddling with the controls, TV option and music. Then settled in and tried to increase speed each mile. I hit the last half mile with a 6:58 pace. I kept the incline at 2.0.

Another run on the treadmill here in Portage, IN. This is a nice little midwestern, hard-working town. Today's treadmill run felt 100x better than yesterday's even though I ran further. Maybe pace had something to do with it.

I started off  slow and gradually increased each mile, then a cooldown.

8:24   8:12   8:00   7:47   7:30  =  7:50-ish AP at 158BPM average. That is encouraging!

Another week down and so far feeling pretty good. My body seems to be good and no injury or nagging pain, knock on wood. I think I'll keep these distances about the same for another week before picking up a little bit.

Wow, today was a slow, cold run! I ran with the soldiers today and ran with B/C group... They struggle...

8:41 (I had about 15-20 soldiers with me of 118) 

9:03 had to do a turnaround and slow up for the about 2/3 of the group  

9:08 

4:00 (.5 mile This was just me cruising up a hill trying to inspire some of the guys to push it. When I got to the top, there was only one other guy with me. ONE of 118! I am not in terribly great shape right now either...)

  =  8:48 AP at162 BPM

So today's run route is pretty hilly, the first .35 mile is uphill, then from about .75 to the 1 mile mark is uphill and there are a few rolling hills inbetween. Then coming back, the reverse slopes are pretty bad. So I know I shouldn't get too frustrated, but holy cow! They guys volunteered to come in the Army, you would think they would show up in better shape. It is totally a pride thing. These kids have no self pride or vision of self-worth enough to get off the duffs, away from the computer and video games, and get into some kind of shape! Uhg it is ugly.

Cold and rainy today! Ended up running at the end of the day on a treadmill in the gym. I ran a Cascade route on the treadmill and it was a bit harder, plus I just wasn't feeling it, so my times were slower. I didn't run a single mile under 8:00. Sometimes you just have those days and it is probably best to listen to  your body every so often.

8:34   8:13   8:00   8:13   8:24  = 8:17-ish AP at 157 BPM average

On the treadmill. Felt okay. I can't remember what my times were, but probably averaged a hair over 8:00 pace.

Cold. This morning it had to  be about 34 degrees outside. I just ran around the Battalion's dirt track while the Company stretched out and got ready for 60/120s.

8:19   7:54   8:01   8:01   3:51 (.5 mile)  =  8:01 AP at 163Avg BPM

I intended to run yesterday, but instead just spent the morning laying in bed and talking with the wifey. I don't get the opportunity to wake up with her much, so I took it yesterday.