Rob Murphy

I was going to do a long run up at Jeremy Ranch this afternoon. Nothing went right. Freeway like conditions on the road, hot and dusty, strong headwind in both directions, plus I felt drained and depleted. To top it off, I was unable to conjure up a single positive thought on the run -mostly focusing on my poor performance at my job.

So I aborted at three miles and turned around and jogged back.

A little better today...

Six times around Sugar House plus some extra up to 2300 East for a total of 12.25 miles.

I just ate my lunch at 9:30 am. What will I eat at noon?

Rob's book notes...

So for my summer reading list I've decided to re-read three books that have had a great impact on how I think about history.

A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam by Neil Sheehan

Stilwell and the American Experience in China 1941-1945 by Barbara Tuchman

Lincoln by David Herbert Donald

All three of these books are really about much more than their titles imply. They are literally self contained educations. You feel smarter when you're done.

The first time I read A Bright Shining Lie I was blown away by this John Paul Vann guy, just filled with admiration to the point where I think I'd decided to name my first born after him. Then you get to the point halfway through when he sleeps with the 14 year old babysitter. I was devastated! But if you want to understand Vietnam, there is no better book.

Lincoln is unique among Lincoln bios in that Donald doesn't start out assuming Lincoln will end up an icon. You come to appreciate how his path to greatness was anything but assured.

Tuchman's Stilwell is a little dated and suffers from the fact that Tuchman was writing about World War II in 1970 and her judgement is clouded at times by her feelings towards the war in Vietnam. At times she paints with a broad brush. But as a biography of Stilwell and an introduction to America's complex relationship with China, it's the best.

PM: Two continuous hours of warm, dry, windy gully running in both the upper and lower gully. No watch. Garmin broke. I'm giving myself 15 miles.

Why aren't more people paying attention to Dakota Lange's blog. He's a stud.

6.5 miles around Liberty Park plus 8 X 100 speedy striders. Also did some core stuff and explosive burpees - inspired as I was by watching one of Hobie Call's workout videos on youtube last night.

Busted out the Ab Wheel when I got home.

6.5 treadmill miles. I was tired and a little sore. I suppose from doing those striders yesterday and not doing them frequently enough.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Try to remember that it's about more than cookouts and matress sales.

Today I did a couple miles on the treadmill to warm-up then I headed over to the stairmaster for an EPIC session. 545 floors in 60 minutes.

I think I'm ready for Everest. If Eversst had stairs.

I just realized I haven't been sick this year. No allergies, not even a cold.

PM: Chopped down the dead aspen tree in my front yard. I was going to go for a second run to reach 70 for the week but the dead aspen was calling. I will miss it and so will the hummingbirds since our feeder hung from it. Sad that it's just a bit too warm in the Salt Lake Valley for aspens these days.