Well here it is….running is my attempt to keep sanity in an utterly insane word. I am in the Army National Guard and somehow I have ended up getting deployed for my second time in less then three years. I am in pre-deployment training now; however, it won’t be long before I will find my way to the Middle East – first to deserts of Kuwait and yes, to Iraq, again.
During this deployment it is my goal to continue running and stay a part of a running community. What this blog is: my attempt tell others (mainly other runners) the experience of maintaining a 30+ mile a week habit in a deployed environment.
What is blog is not: a political manifesto against the war, my command, or US foreign policy. It is what it is. I cannot be really for or against; I can only do my job to the best of my ability and run.
So, here is goes: the first month of the mobilization to Camp Shelby, MS, was and is a struggle to maintain any decent mileage. Physical fitness takes a back-seat to training – I struggle to understand this philosophy; however, without question I drive on. In the civilain world when I am not on military orders, I have managed to maintain a solid 25 to peaking at about 40 miles-per-week habit. I do this my running a 5.3 mile loop in my neighborhood, some treadmill work at my local gym, and a long run between 10 and 22 miles on Sundays.
My first four weeks on the ground at Shelby I have been lucky to catch a three miler early in the morning and that is only from time to time. I have been really struggling with this and without a doubt feeling very depress about my situation. On more than one occasion this past month I have really been questioning my life and what has brought me to this situation, which seem to be more or less a train wreck. But entering my forth week sometime profound happened; I was able to put together several decent runs.
Super Bowl Sunday 2008, training slowed down and I was able to pull together a 6.25 mile around post… no runs on Monday or Tuesday. Two days is about where the mental breaking down begins. Hark, on Wednesday I got some treadmill time – about 5+ at an 8 minute mile pace but I ran the first 5000 about a 7:30 mile. On Thursday I ran my loop around post the same as Sunday for another 6.25 miles and it was back to the gym on Friday where I picked up 5 at a sub 8 minute mile pace on the treadmill.
Saturday morning I found my window. About 9 am or 0900 military time I was able to ease-off and put my physical fitness uniform and my silver and blue Asics Gel Nimbus 9s on and hit the road. In southern Mississippi it is warm and sunny this week and smells of pine trees. Great weather for February or any other time of the year for that mater. I was able to run the 6.25 mile loop again. If you are counting – which I always do I picked up about 27.5 miles this week at beautiful Camp Shelby, MS, and I feel I am a runner reborn.
Filed under: Running | Tagged: Running at pre-deployment mob-site
Hey, found your blog on Complete Running. It’s great what your doing. Yes the running, but more importantly what you’re doing for all of us. Thanks for your service. I’d love to follow your blog and see how your running goes while deployed. Stay strong and keep your chin up.
Thanks much Topher,
I appreciate the encouragement and support. This will certainly be an interesting journey.
Thank you so much for your service to protect us. My husband has been to Iraq x3. We continue to pray for men and women like you and him everyday.
WOW with the running. YOu are awesome. I only wish i could run as much as you. I just completly ran my thrid 5K and finished. So i will not be as great as a runner as you are but i do hope to complete the Equinox one day. I live in Alaska that is where the Equinox is held. I know a huge goal but i am going to try for it.
Hang it. You are being prayed for.
Daily I struggle with running – time and situation can get the best of all of us no matter where we are in the world. One thing is for certain I never lay down at night regretting the run I have taken only the one I missed.
I’m a friend of your roomy…Saber 2, from college. Old age is catching up with me, but still like to run and bike, so can understand your desire to run. Obviously the problem seems to be getting time to run for you. Anything I can help with for times that you do get to run? I have a good amount of running stuff I can’t wear anymore (old age sucks). Also have a couple pairs of running shoes with little miles, that cause me issues. I would be happy to do whatever it takes to help make life easier. Give me a wish list and I will see what I can do. Clothes, shoes, running belts?
Frank