Hello from Kyrgyzstan

Well I have finally made it to Manas, Kyrgystan. We were supposed to be here on the 30th but our flight got cancelled because it took them so long to get us through customs. Trust me if it can go wrong it will. Anyways we slept in the chairs over at the shop until our show time on the 31st to try and catch another flight out of Afghanistan. We made that flight and now we are waiting to leave here in the next couple of days. It in nice to be able to go through out my day and not worry about rocket attacks. It will be nice when all this traveling is over and I can spend my two weeks off with my family and get reacquainted. I hope everyone is having a good week.

By the way it is killing me that I don't get to run at the moment. I am going into withdrawals. Until next time...

LAST DAY OF DEPLOYMENT RUNNING!!!!!!

Well today is the last day of running while I am here at Bagram. I thought about running maybe one or two days more but then I would have to take wet, moist clothes in my bag back with me to Oki and that would be very nasty!! So I threw in the towel so to speak and now I am officially on a break from running until I get home. It will be a pretty good break but I think my legs need that rest. Plus nobody likes to fly while they are sore. Anyways things are packed up and ready to get shipped out tomorrow. Then we are scheduled to leave pretty soon unless something comes up but it is 99% certain we will leave here soon. Today I ran 6.35 miles, burned 1,177 calories, and I ran for 65 minutes. My total mileage for the deployment was 653.19 miles which I am very happy with. I am happy where I am at working towards my first marathon and I look forward to continuing my training when I get back to Oki. Plus I am looking forward to losing some more weight and meeting my weight goal of 210 lbs. I hope everyone is having a good week. Until next time...

Running Totals for 25 Aug 09

Ok, I think I will be able to get in one to two more runs than I thought I would be able too. I don't have to move out of my room until Friday now because the replacements should be here a day later than we thought they would be. So one less day I have to sleep in the POL garage over on the other side of the base. I think my last will probably be Friday morning so I should only miss one day this week which is good. Then that will give me around 8 days of rest from running and I will get back to work (running) on Monday the 7th of September. And I should be able to get in some good outdoor running, finally!! Today I ran for 6.24 miles which isn't too bad after my long run day. I burned 1,109 calories and I went for 65 minutes. I was a little stiff during my run today but at least I got it in. I hope everyone is ready for another week. Until next time...

Running Totals for 24 Aug 09

Well here we are on my last week of running or should I say my last half week of running because after Wednesday's run I will be finished until I get back to Okinawa. I think that it will be a good break from running and give my legs a little time to recuperate BUT a week and a half might be a little bit much. Regardless it will be a nice break, I will just have to watch what I am eating during that time. I didn't weigh today because the scale it broke once again but I still have some weight to lose when I get home to Oki. Today I ran 11.11 miles, burned 1,953 calories, and I ran for 106 minutes. I will break the 650 mile goal which I am pleased with. I hope everyone had a great weekend and I can't wait until this week is over. Until next time...

Weekly Totals & Running Totals for 22 Aug 09

Well I didn't post yesterday because the Internet was pretty crappy. So I thought I would quickly post my totals for my last total week of running. Well close to a total week anyways. Only three more days of running I should definitely hit my 650 miles before I finish on Wednesday. Yesterday I ran 7.42 miles, burned 1,304 calories, and I went for 82 minutes. It took me a little longer because I walked some hills towards the end. For the week I ran for 35.83 miles, burned 6,363 calories, I ran for 6 hours and 14 minutes. It was a pretty good week of running. I need the trip home and a week away from running to let my legs rejuvenate a little before I start it back up again once I get back to Okinawa. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Until next time...

Running Totals for 21 Aug 09

With 4 more days of running to go, I am slowly creeping to that 650 mile mark. I figure I will try to run as many miles this week so I won't have to kill myself next week over the last three days of running. It is nice to be getting close to the end because I definitely need the break. My legs could REALLY use the break. I don't want to have achy legs for my whole trip home. Also when we get into Baltimore on the 3rd of Sep., we are going to check into our hotel room and then head down to Camden Yards and watch the Yankee's play the Oriole's. That will be a nice little rest stop on our way back to Japan. I am looking forward to that. Today I ran 8.5 miles, burned 1,494 calories, and I went for 86 minutes. It was a pretty good run except that my legs are pretty much done. I think that 650 miles over 4 months is quiet a bit for me but I'll live. I hope everyone is ready for the weekend. Until next time...

Happy Afghan Election Day!! Hold on to yer butts!!

Well today is the day of days here in Afghanistan. The culmination of every threat that the Taliban has put out there is supposed to happen today. I guess we will see what the day produces. Here's to hoping it is quiet around Bagram Air Field. Today was a good run day and it showed in my mileage. My right leg hurt a little at the beginning of my run but the pain subsided shortly into it. I wish it was like that everyday. Anyhoo, I ran 7.5 miles today, burned 1,318 calories, and I ran for 76 minutes. Just 5 more days of running to go before I take a little hiatus to travel back home. And I am really looking forward to that. I hope everyone is doing good. Until next time...

Running Totals for 19 Aug 09

Well we were able to get onto Blogger and Facebook for a couple of days at work but I guess the Communications people found out and now that is over. So now I am back to updating things after work once again. Oh well, it was good while it lasted no matter how short it was. Well this week isn't going quick enough for me BUT I knew that would happen. Out of all the weeks I have been here I knew this one would be the longest for a couple of reasons. First, it is the last full week I am here. Second, we have the Afghanistan elections tomorrow (20th) & Ramadan starts this Saturday and the Taliban have been known for getting in their attacks before their holiday break and they are not happy about the elections that are about to take place. So needless to say I just want this week over and done with. I got in a run today even though it was not a good one. I put in 5.6 miles, burned 1,050 calories, and I went for 65 minutes. I will look forward to the break from running and look forward to getting it going again once I get back to Oki. I seriously can't wait for that day to get here. Until next time...

Back in Oki 4 Sep!!

Well today we got our itineraries and we will be back in Okinawa on Friday, September 4th!! Finally, it is at the end or very close anyways. Now time will drag since we know when we will be home. The good thing is that is the beginning of our 4 day weekend for Labor Day. Anyway you look at it, it will be really sweet! I decided to take and extra day off from running but the main reason was I got caught up in the PGA Championship and I watched Y.E. Yang beat out Tiger Woods for the Trophy. It was a very exciting match (that's if you like watching golf). That puts me a little behind for my 650 goal but I should still make it no problem (knock on wood). Today I ran 6.81 miles, 1,197 calories, and it took me 65 minutes. It was a good run and I hope to continue those over my last 7 days of running. I hope everyone had a good weekend. Until next time...

Weekly Totals & Running Totals for 15 Aug 09

Well the week of running is finally over and we are winding down towards the end of my time here at Bagram. I start my last full week of running next week. I like my new little work out that I am doing at the moment. Running a 5K and then doing a half our of hill work. It's pretty nice and it kicks my butt. Today I got in 5.55 miles, burned 1,135 calories, and I went for 65 minutes. My totals for the week are as follows: I ran 47.5 miles, burned 8,606 calories, and I ran for 8 hours and 3 minutes. It was a good week. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

My beautiful wife Heather registered me for the Naha Marathon yesterday so it is official, I am running the Naha Marathon on the 6th of December. NOW, it seems scary!! Until next time...

Running Totals for 14 Aug 09

Ok, new plan!! I am not going to kill myself and try to get to 700 miles. I could probably do it BUT at what cost to my body? I was thinking why am I going to kill myself when I should be in the 2nd week of my marathon training. So that is what I am going to do. Keep pace with my marathon training. That is the ultimate goal anyways, to run the Naha Marathon the first weekend in December. I think what I will do is cover the miles that my training plan says to run and then if I feel like I need to do something more I can walk on an incline to get my legs used to doing hills or simulated hills. I haven't been running at an incline and I need to start getting my legs prepped for the hills of Oki. Cutting back my mileage is a good idea anyways because my legs feel completely dead. Plus I am starting to not look forward to my runs and I don't want to get burnt out. So today, I ran a 5k and then walked at a 10% incline until I got my 65 minutes in and it actually felt good! My shin splints weren't killing me and I got in a really good workout from the incline. That stuff really worked me over to tell you the truth. So that is the NEW plan. So, Today I got in 5.36 miles, burned 1,039 calories, and I went for 65 minutes. I hope everyone is doing good and getting ready for the weekend. I hope you are feeling a little better Mom. Until next time...

Running Totals for 13 Aug 09

Well this will be a short post because I am about to fall asleep. I have been thinking about how I am going to get in the last 100 miles within the next two weeks before I get to leave here. Plus the last couple of days we will be living on the other side of the base away from the gym so I don't think that I will be able to run those days either. I am came up with the solution of doing two-a-days the last couple of weeks. Nothing huge, just enough to get in those miles that will push me over my 700 mile goal. I am really been focusing on meeting that goal and it is driving me crazy to think that I might not meet it. But I am sure that with a little more effort I will be able to achieve it before I leave. Today was a good run, the treadmill vultures weren't around today so I got in an extra mile. I ran 7.5 miles, burned 1,318 calories, and I ran for 74 minutes. Just a couple more weeks to go and then it will be back home for me. I can't wait!! Until next time...

Running Totals for 12 Aug 09

With 15 running days left here at Bagram I am slowly creeping towards my goal of 700 miles before I leave. I know it's not that important that I reach the 700 if it means I could injure myself but as long as I think my body is up to it I will strive to break that goal. Now I just have to convince my body that it can do it. I guess we will see. Today's run, my legs felt a bit sluggish. I know they are overtrained at the moment but every other run besides my long day I take it pretty easy during my runs. I just need to take it one day at a time and see what I can do. Today I ran 6.54 miles, burned 1,150 calories, and I ran for 65 minutes. I hope everyone is doing good. Until next time...

Running Totals for 11 Aug 09

Well the Internet still sucks!! Not too much longer and I won't have to worry about it anymore. My legs are pretty sore from the 16 miler on Monday but I struggled through the run today. I am trying to get to 700 miles before I leave here and I need my legs to cooperate. Anyways, this will be a short post today because I need to get ready for work. Today I ran 6.55 miles, burned 1,155 calories, and I went for 65 minutes. I am trying to take it easier on my runs because of the soreness in my legs. I need to be smart with these last few miles so I don't get hurt in the process. I hope everyone is doing good. Until next time...

Weigh In Day & Running totals for 10 Aug 09

Well the scale is back and calibrated and I am pleased to report weighing in was kind to me. I weighed in at 232 lbs. So that once again puts my weight loss at 50 lbs. Now this time around I need to work to keep that weight off. I am still not done though, I still want to get down to around 210. I know that kills Heather to hear me say that but I think that is a good weight to maintain and then once I hit my goal weight I can work on the body fat to muscle ratio. I would like to get my body fat under 15% but ideally under 12%. I would be very, very happy with that. I was reading in one of my magazines that said you should have a daily caloric count for your goal weight. In other words I should be consuming calories for my goal weight. I think that makes sense now I just have to do that. I will focus on calorie counting when I get home because it is too hard to do over here with the food that they serve. It is so hit or miss with the menu here. Today was my long run day which went very good. I got in 16 miles, burned 2,813 calories, and I ran for 149 minutes. The thing I was most stoked about was that I went sub 2 hours for my half marathon time. I ran it in 1 hour 58 minutes. I have never came close to two hours before. I think the quickest I ran it was 2 hours 11 minutes. I am trying to simulate the marathon cut off times for the Naha Marathon. I know that I am running on the treadmill and not outside but it will give me a good starting base for when I get home. Then I can work is some hills and still shoot for sub- 2 hours. I just want to make sure I hit the cut off times so I can finish my first marathon. I definitely do not want to get on the "retired" bus because I didn't make the cut off times. THAT WOULD SUCK!!! Well I hope everyone had a good week. Until next time...

Happy Birthday Mom!! (It's the 8th here already)

Happy Birthday Mom!! I know you stopped having Birthday's a long time ago but don't worry, no one reads this so your secret is safe with me. I hope you have a great day.

Well another week of running comes to a close and I am happy to say that it is over. With the new week quickly approaching as it always does I hope the new shoes bring a full six days of running next week and the following couple of weeks until I get to leave Afghanistan. I promise my legs that I will give them a break while I travel back to Oki (Unless we have a longer layover in Baltimore). But for the most part I will take it easy during my travel days. I am sure they could use more than one consecutive day off BUT we will see. Today's run actually felt pretty good. I hope it is because of my new shoes. I guess we will see what happens next week. I ran 7 miles today, burned 1,256 calories, and I ran for 70 minutes. My weekly totals are as follows: I ran 40.39 miles, burned 7,247 calories, and I ran for 6 hours and 55 minutes. I think when I break 40 it is a good week. But then again as long as I can run it is a good week, distance shouldn't matter. I am looking forward to getting back to Oki and being able to run outside again. And for the days that I don't want to run outside Heather got a treadmill for the house so I am set. Well I hope you all have a great weekend and I hope to talk to you all real soon. Until next time...

Running Totals for 07 Aug 09

Well today I started running in my new pair of shoes that felt pretty good for a first time run. I didn't even worry about blisters with these new shoes either. I have had the same pair in the past but this time I got them 1/2 size bigger and it makes all the difference. My right leg is still giving me fits but I think it will until I can give it some prolonged rest. That probably won't happen until my flight home. I just need to take it easy so I don't hurt myself which I am aware of. Today I ran 6.32 miles, burned 1,134 calories, and I ran for 65 minutes. I am glad that I felt good enough to run the entire time also. I don't like having to walk during my "runs". I hope everyone is doing good. Until next time...

Running Totals for 06 Aug 09

Bye, bye blue shoes!! I am retiring you from my running. Never ever should a bigger person get shoes made for a little skinny fella. I don't think I even ran 150 miles in those shoes and they are as flat as cardboard. Lesson learned. It's a good thing that I had Heather order me a third pair of shoes or else I would be shoeless. Running in those "crushed" shoes was horrible today. It really made the shin splint go crazy and it totally changed how I ran today. My whole leg hurt all the way into my hip. It was crazy. Well tomorrow is another day and another endeavor to break in a new pair of shoes...Gradually this time. No more blisters! Today I ran (hobbled) 5.4 miles, burned 969 calories, and I jogged/ walked for 65 minutes. Glad this one is in the books and we can move on. I hope everyone is doing good. Until next time...

Running Totals for 05 Aug 09

Well it was back on the treadmill today which went pretty well. Who would have thought that a day of rest could do so much, go figure. But anyways, it was back to work. I still have some mileage to cover before I leave this place. Nothing too exciting is going on at the moment which is always a good thing when it comes to Afghanistan. Today I ran 6.67 miles, burned 1,197 calories, and I ran for 65 minutes. I might continue to skip my Tuesday run to recuperate from my longer runs on Monday. I am sure it won't hurt. I guess I will just have to see how I feel after next Monday's run and go from there. Until next time...

Our 8th Anniversary

Happy Anniversary my beautiful Heather. Even though I am not there to celebrate our relationship this year, I carry you in my heart where ever I am in the world. Soon we will be together again and I really look forward to that day. I love you and I always will.

I decided to take the day off from running today. My legs needed the rest after the 15 miler yesterday. Plus work got super crazy right when I was supposed to leave for my run. But rest is good especially since I have run super hard since I arrived here in Afghanny. We will get back at it tomorrow. I have to get in the 220's before I leave here. That is the goal!! Until next time...

Running Totals for 03 Aug 09

Well today was supposed to be my weigh in day but the scale at the gym is broke so I guess it will be a surprise the next time I get to weigh in. That should be interesting. Well today I also start Marathon training for the Naha Marathon in December so that should be fun. I think I am a little ahead of schedule with my training but I will pick it up somewhere in the fifth or sixth week once I get settled back in Okinawa. I think I am putting in a lot more miles than Hal Higdon's program says to in Weeks' 1-6 anyways. I am excited to get started training for my first marathon. It should be fun and hard at the same time. The course for the Naha Marathon looks really challenging. Plus you have to complete it within 6 hours because that is when they shut down the course. I definitely want to finish under that time. Today was my long run and I put in 15 miles, burned 2, 691 calories, and it took me 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. I think a 10 minute mile pace is good for my first marathon. Anyways, happy running and I hope everyone has a good week. Until next time...