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July 12, 2005
Drill weekend, lead foot, & other random stuff (running too!)
Let me just start with last Thursday, since my previous post was on the 6th. What a whirlwind weekend - craziness! I started out the morning by heading to Burke Lake for an 18 mile long run. My legs were tired but not too bad. It was cooler, not as humid, so I was able to run negative splits on the loops again.
Afterward, I returned home to get ready and do a bit of schoolwork before heading down to Newport News for my monthly Marine Reserves weekend. All was well for the first 45 minutes of the drive and then traffic came to a near screeching halt. We moved like 3 miles in one hour. I despise traffic. It was killing me to sit there wasting time. I learned from R. that I-95 had been shut down due to overturned trucks with hazmat. Crews had to repave the road and it was not expected to open back until after midnight. Wonderful. Once I realized I wasn't moving anywhere fast, I turned back North and decided to wait it out in Garrisonville. I actually got a bunch of errands done, including buying supplies at Staples, depositing checks at the credit union, and finishing a paper and eating dinner at Panera Bread. I then tried to travel a back route but encountered traffic there as well, so at 10 I crashed at a hotel parking lot. I couldn't justify spending money for a room only 45 minutes from home. I woke up at 2am and started on my merry way on another back route because I-95 was still closed, but 13 miles into the drive, a felled tree was blocking the road. Crap!!! By this point, I was exhausted and seriously freaking out because I thought I would be late for my first formation as company commander. A terrible note on which to start, forget the incredible circumstances. So, I had to find another back route with R's help - yes, I did call him at 2:30am (my personal Mapquest). Anyway, I made it there with 15 minutes to spare. Enough time to steal a quick nap and pick up some chocolate milk for breakfast (a healthy and quick one).
Despite feeling like a zombie, drill weekend went off very well. I took the company to the gas chamber and to swim qualifications. I get nervous every year at these events for no good reason. I didn't inhale too much CS gas, thanks to my functioning gas mask (you never know), and several Marines even went in twice. Once is plenty for me! I was a lot more confident at swim qual this year, since my proficiency in the pool has improved. I made it to Level 3, which consists of swimming/jumping off the diving board with a 30-pound pack, load-bearing vest with 2 full canteens, rubber rifle, helmet, boots, and camouflauge uniform. With all the gear, it's impossible to swim front crawl, so you have to use one of the "combat" (really, endurance) strokes. We were all beat at the end of the day. I had intended to run, but I had to write another paper and meet the other battalion officers for dinner. We had a company run on Sunday morning, which the Marines deemed "too fast", but it was hurting my knees to half-step. About half of them fell out, so later I had to lecture about physical fitness translating to mental toughness and they needed to work on it in the event they ended up in Iraq, Afghanistan, or who knows where.
On my way home, I got a reckless speeding ticket. I know, I know, it's dangerous to drive so fast. I was soooo tired and ready to be home, though. Now I have a court date in September in Tappahanock. I just hope I can find that darned place again and that the judge doesn't take away my license. When I got home, I sat on the couch (after some cheap shots from R. about the ticket) and immediately passed out. No run, no dinner...the strenous weekend and drive take a lot out of me.
Fast forward to a new week. I did an 11 mile MLR on Fairfax County Parkway last night. My legs were well rested, but I got a bit dizzy on the return trip from the heat/humidity. I walked, resumed running, then made a bee line for the trees to make a deposit. No toilet paper. :( I felt gross for the first couple minutes of running but then forgot about it. Once I got home, I did 10 x 20 second striders in our parking lot.
Before work this morning, I ran 6 recovery miles on the treadmill, then lifted both upper and lower body. My leg muscles are already feeling sore. My right heel is feeling mostly better today, though. I wanted to swim tonight, but I have a meeting after work. We'll see. So, that's the past few days in a big nutshell. I hope to have some time tonight or tomorrow to catch up with my fellow bloggers!
Posted by Leilani at July 12, 2005 05:43 PM
Comments
OH MY GOODNESS. I cannot believe all of that actually happened to you. I can't believe you had to run training on almost no sleep. I can't believe you had to try 3 alternate routes to get to your destination. I heard about that back-up (I was going in the opposite direction down 95 when it happened).
Congratulations on making it to level 3. That is super cool.
And about the ticket-it feels really bad to get one (trust me, i know!) but everyone does get them and you are not a bad person and it will be okay!!!
Posted by: Audrey at July 12, 2005 07:41 PM
In the middle of my 3am leg of Hood to Coast two summers ago I had to make a deposit with no deposit slips (do NOT eat nothing but trail mix between relay legs, by the way) and when I got to the van I felt so gross I didn't want to get in the van right away but I didn't want to explain why, either. Everybody yelled at me to get in while I just stood there sputtering. Then I got so frustrated I just got in to spite them. We all survived. Maybe I'm tougher for it?
(I haven't commented on your blog for a while so I thought a good poop story would be a nice "welcome back!")
Congrats on surviving your trying weekend.
Posted by: jenandmats at July 12, 2005 09:21 PM
You weigh 98 pounds but ur right foot is 50 of it. :-)
Posted by: Rob at July 13, 2005 09:21 AM
Wow, really, I can't believe all these things happened but mainly I can't believe you got so many thigns done! I think you should get a prize for that!
It's funny how we runners understand each other (and no one else understands us!) In one of my tree encounters all my friends were baffled by the fact that I had not used toilet paper (where in the world was I supposed to get it from, right?) It's disgusting for sure, but I think none of us runners think twice about it and just go for it (if not ask Paula R.!)
Posted by: Nanda at July 13, 2005 01:50 PM