Push-Sit-Run

When you're deployed, you need just about anything to keep you focused and tracking toward heading home. It's usually best if it's something non-work related so you can track your progress without it being directly tied to what could be a mundane cyclical job.

Me running the Hood to Coast from Iraq - 2007

For me, there are three things that get me through this deployment. I call them the 3 "Fs" - Faith, Family, & Fitness. While that probably deserves it's own post - another time - I thought I'd share some of my goals and accomplishments for the Fitness section (hence the title).

My overall goal this year is to max out my physical fitness test for the Army. The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) consists of three events; pushups, sit-ups and a 2-mile run. All events are timed and scores are based off a person's age group.

For an idea of what I have to do here are some charts and descriptions brought to you by Kevipedia (and google...).

For a shorter blog, I'll just hit the running section.

At 21 and upon my graduation from my initial Army training, I was running 2 miles in 12 minutes and 45 seconds. This time may be a stretch for me at this juncture in life... but I do hope to meet a goal I had last deployment - 5 in 35. That's 5 miles in 35 minutes. This may be a lofty goal considering I'm at 5,000 feet elevation, breath poopy air and wear super sexy Army shorts.

When I got here, I could barely run 1/2 a mile at an 8 minute pace. I just couldn't get the air in the old wind bags. As of today, I ran 4 miles in 30:20. With a mid-tour goal of 5 miles in 40 minutes, I think I'm on track.

This may seem like a boring post after a lull, but I believe running is especially important if I expect to meet my goal of Desert Gump. I may not be in Forrest Gump running shape but the stakes are higher for me than Forrest. You see, if his life was like a box of chocolates, mine is more like a box of IEDs, mortars and boredom. 

It's time to get running!