November 6, 2009

Friendly Friday

Today's Workout:

BIKE: 46/15.20 miles: 10@13/10@12/20@11/6@10

RUN: 49:03/5 miles, road run, striders.

PM WORKOUT: BIKE: 30/10 miles, stationary. RUN: 18/2+ miles, treadmill......

WHERE WERE YOU?

TODAY...

30 years ago? 1979: Just 20 years old, serving in the USN as a Seabee, Builder 3rd Class Petty Officer, we had just returned from an 8 month deployment to Diego Garcia, I was on leave at home, making plans and thinking about what I would do in 6 months time, after my honorable discharge.

20 years ago? 1989: Married, age 30, my daughter, Kristi was just born, we had a house in the redwood hills, with lots of remodeling to be done. I was working hard as a representative for the local.

10 years ago? 1999: Age 40, I was on a 14 day training program at Skamania Lodge, in Stevenson, Washington. Kristi was 10, we were going to soccer games each weekend, most of the house remodel was complete. I had just got started running consistently again.

October 29, 2009

We Build, We Fight

The U.S. Navy Seabees are deployed throughout the world, to build peace and defend freedom. The Seabees were established in 1942 during World War II, as the need for professional builders who could defend themselves and the structures they built became critical. Over the years, Seabees have traveled the world during war and peace, building airstrips, buildings, bridges, housing and acting to relieve the victims in disaster areas such as, fires, earthquakes, floods, etc. Today Seabees are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous locations in the never ending effort towards peace and freedom. To all former Seabees and to those who serve today, we acknowledge your service and dedication to your mission and this great country, the United States of America.

Today's Workout:

M

BIKE: 48/16 miles, stationary.

RUN: 60/6.25 miles, treadmill.

Tough workout? Lets keep it in perspective.

What is tough, when we have our nations military forces deployed overseas and in harms way? I think its tough when I am on the run, going long and hard, but not when I think about the sacrifices being made on a daily basis by our fighting men and women of the US military. I don't think the hard efforts I make on the bike are very special, when I consider the millions of unemployed in this country who are suffering and only want to work but cannot find work. No, there is nothing much that I do that is tough relative to the struggles faced by the poor and the working class in this country and else where in the world. I am a fortunate son, a fortunate one.

August 19, 2009

The Good Old Days, 30 Years Ago...

Seabees are once again on my mind. 30 years ago I was serving in the Seabees as a BU3, 3rd class petty officer with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Five, aka; NMCB 5 deployed to Diego Garcia, for an 8 month stay. We worked long days and long weeks, which left little time for recreation. I was 20 years old and caught up in the jogging and running boom of that time. The recreation department on Diego Garcia had an incentive program to promote running on the island. You were to receive an embroidered patch once you ran a total of 100 miles and another for 500 miles. I set about running and logging in the miles I ran. I received the 100 and 500 mile patches and though there was no 1000 mile patch, decided I would go for the 1000 miles. I was moving very close to the 1000 number and also close to leaving the island, though the 1000 mark was surely doable for me. During my final week on the island, I just quit running. I lost interest and decided I was tired of it all. I had some great runs and memories there and I still have the runners diary that I kept back then in 1979. I finished up at something like 973 miles. Short of the 1000 mark, but having learned that it wasn't about just the number it was about the day to day effort and each experience that I had. I sometimes wish I had ran those last 27 miles or so to get to 1000, though it's no great regret. I am 50 now, and I still keep records of my runs and workouts. I look back now and then at my old runners diary from 1979 and read through what I wrote 30 years ago. I can remember some of those days vividly and can even re live some of those runs in my mind. Looking back, those were the good old days. I hope to look back at what I am doing today, perhaps 30 years from now, when I am 80 and if I do I am sure that these days will become the good old days.

TODAY'S WORKOUT
M
Bike: 30 minutes, 9+ miles, stationary. Medium effort.
Run: 55 minutes, 5 miles, road. Slow jog.

Today's Workout 8/15/09

X60
RUN: 55 minutes, 5 miles, easy road run.
BIKE: 74 minutes, road bike, 20+ miles, 16.4 mph average.

Thanks to my Seabee brothers who commented on yesterday's post. I am impressed with their websites and blogs. It's yet another example of the CAN DO attitude!

Saturday morning here a day off for R&R. Catch you later. Be great, sports fans.

Today's Workout 8/14/09

We Build, We Fight

This is a motto of the Seabees, our nation's dynamic military construction force. Today, many Seabees are deployed throughout Afghanistan and in many places around the world, building the structures and facilities needed to support our military forces. Regardless of your position on the war, we all owe due respect and support for our men and women who serve to protect us.

There is no such thing as a former Seabee, for once you become a Seabee you retain the title for life. I am proud to have served as a Seabee, and I acknowledge all of our military men and women who serve today in our all volunteer military forces.

Another Seabee motto is, "CAN DO" Each of us can be inspired by this if we so choose. CAN DO, means making the difference, putting forth an extra effort, setting goals and achieving success. Go the Seabee way today and do something remarkable. Be inspired by the sacrafice that others are able to make. Go to it then and think about generating a "CAN DO" attitude for yourself.

Todays Workout...

X60, M

RUN: 77 minutes, 7 miles, easy run on the roads, early morning.