The Bet

So, before I start this post, I just want to proclaim to the world that I have my first follower! It may be my brother-in-law, but he still counts as a follower dammit! Alright, so onto bigger and better news...
Lieutenant Shaffer came up to me the other day and mentioned that we should place a bet. We each pick one PT event, whoever scores the highest out of two PT events, wins. Now, if you're not familiar with the Army Physical Training system, there are three events that we get evaluated on. Pushups, situps, and a 2 mile run. Well, he and I both know what I'm going to choose, the two mile run, so now the big question is what is he going to choose. I obviously have a better chance of keeping up with him in the situps, but he knows that if he exerts himself on the situps, then his run won't be very good, and my run won't change at all. So, I'm pretty sure he's gonna choose pushups. He doesn't think I haven't been working out...it's pretty funny, because he comes in, and he talks ALL this shit about how he's gonna whoop my ass. Now, you gotta undersatnd something about my LT, he's never wrong, and this pisses me off more than anything in the world...it's not that he's a bad guy, he's a great guy, and he's very fair and reasonable, but there are those times i just want to f&^king strangle him to death! This is my adventure...I have at least a month and a week to prepare for these events. I'm not worried about the run one bit, unless these shin splints act up, but now I just need to focus on cutting some weight and getting my upper boddy stronger...
So what happens when one of us is declared the winner? Well, number one, the loser has to buy the winner lunch at Hooters, and has to DD on the way home. On top of that, the loser has to wear a shirt that the winner creates. While being in good taste, it can pretty much have anything on it that the two of us desires...as long as it can be worn in public. I know on part of the shirt I plan on having "SGT Holm is better than me in every possible way" and then I plan on making a "Top Ten" of some sort, I just need ideas now. This will all take place just before we leave, so if you're reading this, start leaving me some ideas!! Oh, and if you't Lt. Shaffer...start praying that Barb Shaffer never had you cause I'm about to embarass the SHIT out of you!

Something about nothing and nothing about something

So these last few days have been pretty miserable. I was supposed to have done a long run on Sunday, but crapped out because it was well over a hundred degrees at one in the morning, and i'm starting to get shin splints. This is bad...very very very bad...this means at least three weeks that I have to sit on my ass and do nothing that requires any sort of cardiovascular workout. Well, that's what they SAY i'm supposed to do, but I don't have the time or the patience to wait...so tonight, since I've given myself at least two days off, am running ten miles. My weeks have only consisted of at least 30 miles a week...this is sad, ridiculous, and though it's done a pretty reasonable fast pace, I have to focus on going longer, otherwise there will be no reason for anything that I've done up to this point. I know I know, I should rest and let it heal...but I have that drive...that drive of just pure absolute love for the sport. I won't push myself too hard, but I need to start getting these long runs in, otherwise my first 26.2 miles is gonna suck major butt.
So i've been doing a lot of research on "Six degrees of Separation"...if anyone has a chance, just google it and find out everything you can, because it's crazy. It's literally crazy to think about how we are all connected to each other by just 6 people! I've seen a lot of the studies, and online it's closer to 5, twitter has about 4 degrees of separation...it's just an incredible concept to think about. Well, about it for now...i'm sure there will be plenty more later...I plan on hitting the gym later, ugh!!

Joshua "GRIZZ" Lawson

I'm at the end of my shift, figure I'll hit the bike tonight, but not before I get all these words that are itching in my fingers right now. Yesterday another friend was lost. The world lost an amazing man. When you first meet Josh, your first impression is that he is a quiet man that keeps to himself...doesn't say much, chimes in when he feels the need to, and then goes about his business his way, and no other. When you finally get to know Josh, you realize that he isn't so quiet, but is rather quite opinionated. He doesn't say much, chimes in when he feels he needs to, and then goes about his business HIS way, and literally...no other. Josh was a man of principle, he was a man that would never stab you in the back. The greatest thing I could've learned from the man was that no matter right or wrong, he stuck by what he said, and that was it...given the circumstance, he would buckle when it was needed as far as a learning experience, but when it came to a matter of principle, there was no greater man. I will be honest, and can tell you straight out he was never the best friend that I've had, but nonetheless he was a great friend, and someone who has had a lasting effect on me. I can remember those nights drinking in the barracks, that laugh he would laugh, he'd say something with the straightest of faces and that laugh of his would just come out of nowhere. He was always great company, and was always an honest man. I will not speak for him for what he desired to be remembered by, but when I remember Josh, I remember loyalty, truth, and honor. He loved the Army...if not the Army itself, he loved his fellow brothers. Brothers that will miss him dearly. Josh, if for some fucked up miracle you can see this right now, know that you will be missed dearly, and never forgotten.

Angry

I'm a bit angry at myself right now....on one hand I'm actually happy cause I'm eating Total Raisin Bran, which tastes like absolute crap, but on the other I just couldn't get to that 10 mile mark. Here's why I'm angry....a few months back when I decided to run these marathons, I started training pretty hard. The most I had ran was about 12 miles, which at the time was good, but I was always DEAD tired...I trained and trained until I hurt myself, and then I got lazy. I was only down for about two days, but it was two days of wretched pain. Afterwards, I let myself go, and just couldn't get my ass in gear. I ran a 5K with my buddy Ryan Cole, who is a pretty amazing runner. I hate that he makes it look effortless, but I'm catching up. Well in the 5K in June, I did pretty awful...I changed my schedule a bit, then ran the 5K on the 4th of July, and did a heck of a lot better. I have it stuck in my head that I need to keep pushing myself, over and over and over...but deep down I know I'll only be hurting myself. I didn't start training seriously again until literally about a week and a half ago and I'm supposed to expect myself to run 20 miles in 2 days? In my mind I like it, but realistically I know I have to take it easy. ( I'm eating Honey Nut Cheerios now...) I just feel like I don't have a lot of time, when I really have a little over 3 months to train. It's plenty of time, but I'm growing impatient. I'm becoming physically fit, and now I need to get mentally fit...on more than just running...on life.

"If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail..."

In The Beginning...

I think deep down everyone has a desire of getting their feelings out for the world to see. To try and have that cause & effect/affect on one so profound that it will fill their needs as a human being. Right now my needs are simple...a little bit of Rush, a cup of water, and the ability to keep my fingers rolling across this damn keyboard. Now comes the hard part...what do I talk about?
I really made this so I had an outlet to get my everyday occurences out to people who care to read, but this really might just be something for me, so I guess I'll start from the beginning...

Grew up in a small town in Nebraska, was blessed to have both parents and a sister who care deeply about me, and still do to this day. Parents went their own ways as I was going into High School, I became a complete asshole, graduated, and then joined the Military. Through the military I've met some of the craziest bunch of fools I'll ever know while hanging onto the ones I care most about, as well as a select few back in Nebraska. The first year of the military I did all my training, broke my back in Airborne, moved to Seattle, WA and learned how to be "All that I can be". Second year, kind of a blur...that's when they started putting us into new uniforms. Third year...met a girl from MN who broke my heart, and then proceded to meet another little philly who stole my heart and still has as we speak...I'll have to save that story for another time...but I was married, one baby girl, and sent to Iraq for 15 months - awesome. Fourth year, I'm married with a child and changing my job- awesome x2. Fifth year, just got back from changing my job, got a little bit of time with the family, now I have to go back to Iraq - oh yeah, and now that little philly is pregnant with another little one :) So here I am now, in my current state wondering where the hell time went. I'm still young, 24, but really....holy shit! It's already been a ride, what else could happen?

In the last few months, I have fallen in love with running. It meant a lot to me back in High School when I ran Cross Country, but I never took as serious as I probably should've if I really wanted to be good. It's literally just plain and simple, I love running. I love the mind games, I love the pain, I love the sweat, everything about the sport I love. I'm excited because on October 10th I will run my first marathon. On October 24th I'll be heading to Washington D.C. to run the Army 10 Miler, and on November 27th I'll be running the Seattle Marathon. As much as I am looking forward to those festivities, I am focused on the present: training. It's hard to do in a country like this, especially when you have dust storms, and the little issue of complete darkness outside and I would rather travel in South Central L.A. at night by myself than over here. Training is hard, and I'm trying to make it harder, but at the same time I have to let myself heal. Someone told me that I have to worry about the small chunks...it literally had NOTHING to do with running, but it's now my new motivation.

"Don't let your pride make you stumble"