The starvation effect and October's PFT

September's PFT

After Ramadan's starvation camp, I officially lost 2 pounds of muscle weight, and a lot of upper body strength. It is time to visit the weight room again.

Push ups: 63
Sit ups: 66
2 mile run: 13:18
Weight: 177.0
Height: 73"

Total Score: 264 (+15)

Bring it on!

In preparation for my next diagnostic PFT, I went out for a little two mile run this morning. Knowing that my last test's time was 14:42 can you guess what my time was?
14+?
13+?
13 flat?

Actually, none of the above! I just ran the two miles in 12:39.44! I haven't ran this fast since the summer of 2006 when I was able to run 3 miles in sub 18 minutes!

I guess if I keep up the training, my plans for qualifying to the Boston Marathon might be coming back... Who knows? As for now, I'll just focus on next week.

Kill me now, please!

So I push myself through fasting and Ranger Challenge PT to make first squad -starting lineup- and now the Army tells that I can't compete because of paperwork and requirements that I asked about back in August before signing up for the class!

That is some B.S.

Add to that the fact that CWST was canceled this semester, and basically I can say that I am having the worst week ever!

I was beginning to sway over to the Army's side given how cool my Ranger Challenge teammates were. However, after this incident, if I ever get a chance to enlist, it is going to be the Marine Corps damn it.

Hopefully I won't be too old by then...

Hello Ramadan, and good bye Ranger Challenge

Date: September 03, 2008
Time: 0600
Location: Crawford Gymnasium

This morning I had my diagnostic PFT. I passed, but I don't think that my scores will help me make the cut to the Ranger Challenge team. I think the exhaustion and dehydration caused by fasting to ruin my run time. I still did better than a lot of the contracted cadets out there, but I don't think I want to use them as a measuring stick for my performance.

During the run I was passed by LTC Gough, he is an SF guy who graduated from West Point, his run time was 12:50, I don't think I ran that fast since August of 2006.

My next PT test will be in the first of October, exactly the first day after the end of Ramadan. I better have better excuses for my performance shortcomings by then.

Push ups: 65
Sit ups: 64
2 mile run: 14:42
Weight: 179.2
Height: 73"

Still Ticking

It has been a month since my last blog post, and ten days since Ramadan has ended. You can't imagine how tiring this Ramadan has been, or how miserable training has been during that month. I had to change my training hours to after midnight, I was limited to two running sessions a week, I was dehydrated in every run, I wasn't able to lift weights, and I lost seven kilograms in about thirty five days. To sum it up I was running on an empty tank 99% of the time.

Injuries were also a problem, I had some ankle issues, my left knee bothered me for a while and my back hurts every time I think about running. I feel that I am lacking the motivation to continue training, but I can't quit, because quitting is simply unacceptable.

Other than running, nothing noteworthy is going on in my life. I finally finished a project that my boss is happy with, I am still waiting to get my GRE scores, and I tried indoor rock climbing the other day.

Rock climbing was actually quite fun, I expected it to be a lot harder than it was, maybe the wall wasn't a hard one, but it was something I plan to do more off in the future. - Note, expect video of the climb to be posted soon.

One interesting note, after going through my library my mom made the suggestion that I should switch careers and consider going the military path, she even suggested that I go into the military intelligence field. Little that she know, that has been an idea going through my head for quite sometime. At least now, she won't be totally surprised when I do it, and she might even take credit for "leading me to that path"... Who knows?

Anyhow, I am on the clock. So back to work I go.

The Punisher: Episode I

Main Entry: pun·ish·ment
Pronunciation: 'p&-nish-m&nt
Function: noun
1 : the act of punishing
2 a : suffering, pain, or loss that serves as retribution b : a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
3 : severe, rough, or disastrous treatment

I started training for next year's marathons six weeks ago. I have been lifting weights, running like a mad man, and trying my best to swim as much as I can, and to stretch daily. It started as highly motivated self improvement project, but slowly mutated into an obsession.

To be honest, I don't really know what my goals from training are, but I know that if I wanted to put muscles on, I wouldn't be running all that running. And if I wanted to run faster, I wouldn't bother with all that strength training. And if I just wanted to be healthy, I would just take stairs at work every now and then and I will be fine.

In those six weeks, I've seen a lot of improvement on my physical abilities. As I can do twenty pull ups straight and I can run 3 miles in about 18 minutes, or sprint a mile in sub 5 minutes. I tried to climb a rope for the first time, and it wasn't so easy, but I did it. I tried open water swimming, it wasn't easy, but I finished. I've lost an inch of my waist, and I've put an inch on my arms.

All of that sounds like I am in good shape and I am feeling great. Right?

WRONG!

I am not going to lie here, I feel like shit! My upper body is in constant pain, and my legs are always on recovery mode unless I am running. The only time that I am feeling good or no pain, is the time I spend going through the punishment of training. I have become my own punisher.

I hate to be a quitter, and if I go "emo" and quit training because I don't know my goals are, I will be nothing but another quitter. So you know what, I am going to crazy with it. I am going to set a goal of being the best possible shape I can ever be. I am going to transform my self into a Frank Castle. I will* put on nine extra kilograms by December, will* drop my body fat, will* swim a mile, will* bench 225lbs 10 times and I will* run a Marathon in sub 3 hours.

Fuck it! See ya in another six weeks!