So my R & R is getting closer, oh R & R, how I love thee, let me count the ways...I am counting down the days here at work and the people are getting annoyed, but that is okay because some of them might get on my nerves occasionally.  My R & R will be action packed.  Starting with a quick flight to Florida to see the Grand Parents, then it will be back to the Quad to visit the fam and numerous peeps.  It will be nice to run on some soft surfaces and especially with my team.  I am very fortunate to help coach at my former University, Saint Ambrose University, (even though my roommate took down my coaching pic...thanks DAN!!! Rent just went up...).  They have a great line up of meets this year and I am saddened that I will not be able to run/coach/cheer them on at those meets this year.  But there is always next year right?  I also have my half marathon coming up, I am at the point in training where I am starting to feel tired and possibly a little burnt out.  I hate saying that.  I have always believed there is no such thing in burn out, I like pushing the body to its limits, but I am starting to think that maybe I have reached a point to where I need to relax a little.  Last night I started a 16 miler, at 7 miles and an average of 6:20 pace, I was SPENT!!!  I don't think it helped that it was still 112 degrees according to the thermostat outside...well; I think it was the temp that did me in.  I ended up stopping my run due to the fact my legs felt like jello and I think if I continued on I would have been a victim of heat exhaustion...  I experienced this last year in my training.  You hit a point where you are just ready to run the race.  I think I am experiencing this a little earlier then last year due to the fact I am over here in Iraq and the temps have been getting to me.  I need to start running in the morning again but working 12 – 14 hour days can be mentally daunting and I have been just exhausted after work, so after my run, I just want to sleep.   I usually set my alarm to run in the morning, but usually there is an executive decision passed down from the brain to just run at night…lol.  I will just have to deal with the heat I guess if these morning runs don’t happen.  One thing to watch over here is your weight as well.  If you are constantly active, watch what you eat in the DFAC, and train at this level, you are going to loose weight.  I am at my race weight and I don’t want to go under that, so I have to watch my weight and make sure I don’t become dehydrated in this heat. 

          So yes, I am ready for green grass, blue sky’s (US), flowers (yes…I LOVE flowers…) family gatherings, good friends, J and Suz’s wedding, my race, runs with the team, Fazoli’s Ultimate Sampler, Duck City, Bent River, camp fires, going out, and DANCING!  Everyone in the office keeps telling me I will not want to come back here, but I figure I will have four months left, then will be able to make a decision to stay or go based upon how it is going here and if haven’t raged on anymore LTCs who think they deserve a 09 Escalade.  Well see, it has already happened once…

So as those magical days get closer, please keep me in your prayers so the weather is good and I am able to get out of this joint on time to get acclimated to the time change for the race.  I am hoping for a PR, but if it does not happen, I am not going to worry; I am blessed to get up every morning, take a deep breath of air and smile knowing I am loved by God, my family and my friendsJ.  He loves you too so smile… it looks, and feels better on you!!

Sherrod out J