djsherrod1 recent blogs Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:47:19 +0000 ross@runnerspace.com (Ross) 60 djsherrod1 recent blogs http://www.runnerspace.com/members/avatar/2009.jpg Blog - Just a quick update... Hey all,

 

Things are going pretty good.  Can you believe I have almost hit my 18 month mark!!!  Crazy...well training wise it has been going okay.  The dust has been REALLY bad this year, so I have missed a couple days and the last 5 races due to that.  I refuse to run in the dust!  If it is really bad, i won't even run on the treadmill because the dust will most likely be in the buildings as well. 

 

So tomorrow we have our fourth of July run, it is kind of dusty out now and I am hoping it will go away and be clear in the morning, we'll just have to see.  Hopefully I'll have some good news about this race in my next blog!!

Peace,

Sherrod

]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:58:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Blog - Almost R & R time!!!!]]> Well, it is almost here.  In six days I should be stepping foot on American soil once again!!!  WOO HOO!  I usually plan my R & R's around a race, but this time it is planned around my MBA Graduation Ceremony.  Some other highlights will be spending my first two days back down in FL visiting my grandparents.  I haven't seen them in over two years!!!  That is just crazy to think about!  It should be a very good time and I am looking foward to showing them pics of Iraq and telling them stories.  My grandfather was in the Army, and I am sure will have plenty of stories as well to tell.  Along with his famous "political answers" on what we as a nation are doing wrong and what we are doing right.  I love it!!! :)

I am also flying out to AZ with my best friend to watch a DMB Concert!  That is going to be extra crazy because we are going to be out there on Cinco De Mayo!  Yes!  Corona's, Dos Equis and lime, YUM! 

Dont worry, there will also be plenty of time spent with the family, friends and of course, my other love, RUNNING!  Finally, I'll be able to run on soft, green grass again!  And if I'm lucky, i'll be able to run in the rain!  It has bee a long time since we last had some real rain.  The last time it rained, it was little mud droplets caused by the dust storm...not cool.

Well, I hope training is going good for everyone and your hitting your goals.  I will keep you updated with pics and some short blogs.

See you on the roads!

Run Happy!

Sherrod out.

]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:35:00 +0000 Blog - Good morning blue sky... So we got our nice weather back!!  It was very dusty yesterday with rain on its way causing little mud droplets on our ACU’s and black AMC hats as we walked out to our vehilces after work.  It is very strange the first time it actually happens, but then it is just annoying.  So the first thing I look for when I go outside my CHU (Containerized Housing Unit) in the morning is to see what color the sky is.  Will it be a beautiful Iraqi morning blue?  Or will it be a ugly Iraqi, “dust” brown?  I have to look up when I go outside my CHU because surrounding my CHU, (and matter of fact, every building over here) are the giant concrete T-Walls. As unvisually stimulateing that might be to some who love a great view in the morning, these concrete T-Walls are what keep us safe from incoming Rockets and/or Mortars.  And that is only if those two such items make it through our first base defense…

 

So this morning, I awoke to the beautiful Iraqi blue sky!!  It had rained pretty heavy last night so the dust was all gone and the air was back to normal breathing conditions, so I knew it was going to be a nice day to run.  After walking through some muddy spots to the bus stop, I was paying extra attention to the sidewalks (my running routes) on my bus ride to work.  Some area’s were muddy, but with the nice weather finally here, hopefully that would dry.  Although one thing I have noticed here is how long it does take for the water to dry in some areas.  A lot of my friends back home think I work in a desert, and I have to explain to them that most of the sand I have seen was down in Kuwait, I work on a base that has a hard, clay like mud that does not absorb the water when it rains.  So can take up to a month or longer, for some of the bigger “rain made” ponds that develop in certain areas over here due to the poor drainage.  I will try and post some of these pics later on tomorrow.

 

Well, I wanted to get a good 7 miler in today at lunch because yesterday was a no running day due to the dust.  I was glad to hear that I was not the only one hurting from the Biathlon on Sunday.  “Make it happen Capt.” Sara also said she was hurting in her quads.  She ended up winning over all for the females on Sunday.  That race was a great stepping stone for her Triathlon training.  She will be competing in her first Triathlon while on R and R and I know she will do awesome!

 

Well, it is almost time to call it a day here in good old JBB.  Until next time…

 

Run Happy,

 

Sherrod out J

 

]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:57:00 +0000 Blog - Biathlon results... Wow...  We had perfect weather for todays event, there was no dust in the air, the temp was just right and everyone was jazzed up to roll out some good times.  But for some reason, I was STRUGGLING this morning.  They lined us up on numerical order, taking the first ten individuals and lining them up in front of the lanes.  I was number 9.  Sarah ended up getting bumped up into my lane as nubmer 10 because some one did not show up, so that was pretty cool.  I started out faster then I should have and Sarah ended up catching me on the last lap.  Her time was 4 seconds faster then mine with a 8:34.  That was great for her because she ended up beating her trial time.  I on the other hand swam slower then my 8:26 trial time with a slow 8:38.  My transistion was faster then my last Biathlon here, but my legs were just not there today.  I was the last one out of the pool in the first heat and managed to catch everyone but the top two guys.  When I looked at GPS, my 5k time was no where near what I ran last year at during the Biathlon.  I was kind of bummed and don't know what went wrong.  I ended up getting 5th over all.  :(

But I guess I'll just have to deal with the fact that there will be off days.  I know what I have to do now to speed up my swim time, so I will get to it.  The running will be fine with the workout plan I put together for this year.  I heard there is another 5k on St. Patricks Day, so I will run that and there is a 15k on 29 March in support of the American Heart Association.  I signed up for a team here and we are raising money for the American Heart Association in honor one of the Runners daughters who has had a couple open heart surgery's but is making great progress! 

Okay, time to see if I can stay awake during a movie. J

Hope everyone is good!

Run Happy!

 

Sherrod out J

 

]]> Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:20:00 +0000 Blog - Biathlon Sunday!! Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!! So the first Biathlon of the year is tomorrow and I AM READY!  It is only a spint, so 500 meter swim and then a 5k run.  It should be a pretty good time.  We are one of the sponsors here, so there will be a lot of support from our Brigade there to cheer us on.  Although I think the only people participating in it from the 402nd are Sarah and myself.  I some how managed to make it into the first heat, even though I was hurting during the time trial.  I am hoping to keep the faster swimmers with in reach and catch them on the run.  Judging by the 5ks that have ran here on base, I am pretty sure I have the fastest 5k time, but after a swim, I am sure that will be a little slower...lol.

There are some fast swimmers! The fastest trial time was 7:00 mins by an Air Force female.  Some one told me she was a really good swimmer in college.  Looks like she is still keeping fit while helping support the effort over here.

Okay, I will post some pics after tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

In this case...Run and SWIM happy!

Sherrod out :)

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