Whoa! Address woes...

Wondering why the letter or card you sent me got returned? It is because the uninformed person who gave me my address before I got here (and emailed out to everyone) had it wrong. DO NOT use the CJTF-76 line, that unit NO LONGER EXISTS. Instead, use the address exactly as below, and it will for sure get to me:

John Herrick
TF Paladin
CEXC-A
APO, AE 09354

tangodown...

Here is a similar picture of me with an EOD buddy's weapon. I like it because you can see the camera. Anyway, when I get home later this year, I plan to get some TD gear for my AR-15.

The almost mile high club...

...No, not that one. This is one that I doubt too many people will ever join (or want to?). While not earth-shattering, it was a significant step for me. I had done two marathons already, finishing both, neither with stellar times. So when I found out there was going to be one here at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, I had to sign up.

Well I am no Kenyan, and I had not really prepared like I should have (especially for this altitude), but then again, I didn't for my 1st one either, so what the heck.

Reporters from San Diego (where the 'real' version was held) even contacted some of us runners for interviews. They quoted me in this story.

Here is how it went: just like the actual course in San Diego (which this was meant to simulate), we attempted to run 26.2 miles. Except here, there were no bands, there was no big corporate sponsor presence, nor were there any of the typically thousands of people to cheer you along the way. Instead, there were 20+ mph dust-filled headwinds, the thin mountain air of 4895' elevation (hence the almost mile high club), and the joy of being passed by at least 100 diesel fume spewing trucks along the sometimes flooded route, usually bordered by mine fields.

I will keep this one short: I finished. While not the time I wanted; I was the last person to finish at 6:43:13, but I am glad to say I have run a marathon in a combat zone. Oh and that I finished vertically at that. And yes, the third time is a charm...my times do not seem to improve, so I think this was my final full marathon. Now it is time to stick to half marathons, and 10Ks, etc...just not at this altitude.

72 hours later, I feel great. Legs are still slightly sore, but that is expected. The guy who 'won' the version here, completed it in 3:10 or so. What a nut job...that is insane! All of this goes to show I don't run for fun, I do it because it is the little exercise I get here.

As far as the feeling of when I crossed the finish line, you can ask several of my friends who waited around (*forever* lol) for me, or you can just look at the pictures below. And if it looks like I had a tear in my eye, yeah I might have been proud, but rest assured, it was just all the dust in those killer winds!!

Joint Task Force Paladin before the run (approx 0430L)

The entire group of runners.

"Medic!!" haha!

Getting food from a Navy Corpsman.

Myself and Lance, the token Canadien, eh!
He did great, with a time of 5 hours even!

Me along the course...notice the Blackhawks and the barbed wire along the mine fields, right at the edge of the road. One girl running tripped and cut her leg on it, ouch!

"Operation HERRICK" ????

As some of you know, the U.S. call the mission in Afghanistan: Operation Enduring Freedom

Well the Brits in the ol' U.K. call the same mission: Operation Herrick ...coincidence...I think not! jk

Also, thanks to my coworker Jen for the hat in the picture, which she bought from some Brits down in Kabul. Thanks Jen!

dos equis

A spanish beer > roman numerals > 30...ok, ok, it didn't work, but I thought it was clever. jk

Anyway, I let it settle in all day yesterday...being 30 is not bad at all! And after a little extra dining hall mac 'n' cheese and some dry cake, it turned out to be a great day. lol

Seriously, THANK YOU to everyone who sent me emails, cards, boxes, gifts, etc (virtual or real). They are great!!

It is nice not to be forgotten just because of distance! Cheers!

Running, rockets, chopsticks...

As some of you know, Sunday's San Diego Rock'n'Roll Marathon was postponed here due to important base events. It will hopefully be held Friday, the 15th. That is still another week to try and prepare. haha!

Like MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty said when he ran the same 2004 Twin Cities Marathon I did: "My goal is to finish vertically".

Some people outside the wire are getting bold. Too bad they never learned how to aim.

A coworker and I went to eat at the South Koreans' dining hall the other day. Rice was good, not a spicy food guy, but I will try anything once and not complain. Although I probably will not have the fish soup again...lol

Cheers everyone!

uh oh, only 3 more days...

I hope everyone has their finger's crossed...I will sure need it! On the other hand, I was fortunate enough to meet a few other participants here at BAF, and we all seem to have a similar pace...that is of course, except for "Lance, the fast Canadian"!

World's oldest camera...not really..

Not true, the camera obscura way outdates this...

PR what?...

Although I have seen the enemy's resourcefulness firsthand, and it is not laughable, as you would expect. Their PR efforts, on the other hand, leave quite a bit to be desired. LOL!

training for the marathon...

OK, since it is "All-American Week", (82nd Abn Div runs this place right now, can ya tell? lol), we had the option to do a unit run on Friday. I think I was the only contractor, but that is OK, since I am a reservist too, lol! A great time, since the last time I ran 'as a whole' was 12 years ago at basic training. The Air Force could learn a thing or two from the Army, and vice versa.
Anyway, here are pics from the run with my unit.








Before:










































During:








































After:

Almost famous...

Here I am in an article about my upcoming fun/torture next week.

Who knows, if I just run the VA Beach half marathon in SEP, and the same in Philly two weeks later, then I would end up with four different ones of these by the end of the year, in addition to the three finishers medals I would have earned at each event!!...hmmm....

6600 miles away...

...At least I still feel at home next to a camera...

Horrible commute!!!!....

It is 16 steps to work every day. Man it tires me out! Just kidding.

My work, right next to my 'home'. Fascinating stuff, I know... lol

far flung friends...

Well, as promised, here is a recent pic of myself and Cory (from my old unit in MN). Notice he is sporting the Air Force's new ABU digitized tiger stripe pattern. Air Power!! jk

"Mondays, mondays..."

What better for a Monday morning than being woken up and rushed to the bunkers in helmet and vest, gotta love those mortars!

Busy day down south.