So my update

Yea, I've left this hanging for a while. I apologize. School and such has had priority over my blog life.

Running. Well, it seems that my running has plateaued out my fitness, despite the fact my allergies are waging war on me. So I think I need to step up the speed work. Over the weekend, I was running at RAF Mildenhall, and kicked it into gear to where I was doing sub-9 minute mile times. I wasn't holding it for very long, but it was impressive for me to see that. So I think I may have to get off the treadmill with my speed work. Which is ok, I suppose. I would rather run outside that on a treadmill anyways. Am I gonna finish this half marathon to which I have commited myself? One way or another, yes.

School. Only one class this summer. recent American history, from World War 2, forward. Have I mentioned my loathing for American history? No? Well, now I have. I loathe American history. Yes, sounds rather unpatriotic. But it is me, and I am patriotic, dammit.

Laundry. Well, the laundry is working because I am getting ready to start packing for my sojourn back to the US for the summer. I just dread security and flying. I ahte that part. I'm just ready to get this trip going.

We'll see what happens

Yorktowntop

Yes, I am still in the UK.........half marathon hasn't happened yet, it's in August. I'm still training for it, though. I just want to finish vertically.

I need to write on here more......will do that again in a few hours

WHat was I thinking?

The number 13 doesn't normally strike fear into my heart the way that it would with others. Not a number to be afraid of in my family. Why? Well, my brother was born on Friday the 13th. 13 has always been lucky for the Neals. So I signed up for a half marathon. It's the E.T. Half Marathon. Run on the E.T. Highway, outside of (where else?) Area 51 in Nevada. Seriously, how cool does this event sound (it's run at midnight because it's Iraq-hot during the day)??? Aliens...midnight...top secret squirrel shit happening over your shoulder...get the idea? So to get the 'full' experience, I signed up for the event that starts at the 'Black mailbox'. Yea, the place where folks meet to watch for UFO's over Groom Lake in Nevada. Hey, if you're gonna go to the E.T. running events, might as well get the full experience, right, START AT THE BLACK MAILBOX. And the event that starts at the 'Black Mailbox' is the half marathon.

Did you catch those two words?? HALF MARATHON. Meaning 13.1 miles. Half of 26.2 miles. 13 M-I-L-E-S. We're talking 2 2/2 to 3 hours of abject agony on my body. Because I wanted the full alien experience, and signed up, paid money to run 13.1 miles. WTF was I thinking? I am now terrified of the number 13. 6 miles, I got. 7 I can do (painfully, but I can do it). Why did I think I could pull off 13?????

Let me take you back to Balad AB, Iraq, 4 years ago. Me, running my first 5k, cursing Paul the whole way. And now I dare aspire to 13 miles? Surely I am Icarus flitting around the sky, right? I've been training, but I dread my days I run long distances. I am terrified of anything over 7 miles now....why? Who knows, but I'd say mostly fear of failing miserably.

Well, here goes nothing

So I've had this story knocking around my head for a while, and I think it could be a novel. So I started writing it. May eventually look into getting an agent and seeing if I can get it published. So, here goes nothing.