I have never really liked running much and moving to Ft. Carson hasn't helped much. People who had taken the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) here have told me that running here added at least a minute to your time. I listened but hoped I could overcome the altitude. Well, I can't.
I had a poor showing on the APFT during PLDC at Fort Hood, but I attributed that to a poor choice of diet supplement. (If I see Harvey with another one of those little red and white capsules I am going to beat him to a pulp) I ran a 14:40 2 mile and blamed it on the energy pill I popped 30 minutes before the test. I returned to Ft. Carson after two weeks and ran a 15:40 time in the 2 mile and concluded that I am just fat and out of shape. It's a shame since I had perfect scores in the push-up and sit-up events.
The one constant in my Army career has been if I can do push-ups, I can't run; if I can run, I can't do push-ups. I usually run 2 miles in around 12:30, do 70 push-ups, and 80+ sit-ups. My top priority before I leave the Army is to have all perfect scores.
Today, I did 83 push-ups, 81 sit-ups, and ran 2 miles in 15:40. My performance in the sit-up event was hindered by persistent flatulence. After 50 sit-ups the force of my abdomen contracting was forcing a steady stream of gas from my stomach. By the last ten sit-ups, I was having a fresh explosion of foul smelling gas on each repetition. The officer holding my feet and the NCO grading my performance were convulsing in a storm of giggles. The only reason I didn't laugh was because I couldn't breathe.
