August 1, 1997 - Physical Fitness Test

(Note: this was a 4 day journal entry, so it has been broken up accordingly.) 
970802 - Wednesday we snapped in some more and had an ISMT activity which is a simulated rifle hooked up to a computer. I didn't do too bad but not too good either. Thursday it rained all day and we were supposed to shoot to get our sights zeroed. We did and I did terribly because I was shivering the entire time. By this point I was extremely discouraged. Yesterday morning we ran the PFT. I did 80 sit-ups, 8 pull-ups, and ran the 3-mile run in 20:07, for a total of 227 points. Our platoon avg. was 228; the best in the company by 11 points. After the PFT, we re-shot the zeroing exercise. This time I did very well. After chow we did the ISMT again and I did Awesome!
Throughout boot camp, I wrote my mom and dad a letter every Sunday. On this particular week, I knew that my mom's birthday was coming up, so I made sure to wish her a happy birthday in my letter. The thing is, I didn't know the exact date of her birthday (I do now, for the record). So, when she sent me a letter and it said, "Your sister had her baby! They named her Grace Victoria. And, can you believe it? She was born on my birthday!" I thought, "Great. Now that's two birthdays I don't know."

Overall, I was happy with my performance in the PFT. I did the maximum 80 sit-ups, and was thrilled with 8 pull-ups. But my real victory that day didn't have direct score connected to it.

At about the halfway point of the run, I had settled into a probably too-comfortable pace. I was running fast, but probably could have been running faster. I had sort of just entered a runner's trance, which might help on a marathon, but doesn't really benefit a runner on a 3-mile run. Right around this time, DI Sgt. M______ ran past me. That woke me up. He was pretty much instantly 20 yards ahead of me and, try as I might, I couldn't seem to shorten the gap. So I just held him there. I didn't really gain on him, but I made sure he didn't extend his lead either. Then, at the final turn, with about a quarter mile to go, I kicked into a dead sprint. My ears began to ring and my lungs began to burn, but I was gaining on him. And then I wasn't just gaining on him; I was passing him. I finished my run about 10 yards ahead of him.

After a run, we were to walk immediately to where our canteens had been placed and drink water as we walked in a cool-down circle. But I disobeyed that order. As soon as I crossed the finish line. I stopped and waited for DI Sgt. M______ to cross, after me. As he did, I snapped to the position of attention and gave him my most vigorous "GOOD MORNING, SIR!" Then I walked to get my canteen and recover.

I spent a good bit of time on the quarterdeck for that. 100% worth it.

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