DANCON!

Ok, so what is DanCon, and why am I both proud and embarrassed about it?

DanCon is short for Danish Contingency. The Danish Army has a tradition of doing a road march every once in awhile wherever they are deployed. The one I did took place here in Iraq. It was a thirteen mile march with a 22 pound (minimum) pack. Participants who complete the march in less than 5 hours may receive (or purchase) the DanCon Iraq Medal. Pretty cool if you ask me. I did this yesterday, and am proud to say that I completed it. The embarrassment? I was the slowest in my unit, and instead of completing it in the less than 4 hours I had targeted, I took 4 hours and 44 minutes! It was a travesty. Now, to the excuses...

I could tell right away that I had chosen the wrong boot. I should have known better. Instead of wearing the boots that I wear everyday (which is the smart thing to do and worked great in basic training) I got the bright idea to wear my super comfy Bates boots. The problem is that the reason that they are so comfortable is that they are one size too big and very cushioned. I knew before the thing started that I had chosen poorly. By the second lap, I was blistering. I had the medics tape me up, but the damage and pain were already there. The last 3 miles were the most painful, but I did it. Now I feel the need to do it again, to prove that my slow performance was a fluke. Meanwhile, I walk like a man wearing a poopy diaper.

Still, I finished 8 laps (13 miles) ahead of everyone that didn't do it. But still, it was a rather poor showing on my part, I must admit.

Better start walking around barefoot like my wife does.

Good day from Iraq, and remember, never ever quit. Never. Never ever.