The miles, the dark, the monotony, the everything aching as the silence demands attention.

You carry less you carry more when does this end but if everything ended when we wanted it to we’d learn so much less about everything.

The known variable in this event is that it’s 48+ hours. Meaning this is the last sunrise and if you’re a participant that knowledge is as motivating as a golden ticket to tour the Wonka factory.

Time starts to be on your side.

My focus in chatting with not so much at Jon anymore was forced hydration. Zero-Two-Five what do you think the greatest risk to you finishing is? Med drop, Cadre? he asks. Yeah, med drop. The sun’s coming up, it’ll be hot. You can’t hydrate after the fact, it starts now. Hydration is a process, drink half that Nalgene bottle time now.

I really didn’t want to see Jon go the way of AJ for any reason. And it reminds me of SERE school where the Cadre are still doing their worst at the end (literally) and it stays terrible but they start to give you the answers, too. And they’re better judges of what you’re capable of than you yourself are so you listen to them if you’re smart almost like that line in T2 about Come with me if you want to live.

Almost I say.

Mostly just curiosity as to how his back was doing after all the sand, all the miles. Topical pain like friction or blisters are just pain and pain don’t hurt if you don’t let it. Over time it can be a problem but in 48+ hours topical stuff is kinda like whatever, deal with it.

Jon’s pants were completely thrashed, his fly wouldn’t close, and he used his PT belt as an, ummmmmmm, belt. Good on him for all except for his pant selection I guess.

Deep sigh for Jon now just thinking about Dakotah saying Zero-two-five the next exercise will be Sandbag Babies.

Oh how many times is the timing just not right for the backgrounds of our lives.

Beer > Bananas in almost every instance, hour 42 of Selection being an exception.

I bike by this spot every day on my way to work with Monster. And I always kinda smile about Jon just chilling waitin’ for whatever’s next like hey here’s your water finish it and more. The temp was around 80 degrees and full of humidity.

The sharks await.

And the meat makes its way to their waters.

Zero-Two-Five follow my finger. Yes, Cadre.

How you doin’ Zero-Two-Five. Good, Cadre.

OK. Standby…

Up next: Part 8: Shark Attack