Marching...

So today I decided to do training with my soldiers (as any good LT should but usually doesn't). Today we were going to go on a little ruck march and then stop and teach some classes then walk back. Not too bad I thought.
I thought wrong.
As we're walking our 1SG decided he wants to nix the classes and just do a road march. Mind you we have from 7 am to noon for training. Believe me when I say we used all five hours. We stopped twice for about 10 to 15 minutes each which was probably the worst thing to do. I was good for the whole way out which is about 11 kilometers. Good except about 7 kms in I could feel a quarter sized chunk of skin on my right heel just peel right off. So then I have raw skin rubbing against a boot for the rest of the march...no biggie, I can walk through 'a' blister.
The 11 kms back was a different story. I realized at about 2 kms into our hike back that I had multiple blisters. Still ok though, I'm a trooper so no complaining. Gotta keep the pace.
4 kms out I'm really feeling it. I'm computing in my head about how far I've walked and how long I've got til I get back. And at the 2km point that was it. I was dragging my feet and limping my way back. I didn't stop though, even ran a little to keep myself motivated. I made it back about halfway through the company and so I felt good. I was so happy for it to be over.
The aftereffects: I walk like I'm either a) pregnant, b) a person with a pole shoved up their ass, or c) both. It's so painful but I'm still happy that I did it.
In total it was 12 miles in sub-freezing temps with a biting wind that numbed my face, ears, and wrists so that I could feel none of them, though I knew they were moving.
No complaints here, just laughing at myself for walking like an idiot...:)