Alright everyone, so zero day has come and gone and it was a ton of fun.  Like I said previously, we were outside at 0435 in the morning in our ACU's and boots.  When the cadre showed at 0450, we started a run that was probably about 3/4 of a mile or so to a parking garage area.  Before the run was over, we had one person drop.  Once there, we lined up and first sergeant pointed out that there was hot chocolate and donuts for anyone who wanted to quit (and that they wouldnt have to do regular pt, they could go home and back to sleep).

We started off with 112 overhead claps (224 since everyone 1 is really 2) and then a lot of other shoulder/ push-up exercises for about 20 minutes.  Mind you, its continous with no real breaks.  When they did allow us to get water, it was on a ten second count down.  Another few dropped out/ were kicked out because they couldnt keep the pace in overhead arm claps or they bent their arms.  After about 20 minutes of that, we about faced and had Chief to initiate our legs into zero day.  She hit us with a lot of abs, lunges, and other activities.  At any point in time, if either of them yelled go we would have to get up, run up the parking garage and back down and then continue (there was a lot of go's).

About 45 minutes into, we started doing lunges and if she passed us from behind, we would be done.  That, and lots of flutter kicks.  Then we about-faced and first sergeant gave us a minute to go to the van and pull out blocks.  As he counted down and we trampled each other and threw them out of the van, you couldnt help but laugh that our colleagues are doing boring legal research.  We got back and did a variety of push-ups using the blocks to go lower (one block under each hand).  After another about face, we went back to the van to get 15 lb medicine balls.  We had to start squating them and sprinting with them.  Its hard to go into detail about everything thats going as we were out there exercising for more than 2 hours continously.  Only about 10-15 people dropped out of the original 40 or so (rough estimates) but those who werent injured and came in decent shape made it through.  It actually became easier (to me) as we went because I am more leg and power oriented and since there was no long distance running, it helped me out.  By the end, everyone was cheering for the slower ones and it brought everyone else together.

Needless to say that our ACU's needed a good washing after that since people were sweating through them in 25 degree weather.  But everyone was pretty stoked about making it through.  Then we had to walk/ run back, unpack the van, shower and get to class in about 35 minutes.  It was funny seeing everyone an hour later as their bodies tightened up and people could not walk up stairs or get up from their chairs.  Im still pretty sore in my quads after 3+ days and that wasnt helped out by the fact that the next morning (friday) my run leader took us up (and down) Observatory Hill (O-hill).  Despite being extremely sore, we made the 6 mile round trip up the mountain (tallest hill I've ever seen) with some extremely steep grades.  Lets just say afterwards that everyone was ready for the weekend.

On the academic side, we have had a couple of practice exercises and have a take home exam due on monday, two papers due this week (drafting reprimand letters and other things) and our first real exam on Thurs!  On a better note, we finally got paid!!!