Three years later...

I passed my PAT with Tacoma this morning in six minutes and twenty four seconds. I felt comfortable, albeit taxed at times. And I felt like I had it pretty much the whole way through. It didn't feel like failure was an option. I am really happy with my time. The practice run I did was 7:41. Max time to still pass is 7:30. The Crossfit I've been doing has really helped, not only physically but mentally as well. I owe it to a lot of people who have given me advice and told me I could do it. If you hear it enough it seems to come true. I turned in my application packet right after and I hope I get a call for an interview. Nothing is for sure but I'm crossing my fingers. If I get invited to an interview that'll be the furthest I've ever come to being hired by any department, especially a department I really want to work for.

I'm stoked. This test has been in the back of my mind since I first tried (and failed) my first 2.5" charged hose drag back in August of '05. I didn't end up testing then due to being sick/injured/psyched out. Now, I feel like the chickens finally came home to roost and it was good. Very very good.

The best part is that I barfed in the shower this morning. I brushed my teeth and then brushed my tongue and made myself gag. I'd been on the verge of barfing all morning and that was all the excuse I needed to let 'er rip. I'd only eaten coffee so that was it, but it was a delicious way to begin the day. Molly forced me to take peanut butter toast on the way down to Tacoma, and Dad handed me a primo banana. I managed to eat a small corner of the toast and half the banana but couldn't choke down anymore than that. Even my normal cup of coffee was super unenjoyable. After I finished the test I drank a 16oz coffee and half a gallon of water on the way home, plus the couple cups of water I drank before and after the test. I had to stop to pee four times on the way home. Granted, my trip home took my forever because of a couple errands/poor turns. But I urinated at the Tacoma Public Library, the rest stop just north of Fife, the Queen Anne 76 station (this one was an emergency), and the Green Lake Kidd Valley. Great day.