Open Mic Friday: RazZDoodle

This weeks Open Mic Friday is with RazZDoodle, from the famous Running Off At The Mind blog and RazZDoodle from the Lounge.

You recently celebrated your 2 year anniversary of running.   What advice would you give other beginning runners and Couch to 5K followers? 
Find a supportive network.  Whether it be a running group, message boards, blogs, etc., it's important that there are people out there that can celebrate/commiserate with you and can answer any question you have.  I've found that runners are the most supportive group and I've gotten great advice from ultramarathoners to people who started running yesterday.  Runners Lounge is the perfect place to start!  You guys have done a pheeeenomenal job with it!  (you're paying me in cash for this, right?)  {Editor's note:  ummmm....not really.  But if it makes you feel better - you are so right!}

Why did you start running?

That's kind of a long story, but I'll shorten it.  I started running for three reasons: 
A couple of years ago, my doctor told me that I needed to work on stress management.  I was having mild anxiety attacks and his prescription for it was.....wait for it......medication.  NOT a fan of that, so he said, "Well, you could always exercise."  Huh, ya think maybe I could try that rather than doping me up?  Thanks, doc!
I had an iPod and I wanted to use it more.  Sounds weird, but I'm a self-proclaimed tech-geek.
I was bored.  The sacred cow of teaching is the summer break.  I'm a fan of it, but in all honesty, I get bored/antsy after about 2 weeks of it.  I need to be doing something.

You have a marathon on your training plan for the Fall, following Hal's plan.  What are you most concerned about?  What are you looking forward to?

Sticking to the plan.  It should be pretty easy during the summer, but in the fall, my schedule will significantly fill up.

How did you choose the best marathon in the US?  (Ok, that is a cheesy, set up question since it is in lovely Des Moines IA.) 
I knew that if I was going to do this, a fall marathon was my best option.  I can do the bulk of the training during summer break.  Without significant traveling, I was down to deciding between the Omaha (where I live), Kansas City (love that town), and the Des Moines marathons.  I chose DM because my parents live there and I'd have a familiar place to sleep.  That, and the fact that my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers are playing Iowa State in Ames the day before.  At least I hope it's during the day.  If it's a night game, I'm hosed.  I've requested pasta for the tailgate party.

What has changed the most for you, due to running, in the last two years?
To quote the great philosopher, Frank Costanza:  "Serenity Now!"  With all of the craziness in my life, running helps me center myself.  There's a big difference in my attitude when I'm running regularly.  Just ask my family and my students.

If you hadn't started running, what do you think you would be doing with all that free time that you weren't running or blogging?
I'd be sleeping in at least an hour longer
I'd be having anxiety attacks all over the place
I'd have a lot more time at work to teach, research, etc.

Does your family support your running?
There pretty supportive.  I think it all came together for them during a race this past Memorial Day.  I think they realized how much running means to me and how I'm not the only one into it.  My 4 year old is itching to run in the next kids fun run and my wife really enjoyed the 1 mile walk.  My 1 year old is more concerned about chewing on my Garmin. 

How did you come up with the blogger name "RazZDoodle"?
My students gave me that one.  I have a really long last name and they like to shorten it.  See, there's a progression with me in my classes.  You start off calling me by my proper name.  Then, as you earn your stripes (i.e. - projects, in-class drama, broken equipment, etc.), you can start to call me "Mr. Raz".  More stripes, you can call me "Raz".  One kid took it a step further and called me RazZDoodle.  I wasn't a fan, but it stuck the rest of the year.

Who is your running hero(s)?
Wile E. Coyote.  Actually, it's my boss.  She's in the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame for Cross Country.  She's a phenomenal runner and she's always willing to give me advice when I ask her.  She was the one that convinced me to run a 10K race after I missed my first 5K (another long story). 

If you could run faster or run longer, which would you choose?
Faster.  I want to be able to outrun a puma if need be.  That, and I want to qualify for Boston.  It's my ultimate goal.

How do you cope with the extreme seasons of the midwest?  

I think you need to find your intrinsic motivation to get out there, thumb your nose at Mother Nature and say, "Hey, you're not going to beat me today!"  That, and we just bought a treadmill, which I detest.  I prefer running in 55-65 degree weather running when the sun is rising.  There's nothing better.

What's the hardest thing about running?
For me, it's getting up at 4:30am.  Once I get over that hurdle (get it?  hurdle?  running?  ha!), and I'm out the door, it gets easier.

What's the best thing about running?
Oh geez, there's a lot of "best things". I'd say the best thing, besides the health benefits would be the fact that I can say, "I ran ___ miles this morning."  There's that sense of accomplishment, whether it's 3 miles or 26.2 miles.

This weeks Open Mic Friday is with RazZDoodle, from the famous Running Off At The Mind blog and RazZDoodle from the Lounge.

You recently celebrated your 2 year anniversary of running.   What advice would you give other beginning runners and Couch to 5K followers? 
Find a supportive network.  Whether it be a running group, message boards, blogs, etc., it's important that there are people out there that can celebrate/commiserate with you and can answer any question you have.  I've found that runners are the most supportive group and I've gotten great advice from ultramarathoners to people who started running yesterday.  Runners Lounge is the perfect place to start!  You guys have done a pheeeenomenal job with it!  (you're paying me in cash for this, right?)  {Editor's note:  ummmm....not really.  But if it makes you feel better - you are so right!}

Why did you start running?

That's kind of a long story, but I'll shorten it.  I started running for three reasons: 
A couple of years ago, my doctor told me that I needed to work on stress management.  I was having mild anxiety attacks and his prescription for it was.....wait for it......medication.  NOT a fan of that, so he said, "Well, you could always exercise."  Huh, ya think maybe I could try that rather than doping me up?  Thanks, doc!
I had an iPod and I wanted to use it more.  Sounds weird, but I'm a self-proclaimed tech-geek.
I was bored.  The sacred cow of teaching is the summer break.  I'm a fan of it, but in all honesty, I get bored/antsy after about 2 weeks of it.  I need to be doing something.

You have a marathon on your training plan for the Fall, following Hal's plan.  What are you most concerned about?  What are you looking forward to?

Sticking to the plan.  It should be pretty easy during the summer, but in the fall, my schedule will significantly fill up.

How did you choose the best marathon in the US?  (Ok, that is a cheesy, set up question since it is in lovely Des Moines IA.) 
I knew that if I was going to do this, a fall marathon was my best option.  I can do the bulk of the training during summer break.  Without significant traveling, I was down to deciding between the Omaha (where I live), Kansas City (love that town), and the Des Moines marathons.  I chose DM because my parents live there and I'd have a familiar place to sleep.  That, and the fact that my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers are playing Iowa State in Ames the day before.  At least I hope it's during the day.  If it's a night game, I'm hosed.  I've requested pasta for the tailgate party.

What has changed the most for you, due to running, in the last two years?
To quote the great philosopher, Frank Costanza:  "Serenity Now!"  With all of the craziness in my life, running helps me center myself.  There's a big difference in my attitude when I'm running regularly.  Just ask my family and my students.

If you hadn't started running, what do you think you would be doing with all that free time that you weren't running or blogging?
I'd be sleeping in at least an hour longer
I'd be having anxiety attacks all over the place
I'd have a lot more time at work to teach, research, etc.

Does your family support your running?
There pretty supportive.  I think it all came together for them during a race this past Memorial Day.  I think they realized how much running means to me and how I'm not the only one into it.  My 4 year old is itching to run in the next kids fun run and my wife really enjoyed the 1 mile walk.  My 1 year old is more concerned about chewing on my Garmin. 

How did you come up with the blogger name "RazZDoodle"?
My students gave me that one.  I have a really long last name and they like to shorten it.  See, there's a progression with me in my classes.  You start off calling me by my proper name.  Then, as you earn your stripes (i.e. - projects, in-class drama, broken equipment, etc.), you can start to call me "Mr. Raz".  More stripes, you can call me "Raz".  One kid took it a step further and called me RazZDoodle.  I wasn't a fan, but it stuck the rest of the year.

Who is your running hero(s)?
Wile E. Coyote.  Actually, it's my boss.  She's in the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame for Cross Country.  She's a phenomenal runner and she's always willing to give me advice when I ask her.  She was the one that convinced me to run a 10K race after I missed my first 5K (another long story). 

If you could run faster or run longer, which would you choose?
Faster.  I want to be able to outrun a puma if need be.  That, and I want to qualify for Boston.  It's my ultimate goal.

How do you cope with the extreme seasons of the midwest?  

I think you need to find your intrinsic motivation to get out there, thumb your nose at Mother Nature and say, "Hey, you're not going to beat me today!"  That, and we just bought a treadmill, which I detest.  I prefer running in 55-65 degree weather running when the sun is rising.  There's nothing better.

What's the hardest thing about running?
For me, it's getting up at 4:30am.  Once I get over that hurdle (get it?  hurdle?  running?  ha!), and I'm out the door, it gets easier.

What's the best thing about running?
Oh geez, there's a lot of "best things". I'd say the best thing, besides the health benefits would be the fact that I can say, "I ran ___ miles this morning."  There's that sense of accomplishment, whether it's 3 miles or 26.2 miles.

This weeks Open Mic Friday is with RazZDoodle, from the famous Running Off At The Mind blog and RazZDoodle from the Lounge.

You recently celebrated your 2 year anniversary of running.   What advice would you give other beginning runners and Couch to 5K followers? 
Find a supportive network.  Whether it be a running group, message boards, blogs, etc., it's important that there are people out there that can celebrate/commiserate with you and can answer any question you have.  I've found that runners are the most supportive group and I've gotten great advice from ultramarathoners to people who started running yesterday.  Runners Lounge is the perfect place to start!  You guys have done a pheeeenomenal job with it!  (you're paying me in cash for this, right?)  {Editor's note:  ummmm....not really.  But if it makes you feel better - you are so right!}

Why did you start running?

You have a marathon on your training plan for the Fall, following Hal's plan.  What are you most concerned about?  What are you looking forward to?

Sticking to the plan.  It should be pretty easy during the summer, but in the fall, my schedule will significantly fill up.

How did you choose the best marathon in the US?  (Ok, that is a cheesy, set up question since it is in lovely Des Moines IA.) 
I knew that if I was going to do this, a fall marathon was my best option.  I can do the bulk of the training during summer break.  Without significant traveling, I was down to deciding between the Omaha (where I live), Kansas City (love that town), and the Des Moines marathons.  I chose DM because my parents live there and I'd have a familiar place to sleep.  That, and the fact that my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers are playing Iowa State in Ames the day before.  At least I hope it's during the day.  If it's a night game, I'm hosed.  I've requested pasta for the tailgate party.

What has changed the most for you, due to running, in the last two years?
To quote the great philosopher, Frank Costanza:  "Serenity Now!"  With all of the craziness in my life, running helps me center myself.  There's a big difference in my attitude when I'm running regularly.  Just ask my family and my students.

If you hadn't started running, what do you think you would be doing with all that free time that you weren't running or blogging?
I'd be sleeping in at least an hour longer
I'd be having anxiety attacks all over the place
I'd have a lot more time at work to teach, research, etc.

Does your family support your running?
There pretty supportive.  I think it all came together for them during a race this past Memorial Day.  I think they realized how much running means to me and how I'm not the only one into it.  My 4 year old is itching to run in the next kids fun run and my wife really enjoyed the 1 mile walk.  My 1 year old is more concerned about chewing on my Garmin. 

How did you come up with the blogger name "RazZDoodle"?
My students gave me that one.  I have a really long last name and they like to shorten it.  See, there's a progression with me in my classes.  You start off calling me by my proper name.  Then, as you earn your stripes (i.e. - projects, in-class drama, broken equipment, etc.), you can start to call me "Mr. Raz".  More stripes, you can call me "Raz".  One kid took it a step further and called me RazZDoodle.  I wasn't a fan, but it stuck the rest of the year.

Who is your running hero(s)?
Wile E. Coyote.  Actually, it's my boss.  She's in the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame for Cross Country.  She's a phenomenal runner and she's always willing to give me advice when I ask her.  She was the one that convinced me to run a 10K race after I missed my first 5K (another long story). 

If you could run faster or run longer, which would you choose?
Faster.  I want to be able to outrun a puma if need be.  That, and I want to qualify for Boston.  It's my ultimate goal.

How do you cope with the extreme seasons of the midwest?  

I think you need to find your intrinsic motivation to get out there, thumb your nose at Mother Nature and say, "Hey, you're not going to beat me today!"  That, and we just bought a treadmill, which I detest.  I prefer running in 55-65 degree weather running when the sun is rising.  There's nothing better.

What's the hardest thing about running?
For me, it's getting up at 4:30am.  Once I get over that hurdle (get it?  hurdle?  running?  ha!), and I'm out the door, it gets easier.

What's the best thing about running?
Oh geez, there's a lot of "best things". I'd say the best thing, besides the health benefits would be the fact that I can say, "I ran ___ miles this morning."  There's that sense of accomplishment, whether it's 3 miles or 26.2 miles.

Comments

[Viv]

Nice to meet ya Razz! Good luck during marathon training.

[Betsy]

I'm a big RazZ fan... and those are some cute kids!

[Bob Allen]

I like the Open Mic Friday feature of Runners' Lounge -- it's good to get to know a bit about the people behind the blogs and comments. I like the way you, Raz, let the kids earn the right to shorten your name.

[Felice]

Rock on, RazZDoodle! I can't believe anyone willing gets up at 4:30. That is some major dedication. Cheers to you!

Good luck with your marathon.