Why Am I Doing This Again?

I've been putting this off, but I think the reason I haven't fallen off the fence and signed up for the marathon is fairly simple:

I don't know if I want to do it.

There. I feel better. See, here's the thing: I'm equating the training of a marathon to the running of a marathon. Seeing as though my only frame of reference is running a half-marathon, I'll just have to use that. When you start out, it's new and exciting and the hope for PRs is out there. Sometimes you start out quickly. Thankfully, I stuck to my plan. (this was not the case in running said HM).

After awhile you get bored. You see the same people and you get into a groove. Wake up early, run 3 miles, rinse, lather, repeat.

It isn't until the end of the race, that you see the prize. Your entire body hurts, you question yourself, but you still keep going because you know that the finish line is going to be suhweeeeet.

Right now, I'm in the boredom phase. I'm just putting in the miles. Am I getting enjoyment out of it? Not really. Do I hate doing it? Not really. I've always thought that apathy is worse than anything else. I'm hoping that I see the prize pretty soon. Who knows? After this weekend, I'll be $75 poorer, but I'll have a little extra incentive.

p.s. - A big, huge, whopping thank you to Tom and Nancy over at Runners Lounge as well as Non-Runner Nancy! I asked them about some trails that I could hit while I'm in Des Moines this weekend and they emailed me back the online equivalent of a road atlas filled with good trails! It's like having Lewis and Clark and.....Amerigo Vespucci* at your fingertips. Wow! I only hope that I can return the favor some day. Alas, Omaha is not really a hotbed for kewl races, but the offer still stands for any of you!

*like the Vespucci reference? 8th grade social studies paid off!

Burning a Hole

I feel unfulfilled fellow runners.  It's been at least 3 weeks since I have bought some new type of running gear.  Hell, it's been at least a week since I've set foot in a running store or even online.  I'm suffering from withdrawal.  I'm not a big shopper, per se.  Occasionally, I will reluctantly tag along with my wife when she goes shopping.  She says it has something to do with bonding, quality time, blah blah blah.  I hear Z Gallerie and then I zone out.  But, if her shopping locale is near a decent sporting good/running store or - better  yet - an Apple store, I'll gladly conversate with my bride until we get there.  I'm a giver that way.

So, rather than work on a video project today, I find myself shopping online.  After spending last week with high school kids, I'm feel it's only appropriate that I treat myself to a little something.  

What to get?  Seeing as though a 26.2 mile run may be in my future, a fuel belt might be in order although I don't know how crazy I am about running with 4 water bottles attached to me.  Running shorts are always something good to have on hand.  I need some shorts that have the key pouch.  Do you know how time-consuming it is to have to lace my key through my shoes?  Socks are always handy.  Finally, there are shoes.  Do I need new shoes?  Not right now.  Usually around my birthday (only 48 more shopping days, people!) I ask for a new pair of shoes.  The ones I have are fine, but I swear that they may have been a bit uncomfortable during this morning's run between mile 2 and 2.25.  Ouch! 

So there you have it.  A little extra in my wallet and it's burning a hole in my running shorts.  Any suggestions for a semi-dedicated runner, devoted gadget-geek that still hasn't registered for his marathon is always appreciated.

P.S. - Are anyone else's times suffering due to this heat?  I was sailing along this spring and early summer and, lately, I've noticed a discernible increase in my times.  I'm blaming it on the fact that my neighborhood association is now testing for HGH.  

P.P.S - This post may seem similar to that of Xenia's.  I assure you that I had this idea before she did.  She just has the advantage of posting 6 hours before any of us.  Damn you time change! *shakes fist violently*

I'm Baaaack

Well, I'm back! I know all of you have put your lives on pause due to my absence. I'm sure you even considered curling up in the fetal position in the corner of your room just waiting for that "1" to show up next to Running Off at the Mind. It's OK. Everything is going to be alright.

• Running was virtually non-existent last week. I never really got a good night's sleep due to the fact that I was sleeping on something that even residents of San Quentin wouldn't sleep on.   I was tired and weary when I got home. I managed to get in my long run yesterday and I think the Running Gods are making me pay for my earlier comments about long runs. Karma is a female dog, isn't it?
• Landscaping = cross training. Enough said.
• It twas a sad day here on Saturday. I had to retire my first pair of running shoes. We've had quite a history. I remember taking you home from Scheels. You were so young then. We spent more time in the gym then we did on the road. If I had only known. *sniff*. RIP Asics GT-2090. You were a good friend and you even made yard work more comfortable. You will be missed.

*moment of silence*

• Thanks for more than a few of you goading me into signing up for my marathon.  Still haven't done it yet.  I know, I know.  This weekend should tell me a lot.  If I can get back on track and finish my long run (12 miles), I'll sign up.  How's that?  Now back the hell off!
• School starts next Monday.  Teachers report and the kids invade on the 14th.  Imagine my excitement.

Tis all for now.  Now I need to catch up on the reading portion of the blogosphere.

Greetings from Camp!

In true journalistic fashion, here's how it's going this week:

WHO: 140+ high school journalism students from all across the state of Nebraska plus 8 instructors and about 15 counselors. They've all been pretty good kids and the counselors have been amazing helping us out.
WHAT: The Nebraska High School Press Association Summer Workshop. Basically, it's a bunch of journalism geeks getting together.
WHEN: Right now. From 8am to 9pm, and for 3.5 days straight, I'm teaching them the "thrill" of broadcast journalism.
WHERE: Hot, steamy, picturesque Lincoln, Nebraska. And, oh, the nightlife.
WHY: It pays well.
HOW: How? How the hell should I know?

Here are some questions that I know you're all dying to ask:

"Have you run at all?"
I ran on Monday and haven't run since. I haven't gotten a decent night's sleep because I'm sleeping on the most uncomfortable "bed" known to man. I think it's a bed. More like a plank of wood with sheets over it.

"How's the food?"
Nice to know dorm food hasn't changed much in 15 years. I don't really consider it food, per se. More like colorful globs. "I had something yellowish for dinner tonight." The healthy alternative at the dorm was fried rice.

"How are the kids?"
Tolerable.

"Burnt out yet?"
Not yet, but we're all getting there. My students have that crazed look like we're all going to kill each other before this thing gets out. Fortunately for the staff, we're going to go out tonight to a local brew pub and enjoy our last night. Great hand-crafted beers, too! Viper would be proud! (Sorry I can't link. I think this computer is from the mid-90's.)

I'll have more details later with some suh-weeeeeeet pictures of chateau de RazZDoodle.

Packin' It Up

For the first time in my training, I missed a run.  3, to be exact.  I'm going to try to get a 2 mile run in tomorrow and then my long run on Sunday.  Wish me luck.  On to the post:

Well, folks.  I've given this a lot of thought and planning, but this will have to be my last post.  

For awhile.

Maybe even for a week.  

I am going to be gone next week.  Do I get to travel to cool places like P.O.M and Non-Runner Nancy?  Not quite.

Will I be living in a hotel like Laura does?  Not.  Even.  Close.

So where does RazZDoodle get to go? 

To sunny, beautiful Lincoln, Nebraska!

That's right.  Our fair state's capital city beckons me.  I am an adviser at a journalism workshop from Sunday through Thursday.  300+ high school journalism geeks and 8 of my colleagues will attempt to impart some knowledge on tomorrow's reporters and try to stay sane.  It's actually a lot of fun.  I have a lot of fun with the other advisers, so that makes everything else more than tolerable.  What is "everything else" you ask?  Let me tell ya:

• It's late-July in Nebraska.  Not really conducive for spending a lot of time outside.  Which we'll do when we start shooting stories.
• I'm living in a dorm.  Let me repeat that.  I'm living in a dorm.  Not quite the 4 star, 5 diamond places that I'm accustomed to.  
• All-you-can-eat dorm food.
• I'm spending 4.5 days with 300+ high school students.

There are some upsides to this:

• Colleagues that know how to have a good time.
• An opening dinner that's held at, quite possibly, one of the best steakhouses I've been to.  It's paid for and it's an open bar.  That, in and of itself , is worth it.
• I have found one of the best coffeehouses ever (even better than 'bucks!) and it's only :30 away from where I'll be teaching.
• I get to run past this view every morning that I'm there:

You may recognize this.  This is mecca for Nebraska sports fans.  Of course I speak of the hallowed Memorial Stadium, home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. 

• 5 National Championships
• 3 Heisman Trophy Winners
• An NCAA-record 289 consecutive sellouts.  (since 1962)
• A 46-17-2 record versus the Colorado Buffaloes

Yeah, that pretty much balances everything out.  

Hopefully, I'll be able to drop in and make some pithy comments, but remember me fondly if I can't.

Running is Overrated

We've all pontificated about how great running is. It's healthy for you. You're more focused. You have more energy. Blah blah blah. You know what sucks about running?

It doesn't prepare you at all for cutting down a fucking 30 foot tree. Yeah, that's right....an F-Bomb. It was that kind of day. 98 degrees, humid and I was ass-deep in tree. More on that later today or tomorrow.

As I'm cutting up the tree, I'm cursing my choice of fitness, so here is why running is overrated:

1. (see above about f-bomb tree)
2. You can't outrun a puma.
3. You can't outrun a bullet.
4. Car vs. Pedestrian? Car wins, unless it's a Geo.
5. It's boring to watch on TV.

Normally, this is the part where I say, "But running is the sport for me because I enjoy it and I have a great support group both online and in person."

Instead, I was lucky enought to receive some "supportive" comments in yesterday's post. Well, here are some "supportive" answers I have for you (blogger's comment in italics):

Nitmos - "Cross training day, eh?" Damn straight, Skippy! Oddly enough there's no cross-training category for "tree cutting" in my online journal. There should be.

Viper - "Arbor Day, you're doing it wrong." I've already dropped one f-bomb. I'm not going to drop one again.

Xenia - "Free firewood. Sweet." Yeah, and if you want to haul it outta here and back to the UK, feel free. Checking it as carry-on might be problematic, though.

Vanilla - "Well, that's going to make building the treehouse a lot easier." I'm now going to build one in our pine tree.

Tamsmom - "Wow that sucks!! Only monsoon rain out here in central NE! Maybe a quick jog back and forth while stacking firewood?" Yeah, maybe.

Laura/Meg - "I'm just glad your house/deck is okay." Big thanks to Laura and Meg for caring about the potential damage to my house and property. You find out who your friends are in time of crisis, don't you? Actually, that was the ideal way for the tree to fall. Anywhere else and our house or our neighbors fence and/or house are damaged.

Marcy - "So what are you going to do today? :P" I'm going to cut down a 30 foot tree in 98 degree weather with 1000% humidity. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to down 5 bottles of Gatorade by noon and then, I'm going to call in reinforcements and get the job done. Then, I'm going to pass out by 8:30pm. That's what I'm going to do. What are you going to do today? Go to a carnival or something?

Pictures of the finished product and a short story to follow when I've settled down.

*I hate to admit it, but your comments were pretty funny. Paybacks are a bitch, though.

Paul Bunyan, Leatherface and Jason are My Idols

Didn't get a run in Tuesday morning due to lack of sleep. Didn't get a run in this morning partly due to this:

All I need now is a 1970's goalie mask.

Guess what I'll be doing today?

Why You REALLY Run The Long Run

You don't do it because it's healthy.  

You don't do it to reduce stress.

You do it for a reason that a lot of us don't want to admit.

You run The Long Run so I can thumb my nose up at people that don't.  

There.  I said it.  

Tell me that you don't get some sort of smug satisfaction about cranking out The Long Run.  Tell me that you don't look at your family and friends pity them because they didn't conquer the mileage.  All they did was sleep in and watch cartoons.  You, on the other hand, hit the road and run The Long Run.  Then, you go to church where they talk about bettering yourself and your community and all you can think about is, "I'll bet Father didn't proudly enter in his mileage and split times into his online running journal before mass like I did.  Who's God's chosen one now, Padre?"*

It's one of the few activities, nay endurance sports, where you can quantifiably impress friends and family.  When someone tells you they just got back from the gym and they spent 20 minutes on the elliptical, are you impressed?  If a co-worker tells you they went 3 sets of tennis with another co-worker, do you bow down?  Of course not!  But, if you tell someone you ran 10 miles on Sunday, that's something that everyone can relate to.  

"Holy crap!  You could run to work and back!"

"Wow!  They made us run the mile in high school and I almost passed out.  How do you do it?"

So on and so forth.  

Embrace your self righteousness.  I have and I feel better.  Better than some of you and better than most people.  I think that the local DMV proves my point.  

I will now attempt jumping off my high horse without breaking a limb.  Wish me luck.

*goin' to hell for that one.

**if you can't sift through the sarcasm in this post, you just need to walk away, take a break, and re-read.

TGIF My Fat A**

Today's the day and I seem to be missing something.  

Is it my Garmin?  No, I rarely forget that.  I may forget to charge it once in awhile, but I don't forget it. 

Is it my kids?  No, I remembered to put them in the car.  This time.

Is it my dignity?  That waved bye-bye to me a lonnnnnngggggg time ago.

What could be missing?  Normally on a Friday I'm as giddy as a school girl.  Sometimes I even frolic (if there's a meadow nearby).

No, dear readers, after months of dropping not-so-subtle hints to the "fine" folks in Cupertino, CA (a.k.a. - Apple headquarters*) on this blog, the iPhone 3G is here and it is not in my hot little hands. 

Whatever shall I do?

How will I make phone calls?  With my dinky, "oh-so-May 2008" wireless phone**?

How will I keep my appointments?  By writing them down in my planner?

How will I navigate?  By reading a map?

How will I know what time it is?  By looking at my watch?  

Most importantly, how will I compose witty posts on this blog?  By using my laptop or - dare I even suggest it - my desktop PC?  (pause for audience gasp)

I thought I was about as subtle as a runaway train, but alas and alack.  I will have to live in the earlier half of the 21st century.  

*sigh*

TGIF?  I think not.

*Yeah, that's right....I know where Apple headquarters are.  That's not geeky at all.

**After going through 3 replacement phones (same type), Verizon finally caved and offered to upgrade my phone to a completely new model and brand.  

***The only thing that keeps me going is that the "3G" part isn't available in Omaha just yet.  What does that mean?  I think it has something to do with the Internet.  I'm not sure, though. I'm not that big of a geek.

You Must Be This Tall

Yesterday, Dear Wife, 4 year old RazZDoodle and I went to our local water resort. Water resort? In Nebraska? Abso-damn-lutely there is! Little RazZDoodle had a great adventure, but the real adventure was watching all of the other kids. See, I'm not a big "other kids" kind of guy. Sure, I like my friends' little ones. Notice I didn't say "adore" or "love". I like them. Let's leave it at that. Other kids outside of my inner circle annoy the hell out of me. Anyway, this place was like any other place you take your kids. With allllllllll of the bright colors and hyped up kids, I likened it to one word:

Wonka.

In true fashion, let's take a look at the types of kids that you always see at water parks, the zoo, the airport, Congress*, etc.:

Violet Beauregarde - She's the kid that races her friend on the lazy river and, when she gets to some sort of finish line, she taunts said friend and does everything but yell, "In yer face, ya puke!" Actually, that did happen (except for the "puke" part).

Veruca Salt - This is the kid that has everything and she thinks that the entire water park is her god-given domain. Every freakinline should part because she wants to slide down the slide now. (Editor's note - this has got to be the best picture I've seen in awhile. The girl I saw yesterday looked exactly like the girl from the movie!)

Mike Teavee - Apparently, the water park is his battle ground. This kid managed to hit me with a water canon 3 f***in' times! Until, however, an errant basketball caught Mike right between the eyes. Whoops, Mikey. Sorry about that. That last shot just got away from me. Aww.... you gonna squirt some, Mike? Huh? You wanna piece of this?

Augustus Gloop - 'nuff said here.

Oompa Loompas - These guys were actually the lifeguards. They didn't sit on lifeguard chairs, so they paced the park. They even paced like the Oompa Loompas. Swear to god. I was waiting for a kid to go under just so they could sing their song. It never happened, much to my dismay.

Just in case you forgot the song, here it is:

Of course, Charlie was Little RazZDoodle. Except she's a girl, but she could do no wrong and, since she got a scrape on her ankle maybe she, too, will own the water resort. Very very soon.

*I went political. How versatile am I?

Dead Legs

The mind and spirit were willing today, but the legs, well they were a whole different story.  Dead legs for the first couple of miles.  They didn't really hurt, but it felt as though I was lugging around 2 lead stumps.  The upside is that my splits got better throughout the run, so that's encouraging.

I have noticed a new little tweak/injury.  The inside of my lower left leg kinda hurts when I start out.  Once it's warmed up, no problem.  I've switched from running on the streets and have hopped back on the sidewalks.  My hunch is that with the streets' cambered-ness (it's a word) of the side roads, it may have put some stress on my leg.  No big deal.  I've gone through it before and it worked itself out.  

I'm about a week away from signing up for the DM marathon.  That, in and of itself, is half of the battle for me.  Once my money goes to a race, then I have true motivation.  Sad, but true.  The deadline is July 21st and, by god, I'll register on the 21st.  I've been preparing for it by running as many hilly routes as possible because I've heard that the first 7-8 miles has a lot of 'em.  I'm convinced that Non-Runner Nancy told me that it was a flat, fast course, but lo and behold, it's not.  Selective memory is a bear, isn't it?  :)

Still working on my summer workshop to-do list.  I managed to get my introduction and ice-breaker activity accomplished.  Wow, we're really cooking now.

Aw, Fartlek It.....

The fartlek didn't happen.  As hard as I tried, I just couldn't fartlek.  

I felt really "off" during what was to be my warmup run.  My shin hurt, it was hot and muggy and I wanted to concentrate and sort stuff out on this run.  I'm teaching at a workshop in a couple of weeks and, true to form, I have no set plans as of yet.  Usually on my shorter runs, I can get some sort of concept going.  I did the workshop last year, but you know what would've helped?  Notes from what went right and what went wrong.  Hmm....novel concept.  

3 mile run = no new ideas.  Great.

I want to thank everyone for their advice on getting through writer's block.

• "Sometimes a good fartlek would cure that." was pretty much the theme.  Really guys?  That's the best you can do? I expect more out of my loyal devotees.  
• I'd like to take potshots at other bloggers, but that's not really my style.  The only way to get respect is to show respect (ahem, Vanilla).  
• From Lily On the Road:  "Anytime I need inspiration for blogging , I head over to Nitmos, he ALWAYS has something there to get the creative Fartlek juices flowing so to speak!"   WTF??????  And how much is Lily getting paid, Nitmos?

As for now, I'm going one of two ways.  1) Write through the block.  2) Take a little time off and then post something.   Who knows which way this venerable, historical, sensational blog will go.  Only time will tell.

The Well Has Run Dry....again

I've tried.  

Really I have.  Normally, I'll come up with something to post during my long run, but I was too busy skipping through my iPod shuffle trying to find some podcasts that I downloaded.  As an unintended result, I'm on a quest to update my playlist.  

I have nothing.  

I could go on and on about how it's hot and muggy - even at 6am - but you know what?  IT'S JULY!  IT'S GOING TO BE HOT NO MATTER WHEN YOU RUN!

I'm blocked.

No race reports.  No product reviews.  No pithy observations about anything.

You would think that after 4 weeks of marathon training, the posts would be flowing free.  I'd be the Hemingway of the Information Highway.

But I'm not.

Tomorrow, I'm going to shake things up a bit on my run.  I'm going to try this whole fartlek thing.  Maybe you guys can name the title of my post.  Here are your options:

1. "Excuse me, I just Fartleked"
2. "Who Fartleked?  I did!"
3. "Fartleking in Public Feels Great."
4. Other

There ya go.  There's the cruz of this intriguing post.  YOU get to choose the title!  How's THAT for interactive?!  The winner will get a glowing write-up about their blog PLUS a link to it!   Wow.

A Good 4th.

At last check, all of my family members and friends had their appendages when we went home, so I'd say this year's celebrations were a success.  Good food was had by all.  Burgers, hot dogs, BBQ brisket, caramel apple pie, etc.  

There was a slight twist to this year's celebration:  I didn't light off one firework.  Not even a firecracker.  Or sparkler.  Instead, I watched my daughter watch in amazement at all the fireworks going off in our neighborhood.  That was worth it.  

I was planning on a 5 miler today, but I opted to have a few more beers last night and I sat and watched the fireworks show.  Our neighborhood does a pheeeenomenal job of putting on a show.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th.    

Random Ramblings

Editor's Note: I pulled my post about the Olympic Swim Trials off of my blog due to the fact that I didn't really like the tone it had. I can be snarky and sarcastic, but I don't consider myself mean-spirited and I felt that that was the direction it headed.

I'm an inspiration.

I'm Matt Foley with running shoes.

My wife has always had trouble finding time to consistently exercise. Work, 2 kids, cooking and cleaning for all of us while we watch Phineas and Ferb seems to leave her without much time for herself. Whatever.

I have suggested on numerous occasions that she try exercising in the morning. I would've preached on about the advantages of doing that, but I just got a "You've Got to be Joking" glare. See, Dear Wife is not a morning person. At all.

Until today.

Before I went out on my run this morning, I told her that if she just gives it a try for one day, she'll notice a difference. All I got was a grunt. When I got back, she didn't admit I was right (there'll be daquiris in hell before that happens), but she did admit that she felt great.

Thank you, thank you. I'm now on to solve the world's other problems. Like the Red Sox in second place behind Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay. Really guys?

Editor's Note (take 2):  I frequently forget that Thursday is Take it and Run Thursday over at Runner's Lounge.  This week's theme:  Great T-Shirts.  The best one I've seen is one our XC team had.  On the back of the shirt it simply says, "How's the View?"  Not as good as "It seems like when you are out running everyone else is in bed.  But the one day you miss that run, the whole neighborhood is out for a jog." (I want that shirt!), but I thought it was pretty good.

Hi, My Name is RazZDoodle...

...and I'm a Starbucks addict.

Remember my bold statement about never ordering from Starbucks again?  Well, you guessed

 it:  a venti Pike Place beckoned me.  I mean, it was just sitting there across the street

 from school.  "RazZDoodle, you know you want to be part of the cool crowd.  Look at all the happy people." 

 I'm a weak, weak man.  Unlike some people, I will not go back and edit my bold statement (ahem, Nitmos).  I'll live with my shame.

On a different note, the Higger called for a 3 mile run.  I went 3.5.  That's right, I live on the edge, baby.  I'm dangerous.  I must now go cut the tags off of our 7 year old mattresses.  Maybe I'll go 5 mph over the speed limit to get back home.  Or maybe I won't.  I'm that unpredictable.