RazZDoodle's First Product Review!

The good folks at Stonyfield Farm contacted me about trying out some of their yogurt. More specifically, their greek yogurt, Oikos. Now who am I to say "no" to free food? So, off I go to the nearest Whole Foods. I could easily have gone to my local store, but it's more fun to blow an entire paycheck at WF, or "Whole Paycheck" in some circles. So, the RazZDoodle family loaded up the van, and headed out. Now, because we're loving parents, we conveniently arrived when they were at the apex of samples.

C heese cubes + organic chips + free range cocktail shrimp = free lunch for us!

Yet another example of my supreme parenting skills.

Anywho, we picked up some plain yogurt, blueberry and honey yogurts. Here's how they break down, bullet point style:

• Honey yogurt: "Yummy" was the review from KidDoodle 1. I used it in a fruit smoothie and it was great. I highly recommend going that route.
• Plain yogurt: I made a Tziki sauce with it and put it on our greek turkey burgers. Impressed? You should be! Thumbs up from all RazZDoodles on that one.
• Blueberry yogurt: I had that after lunch and it was really good. Of course, I had it after gunning down a philly cheesesteak, so that makes the meal healthy, right?

Bottom line: All of it was very good and I highly recommend it. Big thanks to Stonyfield Farm for feeding my family. Now if you'll excuse me, we're off to Costco for dinner.

OK, I'll Say It...

Yet again, I've noticed quite a bit of estrogen out thar in Running BlogLand. Thought I'd man it up with today's post. I tried this once before and it got glowing results. Whatever. Real men post with pseudo-names on blogs.

Most of you know by now that I'm a morning runner. And if you didn't know that, then you're new to the game and I'm not going to exhaust myself waiting for you to catch up.

Lately, though, I've noticed that running after dinner in my whereabouts might be more "interesting", so to speak. I had to run (not literally) to the store last night for milk. Apparently, the kids can't live off of Coke Zero and Bacardi.* Who knew? On my route, I noticed at least 7 runners. Well, I noticed 7 female runners. I'm sure that there were some guys there, but who the hell cares? It was like a moving, bouncing, swishing singles scene.

Now, before I continue, let me just say that I'm a happily committed husband and father of two. At least my wife tells me I'm happy and should be committed. But I digress.

That being said, if I were single...and attractive...and had any game whatsover.....and...where was I? Oh yeah, hot chicks. I digress again.

If I were single, I'd have to take advantage, right? How would it work, though? How does that conversation start?

• Run here often?
• Are your legs tired? Because you've been running through my mind since I saw you.
• Mind if I hang with you for the next 8 miles?
• You breathe heavy.

See? No game. It's amazing I'm even married at all.

*Neither can I. That's just what's left in the cabinet.
**Oh, and for those of you who will cry "pig!" after reading this, you missed the entire point of the post.

Day of Reckoning

I think Xenia and I got jobbed. I mean, for this challenge, we had something quantifiable (mileage and number of runs). Suzy RunsALot over there wanted more variety in her runs or something like that. Honestly, I usually tune her out after about 10 seconds or a paragraph...whichever comes first. WTF? Variety? Who the hell puts that as a challenge? More importantly, who agrees to that type of chall...oh, wait.

Here are the final numbers for last week
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday runs.

And Saturday was a tempo run. At least, I think it was. I had a small window to get a run in and, through exhaustive research about the FIRST program (read: more than one website and an email), I thought I'd try a tempo run. It was only 2 miles, so I don't know if that qualifies, but I did it :45 under my normal pace. Maybe it was just a "I Need to Get This Run In" run. Felt good, either way.

So there it is: 4 out of the 5 weeks, I got all of my runs in. Xenia was 4 for 5 as well. Who the hell knows how XC2 is going to grade herself. Maybe if she saw more tulips and fuzzy animals on her run, she considers that a success. Either way, it was fun and I'm glad I'm finally getting my sorry arse back out on the road and....gulp....I owe a lot of that to the other 2.

*shiver*

SSTIFY Friday - Squeal Like a Pig

This week's contribution comes from one of the kewlest cats* out in runner blogland. Kind of creeps me out that he sent it to me, but we here at ROATM are accepting of all lifestyles. I don't what's creepier: the fact that he sent it to me or the fact that one of his posts this week reminded me of the following song. It's like we were on this same messed up wavelength. *shiver*.

By the way, would this movie ever get made in this day and age? This is, without a doubt, one of the most effed up movies of all time.

I like one of the comments posted on YouTube about this video. They said that the banjo player reminded him of Dewey from Malcolm In The Middle. Too funny**.

Enjoy?

*see? I can be nice when I want to.

**If the Powers That Be did a search on my laptop right now, they're going to find a file named "dewey.jpg" and a file named "deliverance_banjo.jpg". I should probably do some "file management" right now.

About that Marathon Thing....

Yeah, so I get this email yesterday:

"Hey (insert RazZDoodle's real name here), Wondering if you'd be interested in joining a team for the Market to Market relay on Saturday, October 10."

And a resounding "Hell Yeah!" rang throughout the land.

I wanted to run that race last year and I can't really remember why I didn't. It sounds like a lot of fun. For those of you too lazy to click on the link, it's basically a relay race consisting of 6-8 team members from downtown Omaha to downtown Lincoln (approx. 60 miles). The only drawback I see is the smell of the team van/SUV at about the halfway point.

I didn't even think about the fact that the Omaha Marathon is on Sept. 27th. So, before anyone can beat me to the punch....

I'm dropping down to the half in Omaha.

That being said, I have a new goal: Break 2 hours.

I know it can be done. Not only that, but I'd like to shatter 2 hours. Just beat it down like a narc at a biker rally. My new challenge now is finding a training plan that will allow me to do so.

I've heard through the grapevine that the Higdon program puts too many miles on you. Well, that's what I used for the PFCRNRAM and I got hurt. So, sweet....I can blame Higger for that one. I think I'll shop around, thankyouverymuch.

First up on the training short list is the FIRST program. See how I did that? I used "first" twice, but it had 2 different connotations. Genius! I've been researching this for a little while now. Good Lord, you need a mathematician and a 3 ring binder to get this training program going! What happened to the days of just putting up a spreadsheet on the fridge and checking things off? Not only that, but I think I printed off the wrong sheets, so I was looking down the barrel of 6:15/mile paces. Uh, look to the left and down a bit on this blog. You'll see that a 6:15 pace is NOT going to happen. Even if I'm being chased by a puma. Turns out, I was using the metric chart. Dipshit.

I recalculated and it looks a bit more manageable although I'm still open to other training plans. This one doesn't officially start until Memorial Day weekend, so if you have any other suggestions, I'll gladly listen to them.

Decisions, Decisions

As I'm running my FOURTH run this past week (chalk!), I started getting that itch. No, not the one that requires full disclosure and a penicillin shot (rim shot x 2!). The one that says, "Hey idiot, how about another marathon?"

I don't know if I've really discussed it, but I still consider my marathon in January to still have an asterisk. Yes, I completed the 26.2 miles, but I didn't run the 26.2 miles. I've been thinking it's time to get rid of my personal asterisk. So on the calendar right now is the Omaha Marathon. It's a relatively small race with mixed reviews from friends, fellow bloggers and marathonguide.com.

Ever since I was a little kid, DadDoodle always suggested that we make a pros and cons list for every little personal quandary that we'd have. Usually, my sister and I would roll our eyes, but this time it might take. Here goes nothing:

Pros:

• That whole "right some wrongs" thing.
• See if I can do it again.
• See if I want to do it again.
• The race is in my hometown, so I could, in theory, run parts of the course a couple of times beforehand.
• My family would be there to see me throughout.

Cons

• It's 26.2 miles.
• It's a wee-bit hillier than Phoenix.
• I'm recalling the time and commitment to training.
  
• IT Band, IT Band, IT Band, IT Band, IT Band, IT Band

Of course, I could always drop down to the half.

SSTIFY Friday - A Ringing Endorsement

I'm not a big fan of TV. I know that may sound contradictory, but there are only a handful of shows that I have to see:

• The Office
• Rescue Me
• Local and national news

The only reason I watch the news is for research. It certainly isn't for content. In my opinion, decent TV reporting waved bye bye when conglomerates started gobbling up TV stations like Pez.

*jumps down off of soapbox*

I can now add another bullet to my list, however: Eastbound and Down. It's about a former big league pitcher, Kenny Powers, who loses his fastball in pretty quick fashion. He then goes back home and gets a job as a substitute teacher at the middle school. Powers is like John Rocker, but a helluva lot more offensive. It's freakin' hilarious on various levels.

Below is a montage of the show. The theme song has been stuck in my head for at least 2 weeks. Like Powers' character, some parts of the video are crude and offensive. In fact, you might want to turn the sound down if you're at work, thus defeating the purpose of this week's SSTIFY. Enjoy anyway. My blog, my rules.

*Major points for anyone who can tell me the movie in which this song originally played.
**My undying admiration for the main character's name in the movie and the "actor" who portrayed him.

Runners LoungeCast - Episode 20 - Running and Blogging

I'm back on the LoungeCast! 

In this week's episode, we discuss running and blogging and blogging and running. I even let Jess admit that I'm a much better writer than other male bloggers out there. Ah, the beauty of editing. Oh, yeah...someone else was with us, too.

Enjoy.

Alleluia....Let's Go To Starbucks!

Alternate title: "3 Days of Fail"

Although we didn't have school this week, I didn't run out of things to do. And because I was so busy, I may have neglected to do a few things:

• Write the last movement in my concerto
• Finish writing the Great American Novel
• Pick up my kids from daycare
• Run

Well, that's not completely true. I did run on Saturday afternoon. And I did eventually pick up the kids (rim shot!). Know what, sports fans? I. Am. Out. Of. Shape. The fact that I put in about 12 miles of walking (golf), I'd like to say I overachieved last week. I think you all know me better than that, though. The deal was 4 runs per week and I only got 1 in. So, looks like I'm going to have to put a cap XC2's hinder and somehow psych my other competitor out.

Here's the deal: I need to train for something. I can't just run just to run. There has to be a goal. That's why I'm throwing out the idea of the Omaha Marathon or the Half Marathon for my next big challenge. Very hilly course, but the appeal of running a race at home appeals to me.

Just throwin' it out there.

Humiliation Challenge - Week 2

Run 1 - 3.15 miles

Run 2 - 3.15 miles

Run 3 - 3 miles

Run 4 - 2 miles

Yeah, that's right.  2 miles.  Want to fight about it?  I'd give you my reasoning, but I know I'd get called out by the other two.  Oh hell, I'll give you my excuse....er....reasoning anyway:

Before Run #4, I had 9 miles of running for the week and 12 miles of walking.  As a result, guess who made an appearance?  That's right....Mr. IT band.  It was more like a cameo.  Kind of like when Carrie Fisher shows up on a sitcom.  Remember me?  I'm still here! 

That, and the fact that KidDoodle 2 decided to get a cold on Thursday.  Normally, I just leave him in the crib/dog crate until my wife gets home, but nooooooo.....WifeDoodle decides to have a life outside of the home.  Rather than have Child Protective Services knock on my door, I tended to KidDoodle.  He's recovering quite nicely, but I've gotten a nice head cold out of the deal.  That'll be cool because I've got a podcast to record today or tomorrow*.  Nothing like the sexy stylings of mucousy (it's a word) RazZ** on the microphone.

It's spring break for yours truly and that can only mean one thing:  40mph winds and snow.  Woo hoo!  Gotta love the Heartland!  Rather than get my drink and golf on the entire week, I'm at school catching up on about 5000 things that I'm way behind on.  Don't cry for me Argentina.  I've got a 9:30am tee time tomorrow. 

That's about all for now.  I'm rambling  more than usual.  

*I'm still looking for tech geeks.  Email me at runningoffatthemind@gmail.com if you're interested/available either tonight or tomorrow.

**I'm going by RazZ now.  I'm like P-Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Combs, etc. but I don't steal others sound beds to make $$.

In The Zone/STIFFY

This Wednesday, I was in. the. zone. I mean, I could do no wrong. Actually it started Tuesday night. Here's the rundown:

• -1 under on Wii Golf Tuesday night
  
• Wake up the kids with no drama. KidDoodle 1 actually pops up out of bed ready for the day. She's excited because she gets to bring treats to preschool. KidDoodle 2 is oddly cooperative when I get him dressed.
• Get to work a little early, so I knock out some emails before I head out for our first golf tournament.
• Get to the course and my team is already practicing.
• It's sunny with a high of 55 degrees and I get to play golf.
  
• Coaches get to go off first and I start triple bogey, double bogey, bogey for the first 3 holes BUT I settle down and I fire a smooth 76 for the round.
• One of our freshman gets 9th place in a tournament loaded with the state's best teams.
• Our other freshman shoots the best he 's done all spring.
• I get to play one of the top courses in the state next Monday.
• My copy of Runners World came in the mail.
• My kids were unusually good while WifeDoodle had a night out with friends from work.
• Megan "I Dance Like a Washing Machine on Spin Cycle" Joy got voted off the Amercian Idol island.
• We're finally considering another daycare (another post for another time).

And how do I follow up this great day? By going out for a run this morning and not having my Garmin fire up. I KNOW it was charged, too. Crap.

On to this week's SSTIFY. I actually dig this song and I've had it in my head this week. I pulled it up on YouTube and Cher is involved in most of the videos. WTF? Here's the live version sans the 98 year old diva:


P.S. - I've been pretty bad about commenting on other people's blogs. I know that and I can feel your steely gaze through my laptop. Sad news is is that my witty repartee (pronounced re-PAR-tee) will be noticeably lacking until after the school year ends and I can devote myself more to blogging, commenting, and avoiding playing with my kids.

It's Not You. It's Me.

Hey, turns out TIART read the post I've been working on and they've decided to have everyone chip in! I'm that influential. Here goes:

See, here's the deal. We've been going out for a long time. I mean, 400 miles is a huge commitment for me. I just don't know how long you and I can keep this up. Yes, you were there for me during my first and only marathon. That's why I'll never stop loving you. If you want, we can still be friends. And when I say "friends" I mean, you can be my lawn mowing shoes.

It's that time again. Time when I start dating. I had cleverly...nay, brilliantly posted something like this before. Rather than be creative, I'll just keep the same theme going (a.k.a. - beating the dead horse).

My Asics Landreths were a nice shoe. They were, but it's time to see what else is out there. I'm becoming aware that I'm a Shoe Playa*. Maybe that "one shoe" just isn't out there. I think I'll just play the field. If you look good and make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, you're the one for me....

...for now, at least.

If it works out, I'll keep dating you, your sister, your niece, etc. Kind of a family thing. If not, you're off to be donated. See? I'm not a complete a-hole. I'm a giver that way.

*yeah, I went street. Yo.