Academic nerdy stuff...

Me giving a presentation at an academic conference

In this edition of my blog, I want to talk about ways that I have brought my academic life, and the rest of my life together.  

My academic background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Theater Arts (Upper Iowa University '77)...thus my penchant for costume running, a Master's in Library and Information Studies  (University of Wisconsin, Madison '88) and a Ph.D. in Information Studies (University of Texas, Austin '06).  I then taught for the next 13 years in the field of Library and Information Studies (LIS) as either a full-time tenure track assistant professor (University of Rhode Island) or an adjunct, part-time or per course instructor online or in person  (San Jose State, Sam Houston State, UT-Austin, Drexel, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Alabama).  Throughout that time I conducted research (required or not) mostly in the general area of the intersection of information and recreation. 

I'd like to share and talk about and share three of my projects having to do with how serious recreational athletes get their information, the gamification of fitness and the reasons why people run in costume. 

HOW DO SERIOUS RECREATIONAL ATHLETES GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED?

My first research had to do with virtual play spaces and video games...but it wasn't long until I encountered the idea of Serious Leisure and the work of Robert Stebbins. From there I interviewed people who run or biked or swam or triathlon, etc .... basically people who chose an event to do and trained for it. I asked for how they got all kinds of information...how they found events, planned workouts, chose clothing, etc. etc.   I found that in one community (Austin, TX) the same names came up over and over.  These people were "gatekeepers" of information and another ethnographic research study was born as I interviewed as many of these folks as I could get to talk to me about how they got their information.  What follows is a link to a class lecture I made about my results, which were also presented at the Information: Interaction and Impact Conference, June 2011 in Aberdeen, Scotland.  

My question to you....do YOU have a gatekeeper? How did you find them?  Are YOU a gatekeeper? How do you get your information? 

Gatekeeper VoiceThread

If you don't get audio...copy and paste this link https://voicethread.com/share/5545236/

THE GAMIFICATION OF FITNESS

A few years ago, there was a boom in all kinds devices and websites to measure, keep track of, and reward fitness activities.  Although I was fairly early on the bandwagon and enjoyed having the data on pace and distance etc.  I began to wonder about rewards.  Wasn't doing this a reward in itself?  I remembered all the stuff I had learned years before about intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation...and began to wonder if sometimes the "rewards" didn't do more harm than good.  So I found myself doing a review of gamification literature, as well as what little work had been done to that point in looking at motivating fitness. 

I came away unconvinced one way or the other.  This still is of interest to me...and I wonder if my readers use any of these devices or websites...and what your thoughts are on their motivational effects.   The VoiceThread linked below is from a conference presentation (SW/TX Popular Culture Association. February 2014. Albuquerque, NM) on the topic. 

Gamification VoiceThread

If you don't get audio...copy and paste this link https://voicethread.com/share/5467881/

RECLAIMING THE JOY: MAKING PLAY OF SERIOUS RECREATIONAL ATHLETICS THROUGH THE USE OF COSTUME 

If you know me at all you know that I love to run in costumes and themed outfits.  I know what I love about it,  but I wondered about other people.  I am also a big believer in deliberately bringing play and joy into adult life...so this little side project was born, and eventually presented at The Association for the Study of Play conference at Rutgers University in 2016

Have you ever run in costume?  Why?

Here is a link to a blog post I wrote about my results

and a link to the powerpoint from my conference presentation

So that's enough academic nerdiness for one day...thank you for letting me share!

Goals 2019

"Do not be afraid to fail. Be afraid to accept that who you are right now is all you are going to be." --John Bingham Running for Mortals

The time has come that having reflected back on the last year, people traditionally set goals for the next year. After some consideration, I have keyed on four words to define the coming year: LEARNING, GROWTH, CONFIDENCE  and JOY.

At 62, I think I could probably rest on my laurels, but what fun is that?  That's why the above quote from one of my running role-models is important.

Work/Professional goals

My work is really in 3 pieces: Teaching, photo editing and my side gig. 

My goal for the teaching piece of my professional life is to be a "quitter."  I retired last May, only to find myself saying yes to a class in the fall and another in the spring.  So while I am still semi-retired, I'd like to take another shot at being fully retired.  I have decided that, although I like to keep my hand in a bit, one class per year would be plenty. So, I am teaching my spring semester course....and practicing saying "no" firmly to more.

I am still enjoying my very part time job rating and editing race photos for a local photo team (shout out to Focal Flame!).  And short term, I'd like to keep doing what I'm doing for them.  Longer term, I'd maybe like to learn more about photography.  Down the road, when I'm not running every race...maybe even shoot some backdrop photos. Presumably knowing more will make me a better rater and editor, so for now I just want to spend some time reading and trying things.

Finally, my "side gig."  I have an etsy shop called Mimi's Folly. It is mostly for fun.  I like to craft and try new things, and this is a way to entertain myself and make a few dollars.  I want to keep it fun. My goal for this piece of my "work", is to avoid setting goals and just let it be fun. 

Athletic goals

“It isn’t a matter of getting the body you want, it’s a matter of doing the most you can with the body you have.”   John Bingham,  No Need for Speed.  

In thinking about my athletic goals, I have been thinking about what I really want out of it.  Of course, I'm interested in fitness and weight control and blood sugar control. Naturally doing well in some races is nice, too.  But honestly, at the end of the day I am looking for two things...confidence and joy.   These are, I think, the same things that people of all ages get from all kinds of play.  So I guess I want to keep playing. 

"The only magic in our lives as runners is the magic of consistency. Not every run will make you feel great."John Bingham,  No Need for Speed. 

Step one to confidence for me has got to be consistency, I've done pretty well the last part of this year...but it will be important to keep it up.  To that end I have hired a triathlon coach and set a goal to do 3 sprint distance triathlons this year (as well as finishing the last 3 states in my quest to run in all 50--Nebraska, West Virginia and Montana).  I think I can get there...but it will require consistency and a trust in the process.  

“Focus on where you are instead of where you wish you were. The joy will follow.”--John  Bingham, No Need for Speed   

And step one to joy, is to stop worrying about comparisons with others, with where I used to be (as I age, I may not be there again) and with where I want to be.  Rather, my goal is to be present with where I am and be grateful for what my body will do. My best races have always been the ones where I felt grateful and present (often in costume and aware of the smiles of others...and my own).  They may or may not be the fastest, but they are the ones that bring joy...and that is where I want to go this year.  So keep on doing what I'm doing and learn to really be there for myself.

General/other goals

“Trying harder doesn’t always equal more success; it leads to more frustration, less satisfaction, and giving up.” --John Bingham,  No Need for Speed

When it comes to many of the other important things in my life (my family, my relationships, and all the things that I worry about day to day), I realized recently the phrase that often goes through my brain is, "but I try so hard."  

My response to this feeling is to attempt to try even harder...until I hit that point of "I can't even...."

So this year I am going to try to learn new coping strategies.  I do try hard, I don't think that is going to change...I think the growth will come from learning when to try harder and when to be confident that I have done what I can do. I expect to be a work in progress for a long, long time.  But I'm hoping some investment in relaxation, meditation and therapy will lead to less frustration, more satisfaction and less "I can't even."

So looking at all of this is a tall order.  Some of it is quite specific, while some is still nebulous.  If I had to choose one thing to sum it all up, I guess it would be to remember to approach the new year with an openness of attitude, that will let me learn and grow in confidence and joy. 

Joy and an attitude of gratitude

I would be the first to tell you that joy and gratitude have not always been my go to.  Oh, I always had a sense of humor (often pretty self-deprecating), and as a kid I reveled in pleasing my father and annoying my mother by playing the straight man for my dad's corny jokes (they were dad jokes to the nth degree).  But I honestly didn't associate joy and gratitude with each other and purposely include them in my life until 2 things happened....I became involved in the academic study of play and I became a runner.

Through a series of life experiences, I began to get an inkling that the things we did for recreation and play meant far more to us than a trivial "something to do when we are not working."  Subsequently, I spent a good part of my academic career studying the intersections of information and recreation, and seeing what play of various kinds....from video games to triathlons... meant to their participants.  I'll talk more in another blog about the academic side, but what I came to personally in terms of personal philosophy was that play is not trivial, it is VITAL...now more than ever. Play is as important to adults as to children...and finding our joy (and our gratitude) is as just about as important as anything in life. 

I began running in 2005 at the age of 49.  I always enjoyed it. And as I got older I was glad I could do it.  I like the feeling of moving under my own power (even when it hurts sometimes).  The joy has always been there, more or less.  This is definitely one of the ways I play...but it was this race, the Hoover Dam Half in December of 2013, that taught me about the gratitude.  It was my second half marathon in as many months.  There was a long uphill at the start, and I was struggling a little. The course runs on a rail trail with several tunnels, and I was moving along and doing ok, but questioning my sanity about running another half so soon.  Then I passed through one of the tunnels...

And was greeted by a view like this one.  My instantaneous reaction was a deep heartfelt "thank you" that came from nowhere and went out to the universe. I was so grateful in that moment that I could still do these things and see these things.  I am not a particularly religious person, but this was definitely a spiritual moment. And I called it a gratitude moment.  When I started paying attention, I found that almost every race has such a moment, big or small.

In order to add to the joy, and the sense of play...I began running in costume (even races that are not commonly costumed). There is something magical about dressing up and letting go that brings a smile to yourself...and to others around you (even though some may shake their heads!) For me the joy begins with the creation of the costumes and lingers long after through the memories.

So let's be grateful, let's be joyful, let's play!  Here's to miles of smiles!!