The Athletic Academic

My journey to be a triathlete and a college professor, and the struggle to find a balance between the two.

[theathleticacademic]

The Game Master

ok, so... as if earning a PhD wasn’t enough to highlight my dorkiness and/or nerdiness... 

In high school, I participated in a video game competition. The phrase competition is loose. I dominated. I was known before the competition, and certainly after, as “The Game Master.” 

I remember this because recently I found the old consoles. The Nintendo (original NES) and Super Nintendo work perfectly. On the cartridges I have saved games from almost 30 years ago. 

I was pondering how relevant to academics and athletics this is. 

Video Games - from Super Mario Brothers to World of Warcraft - are a grind. Part of winning was grinding away to either learn the game or gain points/hearts/gold/etc. Without a doubt athletics are a bit like this. But Academia as well. 

I was talking to a colleague about getting published and how it’s all a game. It is. You have to know the unwritten rules. Normally the PhD is designed as part of that grind. My experience is a tad unconventional (to say the least), so I missed part of that. 

I recently committed myself to being not just an expert in my field, but THE expert in my field. The game and the grind are in front of me. Earning a PhD is like earning a black belt: there’s plenty of levels left to go. 

I’m back on the grind, but this time with less stess. I have to learn how to write for a small handful of A-journals. What flies. What doesn’t. I have to know my field better than anyone.

This... This is gonna be fun!

[theathleticacademic]

Not Just a Chapter’s End: in consideration of the “Why”

The end of an act, with plenty of scenes. 

Let’s see. 

I conducted my research.

I went on adventures & explored.

I wrote my dissertation (while on said adventures).

I defended my dissertation. 

I met all the deadlines. 

I graduated. 

Too busy to blog? maybe. But as I enter an intermission between acts, I’m taking a moment to pause and consider my “why.” 

It’s a big question. “Why” is what drives us, after all. I don’t usually have one why. 

Calm times are rare for me, so much that they actually make me uneasy. That’s not to say that I enjoy drama, but I do like the race. Each area’s “why” is clouded. I have an idea as what I want academically and why I want it. Athletically and spiritually, this is more challenging (for some reason). 

But, I guess that’s what this intermission can help accomplish!

[theathleticacademic]

Between dissertation, meetings about curriculum, and trying not to melt as I train. I installed some lights on my jeep. I had Athena ride shotgun for my first trail ride. The trails take on a whole new aura at night! 

[theathleticacademic]

Conferences and Fitness: A new challenge

I was at a conference this week (more on that much later). As I’m working to get into the athletic swing of things, I realized how hard it is to train while you’re out at these events. 

It’s not the travel or schedule. If you’re educated and trained enough, you can learn how to do body weight exercises and make the most out of a hotel fitness center. Even in a town like Orlando, running is possible with proper planning. 

No, the problem is sheer exhaustion and unhealthy food. On the first day I woke up at 4:30 (not unusual for me) to run. The day went until 9pm and unlike when I teach long days (active, moving, talking) it’s passive (sitting and listening and trying to stay awake) I had to over-caffinate myself. 

Next day I felt like poop. 

I still managed to get stuff done, but now that I know I can try to pivot and adjust. 

[theathleticacademic]

Productive AND balanced

I haven’t seen a balanced AND poductive day in a long time. The summer of 2015 was full of them. Today though. 

On the track, I did a 4x400 speed test. The first two came in at 71s. Slower than the 70 I wanted, but close enough, the next two at 75 and 80 showed I need work on my 400s. Last week’s 200s came in at 33s with no fade. Followed that up with the gym, then an impromptu run with a friend. This was lunch time. In Florida terms, it means insta-tan. 

The afternoon/evening was filed with some data analysis of my pre-test. To be sure, it’s not looking good. Much like the track workout, some things bore statistical fruit, but other problems arose. Still, it’s the focus and productivity that I enjoyed.

I came home, tired and accomplished on more than one level. The past year (2016 to now) was in one area.... and that left me wanting. 

If the rest of the summer goes this well, It’ll be a good summer. 

[theathleticacademic]

Who am I, Why am I here...

I looked back to see when I really stopped posting. I know I stopped updating the theme and records back in 2014, but I really stopped when I became full-time faculty. That makes sense, that’s also when I REALLY started to dive into my dissertation studies. So overwhelmed and tired, the blog took a backseat. 

What’s changed? I still consider myself a triathlete, but I have some running goals first. I’m still without the doctorate, but that’s finally within grasp. I’m still Athletic. I’m still an academic, more-so actually. I’m still seeking balance. 

The major change in who I am, I suppose, relates to a trip I took just before starting as a Professor of Sales Management. The 4-day camping trip where I park hopped. What I discovered there, was a love of a concept called “overlanding.” 

What’s that mean or this blog? Well, with the February acquisition of my new vehicle, a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, you can expect to see one of the key ways I destress and achieve my balance. Offroading, Jeepin, and Overlanding. I’ve re-discovered my love for random adventures and exploring new places. 

For those of you who might find me via hashtag - no worries, rig walk-around coming in a few days. 

[theathleticacademic]

Cliff Diving

Standing at the precipice of the future, I’m enticed to look back to the past. No longer does this create the fear of turning to a pillar of salt. Indeed, that glance back is now an intent stare - Not quite a confrontation, per se, but a search for understanding while, at the same time, a declaration that I will not be rules by what was... no more than I will yield to what is  or what might be. 

[theathleticacademic]

The Candidate

Wel.... I made it the next step. It only took six years when it should have taken two. The journey was probably worth it as I enter a phoenix moment.  

Specifically, I passed my qualifying exams. The only thing left for me to earn my PhD is to “do” my dissertation. Let me put this into perspective. While I’ve passed a huge and challenging milestone, there’s still work to do... Observe:

Get a Bachelors and/or Master’s Degree

Apply/Get accepted to a PhD program

Take two years of classes 

decide a dissertation topic

identify a committee of four members: a chair, a member related to your specialization (usually your chair), a member related to your general area, a member who uses the same method as you, and an outside member. 

Write a prospectus: a short document that identifies a target area of research, key theories, and a method along with research questions

meet with committee, get approval on prospects

schedule qualifying exams

write proposal

Take qualifying exams

Defend proposal and Qualifying Exams

At this point, no longer PhD Student, but a PhD Candidate

conduct research/collect data

analyze results

write results, conclusion, discussion, et cetera

defend dissertation. 

In my view, #10 and #11 are the hardest part, at least in my program. Qualifying Exams are a series of four sets of questions (set = 2 to 4 sub questions) that I have to answer, from memory, in four hours. I have to cite sources. That’s a 16-hour exam. Then, I have to defend those answers along with my proposal. My defense took over three hours. 

In the end, I’ve crested the hill, finally. The descent isn’t necessarily easy. There are still switchbacks and bumps to watch out for. I cant just coast down. 

At least, the “end” is near. At least to this particular challenge. There will always be new ones, that are welcome. 

[theathleticacademic]

Qualifiers  taken

took my qualifying exams. I have to defend my answers in slightly less than a month. I’m relieved, except I had problems with one question. It was out of left field and unexpected/nuanced. Probably karmic since I sometimes do that to my students. 

Onward. 

Now it’s time to make up for over two months of basically no training. So much fitness has been lost. 

[theathleticacademic]

Qualifying Exams

Imagine you get two hours to fight four martial arts masters. You get about 10 minutes with each. You can start when you want, but those two hours go as soon as you step into the ring. 

Each master fights differently. One is a master of all arts and can test you using them all. Another, judges your technique at fighting. Yet another will see if you can fight using a specialized skill like Judo or Aikido. Then another tests you on a different outside area like boxing or wrestling or even archery. 

Then, once you’ve fought all these masters, they sit down and discuss the fights. It matters not if you won, but instead, did you master your techniques. 

This is what my PhD qualifying exams are like. Four questions by four PhD holding faculty where I have four hours to answer each question. Must be taken in two weeks, and still need to defend the answers. 

[theathleticacademic]

[theathleticacademic]

A brief 2016

This year was dominated by one thing: getting up to snuff with my doctorate. The sacrifice was on the academic level. in the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016 I was constantly injured, so training was light. Teaching the sales class was easy. By the time the fall came to pass, I found that I was constantly exhausted from my faculty and doc student activities. Training took a backseat. This was my least active year since 2011. That’s before I started Triathlon. 

The results are worth it though. I’m about to hit the crest of the hill. I start 2017 ready to take and defend my qualifying exams. My students generally like me (there’s also a few who viscerally hate me). The department is happy with my performance and evaluations. Generally speaking, all-around success.

2017 will be a good year to bring it all together. 

[theathleticacademic]

Have your self a merry little....

Christmas is depressing. 

I’m not depressed, but I certainly have to fight to not be. 

At this point, I have tons of friends, but no family. It’s just my father. I haven’t been in a relationship over Christmas that wasn’t dysfunctional since.... before tumblr existed, way before. 

“doing” the holidays with friends isn’t right. I feel like an outsider. 

So, I struggle to recapture the Christmas/Holiday spirit. But, That’s not going to happen. I can only watch everyone else’s holiday like some weird reality TV show. 

My skin is thick. My emotional state and EQ is solid. I weather this no problem, at least for now. I can only imagine what it’s like for less hardy people. If I knew someone else in this situation I wouldn’t know how to approach it. Everyone’s different. 

Keep this in mind. 

Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays

[theathleticacademic]

Reflections on a full semester

The fall semester is over, and I feel rather run over. I’ve been successful where I needed to be, while sacrificing success in other areas. 

Balanced? No. Winning? Yes. 

Success’s cost has been my fitness. I maintained marginal success in keeping somewhat active. Running was the only outlet, but I was able to hit the gym and get some weights in. There was absolutely no time for swimming. I was able to hop on the trainer once and a while, particularly at the start of the semester. I couldn’t risk a flat or accident on the bike, so I kept it indoors. Consequently, I got bored with it REAL quick. Running focused. Until I broke my toe. On my dog’s toy. Graceful, to the end. So now I sit, no cycling base, no swimming base, running base quickly fading, 15 points over race weight (after five pounds it starts to affect my body). But, that will come back in time. That time is in January. 

Success in academics is the benefit. My advisor (dissertation chair) commented on how I’m a significantly better researcher today than I was six months ago. Success. My Prospectus was accepted with few changes. Success. My mid-course evaluation from my students indicated that my ratings will increase. Success. My students raised over $50,000 again this semester for non-profits as part of a class project. Success (the fall is tougher). I was renewed for another year. Success. All of this makes it worth it. 

Qualifying exams are in the first two weeks of January. After that, I can breath a little bit. I need that breath. I’m downright exhausted, mentally. 

[theathleticacademic]

Lessons from a Latesummer Meditation

Just like last year, I planned for some camping, but peppered with cycling. I also had Athena with me. The plan was to meet up with a buddy in Asheville at a Sanctuary, do some serious climbing for a day or two, the break off for some camping in Pisgah NF. 

First: Plans Schplans.  I shouldn’t be surprised, but plans didn’t work out as easily as last year. The sanctuary had a Donkey, and the donkey was a real ass. She goaded Athena into a fight and when I broke it up it was a draw (athena drew bood but got a good thumping). She kept escaping so I had to house her in the car. Not ideal, so I had to relocate. Since hotels don’t check in we went on a nice 6+ mile hike. I slipped and fell hard and - rookie move - used my hand. Jammed my wrist and shoulder. So much for cycling. 

Lesson: ROLL WITH IT!  Bad arm/hand combo meant no cycling or camping even, since I need mobility for setting up a site and I’m not climbing in pain. So to a hotel, and BREWERIES! Things didn’t go perfectly, but still relaxing. 

Second: Balance in Balance in Balance I discovered, upon some reflection and meditation that there’s a necessary balance in each element of my balance. 

That is, within the Athletic, one must balance the swim, the bike, the run, the strength, the flexibility, and the rest. Most of you are athletic so you get that. But what of the Academic, the Spirt? 

The Academic is similar: Input (reading), output (writing/synthesizing), rest (turn the brain off or crosstrain by learning something unrelated). I’ll discover more. 

The Spirit: of course there’s spirituality (whatever your ‘religion’ you should try and discover the mystical aspect that lies beneath, all religions have it), friends, lover(s), and family; and the lines that blur between those relations. 

Lesson: Look deeper When you’ve learned to master something, dig deeper and master the parts of that something. 

For now I’m done looking within and it’s time to get ready for the semester. I aspire that these lessons will help me maintain the balance for a little longer than they did last year. I’ve had slightly less rest than last year. Still, with a better sense of mastery of not just little things, but also my life certain tasks should not be as draining. 

I can also see the storms coming, but I’m ready with my poncho. 

[theathleticacademic]

Probably the best summary I’ve used yet. Captures the gist of it. 

[theathleticacademic]

summer 2016

I thought it would go like last summer. Or better.

I was wrong. On all accounts.