Consider it a miracle of Chanukkah – Daniel Running, English Dept. Chair, agreed to virtually sit down for a bit of Edmundification. After Michelle finished her Edmundification, she secretly emailed to say that Daniel wouldn’t say no if asked to answer a few questions. This felt somewhat similar to how Rolling Stone must feel when told that Bob Dylan is ready for another interview. We immediately fired off the questions. The answers came back almost instantaneously. Seriously. It was almost like he had been working on them ahead of time. Nah, couldn’t be. One other note. We accidentally included a question for Daniel that was meant for Michelle – asking what she thinks about “when she is running.” A good question for Michelle, who is a runner. Not so relevant for Daniel, who is not. An excellent teacher, writer, a musician, poet, athlete, coach, father. Yes. But runner? Not so much. In hindsight, though, if you read the question as not about being a runner, but about being Daniel Running, the question makes perfect sense.
What is the most embarrassing song on your ipod?
I don’t listen to music. It deadens the soul.
I wish I knew how to…
Speak Norwegian. I’m tired of saying I’m descended from Vikings and yet I can’t even communicate my desire to conquer Irish monasteries in the appropriate language.
Tell us a piece of good or bad advice you’ve received that will stay with you.
When I started Peace Corps, the first piece of advice that the African teachers gave me was to never crack a smile until at least January. They all said it–it was like this big universal truth. So, I didn’t know any better and was about as green as one could get, and I tried it and was so not me and I was so unhappy and the students were like “who the %#*$ is this guy” and I stopped being myself. I ditched the idea after three weeks or so and suddenly the world turned for me. Then I got malaria and missed a bunch of school.
What can’t you live without?
Coffee. I tried once, in college, and I ended up in the infirmary loaded on codeine and suppositories. I never tried that again…
What do you really care about?
Lots of stuff. Th
is is a silly question. Am I supposed to have just one? I care that my baby girl grows up with a strong resilient character and is herself first and foremost and is as emotionally intelligent as she is smart in other ways. I hope by then the expectations for young women are different and I care that she emerges, even if not unscathed, whole and together when the harder years pass. I care about my family and bills and keeping the cats alive and that I don’t hurt anyone or cause more harm than good in the world.
Is there other sentient life out in the universe? – What’s it like?
Of course. How stupid and shortsighted to believe we’re alone out here. It’s probably like us. But hopefully with fewer Republicans.
Do you sing in the shower or the car?
Both.
What phrase do you use too often
I feel the students could better answer that one. But probably “what’s the scoop, poop.”
What book are you reading now? Why?
Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, because I’m on a big Gaiman kick and can’t put down anything that he writes.
What’s your favorite book that you’ve read in the last 5 years? 
Wow. Um, that’s a toughie. Michael Chabon’s Gentlemen of the Road comes to mind, but I know there’s something else. I read about 2 books a week and I can’t ever remember them afterwards. Joel Abercrombie’s trilogy was awesome.
What mild mannered person at Burke is secretly a super hero? What’s their power? What’s their super name?
Do we have mild-mannered people here at Burke? If anyone, I guess Matt Seiler.
What’s your super power?
I have lots of different voices and accents at my disposal.
Truth is…
That which we can touch and feel. Anything subjective can’t be truth, only an abstract concept.
Beauty is…
the sound my daughter makes when she laughs.
Where do you most like to hang out at or near Burke?
Nowhere. Kids might find me.
What have you learned while at Burke?
Well, honestly, that kids are more complex than I at first imagined, but only because their emotional world is so much more important and in the forefront than their academic one. Once I figured that out I was able to adabt and shift my expectations and outlook. I was probably a jerk when I first got here and taught every class as if I was with a bunch of college seniors.
If you could change one thing about education what would it be?
The tendency for educators to fall into ruts, to do things certain ways because that’s the way it’s always been done.
What scares you the most?
Shark Attacks. But, since that’s easily avoidable, I would say horrible random things happening to my wife and daughter, or anyone in my family.
What are you thinking when you are running?
I don’t run. On the 8th day, the gods created cars and mopeds and escalators, etc. We have evolved from having to outrun mammoths and sabretooth tigers.
What’s the best thing that you’ve ever written?
My Senior Sport Night collected works, no?
Coaching Girls Varsity Volleyball is like….
The pain of driving nails into one’s eyeballs and then the thrilling relief of pulling them back out. Seriously, though, I would liken it more to herding loveable cats who teach you more than you could ever teach them.
What’s the secret to the universe?
Tolerance.
What role in a play or movie would you most like to play?
I should have been the one cast as Aragorn.
What’s your favorite line from a book, movie or song (that you don’t listen to)?
“What can men do against such reckless hate?”
Which...
... is which?
What actor should play you in a movie?
Cary Grant (what? he’s dead? ok, then, Bruce Willis but only because we look alike)
Who do you think that Edmundification should spotlight next?
Michelle again, because she lied on every one of the questions the first time.
[Editor: I hate it when the children fight]
Read other Edmundifications here.
