Week 29: Rafael Avcioglu

Home State: Illinois
Status; Junior
Year on club:1
College: College of Arts and Letters
Major: Graphic Design/Photography ​

Rafael is part of Ski-Club in addition to Running Club, and enjoys playing the drums, traveling, and mountain climbing. Though he was originally supposed to be a walk-on for the MSU Track team, Rafael ended up spending his first couple of years exploring other options on campus before joining the Running Club. Through busy schedules, we were able to interview Rafael through email communication. Check out the email interview below:

Running Club: “You mentioned that this is your first year on the club. How did you find out about us, and why did you join?”
Rafael Avcioglu: “I found out about Runners Club via mass email sent to students. I ran track & field from 6th grade until I graduated high school. I was originally supposed to be on the Michigan State Team as a walk on but I never showed up to practice because I was simply fed up with the sport and wanted to explore other things. After two years of partying and feeling lost, I realized something. I was missing the thing I needed to keep my life balanced. That thing was running.”
RC: “What are your favorite and least favorite things about the club?”
RA: “My favorite thing about the club is the competitive nature and the strategies that are implemented to succeed. We compete against other schools and even travel to different states which is really cool. I feel as though I am part of a D1 team without the unwanted pressures of having to win or be the best. The people are awesome, friendly, and pro-active. The events are especially fun.
The thing I dislike most is the separation between sexes. I know that people who have been on the team for a while will mingle but other than that, I feel that there are social tensions that lie beneath the surface. Sometimes the only way to really get to know the girls on the team is to go to the social events. I understand the separation in running speeds makes it hard to run and talk but overall, one of the things I enjoy is having mixed genders in the practices like I did growing up in middle school but I wish we would all hang out more.”
RC: “Do you have a favorite memory from the club?”
RA: “I really enjoyed going to the corn maze in the fall, getting lost and meeting some friends.”
RC: “What is your running experience like? Did you run throughout high school for the cross country and track teams?”
RA: “To reiterate what I said in the first question. I ran cross county 6th-10th grade and switched to soccer. Track and Field was 6th-12th. Freshmen and Sophomore year of college was spent doing local races around Michigan and Chicago, but I was never consistent.”
RC: “Do you prefer the track season to cross country? You noted that your favorite events are the 3200m relay and the 1600m relay. Would you say that you are more of a mid-distance guy? Do you like the open events as well? If not as much as the relays, why do you prefer racing the relays?”
RA: “I said that the 3200m relay and 1600m relay were my favorite events because those were the ones I was best at in high-school. I would love to be a sprinter but no matter how hard I tried, I just wasn't fast enough to make it to state finals. I used to really like track but this year, with commitment and all, I have shown myself that I enjoy long runs and cross-country season overall. I feel that next year I will try to me much more devoted to the team and try shorter distance during track season, not feeling the pressure to do what I am best at but having the freedom to choose whatever I want. I prefer racing relays because track and field can be a very lonely, “one man team” sport. In a relay you feel like you are part of a 4 man team and the pressure is not as high. If you succeed and win you can share the success among the 4 of you instead of just one. I suppose my body structure is more mid-distance and that is what I am used to running.”
RC: “Are you double majoring in Graphic Design/Photography or is there a photography focus within the graphic design major? What do you plan on doing after college?”
RA: “I am a single major in graphic design with a photography specialization which means I take all the classes necessary to be equipped in both fields but only have a degree in one. I plan to go wherever the photography world takes me. Hopefully working for some big name artists, traveling and doing what I love most which is photography. If I am not immediately successful in this, I will go where I please and do free lance. The possibilities are endless. It is crucial that I work as hard as I can possibly work now in order to be competitive in an industry which has never had more photographers in the history of photographer. This is why, unfortunately, I am not as committed to the team this semester as I was the last.”
RC: “Do you have a photography website you want me to share with the club so they can check out some of your work? (if you have any?)”
RA: “I do. The website is: www.into-the-void.net/index-flatiron/
It is terribly not up to date. For more of my daily work and thoughts my Instagram is @rafikisuave
I plan to fully update the website this summer.”
RC: “Do you have any other comments about running club, running in general, or anything about yourself?”
RA: “I have truly enjoyed the experience and like I said I hope to be much more involved next year. Wish I knew about the club when I was a Freshman in college but I am glad I got to join now before I graduate next year.”

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