Maniac questionnaire
Matt Hagen, Maniac #1078
State you live in: Washington / Denial
How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 5/0
What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance):
200-Meter dash in 7th grade. Hated it. Switched to pole vault. Stunk at it. Switched to computer programming.
What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?
The Marathon du Médoc, in southwest France, September 2007. The scientific community may be divided on many issues, but they consider one thing to be true: It is impossible to have a bad time at that race. With costumes, bands, and more than 20 wine stops along the course, I have little recollection of the day, other than barfing into a chips bag on the bus back to the hotel, but it was one of the finest days of my life.
How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
Only about three years, and a marathoner for only the last year. My wife is a chef, and I’m chief tester, so weight gain is an occupational hazard for the two of us. She deserves most of the blame credit for all this running foolishness, however.
Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
Sexy yellow singlets! That, and the way many of the Maniacs act out on the trail. They’re invariably helpful and encouraging, even to wandering newbies and erratic lurching fools like me.
Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
The Space Race, but I was born too late.
If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
Steven Hawking, because his mind was the most remarkable creation of the 20th century. Plus, I could probably blow his doors off when his wheelchair battery went dead.
What was you most memorable marathon and why?
My memory of Médoc is kinda sketchy due to the wine, but my memory of the Light at the End of the Tunnel marathon is spot on – even the part where I missed qualifying for Boston by a totally embarrassing 18 seconds. Still, it’s tough to beat a run along an abandoned railroad grade from the top of a mountain pass, through a creepy tunnel and mile after mile of Pacific Northwest forest scenery with a field of people in sexy yellow singlets with cats on their heads to encourage you.
If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest?
The Light at the End of the Tunnel, from Snoqualmie Pass to North Bend, WA. It’s a long, gradual downhill run on dirt, and you’re certain to find somebody running your pace.
What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
Pauillac, France, and I’d go back at the drop of a hat.
Do any of your non-running friends or family members thing that you’re crazy for running as much as you do? What are some of their comments to you?
They’re pretty used to it now, and it’s only the really old friends I haven’t seen for a long time who comment. Recently at a friend’s wedding, two people who knew me a decade ago noted my thin frame and asked if I had cancer. (I had just run a 3:40, which I now consider a washout, at Skagit Flats.)
If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
One more than my wife.
From what race did you receive your favorite finisher’s medal?
Goofy, baby!
Where do you keep your finisher medals?
Hanging in the closet, where my ties would be if I owned any.
Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
I’m too cheap to buy good running shirts, so I love the good technical race shirts for training. Besides, if you’re having a slow day and get passed by some punk, it’s easier to take if you’re wearing a marathon race shirt. The crappy shirts get cut up for rags for cleaning the bathroom
If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?
Congress.
Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?
Yellow, worn with black shorts. Makes me look like a crazed bumble bee.
What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
Pre: Homemade pizza. Post: Homemade pizza and beer.
What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
Chocolate Clif shots. Heed is my drink of choice because it’s not too acidic and the name reminds me of the movie “So I Married an Axe Murderer.”
Which race would you never run again and why?
That 200-meter in seventh grade. Everything else has been great, or at least sufferable.
What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Goofy’s Challenge, in Disney World, which is a half marathon followed the next day by a full. The challenge was walking around afterward with all the silly medals clanking around my neck.
What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?
Erratic. During the week I’ll run multiples of 5K because that’s how big the lake near our house happens to be. Then later my wife will ask me if I’m going to do any sort of long run and I’ll head out for a meandering half marathon, wandering around Seattle. Then on the weekend she and I will run together on something much longer. My cross-training is carrying around lighting equipment for my day job as a photographer.
Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?
She Who Must Be Obeyed (at least until I get my BQ) is also my lovely wife, Betsy (#1077)
What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?
Saucony Guides with green “Superfeet” insoles to help keep my hammer toe at bay.
What are your short-term running goals?
Knock 18 seconds off my best marathon time, which will get me to 3:15:59 and a ticket to Boston with She Who Must Be Obeyed.
What are your long-term running goals?
Avoiding surgery on aforementioned hammer toe.
Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?
Build kayaks; shoot photos (Scratch that – that’s work), surf, corrupt my two-year-old godson by teaching him to pull my finger; fawn over Thomas Friedman’s column in the NY Times.
Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head)
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool feminist, so Wonder Woman was the prototype, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer is #1 in my book. |