Maniac questionnaire Name Melissa Chick Maniac # 1116 How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 18 marathons – 0 ultras (I haven’t taken the plunge yet) What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) I was coerced!! A 5k to benefit the American Heart Association. My employer was a major sponsor and we were all “expected” to participate. I was hooked from that moment on. What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? L.A. Marathon in March of 1991. My girlfriend had wanted to run one for years and talked me in to it. Sheer ignorance on my part. We didn’t train properly at all, but somehow managed to drag ourselves over the finish line in just over 5 hours. A few days later we were both collaborating on how we could do better next year! How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? Runner off an on since 1989. I have one of those addictive type personalities (bet nobody else here has one of those!) and once I started doing races I wanted to do more and more and do them faster. Took breaks with pregnancies and didn’t get serious about running until 2000. Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? See above about addictive type personality J I somehow convinced myself that with all the work I put in to build up my endurance level I should keep doing marathons on a regular basis. I became a Marathon Maniac back in 2000 without even knowing what one was when I signed up for the Tampa marathon as a “training run” for Disney and then just kept doing them. Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? I really don’t know the answer to this question. My favorite races are my favorites for different reasons – Pikes Peak for the uniqueness, NYC crowds were amazing (and I don’t typically like the mega-marathons), Austin for the people I was with. Although, Comrades might be kinda cool! If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? I cannot wait to run one with my son Adam! He’s only 10 right now, but he’s a running maniac for sure! And (I can’t limit myself to one person obviously) I’d love to run one with my mom, who is a smoker. Nothing would make me happier than to see her replace the smoking addiction with a running one. What was you most memorable marathon and why? Austin, Tx. A friend of mine needed 3:40 for her BQ and started with the 3:40 pace group. A few miles in to the race I saw her and the group as they were running to make up some “lost” time from the start. My friend had to drop off the group (thankfully) to find a port-a-potty and from about mile 9 to the end I was her pacer. She started fading at the end and missed her BQ time by less than a minute and I’ll never forget watching her give it her all and pushing through the pain. If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Steamtown (16 miles of downhill!), St. George (also downhill point-to-point). Although my PR is from Flying Pig (hilly) because I was best trained. So, really, the correct answer is to pick a race at a time when you are well trained. What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Florida to Colorado or Maine? Not sure which was farther. Do any of your non-running friends or family members think that you’re crazy for running as much as you do? What are some of their comments to you? Of course. Even I think I’m crazy. If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? It’d be cool to try to get all 50 states in one year! I’d run as many as my body would let me. From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Tie between Disney and Flying Pig. I love the cool medals! Where do you keep your finisher medals? Some are hung on my garage wall and others from a tie rack in my closet Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I wear only the technical shirts – the others I give to my kids or charity If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? At my wedding! I think it would be sooo awesome to get married during a marathon. Now, just need to start dating . . . .funny how my needing to go to bed early on Fridays for early long runs seems to be an issue! Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Black is more slimming J What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre-race is a partial power bar and coffee. Post race = whatever my heart desires What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Acclerade for both Which race would you never run again and why? Mile High City seemed like it was put together almost like an afterthought – course was boring and there was just nothing about it to make me want to go back (other than to visit my friend Judy!) What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? All the ones where I went out too fast and died at the end What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? M & F = hour of running, W = 75% or so of long run, Sat = long run, T & TH elliptical – Sunday off Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? My ipod – although I love running with people, I just run too early. What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? Train and race faithfully in Mizuno Wave Creations. My relationship with that shoe has lasted longer than my marriage What are your short-term running goals? Keep running and feeling good about it – stopped chasing a clock time 2 years ago What are your long-term running goals? Complete all 50 states and then go back and do all the ones I wanted to do but already had the state! Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Watch my boys play soccer, read, spend time on marathon bulletin boards Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head) – Captain Kirk!! (I wanted the Star Trek question!) |