Maniac questionnaire Name: Brett Jones Maniac #1203 How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 21 marathons, two 50k, and one 50 miler. What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) I guess that would be the 2008 Salt Lake City Marathon. I did it for charity, and only trained for three months. It was horrible, and wonderful. I finished in 5:03—and have in fact done much better (and worse) since; however, the fact that I finished at all is a kind of miracle. The second I crossed the finish line I said “never again,” but the next morning I registered for a marathon a month later. What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? SLC 08. I had fun until mile 15 or so when I realized that I was in some serious trouble. I jogged until 23 and then hobbled the rest of the way in. I was crying and everything, but I stuck it out. How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? I have been a runner off and on, although more off than on, for 12 years. I started running as exercise for football, and kept running and hiking to keep off weight. I’m a pretty fat dude, and whenever I stop running it only gets worse, so running kind of keeps me alive. Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? I actually didn’t decide to become a maniac for any reason. I had run three or four marathons in three months in 2008 and had read Dean Karnazes’ 50/50, in which he makes a passing mention of Marathon Maniacs. I realized that I qualified for it, and I was interested in meeting other people who ran multiple marathons. The funny thing is that when I applied I kind of thought that I was somewhat of an exception in that I had run “so many” marathons in such a “short time.” Now I have met true maniacs who inspire me be better than I had ever though possible. Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Badwater. I crewed for that in 2009, and it was the experience of a lifetime. I am seriously a different person since coming out of the desert. If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? I don’t know…there are so many great runs and so many awesome people…I can’t answer that. What was you most memorable marathon and why? The Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run has to definitely be the most memorable run of my life, because it was the most exacting experience of my life so far. I trained for it almost every day for six months but still did horribly. I ran the wrong way for FOUR MILES and ended up finishing fourth to last, ahead of the two trail sweeps and an experienced ultra marathoner who was out for a “short training run” before Marathon de Sables and Badwater. I actually did ok during the first 40 miles, but somehow took—and I’m not joking here—four and a half hours to do the next 10 miles. I remember stumbling around the desert, hallucinating that the cacti were Technicolor ghosts. At mile 47 somebody (I think) told me that if I didn’t finish in the next 25 minutes I would not get a buckle. Somehow I managed to then set a PR for my 5K time (no lie) to finish. When I finished, everybody was gone except the RD. The buckle I have reminds me that I am capable of accomplishing things I set my mind to, and just looking at it has pulled me through some pretty dark times. If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Asking for a course to set a PR on defeats the purpose of running. I would tell that person to ask somebody else. What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? 2,984 miles (Panama City, Panama) 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? I think that most people don’t even believe I really run these races because I don’t look like what they think a runner looks like. I get a lot of comments like, “so how long was this marathon?” If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? 24; one every other week. From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Old Pueblo 50—it’s a buckle, so I can still wear it without looking like a psycho. Also I can drop the name around…like I’m doing now.
Where do you keep your finisher medals? In a shoebox in my bedroom along with my bibs. I do take pictures and put them on my facebook page as well as www.262medals.com Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I keep all of them. If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? I would love to have a 100k in Ogden, Utah. I have the course planned out and everything. It would be one of the hardest, most scenic events in the west. Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Black! What’s with these yellow singlets? I can’t wear mine in public without feeling that I look like an actual maniac. What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Whatever is free….pizza usually. I like a beer and a bleu cheese and bacon burger after the race. What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? I’m a devotee of Hammer gel (raspberry, apple cinnamon), but lately have been flirting with Accel Gel (orange, key lime). I’m afraid I’ll get caught… Which race would you never run again and why? The Panama City, Panama Marathon. High humidity, ugly course, open course and nothing but BAGGED WATER to drink. I thought I was going to die. What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? The Bear Lake Doubles + Grandma’s Marathon + Pacific Crest Marathon. Four races in three weeks, with two in two days. Rough stuff. What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? I usually average 35 miles per week. It sometimes goes up to 70, but not for long. I like to swim and do cardio at the gym. I cycle in the summer. Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? No training partner. What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? I run and train almost entirely in the same pair of Salomon XTs. I read Born to Run and am thinking that the whole idea of running shoes might be overrated. What are your short-term running goals? To keep running until I get to where I can run 3:30ish marathons. What are your long-term running goals? 100 mile ultras. Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Play videogames, work, hang out with the wife, hike, plan for marathons. Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head), non Maniac Beauty? …I don’t know…the Freak Brothers. |