Maniac questionnaire
Name:
Jason Rogers
Maniac #
1549
State you live in:
Georgia
How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?
5 marathons, 1 40-mile ultra
What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)
2006 Peachtree Road Race 10K
What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?
Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Marathon, Albany, GA on March 7, 2009. I used this marathon as a Galloway training run for ING Georgia Marathon, which I completed three weeks later. I had an amazing time and was running leisurely over the entire course, thanking volunteers, joking with spectators, etc.
How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
I've been a serious runner since 2006. In late 2004, I was morbidly obese at almost 400 pounds. In 2005, I lost 185 pounds by way of intense treadmill cardio exercise and weight workouts with a trainer. When I reached my goal weight, I felt comfortable enough to begin running on pavement.
Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
When I picked up my race packet for the ING Georgia Marathon at the race expo, I was trying to flirt with the lady who handed me my number and explained to her that this would be my second marathon in a month. She asked me if I had a third marathon planned and I told her that I was signed up for Twisted Ankle Trail Marathon less than two months later. She told me that, if I completed all three, then I'd be able to sign up for Marathon Maniacs. I had never heard of the organization, so she gave me a basic summary of what the group criteria entailed and I was intrigued from that point.
Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run
If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
John Colter. Colter was a member of the Lewis And Clark Expedition who later raced through the wilderness to escape from Blackfeet Indians in 1809. I'd love to get some trail running advice from him.
What was you most memorable marathon and why?
Mystery Mountain Marathon on October 11, 2009. Mystery Mountain Marathon is an extremely hilly trail marathon in north Georgia and has an elevation change of +5,355 / -5,352 along the course. I ran/power-walked the last 17 miles of this race with a bloody gaping wound on my leg from where I had brushed against a pointed tree branch on the trail. Although I found some new dark corners of the pain cave that day, I also gained confidence by completing this demanding race.
My most memorable race of all time, however, would be the Pine Mountain 40 Mile Trail Run, my first ultra, that I completed on December 6, 2009. I barely finished with the cutoff time and placed 85 out of 89, but this was the day when I realized that anything is possible if I....just...keep...moving.
If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest?
Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Marathon in Albany, GA. The race is fairly flat, very low-key, and the amazing volunteers outnumber the runners.
What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
Atlanta, GA to Albany, GA...a 3-4 hour distance. So far, I've kept the races in-state, but that will soon change.
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?
“You're such an inspiration!”
“You're going to ruin your knees.”
“We haven't seen you Williamson Bros. BBQ in forever. Where have you been? We know how much you used to love those entire slabs of ribs with square fries and Key Lime Pie for dessert.”
If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
I'd run as many trail ultramarathons as I possibly could. I've been gravitating to the trails lately. I'm still going to chase that still-elusive sub-4-hour marathon time, though, so a couple of pavement marathons are still in order each year.
From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?
Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon 2009. This medal was based on the South Carolina Memorial at this Civil War battlefield park. A beautiful tough image and a weighty solid medal.
Where do you keep your finisher medals?
I have one of those nondescript big plastic containers from Target that I keep in my closet and store all of my medals, race T-shirts, race swag, bib numbers, and disposable timing chips in. I'll think of a way to display them one day, but I like the way that that this Marathon/Ultra Memorabilia Box keeps filling up at an alarming rate. I guess I just like the idea of someone going through my place in the future and, after seeing how ordinary my home is, discovering the Marathon/Ultra Memorabilia Box and realizing that I wasn't so ordinary after all.
Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
I keep all of the ones that I don't wear in the aforementioned Marathon/Ultra Memorabilia Box in my closet. I typically wear the ones from shorter-than-marathon distances, though.
If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?
In the abandoned city streets near the Chernobyl nuclear accident. I've seen photos of that area and I would enjoy the uncannily eerie feeling of running with fellow marathoners through abandoned areas as if we were the last humans left on Earth.
Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?
Yellow singlet. I wear my Marathon Maniac hats even more often, though.
What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
My favorite pre-race meal would be a modest sized helping of pasta. My favorite post-race meal is always barbecue ribs.
What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
Water is my favorite sports drink, but I do love all Gatorade flavors as well. I like the Christmas-seasonal Mint Chocolate GU Gels a lot, but I mostly stick with watermelon flavor Sports Beans.
Which race would you never run again and why?
I'd gladly run all of my races again. I haven't disliked any of them so far.
What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Pine Mountain 40 Mile Trail Run on December 6, 2009. I had run five marathons, but this was my first ultramarathon. Most normal people probably progress to a 50K after a marathon, but some friends in my trail running group talked me into this 40-mile race. I really learned some hard lessons about the importance of adequate hydration and pace planning, but I somehow miraculously finished this wonderful race in one piece and can't wait to run it again next year.
What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?
I generally run 4 days a week, with StairMaster workouts on the days in between. I hardly ever do any exercise at all on Fridays. I usually like to keep 30 to 40 miles in an average week. I do intense weight workouts a couple of times a week with a trainer.
Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?
I'm a pace group leader with a local Galloway Marathon Training group on Saturdays.
I also run with a local trail running/ultrarunning group on Tuesday nights.
What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?
Pavement = New Balance 850
Trail = Montrail Hardrock
What are your short-term running goals?
Sub-4-hour Marathon (4:20:10 is my current PR.)
50-mile trail ultra next year.
What are your long-term running goals?
100-mile trail ultra
Staying healthy and happy.
Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?
Hiking, wilderness photography, music, books.
Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head), non Maniac Beauty?
James Bond is my favorite fictional hero. Calm and collected in the face of danger. He'd be a good ultrarunner. |