Maniac questionnaire

Name Russ Smith

Maniac # 1617
 
State you live in
Tennessee

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?
36/0

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)
100 yard dash - Jr High Track

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?
Chicago Marathon on 10/7/2001. The day I got hooked.

 

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
I started running in1983 to keep in shape.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
I saw a maniac at the 2009 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon & did not think any thing about it.Since that race 3 friends have asked me if I was a Marathon Maniac. I met the qualifications & decided to join.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
Berlin,Germany
London,England              Toss a coin
Athens, Greece          

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
Tie between my wife & my son. Family first

What was you most memorable marathon and why?
ET Full Moon Midnight Marathon. It is run on the Saturday night - Sunday morning closest to the full moon in August on the ET Highway near Area 51. Awsome experience. Joyce the race director dose an out of this world job with this.

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest?
South - Rocket City Marathon - Huntsville, Alabama
West - St George Marathon - Utah
North East - Steamtown Marathon - Scranton, Pennsylvania
Mid West - Brookings Marathon - South Dakota

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
Mayors Marathon in Alaska

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?
"Are you nuts?"

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
At least one a month.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?
ET Marathon - It has an Alien head on top of a space ship
Tupelo Marathon - Skull & crossbones with flames.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?
In my home office, hanging on a curtin rod,across the bay window, in the order that I ran them.

 Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
I use all of my race shirts to make a quilt.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?
Me put on a marathon? No thanks.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?
It does not matter. Being a Marathon Maniac does

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
Pre Race - 5 Way Chili
Post Race - Pizza  cause I earned it.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
Accel Gel
Gatorade

Which race would you never run again and why?
Kentucky Derby Marathon - It is all about the half marathoners. Marathoners are an afterthought.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Tupelo Marathon - Run in north Mississippi on Labor day weekend during the hottest & most humid time of the year.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?
Off Monday -Speed work on Tue-Runs on Wed & Thursday - Off Friday - Long runs on Saturday & Sunday
I run between 30 & 60 miles a week
No cross training

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?
Houston - He is qualified to be a maniac - Not signed up yet.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?
Nike Vomero

What are your short-term running goals?
Doing my first marathon double in New Hampshire & Maine in October 2009

What are your long-term running goals?
Running Marathons till I am 100 years old

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?
Snow Skiing - My other addiction.

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head), non Maniac Beauty?
Superman - I remember running around in kindergarten with my superman cape on.