Maniac questionnaire

Name      Megan Ross

Maniac #  1819
 
State you live in    WA

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?   7 marathons

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)   Bloomsday 12k in Spokane, WA (1990).  I was almost 9 and had so much fun.

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?
Portland Marathon, 2005.  My best friend ran with me and we had fun.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?

I’ve always loved to run…figured out in middle school that I was a distance runner and not a sprinter.  Running is also spiritual for me—my grandma died in ’92 on the day I was running Bloomsday.  The course passes by the cemetery she would find rest, so I made a deep connection to running as therapy.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
After my first marathon, I was hooked and looking for bigger challenges.  I then became aware of ultras and saw all those maniac jerseys.  It wasn’t until my 4th marathon that I really set the goal to be a maniac.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
There are so many I’d like to run…

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
My grandma who passed away in’92.  I like to think she’s with me when I run.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?
My most recent, Portland 2009.  It was the second marathon in 7 days, my 7th marathon overall, AND I got a PR.  It was the best race I ever had.  It truly was memorable because so many things came together, I achieved several goals, and felt strong.  It sure surprised my friends and family who were concerned about running marathons so close together!

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest?

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
From my home in Seattle to the Humpy’s Marathon in Anchorage, AK.  I did a little bit of traveling before the race and drove to Fairbanks a few days prior.

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?

Yes, all the time.  “You what!?”  “You’re going to kill your knees.”

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
If I could take a year sabbatical and run a marathon a month each in a different country, spanning multiple continents, that would be fantastic.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?
Too hard to decide.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?
Hanging on the bedroom wall next to a few race bibs for inspiration.

 Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
Yes, I wear them; the long-sleeve marathon shirts are comfy in the Seattle fall/winter.  I have kept them all, though many of them are tucked away in storage.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?
Perhaps in Tübingen, Germany.  I studied there for a year and lived at the edge of town.  I have great memories running through the nearby forest.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
Oatmeal with brown sugar seems to work well pre race.  Post race I love to pig out on pizza, beer, or burgers.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?

Which race would you never run again and why?
I haven’t encountered a race I didn’t like yet.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Marathons on back to back weekends (Bellingham Bay Marathon, Sept. 27th and Portland, Oct. 4th).  Back in the early spring, I intended to do just Portland, but a relative in Bellingham was running up there…and then the crazy idea stuck. Why not do both?

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?
When I’m marathon training, I run about 30-40 miles a week.  Mostly I just get out and run,  not too worried about training specifics.  I don’t own a car, so I walk a lot and ride my bike, and in hilly Seattle, that’s sometimes quite a cross training workout.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?
At the moment, no.  But I have trained with a friend before.  I miss the company.

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

What are your short-term running goals?
Keep training and find the next marathon.

What are your long-term running goals?
50 states.  Complete an ultra.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?
I enjoy photography, travel, writing, and reading.

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head), non Maniac Beauty?