Maniac questionnaire Name Jeff Tong Maniac # 1891 How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 23 marathons and 1 ultra. What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) I remember running a ‘mini-marathon’ (13.1 miles) back in 1976 or so at Ft. DeStoto Park in Florida. It was hot and I had never trained for more than 8 miles. Running 13.1 miles at my 4 mile race pace, the only pace I knew, really didn’t work out so well after the 10 mile point. What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Durrango, CO in 2003. I trained by doing the long runs each weekend, but did no other running during the week. I went in badly undertrained to a race at altitude, and suffered needlessly. I have since figured out how to train more effectively. How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? At about age 35, my metabolism went ‘boink’ and I needed to start running or I knew I would start a long downhill spiral. So I started running, and that grew into marathoning after I retired from my first career in 2002. Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? Meeting Maniacs at various races. To a person they were ‘interesting’ and helpful. Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? The Antarctica Marathon. I’ve always said that if I was being chased by a rabid walrus I know I could PR. I’m really certain of this. If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? I’ll go with Gandhi… you know, the “Be the change you wish to see in the world” guy. It would be great to hear about what he was able to accomplish with non-violent protest; the sheer moral authority of it all. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a close second, but I’m not sure he could keep up. What was you most memorable marathon and why? The Pike’s Peak Marathon. I trained on the mountain for six months (the advantage of living in Colorado Springs), ran at altitude, and it was still the most brutal race I’ve ever done. Eight hours of running up a mountain to over 14,000 feet elevation, and then back down with trashed quads. I ran the hot year (2007), crossed the finish line, and went straight to the medical tent for 3 and a half IV bags of fluids. Nice medal and jacket, but I see no need to ever do that one again. So far, anyway. Memory is a funny and selective thing. If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? The Snickers Energy Bar Marathon in Albany, GA (held each March). Flat, fast, cool weather, and near sea level. What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? I flew to Athens, Greece to run the original marathon from the battlefield at Marathon, over the mountains, to the 1896 Olympic stadium in Athens. Epic. 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? Mostly they are now used to it, and they just smile, you know, like you do when you meet your crazy old Aunt that smells like cabbage. If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? 26. One every two weeks. From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Disney. The mouse ears are a cute idea. Where do you keep your finisher medals? My closet. Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I wear them in training, and try to pick an interesting one to wear at a race. The Big Sur shirt is good for a few conversations at mile 18. If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? I’ll get back to you on this once I figure out how to get strippers to ride the aforementioned rabid walruses. Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Yellow. Maybe red. Yeah, yellow. What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre-race is pasta. Post race: any high protein, high calorie meal like Outback Steakhouse, Salmon at Olive Garden, etc. What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? It is hard to believe that any reader is still plugging through this, but just in case… GU, Powergel, and Endurox gels. Gatorade on the run. Endurox for recovery Which race would you never run again and why? Durango, CO. Much of the course was on sloped concrete. The main roads were not closed to high speed (60 mph) highway traffic, and we were running on the paved shoulder of the road as the traffic whizzed by down one side of the valley. On the way back down the other side of the valley, the 2 lane road had no shoulder, and half of one lane was blocked for runners, and cars weaved in and out of the lane we were trying to run in. Plus the shirt said Duragno Marathon, 10 Km, and 1 mile fun run…. What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? The 2 marathons in two days (Indianapolis and Louisville in Oct 09) was a new one for me. I have learned that ice baths are our friend…. What are your short-term running goals? Stay healthy, run the 50 states. What are your long-term running goals? Run from that rabid walrus to finish the 7 continents. Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? While sitting in the ice bath, I often think about quantum mechanics and the ‘alternate universes’ interpretation, wherein I have the genetics and talent of a Kenyan, instead of a penguin ala John Bingham… Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head), non Maniac Beauty? I’ve always thought that Nicole Kidman and Michelle Pfeiffer had super powers over me…. |