Maniac questionnaire Name Tom Robinson Maniac # 1987 How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 4 What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) the Ram Run a 5k in Owasso Oklahoma, must have been around 1981 or 82. Before that I had ran track in High School. What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? The Oklahoma City Memorial 2009. The wind was terrible the second half of the race. I had a huge blister on my toe and I hit the wall big time. But I finished, My good friend and fellow Maniac Bobby stayed with Me. As hard as it was I had a great time and was looking forward to doing it again. How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? I had run when I was younger but had gotten lazy over the years. Then my doctor told me I needed to lose some weight and exorcize, I had run some 5k’s years ago and I thought I might run a few of those and it kind of snowballed from there. I’ve been running regular now for three years. Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? I met Bobby Michaels and Ken “Trail Zombie” Childress and they have been a bad influence on me, talking me into doing some crazy things. Just kidding they have been a great help. I have met some great friends since I started running. Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Right now I would like to do the Catalina Island marathon, I really enjoy trail running and I think it would be a neat place to see. If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? I would like to run one with my brother Vinnie, we are very close and marathons are such emotional experience I know it would be a great time. What was you most memorable marathon and why? They are all memorable for different reasons, but I will never forget that day in Oklahoma City. If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? I have not been to a lot of marathons but I would pick San Diego because of the weather. What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? 1500 miles. 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? My boss has threatened to send me to the employee assistance program and my family has talked about an intervention. Of course I think their crazy for not running. If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? I can see doing 25 or 30 a year, one every couple of weeks anyway. From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? I am partial to the Route 66 medal because it was a special day but then I like them all. Where do you keep your finisher medals? On a book shelve in the home office for now. I might one day find another way to display them. Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? Some of them I wear, some I give to the kids and grandkids. If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? I’m not sure there are so many races that I would like to do that I haven’t really thought about a new one. Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Yellow, I kept seeing these yellow singlets and knew I had to get one. What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre race banana and fig newtons or pancakes and peanut butter. Post race Pizza (thin crust supreme) Cheeseburgers and Beer. What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? I like chocolate outrage and lemon sublime GU and I usually drink green Gatorade mixed with water. Which race would you never run again and why? I haven’t seen any I wouldn’t try again. There are some I probably won’t run again just because there are others I want to run and as much as I hate it I can’t do them all. What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? The Flat Rock trail race in Kansas is one tough course and so is the Turkey and Taturs trail race in Tulsa. I only ran the 25K at these last year, I am looking forward to doing the 50K races at these but I know it is going to be a tough couple of races. What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? I usually run about 4 days a week, 6 to 9 miles Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with a Longer run on the weekends. I ride my bike once or twice a week and I recently started swimming twice a week. Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? I run with a group from Runners World Tulsa, a local running store so I run with a lot of different people. There are a several other maniacs in the What are your short-term running goals? I would like to run more trail races, there are several I am planning to do in the near future. What are your long-term running goals? To grow old running. Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? I enjoy playing music. I play the fiddle and guitar so I like to set around a pick and grin with friends. I live on 5 acres with 2 horses so them and grandkids keep me busy when I’m not running. Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head), non Maniac Beauty? Never really given much thought to super heros. |