Maniac questionnaire

Name       Amber Alexander

Maniac # 2025
 
State you live in   Texas

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?  5 marathons

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) 
5K on the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?
San Antonio Marathon- Marathon of the America’s Nov 12, 2006 
I had a lot more fun once I reached the finish line.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
I started running to get in shape for the military. I continued running because I started doing 5Ks & having fun. Then, I decided to run a marathon to see if I could.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
My friend, Renee. I remember meeting her at a Team in Training Session. I had already done a full & was signed up to mentor. She signed up to do her first full that year & we ran the San Diego Rock N Roll together in 2007. Since then she continues to run marathons & encourages me to keep going and keep training when I feel like I’d rather sleep in on Saturday mornings. Last year she became a marathon maniac despite injuries.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? London Marathon

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?

What was you most memorable marathon and why? Marine Corps Marathon because I was able to talk my friend Jackie into running it with me, so it was her first marathon. The scenery, course and spectators were amazing!

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? 1750 miles- from San Antonio TX to Sacramento CA

Do any of your non-running friends or family members think that you’re crazy for running as much as you do? What are some of their comments to you?
Yes. “How far is this marathon?” “Why do you do that to your body?” “I can’t imagine running 26 miles” “I can’t even run a mile.”

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
5

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Marine Corps Marathon

Where do you keep your finisher medals? In a drawer.

 Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? If they are tech shirts I wear them running, and if they are cotton I might wear them around the house or to the grocery store.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? Along the beach front in southern Spain (Rota, Cadiz)

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
Pre race- pasta  & chicken. Post race- quesadilla.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
Neither. Cliff blocks and Endurolyte tablets.

Which race would you never run again and why? Rock N Roll San Antonio. I’ve already done it twice, that is enough.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Rock N Roll San Antonio, 2009. It was only a few weeks after Marine Corps and in between the two marathons I bought a house and moved.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? I train with USA Fit, San Antonio

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

What are your short-term running goals? Get faster.

What are your long-term running goals? Keep running marathons

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?

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