Name - Dave Vent

Maniac #39

State you live in - Washington

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?
– 157 marathons, 2 ultras

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)
– A five mile fun-run in July, 1979 in Post Falls, Idaho

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?
– The Seattle Marathon – 1979 – Absolutely! Oh! Did you mean during the marathon?

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
– Since about 1977, after I’d quit smoking and when out of town at layover locations on my job as a railroad trainman. Having no means of transportation there, I started running as a way to get around and to get into better shape, believing rectangular was ‘better’ than round.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
– I learned of the ‘Marathon Maniacs’ from Bob Dolphin, who had also introduced me to the ‘Marathon Achievers’ and the ‘100 Marathon Club USA’. To me, along with the ‘50 & DC Group’ and the ‘50 States Marathon Club’, each of these are a little like the marathon itself. A lot of likeminded folks (regarding running) on a similar journey to a similar destination, where the journey is at least half the fun.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
– Right now, because of the nearly 8 year lapse since my last one, it would have to be the next one, hopefully the 2008 Coeur d’ Alene.

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
– Now you’ve gone and made me cry. My wife, Ramona, passed away 11 months ago. She was my most wonderful and avid supporter. She was the love of my life and my best friend. Due to a host of health problems she was physically unable to run but she always wished she could run with me. I’d give anything I have or ever will have if that could be.

What was your most memorable marathon and why?
– The last question influences my immediate response to this question. My last one, the Kona Marathon on the Big Island in Hawaii, partly because of its tropical paradise character and the fantastic time we had there, but mostly because it’s the last one where I’ll ever have her with me.

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 Capital City at Olympia, Washington worked well for me.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
– How far is it to King George Island in the South Shetlands off Antarctica? Isn’t it around 12,000 miles, maybe?

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?
– I recall nothing negative. The encouragement I received from Ramona was voluminous and I’m afraid it eclipses everything else in my memory.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
– Probably nothing exceeding what I already have for anything approaching a year long time frame.

From what race did you receive your favorite finisher’s medal?
– The one from ‘The Last Marathon’ in Antarctica I guess. I had to go a little out of my way to bring it home.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?
– In a box, but of course it’s a very special box.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
– I did early on, but I cut way back on the practice when I saw the resulting faded condition of them. They’re also in boxes, but of course… very special boxes.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?
– I’ve often thought it would be cool if there could be a ‘Centennial Trail Marathon’ here in Spokane, similar to the first half stage of the old ‘Centennial Trail Run’ ultra, or perhaps a ‘Trail of the Coeur d’ Alenes Marathon’.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?
– I’m either neutral or all encompassing on that. I’ll be getting both. However, I’d also be happy to see an ‘attractive’ color option.

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
– First, I’ll never again attend a pre-race seafood buffet. The race day experience felt similar to running with a shot put in your gut. I like the traditional spaghetti. 

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
– None and Gatorade.

Which race would you never run again and why?
– I’m afraid I have far too much appreciation for the people involved in putting on these races and all the effort they expend to take such a position.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? – I guess that would be the three in three days I did on Labor Day weekend in ’91, largely because of the driving involved to get from the 1st one, ‘Scotty Hanton’ in Michigan, to the departing airport in Detroit (80 miles), then a round trip back to the motel in Port Huron to retrieve my airline tickets (160 miles), then from the destination airport in St Louis to the 2nd one (500 miles), the ‘Tupelo’ in Mississippi, then to the 3rd one (630 miles), the ‘Heart of America’ in Columbia, Missouri – all on 1 hour and 5 hours sleep respectively. 

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?
– Going back to when that applied, I ran about 50 miles a week when I planned to accomplish something, like a Boston qualifying time. When I was running a lot of marathon per year, the marathons themselves provided most of my training. I bike some, but not enough to seriously consider it cross training.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? – No... people in my speed catagory, those using walkers, usually find my running apparel a little off-putting.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? – Many brands, but mostly Nike stretchy fabric models. I ‘participate’ in most of those I train in.

What are your short-term running goals? – To begin running marathons again.

What are your long-term running goals? – To continue running marathons once I’ve begun again.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?
– Since I retired from my 43 year railroad career, and since the onset of the ‘Bush Scourge’, I’ve taken a consuming interest in researching politics, US foreign policy, American history and writing letters to the editor expressing my ‘wild eyed’, ‘radical’, ‘conspiracy theorist’ views. Further fun comes from listening to the ‘anonymous’ messages left on my answering service in response to some of these letters.

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head)
- I think the ‘Bionic Woman’ (Lyndsey Wagner), I thought she was kinda hot, though I’m saddened she’s been reduced in recent years to hawking ‘bionic’ beds.