Maniac questionnaire
Name Paul Gentry
Maniac # 719
State you live in Washington
How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 10/0
What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) The Big Sur
What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Big Sur in Carmel, California in 2000. I had a great time, the most beautiful course I’ve seen. Rated one of the 10 hardest marathons to run in North America by Marathons and Beyond. Not the brightest first marathon to run, but glad I did it. I cramped up on mile 25 but nothing was going to stop me. I almost cried at the end I was so happy!!!
How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? At 39 I was thinking it would be a good mid life crisis kind of thing and I wanted to stay in shape for the Navy so I could retire 5 years later. I was fast at first, but lived in Monterey so my runs were getting longer and longer cause of the beauty of running down the coast, then one day I thought, wow, I could run marathons with my monthly mileage already over 120 miles!
Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? Bellingham Bay was a disappointment because of the weather and hilly course, I had trained for a 4:30 marathon and was over 5. I couldn’t stop there for the season, so I smartly ran Tri-Cities (at 4:26) three weeks later. I noticed the maniac gear on many people so I asked a maniac what was up and how to qualify. Being I had run 2 marathons in 3 weeks, I knew if I ran Seattle I could qualify. I live an hour and a half from Seattle so I took a chance on the weather and as they say the rest is history!
Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? New York!! I’m gonna start the lottery bit once it’s available!
If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? Jim Ryan. As a kid I loved the way he ran the mile, wonder if he runs marathons now?
What was you most memorable marathon and why? Napa Valley in 2000 because of the storm. It was so cold and every corner you thought the winds would die down and the wind would still be in your face, over 40 mph, cold rain. I remember passing an older runner and could hear his teeth chattering. I was under five hours which was amazing and I never stopped, so I was ultimately happy. The sun came out and it was beautiful right after the race of course!!!
If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Being I just ran it for a PR, Tri-Cities, a great smaller race, with a cool race director and flat except where you go up bridges which was no big deal!!!!
What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Tri-Cities which was across the pass in Washington (I hate that pass). It took 4 hours to drive, but I’ll do it again!
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? Absolutely! “You are killing yourself, you’re always sick and you are destroying your immunity system!” You’re too skinny, don’t run as much!
If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? 12-15
From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Silicon Valley in 2000, it is huge and has computer chips etc. I want to run another one as they change the design each year. Discovery Bay had a beautiful medal this year too.
Where do you keep your finisher medals? On my “I love me Wall” on pegs in my computer room. I am more proud of those medals then my Navy shadow box after retirement.
Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I buy extras or wear my half marathon shirts. All ten finisher shirts have never been worn and hanging in the back of my closet. I am hoping my kids take care of them when wearing them after I am gone!
If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? Nice, France along the Rivera.
Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Yellow of course, it sticks out!!!
What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Spaghetti and hamburgers!
What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Power gels and gatoraide.
Which race would you never run again and why? Sacramento, a very boring out and back.
What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? When I ran Sacramento and Silicon Valley in one month as a beginner. I had a nagging pain below my left knee for months thereafter.
What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? I average about 130 miles a month. I generally run 5 miles everyday and run the long run on Saturday, anywhere from 7 to 20.
Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? Yes, a treadmill. The only time I hit the pavement is for the marathon events. I don’t have to worry about carrying liquids etc. that way.
What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? I am a Brooks Adrenaline kind of guy, I love their shoes. I train in the same shoes I run the marathons with.
What are your short-term running goals? Eight marathons in 12 months, two sets of 4 marathons 3 weeks apart so I only have to train twice in a years time.
What are your long-term running goals? 100 marathons, I’m 1/10th there!!! I can do it If I run six a year until retirement age of 65, Lord willing I live that long.
Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Other then my Court Clerk job, family, community theatre etc., I am a musician (azimuthmusic.com). I’m a songwriter and I am working on a new Azimuth Christian Pop CD. We’ve released 2 other Pop CD’s and one solo piano CD last year and have had radio airplay in every state and many countries around the world.
Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head) – Seinfeld, cause he likes Superman so much! J