Maniac questionnaire

Name           Ric Hart

Maniac #      721

State you live in   Wa.

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?          14

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)  Marysville Strawberry Festival 5K

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that   day?         Christmas Marathon Olympia Wa.  2002 And heck no, I wasn't trained properly and, well you know what happens in that case.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? Started running at 51, nine years ago. I was hunting in eastern montana. On the third day out my brother FINALLY got his deer and I was already tired by then. The young guide we were with peered down a canyon with me and wispered "Ric thats the largest deer I've ever seen in these parts, lets jog across this meadow and up to the top of that ridge and they should be walking by then". So we jog across and up (me with my heavy hunting rifle) and by then even thought I shot expert in the military I couldn't controll my breathing and missed all three legal shots and my probably Boone and Crockett record book deer didn't get a scratch and strutted off. Reason enough to me to reconsider my fitness level.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? I've always been a maniac and wanted the official title.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Hard to say there are so many great races. London, Berlin, New York, Mumbai (got a friend there).

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? My favorite historical character Benjamin Franklin, so I could ask him questions, and then whoop his out of shape butt.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Helena Montana, flat good clean air and few distractions.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? 2,500 miles +- to MCM.

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? Of course, and generic things like "I couldn't run that far". No kidding, they couldn't run out to their mailbox.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?  6-8.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Not really that important to me.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?  Hung up on hooks with my caps in my exercise room.

 Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? My favorites I run in and the others are hucked out.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?  You're not going to get me to do that much work to put on a marathon.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?  Yellow of course.

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?  Uncle Sam cereal, after anything I can find.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?   Cliff shots and accelerade.

Which race would you never run again and why?  They really have all been worth doing again at some time.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?  Seattle, the blanking hills are at miles 20-23. And mysteriously I have my PR there.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? 25-30 miles 3 days a week, my asthma needs enormous recovery time. Cross training is STP with Team Parkinsons and the prep rides, spin classes etc. for same.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? No, but I often run thons with my friend Rich MM #720.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? Run and race in Saucony Trigon 5's.

What are your short-term running goals?  Joining the 50 staters, I'm at 8 states now.

What are your long-term running goals? Running until I croak.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Cycling, see STP Seattle to Portland, above.

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head)  My father.