Maniac questionnaire Name: Cindy Heckerl Maniac #: 757 How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?: 12 marathons, 2 ultras What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) : 50 yard dash in elementary school. I’m pretty sure I won. Oh yeah, I definitely won. What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?: First marathon was the Chuncheon Marathon in Chuncheon, South Korea in the fall of 2003. In spite of a very serious ITBS flareup at mile 6, I finished strong and very proud. I was 41. Was it fun? It seems much more fun now in retrospect than it was at the time, I’m sure. How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?: I ran track in high school and for weight loss in my 20’s but then didn’t run much at all for about 15 years when I was first married and then having kids. Inspired by a friend who is a runner, I started up again at age 39 and have been running now for 6 years. Initially I wanted to lose some weight and get in shape, but I’ve always enjoyed the feeling of running. Now I’m more competative but still run because of how strong and happy it makes me feel. Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?: I’d seen Maniac shirts at races but didn’t know much about the club. On a runners’ forum I frequent someone mentioned that if they had run a 3rd marathon last fall they could have qualified to join Marathon Maniacs and I thought, hmmm, I just ran 2 marathons and an ultra. Maybe I qualify. After spending time at the site I decided it was a group that would be fun, inspiring and motivating to be a part of. Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?: There are many that interest me, but I would consider it a huge accompishment if I could qualify for and run the Osaka Womens Marathon in Japan. Comrades Marathon is another on my “someday” list. If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?: First thought is Will Ferrell. I think we’d be good pace partners and I would laugh the whole way. What was your most memorable marathon and why?: My first remains my most memorable even though it didn’t go as planned, or maybe because it didn’t go as planned. Besides the huge sense of accomplishment, it also provided me with a good example of the kindness of strangers, especially fellow runners. A man I’d never met ran with me for about 14 miles after my knee started to hurt, giving me advice, encouraging me, telling me to stretch and massaging my leg for me, even though it meant a slower finish time for him. I’m not sure I would have finished without him. 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’ve never run it, but I’ve heard St.George is a good PR race. What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?: About 7,000 miles when I traveled from Seoul to run Boston in ’07. 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 don’t know if they think I’m crazy, but most of them don’t get the appeal of running long distances and many hours each week. I get the usual comments: “I don’t even like to drive that far!” “Well, that’s like running from here to (insert city 40 miles away).” And of course the ever popular “Isn’t that hard on your knees?” If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?: At this point I don’t have much interest in running more than 4 or 5 a year, but that may change. From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?: Boston ’07. Where do you keep your finisher medals?: I have my marathon medals on my “I Love Me” bulletin board along with race bibs and other souveniers. Medals from shorter races are in a box somewhere. Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?: I have some that are good for running in and others I’ll wear around when I’m not running. If it was a special race I’ll keep the shirt even if I don’t wear it and if it wasn’t a special race I’ll use it as a shirt to wear while I’m coloring my hair. If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?: Bali, Indonesia. It would be hot and humid, but it would be beautiful. Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?: Yellow What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?: Pre race, usually a Clif Bar and a banana. Immediately post race, Ensure and Endurox. For dinner that night: Taco Bell. What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?: I’m a double G girl: Gu and Gatorade. Which race would you never run again and why?: I never say never, but I probably won’t do Seafair again. Too many darned hills! What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?: In the spring of ’07 I ran a PR (3:37) at the DongAh Seoul Marathon in March and then ran Boston 4 weeks later. The Seoul race had gone very well, but coming on its heels, Boston was tough for me. With tired legs, jetlag and the weather working against me, I struggled in those Newton Hills, but it was still a great experience. What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?: I run at least 40 miles per week, usually 5 or 6 days, with peaks in the 60’s and 70’s when training for a marathon or ultra. The most I’ve ever run in one week was 86 miles. The only cross training I do is core work and strength training for arms. Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?: I run with a small running group here in Seoul (SmileRun) and also have a good friend I run with when our schedules allow. She and I have run a lot of races together, including my first ultra in ’06. What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?: Right now I’m mostly in Nikes, the Triax 10 and Zoom Elite. I’ll race in the Z-elites since they’re a little lighter. What are your short-term running goals?: Continue to work on a faster marathon time, run a 100K, see how many PR’s I can hit at shorter distances before age catches up with me. What are your long-term running goals?: Keep running healthy for as long as I still have the desire. I’d like to be that old lady that blows people away with her marathoning and ultra running accomplishments. I would be thrilled to someday run a marathon with one or more of my kids (I’m not sure they’re going to back me up on this goal, though). Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?: Watch my kids play sports, coach youth sports, spend time with my family, read, and I admit to watching a lot of reality TV. Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head): The Main Maniac, of course! |