Maniac questionnaire

Name
Michael Ernst

Maniac #
779
 
State you live in
Washington

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

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)
It was a small neighborhood 10K in Corvallis, Oregon that my friend organized during my senior year of college. I don’t even remember the name and I don’t think there was even a second year of the event.

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?
The first marathon I ran was Honolulu in 2002. Before I even started training for it my physical therapist told me that because of an issue with the structure of my legs I would never get to the starting line of a marathon let alone finish. I’m not sure I was focused on having fun; I was just determined to finish and prove him wrong. I told myself I would never run another.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
I’ve been a runner for 11 years. I started running during my freshman year of college just to get back into shape. After only a few days I was addicted and haven’t stopped since.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
Vivian (maniac #780) talked me into doing it.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
There are 2 races I would love to run – Athens Marathon and Great Wall Marathon

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
My brother, because that would mean I finally talked him into running a full marathon.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?
My most memorable marathon was Honolulu, because it was my first and I spent the next week recovering on the beach under a palm tree drinking mai tai’s.

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 would say Philadelphia as long as the weather was not like 2007 (cold, windy and rainy).

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
From Seattle to Orlando for Disney World.

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 they think I’m crazy, but I have been able to convert a few of them.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
12

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?
Boulder Backroads Marathon

Where do you keep your finisher medals?
In a fish bowl in my living room.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
The technical shirts I keep and wear running. There are a few cotton shirts that I wear quite often and the rest are either in my closet or donated to charity.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?
Anywhere that you can end on a warm tropical beach.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?
Maniac Yellow

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
Pasta the night before, a coke immediately following the race and steak and a beer that evening.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
Hammer gel – each time I take the gel during the race I use a different flavor.
Blue PowerAde

Which race would you never run again and why?
There isn’t one yet.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego – I started cramping up at mile 16. That was longest final 10 miles of my life.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?
Because of the structure of my legs I have to limit the amount of running I do each week to avoid injury, and therefore have to do plenty of cross training. I can only run 3 times a week maximum and if my long run is longer than 10-15 miles I have to cut it back to 2 times per week. Because of this I end up doing a lot of biking and swimming as cross training.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?
No, I usually train alone.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?
I train and race in Mizuno Wave Riders.

What are your short-term running goals?
Run a 50K and 12 hour race

What are your long-term running goals?
Complete 50 states
Be able to and enjoy running when I’m 80 years old.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?
Brew beer and wakeboard

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