Name: Misty Pilgrim (with an i) http://athenadiaries.blogspot.com

Maniac #831
 
State you live in: New Mexico

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 5

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)
Ransom Canyon 5K Fun Run, 2005.  And 11-year-old and his race-walking mother kicked my ass, but I was all happy because I could officially call myself a “runner”.

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?
PF Changs RnR Arizona, 2006.  I was so busy concentrating on my pace that I forgot to have fun, but I loved doing it with my husband, who went much slower than normal to finish it with me.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
I started running for the first time in 2005.  I started running so that I could finish my first sprint distance triathlon.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
My husband joined, and I couldn't let him be the only one to be a member, so I had to join too! 
I really like the marathon length, and my long runs. 

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
Mayor’s marathon, in Ankorage, AK.  I’m hoping to do this one the month after my last kid graduates from high school in 2009.

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
My husband.  He's always good company, and I like having him with me. 

What was you most memorable marathon and why?
Ironman Louisville.  It's the closest I've come to ever wanted to quit just out of sheer exhaustion, but that was during the bike.  Once I got to the run I felt great, and was one of the few people still out running that late (most were walking).  I pushed through to become the final official finisher.

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest?
Las Vegas Marathon.  Great Aid stations, mostly flat, and it's a lot of fun, too.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
Moulton, Alabama for the Black Warrior 50K.

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?
Most of them tell me that I inspire them, because they remember me before I started running as a non-exerciser who was 35 pounds heavier.  Most of my relatives just shrug; they aren't interested.  Another friend recently said, "an ULTRA marathon?  You mean a marathont isn't long enough?"

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
I’d run at least one every month.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?
My Ironman Louisville medal.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?
I keep my medals from the current year in my classroom.  It makes a nice ice-breaker with some of the high-schoolers I teach. 

 Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
I usually wear them when traveling to and from marathons and I wear the technical shirts a lot when doing my training runs.   I'm not allowed to wear t-shirts at work, or I'd wear the cotton ones all the time.  The ones I don't wear are rolled up neatly and stored on a shelf in my closet. 

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?
Yellow.  I hate the way yellow looks on me, but it’s pretty distinctive.

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
Pre-race:  power bars, or “oatmeal to go,” Post race: Pizza

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
Power Gels (lots of sodium) and my favorite sport drink is Gatorade or accelerade.

Which race would you never run again and why?
Gosh, I’ve liked them all.  I can’t think of one I wouldn’t want to do again.  Ironman Louisville was pretty punishing, but then it was an Ironman, so I guess it’s supposed to be punishing.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Ironman Louisville. Before doing the marathon, I swam  2.4 mi in the Ohio river, and biked over 112 mi of Kentucky hills, all this with temps in the mid 90’s and high humidity.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?
I do my long runs on Sundays, at least 15-20 miles.  I should run more during the week; I’m working on that., and trying to bring my weekly training up to at least 30.  I cross train with cycling/spinning, swimming, and pilates.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?
Nope, I like the solitude of my runs.  I occasionally swim or spin with friends, though.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?
I do my road training and long-distance races in New Balance 767, and trail runs in Brooks Adrenalin 4.

What are your short-term running goals?
Get faster, so there’s still some pizza left when I’m done.

What are your long-term running goals?
I’d like to do more ultras, maybe work my way up to a 50-mi distance some day.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?
Watch comedy central and movies.

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head)
It would have to be WonderWoman.  She’s just campy enough to be fun.  Plus, she’s got that cool golden lasso truth-telling thing going, which I really wish I had in my classroom.  Yeah.  I want that golden lasso thing.