Name Mark Stodghill

Maniac # 851
State you live in Minnesota

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?195

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)  Playground, First Grade, Rosemount Elementary School

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Grandma’s Marathon, 1978, It was fun when it was over.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
30 years. To stay in shape.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
I’ve seen the singlets worn by club members at many races and club members seemed funloving and adventurous.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
I spent a year in Vietnam and would like to go back there to run a marathon. I think they have one in old Saigon.

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
The late Ted Williams. The greatest baseball hitter who ever lived. War hero. Marine fighter pilot. A tough old coot.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?
Wasatch, Utah 100-miler. Because of the adversity I overcame to complete it.

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Pocatello, Idaho Marathon or Ashland, Wisconsin Whistestop Marathon

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
East and West coasts and New Orleans.

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?
They save their comments and shake their heads.
If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
52

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?
Boston because of its tradition

Where do you keep your finisher medals?
They’re spilling out all over my house

 Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
Yes. The ones I don’t wear are stored in foot lockers. Will have a quilt made one of these days.

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

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?
Yellow for now, but will also get black, the color that I’ve usually worn.
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What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
Spaghetti or fried rice before, steak afterwards

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
Cliff blocks, Gatorade

Which race would you never run again and why?
Can’t think of one

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Ran the Vermont 100-miler, a fairly easy 100 miler, and came back six days later and finished the Voyageur Trail 50-miler, a pretty challenging ultra.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? Wintertime 40-miles, summertime 60 miles. Do Nautilus a couple times a week

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?
No
What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?
Asics Gel Kayano on pavement; Saucony Trail shoes on trails

What are your short-term running goals?
Try to keep putting one foot in front of the other while dealing with a lower back-sciatic nerve problem
What are your long-term running goals?
Finish the 50 states then head for the Great Wall of China and some other exotic ones.
Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?

I try to read a book a week
Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head)
Superman, the mild-mannered reporter from a great metropolitan newspaper.