Name: David Hammes Maniac #868 How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? Started 31, finished 29 What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance): high school 1320 (3/4 mile), 1966 What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? May 1980, Vancouver Marathon; yes, it was a tremendous experience. How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? I have been running reasonably steadily since the mid-1960s. I started running when I realized I wasn’t going to make the high school football team. Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? A group from Honolulu (Les, Alfredo et al) seem to have a lot of fun—and, it was partially accidental. I didn’t set out to qualify (and, at that, I have qualified at the lowest level), but I ran with my son in his first marathon in Los Angeles (3/2/08) and then 2 weeks later (3/16/08) I ‘had to’ run the Big Island Marathon (in my ‘hometown’) as I am one of 4 remaining to have run them all. Three of us have a ‘pot’ at stake, last one still running the BI marathon gets it all. I didn’t even know that would qualify me. Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? B-O-S-T-O-N If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? Mark Twain. I suspect he’d have a few funny things to say along the way. What was your most memorable marathon and why? Tough to beat a ‘first’, especially when it’s still one’s PR. But, City of LA this year—given that it was my older son’s first one and given the smart way he ran it—was right up there. If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Nothing in Hawai`i…after that, I don’t know. Do they still run Rotterdam? What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Hawai`i to California, twice (’01 for Big Sur; ’08 for City of LA) Do any of your non-running friends or family members think that you’re crazy for running as much as you do? What are some of their comments to you? Crazy, no—misguided and threatening my health, yes. They mostly think that I’m some sort of specimen. When, if they just put one foot in front of the other (and repeat as necessary), they’d probably beat me. If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? 12 to 15. From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? I’m not a ‘medals guy’, but Big Sur did a very nice one. Where do you keep your finisher medals? Hung in a closet, in boxes (in closet), I don’t really know. Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I wear them all… If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? The world’s largest and longest bar Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Yellow—hey, this is Hawai`i, one wants to reflect away the sun! What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre-race (how far in advance?), 8-12 hours before: pasta, no cream in the sauce, no meat. Right before the race a Clif bar, or equivalent. What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Gel, whatever is available, the PowerGel 4xx sodiums are good (partial to chocolate)---but last two marathons I’ve gotten along on Gu “plains”. Which race would you never run again and why? Haven’t found one yet. I have two DNFs, but not the fault of course or organization, etc. What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? Most challenging race, Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Marathon (completed 4). Once you’ve run it you’ll always try to come back to do it again. What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? Too few miles, now in the 30-40 mile range weekly. Would like to get that to 40-50. Cross training? Push-ups and sit-ups. Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? I run my long run with a group on Sundays, the rest of the week is solo. What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? I run in about 4 different pairs of trainers—relatively light, but I have no ‘favorite’ pair. I race in the lightest pair that I have broken in. What are your short-term running goals? Kona ½ marathon (June), Frank Shorter runs this and if I train like a ‘maniac’ maybe I can stay with him for a few miles. After that, Volcano in July. What are your long-term running goals? Qualify for Boston. Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Read, work a 2nd job. Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head) Whoa—tough call—how about Bizarro Superman? |