Maniac questionnaire

Name  Annette Wulffe             

Maniac #  913

State you live in  IL

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?  6

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) A small 5k Downers Grove, IL

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?  La Salle Bank Chicago 2006, miserable weather. I ran side by side with my husband in horrible pain from a prior hip injury the whole race but he kept me encouraged and I finished elated and ran the next day.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? Started running fall 2005 because it took too long to walk 6 to 12 miles. I was a walker while I lost 65 pounds, having 4 babies in 13 years really put the weight on.  I walked the Avon 3-Day in 2001 60 miles in 3 days from Wisconsin to Chicago and realized I would never have the time to keep up the distances I needed.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?  Spoke to Boonsom Hartman while doing some research on the Leading Ladies Marathon this summer and learned about your group.  Told my running buddy Annette Tomal  (also a Maniac) about your group and she realized she qualified with her two in two weeks and encouraged me to try for 3 in 3 months.  At first I thought this is crazy but I was getting caught up in the fun of traveling to run and decided to go for it.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?  I am a huge Anglophile and want to run the London Marathon next year

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?  My dad, who passed away when I was 25 he was a great man who inspired me to try everything.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?  My sixth because first it qualified me as a Maniac, secondly it proved I could indeed run two marathons within 3 weeks, thirdly I only missed a PR by 1 minute and I felt good at the end and ran most of it with my friend Annette Tomal

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest?  As I have only run a few I might suggest Indianapolis in Lawrence, IN

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?  Miami, FL

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 have four sons ages 20, 15, 12 and 6.  The three older ones frequently call me after I finish and ask “how was your walk?”  They run too and with youth and speed on their side I just have to laugh.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?  I would love to try 52 as I hate the 20 mile training run.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?  Miami, the spinning palm tree and rhinestone was pretty cool.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?  On the wall next to my bib upstairs in our garage.

 Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?  I usually wear them soon after the race when I workout at the club I belong to.  I guess I secretly hope people will read them and ask me about them.  The older ones I wear around town and I donate first to my kids then to charity the ones I don’t like .

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?  In the countryside in England of course
Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?  Not sure yet

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?  I have tried all kinds of meals, as I hate pasta, but regardless of what I eat before I go to sleep I always have homemade banana bread from a recent recipe I got from Runner’s World Magazine.  Post race lately a very cold good local beer from whatever city we have been running in and a huge salad with some protein in it.   

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?  Gels and I do not get along. So I will take a cliff bar on long runs. I just switched to Cytomax and love it.  Pink lemonade flavor is my favorite

Which race would you never run again and why?  Have not had a really bad one  yet

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? I guess Go St. Louis! marathon,  The Channahon 25K the weekend after, Derby Marathon a week later in Louisville then the Mini in Indy the weekend after.  Surprised I could still run.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? I run 3 to 5 days a week, lately using Hal Higdon’s senior program, usually 20 to 30 plus miles.  I do Bikram yoga 2/3 times a week, step and pilates once a week, weight training 2/3 times a week and fencing (not the split rail kind!) once a week, plus I have two huge dogs that need long walks.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?  Yes, several I mainly run with my buddy Annette Tomal as we are on a 50 state quest so are always training for the same races, but over the last three years have joined two running groups and consistently run with my friends Cynthia and Char and many other regulars.  They are fantastic runners and great support. 

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?  Only one shoe for both Asics can’t even remember the model

What are your short-term running goals?  I would like to get faster but hate speed work so I guess that won’t happen.

What are your long-term running goals? 50 states and staying injury free

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?  I love to fence, my brother coaches at his university and got me started several years ago.  I am crazy about my 4 boys and support them in their sports, I enjoy working in my perennial gardens, reading and knitting when I can force myself to sit still long enough.

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