Maniac questionnaire

June 26, 2006

Name Amanda Cohn

Maniac # 239

State you live in Washington

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?

-15 marathons

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)

-8K Pumpkin Push, one month after I first started running.

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?

-Vancouver International marathon, I did not have much fun I was so sore. I ran another because I couldn’t believe they were supposed to be so painful.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?

-I started running because I was getting stronger and didn’t understand why I couldn’t run. I followed the Galloway method using walk breaks and ran my first marathon 6 months after running my first steps.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?

-To meet other distance runners and hopefully learn from others with more experience. It’s also a great excuse when someone asks why I run so many marathons. Now I just say “I’m a Marathon Maniac”, and they seem satisfied and stop asking questions.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?

-I’m really trying to get fast enough to qualify for Boston, then I can ignore speed forever. Otherwise Hawaii, Iceland, Ireland, Great Wall…

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?

-Helen Klein, she’s amazing.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?

-Vancouver, my first.

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest?

Olympic Discovery. Mostly flat, not too hot, not windy, good support, a nice race.

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

300 miles to the Portland Marathon

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?

-All existing friends and family already knew I was crazy so none of them are at all surprised. New acquaintances are often shocked; some ask with curiosity, “Why do you do that?” and some are shocked I haven’t been injured.

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

-About 20

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?

-The trophy I got from Bob Greens’ Valentine’s Marathon.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?

-On a necklace rack near my bed.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?

-I wear most of them, the few I don’t I give away.

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

-I think the world’s pretty well covered.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?

-Holding out for maniac purple.

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?

-Pre-race is black tea, post race a milkshake.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?

-I prefer dried fruit to gels, favorite sport drink is probably Accel.

Which race would you never run again and why?

-I’d do any of them again.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?

-I ran Bob Green’s Halloween Marathon after a strenuous day of trail work (I volunteer with a trail organization called WTA) which gave me my PW.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?

-I run 45-55 miles a week, weight train twice a week, usually some elliptical time, and some yoga and pilates.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?

-Sometimes my husband, but usually we tag-team train because our kids are still to young to leave home alone, but I’m anxiously awaiting the day they are old enough for us to train together.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?

-I don’t pay much attention, my feet aren’t very sensitive.

What are your short-term running goals?

-To qualify for Boston.

What are your long-term running goals?

-To run an ultra, maybe a 100 miler.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?

-Homeschool two kids, hike, knit, read.

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

-Wonder woman.