Maniac questionnaire
Name Amy Yanni
Maniac #130
State you live in –sort of a fun-filled state of chaos
How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? More than I have fingers and toes for marathons. No ultras, no no no no, that’s too far. Only capital M Maniacs run those. I’m a small-m maniac.
What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) a 3-legged one at the Michigan State Fair
What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Bismarck in ’03 and oh, yes, tons of!
How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? All my life; to get home when the streetlights came on because I was in Big Trouble with my mom when I missed.
Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? In ’04 when someone at coolrunning told me I qualified—isn’t there a phrase, maniacs love company?
Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? The one I’m signed up for next week.
If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? This is a great question for over dinner with some wine and friends. Let’s discuss then. (Do you mean someone who would run with you, someone who is/was in the running world, someone inspirational in your profession or religion..…..someone I admire is not necessarily someone I’d want to run with whereas, it would be a hoot and the miles would fly by to run with Robin Williams riding his bike alongside (running, I don’t think he’d keep up the pace, do you?))
What was you most memorable marathon and why? You know, I don’t think I’ve run that one yet, but I’m really looking forward to it. There isn’t just one that stands way out above the rest.
If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Johnstown PA, Lincoln, NE
What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? The Martian Marathon.
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? Who says I run that much?
If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? Fiddy-Two, at least.
From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Mt. Rushmore, because it took me over 5 hours to earn it (Salida took that long, too, but there wasn’t even a medal, just mud.)
Where do you keep your finisher medals? In 2 boxes (decorative) on a lower shelf on my Oxford English Dictionary stand.
Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? Yes, of course. I give the ones I don’t wear to larger people, because many Race Directors (much as I love ‘em) have not yet figured out that many women who run marathons are not going to fit into the gargantuan size shirts they over-order (it would kill them to order women’s smalls??)
If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? Putting on a marathon is really hard work—then all people want to do is whine about what goes wrong, like the shirts are the wrong color or size or something. No, thanks.
Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Why isn’t there Maniac Red, is what I’d like to know.
What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Indian food! There is no decent Indian restaurant in South Dakota, so when I travel to a race, I always look for Lentil Soup with that subtle curry flavor, smooth, luscious Saag Paneer, warm, aromatic Nan, firey Vindaloo….sigh. Immediate Post race is popsicles in summer, hot soup in cool weather. Later is more Indian food.
What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Bleh, I hate gels (haven’t mastered ‘em, either—they squirt out all over my fingers and I hate to run with sticky fingers, yig. Drink is Accelerade, but fortunately I’m about through with the blue stuff (those big containers of the powder last a long, long time.)
Which race would you never run again and why? Is this a trick question? There isn’t one!
What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? The Durango Double—there’s the altitude factor, but mainly it’s because I am the Howdy Doody of trail running, and that is after I had the advantage of a one-to-one tutorial from Pigtails.
What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? I try to stay under 50 miles a week, so in weeks when I run a marathon, maybe 3 runs between 4-7 miles. Yes, using the elliptical makes me very cross, but I do when I feel a sore spot/achy.
Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? The Black Hills Running Club.
What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? Ty Cobb, the famous Detroit Tiger who held the base-stealing record in MLB for decades until Maury Wills broke it, wore heavier spikes in spring training because he said the regular ones made him feel as if he was flying on the bases when the season started. I don’t do that, but I do have lighter shoes for races.
What are your short-term running goals? Have fun and stay healthy.
What are your long-term running goals? Never to have to stop running and that it always stays fun.
Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? I’m a Red Sox fan. Oh, you said for fun, um, gee……play with my cats, Spencer & Kate and dog, Frank.
Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head) My favorite Super Hero will be the female version of the Main Maniac (with dog alongside).