Maniac questionnaire
Name Charles Sayles
Maniac # 141
State you live in California
Age 69
How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 71/6 = 77
What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) ? At age of 48 ran a company sponsored 10-k
What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Mayor’s Midnight Sun, 2001 at age of 64 Yes
How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? 38 years - exercise
Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? Saw Larry Macon on the list of members
Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Boston
If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? My father – he died when I was 12.
What was you most memorable marathon and why? Breakers 2006 - I had a super finish.
If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Tucson
What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Los Angeles to Portland, ME
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? The who know me say – “you will live so long that you will bankrupt social security.” Those who only know how much I run say “You run so much that your knees will give out by the time you are 55 and you will never run again”. To which, I reply, “Thanks for the info. The next time I approach 55 I will be careful.”
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? Silicon Valley Marathon 2002
Where do you keep your finisher medals? Hanging and spaced one inch apart on an eleven foot vanity light in a large bathroom.
Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? Yes – the rest my sister is making in a quilt to hang in bathroom with medals.
If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? Where my friends could easily come to it.
Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Black
What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre-race spaghetti and meat balls Post-race steak
What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Power Gel Amino-Vital
Which race would you never run again and why? Won’t say. I may be need a particular state by a particular date and have to do it again.
What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? 2006 Desert News Salt Lake City - got lost for 45 minutes and temp was approaching 100F
What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles
do you run? Any cross training? 4 to 6
miles 2 or 3 days a week, plus a longer run on a weekend.
Cross train in gym on rowing and bike machines
Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? Yes – Jesus Christ
What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? Adidas SuperNovas. Run in the newest, train in the next newest, and train in the rain is the third newest.
What are your short-term running goals? A marathon a month
What are your long-term running goals? 50 States over the age of 70
Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Computer analysis
Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head)
None of the above as I to my knowledge none have run a marathon over the age of 70. My Super Hero is Don McNelly who is 85 and still running marathons and run over 300 over the age of 70. That is an average of 20 marathons per year. Some say that the ability to run marathons over the age is a genetic trait. I will agree that it might be in the genes as for example as of mid-December 2006 Gene Bruckert age 71 with 26 marathons and Gene DeFronzo age 70 with 22 marathons. These genes are both older and have run more marathons in 2006 than I have. Another Gene is Gene Barker who is still running marathons at age 76.