November 30, 2005

Name Jeff Perry

Maniac #147

State you live in: Bend, Oregon

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? (11/29/05)   37 road and 4 ultras.

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) Crater Lake Half , 1998

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Portland, OR, in 1998. That was a fun day, I went in grossly undertrained and coming off injuries and completely unsure whether I could even finish, but  beat my goal by 12 minutes and didn't get hurt.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? Mid-life crisis, I started in summer 1998, a little before my 40th birthday, feeling the fingernails of age scritching at the blackboard of my soul.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? I had recently cranked up  my numbers of races and then finding this great group of loons, well, Groucho Marx notwithstanding, how could I not join? You people amaze me.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? I think the Kiluea volcano run may have to happen soon.

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? Calvin, Hobbes can carry him when he's not busy foraging for tuna sammiches.

What was you most memorable marathon and why? First time at Crater, 2003, what a stupendous and beautiful day. And, my best race finish, percentile-wise, I have not been able to come even close to that since.

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Well, my P.R. was Top of Utah in Logan, but, sha....moly!, 17 miles of downhill, oy, that starts to sting a little after a while.. 

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Bend to Whitefish, Montana. Tried to drive home non-stop after that one, couldn't quite pull it off.

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?  Yup. It has been suggested that I just stay home and have somebody pound on me with a baseball bat, it would be cheaper. Philistines.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? One a week. That's my wish for my 50th year on the planet. Rent out the house, hit the road, do a race a week and try to hit all the states before I come home. However, the budget says...mebbee not.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Two Bear in Whitefish, hands down, one of the cleverest logos I've seen and engraved on a chunk of rock.

Where do you keep your finisher medals? I chuck the ribbons and keep the medals  in a jar. Which I now need two of, or a bigger one of. I should maybe keep at least one ribbon from which to dangle the participles.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?  I wear the technical shirts and some of the tees. I keep all the race numbers too, but am still puzzling how to do something interesting with them.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? Since some kind folks recently put two new ones almost literally in my back yard, how about Zion? Include part of the narrows, climb some of the trails, go through the tunnel, wander out east through the slickrock. Cool.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?  Black for now, wardrobe expansion to follow.

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Day before, pizza is good. Morning of, Clif Bar or two. Post race I generally  have trouble eating for a while, and then, well, pizza again. Simple mind, simple plan.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?  Hammer gel and e-caps, I don't do much of the sport drink.

Which race would you never run again and why? I have said that about several and then went back to all of them, so I guess never say never. It's unlikely I'd do Portland again, Bend is better for that weekend.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? Definitely the Crater/Haulin' Aspen double. But, as hard as that combo was, I'd still recommend it, the dirt at Crater and the trail at H.A. sure felt great on the joints, and the scenery cain't be beat.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?  Depends on the space between races, but generally not very much. Occasional road biking.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? The birdies and the squirrels.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?  Mizuno Wave Riders,  for road and dirt. I keep trying trail shoes but haven't found one I like.

What are your short-term running goals? A race every few weeks, if possible. Keep it, or get it, under 4, also if possible.

What are your long-term running goals?  Reaching my Maniac number, and there's a 50 miler somewhere in my future. I think.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Time, yeah,  I need to get me some more of that. Reading, and trying to learn some guitar.

Mary Ann or Ginger on Gilligan's Island? I once ran the Painted Hills Half with both Maryann AND Ginger, so there.