Maniac questionnaire

October 19^th 2006

Name

Jerry “Geronimo” Nairn

Maniac #

361

State you live in

Arizona

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?

32 at this time, 10/19/2006, but check the Score Card.

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

I can’t remember. Let’s say the Giant Lap at Cupertino Jr. High, about a mile.

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

The Silicon Valley Marathon, 10/25/1998. I had a lot of fun for the first 18 miles. It got tough chugging in. I hadn’t done a training run longer than about 12 miles.

I saw a friend at the finish line, and he had a big medal around his neck. I looked at him in shock and said, “You won!?” and he said, “So did you!” That was my first experience with a “Finisher’s Medal” Yeah, I had fun.

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

I’ve been running since Junior High, about 35 years now. It just always made me feel more alive.

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

Decide? Is it voluntary?

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

I have about an equal desire to run Boston and the Pike’s Peak Marathon. Someday it would also be cool to run the Comrade’s Marathon and the Marathon des Sables.

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

Hmm, maybe it would be nice to do the Western States 100 with John Muir.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?

It’s really hard to say, but I’ll pick one.

At the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, I was selected by Medtronic as a “Global Hero.” They picked about a dozen people whose lives had been improved by medial technology, and sponsored their participation in the race. They also gave me a gear bag stuffed with cool stuff and a big, beautiful trophy.

Twin Cities really is “Americas most beautiful urban marathon,” at least as far as I can tell so far.

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

I think that the St. George Marathon is just about ideal. It has enough hills to make it interesting, but the course helps you by turning downhill just at the point you’re reaching exhaustion.

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

I went from Hollister, CA to Madison, WI, to run the Mad City Marathon with my brother Chris in 2001. That’s about 2200 miles.

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 am frequently asked, “Are you crazy?” to which I usually reply, “Yes.”

It amazes me how frequently people start explaining why they don’t run when they find out you do. It makes me want to say, “Look, I’m not trying to talk you into anything.”

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

I would probably run between 6 and 12. I’m really not that crazy.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?

I guess Silicon Valley is still my favorite.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?

Most of the old ones are in a plastic tote in the computer room in my house. The recent ones are lying all over the room.

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

I wear some of them. A lot of the time you get a long sleeve shirt. There’s almost never a chance to wear those in the Phoenix area.

Some race shirts I don’t wear I give to charity, but I never give the marathon shirts away.

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

Brookville, PA, where I was born.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?

Yes.

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

Pre: Green salad with Italian dressing, garlic bread, spaghetti with meatballs.

Post: I’m easy. Just feed me.

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

I used to always use Strawberry Banana Power Gel. They have changed the formula, though. Now I’m using Strawberry Kiwi Accel Gel

Which race would you never run again and why?

I have no desire to ever do the Long Beach Marathon again. The race itself was unremarkable, except for a few miles on the beach, but everything else was just bad. The ugliest shirt and ugliest medal I have ever gotten.

The OLD Las Vegas Marathon was also disappointing, but I haven’t yet run the NEW Las Vegas Marathon.

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

I guess the toughest course I’ve run was the Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, 900 foot climbs, over and over again. It was made easier by the fact that I was doing it with a friend who had to take it slow, so I didn’t feel compelled to wear myself out.

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

I don’t do enough mileage. I try to do three “runs of substance” a week. Runs of substance means track workouts, tempo runs, hill runs, long runs, races…. It means runs that are more than just adding mileage to the log book.

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

My most frequent training partner is my friend Jen.

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

I’m not endorsing any shoes. I keep trying different ones, trying to figure out what works.

What are your short-term running goals?

I’m trying to win my age group in the Arizona Road Racers Grand Prix Series for 2006, and I’m trying to qualify for Boston.

What are your long-term running goals?

Maybe someday I will complete the 50 states and DC. I only have 6 states so far. I’m not really working on it.

The main goal is to keep running.

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

I’m an artist.

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

I like Wonder Woman. A strong female archetype… in a bustier.

What is your favorite Beatles song?

Across the Universe