Maniac questionnaire

11/20/2006

Name QuickSilver - Runner

Maniac # 388

State you live in California

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 6 marathons

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) Rock & Roll San Diego Marathon

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Rock & Roll San Diego Marathon in 2006. Yes I did have great fun that day. I also got introduced to the wall while I was at it.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? Fitness runner since I was 12. To learn how to stand and drill all day (R.O.T.C.). Been running long since 1998.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? I saw a pair of runners with bright yellow singlets pass by me once. The team name made me smile—marathon maniacs? It didn’t sink in until I started following the 50-50-50 exploits of Sam Thompson and Dean Karnazes. Mid-October this year, I suddenly realized I actually qualify. Who wouldn’t want to be in such a tough-as-nails club?

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? I’d like to try the marathon up and down Italy’s Mt Olympus. Just because it’s so different. Maybe if they have one in Katmandu. Great Wall?

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? Dean Karnazes, Sam Thompson (maniac#103), Lance Armstrong, Floyd Landis, Deena Kastor, Jelena Prokopcuka, and Paul Tergat. At the same time. With all the maniacs!!! Are you kidding?

What was you most memorable marathon and why? Endurance 50, Cleveland. It was raining, 45 degrees (felt like 35). Lack of sleep, barely made it via red-eye. Stomach upside-down. Shivered the entire run, couldn’t feel my legs and my fingers were starting to freeze. Just about everything that could go wrong did—but I had the most wonderful time running with Dean, checking the sites, and meeting hard-core runners from Ohio and the surrounding states (plus Canada).

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? So far, Long Beach. It’s very flat except for about 6-7 bridges (15-20 feet). Almost no wind. I enjoyed the final downhill into the finish line.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? California-to-Philadelphia.

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 last time I mentioned running multiple marathons in a few days, their eyes just glazed over. Guess they couldn’t match it with their reality. My brother once blurted out “That’s great—what do you think about when you are __jogging__?”.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? As many that will fit 365 days. I wonder if Warren Buffett will adopt me…

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Silicon Valley Marathon—it even has a chip on it. The SFM medal looks impressive as well.

Where do you keep your finisher medals? On the wall in my reading room for now.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? If size L and made of medium-heavy weight cotton, sure. The size XLs are just sitting in my dresser waiting for a weekend hang-out activity.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? Let’s have one in Kenya. I’d like to be in a race where of 5000 entrants, the top 3500 finishers are Kenyans and most of them are in sub-3s.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Both colors are cool.

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre--Two bowls of Cherrios with a little soy chocolate milk. Post—protein and water, any prep.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Gu, because my stomach can take it on marathons even without water. Gatorade, because Cytomax makes me nauseous after a while.

Which race would you never run again and why? Never say never.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? I have not yet explored this—although the Ultra Centric looks enticing. Definitely not ready for Badwater or Death Valley.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? X-training 2-3 times a week: weights, cardio, swimming. Running 35 miles on average.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? Solo. I do need a coach to help get me to where I should be. For now, a recently purchased treadmill will have to do because of the constant travel.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? I have run thousands of miles in “ordinary middle-of-the-road, discounted, last year’s model” running shoes. I’m also not a sub-3 runner, so things balance out. I don’t have a sponsor so I don’t make the distinction.

What are your short-term running goals? Maintain 7:30 pace over 20 miles; furthest so far is under 14 miles. And then do 7:00 pace over 10 miles.

What are your long-term running goals? Run a sub-3 marathon. And then run a 24-hour run-until-you-drop endurance run. And then run a minimum of 50 races in 50 states in 1 year. And then rack up 200 marathons in 5 years.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Travel to interesting if not exotic destinations.

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

Main Maniac, because he looks so cool even with a cat on his head compared to Superman or Wonder Woman with their colourful costumes on a good day.