Maniac questionnaire

Name Valentine-John Ridao

Maniac # 589

State you live in Washington

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 3

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) Super Bowl Dash Half-Marathon, 3 February 2007, Millersylvania Park, Olympia. Did it as part of training for my first marathon; had to do 14 miles that weekend for my long run, so 13.1 seemed like a reasonable compromise. Ran with a cotton long sleeve shirt and did not get out of my wet clothes in a timely manner. Too interested in satisfying my hunger pangs and suffered a scary case of hypothermia. Did I learn my lesson? You bet I did.

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Yakima River Canyon Marathon, 31 March 2007. Fun doesn’t sufficiently describe the experience, which actually began in October 2006, when I decided to run my first marathon after reading The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. I was sold on its promise to ready me for a marathon in 16 weeks so I looked for a marathon through the pages of Northwest Runner. The two that attracted me the most were the Eugene Marathon and Yakima River Canyon Marathon. Since Eugene was an inaugural event, I couldn’t find any history about it, except that runners would be treated to “running in the footsteps of legends.” On the other hand, the Yakima River Canyon Marathon had history—all the race director’s reports as well as the comments of other participants. I was sold on the YRCM and registered on 31 October 2006. I wanted to make sure I was doing the right reading and training so I read Galloway, Fixx, Bingham, and Burfoot. I contacted Bob and Lenore Dolphin, my adopted marathon parents, and they suggested that I also read Henderson and Higdon. My 16-week training began on 10 December 2006 and I was ready for the YRCM on 31 March 2007. What an experience! They pamper the first-time marathoner (I’m tempted to claim first-time status at future YRCMs), and honor all other runners with unbelievable first-class treatment. The pre-race pasta feed and expo were great, the experiences of John “The Penguin” Bingham was motivating, and the post-race banquet made me want to move in with Bob and Lenore. Oh what fun it is to be part of YRCM history.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? My running “career” began when I was about 15 years old in Hawaii, my homeland. I had a friend drop me off in Waikiki at Coco Jo’s. I ran all the way to my home in Lanakila. I ran mainly to impress onlookers and thought I really scored when a lady in a saimin (ramen), stand on Nuuanu Avenue said I reminded her of Muhammad Ali. I never did run after that—that is not until I joined the USAF. We had to run 1.5 miles in basic training, then 1.5 miles once a year. I was glad for that, because my lungs couldn’t handle any more oxygen due to my nicotine addiction. (I was a smoker from age 12 to age 35.) I tried running on and off in the early 1980s, but could never maintain a regular running program. I gave up tobacco in 1988 and decided that I would replace that bad habit with a good habit—running. I was running seven miles a day, seven days a week, with no particular goal in mind. In 1991, I retired from the USAF and it was then that I discovered that this good running habit I picked up three years earlier had in fact become a terrible addiction. I tried cutting back, but have you ever heard of an alcoholic finding success in “cutting back” on his drinking? I completely gave up running in 1991. In July 2006, I weighed in at 191 pounds, twenty pounds over what I weigh now. I felt I had to do something about that so I put on a pair of NB 991 that I bought a few years earlier, just in case I wanted to resume running. I went to McChord AFB and walked seven miles and nearly paralyzed myself. I decided to alternate walking and running between telephone poles until I could run for 30 consecutive minutes. This time I’m no longer addicted to running; I’m just addicted to feeling good about what running does for me.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? Bob Dolphin, The Penguin, and Clint Morrison told me after my first marathon in Yakima that I no longer was a “runner,” but a “marathoner.” Some people are satisfied running one marathon in their life, and they are to be commended. Others are not satisfied with just one marathon and are hooked on the 26.2+ distance. That’s a special group of people. You could have called them Marathon Mangos, Marathon Spiced Ham, or Marathon Pink Carnations. It doesn’t really matter since you were merely referring to a group of people who were hooked on the 26.2+ distance. In this case, they are referred to as Maniacs, people who are hooked on the 26.2+ distance. I am hooked on the distance. Everyone on the Maniacs is hooked on the distance. Being part of the same group motivates me to keep satisfying the desire before my body or mind works no more.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Probably would most like to run the Athens Marathon. Maybe Athens because that’s where it all began. I say probably, because after reading numerous articles in Runner’s World and Marathons and Beyond, I end up wanting to run that one, no that one, no the other one, etc.

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? Would choose to run with my Dad. He’s 89 and is still independent. He had a five-vessel bypass in 1994. The primary reason he was offered the surgery was that he had healthy heart muscles. His heart got to be that way because he ran for recreation—no racing. Maybe that’s why I had running in me. Besides picking up his running habit, I inherited his good looks. I love you Dad.

What was you most memorable marathon and why? Yakima River Canyon Marathon. That was my first and you only get one first. I consider myself pretty intelligent for choosing the YRCM as my first marathon. Imagine the poor guy who picks as his first marathon one where he gets lost in the crowd. Fine if he wins it, or fine if his time qualifies him for Boston. But if he’s a Penguin disciple, I would hope he received the same first-timer treatment given by the Dolphins. I love you Bob and Lenore for making the YRCM my most memorable marathon. Oh, I almost forgot. Another reason that YRCM is my most memorable marathon is I contributed to the county economy by receiving a $91.00 speeding ticket. That hurt, but not as much as my body as it maneuvered the climb at mile-22 at the YRCM. I still love you Bob and Lenore (I guess I should show you more respect by calling you Mom and Dad).

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 don’t have much experience in this area, but from what I’ve read, I would recommend Portland or Philadelphia.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Spanaway, WA, to Ellensburg, WA, or about 120 miles. I’m registered for the Pacific Crest on 23 June, so I guess that will be a little farther.

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? Most definitely. But I think they’re crazy for sitting in front of their TVs even if they’re watching the Discovery Channel. Most common comment is in the form of a question: “How far is a marathon.” Most hilarious comment I’ve heard is: “I can’t even drive that far.”

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? At least 12. In order to control my urge for more, I’ve limited myself to running marathons on Saturdays only. I would consider other days of the week, like Monday for Boston (dream on V-J), but I’ll shy away from Sundays for personal reasons, like using the time for my family. I’ve prepared a Saturday only marathon calendar, using running magazines, marathonguide.com, and flyers in local running stores. Oh, I talk too much. I did say at least 12, didn’t I?

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? You get one guess. You guessed right! Yakima River Canyon Marathon, 2007 edition.

Where do you keep your finisher medals? Right now they’re in a Rubbermaid tote, along with an assortment of other goodies. I’ll take time to organize them before I end up with a mess. But for right now, they’re in a safe place.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I wear my race t-shirts after I get cleaned up right after a marathon. I also wear the medal with the shirt. After that, I tuck it away for safekeeping. I’ll figure out what to do with the shirts as I receive ideas from fellow marathoners.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? New Zealand. I’m not sure if there’s one in New Zealand, but I’m sure there is. New Zealand has always been somewhere I would like to visit going back to my days in the USAF.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Maniac Yellow.

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre-race is ‘latsa’ pasta with a sauce loaded with zucchini, mushrooms, and black olives. The low-sodium varieties offered by Classico are my sauce of choice. Post-race is a baked multi-bean multigrain tortilla pie, which recipe I found in Runner’s World along with a healthy serving of green salad.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Gu, non-caffeine variety. Powerade.

Which race would you never run again and why? The one that kills me. Of the three I’ve run so far, I would do all of them again.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? Green River Marathon on 2 June. Hot, hot, and more hot.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? I’ve designed a cyclical six-week program, which I’ve yet to employ. I plan to do it after Pacific Crest on 23 June. The program has me running 21 miles in week one, 24 miles in week two, 21 miles in week three, 32 miles in week four, 21 miles in week five, and 40 miles in week six. Start over after that. No cross training thus far.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? Not really. But Regina is there for many of my training runs and at my marathons. I’m trying to groom my very own Lenore.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? NB 992, NB 767, and ASICS 2110. I train and race in the same shoes. Not all at once, of course. Do I look like a wounded crab or what? I seem to like the ASICS the best, but I plan on going to a running store to get some video-assisted advice to find optimum shoes for my island “luau” feet.

What are your short-term running goals? Seven marathons by December (WA, OR, UT, HI).

What are your long-term running goals? Fifty states plus DC.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Play with my ukulele, the best woman I found yet. I massage her and she sings to me. Sorry, Regina.

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head) And now a secret I’m always proud to share. I am a Columbo fanatic. I don’t have cable. I don’t have DirectTV. I do have a cheap DVD player and all available Columbo episodes (legal copies, I’m not a pirate fan).