Maniac questionnaire

2/25/2007

Name Vernon Hee

Maniac # 474

State you live in

Washington

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?

12

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

Bay to Breakers, San Francisco, the early 1980s. 110,000 people. Totally crazy!

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

I’m not sure it this counts, but I put it in anyway. A good friend and I ran around Vancouver lake many years ago. We had no clue about pacing and bonked about 4 miles from our cars. There was another runner out there, a senior citizen as I remember it, who was running quite leisurely. He passed us as if we were moving in slow motion. It was hilarious! We later measured our course with the car (we ran along the road) and it was actually 27.5 miles!

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

I started running more earnestly around 1990 after I thought I was in great shape after biking thousands of miles that year. Well, I ran 5 miles after a 580 mile bike trip and I thought I was going to die!

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

I wish I knew.

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

Great Wall of China Marathon – maybe someday!

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

Huh?

What was you most memorable marathon and why?

They are all memorable!

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

The Vancouver Lake Half Marathon in January. Flat as a pancake.

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

Orlando FLA for the Disneyworld marathon. Unless traveling to Hawaii for a triathlon counts.

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?

“You ran 24 miles in a 12 inch snowstorm?? What were you thinking? “ (I actually wanted to go 28 miles that day but cut it short)

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

I never thought about that because they are an issue.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?

The Goofy Race at Disney this year…my kids wore my medals to sleep!

Where do you keep your finisher medals?

Wherever they end up after my kids are finished looking at them

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

I wear some of them. Others are sitting in my closet.

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

There are so many to choose from now, why have more?

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?

Yellow for hot weather, black for cold.

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

Pre Race: nothing. Post Race: everything.

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

Hammergel. Endurox. Heed.

Which race would you never run again and why?

Every race I have done, I would gladly do again!

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

Pacific Crest Half Iron Duathlon in Central Oregon. The run was in the afternoon, on a sometimes dusty trail in 102 degree weather with little shade in some areas. Did I mention that it was at 5000” altitude?

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

Running: 30 – 58 miles/ week last year. Cycling: 0-200 miles /week

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

Yes, a colleague from work

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

I’m weird. I have trained/raced in the same style show for the last seven years. I buy them 3 or 4 pairs at a time. New Balance 878s.

What are your short-term running goals?

Get faster. Try not to get injured. Try to get into the New York Marathon this year.

What are your long-term running goals?

Stay healthy, happy, alive.

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

Lots of stuff!

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

My wife!