Maniac questionnaire

Quadzilla is the Trade Mark of aNnIe Thiessen

Name

aNnIe Thiessen

Maniac #

3.5

State you live in

paranoid delusional

Your age

what? who said that? how old do you think I am?

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?

By whose standards? Steve’s or Bob Dolphin’s?

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

1977 2 ¼ mi to the candy store on the corner of 3^rd Ave & Broadway in Rochester, MN. There were only 2 Lik-m-Aids with DOUBLE sugar sticks left. I ran my heart out and it was worth it.

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

Seattle 1995 – Ran a PR for the first 19 miles then had a 3 hour out-of-body experience for 7.2 miles.

Did I have fun? If you consider a near-death-experience “fun.” Heck YES I HAD FUN!!!! What marathon isn’t FUN???

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

Since 1977 when I nearly lost the last Lik-m-Aid. I vowed then and there that I could never get that close to loss again. It was time to learn how to run FASTER!

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

I didn’t take my medications that day.

The stars. I thought they would look pretty next to my name and my hair.

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

The Amazing Race prefaced by the Canadian Death Race. of course…

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

tony! phillippi duh…

No one, and I mean no one, else could make me laugh that hard when I’m in the throws

of a nuclear gastro-intestinal and musculo-skeletal meltdown.

What ARE your most memorable marathonS and why? (it’s so not maniacal to limit oneself to one…) ;)

1) My mom holding a tin-foil wrapped hunk of roast beef out the car window at mile 17, yelling, “Well you ought to be hungry….what??? You seemed like you liked it last night????” during the Lewis & Clark Marathon in Bozeman, Montana was awesome.

2) Winning my home town marathon (Med-City Marathon, Rochester, Minnesota) with my sisters cheering me on from start to finish still makes me verklempt.

3) Any run with tony! A push-up at every mile at the Bizz Johnson/Quadzilla day 4, no head lamps at Bridle Trails Twilight 50k, the Double Ultra (two 50k’s before midnight), Styrofoam crushing biceps and lounging on the lawn chairs at aid stations at “Rainier to Gateway” …….and on and on…..

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 one with rabid dogs let loose at the start. I think being chased by rabid dogs would promote a PR regardless of the course, terrain, elevation gain, or altitude.

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

Geographically – Paris

Philosophically – my race against bad hair.

Do any of your non-running friends or family members think that you’re crazy for running as much as you do?

What? Is this a rhetorical question?

What are some of their comments to you?

“Why not methamphetamines? You’ll be skinny and have scars but don’t have to leave the comfort of the cold medicine aisle.”

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

You mean, what marathons would I NOT run in one year….

From what race did you receive your favorite finisher’s medal?

The one that looked nicest with my outfit and accompanying handbag. Duh.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?

Oh my precious medals…. Why do you want to know? You won’t find them.

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

Oh no no no, I save them all and then, when needed, tie them together to form a rope. I can then escape from a two to six story window with relative ease.

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

Tacoma/Spanaway. Gang signs would mark the course. Race numbers would be adapted to fit on flap jackets. Aid stations/artillery stations would be strategically placed at various meth houses and be supplied with Zippo lighters and butterfly knives. The course would require some navigation to avoid stab wounds.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?

I haven’t seen the hair accessories in either Maniac yellow OR Maniac black. How am I supposed to answer this question?

What is your favorite pre race meal?

Tofu Pad Thai with a GU side dish.

Post race meal?

BBQ spare ribs polished off with a tall, cool Budweiser… and protein bath & straw chaser.

Which race would you never run again and why?

The one without COW BELL or the one that looked bad with my outfit and handbag. (ie BarbedWireBushwack56miler) Bad fashion is inexcusable.

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

why?

Birch Bay Marathon followed by the race to make it to my hair appointment. With literally seconds to spare, I skidded into the beautician’s chair. The feeling of accomplishment was concluded with a memorable, albeit, highly charged emotional catharsis.

QUADZILLA!!!! You seriously need to have me explain why?

What is a typical training week like for you?

1-2 marathons/ultras followed by a countdown to the next 1-2 marathons/ultras.

How many miles do you run?

1-2 marathons/ultras. You do the math.

Any cross training?

Is driving considered cross-training?

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

Oh yes. She’s ill-tempered and doesn’t use conditioner (gasp!)

What kind of shoes do you train in?

Train for what? Escaping from prison? Prison-issue flip-flops.

Do you race in a different shoe?

Well, I wouldn’t RACE in a sandals! I might beat tony! phillippi….;)

What are your short-term running goals?

To not fall down and break my two front teeth.

What are your long-term running goals?

To not fall down and break my two front teeth.

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

Run ultras.

What is your favorite Beatles song?

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Octopus’s Garden, Her Majesty, or whatever makes an appearance on my pretty pink website. ;) (except the serial killer song ;) )