Maniac questionnaire

4/24/07

Name Sheila Lawless-Burke

Maniac # 507

State you live in Rhode Island, but currently/temporarily in Szeged Hungary

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 25

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

Age 6 against the neighborhood kids

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

Los Angeles 2002. I had a GREAT time, obviously...

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

My whole life, first to escape crazy brothers, then to battle the effects of age.

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

The fun and whacky website

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

Prince of Wales Island, Alaska

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

My husband. Wouldn’t that be sweet?

What was you most memorable marathon and why?

Los Angeles, of course. You never forget your first.

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

Martian Marathon, Detroit; flat, thin field, and perfect temps.

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

Do you mean literally or figuratively?

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?

They don’t think I’m crazy, just that I have mis-placed motivation.

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

At a minimum, 12.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?

Oh, they’re all so similar! I guess my favorite is from Los Angeles.

Where do you keep your finisher medals?

In my nightstand. My bibs, however, get tacked to my classroom wall.

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

Only when I need a nightshirt. I hand them off to my husband.

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

In my own town.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Yellow

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

Pre-race: oatmeal with lots of brown sugar. I never have an appetite post-race.

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

Gu, chocolate outrage; Gatorade, green

Which race would you never run again and why?

Trail Dawgs; beautiful and fun but think “death march”; too grueling for a softie like myself.

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

Trail Dawgs; through, yes through waist-high streams, along narrow dirt trails and up hills a girl like me just can’t handle.

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

Anywhere from 25 to 60 miles with Fridays off. Cross training is walking to work.

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

Sadly, no.

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

I’m devoted to New Balance 857

What are your short-term running goals?

Finish the next one.

What are your long-term running goals?

Finish the 50 states and then work on the ones I missed.

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

Travel, to marathons.

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

Batman