Maniac questionnaire

4/4/2007

Name Shelleena Bunker

Maniac #161

State you live in – Bremerton, Washington

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 15/0 (just a baby Maniac with babies)

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon June 2000 – First race EVER. Was supposed to do a 5 or 10K during training but never got around to it.

What was the first marathon you ever ran? Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon – AK What year did you run it? 2000 Did you have fun that day? It was the most pain I’d been in since giving birth. A few years later I realized I actually DID have fun and have been running marathons ever since.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? 7 years. Kind of a mid-life crisis after my first daughter was born. Needed “ME” time.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? Saw a bunch of Maniacs at the 2005 Capital City Marathon but was too shy to ask them what they were about. I looked them up and coincidently was planning on running 3 marathons in 6 weeks so I qualified. Signed up after Seafair.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Boston. If I ever make it there I will know it’s because of a lot of hard work and determination. Hopefully one day my race time and age will merge and get me there.

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? My husband. I think it would be a pretty awesome thing to do together.

What was you most memorable marathon and why? So far, Yakima this year. 2007. I had 6 friends of mine that I wrote training programs for that ran the marathon. Five of them it was their first. They all met their goals and they all had a great time. It was awesome seeing them all become marathoners!

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Portland OR. For some reason it’s the course I always PR. Love that race.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Honolulu. Not too far, but I don’t get out much. J

Do any of your non-running friends or family members think that you’re crazy for running as much as you do? What are some of their comments to you? Yes. Why would you want to destroy your body by running? (yeah… right!) – Oh, and there is a fair amount of SPOF in my household too.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? 24. I think every other week would be perfect.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Seattle. Every Seattle medal is just great. Love them – wish I loved the race as much!

Where do you keep your finisher medals? Hung on pegs in my office at home.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I stash them all in a drawer. I wear the technical shirts to train in.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? Hmmm, not sure. Seems like every place I can think of already has one.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Yellow, I guess… do they still make the black?

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre-race (evening prior) – sushi. Post race – burger and shake a few hours later.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Energy gel – E-Gel. Sport drink – Ultima.

Which race would you never run again and why? At this point, Honolulu. Too humid for me. Awful experience.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? I’d have to say my first marathon just because I’d hadn’t done anything athletic since high school – many years prior.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? Typically run M,W,F,S – about 30 miles and bike/spin class T,Th. Sunday is a rest day.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? Not really. I do run with the Port Orchard Slug Club on Saturdays if my run fits with what they’re doing.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? New Balance 767.

What are your short-term running goals? Get faster and stay injury free.

What are your long-term running goals? Make it to Boston before I die.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? I do a couple endurance duathlons every year (56 bike/13.1run). I love to bike, read and every now and then I get my sewing machine out and quilt.

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head) – Of Course, Main Maniac… He’s my Hero!