Maniac questionnaire

Name: Nancy Kay Thomsen

Maniac #614

State you live in - Washington

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 13 marathons

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) A 10K on the campus at Indiana University in 1978 while I was a college student. It was fun!

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Indianapolis - 1984. I loved the running, but it was the first one they ever organized there and it wasn’t well run.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? I started running 30 years ago to stay in shape, and as I turned it into a habit, I found that it also reduced stress and made me a much more relaxed person.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? Another challenge! Laurie Dent-Cleveland told me about the Maniac qualifications on the day she became a Maniac last November at the Seattle marathon. I really enjoy challenging myself, so I thought this would be a great way to take my running to another level. Boston was my first of the three in three months, Tacoma was second and Seafair was my third!

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Boston! Crème De Le Crème!

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? Joan Benoit-Samuelson – she was so inspirational to all of the female runners back in 1984 when she won the first women’s Olympic Marathon.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?

Portland on the day I qualified for Boston last October (2006). It all came together for me and I ran my fastest marathon ever – 40 minutes faster than what I ran two and a half months earlier. I also was able to finish hand in hand with my nephew, who was running his first marathon ever.

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 – mostly flat.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? 4500 miles to Boston – April 16, 2007.

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? Yes! Especially when I started 30 years ago – it was back in the days when women were not accepted as athletes. Back then it was, “You’ll never be able to have children! (I now have two athletic daughters, who love to run). Your heart will become enlarged. You will get arthritic knees. It’s not good for women. Maybe she’ll get it out of her system.”

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? I like about 5 – 6 per year. I enjoy the training.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Chicago 1986 – it was the first medal I ever received, so I cherish it the most (in my first marathon – Indianapolis – they didn’t provide medals).

Where do you keep your finisher medals? In a box on my dresser. I get them all out and put them all on once in a while, and I always wear my medal on the first day back to work after completing a marathon

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I wear the shirt and medal on the first day back to work after a marathon, and then I use them to work out/run in. I want to have a quilt made out of them at some point.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? Kona – I love that place!

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Both!

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

Pre - Kraft Mac & Cheese. Post – a smoothie and my husband’s homemade Mac & Cheese

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Sport beans and gatoraide.

Which race would you never run again and why? Indianapolis – I moved 3500 miles to get away from that state! Plus, they didn’t do a very good job with the marathon organization, even though it was my first marathon and the one that got me hooked.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? Seattle 1991 – I had just moved out here, and didn’t have any family or friends to support me. It was the old course – kind of boring.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? Mon, X-train; Tues, speed work; Wed, light run; Thurs, tempo; Fri. light run; Sat., X-train; Sun., long run

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? Me, myself and I!

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

I wear whatever they tell me to wear up at Fleet Feet in Bonney Lake (they have always taken good care of me), along with a pair of Superfeet footbeds.

What are your short-term running goals? Stay healthy – keep running!

What are your long-term running goals? Go to Boston again, and try to stay in the sport as long as I can.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? Shopping and spending time with my kids!

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