Maniac questionnaire

Name: Danny Lyon

Maniac #619

State you live in: Alberta, Canada

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 47 marathons (as of completing the Missoula Marathon yesterday) and 10 ultras

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) Gotschna Ski House 10K in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada in 1978.

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Lethbridge Marathon, September 1985. I was in excellent shape then so yes, I had fun.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? I have been running since 1975. I got into because I lost 67 lbs as a 16/17 year old and was covered in flab. I first started running in my basement (too embarrassed that someone might see me if I went out on the streets) and then moved on from there.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? It was only the other day (Friday) that I was looking for marathons and I can’t remember where or how I saw your link. When I went there, it sounded like I might have a chance at qualifying so I submitted my information.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Boston. It has been on the hit list since 1983 – back when I was in good enough shape to qualify. I now need a 3:30 finish to qualify and that will take a large loss of weight (about 30 lbs), some dedicated training (something I haven’t done for the last 7 years), and perhaps even a coach. But it will get done.

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? My kids, Tommy 15, Davey 13 and Maggie 11. They have helped me get through many a race and I would love having any or all of them along for any race of any distance (they are ultra-marathoners as well)

What was you most memorable marathon and why? I think it is the first one in 1985 because it was such a new experience. A close second would be my second marathon 8 years later in Bangkok, Thailand in which I pushed Tommy, then 22 months old, in a baby jogger.

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 fastest and flattest course I have ever been on is Kelowna, British Columbia.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Alberta to New York in 1996.

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? My immediate family members are very supportive. My wife Connie has run 5 marathons and as I mentioned above my kids are ultra-marathoners (Tommy is the youngest in Western Canada to have completed a 50K ultra at 11 years old and the youngest to have completed a 100K ultra at 13 years old). My 11 year old daughter has now informed me that my 50^th marathon will be her 1^st. We are looking at Long Beach in October.

So I get great support from Connie and the kids. The kids have the best attitude for all of it because they take the position that “if that is what you want to do, then do it and can we come along?”

However, other family members and friends of course think I am nuts. The #1 comment is “you’re nuts”. Some call me “Forrest”. Some just shake their head. Most want to know what would compel someone to do one marathon let alone multiple marathons. On the other side of the coin, I have been able to motivate a lot of people to give the marathon, and ultras, a try.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? I suggested 12 marathons a year but my wife laughed. I then suggested 2 per month and she laughed again. She says I would try to set a new record and do anything I could do to get to Quadzilla level.

Personally, I think 30 per year sounds great.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? The rock one receives for completing the Lost Soul Ultra Marathon in Lethbridge, Alberta. People come from all over the place to try and win a rock. They are picked from the river and then blasted with the race, date, your time, and your name. Permanent reminders of what you have accomplished. Any maniac who doesn’t have one should be getting themselves to Lethbridge to try. I say try because it is one of the toughest races anywhere.

Where do you keep your finisher medals? The kids get a multitude of medals from volleyball, soccer, and baseball plus all of their running medals. So we usually hang them from the kitchen cabinet handles (which means they are always in the way) and also from the end of the banister beside our kitchen table. They create some conversation with visitors and amongst ourselves. A couple of times a year I then run them down to our storage trunks. Each kid has his own storage trunk which I have been putting stuff in since they were born. I have my own as well which has most everything I have felt worth keeping since I was a teenager.

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

Yes, I wear the t-shirts. Unless, of course they gave out the shirts at registration and then I do not complete the race. Then the shirt goes to the Salvation Army.

Old shirts or shirts I wear out either go in the garbage or go to the Salvation Army if they are still in pretty good shape.

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

I don’t know for sure. It would not be a major city. It would involve mountain scenery and running beside a stream or river. Missoula came close yesterday with the style I like, but I would have less “in the city” running than they did – although finishing up downtown was good.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Maniac Yellow

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? I don’t eat before a race (and most times I don’t eat the day before either). For post race, the only stipulation is there has to be an ice cold beer sometime after the finish. Any kind of food works – Chinese, a buffet like Golden Corral, Sushi, steak dinner, pasta – all have been a post race meal. Yesterday it was a 24 oz ice cold beer in the hotel room – a double Big Mac a couple of hours later - and then two cold pork chops when I got home to Lethbridge fro Missoula at 9 pm.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? I don’t use the energy gels. I don’t use the sports drinks either but may have a sip or two during a marathon if it is Gatorade or PowerAde. I didn’t like whatever they were serving yesterday. I usually stick with water only.

Which race would you never run again and why? Big Sur. Although it being one of my long time goal marathons I had a terrible day (even passing out in one of the outhouses at mile 21) and I found the course the most difficult marathon course I had tried. The hoop-la and organization of the race is great. It just isn’t one I care to return to.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? The most challenging is the 100-mile Lost Soul Ultra in Lethbridge. I DNF’d the first two times I tried it and then completed it 3 times in a row. I missed last year due to my kids Soccer Provincials but will be back at it this September.

The most difficult combo of races I have tried was doing Red Deer, Alberta; Lethbridge, Alberta and Helena, Montana, back-to-back-to-back. I ended up only doing the half in Helena. So now it becomes a goal to try 3 in a row. And I see from the Maniac website that more than one a week has been accomplished.

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

I haven’t trained for years. I mostly enter the races and my next run is the next race. If I do get some time for running I may get out once or twice in the same week.

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

No training partner. Although I do join the Lethbridge Marathon club each year in January. I don’t make it to too many Saturday or Sunday runs but I really get jazzed from the energy of such a large group at the start of the club each year.

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

I train in whatever shoe was on sale. I race in the same shoe and at any time I may have two or three pairs on the go at the same time.

What are your short-term running goals?

50 by 50. My 11-year old put me on a quest about 18 months ago (when she was nine) to complete 50 marathons before my 50^th birthday (January 19^th, 2008). I had 31 completions at the time of her challenge.

So I did 10 in 2006 and am on schedule to complete 9 this year.

What are your long-term running goals?

1. Boston. I need to get back in shape, train and qualify for this. I only need to take 2 hours off of my tie yesterday in Missoula so it is certainly attainable.

2. 100 marathons – this will probably change as I finally get to that level.

3. Death Race – Grande Prairie, Alberta

4. Completion of the 6 race Alberta Ultra Series in the same year.

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

I like traveling around to all of my kids soccer and baseball and volleyball tournament. All play rep with their respective sports meaning that there is a lot more travel and here are Provincial and National opportunities in each.

I also like to camp with the family and a child hood friend – and as far away from other campers as possible. Just get away for a few days with nothing else to do but tell stories, stare at the fire and drink beer.

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

Batman is the man.