Maniac questionnaire

Name: Tim McGinty

Maniac #676

State you live in:

Cleveland –The Center of the Universe (Ohio has disowned us)

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?

60/9

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

Our crazy high school football coach (Denny Marcin and he’s still coaching for the Jet’s) used to have the whole team in pads race a lap around the track at practice. The rule was there are no rules. The winner didn’t have to do the second lap and the losers got extra torture. So there was plenty of incentive to shove, block for your fellow lineman, elbow, or tackle. The winner may not have been the fastest runner, but the person who really wanted it (or ran around the pile up).

Why not try this now and make some of the races a lot more interesting? I’m tired of the fast guys always winning these races.

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

After watching Alberto Salazar and David Beardsley duel it out in Boston on TV in 1982, I mentioned to one of my co-workers at the bar (ya we should have been at work) that if I ever did lose my mind and decide to run a marathon, I would certainly beat him. That’s all it took. We had a huge bet down and our pals betting on one or the other. There was on office pool that had a blank for DNF and DOA. Both were quickly filled.

So we had almost month to train for the Cleveland Marathon—plenty of time to get in shape. I just multiplied my 10K time by 4 and confidently predicted a 3:15—or better.

We started at a 7 minute pace, each pretending we could keep it up so the other would quit. After about 5 miles that act ended w/ some upchucking. By mile 20 we couldn’t run under a 10 minute mile. By mile 26 we were so hot and sick that we cancelled the bet and walked in together at 3:43 vowing never to run anything over 5 miles the rest of our lives.

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

In 1975 some of my fellow football coach’s talked me into going to a race. It was pretty hot and humid and I may not have been in the very best of shape. In mile four I was getting a bit woosey when we went by a house in the shade w/ a sprinkler going that looked to good to pass. You should have heard names the resident called me when he came out and found me laying on my back on his nice lawn.

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

I’ve met some Maniac’s over the last few years during some races. They are always having a good time and have a sick and twisted sense of humor. Most seem out right depraved. So of course I wanted to join.

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

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

David Beardsley should have and would have won the ‘82 Boston if it wasn’t for those Irish motorcycle cops cutting him off to help the home town boy. Here is a guy who has put up w/so much adversity in his races and his life but yet just keeps on trucking and running. His positive attitude is second to none

What was you most memorable marathon and why?

My first Boston in 1995. I couldn’t believe I was actually in it—and w/ my little brother. And seeing my family all over the course was a big kick. My teenage daughter ran me in from Washington Circle to Fenway Park where my son and Dad were waiting. My wife and Mom were at the final turn, happy but surprised I wasn’t coming in an ambulance.

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

St. George, Utah. It’s even faster than Tucson. I had a PR 3:40 there in ‘07 after 25 years of running marathons. It has a nice cool early morning start, is mainly downhill and fast as lightning, mountains to view, and a solid support along the course. Heck they even have people to give mid race rubdowns and BenGay in case your quads lock up. Just to give you an idea of much difference that course can make, my next 2 races that same month were 7 minutes slower.

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

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?

“Are you some kind of slouch? What do you mean your not going to run a marathon the weekend?”

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?

The stone one from St. George

Where do you keep your finisher medals?

Give ‘em to the kids or take to work to prove I’m not dead yet.

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

Our kids never knew what pajama’s were.

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

Yosemite. Start at Tuolumne Meadows and follow the river downhill past all the falls, turn uphill at the trail to White Wolf. It’s a magnificent route w/ plenty of water and a good campground at either end to meet, eat, sleep, party, and drop a return car off at.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Yellow

What is your favorite pre race meal? Linguine De Mari

Post race meal? Steak and milkshakes

What is your energy gel of choice? I love ‘em all—esp. w/ caffine

Sport drink of choice? Whatever they are serving is fine but the low sugars like Ultima don’t grow old

Which race would you never run again and why?

We were driving home recently from a race and remarking that if hadn’t been so cold I might have made my qualifying time. Then I remembered 2 weeks before thinking if had been a little cooler I wouldn’t have missed my qualifying time by a minute. I sounded like Goldie Lock’s and the Three Bears. I can’t blame the race for my bad times

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

This summer I was determined to get my fat behind into decent shape for a race this fall so I scheduled 4 weeks w/ 2 tough 50K’s, a 26.2, and a 50 mile fast backpack in Yosemite

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? Run x5 =40 miles. Weights for 40 minutes x5. Bike, backpack in summer

What kind of shoes do you train in? Brooks Radius roads. Asics Trail off road and winter. Do you race in a different shoe? No

What are your short-term running goals? Keep enjoying it and avoiding the autopsy as long as possible.

What are your long-term running goals?

Marathons until I’m 99. Then I’m switching to Ironmans