Marathon Maniacs News Letter – February 2008

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February Highlights

·         26 new members for the month of February (842 total members)

·         Please forgive the Prez but old age is creeping upon him. Forgetting to copy Maniac highlights from marathonguide.com into the newsletter, at least he remembered that aNnIe Thiessen and Sherry “MMM” Mahoney made the top 3 in one of their marathons.

            

Lord Hill Ultra Runners “pigtails and RD Tim Lofton              Jon Yoon                                    Karen Wiggins 

 

 

 

                The Marathon Maniacs…At the Races

 

February 3

Lord Hill Trail Ultra 50km: Jenny Appel, Gilles Barbeau, Eric “Trail Scat” Barnes, Linda Barton, Barb Blumenthal, Rob “Rattler” Hetsre, Jill Hudson, Shawn Lawson, Jeff Loen, King Arthur Martineau, Jess Mullen, Monte Pascual, Brian Pendleton, Van “pigtails” Phan, tp! Steve Stoyles, Thomas Tan, aNnIe Thiessen, Joseph Tompkins, Hollywood Warren, Karen Wiggins, Jon Yoon

        

            aNnIe Thiessen and Maniac #3 tp!                                                         Barb Blumenthal and Jess Mullen

 

Now this is the way to get college credit…writing a story about marathoning! (Courtesy of Eddie Hahn via the Citrus College Clarion in Glendora, California) 

http://media.www.theclariononline.com/media/storage/paper353/news/2008/02/20/Sports/Celebrities.Rise.To.Challenge.Run.Marathons.For.Motivation-3223271.shtml
 
February 10

Mercedes Marathon: Quicksilver, Bruce Gilbert, Angela Ivory, Phil Min, Michael Rasmussen, Vanessa “Gung Ho” Reiter, Jon “Not So” Swift, Adam Tomlin

 

                   
   Adam Tomlin at the finish of the Mercedes Marathon                                       Phil Min and Vanessa “Gung Ho” Reiter at Mercedes
 
February 16
Buzz Marathon: David Dassey, Eddie Hahn, Ed Indvik, Quicksilver
 

February 17

National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer: Mike Dooley, Jane “camelback” Herzog, Harry Hoffman Jr., Tom Karpowich, James Klarich, McLovin, Cyndie Merten, Jeannette Quintana, Charles Sayles, “McGyver”, Thomas Tan. The race, according to Lorne Sundby:

On Sunday I ran the 26.2 with Donna marathon in Jacksonville Florida.  "Donna" is a 2-time breast cancer survivor who is presently undergoing treatment for her 3rd bout with the disease.  Using her position as a media personality (news reader at a local station) her illness and recovery and her quest to raise money has had considerable profile in Florida and beyond.

I had "one of those days".  Honestly, I don't think I had a particularly good training plan leading up to the race - well, the plan might have been OK but winter in Canada is a tough place to prepare for a marathon in Florida.  This might have been a stupid decision.  Whatever, I think my training was best concluded to be "mediocre" for this race.

Second problem was a pretty good adductor injury 2 weeks earlier which was not healed on race day. This resulted in tightness by mile 12, then full seizing of the groin by mile 16 which was a relief because the pain subsided. Third problem, a hot and humid day over 80 and 80 (degrees and percent) which made the run challenging.  I don't do heat.
      

San Miguel Maniacs Ed Indvik, Quicksilver, Eddie Hahn, David Dassey                           Tallahassee Maniacs Larry Macon and Phil Min


Fortunately, and quite unlike previous similar races, I was smart enough to detect the bad signs early and I called off a hard run around mile 2.  I was sweating like a malaria patient, my adductor was tightening and I was running slow already.  So I turned it into a long tourist run, enjoying the scenery, the crowds, and the views.  And recorded a PW as well, but that was, I suppose, secondary.  Better than being carted off in an ambulance I guess.

The race itself was impressively put together.  An inaugural race, it attracted over 7000 runners (about 2000 in the full thon), it was startlingly well organized, well volunteered, well supported along the course.  The breast cancer cause mobilized volunteers and corporations in record numbers.  Every cent of registration cost went to the cause - every cost of the race was either covered by corporate cash donations or goods donations.  My mother died of breast and lung cancer in 1978, so I can identify with the cause. 

One unique part of the race was 2.5 miles run on the beach.  Ocean on the right, expensive property on the left.  We ran on the hard packed sand left by the high tide.  Remarkably, it stayed hard packed even as thousands of runners trod on it.  Fricken hot route though - less than 20% in shade, so a tough day when it is really hot and sunny - I spent time cooking nicely.

So my result sucked the big one, but I was at least intelligent about it (note - it's possible that it would have been MORE intelligent not to run, but those of you who know me would understand that just reigning in the testosterone for 4 hours was a huge accomplishment.  One step at a time.)

My host in Florida, Susan, won her AG (65+) in just under 5 hours, so there was at least one celebration of athletic excellence that night.  I'm here in FL until Friday with my spouse and without my kids, so it's a happy adult holiday for a few more days.
    

           “Marathon Freak”                                The skirts of Hagg Lake (Sean Meissner-left, Tim Lawson-right)                           “pumped2Run”


February 23

Hagg Lake Trail Run: Bret Fat-Boyee Henry, Tim “pumped2run” Lawson, Brandon Lott, John Lotts, Sean Meissner, Kate Merrill, Jess Mullen, Olga Varlamova, Steve “Marathon Freak” Walters


*****IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT*****

The new and improved Maniac database is up and running. Muchos gracias to Programmer Brian Pendleton for creating and administering the database and Marc Frommer for answering member’s e-mails and troubleshooting. Please offer suggestions on how the Insane Asylum and bulletin board can be improved. If you continue to have problems logging on to the database, please contact Maniac #9 (Marc) (marc@marathonmaniacs.com).

        
         The “Spirit of the Marathon”…Did you see it? Alabama Maniacs Meredith Farrell, Phil Min and David Livingston did!

 

            Noteworthy Accomplishments / Promotions / Omissions / Maniac Stuff:

                                      Please let the Prez know if you reached a higher Maniac level and want the recognition in the Newsletter!

 

Ø  Osmium (6 star) Maniac: Ray “McGyver” Shaw

Ø  Ruthenium (5 star) Maniac: Jeanette Quintana, Jane “camelback” Herzog  (3 states in 8 days)

Ø  Iridium (4 star) Maniacs: Steve Stoyles (4 marathons/ultras in 4 weeks), Valerie Beyer (2 in 2 days)

Ø  Gold (3 star) Maniac: Elizabeth Jones (4 marathons in 37 days)

Ø  Silver Maniacs (2 star): Kathy Kass (8 marathons in 12 months)

Ø  Tom Detore update: Since we last heard from Tom, he was living in Nebraska but that was many years ago.  He has resurfaced and now lives in Lenexa, Kansas and got married last September at the Maui Marathon. A belated congratulations Tom!

 

 

 

 On a personal note, we’d like to express our deepest sympathies for the family and friends of Maniac #271 Tim Chesko. He passed away recently from a heart attack. He leaves behind a wife (Jodi) and 3 small children. Your condolences may be sent to his address at 453 Willow Street, Lockport, New York  14094.  We will miss you…Forever Maniac #271.

 

New Members for the Month of February

 

2/02 – Ron Adams #817 (North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada): Ron is truly an “UltraManiac”, by having run in 88 ultras in his lifetime, compared to his 10 lifetime marathons. Even his best Maniac streak consisted of nothing but ultras (13 in 12 months), thus making him a 3-star Gold Maniac. And just to brag about his versatility, he’s also finished 5 Ironman Triathlons.

 

2/05– Juan “Wildman” Posada #818 (Rockledge, Florida): The “Wildman” ran last year’s New York City and Dallas White Rock marathons, and add that to this year’s Mobile Marathon he qualified as a Bronze level Maniac in the Insane Asylum. So far he’s completed 10 marathons in 9 states. And he’s already made out his potential marathon schedule until January 2009.

        

 Juan “Wildman” Posada           Shawna Wilskey                                                                                       Craig Withers

 

2/06 –Shawna Wilskey #819 (Burlington, Washington): Shawna is in good, fast company as her running buddies are Skagit Valley Maniacs Joe Tompkins, Steve Duncan, Terry Sentinella and Rob Jacobsen. They’ve made her work hard, as witnessed by her inaugural marathon finish time of 3:20. She’s gotten faster since and will be toeing the start line in Boston this year. She is a Bronze Maniac with her 3 marathons in 2 months.

 

2/06 –Rajan Christian #820 (Mira Loma, California): Little Leslie turned Rajan on to our brand of Maniac fun  (is this really fun??) and definitely is a Maniac on a roll. He completed the Orange County, Arizona Rock and Roll, Carlsbad, Miami and the Surf City Marathons on consecutive weekends. That’s 5 in 5 weeks, making Rajan a 3-star Gold Maniac. One interesting sidenote…Rajan’s Dad Moses (75 years young) also completed the same 5 races. So Rajan, get your Dad to join as you two will be the first Father-Son Maniac combo!

 

2/06 –Craig Withers #821 (San Diego, California): Craig holds some very impressive stats by running in 16 marathons in 16 states in a 12-month period. This streak makes Craig a 6-star Osmium Maniac. In fact Craig has never duplicated a state in his 30 lifetime marathons, so we can all guess what his real goal is!

 

2/07 –Kim Budzik #822 (Friendswood, Texas): Like a few other Maniacs, Kim is a 5-star Ruthenium Maniac by virtue of having completed the Tahoe Triple. She obviously enjoys this event as she has done the Triple both in 2006 and 2007.  Her lifetime totals include 34 marathons and 6 ultras, all run in 12 states.

                                                   

                      Kim Budzik                                                           Mary Cameron (left) and friend Cindy                                      Annette Tomal

 

2/11 – Mary Cameron #823 (Austin, Texas): Mary states that her life would not be complete unless she can wear one of the Marathon Maniacs yellow singlets. Well Mary, with your 3 marathons in 3 months, you are now a full fledged Bronze Maniac and can now proudly adorn yourself in yellow. She has run 9 marathons to date, all in the state of Texas.  In 2006 she gave herself a goal of running all of the Texas marathons…however they keep adding new marathons there so it may be awhile before we see Mary out of state.

 
 

2/12 – Annette Tomal #824 (Wheaton, Illinois): Annette wants to be an official Marathon Maniac, not just an “unofficial” one according to her family. She is a  Bronze Maniac by completing the 2007 Chicago and Indianapolis Marathons within 16 days of each other.  Her eventual life goal is the 50 states club and plans to run at least 3 more marathons in 2008 (she’s already completed Miami).

 

2/12 –Tim Roberts #825 (Birmingham, Alabama): Phil Min must’ve been on one of his Maniac recruiting quests as here is another Alabaman joining the Maniacal  clan.  During the latter quarter of 2007, Tim completed the Dayton Air Force, Marine Corps and the Rocket City Marathons to qualify for Bronze level in the Insane Asylum. 

 

2/14 – Mary Bourret #826 (Portland, Oregon): Mary in her lifetime has completed 19 marathons and 3 ultras in 8 states, Canada and Ireland. Last year she twice met the Bronze criteria of 2 in 3 weeks, with her most impressive combo being the Siskiyou Out and back 50km and the White River 50 miler.

          

                                          Tim Roberts                                                                              Mary Bourret                                                     Misty Pilgrim

 

2/15 –Patti Dillon #827 (Connecticut): Some of you may know Patti from some of her past marathon performances when she was known as Patti Catalano. She has won numerous marathons, is a member of the Honolulu Marathon Hall of Fame and the first woman to break 2:30 in a marathon. Currently a motivational speaker associated with  Marathon and Beyond, Patti completed her 4 marathon in 4 month Bronze Qualifier awhile back.  I could write a lot about Patti, but her story has been chronicled in just about every major running magazine. But for those whom don’t know about Patti, be sure to check out her website http://www.pattidillon.com/index.html

2/17 –David Tomblay #828 (Pearl River, Louisiana): David is currently serving in the US Navy and since his return from Iraq has started running ultras and marathons. His ultra finishes include rhe El Scorcho 50km and the Javelina Jundred 100km. His best hardcore streak of 3 in 3 months consisted of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Tallahassee Classic 50 miler and the First Light Mobile Marathon to qualify him for Bronze level.

 

2/18 –Michael LoBianco #829 (Chicago, Illinois): Mike’s marathon history goes way back to 1983 when he completed one of the earlier versions of the Chicago Marathon.  After running a few marathons between 1984 – 2006, he caught the “bug” and went all-out and completed 9 in 2007, thus making him a 3-star Gold Maniac.

 

2/19 – David Jones #830 (Enterprise, Alabama): Welcome to the “second” David Jones in the Insane Asylum. While the other David Jones has a streak of 24+ years of running at least 4 miles a day, this David Jones just started running in 2007. He completed the Bronze level criteria recently with his finishes at the Tallahassee and Pensacola Marathons a few weeks apart.


2/19 – Misty Pilgrim #831 (Rio Rancho, New Mexico): Misty didn’t want to let her husband Brian be the only Maniac in the family so into the Insane Asylum she comes. She started running in 2005 and recently qualified for Bronze level membership by completing the Las Vegas, Mississippi Blues and the Black Warrior 50km. She’s scheduled for three more marathons this year. And be sure to check out her blog..http://athenadiaries.blogspot.com

              

          Max M                                                                                      David Bluestein


2/21 –Max M #832 (Santa Fe, New Mexico): Max M hasn’t been a runner for very long but his best hard core Maniac streak was just completed in January 2008 (Disney World). Starting with the 2007 Houston Marathon, he completed 11 marathons in 12 months, or the 4-star Iridium standard of 9 states in 12 months.  He’s planning on running 7 more marathons in 2008.

 

2/21 – Sara Hacker #833 (Birmingham, Alabama): Once again our favorite Alabama recruiter Phil Min strikes again. Sara recently completed the “Alabama Triple Crown” of Marathons (Rocket City, First Light Mobile and the Mercedes) to qualify for Bronze level membership in the Insane Asylum.

 

2/22 – Ingrid Peterson #834 (Spokane, Washington): Ingrid, or her nickname “Piper” is a friend of longtime Maniac and Spokanite Mike Wakabayashi. She qualifies for Bronze level by completing the Bangkok, California International and the Arizona Rock and Roll Marathons all within a 3-month span.

 

2/27 –Judith Henderson #835 (Denver, Colorado): Judith ran her first marathon in 1999 at Steamboat Springs and since 2005 has amassed most of her lifetime marathons, now totaling 38. Her best hard core streak was 9 marathons in 9 states in one year, thus making her a 4-star Iridium Maniac.

             

                           Clare King                                               Scott Hill                                                                               Bobby Volante                                   


2/27 –David Bluestein#836 (Chandler, Arizona): David claims that it feels “good” to be Maniacal, and that he is, by having recently completing 4 marathons in 6 weeks (Arizona Rock and Roll, Desert Classic, Sedona and Lost Dutchman) to qualify for Gold level.  For 5 years now, David has run with a tinsel red wig (it get’s the crowd going). He is actively involved in the Arizona Road Racers and is the race director of the Run for the Cheetah put on by the Phoenix Zoo.

 

2/27 –TJ Ford #837 (Portland, Oregon): TJ had her best hardcore marathon streak last year when she completed 9 of them, making her a 2-star Silver Maniac. And part of that streak included European marathons in Edinburgh, Scotland, Reykjavik, Iceland and Dublin, Ireland. In fact, she will be repeating that European trifecta this year. Her lifetime marathons total 26 and 2 ultras. 

 

2/27 – Clare King #838 (Eagle River, Alaska): Clare’s first marathon was back in 1987 at the now-defunct Emerald City Marathon (yahoo, some of us did that one too!) and after the 1989 Honolulu Marathon she took a long hiatus and didn’t resume her marathoning until 1998 at the Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon. Clare resides in that great frontier known as Alaska but that doesn’t limit her races as she has completed marathons in 15 states and has competed 30+ marathons. She ran 10 marathon in 2006, or 4 states in 8 weeks, which qualified her for 3 star Gold status in the Insane Asylum.

 

2/27 –Scott Hill #839 (Wichita, Kansas): Scott is a 4-star Iridium Maniac as he has twice run back to back marathons on consecutive days. He has also completed a 12 hour run (Friday-Saturday) in which he ran 59 miles and the day after a marathon. Whew! His lifetime totals are 21 marathons and 8 ultras run in 6 states.

         

            Walter “Wu” Greenberg                                           David Maxey

 

2/28 – Laura Garrett #840 (Copperas Cove, Texas): You may have seen Laura at one of your marathons, either because she races a lot (105 lifetime marathons) or because she selling her products (marathon charms) at one of the marathon expos. What other achievements has Laura accomplished?  This businesswoman extraordinaire, mother of 6 and traveler of the world has completed the 50 state circuit and has run on all 7 continents, with some of the continents more than once.  She is a 6-star Osmium Maniac by virtue of running 18 states in 1 year.

 

2/28 – Bobby Volante #841 (Slidell, Louisiana): Bobby is a relative newcomer to the sport of marathoning as he had just completed his best Maniac streak of 3 in 3 months (Mississippi, First Light Mobile and Pensacola). This makes him a Bronze level member in the Insane Asylum.

 

2/28 – Walter “Wu” Greenberg #842 (Underhill Center, Vermont): Doctor “Wu” started running marathons in 2000, has run a total of 22 and is still going strong as he set his PR in 2006 at the age of 50. His streak of 3 marathons in 3 months qualify him as a Bronze member in the Insane Asylum. He will do at least 6 marathons this year and hopefully 10 as long as he doesn’t get fired from work for taking so much time off!

                                     What more trouble can Lily West and Susie Ro get into in the Big Easy?                                                 

 

 

 

                        Rhetorical Revelations and W(Rites)…from the Rambunctious Rev

Hiya Stevie,

 

                Reading your bulletin board and the article tabs on the main page puts us all in touch with some really good marathoners.  They write about what I consider oxymorons, like “really cool hilly marathons,”  or “ fun 5-hours treadmill runs,”  or the skejillion ways to run two marathons in one week-end, and how to travel between them.

                                                

                                 

                                               

                Now Stevie, you just keep in mind that you asked me to write from my contrasting perspective, because evidently, a whacko in the backo the packo is reminder enough just how incredibly brilliant some of the athletes in here really are. (Given my track record, or lack thereof come to think of it, I do qualify as “contrast”.)  So your newer readers are informed: back here in this space, you are not getting any advice on practicing tempo runs or paper-thin running shoes.

                Rather, late Feb. brought us something of a surprise, Stevie.  Old Santa, who promised to do a marathon this year, jumped the preparation-program gun I mapped out for St. Bubba and he ran Sarasota, Fl. after only nine weeks of “training.” 

                I had given the Jolly Giant enough “stop the sugar and fats, Fats” advice, and the “run a minute, walk ten if you have to, but get out of the sled already” exhortations, but you know I certainly didn’t suggest to him to just jump in and go 26.

                It could have been a sad day, given that he set what hopefully will surely stand as his PW (personal worst) for the next 100 years, but oddly enough, it was for him a day of jubilation.  It was mystifying to watch.  But Stevie, to you, and to your boundlessly blissful buddies, and to certain supportive, swell, and sweet signees in your club, Red Suit Man gave the credit for the jolly perspective.

                See, first of all, the Oval One’s clothes were, no surprise, too tight, and so this created all sorts of stupid problems solvable by wearing looser clothing.  Next, He of the HoHoHo thought that run-walk-run-walking would surely extend his endurance the full 26.2.  Chop that number in half, and you’re getting the picture.  And Gu’s and Gummy Bears notwithstanding, there wasn’t enough energy on the planet to sustain his out-of-shape shape beyond the inevitable wall.  Word is that the reindeer graze faster than he walked the 25th mile.

                But the glee in the old elf’s heart as he saw this tropically-treed town, with its southern crystal waters and warm breezes, from the vantage point of the shady lanes and open-span causeways, and as he chatted optimistically with volunteers and stragglers alike, all whilst struggling mightily to complete the challenge, well, it energized the Flabby Fellow.  His time really did not matter, and just finishing the accomplishment gave him an incredible boost right there.  He even chortled, “I’ve got a new acronym: DNQ! Ho-Ho-Ho!”  (I assumed he meant “did not quit.”)

                Anyway, the glee he gleaned and emanated throughout the quad-quashing, calf-cooking, energy-evaporating experience, he attributed not to himself at all, but to what he learned from you guys.  Sometimes, forget time; the good ones will come and go. Enjoy ‘em all, while you can.  The fun, really, is in the doing.

                And he told me to tell you, “thanks.”  

                                                                                                                Love ya,

                                                                                                                Rev

                                                                                                                dgkienz@yahoo.com

 

 

               

Maniac Ongoing Discounts

·         $10 off marathons put on by Bob Green (his next one is the Easter Marathon).

·         15% off shoes, apparel at the Balanced Athlete (Kent, Wa); ask for Eric Sach

·         10% off any running shoes, apparel at the Foot Zone store (Bellevue location only, ask for Jenny)

·         discount on BITE sandals (contact Tony at tony@marathonmaniacs.com for details)

·         More to come in the March 2008 Newsletter and to the web site soon. The President has written…

 

These guys really do belong in an Insane Asylum!

                             Marathon Freak and Pumped2Run doing the Yours Truly 50km run all on treadmills!!

 

 

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