Maniac questionnaire Name Kenneth W. Ebener Maniac # 2187 How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 8, so far What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) 1 mile race, when I was about 8 What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day? Spinx Marathon, Greenville, SC, October 25, 2008. I had an absolute blast until mile 21, then no fun at all for about 50 minutes, and then felt like I was on top of the world for about an hour until I crashed on the trip home. How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? I started running seriously in 2008. I decided to run the Cooper River Bridge (Charleston, SC) 10k mostly because it sounded like a fun weekend getaway. After completed that race I ran a few more short races, and decided if I was ever going to run a marathon, I should try it then. I knew I was not getting any younger, and the more years I waited to do it, the tougher it would be. In July I started training for the marathon, and that same month I had my nipples bleed on my first “long” run. Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you? My wife discussed the group with some other runners during the Goofy Challenge at Disney in January 2010. We checked out the website, realized we were, in fact, insane, and were happy to find a place to be surrounded by other like-minded (or lack of minded) people. Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? Boston. I went to college there (B.U., 1991). I am qualified for 2011 and planning to run. I’d also like to do the “original” course in Greece, but that’s way down the line. If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? This one is tough, and I can pick one person. I do enjoy meeting and chatting with random people along the course. What was you most memorable marathon and why? I think my most memorable is always the last race I’ve run. So, right now, it’s the Disney marathon, January 10, 2010. Not only did I run a negative split, but my last 2 miles were my fastest, I passed thousands of runners over the course (due to pre-race bathroom issues it took me three and a half minutes to pass the starting line) to finish 218 overall, I was only 7 seconds off my PR, AND I felt great at the end of the race when I was interviewed by a local news reporter. If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? Myrtle Beach. Extremely flat, only a few turns, and decent crowd support. What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? 3000 miles to San Diego, CA. 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, they simply do not understand. “Are you still running?” “How long do you think you’ll keep running?” “When are you going to stop running?” “Why would you run that far if you’re not being chased by someone with a gun?” “I want to start running, what do I need to do?” Duh, run – one foot in front of the other. If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? Just a guess, but probably 20-25. From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal? Hard to overcome the huge 5th Anniversary Goofy 2010 Medal, but the favorite is probably the first, from Spinx 2008 – in the shape of home plate, because of the baseball field where we finished. Where do you keep your finisher medals? Right now on a shelf in a room where no one sees them. That’s going to change soon, though. Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? Yes I where them out, about, and around town. I’d rather where them then anything else. If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? The starting line would be on Leaphart Road, about .05/mile from my house, and we’d run the first half over the hill course I train over and the second half over the nearby riverwalk. Not only would I get to run over my home turf, but I’d spend the night before the race in my own bed and have my own private bathroom to use pre-race. Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Black. What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal? Pre - two packs of maple brown sugar oatmeal and a chocolate chip Clif bar. Post – chocolate milk, bacon, eggs, grits (if I can find them) and waffles or pancakes. What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? Gu – strawberry/banana for no caffeine, tri-berry with caffeine, Roctane (any flavor), but only in a race. Gatorade or Powerade – either is fine with me. Which race would you never run again and why? I would run this race again, maybe, but the Country Music Marathon in Nashville. The second half of the course was very runner un-friendly, especially the part where the half course (at approx. mile 11) and the marathon course (at approx. mile 20) merge. What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training? I usually run 5 or 6 days a week, with a long run of 14-22 miles on Saturday or Sunday. Each week generally includes a hill run, tempo run, speed run (on the treadmill) and a long run. Average weekly mileage is 50. Yes, cross training is a bicycle ride about once a week, and I’m about to add a day or two of swimming in preparation for a half-ironman in September. Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? No. What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? New Balance. I have about 6 different pairs, and I train in the shoes I use in races. Right now my race shoes are NB 758. What are your short-term running goals? PR at Myrtle Beach February 13, 2010. Run at least 6 marathons in 6 states in 6 months. Run 2 marathons in 2 states in one day (finishes w/i 12 hours). What are your long-term running goals? All fifty states. Complete iron-man triathlon. Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? University of South Carolina Gamecock football, although that’s not always fun. Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head), non Maniac Beauty? I’m kinda partial to Spiderman. I actually have a 15,000+ comic book collection. |