Maniac questionnaire

Name  Barb Wnek

Maniac #849
 
State you live in Missouri

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 55 marathons

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance) 50 yd. dash at Portage Park Day Camp in Chicago

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?  Appleton WI in 1997   I always have fun, but I said I would probably never do another one—Never say Never!  Also, I did the first one with a crabby boyfriend who was a hiker and not a runner and wouldn’t let me run ahead.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? I’ve been running 28 years, but ran most of my marathons since 2000.  I’m a physical education/health teacher, so I’ve always been active.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?  My maniac friend Deo told me I should join.  I’m glad I did.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?  I haven’t done any international ones.  I like ones that have lots of hype, music and bands.  My running dream come true was being a torch bearer for the 2004 Olympics.  I was chosen because of all my creative teaching ideas.  When I was selected as one of Dole’s 5 A Day Creative Teachers of the Year, Jackie Joyner-Kersee came to my school and spoke to my students at my award assembly. 

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?  Someone funny who would pace me for a 4:15 so I could qualify for Boston. 

What was you most memorable marathon and why?  I surely won’t forget finishing the HOT Chicago 2007.  I feel like I can do anything after that one. 

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

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? Seattle from STL next weekend-that will be my 56th

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?  Most people can’t believe that I don’t get injured or have knee problems.  They can’t believe that I pay for all those weekend trips by myself-that’s why I teach during the Summer too-or else I would be running more marathons.  Work gets in the way!  Most people think I’m crazy without all the running.  They do say that I’m always happy and smiling.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?  Three or four a month—I wish I could run one every weekend like some of the maniacs.  I would run everywhere.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?  I like the spinning medals.  I have one from Miami, Vegas and Casper, WY

Where do you keep your finisher medals?  My favorites are on my mantle with my Olympic Torch when I carried it in 2004.

 Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?  I teach Kg-6th grade physical education and wear all my shirts to work.  My students love to read them and to see my medals.  That’s why I can’t call in sick to take a day off for a marathon.  I wouldn’t be able to wear the shirt with the date or talk about it.  Everyone at work knows where I am if I take a Friday or Monday off because I rarely get sick.  All that running keeps me healthy and happy.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?  There’s so many I haven’t done.  I have no idea.

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?  Yellow is my favorite color because it’s bright and happy.

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?  Pre-race:  Coffee and an oatmeal raisin PowerBar and shot bloks at the start line. Post-race: In Wilmington and Casper it was Veggie-lovers pizza.  It was delicious.  I rarely eat pizza.  I try to eat low-fat and high carb all the time.  I usually crave Lay’s Baked plain chips. 

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice? PowerGel apple and GatorAde Endurance  I only drink GatorAde for runs over 2 hours.

Which race would you never run again and why?  Portland, Oregon was all railroad cars and tracks and not beautiful like most of it is, and Wilmington, DE with all the loops was boring.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?  I ran the Goofy Challenge in 2008.  It was actually easier than I thought it would be.  The wind in Casper, WY, 2008 made it very difficult to run.  That was probably the hardest for me.
What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?  I run 3 days a week, 2 hours each time, which is 35-40 miles and I weight train 3 days a week for 1 hour each time.  Thursday is usually a rest day when I go Country Western Dancing.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it? No, probably because I don’t like to get up earlier that I have to.  I run after school.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?  I have always been an Asics girl.  Asics Cumulus 9 are my favorite.  I just bought every pair they
 had, because I don’t like the new Cumulus 10.
What are your short-term running goals?  My times have slowed down.  I’ve got to get faster.  I’ve been running lots of hills for the past year.  I feel much stronger when I run one.  I used to hate hills.

What are your long-term running goals?  To qualify for Boston.  I’ve run a 4:13 marathon but I wasn’t in the right age group.  I need 4:15.  There is no reason why I shouldn’t be able to do it.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?  I Country-Western dance, especially line dancing.  We have a TV show called St. Louis Country, which they tape on Thursday nights and air on a major station on Saturday nights.  I’ve written two books for physical education teachers.  The most recent is titled Celebration Games, Physical activities for every Month.  I don’t think I could sit still long enough to write a third.

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head)
I am in awe of the women in my age group, 55-59, and older who run so much faster than me-Main Maniac with cat on head is a close second.