Maniac #2794

Webster defines maniac as a person with an inordinate or ungovernable enthusiasm for something. 

When I tell people that I am training for a marathon I sometimes get a surprised reaction.  Some people just don't get it.  They want to know why any sane person would want to run 26.2 miles in one day?  I guess they might think us marathoners are a little crazy, maybe even maniacs when it comes to running.  There are real maniacs out there, I'm not one of them.

To be a Marathon Maniac at a minimum (bronze level) you have to run two marathons in a 16 day period or three marathons in a 90 day period.  There are ten levels of Maniacs though.  The highest level, Titanium, requires the runner to run fifty-two Marathons or more within 365 days, or thirty Marathons in 30 US states, Countries, or Canadian Provinces (any combination) within 365 days, or twenty Countries within 365 days.  I would say that the term maniac is fitting for these folks.

You will know a maniac by their singlet.  It's yellow with red and black lettering and they wear them proudly during races.  The next race you attend as a runner or supporter give the maniacs the credit they deserve.  I usually like to yell "Hey Maniac!  You rock!" 

10/3/10 - At the start line of the ME marathon, the second in my

dad's double that weekend.  This was the last marathon he ran.

When my dad first got sick he was pretty down in the dumps.  Just weeks before he had run two races in one weekend (a double in maniac terminology) and now he needed help getting out of bed.  I wanted to send an email to the Marathon Maniacs community and let them know what was going on with him.  I figured maybe some of his running friends could send him a get well e-mail or two to lift his spirits.  The response we received was overwhelming.  People that had never met him before sent cards, emails, gifts, medals and shirts.  They offered to run a mile or a whole race in his honor.  He received letters from runners in South Korea, Afghanistan and all over the US.  While my dad was in the hospital I read his emails to him which always brightened his day.  In the weeks that followed I would call him to ask how his chemo was going and he would share with me the letters and cards he received.  The response from the Maniacs made me proud that my dad was a part of such an amazing group of people.

My brother Mark will qualify for the Marathon Maniacs after finishing the race in Canton, OH.  I'm really excited for him, I know he has been working hard to get to this point.  I can only imagine how emotional it will be for him.  This is a race that our whole family plans to attend in my dad's honor, to qualify at that race with our whole family present will be awesome.  I'm so proud of our Markie!

The whole family, especially my mom is hoping to meet some of the maniacs in person at the Canton Marathon.  Maniacs are busy group of people as you may imagine.  I remember when my dad was running races all the time he would plan them months in advance, so he also knew how to train for them.  I hope little Ol' Canton will make their calendars. 

My dad's Maniac number was 2794.  I will wear that number proudly to honor him and all Marathon Maniacs in all the races I run for the rest of my life.