Marathon Maniacs is an organization for runners who meet a certain criteria of marathon craziness, so to speak. There are different levels of qualifying, lowest (Bronze) of which is 2 marathons in 16 days or 3 marathons in 90 days. The highest level (Titanium) is 52 marathons, 30 marathons in 30 states, or 20 countries, in a year. All marathons have to be official, so you can’t include training distance marathons. We’re also allowed to count an ultramarathon as one of the races.
How did I learn about this organization? I just happened to notice a MM race singlet someone was wearing at a marathon, and I was curious. Honestly, I thought the logo and cartoon was a bit ugly, but that’s just the artist/designer in me. So then I looked them up online and the rest was history. Why would I want to join it in the first place? It’s not a training group or anything like that. I guess it was just to join a community of crazy runners. Here’s an excerpt from their website, and I said yes to all of these:
Do your thoughts switch to the next scheduled race immediately after finishing a marathon?
Are you signed up for more than one race right now?
Do you know specifics about many of the marathons? Dates, courses, years run, etc.?
Do you know the story of how the marathon got started? Also why the course is 26.2 miles?
Do you read books on marathons like Marathon and Beyond?
Do you start to feel down when you haven’t run a marathon in a while?
Do you have so many marathon medals that you’ve run out of room on the hook they hang from?
When asked by loved ones what your plans are for the weekend, you feel guilty telling them your running another marathon so you tell them “it’s only a half this weekend”?
Do you plan all your vacations around a marathon race?
I tried to qualify a few years ago, but scheduling prevented me from doing so. I was also planning to later this year with RNR Denver Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, and a third event too, then I noticed something as I was updating this blog. I had already unknowingly qualified this year!
- Ray Miller 50k – February
- RNR New Orleans Marathon – February
- Leona Divide 50M – April
Yup, 2 ultras and a marathon. I barely got that third event in there at the tail end of the 90 days! So what next? I had to email the Marathon Maniac Board of Directors to see if I qualify by sending this information:
- Your Best Hard Core Marathon Streak
- Ultra’s And Marathons Run This Year
- Lifetime Ultra’s And Marathons Run To Date
- Which States You Have Run A Marathon In
Within 24 hours I received a response that I was a Marathon Maniac (#7151)! What do I get by being in it? I’m invited to their private online forum and Facebook group, I’m allowed to buy their member apparel, I get their monthly newsletter, and I also receive discounts to certain races. It also cost $35 to join, with a $10 annual fee, not bad. I can see this as also an ice breaker to meeting other Maniacs whenever I travel for other races, because you know me, I love to meet new people! I look forward to this new side adventure of being a Marathon Maniac!
