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Today's Featured Biography

 
Michael Francis VIEYRA

9/7/2018

On Sunday, Mike Vieyra, 64, of Fairview, will run his 40th consecutive Erie Marathon! We caught up with Mike (which wasn’t easy, by the way) to ask him a few questions about his four DECADES of going racing the 26.2 around Erie.

Did you run all your marathons consecutively, or did you skip a year or two along the way?

There were a few years that I wondered if it was going to be consecutive, but, yes, all 39 have been consecutive. This Sunday will be number 40.

Do you remember the first one? What was it like?

Erie was my first marathon ever and it was a great adventure. I had been running for less than a year and didn’t know anyone else locally who ran nor were there GPS watches, electrolyte drink, internet, etc... to help you. I finished in 3:11 and from that point on, I was hooked.

What has been your most memorable one? (and why?)

My very first Erie Marathon because it was such an adventure and also because my two older brothers flew into town to support me. Once the race started, I never saw them again until after the finish line. They both had faster times than me that day but I considered myself the winner.

What’s your ideal marathon running weather?

Today, dry is the most important thing to me. But in the early days, I wanted temps in the 40′s and 50′s and would run in a cotton T-shirt (Tech material wasn’t invented yet.) Now, I hope for 50′s and 60′s and run in a long-sleeve tech shirt.

Worst marathon running weather?

I did a marathon in Knoxville, Tenn., where the temps never got out of the 40′s with wind and hard rain. That was the worst. I did still break 3 hours though!

Do you have any advice for persevering through any weather?

I just think of the weather as part of the race that all participants have to deal with on that particular day. When it comes to weather, everybody is treated equally in a race.

Do you still get nervous before a marathon?

Yes, nervous but not as excited. I know what is ahead of me and try to relax and enjoy the run. You never know how many more marathons you have ahead of you — so enjoy.

What do you do when the miles get tough...or you want to quit? Is there a mantra or mind game you play/do?


Quitting is a hard concept for me. So, yes mind games are my kind of thing. Sometimes I pretend it is a 50-mile race to get myself to slow down and relax. Other times, I might set smaller goals/rewards in the later miles like running to the next aid station before taking a walking break. There is always a way to keep moving forward, it just might not be as fast as I had planned.

My marathon mantra is: Relax, the race doesn’t start until 20 miles.

What has been your fastest Erie marathon? (Time/year or age)

2:54 in 1981 at age 27.

What do you like about marathons and/or the marathon distance?

Marathons are much easier than the shorter distances as you can run comfortably through three-quarters of the race before you have to get serious and work your way to the finish.

You did the marathon for years while also serving as the co-director of the race. How did you pull that off?


I have been on the marathon committee more years than not since I started running in Erie, but I have always been able to take assignments that end prior to the gun going off. However, the ten years as co-race director took a lot of understanding from the other co-race director, my wife, Jan. The truth is that Jan was the real race director and I was the assistant, especially on race day.

Are you going for 50? Or...are you stopping at 40?

No need to look that far ahead. I am planning to toe the line in 2019 and will continue to do so as long as it is “fun.”

What do you think is the secret to longevity in running – I mean, you’ve been doing it for 40 years!?

Train properly for the distance you are doing and how fast you want to run. Don’t gamble and go out too hard thinking “this might be my day.” Enjoy the marathon journey and don’t get caught up in making every race a race. I am running over an hour slower than my PR and am still enjoying my time on the roads/trails.

What’s your post-marathon treat/routine? Food/drink? A week off running? A night on the couch?

After a marathon I like to go out with friends and have a good meal and a few beers. I usually only run a few times the following week to give the body a good rest and I’m not in a hurry to get back to training until I feel recovered. Recovery is taking longer these days.

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