About the author Michael Musca

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Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.


Born: October 2, 1957
College: SUNY at Buffalo
Club: Maine Track Club
Best Marks:
3:03 marathon
37:38 10K
18:03 5K
4:56 mile

Personal Statistics:
Born in Buffalo, NY
Married; three children
5ft 10 in, 152 lbs.
Started racing in high school, 1972

Pre-Training Warm-up:
Fleeting thoughts of returning to bed.

Stretching:
One, quick knee bend as I step into the shower.

Log Book:
Can you say "addictive personality"? Log mileage, time of day and quick summary of workout.

Daily workouts:
Average 45 miles per week. 60-70 miles weekly during marathon buildup and 30 miles weekly during summer racing season. Weekday workouts are run either at 5:00 AM with friends or alone at noontime from workplace. Weekday runs usually average 7 miles and weekend runs up to 21 miles are done with Maine Track Club's Rat Pack from Portland's Payson Park on Sunday mornings at 7:00 AM.
Come join us!

Favorite/best races:
Gotta be the three Bs (I stole this from Jim Toulouse). Boston Marathon, LL Bean 10K and Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K. Other favorites are the Midwinter Classic 10 mile, Tukey Trot 10K and Maine Marathon.

Favorite race course:
The Maine Marathon course has a uniquely schizophrenic personality that can only be appreciated by those who've toiled and tread upon its hills, gullies, tree-lined stretches and seemingly eternal final three mile stretch.

Favorite workout:
6 x 1 mile with 220 jog. I dubbed it the "I.R.S." workout ­ Interval Repeat Syndrome. Run each mile at your 5K PR. You'll want to quit after the third or fourth repetition. Don't! Push on through to the end of the workout. It's a bear but it'll make you strong. Plan on an easy day the next day.

Favorite running route: (Other than the Maine Marathon route)
The wooded trails within Twin Brook Park in Cumberland.

Running Heroes:
Joe Musca - my father. He took up marathoning at age 70 and is still going strong.
Emil Zatopek. Three gold medals (5,000m; 10,000m; marathon) at the same Olympics. Any more questions?
Joan Benoit Samuelson. She was told that a move to Los Angeles for the 1984 Olympic Games would acclimatize her for the race. Boy were they stupid.
Ingrid Kritiansen. Just like Joanie, she too learned that a well balanced likfestyle is the key to athletic success.

Who inspired you to run?
The kid who rung my bell in high school freshman football.

Why do I run?
I can't remember a time when I didn't run. It's a part of me.

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