By Kevin Grogan
A marathon is a 26.2-mile long-distance run. That is a long distance to run or even drive a car for that matter. Now imagine running a marathon over a hundred times, and in all 50 States!
Clermont resident Ed Ganley is in a class by himself in South Lake County, knocking out epic length runs, time and time again. And the humble Ganley makes it sound like it’s no big deal. Ganley recently completed his 100th marathon last month in Celebration, Florida. Before THE TABLET could get the interview, Ganley had already done another marathon; making it officially 101!
TABLET: A lot of Ultrarunners spend their whole life trying to finish 100 marathons. It seems like you knocked out these races quite quickly. How long have you been doing this?
Ganley: In 2003, my wife came home and said she signed us up for a 5k. The plan was to walk it with the kids. But I decided I wasn’t going to walk it; I was going to run it. She doubted I could run the whole 3.1 miles. That’s what started my predisposition to run; that and a lot of training, a lot of reading, and a lot of studying. Three months after running that 5k, I signed up for a half marathon. As it got closer, I decided I was going to run a full marathon and did so. Not soon after, I ran two more marathons; running my first three marathons in 18 weeks. It didn’t take long until I was 55 pounds lighter.
TABLET: Of those 101 marathons that you’ve done, what was your hardest effort?
Ganley: My hardest effort was the Chicago Marathon. After running my first three marathons, I hired coach Grace Wilson and worked very hard for nine months. She asked what my goal was and I told her I wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon by way of running Chicago. I had the motivation and the dedication, I just needed someone to show me the way. The Chicago Marathon was a challenging effort, but I am proud to say I qualified on my first attempt at qualifying for Boston.
The Grandfather Mountain Marathon in North Carolina was another very tough effort looking back. The elevation change makes it one of the toughest runs in the USA.
TABLET: You are a member of the Marathon Maniacs ( www.MarathonManiacs.com ) as well; running a marathon in all 50 States. Tell us about this club
Ganley: After eight years of running marathons, I joined the Maniacs club. I read what these guys were doing and was blown away by; I wanted to be part of the Maniacs. The club is based on rankings and by participating in many races a year; you work your way up. Eventually, I reached the highest level; running 30 different marathons in 30 different states in one year, making me a titanium member. In fact, this past June, I finished a marathon in Alaska, the final state, after having to return there on a technicality. The course was slightly short the first time I ran there years back.
TABLET: What keeps Ed Ganley going after knocking out 100+ marathons?
Ganley: Knocking out all seven continents! I have Iceland, Africa, & Sydney, Australia, all on the radar for this year.
TABLET: Celebration (Florida) Marathon was your 100th marathon. Was it important to reach your milestone locally?
Ganley: Of course, I was happy it worked out. About four months out, I realized it was going to play out like so. I did have to go up North to Ocala for back-to-back races (97 and 98), and then I sat tight at 99 marathons for about a month.
TABLET: What are some of the secrets that have gotten you to this point?
Ganley: It’s dedication. It’s finding good running partners. There is a lot of excitement in the travel: packing a bag, jumping on a plane, flying somewhere new, and, ultimately, running a race with friends in an entirely new place. That still is what excites me.
TABLET: What was your background growing up?
Ganley: I played baseball and hockey until high school. Through high school, I did a lot of snow skiing. As an adult, I got back into hockey and played in an adult league until the age of 30. I had thought as long as I could run a mile or two, I was in good shape. I had no idea people went out and ran 20+ miles for fun.
TABLET: Turning 50 years old can be life-changing. Tell me what turning 50 meant to you.
Ganley: I had been running for about ten years. Six months before my 50th birthday, I went on a 3-mile run and had to walk. I didn’t feel well. I had a physical exam and found out I had type 1 diabetes. It took me by surprise. I was in the best shape of my life, and it would have been hard to exercise more. The diagnosis brings a whole new meaning to hitting the wall.
TABLET: Evidently, you didn’t stop running but did you need to make any changes?
Ganley: Yes, I try to eat better, I take insulin with all my meals and, I make sure my glucose numbers are a little high when starting out on a run or marathon. On a run, I need to bring something with me to keep my numbers up, like a product called GU. I won’t let diabetes slow me down.
TABLET: Do you have any advice to those who run into health issues and other obstacles?
Ganley: My advice to others with diabetes or any handicap would be to find something you enjoy doing and do it. Don’t let anything stop you. It might be harder, but that will make the rewards more significant. No limits, no excuses.
TABLET: South Lake County is known for local running spots. Do you enjoy training and living here?
Ganley: You just can’t go wrong in South Lake County: The Clay Trail, The West Orange Trail, Lake Louisa, Clermont Waterfront Park. We have hills and excellent surfaces. I love training here.
Tablet: What would you tell a novice runner?
Ganley: Find a good running partner, someone with similar goals. Hold each other accountable. And finally, just enjoy it. It’s all about meeting new people, helping them with a push, and enjoying the journey.
Congratulations Ed. You are an inspiration to many of us.
