Peter Maksimow

1) Primary sport (s): My primary sport is mountain running, peppered with road running, snow shoeing, maybe some track running (maybe!), cross country and other uncategorized types of running that include running through streams and up roped slopes, but primarily, mountain running.

2) Team member since: A newbie, 2010.

3) City/state of residence: Currently, Manitou Springs, CO, right at the base of Pikes Peak.

4) Occupation: Forever changing. I am currently a valet at a really fancy-pants hotel which I cannot state the name of because of a contractual agreement, but the first part is the opposite of "narrow" and the last part is the opposite of "less". I also am a running coach, which is a great pleasure having people who really want to improve and advance themselves and work hard towards their goals. I am sure one day I will utilize my master's degree and get a "real job", but until then, bring on the luxurious cars!

5) Goals for 2010: My first one is to read 20 books this year, I have really been lagging in the reading area--maybe even a Russian novel! I mainly want to be healthy. It has been four long years that I have been dealing with a terrible and debilitating ailment called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and I truly believed that I would never get back to competitive running ever again. Being able to get up in the morning without a headache, run and train again has been a huge sigh of relief. I could state that I will be 1st in this race and top 5 in that race and make such and such team but the future is yet to come and I will let the results dictate the answer to this question. In the preview, I will train and race as hard as I am capable to achieve this and that result.

6) Notable achievements/memories/PR’s in your sport: I was a member of the 2005 record setting Central Mass Striders team that won the team race at Mt. Washington (record still stands, Inov-8 team members Paul Low and Kevin Tilton were a part of that team). I was also selected as the alternate for the 2005 US Mountain Running Team that traveled to New Zealand. I have a memory of peering out a hotel window at the World Mountain Running Trophy race in Bursa, Turkey and watching as Paul Low and Simon Gutierrez were out running and almost trampled by a wild stallion. It was funny at the time.

7) Favorite inov-8 gear: Not sure yet, I am waiting to test a few more out before answering that question.

8) List one thing others may not know about you: I am an award winning homebrewer and love beer: making it, tasting it, talking about it. Most people know this about me because I talk about it all the time, but for those of you who don't know me, now you know.

9) Favorite energy drink/food: Anything Nora makes me! If she is not available, then PowerBars do the trick, especially since they have done away with the High Fructose Corn Syrup in the Performance bars. Manitou spring water is my drink of choice, I get my supply of lithium from it!

10) Your favorite race and why? My favorite race would have to be the Mt. Baldy Run-to-the-Top in the San Bernadino Mountains in Southern California. It's 8 miles of uphill pain with a section dubbed "The Devil's Backbone", a narrow, single-track ridge with 1,000ft drop offs on either side. An interesting section when you are oxygen deprived and light headed. Making it memorable is that is where I first began my mountain running career when I was a junior in College and, after 4 years of trying, I finally took the win.

11) Advice to other athletes: My best advice would be to have fun, life is short. Enjoy the people and scenery around you. Don't let a bad day get you down, there is always the next race. Before you know it, you'll be reminiscing about the the good old days...enjoy them while they are here!