Tony at the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games. (Photo from Judi McManus)

By his own admission, Tony McManus hasn’t traveled to many meets. No wonder. Air fares from New Zealand can bite. But after setting an M60 world record in the mile this year and nearly taking down the 1500 record as well, Tony is pondering a little trip in July 2011 — to the exotic locale of Sacramento for the 19th World Masters Athletics Championships. He doesn’t say it, but his biggest challenges (in his age group) are now overseas. “I run and race for enjoyment,” Tony wrote in reply to some questions I sent him. “My true love is cycling and I try to cycle once a week although it is seldom over 40k. Christchurch is a city made for outdoor sport such as running and cycling -– we are extremely fortunate.” But he also loves matching up with younger runners. I asked him what motivates him now that he’s at the top of the age-group heap. Tony wrote: ‘”One of my main reasons for running is comradeship. I run mostly in groups consisting of mainly 35- to 45-year-olds and they keep me honest. Our workouts are competitive and no quarter is given.”

Here’s my quickie Q&A with Tony the Mile Tiger:

Masterstrack.com: Tell me about your current life — are you retired? What was your career? Live in Christchurch? What’s your date of birth?

Tony McManus: I work for Tranz Scenic a part of KiwiRail. I am employed as Passenger Services Manager in Christchurch. We run the grand total of TWO trains each day. The Tranz Alpine from Christchurch to Greymouth return and the Tranz Coastal from Christchurch to Picton return. We carry approximately 300,000 passengers each year. I live in Christchurch with wife Judi and daughter Hayley (29 years). Son Kurt lives in Sydney. My date of birth is 2 October 1949.

What were your PBs as a younger athlete? What schools or clubs did you compete for?

I started running as a 32-year-old and joined my first of two clubs Leith in Dunedin. I started running like many to run a marathon. I was a competitive cyclist at national level. My most notable success was two wins in the ‘Round the Mountain’ cycle race in New Plymouth. This is a race that cycles round Mt. Egmont. My first marathon at age 32 was completed in 3 hours and 2 minutes after ‘hitting the wall’ at 20 miles. I was not a particularly good marathon runner and my PB is 2:32 when I won the Buller Marathon about 1987. I was quite successful on the running track at 1500 and ran 4 minutes dead in my second or third season of track running at about 35 years old.

I have not traveled much for competition. However, I did three road races in the States (Falmouth, Maggie Valley, South Carolina, and Park Forest, Illinois) in 1988. I also won a trip to run in a half-marathon in Sanda City near Osaka in Japan. My only other trip was to the World Masters Games in Sydney in 2009, which were most enjoyable. However, I was not fully fit as a result of an injury.

Will you travel to Sacramento in 2011 for WMA worlds?

I may consider traveling to Sacramento depending on my fitness at the time. This would be my first worlds!

Give me a sample workout from recent weeks.

I did not have an ideal summer due mostly to injury. Last year, I had a calve injury in April, knee issue in June and calve again in December. We went to Europe for four weeks in July and followed the Tour de France for six days. During January and February this year, my programme has been as follows:

Sun – long run – usually hills – 15 miles, about 1 hour 40 minutes

Mon – 60 minutes

Tues – 4 X 800

Wed – 50 minutes

Thur – 50 minutes

Fri – 30 minutes

Sat – Race 800 or 1500. Jan 23 – 800, Feb 6 – 1500, Feb 13 – 1500, Feb 20 – 1 mile (record)

What are your training or diet secrets?

No secrets. No diets. Try not to eat too many sweet things –- I love cakes, etc. I eat whatever is served. Try to eat sufficient potatoes and red meat, that’s about all.

When will you try for the 1500 track record again? When will you run 3K or 5K?

Don’t plan too far ahead -– never have, never will. My next aim is our National Cross Country on August 7. These are very competitive and my most enjoyable races. Will certainly attempt 1500 next season if all goes well.

Why do you run and race?

I run and race for enjoyment. My true love is cycling and I try to cycle once a week although it is seldom over 40k. Christchurch is a city made for outdoor sport such as running and cycling – we are extremely fortunate. I have an exceptional coach Neville Reid who has coached me for 20 years. His son Mark runs in our training group.