Susan Maniscalchi has always been a goal-oriented person. Initially, her behavior got her running down a neighborhood street, later with a group of friends and most recently through the streets of the New England area’s most popular running event, the Boston Marathon April 16.
‘I loved it, it was incredible. The crowd support was phenomenal, even for the weather. They were calling for a nor’easter out there. There was still so much crowd support out there,? Maniscalchi said.
Maniscalchi changed her mind after the race, for which she tried to qualify for four years, about running again.
‘I thought one time would be all I needed until I did it,? she said.
While running the race, Sue ensured she was enjoying herself.
‘I slowed it down, I slapped all the kids? hands and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I took everything in because it was the one time I didn’t have to race,? she said.
Maniscalchi finished the Boston Marathon in four hours, 17 minutes.
The race’s reputation is what drew her to the event.
‘After I ran my first couple marathons, I heard other runners talking about it and how exciting it was,? she said.
‘It’s such an elite marathon. It’s one of the only ones you have to qualify for.?
Sue made the cut last May at Bayshore in Traverse City.
She began her running career 11 years ago after her daughter Corinn, the first of two kids with husband Phil, was born.
‘My daughter was 6 weeks old and I got the okay to go and I was gone. I had never run before and I started running a block at a time. I had never run three miles before,? Maniscalchi said.
She signed up to run her first marathon after two years of training at the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon in 1998.
‘I was hooked from that point on,? she said.
Sue trains with friends in Rochester Hills. The many hills in her subdivision come in handy for strength conditioning near home once or twice a week.
This summer, Sue is planning to run in the Dexter/Ann Arbor Run in June and The Crim Festival of Races in Flint in August. If that’s not enough competition, Sue wants to branch out into triathlons. The most logical for her would be the annual Craig Greenfield Memorial just minutes from her home.
‘I already know the running part, it’s just a matter of incorporating a couple more workouts,? she said.
The support of family and friends gets her through training each event, Maniscalchi said, whether it’s caring for her children while training or giving her a pep-talk.
While she’s on the course, she likes to keep a piece of advice from a friend in her head as she runs: Bury the competition.
‘That’s what helped me qualify. It’s definitely a mental thing because the first 20 miles are easy, but the last six are all mental,? Maniscalchi said.
Currently, Sue is looking for a new challenge after completing the ‘ultimate goal.?
‘I’m very goal-oriented. My mom says she has no idea where that came from,? Maniscalchi joked.
She is getting what she wished for after opening My Kindred Spirit, a wedding and event planning business, with her close friend Meshelle Szumanski in February. The group can organize many different celebration events such as first communions, graduations, and showers, in addition to charity events.
‘We’re both very creative. I enjoy the planning part of things because it’s like you’re always throwing a party,? Maniscalchi.
‘I love throwing parties and it’s nice to be able to do that on a full-time basis.?
‘We’re really busy and that doesn’t leave a lot of time to train, but I fit it in,? Maniscalchi said.
The business allows Sue to work from home to spend time with Corinn, 11, and her son Dominic, 6.
The Maniscalchis moved to Clarkston two years ago from Troy for the schools and property size available for them. The city won out over Rochester in the family’s decision.
‘In Rochester you have that feeling like you’re in a fishbowl, but here you have more room. The schools are great either way, we like it here,? Maniscalchi said.
She really enjoys the small-town feeling the city has and the family’s proximity to Deer Lake, so the family spends many hours each summer enjoying the beach.
Maniscalchi incorporated her running passion into school, receiving her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Oakland University. Sue is keeping the option of being a personal trainer when her children are older, but her dream job would be to work as a running coach.