When Goo Goo Dolls drummer Mike Malinin goes on tour, he sees the world through not just the eyes of a working musician but also an accomplished long-distance runner with a number of 100 mile ultra-marathon finishes to his credit. He has literally toured and run all over the world. [iX3]sports was fortunate to be able to connect with Mike and explore the connections between being a professional drummer and a passionate, devoted long-distance runner.

In an interview I read, you said that one of your challenges as a drummer supporting a rock song is "how hard you work to create the simplest things," and your "focus is more on the thinking side than the playing side." Running is similar in that it is a very simple act which offers many complex mental and physical challenges. Simplicity seems to yields complexity in both spaces. Would you agree with that?

I think there may be a parallel. Running is, at its base, a very simple act. Running well, however, is something entirely different. The talent involved constantly boggles my mind. I like to run endurance races, but for me it's all about finishing and running as well as I can. When I watch the guys who actually "race" in the marathon and beyond, it's an experience I can't quite say I understand. I have no idea what it feels like to be able to run that hard for that distance. But I digress.

Drummers often spend too much time trying to "fill up" all the spaces in a song. That's generally not the best way to approach a song. It is all about trying to be musical and understand the role you occupy. I guess elite runners have to do something similar when they are finding their pace. Nothing is easier than running too fast for the first few miles and wearing yourself out. Some runners call that "leaving your race on the course." There is a lot of mental discipline involved. But is there a parallel with drumming? I'm not sure. I guess they both require "discipline", but I can't think of a job done well that doesn't.

Drummers develop a feel of musical time. Runners develop a sense of pace. Both are concerned with being "in the pocket," locked in. Is that "feel" the same for you in both aspects of your life - the musician and the runner? If not, what are the differences?

It's funny. A running partner of mine told me once that I run like a drummer. I had never thought about it, but I think there is some mental aspect of a person that defines how they run. "Pace" for me probably has something to do with "tempo". So I guess maybe I run in time. Or at least maybe I try to be consistent, which is obviously a key element in drumming.

I don't really think of running and drumming as being very similar, at least for me. For one, I am a professional drummer. I am far, far from being good enough to be a professional runner. So maybe it's the difference between a hobby and a job.

You've embraced running as a means to take advantage of your career as a touring, professional musician. What are your favorite places to get a run in?

That's one of the best things about my running. I get to run in so many different places. It probably leads to less quality training, since I sometimes stop and become a tourist! But it's my way of seeing the world. A couple of my favorites:

1) Running in Sweden at 4 AM, with the sun already high in the sky.
2) Running the entire circumference of Manhattan. That was a long day.

I checked out some of the tracks from your side-project, Forty Marsha's, and loved them. Do you have big plans for Forty Marsha's?

We are actually doing a new record right now. It's almost done. We just need to lay some vocals down. This record will be more consistent than the last one, which was sort of all over the map. Less instrumentals, for one thing. Hopefully it'll be out by the end of the year, or early in January.

The Goo Goo Dolls have a few Fall dates set. When do you and the band go out on the road again?

Not sure. The record is supposed to come out in February, so we should be on the road by then.

Finally, you've run the Phoenix Rock-n-Roll Marathon and played with every band, all 26 of them, along the way. Have you planned your next running adventure?

Ha ha. That was a lot of fun. My next adventure? Just a few more ultras on the horizon. I'd like to get a few more 100 milers in before my body gives out.

Thanks Mike! Best of luck with the upcoming Goo Goo Dolls tour, Forty Marsha's, and your running adventures.

I encourage you to check out Mike's work. He is a fantastic drummer who plays the song, allowing it to breathe, valuing the open space. I believe that sensibility is influenced in part by his experience as a runner.

Understand your role. Find your pace. And Rock On!