Name
Rajan Christian

Maniac #
820
 
State you live in
California

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run?
8 marathons / 0 Ultras (I’m a wimp)

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance)
Inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon (2006)

What was the first marathon you ever ran? What year did you run it? Did you have fun that day?  Los Angeles, 2007; no fun, it was hot, I hurt my knee & thought I would never finish.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running?
One and a half years; my dad started running about 10 years ago and he kept bugging me to run with him, so it started that way.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? Or what inspired you?
After I met Little Leslie (in Orange County in January) I realized it was possible to do things that you didn’t think you could do.  I was scheduled to run a bunch of half marathons in January 2008, and instead did a bunch of marathons.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run?
Probably the Great Wall of China would be cool.

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?  My dad, because he is a cancer survivor and has run over 100 marathons with cancer.  He completed the most recent streak of 5 marathons in 5 weeks with me at the age of 75. He won’t always be around and I appreciate how much more significant all of our runs together will be once he’s gone. Oh by the way, he still works full time 50-60 hours a week, so I think that he’s pretty inspirational and crazy.  I think that, to me, is the spirit of Marathon Maniacs.

What was you most memorable marathon and why?
I think Long Beach, because it was my second marathon and I didn’t think that I could run that far without being hurt (especially after my first marathon was so awful).

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest?
It seemed like the course in Arizona was pretty easy.  I haven’t run much, so it’s hard for me to say.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race?
Traveled from California to Miami

Do any of your non-running friends or family members thing that you’re crazy for running as much as you do? What are some of their comments to you?  
Most of them think I’m nuts, but not as crazy as my dad.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year?
Probably 12-15.

From what race did you receive your favorite finishers medal?
Miami’s is pretty nice, the Rock N’ Roll Medal for AZ was nice & heavy

Where do you keep your finisher medals?
I hang them on the wall.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? What do you do with the ones you don’t wear?
Sometimes.  They’re good backyard shirts.  I keep them all.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it?
How about an underwater marathon?

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black?
Yellow

What is your favorite pre race meal? Post race meal?
A few energy bars, water; whatever I feel like eating.

What is your energy gel of choice? Sport drink of choice?
Whichever ones don’t taste nasty.  Whatever they give out seems to work.

Which race would you never run again and why?
I really didn’t appreciate Surf City in the rain and the support sucked. I’d probably run it again, though, because I never say never.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why?
Running 5 marathons in 5 weeks to start 2008, because I don’t run much and I’d only run 3 marathons to that point.  If I hadn’t talked to Little Leslie the first week of January 2008 in Orange County, I don’t think that it would have believed that it could be done.

What is a typical training week like for you? How many miles do you run? Any cross training?
I usually only run once a week, so anywhere from 10-26 miles a week depending on if I’m running a marathon or half a marathon or running with someone else.  I participate in a martial art once a week, but I’m supposed to go 3-4 times a week if I want to get good.

Do you have a training partner? If so, who is it?
Sometimes my dad, sometimes I run on Sundays with the Loma Linda Lopers (local So-Cal running group).

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe?
Asics GT 2110 for training & racing; they’re no longer made, but I bought a bunch of them, so I should be ok for awhile.

What are your short-term running goals?
Keep running. Don’t worry about the time.

What are your long-term running goals?
Always finish a race that I start.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons?
Watch TV???

Who is your favorite Super Hero? Superman, Wonder Woman, Main Maniac (with cat on head)
According to the website www.thesuperheroquiz.com I’m closest to the Green Lantern, so I guess he’s my favorite…