Maniac questionnaire

Name: Seng-Lai “Thomas” Tan

Maniac # 335

State you live in: Washington

How many marathons / ultra marathons have you run? 16 marathons so far.

What was the first race you ever ran? (Any distance): 2005 Indy 500 Half Marathon

What was the first marathon you ever ran? Chicago Marathon

What year did you run it? 2005

Did you have fun that day? No, I felt a lot of pain which was exactly what I needed.

How long have you been a runner and why did you start running? I never really liked running, I always seemed to run out of breath doing so. I started running 2 years ago out of guilt and remorse and I ran my first marathon because I needed to experience some pain. But now I have become addicted to running and I would like to improve my running, in terms of both distance and speed.

Why did you decide to become a Maniac? I guess initially I needed some kind of support system. Each and every MM member has inspired me with their amazing feats and various exploits. When I struggled at times in a marathon, the sight of a MM member would give me a boost that usually last for 5-6 miles.

Of all the races out there in this world, which one would you most like to run? The Comrades Marathon seems like a really insane one to do!

If you could run a marathon / ultra accompanied by anyone either living or deceased, who would you choose and why? I would choose to run with my alter ego.

What was you most memorable marathon and why? 2005 Chicago Marathon, where my journey began.

If someone asked you to pick a race for him or her that they could run a PR at, which race would you suggest? I wouldn’t know from experience but I was told that the Columbus Marathon is one of the best kept secrets for PR.

What was the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a race? It was an uneventful flight from Seattle to NYC for the Marathon.

Do any of your non-running friends or family members think that you’re crazy for running as much as you do? Yes, even my running friends and family members think so.

What are some of their comments to you? Just the usual comments—“You’re crazy!”, “Is this healthy for your body?”, “What’s with the limping?”, “Are you having an early mid-life crisis?” etc.

If personal obligations or finances were not an issue, how many marathons would you run in one year? I think 2 marathons a month should suffice for me. I dare not go beyond that as I know what my body can or cannot tolerate.

From what race did you receive your favorite finisher’s medal? I would have to say the 2006 US Air Force Marathon. It is the heaviest, biggest and coolest medal I have received thus far.

Where do you keep your finisher medals? I think my kids have them somewhere in the house.

Do you wear your race t-shirts? I wear them to the gym and sometimes to bed.

What do you do with the ones you don’t wear? I’ve used them as cleaning cloth or given them away.

If you could put on a marathon anywhere in the world, where would you have it? I wouldn’t know. It seems to me that we already have way too many marathons, with one in every corner of the world. Certainly way more than enough for me to pick and choose from!

Maniac Yellow, or Maniac Black? Huh?

What is your favorite pre race meal? Freshly baked and toasted whole wheat bagel with peanut butter cream, lightly sprinkled with raw brown sugar.

Post race meal? After the Chicago Marathon, my friends and I went to the Billy Goat Tavern and had their famous double-cheese and super-lean burgers. I have yet to find a more satisfying post race meal since.

What is your energy gel of choice? Accelerade.

Sport drink of choice? Accelerade.

Which race would you never run again and why? To me, all the races I have run are unique and educational in their own special way. So, I would like to do a different race each time so I can continue to build on each experience, good or bad.

What was the most challenging race or combination of races you’ve ever done and why? I completed 6 marathons in a span of 2 months without proper base training and I ended up with multiple injuries, including knee pains, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and IB Syndrome. I’ve learned my lesson.

What is a typical training week like for you? 5-8 miles run on Tues, Weds and Fri, and a 10-18 miles run on Sunday.

How many miles do you run? It ranges from 30-36 miles per week.

Any cross training? I do 1 hr of spin class 2 times per week (Mon and Thurs) plus 1hr of strength training 3 times per week.

Do you have a training partner? No, but I actually enjoy the solitude.

What kind of shoes do you train in? Do you race in a different shoe? I’ve been training and racing in Mizuno and Asics shoes, rotating between Wave Inspire 3 and GT-2120, respectively.

What are your short-term running goals? I would like to run at least one marathon in each State as a way to visit all 50 States. I would also like to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and attempt at least one 50-mile ultra-marathon. I doubt I will ever attempt a 100-mile race. Endurance issue aside, I know sleep deprivation will pose a huge problem for me. I can’t function at all if I don’t get my minimum of 6h of sleep.

What are your long-term running goals? I would like to be able to run for a very long time and still have enough left in my body to attempt the Deadly Seven—running seven marathons in seven continents in seven weeks—when I retire someday.

Assuming you have time, what do you do for fun other than run marathons? For the record, running marathons is not fun for me. They can be challenging, yes. Spending quality time with my family is fun to me. Working is fun for me too (I love my job).

Who is your favorite Super Hero? I don’t have a favorite. In my book, firemen, policemen, doctors, nurses, soldiers, and anyone who saves lives for unselfish reasons are my super heroes.