Ai Lyn Tan
Doctor in Leeds, United Kingdom
I got into rheumatology 'by accident'. Only reason I went to medical school was to become a psychiatrist. Not sure what happened there!
So I chose the next most difficult-to-spell medical specialty, Then I got into academic research 'by accident'.
I became obsessed with using high resolution imaging with MRI and ultrasound to study how arthritis occur. It's given me the opportunity to travel the world to talk about my research!
When I'm not looking for the answers in joints or muscles, I run. A lot. I have run 7 marathons (PB 3:28:51), 41 half marathons (PB 1:40:09), 51 10ks (PB 44:18), many more 5ks (PB 21:23). I have raised over £10,000 from running, mainly for parkrun, Alzheimer's Society, Arthritis Research UK and Jane Tomlinson Appeal for cancer and children's illnesses.
Cycle 500 miles in 6 days from Paris to Leeds? OK then!
I couldn't even cycle! Bought a bike, booked myself into cycling lessons. Six months later, I cycled 500 miles from Paris to Leeds! Only fell twice...
I was a Team Liaison Tour Maker with le Tour Yorkshire. The highlight was convincing the police from the moving Team bus to get a police escort all the way from Harrogate to Leeds!
I then got the volunteering bug, so I had since been busy as a TourMaker for Tour de Yorkshire, TriMaker for World Triathlon, Rugby World Cup, London 2017 Para Athletics Championship and the IAAF World Championships, Glasgow 2018 European Championships, anti-doping chaperone at the UCI Road World Championship 2019, first responder at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022, UCI Cycling World Championships 2023 in Glasgow!
My other celebrity claims to fame? Been on telly with Gordon Ramsay and Sir Paul Smith!
When I'm not doing all the above, I'm constantly on X! I have lectured on social media locally, nationally and internationally to major organisations, and manage multiple organisation accounts. I'm also social media volunteer for parkrun UK.
I believe exercise is the answer to most things. I strive to inspire others to get active: if I can run and cycle, so can you! I mean, I have even ran on a broken foot for 15km! I'm currently on >1,500 daily running streak.
Read my parkrun blogs https://blog.parkrun.com/uk/2018/12/17/rheumatologist-prescribing/
https://blog.parkrun.com/uk/2023/03/25/26-2-miles-for-smiles-ai-lyns-marathon-mission-for-parkrun/