San Francisco FrontRunners

This week we have a great interview with a recently joined newcomer, Te Thamrongrattanarit!

Te Thamrongrattanarit, SF FrontRunners Member

How long have you been running with FrontRunners (SF and elsewhere) and what attracted you to the club?

Te: A month ago I got to SF by myself for my internship. I hung out with NY FrontRunners before, and the club seemed like a lot of fun.

My first weekend in SF, I decided to put on my running shoes and join the club, and it has been something I look forward to every weekend.

Where did you grow up and what brought you to the bay area?

Te: I grew up in Bangkok and moved here for high school. I moved around quite a bit for college and grad schools. And now I’m here in SF for a summer internship at yelp.

What do you do for work/during the day?

Te: I’m a software engineering intern at Yelp for the summer, but I’m working on my PhD in Computer Science at Brandeis.

What kind of stuff do you enjoy in your spare time?

Te: Isn’t running the required answer for this question?

Besides running, I love cooking and trying new restaurants.

Are you involved with any other clubs around the Bay Area or Elsewhere?

Te: I was involved in a Scrabble club back in MA. I used to play Scrabble competitively. *Cool fact: Thailand is home to a Scrabble world champion and many world-class Scrabble players.

You recently began work at Yelp! (congrats!). How did you get involved with the company and how has the experience been so far?

Te: I was looking to intern at a company where they have a rich text data that I can play and do cool stuff with, and Yelp is great for that. Things have been great. My co-workers are a cool, young, smart, friendly, and attractive bunch.

Since you are working with Yelp! I assume you do some reviews here and there. What are some good spots you have been to lately that you’d recommend to everyone?

Te: I’m still fairly new to the city. When I want something I look it up on yelp. :)

Before coming to FrontRunners, did you do much running or any other active activity on a regular routine?

Te: I started running only a few years ago and I’ve been running quite regularly since. 

I ran my first marathon last year and stopped running for a while to recover. It’s great to be running again. 

What is one of your fondest memories of FrontRunners so far?

Te: Catered brunch after Saturday run! Great food and great company after a fun run are hard to beat. 

Mike was even kind enough to give me a ride home after. That was a great morning. 

Any advice to newcomers to the club and running/fitness?

Te: I was a little intimidated before my first Saturday run. I thought I would be the slowest in the group, and nobody would run with me.

They really mean it when they say that there’s always someone running at your pace. You can even walk!

The club is really welcoming. Don’t hesitate to join us … well only if you’re a nice person. We only like nice people :)

Thanks, Te, for the great interview, and we hope the summer internship is amazing and wish you the best of luck as you pursue your PhD!