Profile: Meet CATS’ Marathon Runner
By Erick B.
“If I never got into running, I could definitely see my life being different than what it is now because a lot of the friends I’ve made, I wouldn’t know them.”
ALAN C., CATS JUNIOR
11th grader Alan C. completed the Los Angeles Marathon on March 20, finishing it in 6 hours and 16 minutes.
“It was exciting and definitely nerve racking,” Alan said. “I think the most challenging part would be the hills.”
He said the weather was nice and that lots of people were cheering, but he wishes he had performed better. “I did a lot worse than my previous season, which made me a bit sad, but finishing is all that matters and my family was near the finish line to support and cheer me on as I ran.”
Alan had to stick to a routine in order to be read to run the 26.2 miles.
“Me and my team would practice 3 days out of the week, sometimes during the weekend to prepare for an upcoming race,” he said. “We would do cross training as well to strengthen our core and implement ways to help prepare us for the hills.”
Alan is the real deal when it comes to running. Before this year’s marathon, he had already run 2 marathons, and he has thought of running quite a bit ever since he was young.
Ever since he was little, he always enjoyed racing other children. “Trying to be the fastest out of everyone just felt good,” Alan said, chuckling. “If I never got into running, I could definitely see my life being different than what it is now because a lot of the friends I’ve made, I wouldn’t know them. My life would be less active in physical activities.”
He is part of the program Students Run Los Angeles (SRLA) at Diego Rivera, a club that promotes running long distances. “Because of SRLA, the program that I am in, I was able to meet new people, stay fit, and have accomplishments to be proud of,” he said.
So will he continue doing this in the future? “I am still unsure whether or not I will continue to run marathons after high school, but I definitely know that running will continue to stay as a hobby for me.”
En español
Alan C., estudiante de 11.º grado, completó el maratón de Los Ángeles el 20 de marzo y lo terminó en 6 horas y 16 minutos.
“Fue emocionante y definitivamente estresante”, dijo Alan. “Creo que la parte más desafiante serían las colinas”.
Dijo que el clima era agradable y que mucha gente estaba vitoreando, pero desearía haberlo hecho mejor. “Lo hice mucho peor que en mi temporada anterior, lo que me entristeció un poco, pero terminar es lo único que importa y mi familia estaba cerca de la línea de meta para apoyarme y animarme mientras corría”.
Alan tuvo que seguir una rutina para poder correr las 26.2 millas.
“Mi equipo y yo practicábamos 3 días a la semana, a veces durante el fin de semana para prepararnos para una próxima carrera”, dijo. “También haríamos entrenamiento cruzado para fortalecer nuestro núcleo e implementar formas de ayudarnos a prepararnos para las colinas”.
Alan toma muy seriamente el tema de correr. Anteriormente completo 2 maratones y ha pensado en correr bastante desde que era un niño pequeño.
Desde que era joven, siempre disfrutó de las carreras con otros niños. “Tratar de ser el más rápido de todos se sintió bien”, dijo Alan, riéndose. “Si nunca me hubiera puesto a correr, definitivamente podría ver mi vida diferente de lo que es ahora porque muchos de los amigos que he hecho, no los conocería. Mi vida sería menos activa en actividades físicas”.
Forma parte del programa Students Run Los Angeles (SRLA) de Diego Rivera, club que promueve las carreras de larga distancia. “Gracias a SRLA, el programa en el que estoy, pude conocer gente nueva, mantenerme en forma y tener logros de los que estar orgulloso”, dijo.
Entonces, ¿seguirá haciendo esto en el futuro? “Todavía no estoy seguro de si continuaré o no corriendo maratones después de la escuela secundaria, pero definitivamente sé que correr seguirá siendo un pasatiempo para mí”.
