Running Changed the Direction of My Life
Where it Started
I lived in Venezuela in a very humble little house made of sheet metal—just my sister, my mom, and me.
A Friend's Invitation
One day, a friend convinced me to go run at an athletics stadium. He told me it could become an opportunity to achieve something more—to earn a scholarship that I desperately needed, to avoid the crime that surrounded where I lived, to meet people with a different mindset, and maybe even leave the neighborhood I grew up in.
Running for My Mom
But more than anything, I wanted to give my mom the joy of having a son who chose a different path.
"I wanted to give my mom the joy of having a son who chose a different path."
A Shift in Motivation
The amazing thing was that once I started running, my motivation changed. I wanted to travel. I wanted to earn a university scholarship. I wanted to represent my club, then my city, and eventually my country.
“I accomplished every one of those dreams.”
A New Kind of Challenge
"I've been—and still am—a 400m and 800m runner, but The Florida Run series presents a completely different kind of challenge for me."
Running to Inspire
"Today, my motivation is to inspire my two children and the young athletes I coach—not only to embrace athletic challenges, but to develop attitude, commitment, responsibility, and courage."
