Senior Stories: Mateo, empowerment through others
Mateo is a 3-year SRLA runner from Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies. Mateo was awarded an SRLA scholarship which will support his academic journey at University of California, Los Angeles as an History major.
Mateo celebrating himself finishing the 2023 LA Marathon.
“Without the support of the SRLA community, I would have never found the confidence to begin and stick with running.”
From panes con pavo and pupusas to Cheetos and cheeseburgers; food has always been a cornerstone of my family identity, a physical medium through which we express love. I often found love and comfort in food which eventually led me to being overweight. Although no one directly made fun of me, I internalized social messages about what an ideal desired body was and I struggled with my self-image. Fearful of judgment, I avoided new experiences and social situations, which hindered my personal development. I would love to tell freshmen me to enjoy every single moment and opportunity. I also found myself constantly thinking about past decisions and quickly became consumed by my past instead of living in the moment.
My form of thinking changed once I started running and later joined SRLA. I first started my running journey in August of 2020 at my local park. Even though I suffered through my first half-mile, I was completely unaware that I held the mental and physical capability within me to ultimately complete three marathons. Although the physical part of training aided in burning calories and directly losing weight, the confidence I began to have started from the community I found. Without the support of the SRLA community, I would have never found the confidence to begin and stick with running. As I began my weight loss journey, I began to be more self-confident - I finally found myself comfortable meeting new people and making new friends. Entering new social situations now brings me excitement - not anxiety.
Mateo (left) with his father, both becoming part of 0.5% of people who have finished a marathon.
Even with my new confidence, I found that one of my hardest challenges was running and completing my training virtually during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I wouldn’t have gotten through an isolating period without my running group and coaches. One of these people is my dad. I would not be here without him being one of my biggest supporters. With his help and care, I continued to pursue and accomplish my marathon goals. During my first season, he was at every single step of the way - by my side during the strenuous and lonely months of quarantine training, cheering me through our virtual races at Venice Beach, and eventually becoming my running partner for the hardest 26.2 miles of my life. Had it not been for his love, I’m unsure if I would’ve been stuck with the dreadful training schedules and mileage. Even when in-person races returned, he continued to support me in different forms.
He continued to show up and demonstrated love by waking up as early as 3 A.M. to drive me to races, cheering me on during races, and making sure I was following proper nutrition in order to continue to be healthy and nourished. Most recently, during the 2023 L.A. Marathon, my father ran the last 8 miles with me in jeans. As he ran alongside me with antifreeze and a massage gun in his hands, I noticed that he was not only there to support me but also anyone who needed help. Altogether, my dad’s actions and care during my SRLA seasons have taught me the importance of supporting not only your family, but to those who you are able to help.
“My father ran the last 8 miles with me in jeans, I noticed that he was not only there to support me but also anyone who needed help.”
This sentiment is backed up by being someone who was supported in a race by a complete stranger. During the 2022 L.A. Marathon, I had two huge barriers. During my training, I had a large blister and the doctor told me that it would be a few weeks of recovery which meant that I miss crucial training. Although I was not the fastest, I was still dedicated to train through the pain and finish the marathon. When I was stuck in the back, I ran into one of my teachers and I remember her asking me if I was ok. I began the race very confidently, making sure to keep a steady pace and making sure I was laser-focused. By mile 19, I was running at my fastest and felt on top of the world but quickly lost that spirit. By mile 22, I was lying on San Vicente Boulevard, convinced I could not keep going. My entire body had given up and I felt like I had failed to finish my first in person marathon. There are no words to describe the dread I carried.
That was until an SRLA leader found me. She stopped, picked me up, and began to walk with me. Throughout the next critical mile, she told me with conviction that I would finish soon. By mile 23, her reassuring words had revitalized me. As I took each painful step for the remaining 3 miles, the encouraging words helped me to overcome my physical reality and carried me through the finish line. Although I was in a lot of pain, I kept telling myself that I could do it and I ended up finishing the fastest that I had in a long time. Even faster than when I was training super consistently, this time I was just cruising through. It's the power of just bringing it into the universe, it helps to bring the energy you need to commit to your goals. Even just smiling while you're running makes it feel a little less painful. This experience transformed my life. I now understood the importance of community and community support. I am forever grateful for SRLA and the lessons it has taught me. I was carried through the care of others and I learned how important community building is in any aspect of life, especially in hardships.
I’d like to shoutout my dad, Coaches Ms. Adler, Ms. Portillo and my friends: Josh, Ruben, Nayeli. They were all crucial to empowering and supporting me through a lot of challenges
“It’s the power of just bringing it into the universe, it helps to bring the energy you need to commit to your goals. Even just smiling while you’re running makes it feel a little less painful. ”