Outdoor Central Oregon Issue 5 | June/July 2018 | Page 16

high school soccer injury fixed by running In high school did you run all three seasons (XC, winter track, spring track)? What was your main concen- tration? We only had XC in high school and even that I didn’t really get into it until my ju- nior year. But soccer I loved and played all year long. My best memories with my dad are when he took me to soccer tournaments to play all weekend long. At what age did you realize running could take you places? It wasn’t really until about age 25 that I realized it was turning into more than just a passion for me. Where did you go to college? Did you excel as a collegiate runner? I started school at UC Davis and then transferred to St. Mary’s College of CA. I ran for both XC teams there and got experience competing Division I. My junior year is when things really started to click. At St. Mary’s I broke the school record in the 8k and went on to place 4th in the Division I West Coast Confer- ence. AGE: 32 Hometown: cambria, CAlifornia lives in: Bend, oregon sponsors: Skechers Performance, Recharge Sport, Backporch Coffee Roasters, Drymax, Territory Run Co., and Sporthill. Who are some of your coaches or people who inspired you over the years? Who are some of the people in Bend who inspire you now? I’ve actually coached myself since fin- ishing college. I’ve enjoyed the process and the journey this way but I have a lot of mentors in my life who I really look up to. Both Chris Miller and Tony Diaz are examples of men who inspire me to be a better person. They make every deci- sion based on faith and nothing else. On the running side, I draw a lot of i nspira- tion from runners like Max King who have been consistently competing at the highest level for many years. A strong work ethic learned Where were you born and where did you spend your childhood? I was born in San Clemente, CA. After living a few years in Orange County my family moved to an avocado ranch in Cambria, CA. I spent my childhood and teenage years on this ranch. What kind of sports or athletics did you do as a child? Did you excel or dream about someday using sports as an avenue to succeed in life? Living in a small town gives you a chance to try many sports. I had the chance to play baseball, basketball, and even football. But really my love was always soccer. I played soccer as much as I could and dreamed about becoming pro. At what age did you discover run- ning? I would randomly go for a run some- times on the ranch just to get in shape for soccer. When I really started seeing running as a sport was my junior year of high school. I was having issues with a knee injury (torn ligaments) and was looking at options to rehab my knee until my body was ready to go back to soccer. Are there any runners or athletes in your family or extended family? Or was this something you took on as your own? It’s been mostly my own. My dad picked up endurance sports after I did, which was really fun. He doesn’t run as much anymore because of his back but he still likes to do a lot of road cycling. What was your family life like as a child? Life on the ranch was both difficult and beautiful. The ranch sits in the pristine Central Coast California hills, not far from the Hearst Castle. I got to run around in the forest and hills, learn manual labor, and pick avocados with my family. I believe this ranch is one of the most beautiful places in the world. What was your neighborhood like? Was there any mentors or athletes to look up to? On the ranch there were only two families. My family and my dad’s sister’s running fever: pro career takes off family. We basically just had each other and were mentored by nature. I think a person can learn so much from simply understanding how life works and how to farm. All about the soccer dream At what age did you move to Bend and why? I moved to Bend at age 21 after finish- ing college. Mainly because my friend wanted me to check it out for him to see if he should move his family. I loved it so much I ended up staying and have now been here for eight years. Were you a pretty good kid, did you do well in school? Did you have a rebellious side? I was a really good kid actually. I think my parents would honestly agree. Scholar athlete of the year in middle school, high school, and college. Not rebellious at all but definitely a little too into myself in my teenage years. You have a strong personal faith. Did this come early in your childhood or later in life? How does this relation- ship help you in your daily life? Do you go to that higher place to endure the punishing pain you put your mind and body through during a race? I remember as kid seeing God in the creation and all around me. Maybe I was lucky growing up on the ranch and being able to see so much life, beauty, and peace. I’ve always felt my best be- ing connected to what is around me and as I learned and explored more about what this was the answers came. This relationship helps me because I don’t go into a day, nor into a race, trying to find any answers or happiness from it. I already have everything I’ve ever wanted within me and through that joy and peace I believe I’m able to focus more on helping others find it. In an ultra race, it really helps me because there is a point where you’re stripped down to the raw and are tested as to whether you will give up or keep digging. When I’m able to stay focused on faith the answer is easy because I turn to a place where I know I’m doing something that God created me to do, so I keep push- ing. Suffering, perseverance, and grit, are also part of faith and I’ve felt the closest to God on a mountain than I do anywhere else. You have a strong work ethic, where did that come from? How has that helped you in your athletics? I have my parents to thank for that. My dad grew up on a ranch outside of the town and they were dirt poor. I mean really poor to the point where he didn’t even know cars existed until he was 8 years old. When he came to the USA he took the opportunity to work hard and provide for his family. My mom grew up in the Bracero Program where her entire family would work 6 months in the USA and then they would go back to Mexico for 6 months. They would work in the fields picking cherry, tomatoes, squash, apples, you name it. Drawing inspiration from them has helped me tremendously because when I had the chance to do something well I took advantage of the opportunity and gave it my all. If I knew getting up at 6am before school to put in an extra morning run was going to help then it was a no brainer. I remem-