As a first LA Marathon runner it was exciting but also needing a strong mindset to be able to complete the course. I was running 26.2 miles that I had never accomplished before, but knowing if I finish this Marathon I could finally check this off my bucket list. I am willing to do the LA Marathon 2026 just for the experience, knowing I could hopefully accomplish another Marathon.
On Sunday morning March 15 I was dropped off at Animo Pat Brown waiting for the bus to arrive. As the bus arrived I got nervous because this is really the reality now I’m about to do the LA Marathon, the whole team entered the bus and we made our way to the Dodgers Stadium with no traffic but only buses and cars on their way to the Dodgers Stadium. We arrived at 4:23 A.M at the stadium waiting till the Marathon started but as we waited we got our bibs and as we got our bibs we had to leave the bus at 5AM. As we got out of the bus it was cold with fresh air blowing in my face. It was probably 45 degrees while we were waiting for the LA Marathon to start.
While I was waiting I tried to pep talk myself “ I can make it to the finish line”, “ no matter what’s my time, along as I finish” as I was pep talking myself this helped me be less nervous throughout the morning. When it was 6:45 I started warming up to prevent any injuries or any cramps thought of the course. When it was 6:55 I heard the elite runners starting, then 5 minutes after the SRLA started I got nervous but at the same time excited to run the LA Marathon for the first time.
As I started, on mile 3 I was running confidently and hadn’t stopped running for 30 minutes straight. I was running with the 11 minute pacer. Then on mile 6 I was still running with the 11 minute pacer and on mile 7 there were tons of people motivated, giving out water and beers but on mile 15.
As I was getting to mile 12 my bottom foot was getting tired but I kept on going because I did not want to fall behind. But I was on 12.5 I walked it to 2 miles straight because I had a cramp bottom of my foot. However on mile 14 I saw Hinojosa cheering for me then I started jogging again for 2 miles straight again.
On mile 18 I saw my friend on the other side almost finishing the Marathon. I was proud of them and I felt “ I got to 
keep on going”. I was a little behind but that was okay. I just thought to myself “ never quit, just finish.” I was 6 hours in, on mile 21 I had a pace of 15:00 I was getting tired because towards the end the sun was hitting pretty hard at the last miles.
But on mile 21 I got help by a SRLA volunteer. He helped me finish 3 miles because I was getting more behind throughout my running. I was about to hit a 16:00 pace but thankfully this SRLA volunteer helped me finish the 3 miles with me. As we were running 3 miles straight slowly he kept pushing and encouraging me to not stop. However he told me that this was his volunteer work in a Marathon. As we were almost approaching the finish line we and as we got to the finish line we both finished at the same time. I thanked him so much for the help throughout the run and giving hopes he could also one day he could do the LA Marathon.
