Mile 20 Mindset Episode 35 - Featuring Maria Correa

Title: From Doubt to Triumph: Marianna Correa's Inspiring Journey to Marathon Running

Introduction:  
In this episode of Mile 20 Mindset, host Allen Maldonado interviews the inspiring Marianna Correa, who shares her unique journey into the world of marathon running. From a childhood marked by her mother’s marathon achievements to overcoming personal obstacles, Marianna’s story is a testament to resilience and determination.

The Origin of the Passion for Running  
Marianna’s journey into running began not with her own ambitions but as a support system for her mother's marathon endeavors. Growing up, she was the enthusiastic cheerleader for her mom during races. Her exposure to the marathon culture sparked a desire within her to take on the challenge herself. "I want to do a marathon. It's going to be on my bucket list," she recalls. However, life had other plans, and her early attempts at training were thwarted by circumstances beyond her control.

The Setbacks and Challenges  
Despite her enthusiasm, Marianna faced several hurdles that kept her from her marathon ambitions. During middle school, a schedule change for the LA Marathon meant she could not participate. As a teenager, personal challenges and a lack of dedication led her to abandon her running goals. It wasn't until she was 28 that she felt ready to tackle the marathon dream seriously, prompted by a hiking trip with her active parents. "I decided to learn how to get in shape for this mountain," she explains, ultimately training for an ultra marathon but only completing a portion of it.

Determination in the Face of Adversity  
After her mountain training, Marianna joined a running group associated with the LA Lakers. However, just two weeks into her training, disaster struck—a knee injury from a fall while running. "This is the third time I've tried to train for this marathon. This is a joke," she lamented. Despite this setback, Marianna’s determination remained unbroken. She sought physical therapy, learning she could still participate in the marathon by walking.

Finding Her Path  
Instead of giving up, Marianna adapted her approach. She discovered a walking team within her running group and decided to join them, embracing a new strategy toward her goal. "I was always last, and I was like, you know what? I don't care. I am going," she affirmed. This mindset shift allowed her to continue her journey, proving that success is not solely defined by speed or competition.

Lessons Learned  
Through her marathon training, Marianna learned valuable life lessons about accountability and perseverance. No one else could do the work for her; it was up to her to show up and put in the effort. "No one's gonna wait for you or be there to push you but yourself, and you gotta show up if you're so determined to do something," she reflects. This realization empowered her to push through challenges and keep moving forward.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways  
Marianna Correa's journey is a powerful reminder that setbacks do not define us; rather, it is our response to these challenges that shapes our path. Her story illustrates the importance of resilience, the willingness to adapt, and the strength found in community support. Whether you’re a novice runner or someone who has faced obstacles in pursuing your dreams, Marianna’s experience inspires us all to keep striving for our goals, regardless of the pace at which we move.

Tags: marathon running, personal growth, resilience, fitness journey, overcoming obstacles, running community, determination, inspiration, Mile 20 Mindset

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:05

Hey, what's up, guys? It is your boy Alan Mal Donato, your host for Mal20. Mind said, this is a running podcast for elite runners, novice runners, and those that love supporting the runners in your lives. Um, I have an incredible guest. Her spirit, her energy, her story is so inspiring. Um, I'm excited to have her on the pod today. Um, Mariana Corrier. Right? Did I did I get close? Close. Y'all, I and the thing is, we're not even go, we're not even gonna do another take because everybody that knows me know I got the blackest Spanish in the world, so please forgive me. Uh welcome to the show. Welcome to the show. Um, how you doing today?

SPEAKER_00 0:56

I'm doing well, you know. Having a good morning, good almost, it's now barely afternoon.

SPEAKER_05 1:02

Okay, okay, okay, good, good, good. All right, but let's get right into it. Um, I would love to know the origin story of running for you. Uh uh was it uh for fitness? Was it for you know self-clarity? Please, please, please tell the people your story.

SPEAKER_00 1:21

Yeah, so I started running. Well, I didn't actually was the initiator of running. My mom was the one that started running marathons in her 40s.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

And so I grew up learning, like when I was 12, I was I was with the sign, you know, go mom.

SPEAKER_05 1:38

Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. So you was born into this.

SPEAKER_00 1:41

You was born into the So I think like since I remember in middle school they would do student run LA, and I was like, oh, I want to do a marathon, like it's gonna be on my bucket list. Didn't and so I had I had trained for a marathon twice before actually running for an actual marathon.

SPEAKER_05 2:03

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, okay. Um, so listen, I was you like threw me off for a second because my next question was when did you decide? But I'd rather ask at this particular moment, um, like what happened? Like you said you trained for two marathons in was it injury? So what happened?

SPEAKER_00 2:24

So it just was like life kept getting in the way. So first I trained in middle school. Okay. Specifically LA marathon, because that's where I'm based. Right. So they had changed it to May. And as a kid, my mom was like, I am not letting you run in that heat in May. And so what ended up happening was I ended up training up to like 16 miles, and then I was like, she she was like, no more, you're done.

SPEAKER_05 2:58

And this is middle school. This middle school. This is middle school. Like, like what Idd's, I wasn't worried about no marathon in middle school. It was ninja turtles. Like, I'm I'm worried about carts, middle school? Yeah. Man, I was a I was a I was a Hall of Fame, you know, basketball player for recess. Like, what do you mean recess no more? Like that was like, yeah, no, like at lunch. Yeah, but you were you were running, you had decided that you wanted to train for a marathon. Okay, so when was the next time? Like, when was the next time?

SPEAKER_00 3:33

So I the next time I decided to train for it was later in high school. Okay. I wanted to do it, but it just like didn't happen. I like kind of like gave up on the running. I was like a l a little on the heavier side and I wasn't as dedicated, so I was like, I'm giving up kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:53

Um yeah, and then I finally got to it at 28, which is over two years ago.

SPEAKER_05 4:00

Okay, so let's let's get let's all right, so let's let's go from there as far as you've um you've had these experiences where you attempted the thought and began some of the training and fell short of that. You get into your 20s and you're like, I'm I'm gonna run a marathon. What was that moment? Like, what was when was when did that epiphany happen?

SPEAKER_00 4:27

So I actually fell out of shape in my like mid-20s because I started a business, and I remember that my parents, very active as they are, were they told me, like, hey, we're gonna go hike this mountain. It's called like Mount Blanc. And I was like, oh, that sounds cool. And at the time, I don't know what it was, but something was calling me towards it. And so I decided to learn how to get in shape for this mountain. It's um Mount Blanc is known for the ultra marathon that is ran there for over 100 miles.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:07

Um, and so I trained for that and I I did not do it in the ultra, but I did about 75% of it. And so after that, the team that I actually was a part of is a bunch of retired people that are in their 60s, 70s, and they told me they were like, you are 28. Like I'm so much older than you. If I can do a marathon, you can do it, especially now that you're in shape after this mountain. Come on. And so I was like, you know what? You're right. You are right. But Alan, just you wait because the universe decided to throw another roadblock.

SPEAKER_05 5:49

Okay. Okay. Okay. It's like, listen. Um for an actor, it's always the rule plan a vacation and you'll book a job. Like it's so you is it's plan a plan plan a marathon, something's gonna, something wild's gonna happen. The obstacle's gonna occur. Well, so what was so what was it this time?

SPEAKER_00 6:08

So they are part of like the LA Um Leggers. Um, yeah, yeah. Shout out to the LA Leggers. They train every Saturday. Um, and so after week two, every the thing about LA Leggers is that they go one mile by mile, which is really nice for beginners because you're at this point, like, you don't even know if you could do a marathon. You're just like out here trying. Right. And so it's week two into this training. I'm feeling fit because I'm off this mountain. And I'm like, I just did an average of 10 miles a day for seven days. Like, what can get worse? Right. And so I as I'm starting mile two, I face plant and hit the cement, resulting in a knee injury.

SPEAKER_03 6:56

Oh, okay, okay, okay. So you blew the blew the knee. You blew the blue the knee.

SPEAKER_00 7:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:05

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:07

So, but I was so determined. I was like, you've got to be kidding me. I was like, this is the third time I've tried to train for this marathon.

SPEAKER_05 7:18

This is a joke. Yeah, your knee was like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, let's talk about this first. Let's let's let's discuss this. Let's let's do some healing first and then we get back to it. Okay, so the knee injury happens. What how do you respond to that?

SPEAKER_00 7:35

So I run to a PT and I'm like, I need to get this healed. I don't know what you do here because it's the first time in PT, and I was like, but fix it. Because I've heard that you can fix this.

SPEAKER_05 7:49

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 7:50

And so they were like, you know what? I don't think you can run this. And I was like, this is a joke. I was like, you you have to fix this.

SPEAKER_05 7:59

Right, right. Like this is I'm not asking you. This is like this is not a request.

SPEAKER_00 8:05

Exactly. And they were like, you know what though, you can walk. And I was like, okay. Say less. So as it's I remember it was like three, four weeks into PT. And I was like, you know what? I've done six, seven miles, like I can go walk. I found out as I'm like limping my way through six, seven miles, that the leggers have a like a speed walking like sector of their team.

SPEAKER_01 8:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:40

They have anywhere from 10-minute walkers up to 20-minute walkers. Okay, okay. And so it's like, I'm gonna do things differently, and I'm walking this marathon.

SPEAKER_05 8:55

Come on, talk to come on, all right. Listen, yes, yes, yes, yeah. Listen, I'm so excited that you're here to share your story just because it's uh I was um I was sharing earlier today. This my first guest on the pod was a friend of mine who who hates running. Like, like there's so many sides to this. I'm glad you're speaking to those that was like, you know what? I don't care if I have to walk this thing, I'm gonna do it. Okay, so you you you you you battling this injury. What did what did training teach you about yourself? Now that you found your tribe and you're you're beginning this this journey, how did it change you?

SPEAKER_00 9:42

I think that like for the first marathon, that no one's gonna come and rescue me. It's up to me. Even though I have this tribe, no one is there to like make you go do these things. So because of the injury, I started off with like the slowest group, only finding out that no one was trading for the marathon but me. So the next group was 16-minute walkers, and I said, I need to join them. So I started joining them, and I was always last. I was always last, and I was like, you know what? I don't care.

SPEAKER_04 10:21

I was like, I I know that's right. I know that's right.

SPEAKER_00 10:25

I was like, I don't care. Like the great thing about the Lakers is that they wait for the most part for the very end. For the most part, whenever they for the most part, you were like, oh, wrap it up, she's here.

SPEAKER_06 10:38

Right, right, right, right, right.

SPEAKER_00 10:41

And so it was just like at the end of the day, like, no one's gonna wait for you, or no one's gonna like be there to like push you but yourself. And you gotta show up if you're so determined to do something, it doesn't matter how long it takes, like you just have to do it. Um yeah, I think that's like the biggest thing that I learned in the first marathon for sure.

SPEAKER_05 11:02

Okay. Uh oh. Uh one second. I think the battery died on this camera. Let me change the battery and we will hop right back into it.

SPEAKER_09 11:09

We still record. We still record. There we go.

SPEAKER_05 11:48

Sorry about that. I've been weird. I've been recording since nine AM today. It's been good. No, listen, it's it's been such a joy doing this and hearing everyone's just journey, man. Journey to finding themselves and finding a different part of confidence. A different part of their confidence that they may have not have had before, knowing that they just accomplished this huge feat that most people deem impossible. And at one point you thought it was impossible. So this is, yeah, no, this is a joy having these conversations. So um my next question is you you don't care if you last. You've been you training, you know, it ain't some because it sounds like some days they they didn't wait till you they didn't wait till you were like, hey, hey, I'm out, man.

SPEAKER_06 12:48

I know she go, I know she go get here.

SPEAKER_00 12:50

Like, I thought they was like I remember a clear moment. There was like a guy that would say hi to everyone on their way back, and he was super fast, like ridiculous. And it was one of those days when we were doing 18, 20 miles. And so I remember clearly, like, I was coming back. He had showered, had lunch, and he was like, You're still out here, and I was like, Yes. He was like, You keep going, like, oh my, he couldn't believe you.

SPEAKER_05 13:24

So he left and accidentally came back.

SPEAKER_00 13:28

This would it sound like I don't know if he lived in the area or what he was doing, but literally, I was like, he was showered, lunched, bed, like and I'm here with my little water vest, like and you it's but you got it done, but you got it done.

SPEAKER_05 13:46

So, all right. My next my next question is take us, take us to race day. You didn't you didn't did the training, you didn't showed up, even when they left, you still showed up for yourself. It's race day. Take us, take me to the the feelings, feel the the things that you were feeling as you were navigating through this first day on your first marathon that you were on.

SPEAKER_00 14:12

So my first marathon, I was very excited about it. I was like, this moment I've worked for this and I don't care how different I look. Um the benefit of being part of the Leggers that you get to be in Corral E, um, which is a lot um ahead than like the general, which was nice. And I was the only um walker because everyone else is a runner trying to because of their speed time.

SPEAKER_05 14:43

Right.

SPEAKER_00 14:44

And I remember my friend had was watching the the news and she just sees like me on the news like in front of a ton of walk like runners.

SPEAKER_09 15:00

She's walking and they just fly. You you get into it. But I'm like, no. I love this.

SPEAKER_00 15:13

I love this so I was very happy about like the whole thing. I had somebody that was pacing me, luckily at the time, because she was aiming for seven hours, which was my goal.

SPEAKER_08 15:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

Um, and so we were going and I was doing really great. I think what ended up happening was that I I I think number one mistake in the first marathon is like you go too fast.

SPEAKER_03 15:40

Ah yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:41

Okay, okay, so that I was averaging like a 14-15 mile walking. Okay. So it was just way too fast to what I was aiming for. So by the end, I was like, I remember hitting mile 16, seeing my family, and I was like, don't talk to me. Like I'm done.

SPEAKER_05 16:01

So so that's so that's the question I'm gonna ask now as far as let's get to the to the root of this podcast, which is the Mal20 mindset, that that moment where you begin to negotiate with yourself and you begin to lose. Like, wait a minute, why did I sign up for this? I paid for this. Like, no. So, what mal was that and what were the things that were going through your head?

SPEAKER_00 16:29

You know what? I don't think I ever did regret signing up.

SPEAKER_05 16:32

Okay, okay. You didn't hit that level.

SPEAKER_00 16:34

That never crossed my mind.

SPEAKER_05 16:36

You didn't hit that level, okay.

SPEAKER_00 16:37

No, but I did feel like I was at the time, I think two years ago, like I'm a like my second marathon was completely different. But two years ago, I was just trying to be the best and like the best I can be. And a lot of like internal battle of like self-inflicted pressure started getting to me around mile like 18 to 20.

SPEAKER_01 17:05

Okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:06

Where it was like, you're not fast enough, like you're slowing down, like it is all your fault. Like you should have trained more, you should have done this, and you should have done that. So it wasn't like regret, it was just like self-inflicted pressure of like, why aren't you going faster? Wow. I remember that during my training, like I would recognize this voice that was just so mean and like, do better. I remember I called her Linda.

SPEAKER_05 17:34

Linda. No, listen, I I'd say I say all the time, I've said it over and over in this podcast. It's that moment where like that bully from the fifth grade comes in your face and is now you have to deal with this person. Like, I thought I got over you. Like, yeah, no, no, no, no. That's exactly. I'm glad you described it that way. Like, and you gave and you gave yours a name, which is great.

SPEAKER_06 17:58

Here go, here come Linda.

SPEAKER_00 17:59

Here comes and I the only way that I could shut up Linda was by listening to music and singing out loud. I was at mile 20 singing like, I'm a survivor. Like, I did not care. I was like, I'm never gonna see these people ever again. I am singing my heart out. According to like, so the the part about LA Marathon is there's a U-turn the last like eight months.

SPEAKER_05 18:33

No, I know I've re I've ran LA three times. I remember when we went to Santa Monica. I loved it going to Santa Monica, by the way. The the the U-turn through Brentwood, oh, it's disgusting. It's it plays with your mind, man.

SPEAKER_02 18:46

It play it plays with your mind. You just see all the people finishing and you're like, yeah, oh, this coming right around the corner and the corner don't come around.

SPEAKER_05 18:57

Like, that's what it feels like.

SPEAKER_00 18:59

Really doesn't.

SPEAKER_05 19:01

Okay, so you get there and and your mind starts playing tricks on you. What what what was going through? Did you finally shut Linda up or did she come back?

SPEAKER_00 19:10

I mean, I'm telling you, that was the only way I could shut up Linda was singing. And I remember at mile 22, I under the bridge, um, I saw my parents, and I I just had to let it out. And I was like, I was like, fuck this shit. I'm so fucking done.

SPEAKER_09 19:35

And this it whipped me out, is this? 22.

SPEAKER_06 19:38

22. The family's there, you just cursed them out. They they there to support you.

SPEAKER_00 19:43

They did luckily my parents knew because they sent away all my friends that were supporting me. They were like, go ahead, like, just go ahead. They knew that I when I saw them, I was gonna release it. I was nuts.

SPEAKER_05 20:02

So did they say anything back? They just like, okay, she she let her and Linda go finish this marathon together. We we out. We out. What what did they say?

SPEAKER_00 20:12

It helps that they know. Both my parents have ran marathons and they're like, we get it.

SPEAKER_08 20:19

They know what's going on. I know.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

But it felt like such a release, you know, like even just saying it. Like I remember saying it, and then two seconds later, I was like, but that's not really how I feel. I need to finish this. But like I'm so angry.

SPEAKER_05 20:41

Oh, okay. So so you you you you uh you finish your debate with Linda, you get back on the you get back to it. Like, how did it feel when you finally crossed the finish line?

SPEAKER_00 20:55

So here's the thing, Alan, that is I hate about LA, but it's okay. They did not let me fin cross the official finish line. They curve you to the side and they say, This is your fake finish line. Wait, what?

SPEAKER_05 21:21

Wait, okay, no, tell me so. What? Nah, I need to so you get to Mal26.2, and what happens? Like, they like nah.

SPEAKER_00 21:33

We see it. You see the finish line and it's right there, but there's a gate. And they're like, no, you can't cross the official finish line, you have to curve. So you curve into the mall.

SPEAKER_05 21:46

They banish you to the mall.

SPEAKER_00 21:49

Yeah. And it's like a little like alley, and then they're they give you the medal, and it's great, but it's just not the same.

SPEAKER_04 22:00

You and your obstacles, I swear. You and your obstacles is insane.

SPEAKER_05 22:06

Like, like, yo, do you understand how many people I would have cursed out? It was been it would have been no way. It would have, I don't, I don't, I don't, how big was this gate? Because I promise you it wouldn't have been big enough. I would have, I was, I would have, what? Oh, I did not know that.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

It will send you a clip of me being seeing it. And then I was like, bye.

SPEAKER_06 22:32

Like, oh, that's crazy.

unknown 22:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 22:37

So how did you feel? So how did you feel?

SPEAKER_06 22:43

Like, how did you feel? Being in the back alley receiving your medal. Like, how did you how did it feel?

SPEAKER_00 22:50

You know, I was glad to be done, to be honest. I was like, it's done. I'm proud. I finished. It's all good. But yeah. Welcome to the life of a slow person, slow runner, slow rock walker.

SPEAKER_05 23:06

I am crying. That is, I didn't know they did. That's okay.

SPEAKER_06 23:13

All right. So you're hilarious. You're hilarious.

SPEAKER_05 23:21

Okay, you got your medal, man. How did how did finishing finally how did it change you afterwards? Like, uh, although it just it in the in the in the pursuit of any marathon with you seems like obstacles occur. So after that wore off, how did how did you completing this marathon change you?

SPEAKER_00 23:48

Well, I wanted to cross the finish line.

SPEAKER_05 23:51

Come on, come on.

SPEAKER_00 23:52

So I signed up for another one.

SPEAKER_05 23:58

So, okay, my next, so did you, when did you did you like sign up that night? Like I've I've heard people say it was four o'clock in the morning, they woke up, it signed that for another. When when did you sign up for your second one?

SPEAKER_00 24:10

Well, it did take me a while, but after I crossed, I remember I have a video of me saying I'm going to run the Tokyo Marathon because I had just found out, I just found out that you could get the seven world majors. And I was like, Oh, like that's cool. Like, yeah. And I had a friend from that hiking group that I had mentioned who's like in her mid to late 70s. This woman just got this the the seven.

SPEAKER_05 24:36

Come on, let's go. I'm in pursuit of mine right now. Like, I'm I want it. I'm gonna get it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:42

I was like, if she could do it, I can do it. And that's when I was like, I'm gonna sign up. I'm just gonna sign up for anything. I signed up for Berlin and then I signed up for Sydney and I got into Sydney.

SPEAKER_05 24:53

Come on, I got I got into Sydney as well. You you uh you're going in uh was August, right?

SPEAKER_00 24:58

I went for the first year. No, so you already went.

SPEAKER_05 25:00

Oh yeah, oh you went for the first one? Oh, that's dope. Yeah, I'm I'm running it this year.

SPEAKER_00 25:06

Nice.

SPEAKER_05 25:06

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, so so you so what was your what was your second marathon? Was it Sydney?

SPEAKER_00 25:12

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 25:13

How was how was how was it? Like I'm this is I'm really asking you this course of that because I'm so how was it?

SPEAKER_00 25:19

So remember how I told you that I was chased from a pair from paramedics from mile 18 to 26? That was Sydney.

SPEAKER_04 25:31

This is gonna have to be a double episode. Like, we're gonna have to split this. This is gonna be a part two to this. Okay, let's let's we're going to Sydney now.

SPEAKER_05 25:40

Take take me to Sydney. All right. So was you were you dealing with any injuries this time around?

SPEAKER_00 25:47

So, Sydney, I trained well. I trained very well. Yeah. I was like, this is I'm going to see that finish line.

SPEAKER_08 25:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:58

So the thing about Sydney is their cutoff time is seven hours. Okay. And I was like, my first one was eight hours and four minutes. And I was like, okay, I have a good chunk to cut off. So I decide that I'm going to run it. And so I was like, you know what? I'm just going to run. I'm going to figure it out.

SPEAKER_08 26:15

Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 26:16

So from LA on, I started training. Um, I didn't actually start like the long mileage until January of 2025. Because I train long because I know that it's going to take me a really long time. Like I'm not, like, I'm a plus size girl that's like trying to run really fast. Yeah. And so I'm it takes me longer than 12 weeks than like a normal athlete.

SPEAKER_01 26:40

Right, right, right, right.

SPEAKER_00 26:42

And so I was like, I'm training really well, did ri all the things, and I was I was set to run around a 645 marathon. I was like, I'm gonna barely make it. Okay, okay, okay. And I'm excited.

SPEAKER_05 26:58

So I'm pumped, ready to go at the start line, and they tell me you're not So was no there was no calamity on the way there. There was no obstacle.

SPEAKER_00 27:07

I'm good.

SPEAKER_05 27:07

Okay, you what no quick crazy? I'm I'm just waiting, I'm just waiting for some something at an airport or something. They got you didn't your shoes didn't make it. Okay, so everything is green.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

Everything is great. I card load, I drink all the electrolytes. I'm feeling solid.

SPEAKER_05 27:24

Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. Like, like I'm I'm in it. I'm I'm in the story with you now.

SPEAKER_04 27:30

I'm in there. Let's go. I'm there. I'm in Sydney. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 27:33

So I'm like the la because of my speed, I'm in the last like round to start. They tell me you're starting at 7, 7.15, 7.20. I don't remember anymore.

SPEAKER_05 27:46

AM?

SPEAKER_00 27:48

AM. Okay, okay, okay. And so I'm like, okay, great. I had talked to like the sweepers because I knew I was gonna find them because I'm like towards the end. And I was like, what time are you guys starting so that I know when I can like how much leeway do I have?

SPEAKER_04 28:08

You wouldn't talk to the drivers of the sweep. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:13

No, they have actual sweepers, like humans.

SPEAKER_04 28:17

I know, but you was like, hey, I gotta go have a conversation with hey, can you can you step out real quick? I just want to say a few questions.

unknown 28:26

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_06 28:27

You are out of there. Okay, so what did they say? What did they say?

SPEAKER_00 28:30

So they had told me they're starting at 8 15.

SPEAKER_06 28:33

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 28:34

And I was like, oh my God, I have 45 minutes. There's no way. Like, there's no way I'm going to like fail.

SPEAKER_05 28:42

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 28:43

And then I start at 805.

SPEAKER_05 28:48

I'm you pacing at 8.05?

SPEAKER_00 28:51

They start me to go at 8.04. 805.

SPEAKER_05 28:54

Okay, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 28:55

When I'm supposed to start at 725.

SPEAKER_05 28:58

Yeah. So they already cut the tie. That's 30 minutes.

SPEAKER_00 29:01

I was so livid. I was like stressed. Anxiety to the max.

SPEAKER_03 29:08

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 29:09

But I was like, you know what? Screw it. I don't care. I'm just gonna enjoy. Like, that was my the difference between LA and this one was that my focus was like, I'm gonna focus on having fun.

SPEAKER_08 29:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

I was like, I'm never looking at my watch. Don't ask me what time it is. I don't care. I was like, I'm gonna have fun and that's it.

SPEAKER_01 29:25

That's it.

SPEAKER_00 29:26

I have a great time.

SPEAKER_01 29:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:28

Everyone leaves. Like mild. So the thing about Sydney is What do you mean everyone leaves?

SPEAKER_05 29:35

What do you mean?

SPEAKER_00 29:38

But what do you mean?

SPEAKER_04 29:39

Like like like like are you just seeing a deserted like race at this? Yes. Alan, I'm serious.

SPEAKER_02 29:48

You just see the empty cups, just the empty cups, the I am legend style marathon is happening, is what you're saying.

SPEAKER_00 29:56

I have a video of me at mile eight being like, welcome to my life. I'm not even halfway and everyone's gone. There's four people around me, and I'm like on time.

SPEAKER_04 30:08

So and this is what Mal, what? Eight?

SPEAKER_00 30:12

You said Mal Eight, and everyone's gone. Welcome to the world majors as a slow runner.

SPEAKER_04 30:22

Okay, I'm in. I'm wishing this. Hey, this is how fun to be. Okay, so everybody go. Everybody go about eight. So so so what happens?

SPEAKER_00 30:30

So all the hills come at the beginning, which is crazy. And so by half marathon, people like it meets the the people returning. So I get hype because I'm like, I see people, people are there. I'm starting to hype them.

SPEAKER_04 30:46

I see people like yo, you sound young deserted island.

SPEAKER_00 30:51

It's so sad when the slow runner runs a marathon. Like I'm waving down people like yo. Island that is literally my life. Like, I don't think I'm dead serious.

SPEAKER_02 31:09

I'm like uh okay, so you start see you start seeing people. You start seeing people with the half marathon up with the mark.

SPEAKER_00 31:17

People coming back.

SPEAKER_02 31:18

Okay, they're coming back. All right.

SPEAKER_00 31:23

At around half marathon, I see somebody a bike following me. And then the bike is like, I'm like, what is this bike doing? Like, I'm I'm a little freaked out.

SPEAKER_06 31:35

It's like a vulture. This is like the bike. Honestly, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:41

It was a bike vulture. Oh, yo, this is crazy. And he comes up to me and he's like, hey, like, how are you doing? And I'm like, I'm perfectly fine. I'm like, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_09 32:07

He's like, are you sure?

SPEAKER_00 32:09

And I'm like, yes. He's like, because you need to like pick it up a little bit. And I'm like, what do you mean?

SPEAKER_03 32:16

Oh no.

SPEAKER_00 32:17

I'm like, I just hit like my fastest half marathon ever.

SPEAKER_04 32:22

PR? What are you talking about? PR like what are you talking about? What are you talking about, son? Not just PR. I don't blasphemy. Like, what are you talking about?

SPEAKER_00 32:33

And he's like, oh really? He's like, how many have you done before? And I'm like, bro, is this a test? And I was like, I've done a marathon and a half. Like, what I'm gonna finish this. Like, get out of my way. And so I start getting warnings from half marathon going. They start warning me, they're like, hey, like, you need to move faster.

SPEAKER_05 32:59

You're getting threats at this point.

SPEAKER_00 33:01

I'm getting threats. And I was like, you know what? Fuck it. Like, I'm eventually at a like mile 18, I'm like speed walking slash running because my legs are like tired from the hills.

SPEAKER_08 33:18

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:19

So they cut, they like luckily what ended up happening is that at there's like a park centennial park, I think is what it's called. Okay. Um like the last 10, last nine miles. And um no, I think it's like 18 and up because I remember running it. Anyways, um they had cut off the sweepers, and the sweepers are like, we have to keep going. Like, we're part of this like organization. Like, are you guys crazy? And the person cutting them off is like, no, but nobody else can go through. And they made themselves through, and so I squeezed right behind them. I was like, I don't care. I am finishing this.

SPEAKER_05 34:02

So did you so you telling me that you drafted off the sweepers? What do you mean? But you followed behind the sweepers?

SPEAKER_00 34:11

Are they where they uh they I followed behind them?

SPEAKER_04 34:16

Yeah, you so you drafted behind the sweepers to get me. Yeah, because they wanted to cut me off, Alan.

SPEAKER_00 34:22

I was like, no.

SPEAKER_04 34:27

So you maneuver through the sweepers.

SPEAKER_05 34:29

You maneuver.

SPEAKER_00 34:30

Oh I maneuvered through this whole course, Alan.

SPEAKER_05 34:34

Okay, so so the sweepers get ahead of you, all right? The sweepers are there ahead of you. They get ahead of me. How does this how does this did you I I mean, I don't even know where to ask where the wall happens because there's so many obstacles you get with a with a with a with a bike vulture.

SPEAKER_09 34:52

That's when the paramedic showed up. Alan.

SPEAKER_00 34:59

What are you talking about? So you so after after the sweet sweeper street sweepers. After the sweepers pass me, there's a part where the runners are coming out of Centennial Park and I'm going in, right? There's a guy on the speakerphone, he goes, Oh my god, there's a runner still coming.

SPEAKER_09 35:23

The whole spot.

SPEAKER_00 35:26

He's like googling my number. He's like, Mariana, you can see this, girl. And I'm like, Yes, I fucking can.

SPEAKER_09 35:36

And so he's like, I'll see you when you come back.

SPEAKER_00 35:39

And I was like, Okay. I'm walking the park when I see an ambulance coming behind me. And I was like, you've gotta be fucking kidding me. And here's the thing, Alan, like that pissed me off. It's like I'm feeling fine. Like, I'm blamed for this, I'm feeling strong, and all these fucking people are telling me to fucking fail.

SPEAKER_04 36:07

The vulture telling you that you are failing. That's what like like you know, oh wait a minute. Are you not? Are you injured? Like, I'm PRing. What are you talking about? Like, this is this is insane. This is this is by far the funniest story I've ever heard. Oh my oh.

SPEAKER_00 36:25

So then I decide to ignore them and call my mother.

SPEAKER_05 36:29

No, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. What do you mean? So there's there's an ambulance behind you. Lights flaring, I'm presuming.

SPEAKER_00 36:36

Yeah, and the bike vulture is there.

SPEAKER_05 36:38

And you just ignore it. So the bike vulture is there as well? Yeah. This sounds like the Wizard of Oz. Like, what the fuck, what is called?

SPEAKER_00 36:46

If you look at my pictures from the marathon, there's a bike vulture in half of them.

SPEAKER_09 36:56

He's just in the back leaving. He's just chilling.

SPEAKER_05 37:01

Yo. Okay, so you got the now, you got the ambulance behind you. Like, it's looking like a rap video at this point. You on the phone with your mom. So, what did you call your mom? What did you what did you say to your mom at this point?

SPEAKER_00 37:15

Call her because I want to confirm what speed I'm doing. Because at this point, I'm like, are you kidding me? Like, I'm on time for seven hours. She answers, Alan. She's like, hell no. Pass them to me. She's like, put me on speakerphone. She's like, I'm gonna tell them you're on time. Like, what the fuck? Like, she's pissed.

SPEAKER_05 37:40

Mom's going in. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mom's going crazy.

SPEAKER_00 37:43

Take note it's like 10 p.m. in like LA.

SPEAKER_06 37:49

Days over.

SPEAKER_00 37:51

Days over.

SPEAKER_09 37:51

And she's like livid out of his nowhere.

SPEAKER_05 37:56

And you you have a bike voucher in the ambulance behind your mom is on speakerphone cussing people out. Oh, this is this is great. Okay. All right. All right. So, so so what did the mom say something? Did they finally well? So what happened after moms went off?

SPEAKER_00 38:12

So luckily they left me alone for a little bit. So when it ended up, wait, wait. So did they like drive like did they split off or did like No, they're still behind me, but what ended up happening is they're starting to pick up the people that are straggling. The people that are like, unfortunately, like either didn't have water or didn't have enough like electrolytes or assault or whatever, they are struggling. Here's the thing like I've So you said they picking up the dead bodies.

SPEAKER_05 38:39

They picking up the dead bodies, and you perfectly, you would, you would, you I'm killing you killing it. You're killing it, by the way.

SPEAKER_02 38:46

Okay, like you're killing it. Right. Yeah, they like they're not making it. Get pick up the dead bodies. As you step over the dead bodies, they look that's not me.

SPEAKER_05 38:59

Okay. All right. So they left you alone because they had to attend to the rest of the dead bodies.

SPEAKER_00 39:03

So what ended up happening was that I know this sounds terrible. Horrendous.

SPEAKER_05 39:10

Thank you for bracing me.

SPEAKER_00 39:12

There was like a woman who was fainting, but she refused to get in the van. But at one point, she actually faints. And I'm like, I can't stop because I have to keep going because I'm not quitting this fucking marathon for this lady who just fainted.

SPEAKER_05 39:29

So wait, so they was, she was, they were blocking your way or something?

SPEAKER_00 39:32

No, so they ended up helping her, which meant that I had time to get away.

SPEAKER_02 39:40

You had a wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You had a you had a decoy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 39:51

That gave you just enough time to get away. So because she was acting up so bad. That gave you a little leeway to get some. Okay. All right. So you make a you make a nifty escape. I do. Because one lady just refused to quit, but her body is thinking otherwise. Thinking otherwise. Correct. Right. So you this this man, this sounds like an epic, this is Lord of the Rings at this point. So I so you gotta wait.

SPEAKER_00 40:21

There's more. So I end up like going, and the bike vulture comes and speeds up and he's like warning, you have to get to the top of this hill in the next five minutes. Afterwards, we're cutting you off. And I'm like, not, there's no way I'm making it in five minutes. And I was like, I was like, bet. I literally said, bet. And so I end up getting there. The people are like nonchalantly like chilling around, like the staff, volunteers, whatever. And they see me, but they're like, who is that? Like random one person. And they started saying, hey, like, you can't go. And I was like, I can't hear you. I'm so sorry. I have to go around two gates, Alan. I'm going around gates at this point. You broke in. I broke into my own marathon.

SPEAKER_04 41:23

You said you going around gay. That's a nice way of saying you broke in.

SPEAKER_00 41:27

They broke out you broke in. I don't care. Nothing is getting my way.

SPEAKER_05 41:32

That's right. That's right. That's right. So you so you so you find your way through the security gates.

SPEAKER_00 41:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 41:39

And what happens then?

SPEAKER_00 41:41

Come on. Like, at the end of the day, these gates were literally just like, like, it's like they get like put like something in the middle, and like they didn't even cover the ends.

SPEAKER_05 41:51

They could they couldn't keep a keep a good good woman down. I know that. That's right. You were getting through that. You were getting through that. Easy work.

SPEAKER_00 41:58

So at this point, like the guy that's screaming at me is like, they're gonna stop you. And I was like, then do it. And I just keep going.

SPEAKER_05 42:06

Yeah, yeah. It's all then. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's that's that's a tough stop. Somebody that just walked 26.2 miles. Yeah, yes, that's a tough stop. So, so okay, so what happens? What happens?

SPEAKER_00 42:18

So I keep going, and luckily, all of this is downhill. So I start jogging a little bit. I'm like, okay, like I'm I'm gaining momentum, and all these like volunteers are staring at me like I thought this ended. What is happening?

SPEAKER_04 42:35

Like, I'm off. Like someone like I'm already up. Like I'm walking to the car. Yeah. Okay, so they so the volunteers stand in.

SPEAKER_00 42:45

The thing about um the evil part of um Sydney Marathon is at the very end there's McQuery's chair, which is the you go downhill and then you go up a very sharp uphill.

SPEAKER_03 42:57

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 42:58

And at this point, the ambulance is back. And the ambulance died.

SPEAKER_05 43:03

So is the is the crazy lady in the back of the like how is so is he the ambulance is having her?

SPEAKER_09 43:12

She's one of the dead bodies that helped me out at the end of the day. Ghosts of Marathon Past. Okay, yeah, all right.

SPEAKER_05 43:23

Okay, so the ambulance is now back.

SPEAKER_00 43:27

And he's like, How far are you now?

SPEAKER_05 43:29

Like you, we are I thought you were like point two, and the ambulance is still on you. Yeah. Yo, come on.

SPEAKER_00 43:36

At this point, the ambulance is like they basically come up to me and it's so McQuery's chair goes down and back up. Yeah. And so he's like, Are you good? And I was like, dude, if I wasn't good, I would stop. I was like, I'm not crazy. I'm not stupid. Like, I'm gonna go. And he was like, All right, I'll be right behind you. And this random guy who I cannot remember the name of. Of right now, but he came up to me. He and I was fighting people at this point, Alan. I'm like, no one talks to me. I hate everyone. Get out of my way.

SPEAKER_06 44:11

There's an actual crowd if you fight through to get to this marathon. This is crazy.

SPEAKER_00 44:16

So this volunteer comes up to me. He's like, hey, like, you're still going? And I'm like, yes, get out of my way. And he's like, he's like, no, no, no. Like, I'm trying to help you. Like, let me help you out. And I was like, he was like, I'm gonna make sure they stay open. And I was like, okay. Okay, you're helping me. Cool.

SPEAKER_08 44:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 44:35

So he ends up helping me. He ends up giving me, like, getting me electrolytes, like getting me salt. Like, he's actually contributing to this.

SPEAKER_05 44:44

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 44:45

Only to find out bike vulture ends up being like my helpful deed.

SPEAKER_05 44:52

He ends up so the wait, wait, wait. So the plat thickens. Wait, wait, wait. So the bike vulture did what?

SPEAKER_00 44:59

The bike vulture. I end up hearing him on the walking. He's like, no, we have to stay open. There's one more person coming. Like, you gotta stay open. And I was like, bike vulture, I could hug you and love you, but also hate you right now.

SPEAKER_05 45:13

But I'm gonna ask for like the y'all was that was y'all had y'all had a love-hate relationship that turned back to love. Look at that. This is a love story. Ow. Look at look at look at humanity. The bike vulture all the time. He was the good guy. Ow. I'm telling you, this is Lord of the Rings type stuff. This is crazy.

SPEAKER_00 45:37

So I'm like finally making up the hill of McCleary's chair. And they like there's another guy who I'm at this point, Alan, I'm feeling good because I'm starting to pass more stragglers that are still in the go time. And I'm like, okay, like if I can pass you guys, like there's a there was a guy who was like, you're so inspirational. Like, how are you still going? Like, you look so strong. And I was like, because I planned for this.

SPEAKER_02 46:06

This is what we're doing, baby. I'm beating y'all. Oh.

SPEAKER_00 46:13

So at the very end, luckily, that like after I get out of that hill, I sprint. I run my little heart off, and I'm running. And all these marathoners that have just finished, they're heading their way out, and they're like, oh my god, one more final runner.

SPEAKER_09 46:29

And I was like, Yes, it's me. What happened to the guy you just passed?

SPEAKER_02 46:39

Like you just forgot about him.

SPEAKER_00 46:41

Like, I've been. So I ended up so the volunteer, he ended up helping someone else. Cause I was like, hey, like, thank you so much for all your help, but I need to go. I was like, because I was very close to the sweepers, because by this point, I see them. So I run and finish Sydney throughout all that shit. And it was um, it was a great finish because they like waited for the people that had just finished. I like sprinted my way. Remember somebody screaming, she was like, Oh shit, she's sprinting. And I was like, Yes, I am. Right. But yeah, it was a great finish. They like did like a human bridge for all of us because there was like max 10 people finishing at that time.

SPEAKER_05 47:33

Wow, that's beautiful. Okay, so so you got so you finally got your moment. How did it feel when they finally gave you that medal? And you got your proper finish.

SPEAKER_00 47:43

It was amazing. I finally, I was like, I almost cried just seeing the finish line because I was like, this is what I worked for.

SPEAKER_07 47:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 47:52

I was like, no matter how many people told me I couldn't do it, like throughout this entire race, like I'm here and I still did it.

SPEAKER_05 47:59

That's right, man. Listen, that for one, bravo. Bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo. That was an adventure, to say the least, as you describe your description was perfect. I could only imagine how it was on the actual day. Uh wow. Um, I'm proud of you. Uh I I you you made it so much fun. I was like, I want to walk one with you one time too. I want to, I just want to, I just want to see all of this.

SPEAKER_04 48:39

This is, I never saw this sign of the life like that.

SPEAKER_00 48:43

It's like very rare to see someone this like a slow runner, right? Like you you see people that are slow and they're finishing at five, six hours, and that's great.

SPEAKER_06 48:52

Like, congratulations, but like lower than you. You ain't really bound to it like you're not really bound to you. You you ain't you ain't from the culture.

SPEAKER_09 49:06

But I do have to finish this story with the sad news.

SPEAKER_00 49:11

What what what way yo, what obstacle happened now? So I did not get a world major star because I finished eight minutes too slow.

SPEAKER_03 49:22

Oh, that's nah, man.

SPEAKER_00 49:27

I've fought it. I've given them everything I could.

SPEAKER_05 49:32

Yeah. Wait. So when did they tell you this? Like, when did they like when did they tell you this? Like, did they tell you immediately after or like this was later?

SPEAKER_00 49:44

So ironically, so the volunteer was the one that was that helped me at the very end, was like, I need you to speed up because you need to get that star. And at the time, I was like, I don't give a fuck about no star. I'm tired, like I just want to finish this shit. He's like, You're gonna care afterwards. And I was like, okay, whatever, whatever you say at this point.

SPEAKER_05 50:06

Right, right, right, right, right. So he was actually trying to help you out. He was, he was. But you was you was but you was you was locked in. Nothing was gonna stop you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And and rightfully so, with all of the all of the calamity that happened prior to him coming up. He was he was in an untrustworthy space. So I get it. I get it, I get it.

SPEAKER_00 50:26

Yeah. I remember running alongside him, and I was like, I need you. I was he was like trying to talk to me, and I was like, I'm this is so rude. I was like, but I need to sing out loud right now, and you're not letting me.

SPEAKER_05 50:41

And I remember he's heading. So you got you got somebody helping you, but you got Linda in your head bugging out at the same time. So I forgot all about Linda. I forgot what I forgot what I feel like there's a whole nother perspective of this race that we did we miss because we didn't get Linda's side of the story of all these guys. Like, you know, so Linda showed up then?

SPEAKER_00 51:04

No, uh Linda did not show up at all because I'm having at the end of the day, I'm having a great time. I'm having a great time. Like, there's like, you know, throughout the entire time, like there's one or two like people cheering still, and they're like, you can go. Like, I'm dancing with them, I'm cheering with them, I'm keeping my spirits up because I know that if I don't, if I let other people control my emotions, then like it's not like based on the situation, then it's not going to result in a good thing at the end of the day. Like I'll end up feeling resentful.

SPEAKER_08 51:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 51:37

And I was like, I'm just, I'm just gonna, I'm here to have a good time. And so me and the volunteer are singing like waka waka out loud as I'm finishing this up. Yeah. But I didn't end up finding out about the world major thing until like a couple hours after because on the app it said I DNF'd.

SPEAKER_09 51:58

Yeah. I yo, I'm not I'm not laughing.

SPEAKER_02 52:04

I'm laughing about that. It's hilarious.

SPEAKER_04 52:06

I'm just like, yo, like every time you think you hit, you hit it, it's a corner. Like, oh, they put me in the corner.

SPEAKER_00 52:16

At least there was no corner in this time.

SPEAKER_05 52:21

You was like, yeah, and then they put yo, that that's funny. Okay. So thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing these incredible. Like I said, this might have, we might have to break this down into part two. Uh, this has been entertaining, uh, to say the least. What um what advice? And rather rather before we get there, like how do you think running has changed you as a person? Although you've had all of these obstacles in your way. You still have a smile, you still enjoy this thing called running.

SPEAKER_00 53:04

And and I'm ready for, I'm actually running Chicago, so I'm aiming for the six hours and actually getting my stars.

SPEAKER_05 53:13

I'm listening I'm rooting, I'm tuning in. I'm listening, I don't, I don't, we're gonna have to put a camera on you or something, because this is I I need to see this Chicago. You are in for a treat. You are in for a treat. Oh man, I gotta, I'm yeah, no. I gotta, I'm I I'm here to support.

SPEAKER_00 53:35

I think overall, like how this has shifted my perspective in general, is like it's really up to you to like embrace life as a whole. Like a mar life is marathon, in my opinion. I think that that's like the best way to like represent life because there's times where you feel really good and you're like, I've trained for this. And there's times where it's like really shitty, right? But it's like this last marathon, what it really taught me was like no matter what people are saying, what people are doing, what things that are out of your control can like affect you. Like at the end of the day, you're the one that's in charge of like you. You're in you're the one that's in charge of your emotions, however, you're feeling. You're the one that's in charge of showing up, and you're the one that's gonna be like the one that takes you out of whatever hole that you're in.

SPEAKER_05 54:27

Yeah, yeah, no, that's beautiful. That's beautiful. So, um, what would you say to someone that's listening right now that has been probably crying from laughter, um, but inspired to run their first marathon? What would be your biggest tip to them?

SPEAKER_00 54:48

I would say don't compare yourself to anyone because it's so easy to fall into like the comparison trap, especially now that like running is a trend. Um, and I also think that like it's really important to like listen to your body. Um like I personally like when I transitioned from like my first to my second training session, like I had PTSD because my body was like, I'm was like, no, like danger, like this was so hard, like we're not doing it again. And it took me a little while to like get into the flow again. And the same thing I know that it's gonna happen for Chicago. I think I start training next month. Um, but it's about like listening and to yourself and like realizing what you need. Because I feel like the trend right now is like to hop onto the next thing and do the next thing and do the next race. But it's like if your body can't handle it, like why are you going to go through that?

SPEAKER_07 55:48

Right.

SPEAKER_00 55:49

So I think it's about like really listening to your body and like don't be afraid to be different. Like your story doesn't have to be the same as everyone else's.

SPEAKER_05 55:57

Listen, in your your story is unique to say the least. Oh my god. Okay, now let's let's go to our last segment, which is um the knees out coalition um speed question. That's my that's my running crew, uh the knees out coalition. Um we gonna we're gonna have to send you some merch because we got to we I gotta have you representing out there for the for the for the for the bike vultures. But but you answer this segment with either knees out meaning yes, and knees in meaning no. So the first question is Did you ever during your training think of quitting, but you still showed up for yourself?

SPEAKER_00 56:44

Knees in? I don't think I ever thought about quitting, but I did think about not going.

SPEAKER_05 56:52

As we all, as we all. Do you think everyone has at least one marathon?

SPEAKER_00 56:58

Knees out, 100%. Everyone. I have seen people that are like super plus size to really tiny to like really elderly. Like I've seen them all, like even little kids. Like I told you, people from middle school like train, like anybody could do a marathon, as long as like you are ready to put in the work. Because I think that's the one thing that people don't realize. Like, I've seen so many people that sign up for a marathon, and the max like mileage they get is 10 miles. And I'm like, what are you doing?

SPEAKER_07 57:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 57:33

I'm like, that is not only not only is it going to like ruin your body, but it's also like gonna ruin your spirits because you're not gonna want to do it again.

SPEAKER_05 57:41

Correct. Correct.

SPEAKER_00 57:42

You're like so harshly of a difference.

SPEAKER_05 57:46

Yeah. No, it's my my I've helped 15 people run, and it's about them standing tall at the end of the at the end of the race, man. That's what means the most to me because you're gonna go through the mental battles. You're gonna go through all of that, but I want you standing tall and encouraged to do it again. So no, I you're you're completely completely correct. So my next question is do you think the marathon is more mental or physical?

SPEAKER_00 58:15

I think it's mental, for sure. I think it's mental because no matter what your body looks like, like you could still do it. Like you can be the fittest person ever, but like if your mind is like focused on weightlifting, you're like, I can't run a couple miles because you're too heavy, accordingly. Or like the opposite, it's like I ha I can't even walk like around the block. How am I supposed to do a marathon? And it's like one day at a time. I remember I was started off running with a guy and we got to six miles, and I was like, it doesn't matter. I was like, every day is a new day. And I was like, You've done five, you could do six.

SPEAKER_09 58:56

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 58:56

Unfortunately, he never showed up past like the seven, but it was like he did it at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_05 59:03

Yeah, it'd been that and that was mental. And that it was mental because you already proved it to himself. So I yeah, no, I agree. Um my next question is um would you run an ultra?

SPEAKER_09 59:21

I don't think so.

SPEAKER_00 59:25

You know, I don't think so.

SPEAKER_06 59:28

Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 59:32

Yeah, I think I'd rather like ultras for the most part, they're on like trail running, right? For the most part, I'd rather just stick to like hiking and then like running.

SPEAKER_05 59:44

Got you. Got you, got you, got you, understood. All right, last question is Do you think running can change a person beyond the mouths?

SPEAKER_00 59:53

Oh, a hundred percent. Like I said, like marathon is so much similar to life than anything else that I've ever experienced. Like, it shows you like the highs and lows of everything. Like, there's no other comparison. And if you can do a marathon, you can literally do anything. I mean, I'm literally uh who am I to be on this podcast? I just signed up randomly because my friend Julio posted it and was like You've been a marathoner from middle school.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:22

Don't you try to pretend, don't you dare pretend. You was born into this, you were born into this, and you are a marathoner.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:32

But I mean, like, I had the audacity, you know? So many people have like ran. I know that they say it's the 1%, but there's so many people with so many stories.

SPEAKER_08 1:00:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:42

But I had the audacity to share my my story here. And it's like, I that probably wouldn't be if I like didn't have the audacity to run a marathon and have and try.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:55

Listen, I I love your energy, I love your spirit. I know everybody that is listening and watching can can will say the same. Um I'm I promise you, I need to with this Chicago. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Because uh you coming to dominate. Um, listen, everybody, please follow and subscribe. This is another incredible episode of Mal20 Mindset. Peace.