Entry — 8

JOHNNY FLORES/ Coachella Uninc.

After weeks of training, I can finally say I did it. I finished the Dia De Los Muertos 5K run in just over 36 minutes, placing 232 out of 412 runners. And in the male age group of 19 and under, I was 26th.

After the first mile, I felt like giving up, even though there were still two miles left to run. However, I knew in my heart that I couldn’t give up. I did not train for several weeks for nothing. I was determined to finish the race. Backed by the entire city of Coachella, and my Uncle Genaro, I was able to finish the race with flying colors. I’d like to thank Raices for putting together the race. It was not an easy feat to organize a race for over 400 participants and the community. I’d also like to thank the entire community of Coachella. It’s amazing to see people you don’t even know sitting on their front porches as you race by cheering you on. That extra motivation allowed me to continue racing. Finally, thank you to all the volunteers for handing out water to us at the various stops. It’s certainly not easy to make sure that hundreds of competitors zooming by get the necessary hydration to continue on, so thank you.

I plan to continue my training. Being fit is fun, and seeing the fruits of your labor come to fruition is even better. Hopefully, in the near future, I’ll be able to run in another 5K run or an even larger race. Until then, I’m going to rest my aching muscles.

Thank you for counting on me through this journey.

Tonight is the Run with Los Muertos 5K in Coachella, Calif. Photo: Courtesy of Run With Los Muertos

Entry 7 – November 1, 2014

JOHNNY FLORES / Coachella Uninc.

Coachella — Tonight is the night. Tonight is the Dia de los Muertos 5K run.

I’ve been anxiously awaiting this day for several weeks. For the past several weeks, while I anticipated the run itself, I participated in a training program in order to be prepared.

I am prepared. I am ready to conquer this race.

As I sit here typing up one of my final blogs, I cannot help but think about the long journey. I wasn’t initially excited about the 5K. And even though I was a bit discouraged because my family and friends were making bets to see how long I would last, over time, my excitement has grown.

Yesterday, I received my pre-race packet. With my bib in tow, my parking pass handy and my amazing shirt designed by Herbert Siguenza, I am ready to run in honor of my Uncle Genaro.

Tonight is the night where I prove the naysayers wrong and prove that anything can be done with a little practice and a whole lot of heart.

Saturday, October 25 was the last Por Vida training session. Now Run with Los Muertos 5K participants are preparing for the race on Saturday, November 1, 2014 in Coachella, Calif. Photo: Courtesy of Run With Los Muertos

Entry 6 – October 29, 2014

JOHNNY FLORES / Coachella Uninc.

Saturday was the final Por Vida training session for the 2014 Dia de los Muertos 5K. Though I was unable to attend due to the ACT standardized test being held the same day, I did manage to get a final practice run in before this Saturday’s big race.

While participants in the Por Vida training program ran through the 5K course, I decided to take a run around my neighborhood and subsequent parks. While I was running, I was able to reflect on why I decided to run in the first place. What seemed like an easy and fun assignment has turned into something larger. It has become a better understanding and appreciation of my culture. It has allowed me to reflect on those who have impacted my life the most and those who are now resting in peace.

This assignment has also allowed me to make healthier choices and to be fit. After Saturday, my training does not end. I will still continue to make healthy choices and exercise often. I have learned that with a little bit of effort, and a lot of heart, anything can be possible. Never once have I imagined myself doing yoga or even running a 5K race. But now moving forward, I can see myself running another 5K race or signing up for a yoga session.

This Por Vida training program has had an immense impact on my physical fitness and health. I hope to continue running and exercising even after this Saturday.

Visit the Run With Los Muertos Facebook page for more information on pre-race registration.

The Por Vida training participants ran around the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, Calif. on Saturday, October 18, 2014. There is only one more training session before the Run With Los Muertos 5K on November 1, 2014. Photo: Courtesy of Run With Los Muertos

Entry 5 — October 22, 2014

JOHNNY FLORES / Coachella Uninc.

Saturday was the second to last session of the Por Vida 5K training program. The training was broken down into nine minute running intervals, with a minute in between the intervals to rest. The training was held at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, Calif.

Last week, I was unable to attend due to the SAT, and so I embarked on a reflective run around my neighborhood. But this week was my week back, and I was glad to see my fellow trainees.

This training session was unlike any other. For the first time in all of the Por Vida training sessions, I found myself stopping and out of breath.

The fatigue from being out late hanging with friends finally kicked in. Although, I did find myself stopping in between the intervals, short of breath, I did not give up. I haven’t given up the past few sessions, and I certainly wasn’t going to give up now.

Next week is the final session. It is going to be held at Veteran’s Park in Coachella, Calif. Trainees will run around the actual Dia de Los Muertos course.

While I will not be able to attend due to the ACT, I feel confident in my capabilities as a runner to be able to run the course. November 1 cannot come any faster. I am ready to take on this 5K.

For more information on the last training session, call Run with Los Muertos at 760-777-1622 or Live Well Clinic at 760-771-597

On Saturday, October 11, 2014 Por Vida training participates ran at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, Calif. Photo: Courtesy of Run With Los Muertos

Entry 4 – October 15, 2014

JOHNNY FLORES JR/Coachella Uninc

This week I was unable to attend the weekly Por Vida training session due to a school conflict, but I made sure to train on my own so I can be ready for the Second Annual Run With Los Muertos on November 1.

I went on a run with increments very similar to what my fellow trainees did earlier that morning. I used this time to think about what Dia de los Muertos means to my community and what it means to me. After all, the tagline for the race is, “Who Will You Run For?”

Dia de los Muertos is a celebration deeply rooted in our culture, which can be traced back 4,000 years, which honors and celebrates our loved ones who have passed away. Many times we feel sad and lonely without these special people in our lives, but Dia de los Muertos challenges us to be happy knowing that they are in a better place.

I will be running in memory of my recently deceased Uncle Genaro. Dia de los Muertos is an opportunity for me to remember him, and other family members, and not be sad. I plan to do things he liked, such as watching sporting events or novelas, drinking Coca-Cola (just this once) and listening to corridos. Dia de los Muertos is a way for me to remember my uncle and reflect on how much he meant to our family. It is traditions like this that make me proud of who I am and of my culture.

Dia de los Muertos is a celebration, and I will celebrate my uncle in this very unique way – running my first 5-kilometer race.

The fourth training session is this Saturday, October 18, at 7 a.m. We will meet at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, address. For more information, call Run with Los Muertos at 760-777-1622 or Live Well Clinic at 760-771-5970.

Last week, the Por Vida training participants practiced yoga at Evolve Yoga in La Quinta, Calif. to work on their flexibility and strength. Photo: Courtesy of Run with Los Muertos

Entry 3 – October 8, 2014

JOHNNY FLORES JR/Coachella Uninc

This week marks the third week of the Por Vida training sessions in preparation for the Second Annual Run With Los Muertos 5K on November 1. Naturally, the sessions are growing more intense.

This week, I found myself at Evolve Yoga in La Quinta doing yoga for the first, and perhaps last, time. I had never done yoga before; my only previous exposure comes from the often humorous parodies on television. But I learned that yoga is no joke, and it’s certainly not easy. About five minutes in, I found myself sweating profusely and out of breath. It was not all fun and games. However, at the end of the session, I was more relaxed and my body felt more flexible.

After yoga, we walked to the La Quinta Civic Center Park and ran for a total of 21 minutes. The running took place in seven-minute bursts with two minutes of walking in between. It was a lot of work, but I did not stop at any point. It was even more work navigating the countless newlyweds and quinceañeras taking pictures around the civic center!

I expect the training sessions to continue to get harder, but I think I can do it because of the skills I have acquired over the past two weeks. With each passing day, I grow more and more excited for November 1 – the day I will finally be able to say I ran a 5K.

It’s not too late to join Live Well Clinic’s intensive training program to prepare for Second Annual Run With Los Muertos. (The program is free with your $32 race fee.)

The fourth session is this Saturday, October 11, at 7 a.m. We will meet at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio. For more information, call Run with Los Muertos at 760-777-1622 or Live Well Clinic at 760-771-5970.

The second training session for Run with Los Muertos was held on undeveloped land near Shadow Hills. The third training session will be this Saturday, October 4 in La Quinta. Photo: Courtesy of Run with Los Muertos

Entry 2 – October 1, 2014

JOHNNY FLORES JR/Coachella Uninc

The second training session for Second Annual Run With Los Muertos was held Saturday, September 27. But since I was unable to go to the first session, this was the first day of training for me

Held on undeveloped land near Shadow Hills High School, the training session involved a lot of stretching and a ton of running. Dr. Brian Myers, of the Live Well Clinic, was leading the session and had us run in short bursts. Over and over, we would run for a good minute or two, then walk and then go back to running.

Heading into the training session I was not confident in my abilities. I did miss the first session, therefore I thought I’d be unconditioned and unable to complete the second session as they build on each other.

But fear not! I finished the second session with flying colors. Not once did I find myself stopping and gasping for air. I left the second session confident I run a 5k and with a new urge to get a gym membership. I felt really good after the run and had a ton of energy. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to say the same thing when the training intensifies next week when we head out to La Quinta to do some more running and take a yoga class.

It’s not too late to join Live Well Clinic’s intensive training program to prepare for Second Annual Run With Los Muertos, which will take place November 1 in Coachella. (The program is free with your $32 race fee.)

Join me at the third session this Saturday, October 4, at 3:45 p.m. We will meet at Evolve Yoga, 50991 Washington St., La Quinta.

Johnny Flores, a Coachella Uninc. student reporter, is participating in the Por Vida six-week training program to get ready for the Run with Los Muertos on Nov. 1, 2014. Here, Flores is pictured at the first Run with Los Muertos 5k last year. Photo: Coachella Uninc.

Entry 1 – September 23, 2014

JOHNNY FLORES/Coachella Uninc

I was ecstatic when I was presented with the opportunity to run a 5K and write about my experiences for Coachella Unincorporated.

Shortly after, however, I realized how much work and dedication that would entail. After some serious contemplation, I decided to sign up for the Second Annual Run With Los Muertos.

The first thing I did was sign up for “Por Vida,” the Live Well Clinic’s intensive six-week training program to prepare for the run. It is designed to promote fitness and, well, to help people like me get in shape for the race, which takes place November 1 in Coachella. (The program is free with your $32 race fee.)

As part of “Por Vida,” I took the health test at the Live Well Clinic and was pleased with my starting point.

The training program, which takes place once a week at a local high school, started September 20 and will end with a sushi get-together the night before in honor or our training trials and tribulations.

I have never done a 5K before, however, I think Run with Los Muertos is a great first race. The race takes place on Dia de Los Muertos, a deeply rooted tradition in our culture that celebrates the loved ones we have lost. The race organizers ask participants the important question, “Who will you run for?”

What better reason to run, than in memory of a loved one? I have elected to run in honor or my Great-Uncle Genaro, who passed away not too long ago after a battle with cancer. My Uncle Genaro always knew how to make everyone smile and was truly a light in this world. My family and I miss him with each passing day and, come November 1, I will honor his memory.

I hope you will join me and run in honor of a loved one. More information is available here.

This week’s Por Vida training will take place at 7 a.m. Saturday, September 27, at Shadow Hills High School. Hope to see you there!