SRLA Teams Complete the LA Marathon

SRLA Teams Complete the LA Marathon
Posted on 03/29/2022

Courage, perseverance, resilience, determination, endurance, discipline and athleticism is what led the members of Mountain View School District’s Students Run L.A. (SRLA) teams to achieve their goal of completing the Los Angeles Marathon.  Exhibiting steadfast strength, the student athletes from Monte Vista, Parkview and Twin Lakes Schools successfully participated in the 37th annual Los Angeles Marathon on March 20 as part of the SRLA program. 

     MVSD’s runners were among 2,500 teens from SRLA programs at 185 schools across the county taking part in the grueling marathon. In total, over 14,300 participants from 45 nations and all 50 states took to the streets for the scenic “Stadium to the Stars” course, running from Dodger Stadium to Century City.  Taking part in the marathon and completing the 26. 2 miles, the students discovered that hard work and determination will get them across any finish line in life.

       Students Run LA is a non-profit marathon-training and free mentoring program that aims to support underserved students.  The mission of the program, which has been offered to middle school students in MVSD for over 14 years, is to challenge students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by training them to run marathons.  Students train alongside their coaches and volunteer mentors to complete the Los Angeles Marathon, and through this life-changing experience, discover their best selves and learn how to make plans for the future. SRLA organizes, transports, and pays for participants to enter six community races of progressively longer distances, building from a 5K to a 30K race.  Through these races, students learn to pace themselves, to set and achieve small goals, and to experience success as they train. Training shirts, running shoes, entry fees and transportation to the races, a Marathon uniform, Marathon Day support, and more are provided to the students and coaches by the SRLA program.

      Led by their dedicated coaches, Jorge Jimenez from Monte Vista, Marcos Garcia from Parkview and David Dorf from Twin Lakes, along with volunteer mentors, MVSD’s teams began training in September and participated in several running events including 5k and 10k runs as well as half marathons leading up to the final challenge of the 26.2-mile L.A. Marathon.

      “SRLA is a great program that continues to provide opportunities for all students throughout the Los Angeles area,” said Dorf.  “Our SRLA students learn that if you can run a marathon, you can do anything in life.”

     Throughout their training, running mile after mile, the students learned responsibility, discipline and goal-setting and felt a great sense of accomplishment when they achieved their ultimate goal of completing the 26.2 miles.

      According to Cassidy Smith, marketing associate for SRLA, more than 95% of the SRLA participants who attempt the marathon complete the 26.2-miles.  For many of the students in SRLA, training for a marathon represents the first time that they have committed to a specific goal. By providing them an opportunity for incremental accomplishment and a supportive environment to help them on their way, SRLA gives the students the inspiration, excitement and encouragement to accomplish their goal.

         “Our Mountain View family is extremely proud of our SRLA team members, coaches and volunteers and congratulate them on their tremendous achievement,” said Raymond Andry, Superintendent, who was at the marathon cheering them on.  “They trained hard for months, both physically and mentally, and set a goal and achieved it.  They greatly represented their schools, the Mountain View School District and the El Monte/South El Monte communities.” 

          Proudly showing off their L.A. Marathon Finisher medals, the students agreed that the time and sacrifice it took to complete the marathon were worth it.  It was a life-changing experience that challenged them mentally and physically, and showed them that they are capable of reaching their goals.  In the end, as they crossed the finish line, joining an elite group of marathon finishers, they learned that nothing is impossible!

 

  • Mountain View Preschool Programs
  • Magnolia Learning Center