Michael's, Badwater 135 Dream Race
Donation protected
Hello friends :)
I'm raising money to pay for the costs associated with the Badwater 135 race, entry fee $1000, hotel, gas, running kit, shoes, food, coolers, ice(I know right? But it's HOT in Death Valley.), gear for training, and I'd like to do as much for my pacers as I can while there. All these items and services are very expensive in the desert. All monies raised will go towards the expense of the race.
http://www.badwater.com/ It takes a lot of help to get to the finish line. (pic of Oswaldo Lopez 2011 Champion, 2014 Champion Harvey Lewis his pacer and myself pacing Oswaldo in 2012)
Below is a little about myself and a condensed version of why I want to compete. Thank you so much for your time :)
I find myself in a very good place, some might say a bit of a scary place...I've qualified to race the Badwater 135 mile Ultramarathon. Billed as the hardest footrace on the planet. I know a lot of people when they first hear about what this adventure entails must think anyone who wants to run through the hottest place on the planet for 135 miles must be a little crazy. Maybe, but I felt like I was born a runner, my earliest memories are running with my Dad as he trained to keep in shape for his job as a soldier. I used to run to feel like I was flying. I ran to feel my mind work free from the pressure of fitting in. I ran to escape a hard and frankly scary childhood. I ran because it's when I've always felt like my best self. Now I run for all those reasons but also because I've been blessed to be an overcomer, a survivor. I run as an outward expression and as a validation for my younger self, the one that always struggled, the one who's always been an underdog. I come from a broken past, yet I've never given up and continue to strive and fight to grow in this life and as a result this sport. I ran so much as a kid...Then I let it slip and fade away...So many years, and it was a distant memory, it became who I used to be then it became a deep forgot part of my past...I went through a number of rough and tumble years trying to grow up, little by little I did. I've been married and have had kids and it wasn't until my younger daughter Olivia became a runner that the spark reignited in my heart and the fire started burning again...Well, I had balloned to 230lbs after running in HS at a svelt 140lbs, I had a long way to go...2009,I started walking and eating right just so I could have the privlage of running again, little by little I was able to do just that...In 2010 I ran a half marathon and I felt like death. But, I was running again...I ran with my Daughter, I ran nearly everyday, I was in love again. I found longer races and things were great until I ruptured my Achilles Tendon...I was faced with a lot of pressure from people that didn't understand and were against me running, people that I've always had to deal with...Well, I wasn't going to quit, I wasn't going to say goodbye to a part of me that I love so much...I worked really hard to rehab, and even walked and finished the Big Sur Marathon in an air cast. I knew I could be strong and I knew I could do whatever I put my mind and will to doing. I feel like that injury was a test, a question; 'how much do you love running?', a blessing...In that painful injury and hardtack piece of life, I became stronger, fitter and a better runner and person. I gained the knowledge of just how to drive past the things that would limit you, how to be a soul that drives the body...Ever since I met the great Champion Oswaldo Lopez, winner of the Badwater 2011 race, I've wanted to be there racing through the desert...I've crewed for Oswaldo, I've been able to 'sit at his feet' and learn...Our team went to Badwater Salton Sea a Badwater qualifying race and we won, giving us automatic qualifier status should we meet all the requirments. Three 100 mile races must have been finish to use that qualifier, one of which would be BW: Salton Sea...I ran Javelina Jundred as my first 100 miler previous to Salton Sea and came in fourth in my 100 mile PR time 17:44:37. Leaving me with one more hurdle to cross, at least as far as a race qualifier goes...I entered my first mountain 100, knowing I could push hard and finish...Three weeks prior to this race, I tore my calf muscle in a hard 30k, one of my local favorites, I went on to finish 4th. I took the next week off and nursed my leg, but I wasn't going to let the chance to run Badwater go...If I could run I would, so off my family and I went to the Kodiak 100 mile Ultra Marathon, a race that is at altitude, has 17k of ascent, and quite a few technical trails...Despite feeling some calf issues and having to face and overcome quite a few issues in the race, trail vandalism being a big one, I was able to not just finish but I won...I am now fully qualified to run this iconic and dream race of mine. I promise to do everything in my ability to represent my friends and family to the best of my talents. To run for the love of the race and the sport, and to run for anyone that has ever had to face rising from the ashes of a broken place. Forever up from the ashes.
I'm raising money to pay for the costs associated with the Badwater 135 race, entry fee $1000, hotel, gas, running kit, shoes, food, coolers, ice(I know right? But it's HOT in Death Valley.), gear for training, and I'd like to do as much for my pacers as I can while there. All these items and services are very expensive in the desert. All monies raised will go towards the expense of the race.
http://www.badwater.com/ It takes a lot of help to get to the finish line. (pic of Oswaldo Lopez 2011 Champion, 2014 Champion Harvey Lewis his pacer and myself pacing Oswaldo in 2012)
Below is a little about myself and a condensed version of why I want to compete. Thank you so much for your time :)
I find myself in a very good place, some might say a bit of a scary place...I've qualified to race the Badwater 135 mile Ultramarathon. Billed as the hardest footrace on the planet. I know a lot of people when they first hear about what this adventure entails must think anyone who wants to run through the hottest place on the planet for 135 miles must be a little crazy. Maybe, but I felt like I was born a runner, my earliest memories are running with my Dad as he trained to keep in shape for his job as a soldier. I used to run to feel like I was flying. I ran to feel my mind work free from the pressure of fitting in. I ran to escape a hard and frankly scary childhood. I ran because it's when I've always felt like my best self. Now I run for all those reasons but also because I've been blessed to be an overcomer, a survivor. I run as an outward expression and as a validation for my younger self, the one that always struggled, the one who's always been an underdog. I come from a broken past, yet I've never given up and continue to strive and fight to grow in this life and as a result this sport. I ran so much as a kid...Then I let it slip and fade away...So many years, and it was a distant memory, it became who I used to be then it became a deep forgot part of my past...I went through a number of rough and tumble years trying to grow up, little by little I did. I've been married and have had kids and it wasn't until my younger daughter Olivia became a runner that the spark reignited in my heart and the fire started burning again...Well, I had balloned to 230lbs after running in HS at a svelt 140lbs, I had a long way to go...2009,I started walking and eating right just so I could have the privlage of running again, little by little I was able to do just that...In 2010 I ran a half marathon and I felt like death. But, I was running again...I ran with my Daughter, I ran nearly everyday, I was in love again. I found longer races and things were great until I ruptured my Achilles Tendon...I was faced with a lot of pressure from people that didn't understand and were against me running, people that I've always had to deal with...Well, I wasn't going to quit, I wasn't going to say goodbye to a part of me that I love so much...I worked really hard to rehab, and even walked and finished the Big Sur Marathon in an air cast. I knew I could be strong and I knew I could do whatever I put my mind and will to doing. I feel like that injury was a test, a question; 'how much do you love running?', a blessing...In that painful injury and hardtack piece of life, I became stronger, fitter and a better runner and person. I gained the knowledge of just how to drive past the things that would limit you, how to be a soul that drives the body...Ever since I met the great Champion Oswaldo Lopez, winner of the Badwater 2011 race, I've wanted to be there racing through the desert...I've crewed for Oswaldo, I've been able to 'sit at his feet' and learn...Our team went to Badwater Salton Sea a Badwater qualifying race and we won, giving us automatic qualifier status should we meet all the requirments. Three 100 mile races must have been finish to use that qualifier, one of which would be BW: Salton Sea...I ran Javelina Jundred as my first 100 miler previous to Salton Sea and came in fourth in my 100 mile PR time 17:44:37. Leaving me with one more hurdle to cross, at least as far as a race qualifier goes...I entered my first mountain 100, knowing I could push hard and finish...Three weeks prior to this race, I tore my calf muscle in a hard 30k, one of my local favorites, I went on to finish 4th. I took the next week off and nursed my leg, but I wasn't going to let the chance to run Badwater go...If I could run I would, so off my family and I went to the Kodiak 100 mile Ultra Marathon, a race that is at altitude, has 17k of ascent, and quite a few technical trails...Despite feeling some calf issues and having to face and overcome quite a few issues in the race, trail vandalism being a big one, I was able to not just finish but I won...I am now fully qualified to run this iconic and dream race of mine. I promise to do everything in my ability to represent my friends and family to the best of my talents. To run for the love of the race and the sport, and to run for anyone that has ever had to face rising from the ashes of a broken place. Forever up from the ashes.
Organizer
Michael Jimenez
Organizer
Marina, CA