Feeling Grateful to Run

Luis Espada knows how to fly “beneath the radar.” His soft-spoken, quiet nature does not draw immediate attention. But he is the perfect example of why it is so vital to take the time to get to know our “quiet” members.

Because when you get to know Luis you discover what a fine human being he is. I learned this first-hand two years ago when running the LA River Run. After running 35 miles I was ready to call it a day. I thought to myself, “There will always be next year.” But then Luis suddenly appeared at my side. And he remained at my side until I finished the 54 mile run. We passed the miles talking about everything under the sun (literally and figuratively).

We shared personal stories that only seem to come to the surface when you are running long distances with someone you trust and feel comfortable with. Luis is both of those things – and more. He is always more concerned about the well-being of other runners than setting a PR.

If someone is struggling, you can count on him to be at your side. And you can always count on him to be carefully listening to what you have to say. He is one of the least selfish people I have ever met. I encourage all of our runners to log some miles alongside of Luis. I guarantee you will feel uplifted and grateful.

Sincerely,

Judge Craig Mitchell

More about Luis …

Luis is a runner who joined the Skid Row Running Club in the last 18 months. Originally from Florida, Luis graduated from college there with a degree in acting. However, after college, and saddled with mounting student debt, he began having some issues with drugs and alcohol.

In order to start anew, Luis traveled all the way out to California to try to pursue acting as a career. Unfortunately, he came out towards the end of the pandemic and beginning of the writer’s strike. Unable to find work, and with no income to afford a place to stay, Luis found himself on the verge of homelessness. 

So, he called the LA County 211 hotline for assistance, and they referred him to the Midnight Mission, where he currently lives.

While at the Midnight Mission, Luis discovered the Skid Row Running Club. While he was never a runner and never considered himself an athlete, he decided to give the club a try. Even though he is neither the strongest nor fastest runner, Luis always shows up to run and consistently finishes. He has completed several races.

More importantly, when the club needs volunteers for any events, he is always first to raise his hand. He believes in paying forward the kindness that he has received.

Luis doesn’t talk much, but he never stays away from conversations. He is constantly curious and seeks out answers to improve himself. Last year, when the club arranged a Visit to JPL/NASA, he participated in the all-day event guided by his curiosity of our universe.

Luis is currently back in college to learn new skills to help improve his future employment prospects.

Luis is a great representative of what our club is about and always brings a cheerful attitude.

New Lease on Life

Andrew Vargas is what is best about the Skid Row Running Club. His commitment to sobriety. His positive outlook on life – regardless of what life throws at him. His gratitude in all things. His joy in what life has to offer. His sense of wonder. These things – and so much more.

For those who traveled with Andrew for this year’s international marathon in New Delhi, we will never forget how much he added to all of our experiences. Perhaps, the image most of us immediately bring to mind is when we were in the Maldives. There was Andrew, who really could not swim, with life vest strapped on, paddling out beyond the surf line. He simply refused to be denied the experience of swimming and snorkeling in this world renowned location.

For those of us who were in the water with him, we were far more apprehensive than he was. Despite his vest nearly coming off, despite him swallowing mouthful after mouthful of sea water, he would not be deterred. And much of the reason he swallowed so much sea water was because he could not stop smiling and shouting his excitement out to everyone within earshot. His joy immeasurably increased everyone else’s joy. For that, we will always be grateful to Andrew. He is a walking lesson on how a positive attitude can totally change the way one experiences life.

Sincerely,

Judge Craig Mitchell

From Death’s Door to Running Marathons

Andrew ended up at the Midnight Mission on Skid Row one day. He didn’t know how or why. Eventually, he pieced together that he was discharged from a hospital after having successful brain surgery to remove a large tumor from his head.

While the surgery successfully saved his life, it left him without 75% of his memory, in other words, he was lost. Fortunately, his social worker told him to stop thinking about himself and instead focus on helping others. So one weekend he found himself at the top of Angeles National Forest, patching up roads and ditches a day prior to the Skid Row Running Club’s inaugural Moonlight Ultra Marathon. The next day he spent the entire night running loops around Mt. Chilao with a group of new friends. This was the summer of 2022.

That fall he would run in his first organized race, the Big Bear Half Marathon. He wore his brand-new Skid Row Running Club shirt tank top and as he was running toward the finish line, the crowd erupted in cheers, yelling “Skid Row!” and was interviewed by the media after crossing. Andrew says he never recalled experiencing such positivity and a strong sense of belonging. He was hooked.

Since then, Andrew runs faithfully on Skid Row and always makes sure to sprint his hardest down the last block. He always brings a cheerful spirit, volunteers his time for the club and encourages people in recovery to start running because he also wants to give them a new lease on life.

To Protect and to Serve

Veronica Padilla was the first LAPD officer to join the Skid Row Running Club. Her example could not have been more ideal. From her very first run, her warmth, her friendliness, her encouragement, her refusal to pass judgement – informs every interaction. Her attitude and kindness is why police officers are embraced by all of our runners. Veronica genuinely cares about everyone.

To outsiders, this friendship between police and those who have been on the wrong side of the law may be hard to understand. There is a stereotype that cops and criminals never get along, let alone have lasting, meaningful friendships. But this is one of the remarkable aspects of the Skid Row Running Club: that by sharing the act of running, barriers and preconceptions disappear. Those, who in other circumstances would never interact, look forward to spending time with one-another, and come to understand that so much of what divides people really makes little sense. That if you choose to spend time with someone, if you choose to share a common experience, the bond of friendship is inevitable.

Today, we often enjoy the company of a half-dozen or more officers from LAPD Central Division. Without exception, they follow Veronica’s lead. When Veronica was promoted to Sergeant, it surprised no one in the running club. Her ability to address any difficult situation with calm and thoughtfulness are the hallmarks of her leadership. Not only are all of us in the Skid Row Running Club lucky to have Veronica as our friend, the City of Los Angeles is similarly lucky to have Veronica wearing blue.

Sincerely,

Judge Craig Mitchell

In the early days of the Skid Row Running Club, because we were a small group, we frequently ran against traffic laws and into the middle of the street. On occasion, we were stopped by members of the Los Angeles Police Department or even issued citations.

One day at the end of one of our runs at 4th & Crocker Street in Skid Row, a police car pulled up and Veronica Padilla of the LAPD came out to talk to us. Naturally, we assumed the worst, but instead Officer (now Sergeant) Padilla asked if she could start running with us. Veronica had been running for quite a while and started her shifts on Skid Row right about the time we usually finished our runs. Of course, we welcomed her with open arms.

Not only is Sergeant Padilla an amazingly strong runner, but she has become a role model and mentor to many members of the club. In fact, only in the Skid Row Running Club can you find a former gang member or parolee running side by side with a police officer. As a result of Veronica’s steadfast involvement in the club, she has brought in dozens of LAPD officers who run with us side by side on a weekly basis and become a member of the Board of Directors for our humble non-profit. She always invites our members in recovery into police community events and does an excellent job of making people feel welcome and safe; an ideal police officer who truly protects and serves.

Mission Possible: Ultramarathoner Damian Gonzalez

While most of the runners in the Skid Row Running Club consider getting up to run at 5:45 a.m. at the Midnight Mission an early start, Damian Gonzalez begins his day at 3:00 a.m. Before the rest of the runners head East on 6th Street, Damian has already put in a workout at a gym near Dodger Stadium. True to his status as a dedicated runner, he gets to and from the gym by running. And consistent with the SRRC being a tight-knit community of people supporting one-another, often times Damian enjoys the company at the gym of Mario, Julio, Beatrice, Carmyn, James and even me sometimes.

Damian’s presence at SRRC events makes everyone’s experience much, much better. His quiet affirmation of others, his genuine interest in what is happening in the lives of his friends, his willingness to candidly share his own life experiences – are attributes highly valued by everyone in the program. Several months ago Damian participated in the SRRC’s ride from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles. What a treat it was to the rest of us to share this experience with him. His unwavering positivity, his gratitude for even the littlest things, his readiness to help out anyone who was having trouble, his subdued laughter around the dinner table after a long and grueling ride – set an example that uplifted us all.

Yet, not only does Damian fully participate in Club events, he also is a full-time college student and volunteers every week at the Red Cross. His commitment to improving his own life and the lives of others defines who he is. In short, Damian embodies what the Skid Row Running Club is all about.

Sincerely,

Judge Craig Mitchell

More about Damian:

Damian came to the Skid Row Running Club in an unusual way (for our club anyways). He was working in marketing at a local LA college, trying to convince people to take out loans they couldn’t pay back. So, he quit.

Without any income, he couldn’t afford to pay rent. Fortunately, he was able to find housing at the Midnight Mission, where the Skid Row Running Club meets.

Damian became aware of the SRRC through Andrew Vargas (profiled in our last newsletter). Andrew noticed how hard Damian worked in the kitchen, showing up early and doing more than was asked of him. He invited Damian to start running.

Damian was never a runner before. In fact, he claims that his prior exercise was working as a graffiti artist and running from cops and with gangs. He never envisioned himself as an athlete, much less a runner.

One of Damian’s first club events was a bike ride from San Luis Obispo to LA, where he got to know the club and its members better. At first, he didn’t think he could complete the ride because of the daunting hills, but he says with the support from fellow bikers, he discovered that day-by-day he could push himself and do a little more. In particular, he is grateful for the coaching he received from Mario O’Campo (another club member in recovery) for teaching him how to sustain 75-mile bike rides.

Before even completing a 10K, ½ marathon or a marathon, Damian recently become an ultra-marathoner. He was one of only a few club members who completed a 54-mile run of the entire length of the LA River.

Vicente tackles a mother of a trail

The hill you see is part of Chaney Trail.  It's a tough steep climb, but you get to run thru some beautiful trees to get to see some amazing views of Los Angeles.

We ran Chaney Trail with our friends at Club Run with Us, as part of our expanded weekend running opportunities.  A lot of runners were looking for new challenges and Club Run With Us, which has been a supporter of the Skid Row Running Club since our beginnings, invited to start running with them on Sundays during their trail runs.  You can click on the above link and get a copy of the running schedule.  All are welcome.

Not only is Run with Us the best running shoe story in area east of Los Angeles, but some of the people their are major speed demons.  You will frequently seem them place at the top of the marathons and 1/2 marathons in Southern California.  One would assume that running with them is intimidating, at least I thought so, but these are seriously the nicest group of runners you can ever meet.  They not only make sure to fit you with the proper pair of running shoes, but they teach you how to run, how to hydrate and take care of yourself out on the trails.

When we run with them, even thought it's clear we are 'slowing' them down on the trails, they always have one running leading the one and another at the rear making sure no one gets lost or hurt.

I personally can't think of better way of getting introduced to the world of trail running.