Jocelyn Rivas will officially become the youngest person – female or male – to run 100 marathons.
The 24-year-old ran her 100th race on November 7 in her hometown of Los Angeles with the number 100 on her bib as she crossed the finish line. This is where she ran her first marathon ever in 2014.
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“I never thought I would run a marathon, and I never even thought it would be possible,” said Rivas, known as “The Warrior” in the running community. “I hope to inspire other people to know that they are achieving everything they thought they could never achieve.”
But Rivas says she has exceeded that milestone since. She claims to have run 110 marathons so far … and counts.
And even though their record is still being reviewed by the Guinness World Records, the impact that Rivas had on the sport can already be felt.
Rivas was born in El Salvador with a broken back. Many physical activities, especially running more than 100 marathons, seem to take her from a young age out of the question.
She immigrated to the United States when she was six years old and was allowed to stay in the country under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy. While in the United States, she discovered her love of running while watching the Los Angeles Marathon as a teenager.
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But in 2017, when the Trump administration was trying to bring DACA to an end, she thought her time in the US was coming to an end. She feared she would lose her job, have to drop out of college and potentially be deported.
“I have sacrificed so much, I have worked so hard for so many things in my life, and I will lose everything,” she said.
Rivas says she was in a dark place when her future hung in the balance and she fell into a depression. She was left hanging in bed, unmotivated and had to pull herself out, she says.
“I was in such a down point in my life where I was just like, ‘I can not believe, like when I control someone else’s my future. I can not let that go. This is not me,” Rivas said.
She says she decided to take control of her life in a way that gave her joy. So, she started running again.
To motivate herself, she decided to go for the marathon record and dedicated her trip to DACA recipients like herself.
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As it got harder, and she doubted herself, she decided to add girls and women to the long list of people she hoped to inspire to achieve everything they wanted in the sport.
“Even though I’ve struggled, I would think about my mission and be like, ‘You’re not doing this to yourself anymore. You do it to inspire your community and inspire other people, ”Rivas said.
“I have decided to take control back into my life. And since then I have not looked back and I am glad I came to that,” she added.
As a Latina and DACA recipient, making international history as a runner is one way she seeks to honor and enhance her community.
She hopes the people who watch her run will see that “this person, who is a dreamer who just has every chance against her, is still showing up and trying to achieve those dreams,” Rivas said.
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Latinos Run, a national running group for Latinos, supported Rivas during this trip. Maria Solis Belizaire, the founder of the organization, says that Rivas’ mission to inspire female and female athletes of color has been well achieved.
“She is such a powerful voice for our community,” the Belizaire said. “We emulate what we see.”
She added: “When we see someone like Jocelyn, who has overcome so many barriers, who is a DACA recipient, an immigrant born with broken bones, she said she might never be able to walk – to cross her. line and become a Guinness World Record holder is so inspiring for the … international running community.
The youngest person to run the 100 marathon ahead of Rivas is Elizabeth Tunna, who was 24 years and 351 days old when she completed the Chester Marathon in Chester, United Kingdom on October 9, 2011, according to Guinness World Records.
Rivas was about 24 years and 292 days old when she completed the marathon that marked her record.
“It’s inspiring to see another Latina, especially a younger Latina reach this milestone that many of us are striving for,” said Belizaire.
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Many marathons later, Rivas says, the hour-long race will not be any easier. For new runners, she tells them to remember that “it’s just one foot in front of the other.”
As for the women and Latinos who watch their story, she says that persistence is key.
“It will be difficult, but there is nothing you can not achieve,” Rivas said. “You need a lot of commitment, a lot of commitment when you train, but if you commit to these things, you can achieve it.”
Youngest person to run 100 marathons used platform to inspire immigrants, women originally came to goodmorningamerica.com
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