The 2014 Por Vida! training team prepares for this year’s 5k run
Día de Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) is a Mexican holiday observed around the world. The treasured celebration takes place on October 31, November 1 and November 2 and brings together family and friends to pray for and remember loved ones who have died. Holiday traditions include building private altars (“ofrendas”), honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and their departed’s favorite foods, beverages and possessions, and visiting graves with these as gifts.
Valley resident Tizoc DeAztlan thought it would be inspirational to use this holiday to also “celebrate life.” So on November 1, he is producing the second annual Run with Los Muertos 5k race in Coachella encouraging east valley residents to get out and run in honor of those who have passed, but also in honor of the life they have today.
Born and raised locally, Tizoc knew that health and wellness has not been a top priority for the east valley population, and he is working to help change that.
The free 6-week program included weekly workouts, training and nutrition tips
To further encourage first time runners to get involved, this year he created Por Vida (“For Life”), a free six-week training program leading up to the event. He enlisted the help of doctors at the Live Well Clinic, Nicole Ortiz, ND, and Brian Myers, ND, who provided basic nutrition and training tips, and took body measurements at the start and finish. They also provided a training schedule for each week to complement their Saturday morning gatherings.
“Last year we saw a lot of first time runners come out – people who were crying when they crossed the finish line. It was very powerful,” he says. “We wanted to provide them with encouragement and knowledge to sustain this practice, and to create a culture of fitness so they will stay healthy.”
2013 Run with Los Muertos
“This event speaks to an audience that isn’t standardly included in the conversation of health,” says Dr. Ortiz. “Our goal is to reach the people who need to be reached and I think there is really the potential to grow this effort as friends tell friends and the momentum continues.”
Vicky Chavez of Coachella agrees. “The whole concept attracted me. You are running in honor of someone who has passed in your family; I am running for my parents. This race has motivated me to get back into running, and after the run, I want to keep the lifestyle and to stay healthy.” She adds that the doctors are very knowledgeable and have helped the group understand what to eat and how to train, “and it is free, so you can’t beat that!”
“Running a 5k and getting up Saturday mornings at 6am isn’t many people’s idea of an ideal experience,” says Xavier College Prep student Johnny Flores who is writing a blog about his training experience aptly entitled “Not Giving Up!” “I write about who I am running for, the weekly experience, and what I learn, like, in order to be healthy we need to give up sugary beverages, stay active, drink lots of water and watch what we eat. The doctors are really great at keeping us motivated. My family and friends think I’m crazy!”
Families celebrate the cultural holiday
Run with Los Muertos, which takes place at night on the streets of Coachella around City Hall, is also building a sense of community. As part of the production, Tizoc and his team go door-to-door to let neighbors know the event is coming. “Any other night, most folks are not going to walk that neighborhood,” says Tizoc, “but last year, people were out on the sidelines giving high fives and cheering runners on.”
Last year 600 runners and 3,000 spectators took part and more are expected this year. “We hope that little by little Run with Los Muertos will generate community awareness of the importance of getting – and staying – healthy,” says Tizoc. “We take pride in celebrating the dead, but at the same time, we should celebrate our present life. ‘Por Vida!’”
Run with Los Muertos takes place November 1, 2014 in Downtown Coachella, 1515 6th St. Race Day Packet Pick up available 10am-2pm at The Palm Springs Museum in Palm Desert and at race location from 4pm-7pm. Pre-Race Ceremony 6pm. Race begins at 7pm. Live music, craft beer garden, and Art Walk runs from 6pm to 12am. For more information on this annual event, visit www.RunWithLosMuertos.com
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