Be Mindful: Putting one foot in front of the other
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Running a marathon is no easy feat, but for Gonzalo Espinoza, it's the challenge he loves.
"It's a battle with the mind," Gonzalo said. "You don't think that you can finish it, but you can."
It's not the first time Gonzalo has had to battle his own mind. For eight years, Gonzalo was an alcoholic. He told ABC-7 he would lose jobs because of his addiction but his true rock bottom came when he fell out of a moving car while drunk.
"I'm lucky that I didn't die that day, and I'm here right now," Gonzalo said.
A few months after the accident, Gonzalo decided he wanted to make a change.
"I started thinking about my daughter, and I thought would I want her to see me like that when she gets older, or do I want to be a role model?" So I changed my life," Gonzalo said.
It wasn't an easy journey. About six months in, Gonzalo was struggling to stay sober. That's when he met his now wife Debby, who helped him find boxing which led to running.
"It's all him because he's the one that started it on his own," Debby said. "I just came along and gave him that little push."
Gonzalo said his life now revolves around three things - running, family and work. He runs between 60-90 miles a week, is a proud employee of YISD and has been sober for nine years.
"I never thought I was going to be this person. Even my mom tells me she's proud of me," Gonzalo said.
Since he started running, Gonzalo has completed five marathons and plans on running many more with the hopes of one day winning the El Paso Marathon.
But Gonzalo's biggest victory will always be how running transformed him into the father, husband and man he could only dream of being nine years ago.
"Back then, like I was always depressed, I was never happy with myself, but now I'm happy I'm confident I know what I've got to give the world," Gonzalo said. "Running changed my life."
Gonzalo is set to run in the El Paso Marathon on February 12th, 2023, and then he hopes to run in the Chicago marathon. He's qualified for the event but needs help getting there. If you want to help Gonzalo run in the Chicago Marathon, you can donate here.
