Nara: Sibling Inspiration

Nara completed the SRLA Strength 10K virtually this October.

In 2018 Nara submitted a blog to SRLA focussing on how being a part of the program inspired her weight loss journey. 3 years later Nara submitted another blog to highlight how the importance of SRLA in her life has changed over time and the impact it has had on not only herself, but her brothers as well.

Nara’s younger brother completed the SRLA Endurance Half Marathon this December.

I’ve been running with SRLA for 5 years now. I started when I was in middle school and after a year in SRLA I was featured in one of the blogs for 2018. My main focus was losing weight, I felt very insecure about my body and thought, “why not train for a marathon? I’ll not only lose weight, but I’ll receive a reward for my training as well.” My oldest brother was in his second year of SRLA and he was actually my inspiration. I kept running all these years because although running may be difficult, it pays off in so many ways. For example, a few major lessons I learned while running with SRLA are how to be confident, how to create friendships, and how to be a responsible person. These lessons have made entering high school and joining extra curricular activities much easier.

Running is most definitely not easy, you may find yourself wanting to quit. However, my favorite thing to keep in mind is the commitment I made to SRLA. I run for those who don’t have the opportunity to do so. Not everyone is as blessed as I am to have a well functioning body. My purpose is to make a difference in someone’s life even if it’s as simple as cheering one on during a run. Giving up is an option, but it’s not in my vocabulary. No matter how hard it may seem, you need to keep your head up and keep moving forward. Each step you take is one step closer to the finish line.

I’m beyond grateful to be a part of such an influential and meaningful organization. I’m even more grateful that my younger brother now gets to share the same experiences that made my life much more positive and healthy. Thank you for taking your time to read my experience over the years. I hope that SRLA continues to extend this amazing opportunity to the youth and adults across LA as well as continue to inspire people to push themselves passed their comfort zone.

My name is Nara, I run with the LAPD Metro cadets and I’m in it for the long run!

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