Senior Stories: Eliu, Learning to Seek Help

Eliu with his SRLA team.

Eliu is a graduating senior from Animo Pat Brown Charter High School. Being in SRLA helped Eliu love himself and he began to find confidence in himself which was later on reflected in his grades. Eliu’s dad inspires him to run and is looking forward to participating in more races in the future alongside his father. Eliu will be attending Cal State LA this upcoming fall!

I would say that SRLA has influenced me in countless ways. The biggest impact that SRLA has influenced me is how I am more disciplined to try things before I say I can't do it. SRLA taught me that with practice you are able to accomplish goals that you make for yourself.

“The Los Angeles Marathon was a test to finally prove to myself that through perseverance and hard work I can achieve anything with practice”

Before SRLA I used to not have confidence in myself and would give up before I even tried but with SRLA that mindset quickly changed. I would never have thought I was capable of running 26.2 miles but I was able to accomplish it as a 14 year old freshman. SRLA taught me that you don't need to do everything on your own. Having the team bond that Animo Pat Brown has had for the past 4 years taught me it's okay to seek help when you need it. I used to think doing everything on your own was better so that I wouldn't have to bother anyone but my team really included me in everything and this encouraged me to be inviting to others so that they feel included as I did.

Rapid Fire!

A special SRLA memory was…
When I got to run the Rose Bowl Half Marathon with my brothers and my dad.

My favorite distance to run…

Half Marathons because you get to enjoy a long run but you don’t go through too much pain.

Something I can’t run without…

My phone because I get to see if I’m on pace or not, and so I can listen to music.

My favorite LA Marathon mile is… 

Mile 13.1 because you get to hear the crowds cheer for you and knowing you’re halfway there is a big motivation.

Someone/something that inspires me to run…

My dad because no matter how tired he is from work, he always goes on a run and that really taught me to not make excuses to not go for a run.

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Eliu and his family after completing the Rose Bowl Half.