—as told to—
I started running about seven years ago. My uncle passed that year, so I thought running would be a good way for me to honor him. He was a loving and supportive pastor. Growing up, he always encouraged and motivated us. In 2017, some family members and I decided to do our first run in Shiprock, New Mexico, in his honor. That was my first half marathon. Ever since then, I made the commitment to continue to run in honor of him, my ancestors, and my well-being.
My mother is Navajo and my father is Tohono O’odham. I’m half and half. Where I come from, running is falling into the steps of our ancestors. My grandfather was a long-distance runner. Back then, that’s how we passed messages from one community to another. Where I put my footprints, that’s where my ancestors ran. Running is in our blood, it’s our Himdag—our culture. We run to the east before sunrise and we let the Creator know that we are awake with him. We run for those who can’t. I take the stories I hear from the elderly in the nation with me when I’m running, and I pray out there, asking our Creator to protect our land, to heal our bodies.
I am a single mother of four. My children have always followed me to running events, and a few years ago, they started participating themselves. My three daughters started running cross country in high school, and my youngest son ran in elementary school a few years back. I always try to teach my kids why we run—for our ancestors, and their grandfather. I’m happy that they’re able to share this journey with me. In March, my mother, daughter, and son went with me to Monument Valley Ultra, where I ran my first 50K. They’ve seen that no matter the weather conditions, we still run. In our culture, that’s what we do.