Maria Solis Belizaire: No Runners Left Behind; Founder of Latinos Run - R4R 246

“How do I find a group to train with? I don't feel comfortable doing this alone, do you know any, any Latino groups?” These are the questions Maria Solis Belizaire asked when she realized she wanted to run a marathon but didn’t know where to start. Today, she’s the founder of two organizations, Latinos Run and Latinas Run which support over 25,000 runners across the USA in cities including New York, Phoenix, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, and more. Latinos Run is a global movement bringing together Latinos through running and fitness to lead healthier lives and inclusive running spaces. Latinos Run and Latinas Run celebrate the multicultural communities that make up Latin countries and create welcoming atmospheres for all runners no matter where you’re from or what pace you go.  “It's not about just the Latino community or the Black community. We need everybody to kind of lift each other up. So we always welcome everybody. We have a lot of people who are not Latino within our running group and we are all for it. We welcome everybody.” –Maria Solis Belizaire    In this episode we cover… Maria’s story of growing up with running as part of her life but not finding an inclusive community or guidance as a kid resulted in her quitting the sport. Fast forward and she turned this obstacle into an opportunity to start her own inclusive organization, Latinos Run, which today supports over 25,000 runners of all different cultures, not just Latinos. The incredible variety of cultures within the Latino community. “You have people from Central America, South America, the islands like Puerto Rico. It’s an extremely mixed and diverse community. And even within that community, you can see people from Argentina who are maybe typically more white than those from Dominican Republic who might be more culturally mixed with Indigenous or African roots. So we are very, very different.” Maria shares about growing up in South Florida being surrounded by mostly Cubans and it wasn’t until she got to New York that she started learning on her own and asking what Hispanic means, what Latino means, why some Hispanic or Latino countries have more African roots, others more Indigenous, and others more white.  Faces and paces. How being inclusive in running doesn’t only mean creating inclusive spaces for people of all cultures, but all paces too. Of not leaving anyone behind no matter if they’re running a 15 or 18 minute pace or if they have a disability. She shares the story of a man who finished a 5K with a walker and cried at the end because he felt so supported. How she’s constantly up against misconceptions from the Latino community itself that Latinos are fat and Latinos don’t run so they don't belong in the sport. When in reality Latinos have been running for thousands of years.  Running with Latinos Run sometimes becomes like a party. Everyone’s having a great time and many families show up, not just individuals. It’s a very welcoming atmosphere.  The story of Maria’s father who for the majority of his life has run on his treadmill every day, but doesn’t feel safe running outside even in his own neighborhood so he won’t attend races. Latinos account for one of the largest growing groups in the country, making up 52% of the US population growth(2019) yet running and health brands are leaving them out despite Latinos growing purchasing power. They also make up minimal percentages of road races and even less in trail races.  There is a positive shift happening where the Latino community is becoming healthier and we’re seeing a change within the general running community being more inclusive.    Resources: Maria Solis Belizaire Instagram Latinos Run Latinas Run   Thank you to Momentous, Picky Bars, and Beam for sponsoring this episode.   Being a tough year with additional stresses on top of an already overwhelming situation means sleep can often be lost...but it is the one thing that we know would help us. Being a former insomniac, I know the frustration going to bed early, yet being unable to switch your brain off can bring. These Momentous Elite Sleep capsules are fantastic and contain Melatonin, Magtein® (Magnesium L-threonate), and Wild Jujube Seed Extract which together will help reduce nighttime anxiety, gently fall asleep and improve circadian rhythm to achieve higher quality sleep. Go here and use code TINA for 20% off.   I am thrilled to be sponsored by Picky Bars now! I have had a few people on the podcast who are from the Picky Bars and for good reason, they align well what Running for Real stands for. These bars are not only delicious but made of real food and are made for sport by athletes. There are gluten, soy, gmo, and dairy free options and some vegan options.  Click here for 20% off AND you can also get an additional 20% off your order, if you purchase a Picky Club membership. A membership entitles you to hand pick your own Picky Bars products and you will be getting a box every month of your picks.   A new product that I have been trying out is Beam. Where they try to help athletes with balance, performance, and recovery. Now I have tried performance and balance and the flavors were great and I felt the hydrating electrolyte energy powder formulated with beetroot, green coffee bean, and citrulline really helped me and I know they will help you too. Go here use code TINA for 15 % off your order AND you can get 20% off if you purchase a subscription.   Thanks for Listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are, others are too, and you will help them feel less alone  Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Maria, we look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.