A Journey to Remember: The Javelina Jundred Arrives

The Final Countdown

As the Javelina Jundred race approaches, Angelisa Arocha feels a mix of excitement and nerves. “It’s like the nerves are finally kicking in,” she admits. With just weeks to go, Angelisa is focusing on preparation, taking things day by day. This will be a journey to remember. 

Gearing Up

Angelisa is busy getting ready for the big race. She’s buying gear, like a taller tent for comfort while camping. She’s also making lists of everything she might need. “I think it’s something I have to take in spurts. I’ll get overwhelmed, and I’m just like, oh my, there’s so much stuff. Or what am I forgetting?” she says.

Testing the Waters

For one last big training run, Angelisa recently ran the Colorado Springs Marathon. This flat race helped her test out gear and get a feel for running on even ground. “I wore pretty much everything I plan on wearing to Javelina,” she explains. Having previously done training involving vertical gain and downhills, the marathon was invaluable in helping Angelisa feel out the impact on flatter miles, which Javelina will have plenty of.

Staying Active

Angelisa isn’t just running to prepare. She’s keeping up with other activities too. “I’ve been going to the gym. I try to go every other day,” she says. She’s also excited about an upcoming climbing festival. “This weekend actually is a climbing festival. It’s a three-day long climbing festival. So that’s going to be really fun.” The structure of having the Javelina Jundred goal kept Angelisa motivated through tough times. 

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Listening to Her Body

After her knee surgery earlier in the year, Angelisa has learned to pay attention to what her body is telling her. “I’m listening to my body after the marathon,” she says. “I did feel a little bit of stress in the knee and just tightness. And so instead of running, I’ll do PT, and then I stretch and focus on building the quad.”

Mental Preparation

As the race gets closer, Angelisa is working on her mental game too. “Right now the mindset is like, I’m battling the ‘why am I doing this?’ nerves,” she admits. But she’s also preparing for the challenges she knows she’ll face during the race. “I’m already kind of mentally preparing myself for that battle,” she says, referring to the low points she expects to hit during the long run.

Setting Goals

Angelisa has set realistic goals for herself, keeping in mind her recent surgery. “The A goal is to finish the 100 miles,” she says. “B goal is to get a PR distance. 54 miles is my longest.” She’s aiming for at least 100K (62 miles) if she can’t complete the full 100 miles.

Looking Back and Forward

Perspective is everything. As Angelisa prepares for Javelina, she’s reflecting on how far she’s come. “I do appreciate being able to do this because it has made me look back a little bit and see how far I’ve come,” she says. She remembers being excited just to bend her knee 90 degrees a few months ago, and now she’s attempting a 100-mile race.

The Big Picture

Despite the challenges, Angelisa is trying to keep things in perspective. “I think it makes me appreciate our body and what it’s capable of doing,” she reflects. She’s also looking forward to the unique experience of running in the desert. “I’ve never seen cacti that big before, so I’m excited to experience it,” she says. 

Race Day Approach

As the race approaches, Angelisa is focusing on enjoying the experience. “I’m going to trust the process and just go and have fun,” she says. She’s prepared for the tough moments but is determined to push through. “As long as I don’t let it be the reason, I decide I don’t want to finish for some reason, which I’ve done before, and I have regrets of. I don’t think I will do that again.”

Proud of How Far She’s Come

Whether she completes the full 100 miles or not, Angelisa knows this race will be memorable. “I’m excited to see how this goes,” she says. She’s proud of how far she’s come since her surgery and is ready to take on this new challenge. “I know my story is a little different than everyone else. I’m going to only be eight months post-surgery.”

As Angelisa heads to Arizona for her journey to the Javelina Jundred, she carries with her months of hard work, determination, and a newfound appreciation for what her body can do. Whatever the outcome, this will be a journey to remember. 

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