Against the Odds: Angelisa Arocha’s 97-Mile Journey at Javelina

When Angelisa Arocha arrived at the Javelina Jundred in Fountain Hills, Arizona, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Just eight months after a knee injury that left her on crutches, she was about to attempt her first 100-mile race in record-breaking heat. Her last big attempt at the 100 in Indiana ended at the 100 KM mark. Fighting against the odds, her journey to Javelina had finally brought her to the start line.

“I kept telling myself, if you feel discomfort, just stop. If you feel like it’s a discomfort that’s going to cause injury, just call it quits and have fun,” Angelisa recalls. “I knew I was coming into this with no specific plan other than to try and finish.”

Finding Her Tribe

Before the race even began, the running community showed up in force. Angelisa connected with fellow runners at group runs, including a stranger named Katie who would later become crucial to her journey. In a wonderful coincidence, they discovered they were both born near Detroit.

The community spirit continued at her crew tent, where she shared space with other runners and their families. “I felt like a race car driver,” she says. “They were just taking care of anything I might need. Now I get why people love to have a good crew. That makes or breaks your spirit sometimes.”

Beating the Heat

As temperatures soared during the five-loop course, runners began dropping out. Medical teams were everywhere, helping those overcome by the brutal conditions. But Angelisa, who had prepared by training in a sauna, kept her cool with ice bandanas and constant hydration.

“The heat didn’t bug me at all,” she says. “I was keeping cool with ice. I had the armbands on. I was keeping those wet, and everything was going great.” During the second loop, Angelisa’s friend Andy kept her spirits up. 

Strong Through 60 Miles

By her third loop, with her friend Shelby pacing her, Angelisa was feeling surprisingly strong. She had already surpassed her previous longest run of 54 miles. “I was just like, holy crap, I’m feeling amazing right now,” she remembers. “I was just like, man, I might even do 100 in a good, decent time.”

The Challenges Mount

Around mile 80, things began to change. Her knee started swelling, her back was chafing badly, and her mouth felt constantly dry. Her right Achilles tendon, likely compensating for her left knee, became painfully tight.

Still, with Katie pacing her final loop, Angelisa pushed on. They did the math, calculating if they could finish within the 30-hour cutoff. But as temperatures climbed back to 98 degrees, the reality of the situation became clear.

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The Decision at Mile 97

At the final aid station, 97 miles into her journey, Angelisa made the tough call to stop. Her knee was visibly bruised where her brace had been pressing, and the heat was overwhelming. Rather than risk injury that could affect her work as a dog runner, she chose to end her day.

“I got to a point where I could see a bruise already starting from where the brace was pressing on my leg,” she explains. “This is a good sign to stop and just be happy with where I was at.”

More Than a DNF

While officially a DNF (Did Not Finish), Angelisa’s 97-mile effort was anything but a failure. Her young nephews and nieces, who had been watching the race tracker online, called to check on her.

“They’re like, ‘You ran 97 miles? That’s crazy!’ They just thought I was the coolest person ever for being on YouTube and running this race,” she says.

The experience has already sparked thoughts of her next hundred-miler. “If I got 97 miles on a bum knee, what happens when I’m fully recovered and I actually put the effort and training in?” she wonders.

The Next Journey

In a year when the race saw over 50% of runners drop out due to the extreme conditions, Angelisa’s 97-mile journey stands as a testament to preparation, perseverance, and knowing when to make the smart choice. As she puts it, “I look at it as a win. I was able to overcome the heat, overcome a lot of the factors that took a lot of people out. I still got 97 miles done, and I’m happy.”

Angelisa now sets her sights on bigger dreams, including a potential return to her home state of Michigan to do the Woodstock 100. For now, she sets her focus on climbing, enjoying movement, and strengthening her knee. Fighting against the odds, Angelisa’s journey to Javelina is only the beginning of a new chapter. 

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