Today we’d like to introduce you to Oscar Garcia
Hi Oscar, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story starts in Houston just outside of downtown. The earliest of my memories take me to RedStone apartments on Tidwell and 45 S. After that my parapente moved us to High Meadows in East Aldine, that’s where I call home. I grew up there and learned many lessons there. I went to MacArthur High School on Aldine Mail Rt., and that’s where I fell in love with running. That experience and my high school coach really changed my life. Running opened so many doors for me that I didn’t even know where there. I went on to run at Houston Baptist University in Sharpstown where I completed my Bachelors, so many lessons were learned there. My love for running only grew while at HBU. I trained for a year without a coach, and after training 2 years with a private coach I came across Team Green. I moved over to The Woodlands to train under Dan Green with Team Green. With TGR I learned a lot more about running. I also became involved with my community and started coaching youth track and field. I’ve gone to compete and make a great name for myself at the local level in road racing. I’ve also been able to stretch my reach and coach not only for TGR youth, but also for St. Anthony of Padua. I did all this coming from High Meadows in East Aldine, getting government assistance when I was young, watching my dad work 3 jobs to provide, and I’m also the son of 2 great Mexican immigrants who had very little to no schooling.
I remember when applying for college I had to apply for FAFSA. My father can’t read or write, and my mom can but English is her second language. I had to do all the applications on my own. I hated it. There were so many things that I didn’t understand, but felt like I had nowhere to turn to. That same boy has now graduated from a 4 year private university and continues to work on his true passion everyday.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe we all have struggles, and I’m not going to lie and say I don’t complain but I have it better than a lot of people. My father would always tell us “ ustedes están en la gloria” which translates to “ you guys are living in paradise”. As a kid I didn’t get this until I learned more about my parents upbringing when I got to visit Mexico as a young boy.
I faced some struggles. For instance my dad was an alcoholic, and I’ve seen him drunk to where he can’t move on his own and even go to the hospital. I say that, but I’ll also say that my dad never once left us without food or love. He never spent money on booze. He was just really liked and people loved to drink with him and he loved to drink as well. I’ve seen my dad loose conscious and end up in the hospital due to his addiction. That was a very scary moment. I nearly got kicked out of my University on multiple occasions. Growing up in East Aldine I’ve seen my neighbors home get raided for drugs. Hearing gun shots at night was very normal honestly in my neighborhood. Drugs were all around us. The first time I saw cocaine was on my school bus when I was in 5th grade. A 6th grader had took it from his brother and was sharing it with some of the other students on the bus. I saw a kid drop some coke and sniff it off the seat of the bus. That was wild to me as a 5th grader. I’ve been hit by a car while running in my neighborhood. I’ve been chased by dogs while running and was even bit on my left knee by a German shepherd. That put me out for a month. Getting hit by a car had me out for half a year. More recently I’ve lost a lot of money due choosing my passion over money. I haven’t made the best financial choices in order to follow my dream which is running, but I’ve been able to find a lot of support through my coaches, family, and my community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I currently work at Fleet Feet in Hughes Landing, I also coach for TGR youth, and I train full time.
I believe I’m known most for my running. I also the most proud of my running accomplishments. What sets me apart from others is that I bring a unique twist to my approach. I’m a very simple individual. I bring more of a holistic approach to my training. I also had the opportunity to grow up in the ghetto and now live in the suburbs. I feel like I have an outlook that very few people I associate with have in life because of my upbringing and where I’m at.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in opportunities and being prepared for them. I do however feel blessed for being born where I was born. It gave me such a a humble insight on life and really opened my eyes. There’s no such things as good or bad people there are only good and bad situations. What we do with those situations don’t define us. An animal will kill for his safety and to satisfy his hunger I feel like humans will go to great lengths to survive. Growing up in East Aldine showed me that, and I don’t judge anybody for the choices they made in life.
Pricing:
- Private coaching $65/session
- Online coaching prices TBD
Contact Info:
- Instagram: oscartherunner
Image Credits
okiepics – instagram
