Who Will You Run With? Sixth Annual Cinco de Mayo Trail Run Features ‘Trailblazers’

For many, the word “fun” doesn’t really enter into the idea of running a 10K, but Poway’s intends to change that with the Cinco de Mayo Trail Run.

Krystn Monroe, a Valley parent who works closely with the Valley Elementary Educational Foundation, says the sixth annual race will be led by trailblazers—local runners looking to form teams.

“We were trying to think, ‘OK, how can we rally the troops? How can we encourage people who may not run to run?’ ” said Monroe, introducing the campaign called Who Will You Run With? “As the trailblazers have told their stories, it’s just become a source of inspiration as well.”

The trailblazers come from different athletic backgrounds, inviting potential participants to choose the one that best fits their own life. The trail along Lake Poway offers not only the 10K track, but a 5K and kids course as well.

Monroe offered a snippet about each trailblazer (more attached):

Hilary Cuevas-Balanon: A teacher at Valley, who says running this race started as a personal fitness goal and ended up being the first of many 5K races under her belt. 

Sergio Gonzalez: An elite runner who brings his entire team with him to the Trail Run—a race he won in 2011 with the fastest 10K time. 

Peter Berk:  A Valley dad and triathlete, who accomplished the ultimate feat of finishing the most grueling of Ironman courses last year.

Kim Yirak: A member of the Midland Elementary School Foundation, who says the Trail Run is a family affair and a chance to raise money for her school. 

Given the unique goals, each trailblazer is doing their own training routine for the big day. Cuevas-Balanon has made leaps and bounds since first racing in 2009.

“She could barely walk it and now she runs it, so we’re really proud of Hilary,” Monroe said. “This year she is rallying the teachers,” and they practice every Wednesday after school.

But whether you join a trailblazer or form your own team is irrelevant. Rather, Monroe says the Trail Run is more about the fact that “real people do this.” And a little celebration, too.

“What we encourage people to do if they’re forming teams is to wear T-shirts, train together … and maybe meet up for lunch afterwards,” Monroe said. “There’s nothing formal that we have set up for the teams, but we do encourage them to have a celebration of their own.”

To register, visit cincodemayotrailrun.org. Pre-registration fees range from $10 to $35.