Athlete Feature
Alonso Mago
Houston, TX
How did you become a runner?
All my life I have practiced team sports– soccer, volleyball, tennis, racquetball. I also have three girls, and an awesome working wife. After starting a family, I realized I didn’t feel comfortable playing racquetball with friends for 3-4 hours in the gym with the new family and work. In the last 10 years, I have been trying to stay healthy without a real systematic approach to exercise and trying to also adjust to a work-life balance in a job that doesn’t typically have a balance – investment banking. To answer how I became a runner, I need to mention many names that have helped me in this journey: Joe my neighbor, Moncef my best friend and passionate runner (pictured with me above), my brother Ricardo who I ran my first marathon with, and my wife Marjorie who has run with me for the last 4 years in almost all the races. I started running very early in the morning 5 am (2-3 miles) with my neighbor and after a couple of years, I realized I really enjoyed running in the morning and that I should sign up for a marathon. I was jogging and walking at that time (Galloway method); and when I turned 40 years old in 2018, I told my brother Ricardo that I knew exactly what I wanted as a present for me. I wanted him to train and run with me for my first marathon. His only condition was to choose the race given he didn’t want to do Houston (where we currently live). Given our complete ignorance about running, Ricardo chose Lake Tahoe Marathon for its beauty and I said “sure”. There are many problems with that race but just to say a few: high altitude, enormous inclines, and marathon was in October (day of the run was 26F and windy), and training was in the middle of the summer in Houston doing our first ever long runs at 100F. That was probably the first time I thought I was “running” with a workout for a particular event. Many moons later, I have run 2 full marathons (in both I have been injured either in training or on race day) and many half marathons which I feel is the perfect “race” for me to keep me in shape. My friend Moncef and my wife Marjorie have both helped me continue to run, and I will talk more about Half when I speak about my current PR.
What does a typical training day look like for you?
First, I would say that it has changed drastically since I bought a NordicTrack X32i in December 2021; changing an old elliptical for this incredible treadmill has made a significant impact in me and the full family. Normally I try to do my runs in the morning given I feel I never have time at nighttime (unless is very late) and the summer months in Houston make it very hard to run comfortably at night without feeling you are running into a pool of humidity. I normally run as soon as I wake up and the only food I normally have for any run is a banana. Since the treadmill purchase, I have had many runs during the day, or at night and my diet has changed as well before the run given I might have dinner and wait for an hour or so before jumping on the treadmill. Sunday long runs, I have always done with my wife; and we do them outside to keep our body accustomed to running outside no matter what happens with weather or any other factors that may affect your running like watching your watch for pace, gels, water, bathroom breaks, etc.
You just got a HUGE Half Marathon PR (Congrats!!) Tell us about your journey to get there.
There are many factors that helped me achieved this 9 min drop in a Half. I went from 2h 4 mins to 1h 55 mins breaking the 2 hour barrier. Moncef, my friend and runner had been telling me about his running coach Neely for over a year and I saw a very different type of commitment since he started training with her. Also, huge improvements in his knowledge on running given he started reading and listening a lot of podcasts and books on the subject. I had shared with him my running journey, and after many conversations on the subject, he suggested I should connect with the Get Running Team and get a coach for one race. It certainly paid off hugely…and I can visualize many more improvements and PRs that I can do after this initial training.
There are many things that contributed to my PR and I’m sure I’m missing some:
This was the first time I fully ran a race (I was running and walking before)
I had always been running with my wife as an “enjoyment” and keeping up the training and weight – this was the first time I followed my own training plan and while I would have my long run with my wife, I was fully committed and separated from her on my running “work day” commitment. We both have full time jobs and with 3 girls
I signed up for my own race in Napa, California without my wife so I felt the weight of running for myself and making a PR to break the 2 hour mark
I had normally run 3 times per week in prior trainings; this was the first time I increased to 4 times per week
Given the race was in July, I did over 60% of the short runs in the treadmill – very easy also to control speed/time there
Lastly and super important, I was with Bridget McGahen - a great training coach from the Get Running Team - throughout the training. We had many good interactions mostly remotely given we are in two different cities. I did talk to her once and had a video conference once before the race. Both were extremely useful to get to know each other and some specific tips for the race (which had inclines and declines) that I had never really train for
This is a great achievement, and I was able to enjoy the journey as well as the race day. I couldn’t have done it without my wife Marjorie, Moncef, my coach Bridget (and Neely who helped the weekend Bridget’s family was moving). I know I can drop this PR even more making a few adjustments. I’m ready for more.
What’s your proudest running moment?
You have probably notice I’m a team player and have always loved doing sports with friends. Given I have always run with my wife, my proudest running moment involve her. First, we ran our prior PR 2h 4 mins together and I absolutely felt amazing on that race, at the finish line we hold hands and finished together with a PR in March this year. Then, as a surprise, Marjorie decided to run her own race the same day I ran in Napa but in Spain by herself, no public, no water, absolutely by herself and she broke the 2 hour mark with 1h 59 mins. She did that 6 hours before I ran my Half in Napa given time difference and I felt so proud of her…and us. Marjorie will join me fully with her own coach from Get Running Team for her next race; it’s time for both us of to develop our full potential while enjoying our company
What’s next on your race calendar?
I’d like to work two key aspects of the race: speed and then flat racing with endurance. I’m planning on working on speed signing up for a 10k in October this year and then going for a PR in the Chevron Houston Half in January 2023. I have also talked to Bridget about running a full marathon but I want to make sure this time I don’t suffer any injuries. Given the mileage it takes and the dual career family with kids, I still don’t know if that is “my race”… only time will tell…
What’s your “why” when it comes to the daily grind?
I think this is the easiest question of all — my family: my wife, my parents, my 3 daughters — they are my “why” in everything I do. If I’m healthy both in body and mind, I can be better for them and the people I love.
What advice would you like to share with the Get Running team?
I wasn’t sure if getting a coach was the right move for me but it has made a huge impact on my performance. Moncef told me to “trust the process”… and here I am, going for a lot more. I like to be able to talk to someone (or do the runs with someone) given my personality enjoys the interaction with others while training. Finding a running partner, or even on the treadmill using Ifit while a coach speaks with you virtually, spending many coffees or lunches speaking with a friend about running, or finding a running team to do your long runs. I have realized there are ways to run “with a team” and enjoy the journey. Get Running Team has worked for me and I hope it works for you! Stay healthy and keep on running!
Race Results
Half Marathon
Alonso M // Napa - 1:55 (PR)
Heather C - 1:42
Todd F - 1:16 (PR)
Cait K - 1:24
Nicole S - 1:46 (PR)
10K
Lauren Y // Peachtree - 43:28
Danny P // Peachtree - 48:48
5K
Kara F - 18:58
Katy S - 20:40 (1st Female)
Kelly B - 20:24
Julie H - 17:40
May S - 19:59
Bree U - 18:16
Katie C - 19:03 (Altitude PR)
Kara F - 18:56
Other
Caitlin Y // 1mi - 6:31
Todd F // 1mi - 4:53
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