By: Vanessa Galvan
Vanessa Galvan is a long-time runner in the San Fernando Valley running community. As she continues her training, we’d love to help send her to the Los Angeles Marathon 2024. If you or anyone you know has access to a bib, please let us or Vanessa know!
To me, running is my safe zone, my escape, and my coping mechanism.
I’ve been running since I was 21, but my love of the sport goes much deeper than that. I’ve had a passion for running since middle school, when I enjoyed competing against my classmates in P.E.
But there were always obstacles. I tried out for cross country at my small charter school in Inglewood, but it was expensive and I lacked some of the resources needed to participate regularly. In high school, we didn’t have a track but I played soccer and loved running around the field.
When I started running regularly, it was very challenging. I was uncomfortable and it hurt. But when I was 22, after I had my son (who is 9 now), I started to feel healthy results and it felt different. I began going to various running groups around the San Fernando Valley, including the New Basin Blues and Tuesday Night Track at Birmingham High School. I trained with my son, pushing him in a running stroller until he was 4!
“You know what’s weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon…everything’s different.”
Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes
I started to sign up for 5ks. At the 2016 Ventura 5k, I ran a 21:45 and placed second in my age division–while pushing my son in the stroller! Then I trained for my first half in San Diego; I ran a 1:50, my son ran his first kids trot, and my twin sister ran her first 5k. It was everything to me.
When I finished, I cried with joy. I was amazed at what I’d accomplished. From struggling to finish 2 miles to completing a half and more than 30 5ks, I was so proud of how far I’d come with my own running and I was so glad to make a good impact on others.
I realized after that how much running meant to my mental health. I can keep going even if it’s is hard and that mindset has helped me learn how to keep depression and anxiety at bay, especially after having my son and when I faced stressors and hardships during the pandemic. I worked through those ups and downs while training and ran my first marathon during Covid (the Mountains 2 Beach virtual) with my family and friends by my side as I ran from Playa del Rey to Redondo Beach and back.
In 2023, I ran the LA Marathon even faster than at M2B (a 4:05!), advocating for running as an outlet that supports mental health. My persistence with running taught me how to endure such difficult times and I wanted to help others to discover its all-encompassing benefits. Through running and challenging yourself, you can find that you are capable of so much more than you ever thought.
Last November, my 9-year-old woke up and decided to run the Noho Drumstick Dash 5k with me. His first 5k! I was so proud that he was inspired and saw me as a role model; this is my goal with running. I hope to be able to help people change their lives for the better.
It’s 2024 and I’m training for my 3rd marathon. I will continue to be an advocate for mental health and offer support those who have been through challenging times, especially since Covid-19.
Sometimes, things are so difficult but the feeling is only temporary. Running showed me that through enduring the challenges of training, we will get stronger and we can come out on top.
LA Running Connoisseur 
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