At 11 am on June 20, Abraham Garrido, PUC enrollment counselor and alum, summited Mt Whitney—the highest mountain in the contiguous United States, with an elevation of 14,505 feet. Along with his friends and recent PUC alums Bianca Le’Giu, Tyler Williams, and his brother Pablo Garrido, it took them exactly five and a half hours to make it to the top.

By running 50-60 miles (or 8-12 hours) a week and completing multiple ultra-marathon races, this consistent training mentally and physically prepared him for these summits. While this was his first time running up to 14k feet, he’s reached 11k feet in some of his races, this trek was still much harder than his other races. Abraham kindly shared his experience summiting Mt. Whitney.

Have you done anything like this before?

This was my first time running up to 14k feet. In some of my races, I’ve reached 11k feet, but this trek was definitely a lot harder than many of the other projects and races I’ve done in the past.

Why did you start running? What attracted you to the sport?

My little brother was one of the biggest reasons I started running. Seeing him go on incredible adventures in the mountains inspired me to run. The community surrounding running also attracted me to the sport—everyone is so supportive and excited to explore.

What was the most memorable part of this adventure?

The most memorable part of this adventure was completing it with my brother. Being inspired by him for years and finally completing an adventure we had talked about for years was truly memorable.

Before this, what was your most memorable running trip? 

Before summiting Mt. Whitney, my most memorable running trip was completing the Canyons 100k in 2023. It was particularly memorable because, after failing to complete the race in 2022, I committed myself to finish it the following year. Reaching this milestone showed me what my body was capable of and highlighted the joy of sharing experiences like these with friends and family.

Why is running important to you? What do you enjoy most about it?

Running brings me peace and a sense of freedom. I love how it has allowed me to meet amazing people and experience incredible adventures.

Besides physical fitness, how does running benefit you?

Running has helped with my mental health and my relationship with God. I feel closest to God when I’m out in nature.

What do you do if you get discouraged? How do you deal with that? 

When I get discouraged, I remind myself of why I started running in the first place and the joy it brings me. I also reflect on past accomplishments and how far I’ve come. Connecting with my supportive running community and talking to friends and family tends to help. Sometimes, taking a short break to rest and recharge is all I need to regain my motivation.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in running or just starting?

For those interested in running or just starting, my advice is to start slow and gradually build up your mileage to avoid injury. Set small, achievable goals and celebrate your progress along the way. Find a running group or community for support and motivation. Most importantly, enjoy the journey and the freedom that running brings. Consistency and patience are key—over time, you’ll see improvement and experience the many benefits of running.