PUC Enrollment Counselor & Alum Summits Mt. Whitney

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.

The inspiration behind this escapade and the reason he started running was from his little brother Pablo. “Seeing him go on incredible adventures in the mountains inspired me to run,” shared Garrido. He also mentioned that the running community being supportive and his excitement to explore attracted him to the sport.

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

Before summiting Mt. Whitney, Garrido completed the Canyons 100K last year. After not finishing the race in 2022, he made it his goal to accomplish it the next time. Accomplishing the race was a memorable event for Garrido as it was a milestone that showed what his body was capable of and shared his joy of running with his family and friends.

“Running brings me peace and a sense of freedom,” shared Garrido. “I love how it has allowed me to meet amazing people and experience incredible adventures. Running has helped with my mental health and my relationship with God. I feel closest to God when I’m out in nature.”

Anyone who runs or has tried knows the toll it takes on physical and mental health. In times of discouragement, Garrido reminds himself of why he started running in the first place and reflects on past accomplishments and how far he’s come. For extra encouragement, he connects with his running community, friends, and family. To balance this hobby and keep this joy in his life, Garrido knows that sometimes taking a short break to recharge is all he needs to reclaim motivation.

His advice for those interested in running is to start slow and gradually build up mileage to avoid injury.  “Set small, achievable goals and celebrate your progress along the way,” shared Garrido. “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.”