Michele Perez: “Supporting One Another Is the Only Way We Can Continue Moving Forward as a Community”
Michele Perez and Coach Mike Alcaide at the 2024 Lola Challenge Weekend.
Michele Perez started running 10 years ago after her first daughter was born. She said she had postpartum depression and a friend suggested she try an outdoor activity.
“Being active was not new to me. I have always exercised and gone to the gym. I searched Facebook and came across several run clubs. I began attending group runs for the social aspect,” Michele said.
Those first few years she was primarily a social runner. She wore tutus to races with the intent to just have fun, but then a couple of years ago, she decided to take her running to the next level.
In 2022 she met Mike Alcaide, a certified running coach who, back then, was a two-time Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star finisher. This year he completed his third Six Star finish making him the first 3-time Six Star finisher of Puerto Rican descent.
“Being of Puerto Rican descent, [Mike] understands the barriers that Latino men and Latina women have had to overcome in order to share the running field with others,” she said.
In the months leading up to the marathon, Michele joined Global Running Crew to train for the 2024 Tokyo Marathon. Mike started the group after the 2023 RBC Brooklyn Half and said he has purposely kept it small so that it’s a “tight knit group.” He coaches and travels with the runners to races near and far. He recently traveled with the team to Puerto Rico for the 2024 Lola Challenge Weekend.
Michele fundraised for Plan International, an organization that advances the quality of life for girls in over 80 countries, for the Tokyo Marathon.
“This [organization] is near and dear to my heart as I have two daughters, and a huge part of my motivation comes from me wanting to show my children that as girls they can do anything their hearts desire,” she said.
After Tokyo she set her sights on Boston, the final race she needed to complete her Six Star journey. She trained with Mike again but this time she hired him for one-to-one coaching. She knew Boston was a tough course with a strict time limit and she needed the dedicated coaching to complete the marathon under six hours, her typical marathon finishing time.
“Mike taught me that if I put in the necessary training, I'll make it to my goals. He would always remind me that running is hard and that it takes time. Goals aren't met overnight. It takes weeks and months of dedication to see change. He also taught me to believe in myself,” she said.
Michele ran the Boston Marathon with Team for Kids, and through generous support from her friends and family raised $5000 in less than seven weeks. She also became 1 of 18 women representing Puerto Rico as an Abbott World Marathon Six Star finisher!
“I am a proud wife, mother of two amazing, strong, beautiful girls, a full-time working professional and proud Latina woman, who also happens to also be a Six Star Finisher. I share my Six Star journey with others often. Always offering words of encouragement and willing to give advice.”
She said she couldn’t believe that she a Latina woman, finished the Boston Marathon. Mike greeted her at the finish line.
“It was a very proud moment for me as a coach to see one of my athletes reach a life goal and to achieve it at the iconic Boston Marathon was truly amazing. Her emotions and tears of at that moment were so heart felt,” Mike said.
As a Latina runner, Michele says there is an overwhelming amount of support. “We support one another because we know that supporting one another is the only way we can continue moving forward as a community.”