Legendary: Winter Park 11-year-old finishes DeBary Marathon

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Legendary: Winter Park 11-year-old finishes DeBary Marathon
PHOTO COURTESY ADVENTHEALTH PRESENTS CENTRAL FLORIDA LEGENDS; CROSSING THE FINISH LINE — Evan Cepeda became the youngest person to finish the Central Florida Legends Skunk Ape Marathon in DeBary. He said it was fun to train, and to finish the race.

By JEN HORTON 

Evan Cepeda, a sixth grade student at Tuskawilla Middle School, finished the Central Florida Legends Marathon in DeBary in 3 hours and 28 minutes. He was the youngest participant in the local race, and, to make it even more impressive, it was Evan’s first marathon.

“It’s been a journey for him,” said Eurides Cepeda, Evan’s dad. “I’m just here as a support for him.” 

“Things went beautifully,” he said. “We hydrated, took electrolytes, took gels all on schedule. We had a plan.” 

Eurides Cepeda runs all of the races with his son, and they have been a dream team. But, he said, keeping up with his son can be challenging.

“His turbo boost at the end is insane,” he said. 

Evan talked about training and competition. The preteen said he likes to train and race. 

“It’s fun to compete,” Evan said. “And then I get better.” 

Evan said training was really important to achieve his goal. 

“It’s been my lifelong goal to complete a marathon,” Evan said. “I started training when I was 10.” 

He’d give this advice to anyone who wanted to run a marathon: “Keep training! Never give up!” 

His dad talked about how proud he was that his son did just that: trained and persevered. 

“Evan hit a wall at mile 25, and it was incredible to see him as he shattered that wall to pieces,” he said. “In the end, it’s about the mental strength and resilience.”

Evan agreed with his dad, “It was really hard, but I did it.”

Diane Romero-Lopez is the Treasurer/Director of West Volusia Runners (WVR), the local run club that hosts the Central Florida Legends race. 

“It is really exciting to see someone so young finish a marathon,” Romero-Lopez said. 

This was the sixth year of the race, and Evan is the youngest finisher.

“We have a WVR kids program, but it’s on an off session right now. The kids train six to eight weeks and get to run a 5K. We get local sponsors for that run.” 

Evan’s finish is unique, but local student participation is not. Many youth participate in the Central Florida Legends 5K or Half Marathon, and just as many volunteer to make the event great. 

“We work so hard to put together a great event for the community,” Romero-Lopez said. “We have volunteers at aid stations from Deltona High School Band, University High School Swim Team, Pine Ridge Soccer, Girl Scouts; we have a lot of help, and in return we donate back to those organizations.” 

The legendary race is in its sixth year. 

When looking for a race concept, a WVR member joked about hosting a Skunk Ape race, as a head-nod to Florida’s unique bigfoot legend. The idea grew legs, and those legs put on running shoes. From that conversation, the Central Florida Legends were born. 

The annual Central Florida Legends races pay tribute to old Florida legends, with the Fountain of Youth 5K, the Mermaid Half Marathon and the Skunk Ape Marathon. 

Evan and his dad finished the Skunk Ape Marathon, which is 26.2 miles. 

“People love this race,” Romero-Lopez said. “Our community is so welcoming. We have people from all over the country attend this run, and they love it.”

The run starts at Gemini Springs and uses the Spring-to-Spring trail as part of its course. Visitors and residents alike are impressed by the scenic beauty of the region. 

“A lot of out-of-towners tell us how much they love being here,” Romero-Lopez said. 

To learn more about the Central Florida Legends or WVR, find them on Facebook. 

Evan’s Story

Evan’s journey to the finish line in Gemini Springs started in kindergarten.  

Anthony Nittolo took over the cross-country coaching at Eastbrook Elementary School in Winter Park when Evan was in fourth grade. 

“In Seminole County, it’s [Cross-Country] a big program. We get a lot of support from GROW and TrackShack,” Nittolo said. “Elementary schools in Seminole have cross-country before school. 

He coached Evan for two years. He said Evan was such a great leader that he elevated the entire team. 

“Evan was so fast it created a trickle-down effect,” Nittolo said. “The second-fastest runner was always being pushed by Evan’s speed to do better, and this year that student has taken on a leadership role.” 

Even though Evan is in middle school now, his positive influence remains. 

“Evan was always focused on practice,” Nittolo said 

Nittolo’s program started with 30 students, and now has more than 70. 

Keturah Hennis, the cross-country coach at Tuskawilla Middle School, talked about Evan’s performance in practice. 

“Evan has been super easy to teach,” she said. “He’s very coachable. He’s very humble. He listens to instruction.” 

She said it’s been a pleasure to coach someone who’s so passionate about the sport. 

Evan’s dad, Eurides, works with him at home too, especially while on the journey to a marathon. Training to create endurance and prevent injury is important, but his son is still a normal kid. 

“You have to make it fun too,” Eurides Cepeda said. “We do a lot of different things to prepare. 

He said the request for a longer distance was a surprise. 

“I did not want him to focus on long distances. In school, they run shorter distances.” 

It was a challenge for Eurides to develop a healthy training program that built the kind of endurance Evan needed for a marathon, while also building the speed he needs to compete in his cross-country team. But he wanted to support his son, so he pulled on his running shoes too, and they got to work. 

“We tailor training for him. We do body checks all of the time,” his dad said. “If anything hurts, we stop.” The training is intense at times, but Eurides said it was a time he used to bond with his son, and to keep the training fun. 

“It’s two to three hours where all we do is bond and talk about life, and his goals, and I talk with him,” he said. 

Eurides was the captain of his cross-country running team in college. 

“I’ve always been interested in running,” he said. “It’s my escape from the world, to be by myself with my thoughts. To get a clear picture in my head and focus on my thoughts.” 

He dropped off running for a while, and came back to coach his son.  

“He tells me what he wants,” Eurides said. “I’m not directing his goals.” 

And Evan’s goals are lofty: He wants to be in the Olympics. 

“Evan has a natural talent,”  Eurides said. “I have two other kids, and they do not have this skill.” 

The current world marathon record for an 11-year-old was set in 1969 by Wesley Paul, at two hours and 50 minutes. Paul also set the world record for the 12-year-old group at three hours and two minutes. 

Evan finished his marathon at three hours and 28 minutes, and he’s just getting started.  

“This was Evan’s first marathon, and we now have to switch back our focus from distance to speed for cross-country,” Eurides said. 

Evan said he wants to inspire kids of all ages to run.

“His passion is a reminder that it’s never too early, or too late, to lace up your shoes and chase your potential,” Eurides Cepeda said. 

Evan shared his final thoughts on racing, and sharing time with his dad: “I like it. I like how we get to train and do races. It’s fun.

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