Mi perfil en EMC...

EMC's 2009 Worldwide Boston Marathon Team

Thanks to friend Maro, this Lima, Peru-based employee makes Boston his first full marathon

When Carlos Narro Vigo crosses the starting line of the prestigious Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, he will be thanking Maro—the person who made his participation in this race possible.

“She’s my coach, my physiotherapist, and one of my best friends,” says Carlos, Senior Consultant, EMC Content Management and Archiving, based in Lima, Peru.

That’s because Maro returned Carlos to good running health after he suffered a serious leg injury playing soccer, one of his other sporting pastimes. “Because this is my first marathon and I’m recently recovered from an injury, she told me my training should be based on time and not distance, and she’s gradually been increasing the time. Now, I’m feeling stronger and faster than before the injury. In fact, I’ve run 180 minutes in my mind, just thinking about it,” he quips.

In fact, Carlos has been a soccer aficionado far longer than he’s been a runner. About two years ago, he took up running for enjoyment. Then he began to increase his runs, joined a running club, and entered races until 2007 when he signed up for his first half marathon, held in Lima.

“I started slowly and steadily have improved my time. So far, all of my races have been in Lima, from 5Ks to 21Ks,” says Carlos.

Between those half marathons, he set his sights on running a full marathon in 2008 but was unable to find the time to train. This year, when EMC opened up its 20 race slots worldwide, Carlos, an employee of just one year, jumped at the chance.

“I figured this could be my first chance to run a full marathon. But the day I received the e-mail congratulating me on making EMC’s first worldwide marathon team, I couldn’t believe it. I was going to represent EMC and fulfill one of my personal goals for 2009 in Boston, the premier marathon,” he recalls.

Carlos’s enthusiasm has spilled over into the workplace where three of his colleagues actually accepted his invitation to train with him. But if he thought he’d have some EMCers as training companions, his hope was soon dashed.

“They weren’t used to running, so after the first mile, two of them started having pains in their calves and knees. The next day, I heard all about their aches and pains. Needless to say, they didn’t run with me again,” says Carlos. “But they continued to encourage me in my training.”

To make sure he’d be fully prepared for his first full marathon, Carlos downloaded a Marathons for Dummies guide but admits, “I didn’t read it…I just looked at the pictures.” Of more value, he says, has been the Boston Marathon subsite on EMC ONE that is devoted to the company’s marathon team. Carlos says he has found helpful tips there—but runs each of them by Maro before incorporating them into his training regimen.

Running for others

Running has become popular in Lima in recent years. Races that benefit charities are frequently organized by businesses for their employees and customers as well as communities. Carlos’s races, to date, have been run to benefit children with cleft lips and Down Syndrome.

“It’s true your fatigue disappears when you see the children waiting for you at the finish line with open arms as a gesture of thanks,” he says.

Because of the poverty in Peru, it is unusual for its citizens to support a charitable organization in the U.S., but Carlos is confident he can reach the $2,500 fundraising goal. EMC will match the funds raised by each member of Team EMC and will donate the money to the Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center in Hopkinton, a BAA-approved organization that EMC sponsors. To prepare for the marathon and accomplish his goals, Carlos has set up a website and blog to inform anyone who is interested about his training, the ways one can donate, and, ultimately, to record his experiences in Boston. One thing he hasn’t set is a time goal.

“My goal is just to finish it,” he concludes. “I’m preparing for it daily because this is going to be my marathon, and I want to enjoy it from start to finish.”

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“I’d like to participate in this race and share this experience with all my EMC colleagues around the world. … Here in Peru I run for special kids with Down Syndrome … and I’d like to run now to support US children. … The [EMC] team is going to have a new Peruvian EMC friend who is going to run for the team.” —Carlos Narro Vigo (excerpt from his Marathon application essay)