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Photo courtesy of Bertha Marineo
Financial analyst Bertha Marineo takes to the hills while
competing in 100-mile races, called ultramarathons.
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keeping fit, enjoying nature
Analyst runs the extra mile(s)
BY MARIE LOGGIA-KEE
UCLA Today
While most people battle traffic on the 405 after work, Bertha
Marineo, financial analyst for UCLA Asset Management, runs a seven-mile
path around campus.
Small in stature but large in strength, Marineo is constantly
in training for the next race. But she doesn’t run marathons,
which are a mere 26.2 miles long. Marineo competes in the ultramarathon,
a grueling race that can be nearly four times as long as a regular
marathon. Ultramarathons fall into three categories — 50K
(31 miles), 50 miles and 100 miles — and are held on mountain
trails, rather than on roads.
“A lot of people don’t believe it when I tell them,”
said Marineo, who in 1998 finished an ultramarathon in first place
in her age/sex category. If anyone needs proof, Marineo keeps a
cache of treasures at home — trophies and medallions from
the many ultramarathons she’s participated in — but
the modest athlete is reluctant to show them to anyone.
A 15-year UCLA employee, Marineo began running in 1994 after doing
aerobics for 20 years. She started by running 15 miles per week;
then, in 1995, she participated in the Los Angeles Marathon. From
there, she hit the mountain trails.
“I like nature and the beauty of the mountains. I pray,
I sing. It’s so beautiful. It really motivates me to sing
to the Lord, to thank him,” Marineo said. “I guess the
endorphins kick in.”
Now 58, Marineo is getting ready for a race hosted by Coyote FourPlay
in February. Coyote FourPlay race director Howard Cohen said that
he expects between 60-70 participants for the race, which will span
195 miles over six days through Los Padres National Forest and the
Santa Monica Mountains.
Marineo has run three 100-mile events, six 50-mile ones and “a
lot” of 50Ks. Where there is access to an aid station, her
husband, Lucio, waits for her with water, snacks and support. He
even trains with her on the weekends.
“He’s there all the time,” she explained. “He
pushes me. He goes with me, walks eight miles, and then he’ll
stay in the car to wait for me until I return.”
Marineo said that running helps keep her blood pressure in check.
Aside from the typical dangers of muscle strain and dehydration,
Marineo said that many times hikers take down the ribbons that mark
an event’s path, causing runners to lose their way.
“I’ve never had a problem with endurance,” Marineo
said, “but my major problem is getting lost. I have lost a
lot of time sometimes, trying to find my way.”
When she’s running, Marineo said that she doesn’t
think about how much farther she has to go; instead, she takes it
mile by mile.
“I don’t think, ‘I’m on mile 20, and I’ve
got 80 more to go,’ ” she said. “I think about
the next station, which is at mile 25. Pretty soon, I’m on
mile 30, then 35 ...”
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