Pace and Persistence: Fabrizio Guzman’s Journey from a Daily Mile to State Finals
Fabrizio’s journey has proven that running can be for anyone willing to show up, stay patient, and commit. After starting a daily mile in 7th grade to improve his health and fitness, Fabrizio Guzman (AIMS College Prep, Class of 2027) reflects on how he joined the cross-country team at his parents’ encouragement.
That simple decision—to just start running—became the foundation of everything that’s followed. His progress hasn’t been overnight. Over three years of high school cross country, his success has been built on small, steady improvement and a maturing mindset. Early on, he obsessed over times:
“I would always focus a lot more on the time… but that didn’t really work out. I would push too hard and maybe I would get an injury.”
Experience has helped him become a smarter and more patient runner, allowing him to stay healthy through the very end of the season. His approach paid off this past fall when he qualified for the 2025 CIF State Cross Country Championships for the first time.
Lining up at the start line for his final race of the season, surrounded by the fastest runners, he reminded himself,
“Just do your best… You’re with the fastest runners in the whole state. Just do your best. Don’t compare yourself to others. Just push through.”
As he describes it, the race turned out to be “the most difficult race I’ve had,” with a brutal late hill he hadn’t expected. But he finished, proud of what his consistency, hard work, and determination allowed him to do. As the only member of his team to qualify for the state meet, Fabrizio hopes his success serves as an example for his teammates. He believes that his journey can instill a sense of dedication in others, showing that “if you train really hard, you could get to that point.”
This success is only the start. His sights are set on going even further next season—aiming for a sub-16 5K. Fabrizio’s evolution involves more than just speed; he’s embraced the discipline of ‘Zone 2’ training, focusing on easy, consistent miles to build a foundation for his new goals.
His commitment to running is unwavering and lifelong. As he puts it, “I’ve been thinking, I’d be running for the rest of my life.”
Guzman’s advice to new runners or those thinking about starting comes from experience.
“If you’re any person who just wants to improve their lifestyle in any way or just wants to compete or do something new, I say running is a good way to start off with that… If it’s your first year, I’d say just see where you are and try to improve from that.”