Elevate Fitness Trainer’s Incredible Story of Strength

Elevate Fitness trainer Jason Sangistevan set two goals at the beginning of the year. The first goal was to complete his first full marathon, and the second was to raise money for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital in the process.

Over the past few months during his training, with the help of Elevate Fitness and community members, Sangistevan managed to raise more than $1,000 for St. Jude’s. Now he just needed to tackle the marathon to complete his goal in its entirety.

He had selected a marathon in Green Bay, Wisconsin to take place Sunday, May 19. After months of training and preparation, the day before he was to fly out with his family complications with their travel plans halted the trip. Not wanting to give up on his goal, he decided to run by himself here in Menifee. So while the Menifee Half Marathon was taking place, Sangistevan was running a full marathon on his own predetermined path.

His family and friends knew of his plan and stood by ready to make it happen. But what he didn’t anticipate was the incredible amount of support that would ultimately come forth. On Sunday morning at 7:15 a.m., he started his journey in front of Elevate Fitness with a few close supporters. Elevate owner Paul David road alongside on a bike, offering encouragement and ensuring he was feeling good.

His incredible wife and wonderful children met him every three miles with water and praise. Throughout his run, he noticed his gathering of personal supporters continually expanding.

“Around mile 20, the pain was intense, but I made the decision to push through and keep going,” he recalls.

As he fought through the pain, he came around the next corner to a huge surprise -- a crowd of over 15 family members, friends, and community members there to cheer him on. On an ordinary day Sangistevan trains others, but on this day, the tables had turned. It was now his own clients pushing him to keep going, motivating him when he thought he couldn’t go on. In all its irony, those he had trained in the past were using his own words of encouragement to carry him through to the end.

“You got this,” could be heard all around.

By the end of mile 26, his entourage included support vehicles, a throng of people running around him, and his wife right by his side, holding his hand across the finish line.

“It was the best experience. I couldn’t have done it without all my supporters and especially my wife,” he says.

Elevate Fitness employees aim to support and inspire in every way they can.

Elevate Fitness
29683 New Hub Drive, Suite D
Menifee, CA 92586
(951) 301-4499
Hours: Monday through Friday; 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. & Saturday; 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Like them on Facebook!