Forever Pirates -- Ludi Valdez
This week's second Forever Pirates features former state champion runner Ludi Valdez, who ran for the Pirate in women's cross country and track and field from 2003-2005.
In my wildest dream, I am a DREAMer.
I was born in Durango, Mexico, a northern state, and a western state because of the traditional cowboy lifestyle -- rancho, dirt, animals, boots, and horses. My life took a sudden change when at 2 years old I lost my father in a car accident that took his life along with three other family members. Our world had come crashing down on us. Nothing could repair the loss. My mother decided what was best for her and me considering the devastating effect of losing her partner. We made the journey to a better life and future and we headed north to the U.S. Growing up in Santa Ana, I grew up in a poor immigrant community. Gang life in the 1990s was a norm, and propositions against immigrants were part of my childhood. Although those sentiments affected my confidence, my stability, and safety, deep in those fearful memories I had positive memories too and one that stands out now more than ever ... being an athlete, a cross country and track runner.
I grew up to be bossy, sassy, smart, focused, competitive, and athletic. I joined the cross country team in the sixth grade because my neighbor joined. I did not even know what we were there to do. Cross-country running? Never heard of it. I probably took my Converse shoes, t-shirt, and jean shorts on the first run. My mother was puzzled about the choice of sport. "A girl running?" she would ask. I would tell her, "Yes mom ... I run and compete against other runners to see who is the fastest." She accompanied me to my first race. I think she was just checking in on me, honestly, I think she thought I made it up. She was still confused and not convinced that girls could participate, and running is a sport that she never imagined existed. In her rancho in Mexico, girls did not run, compete, or play because they were homemakers ... cooking, washing, and cleaning. This was an acculturation process. She let me participate as long as I was turning in schoolwork, prioritizing my education, and being responsible. Therefore, I did, I participated, I ran, and competed. Running cross country was challenging and as the saying goes, "My sport is your sports punishment".
By the time, I entered my freshman year at Estancia High School, I was the fastest runner in the P.E. class and Coach Carlisle suggested that I enroll in the track team. That spring season, I found the cross country runners were the best and strongest runners on the track. Coach Charlie Appell with his raspy voice and serious attitude (which usually lasted five minutes before he starts joking with you), motivated me to join cross country. Coach made running fun and had high expectations and he never gave up on his kids. I was still just an okay runner, nothing special, but I had other things on my mind. I had growing up to do, which was not an easy task as an undocumented kid. It was time to think about the future, college, education, and jobs. I was lost, discouraged, frustrated, careless, and bothered that I was not a "normal kid". I wanted to go on a family vacation, get a driver's license, go out to parties, send college applications, and get excited, but that was not my reality. I remember being late to class, cutting class, dropping out of advanced classes and my running suffered too. I was sent to the vice principal's office and he thought I was just another bad kid, and then he opened up my grade sheet and said, "You have good grades ... are you planning to go to college?" I was not a recruited athlete, I barely had the stamina to graduate, I made it look easy, but it was hard to navigate my emotions, environment, life circumstances, school, and other family struggles.
On the first day on campus at Orange Coast College, I found my running angel, Coach David Fier. He truly was a foundation block to all the accomplishments to come. Coach Fier approached me at the counseling office. He recognized me, told me about my running event times in high school, and I thought this man is "weird", I am nobody and he is treating me as if I am somebody special to be proud of. He convinced me to come out for a run with the team, led by Coach Marco Ochoa and Coach John Knox. I sat there at the team meeting, listening to their past accolades and triumphs, and the anticipations already placed on the season ahead of us. Cross Country State Champions! That is what I walked into -- a Championship team! In my wildest dreams, I thought.
Orange Coast College has a tradition of producing individual and team state champions. I thought this is my chance as a student-athlete to earn a scholarship to help pay for my education. I was about to drastically shift my mindset. My physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities flourished. Cross country season took off and I had to catch up. The 2003 cross country season ran exactly as predicted. The women and men's team won the Orange Empire Conference, Southern California Championships, and California Community College State Championships ... history for men and women teams. As a freshman at OCC, I snagged the last medal at the State Meet, coming in at 14th place individually clocking in 19:03 for the 3.1-mile course, and was the fourth runner for the team score. Humberto Rojas (individual State Champion 2003 & 2004), my childhood friend, neighbor, and high school teammate made my athletic participation more meaningful. Track season in the spring of 2004, I accomplished my personal best in multiple events. I won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the state meet ... first place in the State of California! Unreal, I thought. That triumph solidified my confidence to become the best runner in the state.
That summer of 2004 we realized that this magic was not going to last forever because OCC is a two-year college. We could only imagine the powerhouse OCC could be if it was a four-year school. Our coaches are world-class, smart, classy and the teachers are excellent. The athletic counselors care and advised us so that we could transfer on time, and lastly, the grounds crew always kept the track and facilities in beautiful condition. Everything OCC provided was with the intent to support, develop, and advance student-athletes to higher education and personal best. That summer, I trained with one goal in mind -- to win the cross country state championship. I would sometimes challenge the men in practice and catch up to them on our "easy" 8-mile runs. Maybe I was running too hard but I was living for this moment, I had never worked this hard in my life and I was seeing the results. Coach Fier constantly motivated me, "all those miles are like coins being put into the piggy bank," he would say to me. Every mile I ran was for my scholarship to my dream school. Coach Ochoa always had the right words to say to us to keep us fired up. His training schedule was purposeful, methodically laid out and executed ... it was harmony.
My second year at OCC was phenomenal. 2004-2005 was a year of pain, tears, and it took endless physical grit and emotional energy to win every single race I competed. I was the best community college runner in the state, and my teammates were the best in the state also. Individually, I won the Orange Empire Conference and conference MVP award, Southern California Championships, and finally the winner of the California Community College State Championships with a time of 18:08. Track season I achieved more accolades ... At the OEC Championships, I got first place in the 1500-meter, 5,000-meter, 10,000-meter, and helped our 4x400 relay to a first-place finish. At the Southern California Championships, I got first place in the 1500 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters. And, at the California Community College Track & Field Championship, I won state in the 5,000, 10,000 and second place in the 1,500.
The memories created at OCC will last a lifetime. The friendships I developed I still cultivate. Friendships with Gabriella Santana, Yuriana Hernandez, Humberto Rojas, Jose Casillas, and Patrick Fitzgerald are permanent. From getting kicked out of practice for laughing too much, running camp shenanigans, our coach threatening to drop me from the team if I missed another Saturday practice (because of work), bus rides, eating Doritos and a Gatorade for lunch, the struggle and the laughter is all one great experience. I accomplished all of this athletic glory without missing a class or a grade. I graduated with A's and B's, made the Dean's List both years with an overall 3.44 GPA, and accomplished four individual state titles and 2-team titles.
Two years that shaped my character and work ethic. Two years of opportunity and transformation. I arrived at OCC as a timid caterpillar and I left as a fierce butterfly. Strong wings that elevated me to a full-ride scholarship to Long Beach State University. I ran a personal best in track and field -- a 16:48 for the 5,000-meter, qualifying me for the West Regional NCAA Division 1 race. I also placed third for the 10,000 meters at the Big West Conference Track & Field Championships, and set an indoor school record for the 5,000, along with other personal bests. I graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.
In 2018, I graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Masters Degree in social work. I currently work as a clinician for a shelter of unaccompanied children that cross the U.S. border as refugees.
I am a proud advocate and product of my community college and continue to wear my OCC blue and orange. I am a Trojan, a 49'er, but most importantly, I am a Pirate! I am proud to be a FOREVER PIRATE!
