Most runners can relate to what Isaiah and Paulo did on their first race together: in their excitement, they took off way too fast. There’s a pretty decent hill around mile 3 on the Golden Gate Half course and Paulo gassed out there. Turns out there’s not a lot of hills in Stockton where they were training, compared to San Francisco’s famous hills.
Isaiah gave it his all and his steam was gone around mile 8 while they were on the bridge. It was all adrenaline carrying them to the finish – they even got some gel help from an older runner who became the pacing gift they needed to follow and finish. They finished their very first half in 3 hours and were hurting – so of course, they ate their body weight in sushi!
“I think I fell in love – I now know what the runners high is” was Isaiah’s first reaction to his finish and he knew immediately he’d not only be running another but planning out his year to take on more challenges. He decided 2020 was the year to sign up for every run possible, do this “running thing everywhere and in everything I can.”
And then like so many runners, he had to turn to virtual running because of the pandemic and races being cancelled across California and the US. Out of that was born Isaiah’s YouTube running personality and brand where he shared his love of running with everyone. There was just one thing missing – the crowds.
Isaiah missed the crowd of people at races. “It’s amazing, there are random strangers who wake up to cheer you on – there’s nothing like it or seeing what other runners are doing, all the energy of it together!”
When things opened up, Isaiah started hosting his own runs in his local Stockton area. He started with the High 5 For Teachers at a time when teachers were working even harder than they already do because of remote and hybrid learning – needed a ‘high five’ so the 5k was born. What he didn’t realize is just how much support there’d be for it – it sold out the first in 2021 and has grown year over year with national sponsorship coming out to support. Isaiah’s running event company now produces five races (High 5 For Teachers, Taco The Town, Run For Brains, Santa Dash and Stock-10) and growing, all to support various charity organizations and the Stockton, CA community.
Isaiah taking on the full challenge!
So what prompted Isaiah to take on the full Golden State Challenge this year when he’s run and been an ambassador for both Napa to Sonoma and Golden Gate Half?
When he realized Bay to Breakers was now part of the series, he signed up. And then he realized he’s just one race away from THE infamous medal for completing four races. How can you pass that up? Well, with a family of five and demanding jobs as both a middle school teacher and race company director, heading to Southern California proved tough for Isaiah. So he went back to the second best way to experience a race, that he was practically a pro at, and signed up virtually for Surf City 10 in Huntington Beach – and he ran it in Stockton! Three in person and one virtually – whatever combo works for you, works for us.
That meant in 2024 Isaiah not only qualified for his first Golden State Challenge but his first half marathon in 2019, the Golden Gate Half, would be the finishing site where he picked up his extra special medal and celebrated his accomplishment.
Isaiah loves the beautiful feeling of a challenge. In many ways, while running can be somewhat of a team sport, at the end of the day – it’s you taking those steps. “It’s a constant me-challenge – do I have the stamina, did the hard work I’ve been putting into the training pay off, how committed am I to improving?”
And the GSC locations? Beautiful destination races showing off the beauty of California. “All the races are absolutely beautiful. It is motivating to get a medal from all these places, see all these cool cities and to also get a medal – for what you already love doing and for challenging yourself.”
We asked Isaiah if he was going to do the GSC again in 2025 and his enthusiastic reply is music to our ears: he’s aiming for 6 races next year! Even if he ‘only does 4, he’ll be happy. But he wants to see the other races – it is a reason and a chance to travel and see Southern California and bring his wife and three kids to the finish line.
Next year Isaiah’s Golden State Challenge will be a family affair!
