Sometimes talent isn’t discovered by vocation, but by accident. Andrés Cruz, Construction Designer at Vívaro, never imagined he would end up racing through mountains, winning podiums, and becoming part of a team that is now gaining national recognition. This is the story of how, without looking for it, he found in Trail Running and cycling a shared passion that took him from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Trail, Cycling, and Heart: The Birth of Our Team
I’m Andrés Cruz, Construction Designer at Vívaro.
It all began about seven years ago. I had always liked cycling, but running never caught my attention.
At first, I would just accompany my sister, Loto Escondido (her artistic name), to her races. The funny part is that shortly after, she started signing me up for events without telling me—she’d just hand me my bib number and say, “We’re running on this day.”
I don’t know exactly when it happened, but little by little, I grew to love the atmosphere—the cheers from the crowd—and I found myself enjoying Trail Running, especially for the chance to run up in the hills and take in the landscapes.
From the very start, when we began cycling together, we created a logo to identify ourselves as cyclists. Later, with Trail Running, we added new elements to that logo.
And that’s how our team “CHUNGAS MIXTECAS” was born. We started running in smaller, lesser-known races. But in particular, Loto began to stand out, earning her first podiums. For me, that was both inspiring and deeply rewarding.
Then one day, a new member joined us: Uncle Hektor. At first, he had no experience, but unlike me, he was passionate about running. Now he competes against Mexico’s elite runners—placing first, second, and third in races. And while running has never been my favorite, I’ve also earned a few podiums along the way.
When we’re not competing, we go hiking to enjoy the landscapes, climbing mountains such as:
- Iztaccíhuatl
- Nevado de Toluca
- Pico del Águila
- And forests near Mexico City
As for cycling, we’ve ridden through places starting from Ajusco, reaching:
- Otomí Ceremonial Center
- Oaxaca (Mixtec region)
- Paso de Cortés, at Iztaccíhuatl
- Tepoztlán
- Cuernavaca
- Lagunas de Zempoala
- Oaxtepec
- Chalma
- Stained Glass windows in Toluca
- Las Alas, in La Marquesa
It’s amazing to see the camaraderie you find out in the woods and on the roads—people offer help, cheer you on, and lift your spirits.
For me, it’s exciting to see how our team is now becoming known at a national level. It makes me proud to see how far they’ve come, and that’s the reason I’ll keep running.
I’ve learned that you don’t have to love something in order to excel at it. My greatest satisfaction would be to one day see my team compete abroad, representing our country.
