More Than a Marathon: Running for Latinos Progresando

Everyone has a reason for running a marathon. Maybe it’s to set a personal record, check an item off their bucket list, or simply find a way to manage stress. For Jessica Vences and Edgar Munoz, they’re lining up for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with an even bigger goal in mind: raising money and awareness for Latinos Progresando.

Latinos Progresando’s mission is to elevate the well-being of the Mexican community by amplifying Mexican voices and increasing representation, building connections that promote well-being and wealth, and providing a strong foundation through immigration legal services. 

Jessica and Edgar are members of Latinos Progresando’s Run 4 Latinos team, helping raise funds and awareness for the organization through their marathon journey. We asked Jessica and Edgar to share how they got started running and what it means to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon as part of Run 4 Latinos.

When did you first start running, and why did you decide to start?

Jessica

I started running on my own when I was 15. To be completely honest, I didn't really enjoy it at the time, but I loved the solitude it gave me and the chance to be outside and fully present in the moment. In my 20s, I started running more consistently, and it’s funny to see how something I once disliked has turned into something I genuinely love.

Over time, I’ve learned to appreciate both the challenge and the discomfort that comes with the sport. One of the biggest reasons I returned to running was because I missed the feeling it gives me. Running forces me to be present with my mind, body, and surroundings in a way that few other things do, and that sense of connection was something I realized I had been missing.

Edgar 

I first started running in the military. From day one of training, it felt like we were running everywhere. At the time, running was more something I had to do. Eventually, I started doing the occasional 5K or 10K around Thanksgiving. After leaving the military, my running days seemed to be behind me.

A few years later, I started signing up for the Carrera de Los Muertos in Pilsen. It became a tradition, and it is a race I still participate in today. I also ran the Bank of American Chicago Marathon in 2018. I am proud that I finished it and had fun, but the truth is I did not train properly. I did the occasional run beforehand, but there was no real training plan. Sheer willpower got me to the finish line, but there was absolutely no gas left in the tank.

So, in many ways, 2026 is a do-over for me. But I probably would not have even thought about signing up again if I had not volunteered at the Latinos Progresando cheer station during the 2025 Bank of American Chicago Marathon. Watching the runners come through, feeling their energy and realizing that people were taking on this enormous personal challenge while also raising money for the community planted the idea. Somewhere during that day, I started thinking maybe I should do this again.

What is your favorite part of training for a marathon?

Jessica

My favorite part of training is proving to myself that I can do hard things. Every new distance milestone feels like a reminder of how capable I am. Training for my first marathon has been incredibly eye-opening, and I've been amazed by my body's ability to adapt, grow stronger, and accomplish things I once thought were out of reach. It's been rewarding to watch myself grow stronger with each week of training.

Edgar

My favorite part is probably the positive energy I get after completing a training session, especially a long run. Every time I reach a new distance, my confidence grows a little more. I have also really enjoyed the preparation itself: learning about pacing, fueling, recovery, what works for me, and what to expect on race day. I did none of that for my first marathon, so this entire process has been a different experience.

But one of the biggest surprises has been discovering the running community. It goes beyond the people I train with. You can be running alone on a trail, pass another runner, exchange a nod or a smile, or encourage each other as you go by. There is this quiet understanding that we are all out there working toward something. I have really enjoyed becoming part of that.

What motivates you to keep pushing through tough days during training?

Jessica

A tough day for me might look like not being able to complete the full distance I planned or feeling dizzy during a speed workout. On those days, I lean on a few things to keep me moving forward. My family and friends have been my biggest support system throughout this training season, reminding me that if I don't get there today, I'll get there with time. They encourage me to give myself and my body grace, patience, and kindness. 

I also find motivation in looking back at how far I've come. When I compare where I started to what I'm capable of now, it puts everything into perspective. Knowing I've overcome difficult days before reminds me that one tough workout doesn't define my journey. I've had plenty of bad days throughout training, and getting through them has taught me that setbacks are temporary and progress comes from showing up consistently.

Edgar

There have been workouts I have missed, days when work or life got in the way, weather that changed the plan, and runs where my legs simply did not feel great. I have had to learn to focus less on a perfect training schedule and more on moving forward. A big lesson for me has been patience and trusting the process.

It is actually very different from some of what I learned during my military days. Back then, training often meant pushing yourself as hard as you could and then finding a way to push a little farther. Marathon training has taught me that discipline can also mean knowing when to hold something back. Sometimes it is better to save some for later, recover, and come back stronger rather than expend everything you have. But more importantly, knowing that I am running for something larger than my own finish time gives me another reason to keep showing up.

Can you tell us about your experience with being an athlete with Fleet Feet Training? Do you have a favorite memory of training so far?

Jessica

Signing up for Fleet Feet Training has been one of the best things I've done for myself this marathon training season. As someone training for my first marathon, I spent months building mileage on my own, constantly pushing for longer distances but not always prioritizing recovery the way I should have.

Training with Fleet Feet has given me so much confidence in both myself and the work I've been putting in. It's helped me trust the process and believe that all of this training will get me to the finish line. I love our group runs, and I've met so many amazing people along the way. More than anything, that's been my favorite part: the community. Every time I look around, whether it's to my left, right, ahead, or behind me, I see inspiring people who are all working toward their own goals. Being part of that supportive environment has made this marathon journey even more meaningful.

Edgar

Fleet Feet Training has probably been the biggest difference between preparing for this marathon and my experience with my previous marathon. I will admit that I was hesitant at first. The first time I showed up, I felt completely out of place. In my head, I was already dreading having to be in “networking mode.”  I didn't even take out my earbuds during that first run. Then people just started talking to me. My pacer asked what I was training for. Other runners started sharing their stories and asking about my goals. Before long, I realized nobody was trying to network. We were just a group of people running together. That has probably been my favorite part of the experience. Some of these people I may never see again after training ends, and that is okay. The connections are still genuine because over the past few weeks we have been helping each other accomplish something difficult.

I have especially enjoyed working with the Fleet Feet Elmhurst training team. Veronica helps keep me on point and accountable during training, while Yasmin keeps things chill and relaxed. Coach Amanda will jump between groups, talk with people, share advice, and sometimes simply distract us enough to get us out of our heads during the difficult miles.

Do you have any goals for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon beyond crossing the finish line?

Jessica

I hope my journey can inspire someone else to believe in themselves. I'm not a professional athlete or anyone famous, but if sharing my experience encourages even one person to pursue a goal that feels difficult or out of reach, I'd consider that a huge success. It doesn't have to be running a World Major. Whatever their goal may be, I hope they see that growth is possible when you're willing to take that first step and trust yourself along the way.

Edgar

Crossing the finish line is definitely goal number one, but I want to do more than simply survive the marathon this time. I want to arrive prepared and confident, knowing that I put in the work and that I understand my body well enough to adjust when I need to. 

I also want to know that the months of training accomplished something beyond my own race. When I reach the finish line, I will know that I helped raise money for an organization serving a community that played an important role in my upbringing in Chicago. And, of course, after all these months of work, I want a good finish-line photo.

What is your connection to Latinos Progresando? Why did you decide to be a part of Run 4 Latinos for the 2026 Bank of American Chicago Marathon?

Jessica

My connection to Latinos Progresando comes from my desire to support and uplift the Latino and the immigrant community. Over the past year, I couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness watching many of the challenges our community has faced. When I learned about Run 4 Latinos, it felt like an opportunity to turn those feelings into action. 

I decided to be part of the team because Latinos Progresando is doing meaningful work by providing legal resources, support services, and advocacy for Latino and immigrant families. Being able to raise funds for an organization that is dedicated to helping our communities, especially through access to pro bono legal aid and critical resources, made this marathon journey about something bigger than myself. 

Edgar

My connection is very personal. I came to Chicago as an immigrant, and I spent most of my teenage years growing up between Little Village and Pilsen. The building where Latinos Progresando is located is at Fairfield and Cermak, and it used to be my neighborhood library. I got my first library card there!  I even lived diagonally across from that location, across the alley from the frutería. These are not streets or neighborhoods I learned about later in life. They are places where I grew up, walked with my friends, and formed some of my earliest memories of Chicago.

So, when I look at Latinos Progresando today, I see an organization working in a place that helped shape me. I admit that part of me is still disappointed that my old library is gone, but if it had to be replaced, I am glad the building is now occupied by people who care deeply about the community and its future.

Volunteering at their marathon cheer station in 2025 brought all those connections together. It was what inspired me to consider running Chicago again. Joining Run 4 Latinos gave me an opportunity not only to return to the marathon, but also to reconnect with some of my earliest roots in Chicago and give something back.

What does getting to represent Latinos Progresando mean to you?

Jessica

My heritage is rooted in the immigrant experience, and it's something I have always been proud of and always will be. Representing Latinos Progresando during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon means carrying that pride with me every step of the way. It is an opportunity to honor the sacrifices, resilience, and courage of those who came before me and helped create the opportunities I have today. 

Running for Latinos Progresando is about more than completing a race. It's about representing a community that has overcome challenges, advocating for justice and equality and supporting an organization that works every day to empower Latino and immigrant families. Every mile I run is a reminder of where I come from and the responsibility I have to give back and support others along the way. 

Edgar

It makes the marathon bigger than my own race. Every run, every early Saturday morning, and eventually every mile on race day is connected to people who have chosen to support Latinos Progresando through my fundraising. There is also a connection between their work and what has mattered to me throughout my own life. I grew up in Chicago and have spent much of my career in public service, often working within complex systems and trying to make them work better for the people who have to navigate them. I have seen how trusted guidance, reliable information, and someone willing to help you understand can open doors. Running for Latinos Progresando gives me a very different way to contribute to that same idea for a community that played an important role in my Chicago upbringing. And, of course, after all these months of work, I want a good finish-line photo.

If you could leave everyone with one piece of information about Latinos Progresando, what would it be?

Jessica

If there's one thing I'd want people to remember, it's that Latinos Progresando is helping build a future where Latino and immigrant families have the resources, support, and opportunities they deserve. That's a mission worth running 26.2 miles for.

Edgar

I would want people to understand that Latinos Progresando is not simply an organization that provides services to the Latino community. It invests in the health and future of an entire neighborhood and empowers the people who live there.

That distinction is meaningful to me because I remember that neighborhood from a very different point in its history. I lived right there. I remember walking along Cermak with my best friend. I also remember some of the challenges around us. Gang activity and violence were very real parts of the environment, and my family was fortunate that the violence around us never came through our own front door.

So today, when I see Latinos Progresando helping lead efforts like the Marshall Square Resource Network, or investing in the future of the Cermak corridor, those are not abstract programs to me. I know those streets.

I saw their philosophy in motion when I volunteered for their holiday food drive. Volunteers and staff worked together to load vehicles with food and gifts, while walk-ins arrived and were welcomed and treated with respect. Nobody was treated like an inconvenience. The focus was simply on making sure people were cared for.

That is what I would want people to know about Latinos Progresando: they show up for the whole community. When you help a family find stability, strengthen a neighborhood business, improve a block, support a student, or make sure someone has trusted help during a difficult moment, that impact spreads much farther than one individual. You are helping strengthen the neighborhood, and ultimately the city.

Support Latinos Progresando all September long at any Fleet Feet Chicago location.