Nancy Alcantar, the founder of Liv3Athletics, started the group in the summer of 2020 as a way for friends to stay active amidst the pandemic shutdowns. Encouraged by her coaching background, Nancy, her husband, and a few friends began meeting at Album Park, now known as Eastwood Park, for Saturday runs. What started as a small gathering quickly grew as friends brought more friends, and the group began to expand organically.

Their turning point came when a photographer at another park event asked Nancy if they had an Instagram page, to which she replied that they were just a group of friends. This interaction inspired Nancy to formalize the group, leveraging her experience in teaching kickboxing at a nutrition club. Liv3Athletics was born out of a desire to stay active and support each other during the lockdown, but it quickly evolved into a mission to promote a healthy, active lifestyle and give back to the community through running.

Nancy Alcantar

Founder

When designing their logo, the group put a lot of thought into their purpose. Their experiences during COVID-19 reinforced their commitment to staying active and helping others do the same. They wanted to reach as many people as possible, providing a structured space where adults could take a break from their daily lives and try something new.

Liv3Athletics has since evolved from a running club to a triathlon training group, incorporating running, cycling, and swimming into their activities. Despite challenges such as closed pools and sold-out workout equipment during the pandemic, the group remained focused on their long-term goal of mastering triathlons and inviting others to join them. They now participate in two local triathlon events in El Paso, one in April and one in August, and are honored to bring their community to these events.

The group’s downtown running sessions began during the pandemic, inspired by a vision Nancy had of people gathering and stretching at San Jacinto Plaza, similar to scenes she saw in Mexico. With a friend offering his downtown law firm as a meetup spot, Liv3Athletics started their downtown runs from there, eventually transitioning to meet directly at San Jacinto Plaza.

As they head into 2024, the running community in El Paso has gained significant momentum, with many people joining Liv3Athletics and other local clubs. They have partnered with Live Active El Paso and held a successful event for World Run Day at San Jacinto Plaza. Nancy loves sharing her passion for running with both long-time members and newcomers, welcoming everyone to their weekly runs, whether they choose to walk or run one of their three routes: 2 miles, 3 miles, or their newest 5-mile route up to Sun Bowl Drive.

Nancy fondly recalls Bruce, a runner who started in February and had never run before. His commitment and progress have been inspiring, as he completed his first 5k with the group’s encouragement. Liv3Athletics also honors the memory of a young runner who passed away from testicular cancer two years ago. They organized a run to raise funds for him during his treatment and plan to establish an annual race in his honor to help others battling the disease.

Looking ahead, Liv3Athletics aims to sponsor local runners to experience major marathons like Boston or Chicago. For Nancy, the most rewarding part of this journey has been the people she has met, some of whom have become close friends. She invites everyone to give themselves the opportunity to discover a love for running and join Liv3Athletics in the heart of the city on Wednesdays.