A Q&A with SFM Community Manager Damaris Gutierrez | Meet the Team ☺️🖤🫶

Damaris Gutierrez is a San Francisco Marathon Community Manager, a mother, and a runner. She’s the happiest when she gets to treat herself to food after a run with her friends. She joined the SFM team in 2023 as an ambassador and has been a steady source of inspiration not only for SFM runners but her colleagues, too.

In 2024, she ran the SFM Ultramarathon, showing grit and perseverance as she came through the finish after the cut-off, officially earning a DNF. This year, she’s coming back to claim an official finish in the Ultramarathon.

Damaris was born and raised in Jalisco, Mexico. When she came to San Francisco, she didn’t have any family to stay with, nor friends to share her joys and trials with. “But thanks to the running community, I now have a strong support system and friends that I call my family,” she said.

For Damaris, becoming a part of the SFM community has been “an honor and a dream come true.” She’s always dreamt about doing something she loved for a living. As running found its way into her life and, eventually, into her heart,  she now gets to do what she loves every day.

“I get to talk about running, help others join us, and be a voice for this amazing community,” she said. “It makes every race feel more magical and meaningful.”

As a Latina woman, she’s also proud to show up for herself and for others, and to make sure every runner knows that they have a place in the sport and in the community.

“Our differences make us stronger, unique, and more connected,” she said. “They help us understand and support one another in ways that truly matter. The San Francisco Marathon wouldn’t be possible without all of you. Thank you for letting me be a part of it!”

 

Damaris Gutierrez on January 1, 2025, four years after she began her running streak. –>

 

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A post shared by Damaris Gutierrez (@fit.dama)

Damaris’ Q&A

SFM: Tell us a little about your running journey. How did you come to enjoy running?

DG: Al principio no disfrutaba correr. Pero en 2021, decidí convertirlo en mi actividad principal como una forma de enfrentar mis miedos de frente. Estaba lidiando con ansiedad social y me di cuenta de que evitar situaciones incómodas me estaba limitando. Así que hice lo contrario: me expuse y aprendí a estar bien con la incomodidad. Correr se convirtió en una forma de retarme a mí misma, y con el tiempo, aprendí a disfrutarlo.

English: I didn’t enjoy running at first. But in 2021, I decided to make it my main activity as a way to face my fears head-on. I was dealing with social anxiety and realized avoiding uncomfortable situations was holding me back. So, I did the opposite—I put myself out there and learned to be okay with discomfort. Running became a way to push myself, and along the way, I grew to enjoy it.

SFM: What do you love most about the San Francisco running community right now?

DG: Lo que más me encanta de nuestra comunidad es la increíble diversidad de corredores que tenemos — desde los más pequeños hasta personas de mayor edad. Se siente como una gran familia donde todos se apoyan y se motivan mutuamente. Siempre hay alguien ahí para ayudarte a mejorar y ofrecer apoyo cuando más lo necesitas. ¡Con esta comunidad a mi lado, nunca me siento sola!

English: What I love most about our community is the incredible diversity of runners we have — from the youngest to older adults. It feels like one big family where everyone supports and motivates each other. There’s always someone there to help you improve and offer support when you need it most. With this community by my side, I never feel alone!

SFM: Is there a runner you met this year whose story really moved or inspired you?

DG: Sí, ¡muchísimas personas! Este año he tenido el placer de conocer a tantas personas extraordinarias. No fue solo una historia en particular, sino muchas que me han recordado por qué amo correr. A pesar de las dificultades que enfrentamos y todo lo que debemos navegar, correr y la comunidad siempre están ahí para uno. No importa qué tan grande o pequeño seas, otras personas te observan y tú mismo te conviertes en inspiración para alguien más. Eso me motiva a seguir adelante y a dar siempre lo mejor de mí.

English: Yes, so many people! This year, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many incredible individuals. It wasn’t just one story in particular, but many that reminded me why I love running. Despite the challenges we face and everything we have to navigate, running and the community are always there for you. No matter how big or small you are, others are watching, and you become an inspiration to someone else. That motivates me to keep going and always give my best.

SFM: What do you love about being the San Francisco Marathon Community Manager?

DG: ¡El gran placer de poder dar y poder ser parte de la comunidad!
Me encanta poder dar un paso atrás y tener un momento de paz al ver a todos tan felices y motivados. Ver su esfuerzo y el amor genuino que tienen por los demás me inspira profundamente y me da fuerzas para seguir adelante.Uno de mis momentos favoritos es cuando estoy corriendo la carrera, me acerco al puente y me detengo por un instante. Todo se siente como en cámara lenta. Es un momento lleno de felicidad y orgullo al ver a tantas personas corriendo, sonriendo, tomando fotos, sintiendo dolor y, al mismo tiempo, creciendo.Este maratón fue mi primera carrera, mi primer maratón completo y también la primera vez que corrí más de 50 millas. Es, sin duda, mi favorito, y cada año lo seguiré corriendo hasta que ya no pueda. Y no, no me pagaron para decir eso… ¡jajaja! Mil gracias a The San Francisco Marathon por darme la oportunidad de representar y dar lo mejor de mí para nuestra comunidad.English: The greatest joy is being able to give and be part of the community!
I love being able to step back and take in a peaceful moment, watching everyone so happy and motivated. Seeing their effort and the genuine love they have for one another deeply inspires me and gives me strength to keep going.One of my favorite moments is when I’m running the race, approaching the bridge, and I stop for just a second. Everything feels like it’s in slow motion. It’s a moment filled with joy and pride—seeing so many people running, smiling, taking photos, feeling pain, and at the same time, growing.This marathon was my first race, my first full marathon, and also the first time I ran more than 50 miles. It’s without a doubt my favorite, and I’ll keep running it every year until I no longer can. And no, I wasn’t paid to say that… haha! Huge thanks to The San Francisco Marathon for giving me the chance to represent and give my all for our community.

SFM: What’s one message you want every runner to hear before they toe the line?

DG: ¡Corran con valor, con orgullo y con alegría! Es un privilegio poder estar en esa línea y correr con tus propios pies. Recuerda ser humilde con los demás y contigo mismo. Habrá un momento en el que empieces a dudar de ti, pero justo ahí es donde debes seguir luchando—porque ese momento es el que más te hará crecer.

English: Run with courage, with pride, and with joy! It’s a privilege to stand on that start line and run on your own two feet. Remember to be humble—with others and with yourself. There will be a moment when you start to doubt yourself, but that’s exactly when you need to keep pushing—because that moment is when you’ll grow the most.

SFM: Do you have a secret talent or unusual talent?

DG: ¿Correr durante 1,578 días [al 27 de abril de 2025] cuenta como un talento secreto o inusual? ¡Jajaja! La verdad, solo soy un ser humano simple en este mundo tan grande. No diría que tengo un talento especial, pero sí soy increíblemente persistente y no me rindo fácilmente. Antes pensaba que era algo natural en mí, pero viéndolo bien, ¡probablemente solo era mi ADHD manteniéndome en movimiento! Jajaja.

English: Would running for 1,578 days [as of April 27, 2025] count as a secret or unusual talent? Haha! Honestly, I’m just a simple human in this big world. I wouldn’t say I’m particularly talented, but I am incredibly persistent and don’t give up easily. I used to think I was naturally talented, but looking back, it was probably just my ADHD keeping me on a roll! Haha.

SFM: What race are you running in 2025?

DG: Este año voy a volver a correr el Ultramaratón de San Francisco: 52.4 millas que comienzan el sábado por la noche y continúan hasta el domingo al mediodía. Mi meta es completar las 52.4 millas en 12 horas o menos. Este año me siento más preparada mentalmente y sé exactamente en qué áreas necesito mejorar.

English: This year, I’m going to run the San Francisco Ultramarathon again: 52.4 miles that start Saturday night and continue until Sunday at noon. My goal is to complete the 52.4 miles in 12 hours or less. This year, I feel more mentally prepared and I know exactly which areas I need to improve.

 

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A post shared by Damaris Gutierrez (@fit.dama)

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