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Melissa

@la.direccion

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@uesca1 Certified Ultra Coach⚡️Elite 🐮🔔
Co-founder @chingonasontherun
@fluidnutrition Athlete

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✨To be loved.

I mean to be so fucking loved is a glow of the soul that I can't put into words. I honestly just want to cry.

This past week/days/hours I have been on the receiving end of love. I'm in that glow. 💖

And something that once terrified me has soften my soul to let go.
The last few days love has shown me kindness, empathy, laughter, and joy.

I'm so grateful for:

The collective of humans who came together to repair, feed, push, and encourage me.
The trail interactions.
The messages.

I am overwhelmed with this outpouring of LOVE. Thank you. Thank you a million for your love.

From the bottom of my heart and the sound of my cowbell - thank you.

🤎 Mel

#Cocodona250 #Chingona #WomenWhoRun
#gratitude #loveyou by @la.direccion

Someone asked me, “What was the biggest mental obstacle?”
Honestly? Balancing grad school and training for @cocodona250 🌵🎓

And because I’m so damn hard on myself, that monkey chatter can get LOUD.

The constant feeling of not doing enough.
Not training enough.
Not resting enough.
Not studying enough.

But somewhere along the way, I stopped trying to do it perfectly (that reminder from my therapist) and just focused on moving forward and doing the best that I can.

One assignment.
One training run.
One mile at a time. 🤎

#cocodona250 #chingona #graduateschool by @la.direccion

I get double the pacing credits @la.direccion 😂🎥🐐

#ultrarunners #trailrunningcommunity #cinematographers by @la.direccion

🏆 HISTORY MADE AT THE MUERTOS 200! 🏆200 MILES. 89 HOURS, 26 MINUTES, 30 SECONDS. ONE INCREDIBLE WOMAN. MELISSA PEREZ — 1ST PLACE OVERALL AND THE ONLY WOMAN TO FINISH THE MUERTOS 200!

Starting Wednesday night, Melissa took on what we believe is the TOUGHEST 200-MILER IN THE COUNTRY. This is an incredibly difficult course even under perfect weather conditions, but Melissa and the rest of the runners faced rain and fog that added another layer of madness to an already brutal challenge.

With the support of an incredible crew who stood by her throughout this journey, Melissa pushed through and made history.

It may be some time before we see another woman cross that finish line, but we hope Melissa’s achievement inspires others to believe in themselves, push beyond their limits, and know that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Melissa, you didn’t just finish 200 miles. You made history and inspired an entire community.

CONGRATULATIONS, MELISSA! YOU ARE A LEGEND. 🔥💀

#Muertos200 #MacheteTrailMadness #WomenWhoRun #Ultrarunning #AnythingIsPossible HistoryMade by @la.direccion

🌅 GOOD MORNING FROM MUERTOS 200! 💀🔥 Day 3 is underway! As we get this morning started and prepare to welcome the rest of the field — our 10-mile, 20-mile Ruck, 50-mile, and 100-mile runners — our Muertos 200 milers have already been grinding since Wednesday!

Here’s where we stand:

🔥 8 runners have completed their first 100 MILES. Now they have another 100 to go!

🔥 7 more runners are pushing through 80 MILES, working toward that 100-mile milestone by the 6:30 PM cutoff today.

These incredible humans are pushing beyond what most would consider possible, taking on what we believe is one of the toughest 200-mile challenges out there.

And now, we’re looking forward to welcoming the rest of you! Bring that energy, bring that excitement, and inject your own spirit into this incredible community of relentless humans.

Let’s keep that energy going and make Day 3 unforgettable!

See you out there! 💀🔥

#MacheteTrailMadness #Muertos200 #Ultrarunning #motivation by @la.direccion

Melissa Climbing into the Evening of day One

#ultrarunners #trailrunningcommunity #running #cinematography by @la.direccion

✨Race Week Energy✨

Bringing all the whim + rage to Muertos 200 (10/28). Just one big ol’ party with the fine folks at @machetetrailmadness. 🍺

#Chingona #womenwhorun #UltraRunning by @la.direccion

A microcosm of strength, captured in a few frames. 🤎

Thank you @orlando_.b

#Chingona #ultra
#ac100 #womenwhorun by @la.direccion

If you’re gonna be out there this weekend, I need three things from you:

1. Cowbell 🐮🔔

2. Glitter ✨

3.Mean mom energy 😉

*Everything else will be a "Mel" problem.

#RaceWeek
#AC100 #Chingona by @la.direccion

𝑭𝑨𝑪𝑬𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑨𝑵 𝑮𝑨𝑩𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑳𝑺

Meet Melissa Perez.

Before she raced AC100, Melissa gave back as a volunteer. In 2025, she stepped onto the course herself and finished solo in 30:41:13, placing fifth among the women.

Off the course, Melissa co-founded @chingonasontherun with Daisy Martinez to create a safe and welcoming trail-running community where women of all backgrounds can take up space, support one another, and know they belong.

From supporting runners to becoming an AC100 finisher, Melissa’s journey reflects the community at the heart of this race.
Now she is returning to the San Gabriels for another solo AC100.

Welcome back, @la.direccion.

#AC100 #AngelesCrest100 #FacesOfTheSanGabriels #Ultrarunning by @la.direccion

Though I’m not very good at eloquent race recaps (and this is literally all the footage I took), I do want to say how grateful I am to everyone who helped make this dream possible for me, because completing Bryce Canyon 100-mile race was just that, a dream. A dream characterized by lots of blood after a stupid fall, about 5 bouts of puking - leading to a significant change of pace in the second half, kind people, unreal views, sweet cows along the way, and an adventure I’ll never forget.

The past 4 years have been blurred and greyed by unexpected health issues, with too many dr appts, injections, sick days, procedures, & losses to count. And it’s been tiring to feel like I’m fighting with a body that’s not working. The past few adventures have allowed me to feel alive again and be with my body without a battle.

None of this could have happened without the support and encouragement of my friends and family. I now hold so many messages, voice memos, & videos with words of love, generosity & hope - I’ll keep these forever. Thank you to the hype queen, Melissa, @la.direccion who had to support from afar- I could hear your words echo throughout my race to keep going.

And lastly, thank you Simon, @runningwithsimon, for everything. For never letting me give up on a goal, for filling every second of any pain I felt with your loving words, for inspiring me to try seemingly impossible things, and for taking care of me through it all. You crewed me, paced me 50 miles, and then drove over 8 hours for us to get home. You made me laugh in the darkest parts of the night, and made me cry during the dozens of moments you said how “proud” you were of me. I love you so much.

💌 by @la.direccion

August was a little chaotic, very full, and apparently involved a suspicious number of early alarms (I'm super proud of myself showing up on time) 😂

Also: coached some rad humans, logged some AC100 training miles, caught the lunar eclipse, and made time to play.

Onward to September 🤎

#AugustRecap #UltraRunning #AC100Training #RunHappy #ChingonasOnTheRun by @la.direccion