Our Team
In 2012, the Irving Marathon was founded by Lazaro Alvarez and Ronnie Chesko with the vision to give back to the community of Irving/Las Colinas and showcase its beautiful scenic running routes.
At the age of 13, Alvarez moved from El Salvador to Irving where he ran track at Austin Middle School and cross country at Irving High School. He attended Schreiner University where he double-majored in political science and international business. Schreiner did not have a running team. So, he helped start the university's first cross-country team his sophomore year. After college, he moved back to Irving where a running community did not exist. With the help of social media, he started the Irving Running Club, and a few weeks later the Irving Marathon was born. Lazaro and Ronnie enlisted the help of many of their high school friends to get the project started.
Professionally, Lazaro has excelled in many of his roles including being the top sales person and later top sales manager at AT&T Mobility for multiple years. He was then recruited as an Account Executive for Clear Channel Outdoor, for an advertising sales position in out of home advertising. His last role before leaving the corporate world to dedicate 100% of his attention to the Irving Marathon was a Territory Sales Executive for Western Union.
With the support of the community, Irving Marathon’s five-year vision is to be a 20,000+ participant running event in DFW and become one of the nation’s preferred running events. Lazaro serves on the Board of Directors for Irving/Las Colinas Rotary and is the Club’s President-Elect, Board of Directors for Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation, Ambassador for the Irving/Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and the Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, member in the Entrepreneurs Organization Accelerator Program, and leads the projects with the El Salvador Consulate for the Latin American Community.
Jaclyn joined the team in 2018. Her passion for health and giving back to her community of Irving started when she moved to Las Colinas in 2003, attended the Singley Academy, joined Health Occupation Students of America, completed clinical rotations at Baylor Medical Center of Irving, and worked at her father’s office MacArthur Medical Center. She graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has been a Registered Nurse since 2010. She believes promoting healthy lifestyles to all ages with community involvement is the best way to increase physical and mental wellness, prevent disease, and improve quality of life.
Anna joined the team in 2024. She brings over 25 years of administrative and project management experience across multiple industries. Anna has a desire to support her community and volunteers with several organizations. She serves on the Fort Worth Chapter Embroider's Guild of America board. Anna is proud to call Fort Worth home and enjoys spending time with family and friends, needlework, and reading.
Mark Bravo is a 40-year runner and 20-year national running coach. Mark is a longtime Race Announcer, hosting such venues as the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Tulsa Route 66 Marathon, Tulsa Run, and others around the southwest United States. A veteran of over 500 races and some 50 marathons, Mark has a personal best at that distance of 2:44. His love of the positivity of those at races, and the vibrant engagements at these events has kept him racing since 1981, though more so Mark now lives vicariously through participants by calling them to "their Finish Lines!"
Mark authored the "MOMENTUM: 77 Observations Toward A Life Well Lived", of which he says his friends were shocked to find he could start AND finish a sentence without talking about running! It's a book of short snippets, thoughts, and stories that speak to the value of a positive attitude, both on the roads and beyond! There are however some legendary runners who have become friends of Mark who lend their offerings to the book. Mark sees everyone as an athlete; his mantra is: "All Abilities, All Athletes", and you quickly find that his definition of the word goes well beyond the physical! You can see more about "MOMENTUM" by going to runbravo.com, or when you find Mark at the microphone for a race, feel free to ask him.
Mark lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, and you can find him calling almost every local road race (if it doesn't require being in 2 places at once). He always welcomes a conversation, and his gratitude for what the sport and people around it have lent to his life is clear to see. He's really thrilled to join the Irving Marathon Running Series!
Silvia Alvarez is a dedicated community leader, volunteer, proud wife and mother, and event crew at the Irving Marathon. As a former medical assistant for a decade, Silvia has always had helping people in her heart. She transitioned to working as a realtor so that she could have more free time to build close connections within her community. Generous and kind-hearted by nature, Silvia frequently volunteers at the Nimitz Football Booster Club, and she enjoys nothing more than uplifting the people around her. Silvia can always be found attending community events. The Irving Marathon is one of her passions, and she’s made it her mission to give runners the best running experience of their lives. She graduated from MacArthur High School and attended IISD. She’s currently part of the Board of Rotary Las Colinas. In her free time, Silvia loves to share her faith, promote healthy lifestyles, and spend time with her wonderful family in their home of Irving, Texas.
