This past weekend, Ramiro Siliezar competed in the Los Angeles Marathon. And that’s not even his first race of 2024 – he warmed up with a couple of half marathons and a Super Bowl Sunday fun run.
Nearly every morning, Ramiro begins his day with a run on the beach or up on the trails….and all that training is paying off in more ways than one. He feels stronger than ever for these races, and he’s also been incredibly successful in raising funds for PCF! He smashed through his original goal of $75,000 and is just a few donations away from his new target of $100,000.
How does he do it? “Running is what I love to do. I run with my heart,” Ramiro says. “I would run no matter what, but running for an important cause gives me energy and motivation and adds meaning to each mile.”
Taking care of his body is paramount. Good nutrition ensures that he has the proper energy to train. For Ramiro, this means avoiding sugar, choosing chicken and fish instead of red meat, and eating whole, unprocessed foods, He’s also mindful about getting enough sleep – so he’s ready for those early morning runs and to let his body recover.
With all of this experience, Ramiro helps new runners and cheers on his training partners. “I like to help people, because people have helped me,” he says. 
During training runs, he stays with them to help them stay on pace…then they’re ready to run on their own during a race. “On a recent training run, one of my training partners wasn’t sure he could keep the pace. I told him, ‘Don’t give up! I’ll be right there with you!” He encourages people to start small and work their way up to longer distances.
What does this mean to a person living with a prostate cancer diagnosis? First of all, take heart. Ramiro is helping PCF fund research to speed life-saving and life-extending treatments into the clinic. Other PCF-funded research projects aim to improve the quality of life for survivors such as through optimal nutrition and exercise.
Second, you don’t have to run marathons (or even a 5K all at once) to gain health benefits. Moderate exercise is beneficial across the prostate cancer journey. As UCSF epidemiologist June M. Chan, Sc.D., notes, “As you make incremental gains from wherever you start, there is a benefit.” Speak with your doctor if you are new to exercise, are recovering from treatment, or just aren’t sure what’s safe for you. Like Ramiro, consider finding an exercise partner to boost your motivation and to hold you accountable on the days when you might not feel like lacing up your walking shoes. PCF’s 100 Miles in March challenge, which is live now, links you to an online community where people post photos and encourage each other virtually.
Finally, Ramiro’s approach to nutrition is on track for general healthy living, including for prostate cancer survivors. Filling your plate with whole, unprocessed foods doesn’t leave much room for processed food with added sugars and salt. What about chicken and fish? Dietary recommendations associated with lower risk of heart disease, cancer overall, and lethal prostate cancer include healthy proteins from plants (e.g., beans, nuts such as walnuts), fish or seafood, low-fat or fat-free dairy, and skinless poultry. Consider emphasizing plant-based protein, given the potential benefits linked to a plant-based diet for patients with prostate cancer.
PCF congratulates Ramiro for another incredible race, and for his dedication to supporting prostate cancer research. You can track his progress and follow his racing calendar here.