Why
Pray Cardio Lift?

I’m Oscar, originally from El Paso, Texas. I moved to Austin in 2021 for grad school after being accepted into my PhD program at UT Austin. Before that, I spent two years doing research at UT El Paso and a summer at Rice University.

At the start of COVID, I got sick and was hit particularly hard by the virus. That’s how my running journey began: I wanted to improve my health. In high school, I weighed 290 pounds and played center on the football team. I’ve been lifting since then, but I’ve been lifting consistently for about a year.

My faith journey is a little complicated. I was raised Catholic and drifted away from my faith after a good friend passed away. In 2023, I went to a “spiritual fitness” event expecting crystals and yoga mats, but I found Jesus and loving Christians. That was the day my walk with Jesus began again. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

I’m here to share my story and how these different parts of my life have helped me navigate trials and tribulations. Research, fitness, and my faith in Jesus Christ have shaped my worldview—and I’m still learning along the way.

I’m also a sports fanatic. I love the Cowboys, Bulls, Dodgers, UFC, boxing, and soccer: the Mexico and U.S. national teams, Cruz Azul, and Real Madrid.