Richard Cordova is happy, energetic and charismatic. He's determined, dedicated and about to run his first 26.2-mile marathon.
Cordova, 29, is part of the National AIDS Marathon Training Program ( NAMTP ) and is ready to run Nov. 25 through the streets of Florence, Italy.
But things haven't always been so upbeat for the Chicago native, who now lives in Ravenswood and works in Lakeview.
Just consider Cordova's past:
—He dropped out of Libertyville High School and moved out of his parent's home at 16, though he did obtain his GED.
—His biological father died about five years ago; Cordova had never met or even seen a picture of him. Like Cordova, his stepdad works in Lakeview, yet the two have not spoken in about 13 years.
—Cordova contracted HIV about seven years ago through unprotected sex. He now takes one pill a day as treatment and is 'completely healthy.'
—He has experimented with illegal drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and, most recently, crystal meth. In May, Cordova stopped using all drugs completely and also has stopped keeping track of his clean streak—because he doesn't have the urge to return to that lifestyle.
'There was a time when I didn't think I would live to see 30 [ years old ] , and yet 30 is less than six months away and now I know I'll see 30, 40, 50 and probably 60, too,' said Cordova, who is gay.
'The marathon is my way of showing that, hey, my life is not over because I'm HIV-positive; you can do whatever you want to do. There's nothing stopping you.'
Cordova wanted to join the track team in high school, 'but I couldn't because we lived too far away and I had to go home to walk the dogs after school.' And he wanted to train for—and run—a marathon in 2006, but he never started training.
He saw the NAMTP ads again this past spring and went to an informational meeting near his home. He signed up for the Florence race that day, and was only afraid of raising the required $3,900, not the actually 26.2-mile run.
Cordova quit using all drugs days later, stopping cold turkey. He hasn't returned to that scene, and hasn't had the urge to, either. The only thing he's now addicted to is coffee.
'I never questioned whether [ the training ] was going to be hard or easy. I just looked at it that it was a training program. And, obviously, they wouldn't be around if [ the training ] didn't work,' said Cordova, who has raised more than $4,000 for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and has set a personal goal of $5,000.
'Of course, it means a lot to me that this is the AIDS Marathon Training Program, because I certainly identify personally with the cause.
'Where I see myself [ in the future ] is somehow sharing my story, in some way, shape or form with anyone who will listen and learn from it. I'm positive; that's not going to change and, yeah, it sucks, but it is what it is. So, if I can take my personal experiences and help others, that's my ultimate goal.'
Cordova added: 'I'm so much happier now. I've been clean for five months, and it's been easy. I wouldn't change my life but—hopefully—by telling my story, it will get others to at least think about their lives, if not change things.
'I'm now back to my old self, before I started doing crystal.'
Cordova is learning to teach spinning and he wants to return to school to study psychology. And, after running two marathons, he wants to be a running coach for the NAMTP.
'When you're high on crystal, your judgment is so clouded,' said Cordova, who—a couple years ago while high on drugs—ordered $400 worth of AIDS bracelets to hang on his Christmas tree. 'Others thought that was very strange,' he now laughs.
Cordova has been training for the past five months or so with an 11-minute-per-mile pace group. He doesn't have a time goal for the marathon; he just wants to finish.
And fittingly, Cordova leaves for Italy on Thanksgiving—because he now knows he has lots to be thankful for.
'I want to be able to sprint the last little bit [ of the marathon ] , the last quarter-mile or so, so I can feel like a winner,' he said, smiling.
