COLOMBIA: Colombian Andres Felipe Penagos runs between offices delivering messages, combining training and work with his eye on 2016 Olympics

Record ID: 331143

  • Title: COLOMBIA: Colombian Andres Felipe Penagos runs between offices delivering messages, combining training and work with his eye on 2016 Olympics
  • Date: 15th September 2012
  • Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF CITY HOME OF ANDRES FELIPE PENAGOS, ATHLETE AND MESSENGER VARIOUS OF PENAGOS PUTTING HIS SHOES ON VARIUOS OF PENAGOS RUNNING OUT OF HOUSE VARIUOS OF PENAGOS RUNNING TO WORK PENAGOS ENTERING WORK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ANDRES FELIPE PENAGOS, ATHLETE AND MESSENGER, SAYING: "There are endless tasks here, errands, things to do, cards to deliver, messages to deliver. I keep doing athletics while I'm doing my job." VARIOUS OF SECRETARIES GIVING PENAGOS DOCUMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JOHANIS RIASCOS, WHO WORKS WITH PENAGOS, SAYING: "That he does it mixing athletics is a big advantage because a lot of times it takes longer on a bus or other transportation methods than running." VARIOUS PENAGOS RUNNING THROUGH STREETS WITH PACKAGE VARIOUS PENAGOS RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ANDRES FELIPE PENAGOS, ATHLETE AND MESSENGER, SAYING: "I have a clear goal, which might sound like a utopia right now, but I want to be the Olympic marathon champion." VARIOUS OF PENAGOS RUNNING THROUGH STREETS WITH FOLDER PENAGOS ENTERING OFFICE VARIOUS OF PENAGOS TURNING IN FOLDER AND LEAVING PENAGOS RUNNING THROUGH STREETS
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Colombia
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAF924WG27OZSYCZYM6X2ZNXD2
  • Story Text: People dream of getting jobs that suit their passions, but Colombian Andres Felipe Penagos got creative about it.
    A runner, Penagos got a job delivering packages in Bogota's frenetic downtown.
    His colleagues use motorcycles and public transportation, but the 23-year-old Penagos laces up his running shows and avoids the congested streets by trotting up sidewalks.
    From a poor family, Penagos said he started running around Bogota at a very young age when he often didn't have enough money for bus fare.
    Now, he's busy making a living while honing his skills, skills he hopes will take him to the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

    "There are endless tasks here, errands, things to do, cards to deliver, messages to deliver. I keep doing athletics while I'm doing my job," he said recently.
    Fellow messenger Johanis Riascos said the energetic Penagos often gets packages out faster than his colleagues.

    "That he does it mixing athletics is a big advantage because a lot of times it takes longer on a bus or other transportation methods than running," Riascos said.
    With a fast pace and several deliveries a day, Penagos has days where he almost runs a marathon, logging between 30 and 40 kilometres (18 to 23 miles).
    And while he may be delivering folders and letters now, he hopes the work translates into nothing less than Olympic gold in 2016.

    "I have a clear goal, which might sound like a utopia right now, but I want to be the Olympic marathon champion," Penagos added.
    The young runner said his interest in running started while watching the 1996 games in Atlanta.
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