#SoCaltech: Adolfo Carvalho

“It’s an amazing feeling being out in front and having everyone cheering for you. You get to the end, and you’re the first person into the Rose Bowl. Then you cross the line and break the tape, and they’re calling your name on the loudspeaker. It’s hard to beat that feeling. I also won the race two years ago, so I was nervous this year because friends were asking, ‘Are you going to do it again?’ But I took the lead pretty early on, and I was able to hold it the whole time. By the end, I knew I could win. All I needed to do was push through for a strong finish.”

Astrophysics graduate student Adolfo Carvalho won the Rose Bowl Half Marathon on Sunday, January 21, in 1 hour, 11 minutes, 26 seconds—a 5:28-per-mile pace. He competed against more than 5,000 other participants.

#SoCaltech is an occasional series celebrating the diverse individuals who give Caltech its spirit of excellence, ambition, and ingenuity. Know someone we should profile? Send nominations to magazine@caltech.edu.