By Juan Victoria · Chair, Athlete & Program Support Committee · April 2026
Juan works directly with Raúl’s coach to confirm what was spent and what changed during this block.
Where Raúl trains, and why it matters
Chahuites is a small town in Oaxaca, Mexico. It has no tartan track. It has no sports physio nearby. It has no specialized sprint coaching.
Raúl Martínez Ramírez trains there anyway with Club de Atletismo MV Tejones. He races the 80m and 150m.
Chahuites sits far from the state capital. On a clear run, the drive can take about six hours. With traffic, road conditions, and schedule changes, it can stretch much longer, sometimes close to ten hours.
That travel reality shapes how often Raúl can train on a competition surface. It also turns a simple track session into a logistics problem.
Why the capital
For 13 days in March, Raúl trained in the state capital.
During this block, he trained with the Titanes group. Coach Uber Clain Herrera Aquino also supported him on site.
His coach, Coach José Mariano Velázquez Palacios, set up the block from Mar 13 to Mar 25. He wanted daily access to a proper competition surface, technical coaching Raúl does not get at home, and consistent recovery support.
A tartan track is the synthetic surface used at most serious track meets. Raúl does not have one in Chahuites.
What supporters made possible
Three people in the United States supported this block. Win Tong in Seattle. K Cluff in Oakland. Nick in Cambridge.
They raised $175 USD through a Givebutter campaign. We recorded this as 3,000 MXN for this block. The campaign is now closed.
Costs the coach reported
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Lodging | 1,000 MXN |
| Transportation | 1,000 MXN |
| Meals | 1,000 MXN |
| Total | 3,000 MXN |
These are the coach-confirmed direct costs for the block.
What we funded: Lodging, meals, and transportation during the block.
What we did not fund: Coaching fees, gear, or travel to any competition. Those came from other sources.
What the coach reported
The coach said the plan was “specific, effective, and key.”
Raúl completed every session.
The coach reported clear improvements in two areas. Raúl’s start improved. His running mechanics improved too.
Raúl then competed at the Regional de CONADE in Apizaco, Tlaxcala. The coach said this block helped Raúl reach the level he needed there.
Outcome: Raúl qualified to the Etapa Nacional.
Recovery and care
Raúl saw a physiotherapist three times during the block.
The team noticed some muscle load. The physio addressed it early. Training stayed on track.
How we handle money
Oax Sport designates 100% of campaign funds to the athlete’s approved costs. We take no fee. We check expenses against receipts and publish a report for every campaign we run.
Support: https://oaxsport.org/support-us/
Contact: https://oaxsport.org/contact/
Leadership and members: https://oaxsport.org/about-us/members/
Follow Raúl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raul67121/
Legal and transparency
Oax Sport Inc. is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 86-3407818.
Oax Sport A.C. is a registered Mexican nonprofit based in Oaxaca, Mexico. RFC: OSP-230216-SG0.
Donations support athletes from underserved communities in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Report also available in English, Spanish, and French.
Photos by Emilio.
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