Hurdles in the Dark

My Story of Survival, Resilience, and Triumph

By: Elvira K. Gonzalez

Narrated by: Elvira K. Gonzalez

This program is read by the author and includes music written by Ernesto Villalobos, Alberto Villalobos, Luis Villalobos and Humberto Flores, and performed by the Villalobos Brothers.

Educated meets Athlete A in this YA memoir about survival and strength by Elvira Gonzalez, a Mexican-American track star who found freedom from poverty and violence by becoming one of the top U.S. athletes.

Twenty-four hours: that's how long fourteen-year-old Elvira Gonzalez is given to come up with the $40,000 she needs to save her kidnapped mother from a drug cartel. It's 2006 and Elvira's hometown of Laredo, Texas, has become engulfed by the Mexican Drug War. Elvira's life is unraveling around her—setting her on a harrowing path that leads her to being locked up in one of South Texas's worst juvenile detention centers.

After Elvira's released from juvie, she's resolved to never go back. That's when her unexpected salvation arrives in the form of 33-inch-high plastic hurdles. Determined to win a track scholarship out of Laredo, Elvira begins breaking into the school, alone, at 5:30 in the morning to practice hurdling. Soon, she catches the attention of a renowned high school coach, an adult man in his 30s. As they train, their coach-student relationship begins to change, becoming sexual. At just seventeen years old, Elvira experiences the dangers many young athletes face, especially those who are marginalized. In spite of these towering obstacles, Elvira eventually propels herself to become one of the top ranked hurdlers in the USA and the first in her family to go to college.

This inspiring true story of grit, tenacity, and hope traces Elvira's path as she overcomes impossible hurdles in her race to freedom.

A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press.

Honest & Brave

I listened to this in one day! Engrossed in the telling of the story and the story itself. Very authentic voice. Incredibly brave of the author to be so vulnerable and share about such an important topic of sexual abuse in coach/athlete relationships. I applaud your inspiring message of hope, Elvira!

Hitting home

Has a person born and raised in Laredo I’m proud to have found this book in my path… thank you

wow laredo proud

puro 956 laredo pride listening to elvira’s story of resilience and triumph facing the multitude of obstacles in her young life!!!

Tremendous work

This is a must read for any age. The story is compelling and makes you think critically in so many ways.

Laredo

Thank you for your bravery and sharing your story in its entirety. Laredo will forever be a complicated place but it is what makes each of us…us. -2010 Union Alum oh and yes Union South events were always more fun to be in the stands with :)