MinerAlert
MinerAlert
January 2026
By Tanya Torres ’19’, ’21
Building a Life of Purpose
Long before she laced up for marathons, Pat Barraza was focused on building a life of meaning and impact. After graduating from UTEP in 1981 with a degree in psychology, Pat spent her career as a probation officer, counseling clients and applying her education to real-life challenges. She offered guidance, compassion, and clarity to those facing difficult crossroads.
“Now that I am retired, I am grateful to have had an education that allowed me to have a great career and get to enjoy my hobbies and family now,” Pat said.
Finding a Passion for Running
What started as a way to get in shape soon became a lifelong passion. The UTEP alumna found herself racing alongside coworkers, signing up for two-mile runs, 5Ks and 10Ks.
She was hooked. As her passion deepened, Pat began signing up for marathons, starting with Los Angeles in 1996, followed by San Diego in 1998.
“I enjoyed the journey in preparing for a big race,” Pat said. “Now that I am older, I have coaches and follow stricter plans to prepare for my races.”
Training with Intention
As her experience and commitment deepened, so did her approach. No longer a casual runner, Pat became intentional about her training. She read books written by runners, followed training plans from Runcoach, an online running and training platform, and sought chiropractic care during training.
“It’s important for me to make sure I’m physically and mentally strong going into my races,” Pat said.
Just as she once guided her clients toward better futures, Pat began using her miles to support communities in need. Her dedication to running began to mirror the values she carried from UTEP and her career: service, empathy, and impact.
Running to Make a Difference
Her commitment to staying healthy stayed the same, but goals evolved as she took on longer and tougher races. Running became a way to give back, so she began racing for causes including Team for Kids, Special Children’s Charities in Chicago, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance for Military Survivors), and Citymeals on Wheels in New York.
“It is rewarding to be able to give back while doing what I love and the charities are so supportive of their runners,” Pat said.
Miner Pride at Every Finish Line
For the UTEP alumna, running is more than a personal pursuit. It represents her roots, her resilience, and her belief in something bigger than herself. Whether she is racing through the five boroughs of New York as the crowd cheers her on, or training six days a week on her own, she carries UTEP pride in every stride as she dons blue and orange.
“I enjoy sporting my UTEP gear when I am in other cities for my races and when I am wearing my finisher’s medals. I am proud to have graduated from UTEP, and it is always fun to connect with people who recognize it or are from El Paso. It really is a small world,” Pat said.
After four decades of running, Pat still laces up with purpose and pride. Her desire to improve her health has become a lifelong journey filled with discipline, inspiration and Miner pride. And Pat shows no signs of slowing down.
“When runners come together, everybody is friendly and helpful to each other, no matter where you’re from,” she said. “My advice to someone who wants to start running is just get out there and start. Give it a few weeks and you’ll fall in love like I did. Our bodies are stronger than you think, it’s more of a mental challenge than anything. I’ll keep running until I can’t.”