Carlos Parra

Bio

Carlos Para is a dentist and competitive runner from Spain who now resides in Dallas, Texas. Originally a field hockey player in Spain, Carlos only began running seriously during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, though he had casually participated in a few races prior. His running journey showcases remarkable progression. Carlos qualified for the Boston Marathon in his first-ever marathon attempt, finishing with an impressive time of 2:55. He went on to complete seven marathons in 2022 alone, with his personal best time of 2:37 achieved at the St. George Marathon in Utah. Carlos holds a specialty in periodontics and dental implants, having completed his dental education in Spain before moving to Boston for his residency. Since 2015, he has been living in Dallas where he teaches at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Beyond road marathons, Carlos has expanded into ultratrail running, participating in prestigious UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) series events including a 110K race in the Pyrenees with 21,000 feet of elevation gain. He regularly creates personal training camps in mountainous regions like Colorado, Utah, and Flagstaff to prepare for these challenges, as Dallas lacks significant elevation. Carlos combines his passion for running with travel, making it a point to run in every new place he visits. He meticulously plans his racing calendar around key goals: typically Boston Marathon in the spring and an ultratrail race in the summer, while still finding time for competitive 5Ks (his PR is 16:59) and half marathons (PR of 1:16:34).