CityView Magazine

48 | May/June 2016 rior and Jubilee House, among others. "at is something that is very deep to me...giving back," Castro said. Castro wasn't kidding when he said that he wasn't going to let the injuries keep him down. Since sustaining his injuries, Castro has participated in at least 50 marathons, including the New York, Boston, London and Ma- rine Corps Marathons and even raced in two ultra-marathons. Not content with just running, in 2012, Castro challenged himself further by cycling across the United States, and aer that he took part in a trek to the South Pole with the United Kingdom's Prince Harry of Wales, as well as a group of other injured veterans. A writer's perspective I must admit that during particularly busy weeks like the one I had just experienced, I can sometimes go into an im- portant interview less than prepared, or as it was frequently referred to by an old editor of mine during the start of my journalism career, "going in blind." Never has that idiom been so true than when I had to interview veteran, war-hero and living legend, Ivan Castro, at 6:30 a.m. at his Special Op- erators Foundation non-profit office. In my nearly ten years of being a journalist, I have nev- er been asked to meet with a subject at such an early time, nor have I ever gone into an interview knowing so lit- tle about what might happen. Matos set up the interview through a series of cryptic text messages, in which she instructed me to "wear something comfortable," as we would be going to a second undisclosed location aer our initial meeting. Once at Castro's office, I was greeted by Matos, who offered me a coffee. I heard Castro call out to me from the other room. When I entered, Castro was seated at his desk. For a man with his reputation, Castro was simultaneously friendlier and more jovial than I had anticipated, while also being mysteri- ous and somewhat intimidating. His sheepish grin and dead- pan sense of humor, coupled with his tendency to take long pauses between statements, kept me guessing as to what was in store for the morning's activities. "Do you have a fear of heights?" he asked me. "Like say, jumping out of planes, would that be a problem for you?" He continued, "Can you swim?" is altruistic side of Castro and Matos was something I had tried to remind myself of when the two teased me with questions about whether or not I had family or friends who might notice if I went missing for a few days. Even with the Log lifting as a team Esprit de Corps Challenge participants with Castro (in blue) Special Operators Challenge at Double Barley Brewing Photos courtesy of Special Operators Challenge Facebook page

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