@CHARACTER enters from left to screen left and CHARACTER faces right and CHARACTER does it while run_athletic_neutral_loop
&CHARACTER starts run_athletic_neutral_loop
^^ Try this 
I agree that spot directing does make this easier. For example: @CHARACTER walks to spot 125 0 in zone 1 in 3 and CHARACTER faces right and CHARACTER does it while run_athletic_neutral_loop pause for 3 then CHARACTER starts run_athletic_neutral_loop – you get to fine-control how much of animations are seen, how long it takes a character to reach a spot, more precise character placement always makes stories look better. Check out dara-amarie.com she has great guides