Aided by a cool breeze, Eddie Herena broke a 1000 Mile Club six-mile record with a time of 37:56, shattering the previous record of 38:40 held by Miguel Quezada.
“It felt great. I definitely put the work in and hard work pays off,” said Herena.
Abdul Khadeer Morceli finished second in the May 9 event with a time of 39:20; Bernard Ballard was third at 41:09.
Edward Scott finished with a time of 58:08 despite medical problems. He left the doctor’s office the day before, where he learned he’d have to go to an outside specialist for his various ailments.
“The doctor said I can continue my regular routine, so I’m not running for time. I’m just running,” said Scott.
“I’m not out here to race six miles. I’m out here to show what a 313-pound man can do. I’m looking to complete the run,” said Marlon Beason, who finished in 1:00:54.
“I’m going for a lifetime achievement award!” enthused Gerry Gearin, a 1000 Mile Club veteran, with arms raised. He posted a time of 48:32.
Volunteers, timekeepers and sponsors encouraged the runners as they came by the starting line, passing out cups of water.
Jill Friedman stated, “They may not even want any water. It’s only six miles.”
Herena completed the first lap in 1:30, setting a pace for the entire run. Morceli, with Carlos Ramirez, followed him.
In lap 15, Malcolm Jones stepped off the track with a tender hammy. “I’m going back in; I just need to pause to let it relax some,” Jones said while massaging his hamstring.
Herena, with two laps left, had a time of 35:06.
“He’s looking to break Miguel’s (Quezada) record,” said Ralph Ligons.
“Let’s go, Eddie!” the crowd was the yelling, urging him forward.
Herena’s final lap time was 1:25.
Community Partnership Manager Steve Emrick commented about Herena breaking the record.
“What it means is that we have several programs that benefits inmates; he broke a record, and the hard work that it takes to train to do that are all life skills that a person can take with them when they leave prison. The fact that we have these running programs, and a record being broken, is a testament to that,” Emrick said.
Clifford Williams, 53, finished with a final time of 49:56, and commented, “Aw, it wasn’t anything, a piece of cake – something I do all the time. I’ve been running all my life; since I was walking, I was running.”
Herena said breaking the record “wasn’t easy. It was tough. (Ligons) was congratulating me that last lap. He’s my coach. He shares in the record. He made a difference in the last lap.”
“Feels like I got one more year of bragging rights. Not that I’m going to brag, but if I choose to, I can,” Eddie said with a huge smile on his face, still breathing hard, cooling down.
