Fitness buffs find their strength with bodyweight workouts

San Quentin’s athlete today is more than just a football, basketball, soccer, or baseball player. He is a guy who spends his free time at the work-out pile, “getting money.” 

SQ athletes are on the free bars, doing pull-ups, or hitting pushups on the hot concrete and running the track under the grueling sun; sweating while burning carbs. 

“Generally, when someone thinks about getting money they think about making money for a reason. Reasons like paying bills, etc. But for me, it’s a motivational term I use to inspire myself to work out and better myself physically for my health benefits,” said SQ resident Jessie Rose, 24. 

Rose plays for the SQ intramural football team “All Business.” He has been an athlete since High school and played all sports. But when there are no games or practices going on, he spends his time doing pushups, pull-ups, squats and lunges to keep in shape. 

What Rose is talking about is known as “getting money.” It means getting out on the yard and getting in an intensified work out, with drive, with a methodical routine persistence, and with multiple reps. 

When no sports are being played, “getting money” is a constructive way to stay in shape and maintain health. 

For new comer Isaiah Hernandez, 33, working out is how he finds his strength. “Working out makes my day go by easier and it makes my day better,” He said. “It makes me stronger.” 

Hernandez enjoys hitting his pull-ups and “getting his money” on the daily. He is from Southern California, where he spent most of his time working out and playing all of the sports. 

Football is his favorite team sport, but he also enjoys playing baseball, running track, and boxing. He has been working out on the bars, and maintaining his athleticism that way. 

If you visit SQ’s Lower Yard on a hot day you will see the entire yard filled with guys getting it in and “getting their money.” 

The determination of the resident athletes to work is evident.