Over loud cheers and constant encouragement, 70-year-old Steve Wilson completed the San Quentin 1000 Mile Club’s annual Six-Mile Run with the time of 62:17.
“The guys wouldn’t let me quit,” said Wilson. “Too many people get in their 60s and stop doing things. They just sit around the tables playing cards and dominoes. If you think you’re old, you will be.”
Wilson has been running less than a year and has become the club’s inspiration.
“I had triple bypass surgery a few years back,” said John Levin, Wilson’s running partner. “I figured if he can go out there and run; I knew I could do it.”
After weeks of rain and a cancellation, the 24 runners were excited about finally starting the Six-Mile Run.
Front-runner Markelle Taylor was on the road to perfection as predicted. He shattered the six-mile record by three and half minutes with the time of 34:23, beating 37:56.
This is the third record Taylor has broken this year.
“I thank Jehovah God for giving me the mental and physical strength to endure,” said Taylor. “I notice people are getting excited to see me accomplish these goals, and that gives me a chance to give witness.
“It’s starting to motivate people to come out and accomplish their goals, and that motivates me. People I don’t even know are starting to ask me for running pointers, and that is humbling.”
Community volunteer Coach Kevin Rumon said, “He makes it look easy. It’s like Stephen Curry — you know the guy is working, but he makes it look easy.”
Reporter Doug Sovern of radio news station KCBS 740 AM and 106.9 FM came to cover the event.
“That guy Taylor runs smooth. I ran back when I was in school, but I wasn’t that smooth,” said Sovern.
He said the idea to cover the 1000 Mile Club came when his editor read the February GQ article on the San Quentin 2015 marathon. Sovern did not read it; he wanted to experience the race for himself.
“I thought this would be a great story,” said Sovern. “I think it’s terrific that these guys set goals and accomplish them.”
After the GQ article, some of the runners had mixed emotions about media coverage.
“I thought 95 percent of the article was good. It talked about rehabilitation and the team’s camaraderie,” said Chris Schuhmacher.
“I was disappointed because I thought it took the easy route and played into the criminal stereotypes. We all know what we are in for, but most of the guys committed their crimes 15 or 20 years ago. I believe these guys have mended their lives and are very remorseful and not that same people.”
Schuhmacher placed fifth with a time of 43:10.
Chris Skull, who sees running as a power to transform, took second at 40:02.
“This was a great experience,” said Skull. “Running puts everything in perspective for me — my frustrations and disappointments. This feels good. I was a person who wouldn’t finish anything; so this is a great feat for me.”
New member Tommy Lee Wickerd finished his first six-mile run at 48:07 for 11th.
“I decided 14 years ago to eliminate all negativity from life,” said Wickerd. “So doing something good in prison and with support is priceless. My wife pushes me to be the son my mom and dad raised me to be.”
Troy Dunmore, who is 52 and following his doctor’s orders to exercise, placed 13th at 49:39.
“I have a heart condition and I mainly run for that,” said Dunmore. “But my goal is not to let someone older than me beat me, like Larry Ford and Mr. Wilson. No, for real, my goal is to finish the marathon. Those guys are my inspiration.”
The March 25 event saw two veteran runners struggle and drop out at the halfway mark, while four walk-ons pushed their way through to the finish line.
“These events are for the yard. More people should come out and test their mettle against the time,” said long-time veteran Tone Evans.
–Marcus Henderson
