The positive impact of competitive running on prisoners was filmed by a Stanford University student trying to get his master’s degree.
“You start running slow and something magical happens. Everything gets easier, stamina improves and speed picks up,” Andrew Gazzeny, 47, told the visitors.
The documentary will be called Laps, said R.J. Lozada, 34, who is mastering in Fine Arts and Documentary Film Making.
“It feels good to get the exposure because it shows that we are doing something positive with our lives, despite our circumstances,” said club member Bernard “Raheem” Ballard, 41.
“Thank you for helping me finish school,” Lozada, 34, told the runners. “I believe in you guys.”
Lozada was interested in doing a documentary on prisoners running a marathon because he was a runner himself.
“I had a passion for running. I ran a total of eight marathons, but don’t do it much anymore,” said Lozada.
The camera’s eye caught top club runners like Lorinzo Hopson, Eddie Herena , Carlos Ramirez, Larry Ford, Steve Reitz, Glen Mason and Morceli Abdel Kader zipping around the track.
Ramirez took off with a huge lead, completing three miles in 21 minutes. Then Herena picked up his pace and showed him who the club record holder is. By the sixth mile, Herena took the lead for good. He completed 10.25 miles in 1:10:30. Ramirez completed 9.75. Ford and Reitz followed tied at 9.25 miles. Glen Mason completed 9 and Hopson 8.75.
The crew also filmed the last San Quentin race for Marlon Beason and Abel Armengol.
After serving 10 years for robbery, Beason was released on parole. Armengol also paroled a few days later.
Beason, who is 289 pounds, found the will and determination to complete long distance runs. He completed 5.75 miles in the allotted time. Armengol completed 7.5 miles, tied with Jonathan Chiu.
Beason and Armengol said running helped them serve their prison time.
“It was a way of escape. I would get lost in the focus of breathing and the music coming through my headphones,” said Beason.
“I’m glad I was running in the club because it was a stress release,” said Armengol. “It helped me think about the right thing. It’s a good benefit. The club helps you with running shoes and being part of a team.”
Once all the runners completed the race, Lozada interviewed them. He asked questions like, “What does time mean to you? What do you want the world to know about you? What do you think about when you’re running? What’s your favorite running memory?“
Answers included:
“Time allows me to reflect and to heal,” said Ballard.
“I wasted a lot of time. I’m trying to make up for that by going to school,” said Eddie Deweaver.
“Coming to prison is a waste of time unless you take advantage and do all the things you didn’t do before– go to college, learn a trade,” said Gazzeny. “The thought of wasted time is painful. Every day that goes by is something you can’t get back.”
“I concentrate on what I’m doing and coming in first place when I run,” said Ramirez.
“My favorite running memory was my worst running experience. We ran a race in the rain, after waiting two hours for it to begin. My socks were wet,” said Mike Keeyes.
Lozada came in with fellow Stanford students Kristine Stolakis, 26, Tyler Trumbo, 29, and Max Good, 36, as his film crew on Feb. 13. They had two video cameras and boom mikes.
His classmates are also majoring in Documentary Film Making. Stolakis said she is working on one about Mormon women fighting to be priests.
