Markelle Taylor broke two running records to open the fifth annual San Quentin track season.
Taylor completed three miles in 16:47 to beat the 17:36 record set by Eddie Herena in 2013.
“I ran to bring peace and love to the human family. I ran for (an end to) violence against women, children and people in the world. That’s what keeps me driven to my highest potential,” said Taylor.
Taylor also set a new record at the Third Annual Benchmark Mile by finishing a mile in 5:04. This puts him in the class of Northern Regional runners and topples Herena’s 5:10:21 time set in 2015.
“I’m happy for him. I can’t say it’s bittersweet that he broke my record,” said Herena. “He is just an amazing runner. I’m going to start training harder just to keep up.”
From the opening countdown, runners were all smiles and excitement. The cool sunny morning had everybody relaxed.
The runners started at a steady pace before Taylor began to separate from the group. The rest of the pack broke up around the fifth lap. By then Taylor was a lap ahead. Herena, sensing his record was about to fall, sped away from the group, but Taylor was way ahead and at his top speed.
Taylor sprinted the final mile to the cheers of a small crowd of on-lookers and coaches. True to the 1000 Mile Club form, everyone was encouraged to finish strong.
Herena came in second with a time of 18:19 followed by Chris Skull at 18:55. Jesus Sanchez was fourth at 19:05.
An inspirational moment for the 25 runners was the return of volunteer Kevin Rumon. He is fighting cancer and looked tired and worn from the chemotherapy.
“He has a big heart to still come out and support the incarcerated men. That should inspire anyone,” said veteran runner Jerry “Maleek” Gearin.
Rumon countered, “I think I’m selfish. I get more out of coming here then I give. I’ve gotten tremendous appreciation from the club. I don’t complain because everybody has to deal with some type of adversity.”
First-time runner Cauctemoc “Temo” Zamora trained hard to join the club.
“Watching the guys run and having fun made me want to participate. Running helps keeps you busy, focused and out of trouble,” said Zamora, who finished sixth at 20:26.
Chris Schuhmacher, who has been in the club for five years, said running helps keep him above the negative influences in prison. He is looking forward to the longer runs. His best times have come during one-hour runs and up. He came in eighth in the three-mile run with a time of 20:55, right behind Oscar Aguilar’s time of 20:29.
Tim Gentry came in fifth at 19:29 in the Feb. 12.
“I’m getting ready for the marathon,” said Gentry. “I am pushing myself to run a faster mile.”
This echoes the goals set by Coach Frank Ruona — to get the runners fit throughout the 2016 season, to make improvements in their one-mile times and to run as even a pace as possible.
RJ Lozada, who filmed a documentary on the 1000 Mile Club called Laps, returned to help count laps. He is entering Laps in film festivals and working on new film projects.
