Helping Youths in the Long Run
He already had collected running shorts, a neon-green cap and a white T-shirt emblazoned with the Students Run L.A. logo.
On Tuesday, Valentin Jimenez, 14, completed the outfit he’ll wear in next month’s Los Angeles Marathon by claiming one of the 1,900 pairs of crisp new Saucony running shoes that will be donated to local students who have spent months training for the 26.2-mile endurance test.
The shoes, some of which were handed out by American Honda Motor Co. after an upbeat ceremony at Boyle Heights Continuation School, are among the perks that corporate sponsors bestow on the young marathoners, many of whom face long odds in life.
But the benefits of the Students Run L.A. program, which includes almost 2,000 students at more than 80 middle and high schools in struggling neighborhoods, go well beyond the freebies.
“It felt real good when I finished. It was the best thing I ever accomplished,” said Jimenez, a Belvedere Middle School student who ran his first marathon last year. The race March 5 will be his second, and he has been training with classmates regularly since the fall.
Harry Shabazian, the Boyle Heights teacher who helped found Students Run L.A. 10 years ago, said the hard work and discipline of marathon training, plus the sense of achievement, improve the youngsters’ prospects in myriad ways.
“This is just the beginning,” Shabazian told the young runners Tuesday. “There are so many possibilities open to you if you don’t say: I can’t.”
Based on the program’s track record, a majority of the runners will finish not only the race but high school as well. Over the years, more than 85% of Students Run L.A. participants who crossed the marathon finish line went on to earn their diplomas, Shabazian said.
Belvedere physical education teacher Armando Beltran has volunteered with the program for four years, regularly giving up afternoons and weekends to help his students train.
“It’s really rewarding to see these kids do it,” said Beltran, adding that he especially likes to recruit youngsters headed for trouble because the program “really helps turn them around.” He said the generosity of sponsors--which provide athletic wear, bus transportation and food at events--helps the youngsters feel that they matter.
Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner, a guest at the ceremony, urged the students to “continue to follow your dreams and reach for the stars.”
On Tuesday, several dozen were reaching for something else--free shoes, pulling open the two-toned blue boxes to try them on.
Lacing up a pair, Belvedere student John Hernandez, 14, said he was looking forward to completing his second marathon. “It keeps me out of trouble,” he said of his training, “and it keeps me in shape.”
Two schoolmates, Diana Zamora, 13, and Adriana Quezada, 14, said their teachers encouraged them to sign up for the program when school began, and they feel ready for what will be their first marathon.
“So many other kids have done it, I think we can too,” Adriana said.
Among the “veterans” was Cristina Bracamonte, 15, who will be running her fifth Los Angeles Marathon next month.
“I hit the wall at mile 23, but my mom was running with me, and she encouraged me to take it easy, walk for a while but keep going, and I finished,” said the Fernando Bravo Medical Magnet High sophomore, about her first marathon. Last year, she finished fifth among those in the student program.
Witnessing the shoe giveaway was Lulu Agustin, who joined the first group of Students Run L.A. 10 years ago and has been making the race ever since. Now a teacher at Downtown Magnet High, Agustin has helped 15 students there get ready to run with her this year.
“I’m nervous for them,” she said, “but it’s really exciting. They are going to do great.”
