About 80 Peruvian inmates run in 7.5 km race inside prison

Record ID: 90258

  • Title: About 80 Peruvian inmates run in 7.5 km race inside prison
  • Date: 19th August 2016
  • Summary: LIMA, PERU (AUGUST 19, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PIEDRAS GORDAS PRISON FEMALE PRISONERS WALKING OUT TO START OF RACE MALE AND FEMALE PRISONERS GATHERING AT STARTING LINE
  • Embargoed: 3rd September 2016 21:42
  • Keywords: Peru Lima Peruvian prisons prison run Ancon 2 prison prison life crime prison exercise sports
  • Location: LIMA, PERU
  • City: LIMA, PERU
  • Country: Peru
  • Topics: Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014VSNCQR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: About 80 prisoners of Lima's Ancon 2 maximum security prison ran on Friday (August 19) in the first-ever "Running makes you free" race, organized by the NGO Chaki and Wayra Peru Runners.
    The race is part of a Spanish program designed to help inmates rehabilitate through sports and improve their psychological and physical health.
    Hugo Garcia, director of the NGO Chaki and Wayra Peru Runners, said they began to bring the program to Peru last year.
    "'Running makes you free' is a Spanish program that began more than 10 years ago and is directed by Pablo Jimenez, who is a Spanish educator that implemented this in the prisons of Madrid and later in the rest of Spain," Garcia said. "Here in Peru, we asked them to develop the program here at the end of last year. We took several months to adapt to the Peruvian laws and this past March we began to operate here at the Ancon II as a pilot program with around 15 to 20 runners and today we have more than 100."
    The race featured a 7.5-kilometre (4.66 mile) course inside the prison, without any danger to the prisoners or the public, officials said.
    Local media reported that it was the first time in Peruvian history that a sporting event of this kind had taken place inside the prison.
    Alexandra Marta, a Spanish prisoner serving time for drug trafficking, said it was her smoking habit that made her want to participate.
    "Well, the truth is I like this a lot because I'm a smoker and it's helping me quit, it's liberating and helping me to exercise. That's good," Marta said.
    The first place finisher for male prisoners was Juan Carlos Chumacero, who ran in 35 minutes and 28 seconds. The first place finisher for female prisoners was Jessica Robles Ortiz, who ran the course in 36 minutes and 7 seconds.
    Organisers hope to replicate the model in other prisons across the country and to continue expanding the culture of sport to more people.
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