Los Angeles Marathon Bound
Laura Novak
Posted in Oakland Magazine
March 2007
A few years ago when a little-known nonprofit organization called Students Run Oakland was on the verge of shutting its doors, few people cared. But Spencer Hooper, a former runner who had volunteered with the student running group, decided he could apply his Silicon Valley know-how to the organization and keep it afloat, maybe even saving a few lives in the process.
Today, Students Run Oakland helps roughly 50 at-risk teens from inner-city public high schools cross the finish line of the Los Angeles Marathon every March. And while this would be a major feat for just about anyone, Hooper says his kids learn about more than just how to run 26.2 miles.
“It’s not about running but about everything they are supposed to pick up along the way,” he says. “They have to make a commitment and have discipline, and for those who need it, it helps with their self esteem.”
The program is noncompetitive but tightly structured. The students, most from low-income families, sign a contract that requires them to not only keep pace with the running schedule but also maintain a GPA of 2.5 or above. They must also adhere to strict conduct guidelines and lead responsible lives.
The Los Angeles marathon, March 4 this year, is the perfect goal for this group, in part because recruitment and the five-month training schedule fit nicely with the school year.
“L.A. is a big seller,” Hooper points out. “Because you can’t just walk up to a kid and say ‘Come run 26 miles with me’,” he laughs. “You need to offer a free trip to L.A., too.”
Hooper begins in the fall by recruiting 150 kids at several schools in Oakland’s toughest neighborhoods. They are guaranteed free sneakers and tutoring. But at least 25 percent will abandon the program before they’ve run their first lap, Hooper says. Others aren’t sure and hang around until they learn of the tough conditions required to stay in the program. In addition to nutritional guidance, training and scholastic tutoring, scholarships are awarded to students who are accepted to college.
In all, Hooper and his team of volunteers have coached 200 kids across the L.A. finish line. And while the majority of the recruits never see the start of the race or even make it onto the airplane, for those who do, the rewards run much deeper than a marathon medal.
“Last June we had 12 seniors in our program,” Hooper says. “Ten of them went to college. And we’d like to take some credit for that.”