Ultramarathoning Helped Him Train for Life After Prison
Cesar Quijano and his Amity support team at the finish line of the San Diego 100. (Lucy Copp/LAist)
One Man Took Up Running to Rebuild His Life After Prison
When Cesar Quijano was paroled from Ironwood State Prison in 2022, he’d spent most of his adult life behind bars. Quijano joined a reentry program near San Diego, but he still struggled to disrupt old patterns – and to alter his path for good. Then, a new mentor suggested he take up running. Reporter Lucy Copp follows Quijano’s journey as he goes from fighting to finish a mile, to taking on a grueling 100-mile race through the mountains of San Diego. This is an excerpt from LAist Studios’ podcast “Imperfect Paradise,” where the story recently won a national Murrow award.