Junior Jeffrey Linares displays two of his three L.A. Marathon medals that marked him as an official finisher.
He will run his fourth marathon on March 18, from the Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier. - Brayan Cecenas
Junior Jeffrey Linares has been running three miles three days a week preparing for this year’s L.A. Marathon on Sunday, March 18. This will be his fourth year running the marathon.
However, it was not Linares’ choice to participate in the event. It was his mother who wanted him to join.
“My mom made me participate in the marathon. At first I didn’t like it, but the more I ran, the more I began to enjoy it,” Linares said.
Since the L.A. Marathon’s beginning, it has raised over 20 million dollars for various charities throughout the community. The event is just as much about giving than it is about running.
The 2012 Honda L.A. Marathon will start at the Dodger Stadium and will end at the Santa Monica Pier. Participants are given eight hours to complete the marathon if they want to be recognized as having finished the 26.2-mile course.
“My best time running the marathon was six hours and 23 minutes,” Linares said.
Linares trains with a team from Champs Charter High School. He decided to train with them since they are also participating in the L.A. Marathon. His goal in running the marathon is to finish in a shorter time.
“This year, my goal is to get five hours,” Linares said.
Linares has also run half marathons eight times within the four years he participated. A half marathon is a road running event of 13 miles. His best time was two hours and 37 minutes.
“When I’m running, I think about life. It’s what keeps me going,” he said.
Even though he is a runner, Linares prefers not to join the track team or the cross country team at Birmingham Community Charter High School.
“I like to run on my own time,” he said. “That’s why I went with a school that is more convenient for me to train since it is closer to my house and the team there is running the marathon also.”
Not only does Linares continue running every year because he enjoys it, but because he’s running for his mother. She motivates him to keep running.
“Since my mom is sick, I am going to keep running for her because I know that’s what makes her happy,” Linares said.