Culver City Resident Shamar Jones Finishes His Ninth Marathon

Shamar Jones can say he finished what he started. . It was all in honor of his Dad who died from colon cancer in 2004, the day after Jones ran his first marathon.

While Jones admits he was unprepared for that first race, this year came with its own share of challenges. Jones injured his hip just two weeks before the race and hadn’t run since then. His legs were tired and began cramping as a result.

“I felt really, really good and positive when the race started,” Jones said. “Overall, I knew that there would only be a certain amount of stress I could put on my legs. At mile 19, my legs were basically gone at that point.”

Still, he kept going, fueled by a dogged determination and memories of his Dad.

“It is such a significant feeling for me,” Jones said. “It becomes more inspirational. You have something behind the reason you’re running.”

The memories are bittersweet. While he ran for his Dad, who eventually was unable to walk as a result of his illness, Jones was never able to share his first medal with him. Jones remembers opting to go home and rest right after that first race in the hope of seeing his Dad the next day. Jones never saw him alive again.

However, thoughts of his Dad kept him going during this year’s marathon. Though he ended up having to walk part of the race and even stopped at one point to stretch, Jones persevered. The chilly temperatures on Sunday didn’t even bother him.

“I’m better as a cold weather runner to begin with,” Jones said. “No matter what, I knew I was going to finish the race.”

While he had hoped for a finish time of 4:15, he instead posted a time of 4:50. “I could not push myself to go any faster,” said Jones who is a student advisor at UCLA’s School of Medicine.

Another hindrance this year was a Michael Jackson wig he put on under a cap he has worn since his very first marathon. He said the cap brings him luck. He only donned the wig as part of a promise that if he failed to reach his target goal of raising $300 for the charity, Communities in Schools of Los Angeles, before the race, he would wear some type of a costume. He said wearing the wig was a “bad idea” since it caused him to sweat more.

Overall, he wouldn’t trade the experience. Jones told the Culver City Patch via telephone that he takes pleasure in the adventure.

“I’m so sore, and my legs hurt so much, I don’t even want to stretch,” Jones said. “It’s kind of fun. It’s kind of what it’s all about.”

He is already making plans to run again next year. Until then, he will keep participating in fundraisers and doing his part to spread awareness about colon cancer and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It all adds up to making the most of every moment, a lesson he said his Dad taught him.

“You kind of take for granted life or having the next day,” Jones said. “That kind of taught me I don’t want to sit around and say, I wish I had done this.”

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