Journal of today’s activities:

My students at San Francisco State University are sending in me their term papers for the course. Today I read a series of student papers on subjects such as three-strike laws, prison gangs, and steps we should take to improve our nation’s prison system, especially with regard to helping them the formerly incarcerated prepare for law-abiding, contributing lives upon release. In the early afternoon I drove to the amazing Rubicon Bakery in Richmond, California. The bakery makes a point of hiring those who’ve been down and out, including the formerly incarcerated. The story of the Rubicon Bakery inspired me, and I look forward to emulating their leadership by helping more former prisoners transition into the job market. I’ll use my Straight-A Guide life skills program as a tool to help.

Rubicon Bakery

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 113
• Miles run today: 0
• Miles run this week: 0
• Miles run this month: 0
• Miles run in 2014:
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule:
• Today’s Weight: 167

Journal of today’s activities:

Great meeting with leaders in San Jose and Santa Clara County about introducing our Straight-A Guide life skills program for people in prison and the formerly incarcerated. I met with Mario Maciel, who leads the mayor’s gang task force, with representatives from the Board of Supervisors, from Santa Clara County Probation, and from Santa Clara County Reentry Services. We’re going to develop a working relationship where facilitators from those institutions begin using our Straight-A Guide character building program to help others prepare for law-abiding, contributing lives. In order to make it to the meeting on time, I left my home at 5:30 am. Before and after the meeting I set up shop with laptop computer at a Peet’s Coffee. Then I ate a wonderful dinner at Morton’s in San Jose. I didn’t return home until 9:30 in the evening. A productive day that will result in the growth of our life-skills, character-building program.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 112
• Miles run today: 0
• Miles run this week: 0
• Miles run this month: 0
• Miles run in 2014:
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule:
• Today’s Weight: 166

Journal of today’s activities:

I ran three marathon distances last week, and I would’ve liked to continue running long distances this week. My work required that I take today off. Since work requires that I complete numerous responsibilities, I can’t run with the same level of consistency that carried me through prison. That’s why I spent some time working with my friend Tulio today to modify my website. I want my new template for the journal to reflect my busier life in the world. Instead of running every day, and trying to record exercise as if it’s a daily event, I’ll modify the recordings to show what I’m doing throughout the year. Besides working on the website, I spent several hours working to prepare for important meetings I had this week with the Straigh-A Guide program.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 111
• Miles run today: 0
• Miles run this week: 0
• Miles run this month: 0
• Miles run in 2014:
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule:
• Today’s Weight: 165