Lto the first edition of the ‘Saint Sylvester of La Torrecica‘I’m done and we’re already thinking about the second one. If the end of the year is magical for everyone, it was even more so for the inmates of the Albacete prisonwho were able to run the San Silvestre inside its enclosure: 5 kilometers with athletes running and fans (their fellow prisoners) cheering. Just as it is done in all San Silvestre.
The result? Antonio Martínez was the champion with a pace of 3.38 minutes per kilometer and, above all, say goodbye to the year 2023 with a good dose of joy and excitement. “Sport helps us a lot and this San Silvestre was our dream. During this year we will train hard to lower marks in 2024,” said the inmates, happy to fulfill a dream: finishing the 5 kilometers.
Sports help us a lot and this San Silvestre was our dream. During this year we will train hard to lower marks in 2024
The idea of uniting sport and prison left the Penitentiary Centerand running the San Silvestre was the first idea they had since the City hall. An experience that was enriching.
Inmates running the San Silvestre in the penitentiary grounds.
November 2, first conversations
It all started on November 2nd. Jos Garca, deputy director of the Torrecica Penitentiary Center, proposed Francisco Villaescusa, current sports councilor of the Albacete City Council and correspondent for BRAND for 30 years, one sports plan to help the social reintegration of prisoners through talks, conferences and other activities in 2024. The response of the Councilor was immediate: “Well, let’s start with the San Silvestre“.
After requesting the timely permits to Penitentiary Institutionsthe prison doors opened for a group of councilors who were received by Javier Cabreras, director of the Centerbefore the tremendous expectation of the about 30 inmates who were going to run 5 kilometers along the inner perimeter of the facility. Was going to be his first Saint Sylvester and in their faces and looks there was excitement about it.
All they received their gift bag celebratory, exactly like the 6,000 athletes who ran through the streets of Albacete the XVIII San Silvestre.
The champion Antonio Martínez receives the trophy from the Sports Councilor of the Albacete City Council, Paco Villaescusa
Break the routine
The The experience was a complete success and the conclusion was unanimous: it was the best way to break the routine, of promote sports practice and improve healthto show other avenues for entertainment and to promote coexistence based on common effort. At the end, a cup of chocolate with muffins to regain strength, while having a pleasant chat between everyonesmiles, kindness and absolute normalityit didn’t seem like that was the inside of a prison.
He The winner was Antonio Martínez who completed the 5,000 meters at a pace of 3:38 minutes per kilometer.and good athlete who has won some races in the province and that he knows Paco Villaescusa very well from his past as a journalist and with whom has coincided in countless races. “Villaescusa has been here for three years because of my bad decisions,” the athlete confessed to the councilor, adding “but I continue training day by day, I don’t stop because the sport It’s helping me a lot in here, it’s the best therapy to face all this.”
Villaescusa I have been here for three years because of my bad decisions, but I continue training day by day, I don’t stop because sport is helping me a lot here, it is the best therapy to face all this
In In 2024, conferences and talks will be held inside the Albacete Penitentiary Center. They will visit the prison in order to contribute their grain of sand various footballers, mountaineers, athletes, journalists, basketball players, etc.and at the end of December with celebrate the ‘II Race of San Silvestre de La Torrecica’. There is a long road ahead, but the first step has already been taken. “Thank you very much for helping us and thinking of us on these important dates,” the inmates told the municipal delegation.
