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Uniquely Qualified

At last, a chance to run in the Boston Marathon.

By Mike Camunas, Times Staff Writer
Published March 11, 2008

SAN ANTONIO

For Rick Jones, Disney is really where the magic happens.

Jones, 61, loves going to the Magic Kingdom - any of the Disney parks in Lake Buena Vista, actually - to go on the rides, feel the atmosphere and especially to see the Winnie the Pooh characters.

There's another reason as well. It's to run in the Walt Disney World Marathon, which happens to be a qualifying race for the prestigious 112th Boston Marathon on April 21, something Jones has been dreaming about for quite some time.

"It's on my bucket list," said Jones, who ran his first marathon in 1983. "It's one of the things I've always wanted to do in my lifetime."

In the past, Jones has run the Disney Marathon, which starts and finishes in Epcot Center, but an injury has always kept him from qualifying for Boston. In 2000, he hurt his foot and walked the tail end of that run. Another time, he tore the meniscus in his right knee, and while at the starting line just walked away, thinking better not to injure himself further. And yet another year, he didn't qualify because of a leg and back injury.

On Jan. 8, it would be his third time actually running the 26-mile marathon through Disney's four major parks, and to qualify in his 60-64 age group, Jones would have to come in at four hours, 59 seconds or less.

"I knew the course, I knew the time I had to keep and I had all the sets written on my hand," Jones said. "I kept looking at the clock on the route and kept going, 'Come on, come on, come on.' Sure enough, I had to push myself more and more get that time I needed."

Jones, came in at three hours, 58 minutes, 36 seconds. That's right, - less than 21/2 minutes to spare.

"Then (crossing the finish line) I just dropped down (to the ground)," Jones said. "I fell to my knees and the Red Cross lady come up to me and asked if I was all right. ... I pushed myself so hard, but, yeah, it did pay off."

Jones, who owns a construction business that restores homes, has been running competitively since seventh grade, when Mr. Hume, his track coach, gave him an impromptu tryout. He also competes in Ironman triathlons and helps raise money through American Cancer Society's Relay for Life because his wife of 35 years, Tricia, is now in remission from breast cancer.

But, according to his son-in-law, Tony Lister, who's known Jones since Jones' daughter was Lister's high school sweetheart, Jones has always talked about Boston.

"He made it clear, since the end (of the marathon) last year, that this was the year (2008) he was going to qualify," Lister said. "He was running 13, 14, 15 miles a day, sometimes two or three times a week in July, in that heat. We knew it was serious.

"He kept saying, 'One of these years, I'll get old enough that I'll be able to qualify.' It's just great that he finally did it."

Jennifer, Jones' daughter, knows firsthand how long her father has been dreaming about Boston.

"Ever since I was very little, he's been training for something," said Jennifer, who, despite going to many of his races over the years, will be at home in Florida watching Jones through an online tracking program. "Once I started training with him, he'd come back from his longer runs and run a mile with me and I'd always looking forward to that. It was such a big part of growing up.

"I was just over the moon when he said he had qualified and he was going up there (to Boston). It's just so exciting to see him get what he's always wanted."

Nothing is going to stop Jones from running this marathon. If he's hurt, he says, he will complete the race anyway, because this is the one that is truly a wish his heart made.

"I don't care what injury there is, if there is one," Jones said. "I'm going to the Boston Marathon, finish it no matter what, and that's all I've ever wanted."

Mike Camunas can be reached at mcamunas@sptimes.com or (352) 544-9480.

According to his son-in-law, Tony Lister, Rick Jones is "a workout, exercise freak." That being said, check out Jones' workout schedule, which involves a lot of cross training.

Yep, it's seven days a week, including getting up at 4 a.m. and running his own construction business:

Sunday:Jones gets in a long bike ride, going as far as he can and sometimes going with Lister, though Lister admits that Jones won't let himself lose to his younger son-in-law.

Monday: The hill workout. Jones goes around the corner from his San Antonio home to the two large hills on which Saint Leo University sits and will run up and down those as hard as he can about eight to 10 times.

Tuesday: Spinning class at the YMCA.

Wednesday: The tempo workout. Jones starts off jogging about a mile, then pushes himself hard for about 5 or 6 miles, then a mile repeat or cool down.

Thursday: A mild repeat of Monday's hill workout.

Friday: A light day, mostly stretching and yoga and perhaps some light spinning.

Saturday: The big day for Jones, who will do at least a 15-mile run, but usually ends up doing more. He also keeps an exact time so he can set his course for the marathon.

[Last modified March 11, 2008, 02:02:50]