Volunteers Bring Running to Inmates with Surprising Success
The OCC Run Crew, an initiative aimed at bringing running to the inmate population, has seen unprecedented enthusiasm. Initially started by a group of volunteers, the program received an overwhelming response with 62 men signing up to participate, surpassing initial expectations.
However, at their first practice session, it became apparent that the standard-issue prison shoes were inadequate for running. “The stuff they had been issued were worse than the worst Kmart shoes you can imagine,” noted David Reddel, one of the volunteers actively involved in the program. This revelation prompted a new mission: securing proper running footwear for the participants.
Reddel, who also serves as an ambassador for the premium shoe brand Hoka, managed to secure a donation of 60 pairs of running shoes from the company. Additionally, local Omaha-based stores Fleet Feet and Peak Performance contributed by donating dozens of lightly used shoes. For the less common sizes, the team reached out to their wider network within the running community for assistance. As a result, Ziegler, one of the volunteers, ended up storing 70 pairs of shoes in his basement.
Delivering the shoes to the inmates was described as a momentous occasion. Reddel recalled the excitement, saying it was “like Christmas morning.” Garro, another volunteer, added that the inmates were so thrilled they appeared ready to run a marathon as soon as they put on the new shoes.
Ziegler recounted the inmates’ reactions: “They were saying, ‘these are the best shoes I’ve ever had,’” and noted how the men were eager to start running immediately. “They were running in place. We’re trying to, like, get them signed off on the sheet of what shoe they’re going to have. And they just wanted to go run outside.”
