Jimmy Garza's (Edison HS) record setting marathon time of 2:51:35 was even more
remarkable when you consider this was his 2nd "marathon" that week. While Coach Martinez
was marking the course 7 days earlier with a measuring wheel, Jimmy was supposed to be
"jogging" the course.
Although coach was timing Jimmy, he paid more attention to the measuring wheel he was
holding outside the car. Traveling at about 5-10 mph, his arm quickly got numb and he was
afraid of breaking his arm or hitting another car on Blanco Rd, 1604 and NW Military Rd. After
marking the course, the start and finish was at the Churchill HS track, coach waited for Jimmy
at the finish line.
After a few minutes coach went back on the course and found his runner at the 25 mile mark
walking and totally exhausted. Apparently Jimmy had run way too fast for what should have
been a jog. Jimmy rested all week and still came back to set a record that has held since 1972.
remarkable when you consider this was his 2nd "marathon" that week. While Coach Martinez
was marking the course 7 days earlier with a measuring wheel, Jimmy was supposed to be
"jogging" the course.
Although coach was timing Jimmy, he paid more attention to the measuring wheel he was
holding outside the car. Traveling at about 5-10 mph, his arm quickly got numb and he was
afraid of breaking his arm or hitting another car on Blanco Rd, 1604 and NW Military Rd. After
marking the course, the start and finish was at the Churchill HS track, coach waited for Jimmy
at the finish line.
After a few minutes coach went back on the course and found his runner at the 25 mile mark
walking and totally exhausted. Apparently Jimmy had run way too fast for what should have
been a jog. Jimmy rested all week and still came back to set a record that has held since 1972.
John Sanchez (Kenedy HS) won the second Lozano Marathon and ran the second and possibly the
most incredible marathon ever run in SA in 2:56:40. What was so amazing about his run was the course had 20 hills.
Anyone who has run Jones-Maltsberger, Starcrest, Wetmore, Bitters and Heimer Roads can attest to the high degree of
difficulty that they present and to run all 5 of these streets on the same day may be the best run to date.
most incredible marathon ever run in SA in 2:56:40. What was so amazing about his run was the course had 20 hills.
Anyone who has run Jones-Maltsberger, Starcrest, Wetmore, Bitters and Heimer Roads can attest to the high degree of
difficulty that they present and to run all 5 of these streets on the same day may be the best run to date.
Incredible Feats
Mario Vidales (Edison HS) was only a junior in 1974, and came in 2nd to Frank Granado in 3:13:10. What made
his effort one of the best ever was that he had run 13 miles of hills the day before!!! This means he sprinted up hills
jogged a few yards at the top and sprinted down. He would jog at the bottom and repeat cycle for about and hour and a
half. Mario thought he was going to run a 6 mile race and not the marathon so he did the hill workout.
On race day the Free Spirits ( then known as the San Antonio Marathon Association) did not have a full team for the
marathon to qualify for the team trophy so Mario volunteered to run the 26+ race. His time places him in one of the
fastest marathons ever run. Consider that the San Antonio Marathon best time over its last 10 years was 3:10
(according to their website)
Mario was also the City Cross Country Champ his junior year.
his effort one of the best ever was that he had run 13 miles of hills the day before!!! This means he sprinted up hills
jogged a few yards at the top and sprinted down. He would jog at the bottom and repeat cycle for about and hour and a
half. Mario thought he was going to run a 6 mile race and not the marathon so he did the hill workout.
On race day the Free Spirits ( then known as the San Antonio Marathon Association) did not have a full team for the
marathon to qualify for the team trophy so Mario volunteered to run the 26+ race. His time places him in one of the
fastest marathons ever run. Consider that the San Antonio Marathon best time over its last 10 years was 3:10
(according to their website)
Mario was also the City Cross Country Champ his junior year.
Frank Granado (Edison HS) won the high school division in the 3rd Annual Lozano Marathon in 3:04:14. What
made this a tremendous effort was that Frank was one our slowest runners in terms of pure speed. What he lacked in
speed he made up in "heart". Frank was the hardest worker on our team that had 5 city champions, the city cross
country championship team and the top two teams in the city. The junior varsity team was the second varsity team in SA.
He pushed the team in practise everyday and was voted the MVP.
made this a tremendous effort was that Frank was one our slowest runners in terms of pure speed. What he lacked in
speed he made up in "heart". Frank was the hardest worker on our team that had 5 city champions, the city cross
country championship team and the top two teams in the city. The junior varsity team was the second varsity team in SA.
He pushed the team in practise everyday and was voted the MVP.
Jimmy Garza today is a probation
officer for Bexar County and the City of
San Antonio. Tx
officer for Bexar County and the City of
San Antonio. Tx
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