Running News Daily

Prison marathon documentary is changing lives behind bars

In 2024, 26.2 to Life, a powerful documentary by filmmaker Christine Yoo, brought the story of San Quentin’s 1,000 Mile Club to audiences worldwide. The film follows incarcerated men training for the San Quentin Marathon, held each year on a quarter-mile loop within the prison yard. Beyond earning critical praise, the documentary inspired change—spurring the creation of new prison running clubs and starting discussions about rehabilitation. Plans for 2025 are already underway, and the impact of 26.2 to Life continues to grow.

Reaching audiences across the world

The 1,000 Mile Club evolved after a small group of volunteer coaches was permitted to start a running club in the prison almost 18 years ago, with the idea being that interested inmates could rack up 1,000 miles during their period of incarceration. 26.2 to Life had its broadcast debut on ESPN, bringing the story of the 1,000 Mile Club into living rooms across the U.S. The film is now streaming on ESPN+ and continues to air on ESPN2. Its global reach expanded with in-flight screenings on four different airlines, making the film accessible to more than 300 million passengers.

26.2 to Life has also received critical acclaim, with Best Directing and Best Producing nominations at the Women’s Image Awards. In February, the story will cross international borders with its BBC premiere in the U.K.

Inspiring transformation behind bars

Beyond its cinematic success, 26.2 to Life has created change. This fall, the film was screened at prisons in North Dakota, Oregon, California and Hawaii, offering hope to incarcerated individuals. As one volunteer at Columbia River Correctional Center noted, “Your film offers a powerful message of hope and a vision for possible changes in the penal system.”

The documentary has also inspired new prison running clubs. Seven clubs have been established across the U.S., with six more in the works. To support these efforts, the team developed a free handbook to guide the creation of new clubs, offering practical advice, sample workouts and stories of transformation. You can download a copy of their handbook here.

Looking ahead

The momentum isn’t slowing down. Starting in 2025, 26.2 to Life will become required viewing for all 43,000 employees of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation as part of their annual training. In January, the film will also be showcased at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ annual conference to foster discussions among judges about rehabilitation and change.

The mission to inspire continues with plans to bring the film to more prisons across the country and to expand the distribution of the 1000 Mile Club Handbook.