I’ve long heard that nice guys finish last in tones that made it sound like a negative thing. For years I tried to be cool and ride that fast lane only to crash and burn, leaving a path of broken hearts and destruction in my wake.

In prison, I realized that the slow way is really the fast way in the long run; and that fast lane actually takes longer, if you ever reach your goal at all. However, I never expected coming in last in a race would lead to being amazing opportunities.

I first completed a marathon while incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison back in 2017, setting the record for the slowest marathon time at 6 hours and 12 minutes. In conversations about training for that marathon, I met Claire Gelbart, who taught a journalism class at San Quentin and shared a love for running. We made a pack to run one together if I ever got out of prison.

In 2023, I paroled 33 years early thanks to a commutation from Governor Gavin Newsom. I immediately contacted Claire and said, “Start training, we have a marathon to run.” On Nov. 2, 2023, we ran that marathon together to raise money for Empowerment Avenue and, although it took me even longer—6 hours and 27 minutes, six news organizations covered the story.

This line of merch celebrates the slow lane and doing things the right way. Order yours today to support.

— Rahsaan “New York” Thomas