Editor’s note: All this month leading up to the Marine Corps Marathon, 海角精品黑料鈥檚 Jamie Forzato is bringing you stories of runners who have endured loss, preserved through personal struggles, and found hope.
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WASHINGTON 鈥斅燡im Anderson, a Reston, Virginia, native, dug through some boxes in his basement and found the old yearbook photo of his 1986 South Lakes High School cross country team. A moment captured nearly 30 years ago to the day.
There he is 鈥� top row, third from the left, in his blue running uniform.
鈥淚t was wonderful,鈥� he said, 鈥渞unning in rainstorms through muddy areas. We would be running on a very hot day, 100 degrees 鈥斅營鈥檓 sure our coach would be mad if he knew about this 鈥斅燽ut we would rip off our shirts and shoes and hop in the local lake and swim around to cool down. Best memories from high school.鈥�
But this story isn鈥檛 all about Jim. It鈥檚 also about his friend David Williams 鈥� middle row, second from the left, gray shorts.
鈥淗e was kind of a goof-off at times, but when it came to academics, he was dead serious,鈥� Anderson said.
鈥淎fter graduation, we kind of lost touch with one another, but he went to VMI [Virginia Military Institute] and had a very successful career in the Navy. A lieutenant commander.鈥�
Anderson found his own success. In the 1990s, he attended graduate school and built a career in environmental consulting.聽 He married and started raising a family.
鈥淚 just got busy, like so many people. It was after 9/11 that I decided I was going to change,鈥� he said.
That day, Lt. Commander David Williams was killed at the Pentagon.
鈥淗is wife was on one of the local television news stations, and I just remember her saying that her husband was missing. When she said his name, it was like a lightning bolt hit you. You had this horrible sinking feeling,鈥� he said.
So, in Williams鈥� honor, Anderson returned to the activity they shared together decades before.
鈥淚 decided in 2004 to start doing the Marine Corps Marathon. I even remember talking to Dave about that when we were in cross country back in the 鈥�80s,鈥� he said.
This year鈥檚 Marine Corps Marathon will be his 12th. The event is scheduled for Oct. 30.
鈥淎s we go through the final miles in the marathon, you go right past Arlington National Cemetery. You can see right where he died in the Pentagon and where he is buried,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 want to support our armed services. I鈥檓 very honored by the hard work and sacrifices that so many families are doing for our country.鈥�
Every time he finishes the People鈥檚 Marathon and the medal is placed around his neck, he thanks the Marines for their service.
鈥淚鈥檓 just Jim Anderson, but I think I represent the story of a lot of people who are doing it for a lot of personal reasons.鈥�
