445th Maintenance Group reservist completes Boston Marathon

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Run with Master Sgt. Charles Anderson and he may leave you in the dust. That's because Sergeant Anderson, career advisor for the 445th Airlift Wing Maintenance Group, has a passion for running. He finished the 2009 Boston Marathon, April 20. 

"Running in the Boston Marathon was a thrill. This was the first time that I participated in it and now I'm qualified for next year's race," he said. 

With 10 races and five marathons under his belt, the Boston Marathon was very significant because it was a way to honor his father. 

"This race took greater significance because of my dad. He was ill and last April I dedicated the Flying Pig Marathon, held in Cincinnati, to him. I found out this past October that I got accepted to run in the Boston Marathon. He knew I was going to run in it before he passed away 11 days later," Sergeant Anderson said. 

When he was first accepted to run in the Boston Marathon, Sergeant Anderson said he didn't think it was going to happen because of the logistics of finding a place to stay. 

"Logistics was a problem so I didn't think I'd be able to participate. But Col. Anna Schulte, 445th Maintenance Group commander, pointed me to Lt. Col. Mike Clark, 445th Maintenance Group deputy commander. She knew he had moved to the Boston area and mentioned maybe he could help me get a room at lodging at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. Colonel Clark went one step further and opened his home to me for the four days. At that time, I felt like everything was coming together. I felt like it was fate to run in this race," he said. 

During the marathon, at mile 17, Sergeant Anderson experienced some dehydration problems. He thought about his father and was determined to finish the race, which he did and placed 5,494 out of more than 25,000 runners. 

"My family couldn't come out for the race but I wanted to keep the promise to my dad. I qualified so now I'm eligible to run in next year's Boston Marathon. My family will be there for that one," he said. 

Sergeant Anderson recently ran in the 2009 Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati on May 3, finishing 226 out of 4,019 who completed the race. The next marathon he plans to compete in will be the Chicago Marathon in October.