Photo By Lance Cpl. Ethan Miller | Angela Anderson, deputy director of the Marine Corps Marathon Office, poses for a...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – Born and raised in the Federal Republic of Germany, never allowed to visit its communist counterpart, East Germany, Angela Anderson finally touched ground during the Berlin Marathon in 2023, one of the tail-end marathons she participated in to become a six-star runner.
“While I was running, I thought of the hardship the people experienced,” she said, “whether they lived east or west [of the wall].”
She explained that she thought of how people were not able to live free lives, their movements restricted, many not even able to see their loved ones because of the wall.
“The discomfort running a long-distance race – physically or mentally – is nothing in comparison with what the people of my country of origin had to experience during their very difficult times.”
Angela crossed the finish line of the Berlin Marathon at Brandenburger Tor, or Brandenburg Gate, which was behind where the wall stood and fell back in 1989 during the Cold War.
This fall of the wall marked the symbolic end of division between the two parts of Germany.
“I was astonished and reminded again of the beauty of the memorials and buildings and the history, heritage and culture one finds in Germany,” she said. “It gave me strength, pride and kept me determined that I could run and finish the 26.2 miles in Berlin, in my home country.”
Running is an intimate part of Angela’s life, blending her personal passion for running and her work. In 1994, she started working for the Marine Corps Marathon Office and stayed there for the next 30 years. Now, she is the deputy director for the MCMO.
“Angela provides an unparalleled depth of experience for an enterprise that engages hundreds of thousands of individuals and generates multiple millions of dollars,” said Alex Hetherington, director of the MCMO. “She spearheads many of the essential functions that allow the Marine Corps Marathon to meet its strategic goal of allowing over 20,000 runners to experience the Corps values of honor, courage and commitment.”
The MCMO operates out of Marine Corps Base Quantico, organizing running events across the Marine Corps Installations National Capital Region. They help promote and showcase the physical fitness and high standards of the Marine Corps while generating community goodwill.
For Angela, it goes beyond organizing running events; she experiences them.
The spry, five-foot-something German-American woman was running a marathon when her friend mentioned something about six-star runners, which piqued her interest. Shortly after, she did some research and embarked on a journey to become one.
In 2010, she finished the first of her races, the Boston Marathon. From there, she would travel over 20,000 miles around the globe to reach the final finish line in Tokyo.
“To be a six-star runner, you need determination,” she said. “You need some sort of stubbornness, and you have to have a program and stick to it.”
Angela used one of her former trainer’s plans when preparing for the New York City Marathon, running up to 50 miles, incorporating yoga, stretching and weight training weekly.
“They key is to follow the plan,” she simply stated. “It takes determination, will power and staying healthy to enjoy running 30-40, and toward the end, up to 50 miles a week.”
It took Angela 14 years to finally become a six-star runner, but she credits the support of her husband, David Anderson, for her success. She said he helped her travel, recover from races, and even ran with her during some of them.
“I was with her for four of the six races, and I was there in Tokyo when she finished the sixth race,” he said. “It was a great celebration to cap off this great achievement. I knew she could do it. I’m very, very proud of her. She’s a rock star –”
He thought again, “— or should I say a running star.”
If you or anyone you may know is interested in learning more about becoming a six-star runner, please visit: https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/six-star.
To learn more about Marine Corps Marathons and related running events, please visit: https://www.marinemarathon.com/.
| Date Taken: | 10.09.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.10.2024 07:55 |
| Story ID: | 482840 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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