Alfred Richmond isn’t in top shape this year, but he will be on the starting line Sunday morning, competing in his 33rd Marine Corps Marathon.
Richmond, 69, is one of the “Groundpounders,” a group of four men — Will Brown, 62, Matthew Jaffe, 67, and Mel Williams, 70, are the others — who have run in every MCM since its inception in 1976.
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Each man, who can be spotted in their matching jerseys, is reluctant to be responsible for breaking their 32-year tradition.
“They’re tough at the end,” Richmond said. “It’s never fun.”
Physical ailments almost broke Richmond’s streak a few years ago, but his wife, Kathryn, pushed him to run when she told him a number of runners who had participated in all the previous marathons would be racing.
“You’ve got to run that one,” she said.
He remembers that race as one of his best because he didn’t think he would be able to run, let alone finish.
Richmond worked in the office that planned the first Marine Corps Marathon after returning from three years of active duty and entering the Reserve.
He said each race has been unique, but the novelty of the first race made that one especially significant.
“Lined up on the starting line, we were all looking around and we knew we were a part of something momentous,” he said.
This year’s race will be particularly challenging for Richmond, who said his running has progressively declined over the past eight years due to age and the time required for training.
Richmond, who retired three years ago after 15 years with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, plans to work with a personal trainer next year, but “this year’s goal is definitely just to finish.”
