Air Force Marathon: Master Sergeant makes AETC team

  • Published
  • By Airman Adawn Kelsey
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  One of Sheppard's own will be representing the base and Air Education and Training Command On September 19 in the Air Force marathon. 

Master Sgt. Robert L. Anderson, 364th Training Squadron assistant flight chief, will compete with three other AETC team members in the men's 10K race. 

During the qualifier at Sheppard, Sergeant Anderson ran the 10K in 36:06 and submitted that time to the fitness center. The form then went AETC and from there the teams were selected. 

"My goal is to run the 10K team competition in under 36 minutes," Master Sgt. Anderson said. 

In the past, Sergeant Anderson has competed in several marathons, including previous Air Force marathons. 

"I competed in the Air Force Marathon Relay for Sheppard in 2007 and the team won the men's overall division. I ran the 2005 Baltimore Half Marathon and won the armed forces division in 1:18. In the 2008 Oklahoma City Marathon, I finished 13th overall in 2:55 and I ran the 2009 Oklahoma City Half Marathon and finished 12th overall in 1:22,"Sergeant Anderson said. 

Throughout high school Sergeant Anderson said he had been consistently running. That changed when he entered the air force. 

"When I joined the Air Force, I stopped running all together during the 'bike test era' and gained weight," Sergeant Anderson said. "When the Air Force went back to the 1.5 mile run, I set a goal to score 100 percent on my physical training test." 

Sergeant Anderson said he continued to run and lost 45 pounds. He said that when it comes to running consistency is the key. 

Now the Master sergeant runs about 40 miles during the week with distance training, hill work and faster paced tempo runs. He also works with the Rider High School Cross Country team over the summer. 

During the weekends Sergeant Anderson and Capt. Clifford Scruggs, director of operations of the 373rd TRS, go running at Lucy Park in Wichita Falls. 

"I look up to him as a runner," Captain Scruggs said. "One word to describe him is 'intense,' to say the least. He is dedicated. He will literally push for that extra mile." 

This year the 10K race will take place at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The runners will get run along a designated track around the base and the last mile of the race will pass the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force's Presidential Hangar. It will finish among several historic aircraft static displays.