Cross country coach Jesse Anderson finishes 20th overall in the Boston Marathon
May 21, 2018
This year’s Boston Marathon had 29,978 registered runners, among the participators was Fenton High’s cross country and track coach, Jesse Anderson. After running the race’s 26.2 miles, Anderson learned he finished 20th of the 25,746 to finish.
“Competing in Boston was a surreal experience. The weather was part of it – the driving rain, cold and headwinds made it seem like an alien landscape out there,” Anderson said. “Placing 20th honestly didn’t completely register. I never thought I’d finish that high in a race like Boston, so when I received a call from a friend who told me, I didn’t believe them at first.”
To participate in the Boston Marathon, a runner must qualify by running other races within a specific amount of time. Participating in the race last year, and not being able to finish, Anderson looked to carry out a written plan to complete it this time around.
“Any time you’re talking about a marathon, there are months and perhaps years of preparation behind it. Last year, I experimented with a ton of different training methods, but really wasn’t doing anything overly structured,” Anderson said. “I really felt like I put some missing pieces in place, though. When I sat down to write out a plan for winter, I had a lot of confidence in the effectiveness of my plan and how easily repeatable it was.”
Ever since he started training, Anderson had his sights set on Boston, and the respect, experience and the history that is tied to this world renowned race phenomenon.
“I wanted to do Boston because it’s the granddaddy of them all. It’s the oldest road race in the U.S., is one of the largest races, period, and almost everyone who runs has to hit a pretty respectable time standard to even enter,” Anderson said. “Those elements lend it a feel that is akin to a massive celebration of running. You are surrounded by some of the best runners from each of their respective towns, and the overall depth in racing quality is incredible.”
Not just content with running, Anderson looked to further his knowledge by taking on the challenge of being a role model and a coach, something that he had thought of doing beforehand.
“I honestly have always wanted to coach, mostly to give back to the sport,” Anderson said. “Many of my best friends and mentors I have met through running, and I wanted to help facilitate all the amazing things running and running in a team setting can do for a person.”
Still considering which race to run next, Anderson takes on another season of coaching track and field. If you want to support Anderson and the team at their next meet on May 21 at Clio.
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