Retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Al Richmond has achieved the extraordinary distinction of being the Marine Corps Marathon’s final ‘Groundpounder’ – a term reserved for those who completed every iteration of the 26.2-mile race since its inception in 1976. Richmond maintained his perfect attendance through 42 consecutive marathons, becoming the last remaining Groundpounder to retire from competition following the 2017 event.
Richmond’s marathon journey began unexpectedly in a Pentagon locker room conversation that sparked his interest in long-distance running. ‘I had just finished one of our mandatory three-mile runs when one of my fellow Marines came in from a ten-mile run, and I thought, ‘I can do that,” he recalls. His involvement with the marathon started even before the first race, as he volunteered his data processing expertise to prepare race tabulations while simultaneously training to participate.
The Marine Corps Marathon has grown significantly since its humble beginnings, evolving from 1,000 finishers in 1976 to one of the world’s largest marathons hosting over 30,000 runners from all fifty states and more than fifty countries. Richmond’s commitment spanned this entire growth period, during which he also completed ten additional marathons including three Boston Marathon finishes.
His most challenging race came in November 1990, just six months after suffering serious injuries at the Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Determined to maintain his streak after reading about another Groundpounder, Richmond dedicated six weeks to recovery and training before crossing the finish line. His wife Kitty notes, ‘It was his hardest race to complete, making it the most memorable. It is really remarkable what he had to overcome – to not only get there, but to cross the finish line.’
Following his final marathon in 2017, Richmond and his wife Kitty transitioned to retirement at Ashby Ponds, an Erickson Senior Living community in Ashburn, Virginia. The couple made the decision to leave their historic Arlington home, built by Al’s grandmother in 1910, for a vibrant community lifestyle. ‘We’ve been happy since we moved in,’ Al confirms. ‘Everyone is very friendly, and there is always a lot to do.’
The Richmonds have discovered unexpected connections at their new home, including a next-door neighbor who was sworn into the U.S. Coast Guard in the 1960s by Al’s father, former four-star admiral and commandant Alfred C. Richmond. This serendipitous connection exemplifies the community atmosphere that has made their transition successful while maintaining access to cultural activities and entertainment they enjoyed previously.
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