With 330 runners entered for Saturday’s Andrew Jackson Marathon and Half-Marathon, each person will have a different story to tell upon completion of his or her race.

Bill Akin – who has entered the Half-Marathon – definitely has one before the 46th running of the annual event begins at 7 a.m., at the Farmers’ Market in downtown Jackson.

While entertaining the thought of running the oldest marathon in the state of Tennessee in 2017, Bill collapsed at the corner of New Market and West Lafayette Streets after completing the half-marathon.

“I decided about a mile from the finish line I was only going to run 13.1 miles (half marathon),” Bill said. “And just as soon as I crossed the finished line, and they put a medal around my neck … it was just like I fainted, but I had no idea it was cardiac arrest.”

Bill, who ran the Boston Marathon in 2010, was hospitalized, and after a three day stay – he headed for home.

“I’ve been running for 40 years, and I still have a passion for running,” Bill said. “Not running interferes with my physical and spiritual life.”

Leading up to Saturday’s race, Bill has averaged running about 50 miles a week.

“Things have been going great,” Bill said. “I’ve been meeting with members of the Jackson Road Runners at 5 a.m. at West Jackson Baptist Church twice a week, and Performance Running (Thomsen Farms, Oil Well Road) at 6 a.m., before church on Sundays.”

At age 70, Bill is hoping the weather will cooperate Saturday, but if it doesn’t, he knows he’s handled tougher obstacles.

“The last 12 months, the way I’ve lived my life is ‘faith over fear,'” Bill said. “I don’t let fear get in my way, because God controls my life.”

(PHOTO: Bill Akin)
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