Sister runs to honor victims of Aurora cinema shooting

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joseph A. Pagán Jr.
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  As the morning sun crept over the flightline, hundreds of participants lined up to begin the Barksdale half-marathon. Whether this was their first or their 10th race, each person had his or her own driving force for finishing the run.

Among the competitors, lost in the crowd at the ready position was Nora Wilwert, sister of U.S. Navy 3rd Class Petty Officer John Larimer, whose life was tragically taken July 20, 2012, inside Century 16 Theater in Aurora, Colorado.

"This morning I will be running the Barksdale Air Force Base half-marathon in dedication to those affected by the Aurora movie theater shooting," Nora said. "The run will be in support of the survivors, in memory of those killed and as a thank you for the hard work and support of the first responders, lawyers, investigators, victim advocates and countless others who helped us through the last three years."

Nora not only ran her first half-marathon, but she also dedicated one mile to each of the 12 victims and one mile for the injured, traumatized, families, first responders and all others affected by the horrific tragedy.

"I got the idea from a 12-mile memorial run that was held on the third anniversary of the shooting," Nora said. "After such a long buildup to the trial and four months attending the trial itself, I was having trouble transitioning back to my normal life. I needed to do something to keep the memory alive of all those affected by the shooting, a way to honor my brother and all the other victims."

A half-marathon was a small way to let all the strong, wonderful people at the trial know they were being thought of, Nora continued.

Many times throughout the run Nora, thought of giving up. Having dedicated a mile to each person was the driving force behind her completing the run.

"I had never run that far before," Nora said. "It hurt, and I really wanted to give up, but thinking of my brother and the other victims, along with all the strong and courageous survivors I met kept me going. Seeing my family holding signs and cheering gave me the extra push I needed to sprint to the end."

Nora has been a fitness instructor for nearly nine years and working out has always been a large part of her life. After the death of her brother, she turned her love for fitness into a more positive outlet to burn off the anger, frustration and grief she was feeling.

"I couldn't teach my normal fitness classes or go to the gym during the four months I spent attending the trial in Colorado," Nora said. "Running has never been my favorite activity, but it was simple, free and something I could do during our lunch breaks to relieve the stress of the trial."

Despite her own limitations, she continued to train and pushed through the pain from the trial and her body.

"She's always made fitness a part of her life and I'm very proud of her," said Maj. Jacob Wilwert, 2nd Bomb Wing wing plans director. "She has banged up knees but was still resilient enough to go out there and push herself to the limit. It was quite a feat to see her accomplish the half marathon."

Jacob did not run alongside his wife, but if anyone knew the emotions his wife felt, it was him.

"Dealing with things on an emotional level was difficult for everyone," Jacob said. "At the age of 19, I too lost a sibling. Everyone was so supportive, as with the passing of my sister, when it initially happened. However, several weeks and months down the road people move on but we still struggled."

Death is never something you plan for, especially when it's of this magnitude, said Nora.

"July 20, 2012, was the single most awful day of my life," Nora said. "My brother's murder, the media circus that followed, the buildup to the trial and attending the trial itself has been an extremely painful and emotionally taxing experience for my family and I.  We are a very close family and the loss of John tore a hole in all of us."

The trial concluded in summer of 2015, two months prior to the half-marathon, and with that came a lifetime sentence for the murderer.

Nora explained that while the life sentence doesn't bring back the victims, the trial's over.

"We will all miss his smart, dry and witty sense of humor. John wasn't just my brother but one of my best friends I will miss him every day."