Wear blue and run for a great cause

Train for Rock'n'Roll Marathon, more

By Marguerite Cleveland on February 9, 2017

wear blue: run to remember is seeking runners - active-duty, family members and members of the local community - to run the Seattle Rock'n'Roll Marathon June 18. Runners who sign up through wear blue: run to remember, will receive a $20 discount off the registration fee and free weekly training runs.

"The month of February kicks off our official training period for the Seattle Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon," said Lisa Hallett, co-founder and executive director. "Each weekly training run during the month will feature a chance to win a free race entry for the marathon or half-marathon.  As athletes train for the race, they can also add the name of a fallen comrade in arms or family member to be honored on the Wear Blue Mile, which will be featured halfway on the official race course."

At official wear blue: run to remember events, the Wear Blue Mile is a tribute to honor the fallen.  For one mile on each side of the course, volunteers carry American flags. In front of them are large posters with photos of the fallen.  In addition to race participants, the group is looking for volunteers to act as flag bearers for the Seattle Rock'n'Roll Marathon Wear Blue Mile.

The mission of wear blue: run to remember, is to build a running community that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military.

"We were born in the backyard of Joint Base Lewis-McChord," Hallett said. "We host weekly runs every Saturday morning at Powderworks Park in DuPont.  The weekly run is for all ages and abilities and is very family-friendly.  Strollers are welcome, and there is a playground in the park."

wear blue: run to remember was created as an outlet for grief. Capt. John Hallett was killed Aug. 25, 2009, in southern Afghanistan when his Stryker vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device.  Running gave Lisa an outlet for her grief and a coping mechanism to help survive the loss of her husband and best friend while building her strength to be there for her three young children. Soon, she found others that needed the same kind of support that running gave her.  With the help of her friend Erin O'Connor, wear blue: run to remember was born.  It gave Lisa a path to move forward and a commitment to help others. wear blue: run to remember was granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2012.  

Those interested in running or volunteering for June's race should visit the group's website at wearblueruntoremember.org/rocknroll-seattle/ for more information.  A registration form is available, and participants can indicate whether they want to run or volunteer.

The deadline is May 20 to provide names and photographs of the fallen to be honored on the Wear Blue Mile during the race. The group's website contains the code for the $20 discount to register for the race; participants need to visit the race website to register.

For more info about wear blue: run to remember, visit wearblueruntoremember.org.