Joshua Jordan, dressed as “Blue Steel,” motions to cars during the inaugural Superhero Pub Run, July 21, 2012. On the left is Dustin Davis, dressed as “Trout Head Hero.”
Even a family of superheroes ran along the road course for the inaugural Superhero Pub Run, July 21, 2012.
Some of the participants during the inaugural Superhero Pub Run around Green Lake on July 21.
Participants in the inaugural Superhero Pub Run take their first drink break at the Atlantic Crossing bar on Roosevelt Way Northeast, July 21, 2012.
Some of the inaugural Superhero Pub Run participants run over the Interstate 5 overpass in North Seattle, July 21, 2012.
Participants in the inaugural Superhero Pub Run, July 21, 2012. From left: Rose Wetzel, Tim Sinnett, Maria Flagg, Lauren Matthews-Grossbard and Jake Bartholomy.
Tim Sinnett, dressed in his Superman T-shirt and red cape, looks onto Interstate 5 traffic during the inaugural Superhero Pub Run, July 21, 2012.
Jake Bartholomy had the most elaborate costume: glittery-silver spandex body suit he sewed himself in just more than two days.
“Black Jesus,” whose real identity is still a mystery, was a participant in the inaugural Superhero Pub Run around Green Lake on July 21.
Joshua Jordan, dressed as “Blue Steel,” during the inaugural Superhero Pub Run, July 21, 2012.
Some of the participants at the Green Lake Bar and Grill before the inaugural Superhero Pub Run in the Green Lake neighborhood, July 21, 2012.
Phoenix Jones, I have a confession: I dressed like a superhero last weekend.
That wasn’t the plan necessarily, but plans don’t always hold up against the enthusiasm of Rose Wetzel and her running buddies. Wetzel, an All-American at Georgetown University and state champion at Bishop Blanchet High School, organized the inaugural Superhero Pub Run last Saturday around Green Lake.
The idea was a pretty cool one: Make the runs short and stop for beer. That way people can have fun being dressed up, not look at running as a chore, and have a fun time doing it. Wetzel said she’s trying to motivate others to make the world around them better by starting with their own health through running.
“To me, when I think of superheroes, I don’t just think of the costume, I think of doing good, making the community a better place. So honestly, when I think about true superheroes I think about Gandhi and Rosa Parks – your people who are out there actually doing good in the world.
“The costume doesn’t necessarily matter as much as does the actions and intentions.”Most participants brought an old pair of running shoes and canned food as donations, and Wetzel collected full bags. But the costumes were the most fun part, and there were lots of them.
Jake Bartholomy, a former Penn State runner whose best mile time is 4:07, sewed his own glittery-silver spandex body suit, complete with silver wig, light-up blue glasses, silver gloves and face paint.
There was the family from the Bryant neighborhood, who brought their three kids – one in an Incredibles costume and the others in capes. Dustin Davis, of Tacoma, made up his own superhero: Trout Head Hero, with a stuffed fish on a baseball cap. His buddy, Joshua Jordan, had no problem directing traffic as Blue Steel, a superhero with a T-shirt blue tuxedo, blue hair and matching glasses.
I planned to go along with only a Batman T-shirt, but Bartholomy actually brought a spare Batman costume, with utility belt. How can you say no to that? Lauren Matthews-Grossbard was there dressed as Batgirl. But if there were real trouble, she’d be there much, much faster: In 2008 Matthews-Grossbard qualified for the Olympic trials in the marathon.
Some pictures from the Superhero Pub Run are posted above. Read more about the run here.
