Running For Honor
May 20th, 2008 categories: Entertainment, Military Installations
The weekend’s inaugural Marine Corps Historic half marathon was remarkable in many ways. Not only was it a first (more on that later), but more significantly, the run was dedicated to a fallen soldier, Army Ranger 1st Lt. Benjamin Hall, who was killed in Afghanistan on July 31, 2007. Hall, a platoon leader of one of the Ranger’s Airborne Brigade Combat Teams, had been in Afghanistan only seventy days when he lost his life.
Hall’s parents, Sarah and John Hall are residents of Fredericksburg. The marathon dedication is a remembrance they say is a chance to celebrate their son’s approach to life, one characterized by an active spirit. Ben Hall was a runner. In high school he ran cross country, and continued his quest for testing the limits of his endurance by competing in marathons in the years that followed. And, many of these adventures were shared with family and friends, which Ben made a priority in life. So, it was no surprise that a number of friends took part in the inaugural event honoring him. Many of those participants ran wearing shirts bearing Ben’s picture and the words, “Be Like Ben”. And, Fredericksburg’s first half marathon was the perfect place for this run to remember. 
Last year the Marine Corps decided to move its half marathon to Fredericksburg in order to accomodate a larger pool of participants. Previously called the Quantico Half Marathon, the event had usually seen about 1500 participants, mostly Marines and their families. While many of the usual suspects showed up for this annual competition, the number of runners in this new venue exceeded 6,000.
The large turnout was a result of a joint effort between the Marines Corps Marathon team & Fredericksburg leadership. The Half-Marathon’s 13.1 mile course began and ended at Fredericksburg’s Expo & Conference Center just behind the Central Park complex. For those that hadn’t been to the city’s Old Town area previously, the route included a tour of its paved brick walkways and many of the shops that tourists just can’t get enough of. For watchers and participants alike, this inaugural run was not only fun to be a part of, but meant much more than a few hours of sacrifice. As one of the participants, Army Capt. Brennan Speakes from Fort Benning, who ran cross country as a high school friend of Ben Hall said, “it’s the farthest I’ve run in a long time, but the cause is worth it.”
