BUCKTOWN — Barring unforeseen thunderstorms, a weekly grassroots meet-up for joggers on The 606 starts on Thursday.
The effort is part of a local chapter of Wear Blue: Run to Remember, described as "a national running community that serves as a living memorial to the service and sacrifice of the American military."
Meet-up coordinator Bradley Berndt, a Bucktown resident, said the group is not about donations or "pushing any agenda."
"My only purpose is to have Bucktown/Wicker Park residents aware of the running group so I am not running alone," Berndt said.
The group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Walsh Park, 1722 N. Ashland Ave. at the base of the elevated Bloomingdale Trail, and "will run the distance that makes sense for everyone," Berndt said.
The run will begin at 5:45 p.m.
"Wearing blue is optional [when running] but at least we can leave the pepper spray at home, the larger the group," he said.
Berndt, a marathoner, said he can run anywhere between three to 20 miles and he's open to whatever mileage people decide on. He hopes the group can run together in the Rock and Roll half marathon in July.
Berndt said he is not a military veteran but through his job as a senior vice president of the veteran-owned Federal Savings Bank, works with all active military, as well as Gold star families who've had someone in their family killed in action.
For more info or to join, visit the group's Facebook page.
