DAVID BRUCE HARDT “THE IRON HORSE” SET TO HONOR 48 FALLEN U.S. COMRADES LOST IN IRAQ WITH 26.2 MILE MARATHON

SEATTLE —- After months of training in the dark nights of Iraq to the bright, clean streets of Seattle, United States Army Spc. David Bruce Hardt will hit the ground running in honor of his 48 fallen comrades during the University of Washington Medical Center Seattle Marathon 2007 on Sunday, November 25 beginning at 8:15 a.m. from 5th Avenue between Harrison and Mercer Streets, east of the Experience Music Project in Seattle.

Originally from San Bernardino, Calif., and nearing four years of active duty service, Hardt is returning from two tours in Iraq serving with the Army’s 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry C Company, 2nd Platoon Reapers at Fort Lewis located in Pierce County, Washington. On April 14, 2004, Hardt was wounded in combat and was subsequently awarded the Purple Heart.

“During my two tours in Iraq our unit lost several soldiers as they served their country with respect and dignity,” states Hardt. “It’s but a small gesture and big privilege for me to be able to return to the United States and run in the Seattle Marathon in recognition of their outstanding service and ultimate sacrifice for our country. I hope to honor their memory while saluting their families.”

The Seattle Marathon is in its 37th year and for the first time will award a first, second, and third place overall award in the full and half marathon for men and women who are active military. The events include the marathon run, half marathon run, marathon walk and half marathon walk on a rolling course with hilly sections and scenic views of downtown Seattle and Lake Washington.

“We are fortunate to have Spc. Hardt returning safely to the United States and ready to participate in this year’s marathon in honor of those soldiers from Fort Lewis that he proudly served with, but will not be returning home,” said John Kokes, president of Seattle Marathon Association.

The UW Medical Center is the title sponsor of the 2007 Seattle Marathon, with proceeds to benefit the UWMC Patient and Family Housing Fund. The fund provides local and affordable housing for transplant patients, their families, and others who travel long distances for specialized medical care.

Hardt has been training for this marathon nearly all his life. He began running at 15 and won his first race in junior high school in the two mile run. He eventually ran cross-country for San Gorgonio High School and the San Bernardino Valley College. At the time Hardt was the oldest runner on the team earning him the nickname “The Horse” due to his agility, smoothness and speed. He has run 15 full marathons, 11 half marathons and more than 50 short races, each one finishing in the top of his age group.
With his two tours in Iraq his nickname has been modified to “The Iron Horse” for his rigid training schedule and commitment. Hardt runs nearly 40 miles per week mostly in the complete darkness in the late night or early morning hours.

While in Iraq, he wrote the popular blog, David Hardt In Iraq, which can be found at http://blog-ah.typepad.com/blogah/2007/09/david-hardt-i-5.html. The blog provided a forum to share Iraq experiences and perspectives, soldier and unit updates, and general information relating to the mission. He also contributed to The Fort Lewis Ranger newspaper.

Hardt’s unit is now in the process of returning to the United States after a 15-month tour in Iraq.

About Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis, named after Meriwether Lewis of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition, is one of the largest and most modern military reservations in the United States. Consisting of 87,000 acres of prairie land cut from the glacier-flattened Nisqually Plain, it is the premier military installation in the Northwest. For additional information, please visit http://www.lewis.army.mil/index.asp.

About Seattle Marathon 2007
The Seattle Marathon Association (SMA) is a non profit organization governed by a ten member Board of Directors. It is proud of its commitment to providing a quality running event in the Pacific Northwest, providing our sponsors with maximum exposure in association with the event and making a positive social and economic impact on the city of Seattle. For additional information, please visit http://www.seattlemarathon.org.

###