Why we started the hall-EAU-ween 5K
It all started with a simple idea: running together should feel fun, festive, and family-friendly.
Emi Uelmen, owner of the ECM, shares how the spark began:
Back in October 2020, I was able to participate in the MNy250 with my twins Gabe and Reed (following all COVID rules). All I can say was IT WAS INCREDIBLE! I had the most fun running with my twins and said to them there that I hope one day we can add a halloween run in Eau Claire. Fast forward to Fall 2024 and selling out our first Hall-EAU-ween 5K. So many smiles, costumes and new people joining the Eau Claire Marathon community. Can't wait to do it again this October! And notice our Eau Claire Marathon running gloves we are wearing….. those are the RACE SWAG for this year's hall-EAU-ween 5K! How can you pass that up?
Heather Market Sullivan, director of operations, adds why it's special for her family:
Halloween isn't just for kids—and neither is our Hall-EAU-ween 5K! This festive run is the perfect excuse to celebrate the season with family and friends. I'm especially grateful for this event because it gives me another chance to share ECM with my parents, who come out to volunteer alongside me. Together, we make quite the crew—three skeletons keeping the Halloween spirit alive!
Abby Seipel, director of sponsorship & volunteers, shares how her young kids have their countdown going:
As we prepared to host our first hall-EAU-ween 5K in 2024, my kids were home with me part-time and loved beng part of the planning process as we collected and prepared decorations for the course. On race day, my husband dressed them in their Dory & Nemo costumes and pushed them in their strollers while I was helping with race day logistics. When they crossed the finish line, they were SO excited to tell me all about the things they helped prepare come to live on the course - it remembered me of the spark I feel working behind the scenes at ECM, watching months of planning turn into an unforgettable race day experience. Now, they're counting down the days to participate in the race again and I'm so excited for them (and all of you!) to see the new surprises that will be on the course this year!
Our goal was 250 participants. We SOLD out year 1 with 800. After hall-EAU-ween, we knew people were excited fort his series so continued with ho h-EAU ho, xox-EAU and f-EAU-rth of July.
Join us this October and make Hall-EAU-ween part of your family tradition!