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West Seattle Runner's Halloween Lights Run is back October 28

West Seattle Runner turns its weekly Wednesday group run into a costumed 3-mile tour of neighborhood Halloween displays on October 28, starting at 6:15 pm.

<h6>Seattle Fitness Magazine · 26 Oct 2026</h6><ul><li><strong>3</strong>miles</li><li><strong>3rd</strong>year</li></ul><h2>Costumes, headlamps, a crowd-sourced route</h2> <p><b>West Seattle Runner is swapping its regular Wednesday group run for a costumed neighborhood tour of Halloween displays on October 28, 2026.</b></p><p>The store on California Avenue SW in the Admiral neighborhood has been running this event every October since 2024, and this edition marks the third annual Halloween Lights Run.</p><p>The run departs the shop at 6:15 pm. Participants are asked to wear costumes, carry headlamps, and bring reflective gear for visibility. The store maps an approximate 3-mile route in advance, but the path is crowd-sourced: runners who spot good display setups can flag them so the McConnells can work them in.</p> <h2>Not a race</h2> <p><b>The listing is explicit on this point.</b></p><p>The official event description reads: &quot;This will be a nice easy paced run, with walking and photo/viewing display opportunities, definitely not a race.&quot; The group runs at West Seattle Runner welcome all paces and walkers, and this event is no different.</p><p>The Heylo group page describes the community plainly: &quot;We are a running group that welcomes all paces and walkers. We love to gather together to socialize, be active and encourage each other!&quot; Ten members had RSVPed on the platform as of October 26, 2026.</p> <h2>How the run grew</h2> <p><b>Tim and Lori McConnell launched the Halloween Lights Run in October 2024.</b></p><p>West Seattle Blog confirmed that year&#x27;s edition was the first-ever. The 2025 run added a birthday celebration at the shop afterward. This year&#x27;s listing makes no mention of a post-run stop, though the store&#x27;s regular Wednesday runs do encourage gathering at a nearby establishment once the miles are done.</p> <h2>Sixteen years on California Avenue</h2> <p><b>The McConnells opened West Seattle Runner in April 2010 after noticing the peninsula had no specialty running store.</b></p><p>They started upstairs at Charlestown Center, then moved about half a mile north on California to the Orion Building, where the shop sits today across from Hiawatha Playfield.</p><p>The store now runs three free group workouts a week: coached track on Tuesdays at 6:15 pm at Hiawatha Track, the Wednesday group run at 6:15 pm, and a longer Saturday run at 8 am. At the 2025 West Seattle Chamber Westside Awards, where the store won Business of the Year, Tim McConnell said the support had always outrun what they expected: &quot;When we opened our store, we had no idea how much time it was going to take, the effort to keep a small business open ... we also didn&#x27;t (anticipate) all the support we&#x27;d have.&quot;</p> <h2>Where and when</h2> <p><b>West Seattle Runner is at 2743 California Ave SW, Suite 101, in the Orion Building across from Hiawatha Playfield.</b></p><p>The Halloween Lights Run starts Wednesday, October 28 at 6:15 pm. No registration is required, though the store&#x27;s Heylo group page has an RSVP option. The run is free.</p>
Seattle Fitness Magazine · 26 Oct 2026
  • 3miles
  • 3rdyear

Costumes, headlamps, a crowd-sourced route

West Seattle Runner is swapping its regular Wednesday group run for a costumed neighborhood tour of Halloween displays on October 28, 2026.

The store on California Avenue SW in the Admiral neighborhood has been running this event every October since 2024, and this edition marks the third annual Halloween Lights Run.

The run departs the shop at 6:15 pm. Participants are asked to wear costumes, carry headlamps, and bring reflective gear for visibility. The store maps an approximate 3-mile route in advance, but the path is crowd-sourced: runners who spot good display setups can flag them so the McConnells can work them in.

Not a race

The listing is explicit on this point.

The official event description reads: "This will be a nice easy paced run, with walking and photo/viewing display opportunities, definitely not a race." The group runs at West Seattle Runner welcome all paces and walkers, and this event is no different.

The Heylo group page describes the community plainly: "We are a running group that welcomes all paces and walkers. We love to gather together to socialize, be active and encourage each other!" Ten members had RSVPed on the platform as of October 26, 2026.

How the run grew

Tim and Lori McConnell launched the Halloween Lights Run in October 2024.

West Seattle Blog confirmed that year's edition was the first-ever. The 2025 run added a birthday celebration at the shop afterward. This year's listing makes no mention of a post-run stop, though the store's regular Wednesday runs do encourage gathering at a nearby establishment once the miles are done.

Sixteen years on California Avenue

The McConnells opened West Seattle Runner in April 2010 after noticing the peninsula had no specialty running store.

They started upstairs at Charlestown Center, then moved about half a mile north on California to the Orion Building, where the shop sits today across from Hiawatha Playfield.

The store now runs three free group workouts a week: coached track on Tuesdays at 6:15 pm at Hiawatha Track, the Wednesday group run at 6:15 pm, and a longer Saturday run at 8 am. At the 2025 West Seattle Chamber Westside Awards, where the store won Business of the Year, Tim McConnell said the support had always outrun what they expected: "When we opened our store, we had no idea how much time it was going to take, the effort to keep a small business open ... we also didn't (anticipate) all the support we'd have."

Where and when

West Seattle Runner is at 2743 California Ave SW, Suite 101, in the Orion Building across from Hiawatha Playfield.

The Halloween Lights Run starts Wednesday, October 28 at 6:15 pm. No registration is required, though the store's Heylo group page has an RSVP option. The run is free.

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