Annual Brittany Run gets new name and new location

On April 2, 2008, 21-year-old UW–Madison junior Brittany Zimmermann of Marshfield was murdered in her campus-area apartment. Her killer is still at large.

In 2009 Brittany’s family, UW-Madison Police and Madison Area Crime Stoppers founded the Brittany Zimmermann 5K Run/Walk to raise awareness about her unsolved case and to promote crime prevention throughout the Madison area.

This fall the renamed, third annual Brittany Run/Brittany Zimmermann 5K Run/Walk will take place on Saturday, Sept. 29, starting at 9 a.m. at the university’s Lot 60, located on the west end of campus across from the McClimon Soccer Complex and the Goodman Diamond. Parking in the lot will be free.

Runners and walkers will travel along the scenic Howard Temin Lakeshore Path next to Lake Mendota. As in previous years, Brittany’s parents will greet participants as they cross the finish line. In the first two years, the event started at Library Mall and Memorial Union, but due to the major construction projects in that area, the route was relocated.

The entry fee is $25 until Tuesday, Sept. 25, and $30 for late registration or registering on the day of the event. Participants must register online to guarantee they will receive a race t-shirt.

All proceeds go to support Madison Area Crime Stoppers activities on campus and throughout Dane County.

South Campus Police Officer Erik Pearce, one of the event’s coordinators, said more than 300 people participated last year. He noted that the post-race event is very festive and features music and lots of door prizes.

There is not a home football game that day and the Badgers don’t play Nebraska until 7 p.m.