Group of Ballardites to embark on Dick’s Drive-In Walkathon this weekend

A group of friends from Ballard will embarking on their third annual Dick’s Drive-In Walk around Seattle, in which they will walk to all six Dick’s locations in one day. The trek on Saturday (Sept 14) involves 22 miles of walking to each location, and the organizers expect to have up to 15 people joining them for the walk this year.

Photo courtesy Lars Phillips

The urban hike to Dick’s started a few years ago when Ballard High School graduates Lars Phillips and JP Osseward thought it would be fun to walk across the city from north to south in one day. After that 16-mile walk, they decided to do other hikes, including Alki to Newcastle Golf Course (19 miles), the 20 steepest streets in Seattle (30 miles) and the entire Burke-Gilman Trail in one day (22 miles). Phillips and Osseward were joined by their friend and fellow Ballardite Zack Gussin for their inaugural Dick’s walk a couple years ago, and they’re now growing their trekking team, expecting over a dozen people to join them on Saturday.

The trio contacted Jim Spady (son of Dick’s founder Dick Spady), who has joined them for parts of the walk in years past. “We started doing the urban hikes because they’re fun, great exercise, and a great way to see parts of the city you wouldn’t otherwise know,” Phillips told us. “The Dick’s Drive In walk is particularly great because Dick’s is of course a Seattle institution, the food is delicious, and the Spady family has been incredibly welcoming of our idea, generous with their time, and are genuinely amazing people. (Plus the exercise is a great way to burn off all the calories!)” Phillips writes.

The Dick’s walking crew will be visiting all six locations, starting at Edmonds. Then they’ll head to Lake City, followed by the Holman location, then Wallingford, Capitol Hill, finally finishing on Queen Anne. If you want to join them, they’ll meet at 10 a.m. at the Edmonds location. Phillips says homemade t-shirts, costumes, or other Dick’s apparel is encouraged. To RSVP or to learn more, click here for their Facebook page about the event.

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