True to His Word, Pasadena Police Officer Runs Half Marathon in Full Uniform

 

Pasadena Police Officer Donald Sevesind said he’d do it, and he was true to his word.

When about 10,000 runners took off running Sunday morning at the start of the Pasadena Half Marathon, Officer Sevesind stood out from the aerodynamically-outfitted throng. He ran dressed in his full police uniform, sporting the Sam Browne belt with all of his the police equipment, vest, work boots and even his firearm.

“I [accepted] the challenge to run in my full uniform to not only enhance the positive image of law enforcement, but also to engage the community and the fellow runners that are running in the race and show that anything can be done as long as you put your mind to it,” he said before the race.

This was the first time Sevesind wore his uniform in a race, but it’s far from the first time he’s run in a half marathon.

In fact, Officer Sevesind has completed 122 half and 99 full marathons. He’s just one Los Angeles Marathon away from the Guinness World Records for “Youngest Fulltime Police Officer to Complete 100 Full Marathons and 100 Half Marathons,” if his luck holds.

Not only is this a physical feat, but Officer Sevesind runs to raise money for Pasadena Police Activities League (PAL) and the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation, which not only recognizes those Public Safety Officers that gave the ultimate sacrifice but supports the families of those officers, who have died in the line of duty.

Sevesind’s lifelong passion for running began when he was a kid and has participated in sometimes as many as six half marathons and full marathons a year.

“I’ve been running since the young age of six and fortunately, running is in my blood,” said Sevesind.

Sevesind’s goal is to raise $5,000 each for the Pasadena Police Activities League (PAL) and the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation.

Officer Sevesind plans to run in the Los Angeles Marathon in March in full uniform as well.