This year’s award winner has been described as not just a good person, but as an aura and a vibe. He was described as being the entire Swifter experience wrapped up into one person: a kind-hearted and fun-loving human, who loves to run but doesn’t take himself too seriously, and wants everyone around him to enjoy themselves too. His positivity and humor is infectious, and he is always sharing his positive spirit with Swifters, both long-time members and new friends alike. 

If there’s a group outing, a Swifter race, or simply just laughing together on a Tuesday night, Mark is usually in the mix. He can be counted on for hosting a Scamper, coming up with other fun events, and always stays Swifty wearing our Swifter swag so we know his loyalty is tried and true. In fact, Mark has been described as being EVERYWHERE: he shows up to everything, signs up for everything, organizes everything, and does it with incredible joy and enthusiasm. And being everywhere is not just about his own experiences, it’s about being there for others. In fact, this story shared recently by another Swifter might just hit the nail on the head… they said the following: 

"I ran my first half marathon last year, and he was the only other Swifter at the race. I hadn’t met him at any Swifter events, but Sabrina had alerted him to my being there, and we found each other. He stayed until I finished, which was quite a bit after him, cheered me on at the finish, and took pictures. He didn’t have to stay or do any of that, but I know now that support like that is what this group is all about."

To us, that story encapsulates how Mark demonstrates being the Swiftiest Swifter. It’s about supporting your team even when your job is done. And even though he has moved further away, it could be expected and understood that he may not have time to attend as many events and we may not see him for long stretches of time. But not Mark - fortunately for us, there’s never a long period of time in between seeing his bright running shorts, drinking beers, and hearing the best dad jokes with this dude. And although he doesn’t take running too seriously, we’d like to acknowledge that having completed 82 half marathons is a serious accomplishment, and that means there’s only 18 left until his ultimate goal of 100 - something that many of us find admirable. And while you might know him on the socials as having two first names, he definitely has a first and a last name, and we’d like to add a few more words to it. Please join us in congratulating the 2025 Swiftiest Swifter, Marky Mark Richard Wegren!