It has been nine years since Guthrie resident Chris Cowden left his home for an afternoon ride on his motorcycle and was involved in a fatal accident. In the weeks that followed his death in May 2008, Cowden’s siblings decided to turn their grief into something productive that would keep their brother’s memory alive.
Cowden loved to run, and he loved animals, and that was the genesis for the See Spot Run. Now in its 9th year, the walk and run returns to the streets of Cowden’s hometown of Guthrie at 7:30 p.m. June 3.
“Chris was not only my brother, he was my best friend,” says Matt Cowden. “I still remember vividly the pain I felt the day we lost him. I was fishing on a pond near Guthrie when my dad called and said, ‘Matt, we lost Chris.’ It was so surreal – and none of us could comprehend that he was never coming home. But rather than sit around and continue to mourn, my sisters Teri and Suzanne and I came up with the idea for this run. I know it is something he would be so proud of.”
The 5k, 10k and Kids’ Fun Run benefits the Free to Live animal sanctuary, and has raised nearly $50,000 over the past eight years.
“Chris loved life, he loved his family and he loved his pets,” says Teri Cowden. “He was a dedicated father and a friend to everyone he met. He will always be a part of us, and it is so wonderful to be able to support Free to Live in his memory.”
Through the years, the See Spot Run has attracted more than 3,000 runners from across Oklahoma and the United States. For more information or to to participate, visit theseespotrun.com.
