Megan McClung loved to run.

On Saturday, Sept. 9, the Megan McClung Memorial Run will honor her life, legacy and love of running. The race features a 1k kid’s run, 5k, 10k and half marathon in Oak Harbor. All finishers in the 8-and-under 1k will receive medals, and adult runners in every division will receive a race coin. The first male and female finisher in the half marathon will be entered into the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C.

The run honors McClung, who was the first female United States marine officer to be killed in combat during the war in Iraq.

While in Iraq, she helped organize the first Marine Corps Marathon in the country, and she managed to place second among female competitors despite running with an injury.

The race on Whidbey was first organized in 2007 by the Marine Aviation Training Support Group 53 while they were stationed on the island. Now, McClung’s mother, Re McClung, is the CEO of the race.

All proceeds from the race go to the Semper Fi Fund, which provides financial assistance to post-9/11 critically ill and injured members of all branches of military and their families.

Last year, approximately $5,000 was raised, according to the Race Director Melissa Riker.

The race will begin and end at Flintstone Park, and the city’s Military Appreciation Picnic will follow the run. The end of the race will also feature cupcakes, according to Re McClung because Sept. 9 is her 70th birthday.

Re McClung said next year she looks forward to adding a full marathon to the race, something her husband always wanted to do. She also said she wants to retire after the next race.

“It’ll be the 10th race, it’ll be a full marathon and it’ll be fulfilling my husband’s legacy for Megan,” she said.

• For information about the run, go to meganmcclungmemorialrun.com