About 200 people walked 22 miles through Tacoma on Saturday, Sept. 19, without paying a dime.

The Grit City Gauntlet started at 9 a.m. outside the Washington State History Museum downtown. Participants headed through the Stadium District to the Proctor Farmers' Market for a first break, then looped around Point Defiance Park and through Old Town before finishing back downtown, The News Tribune reported.

Organizer Holden Minor Ringer, who created the Seattle Super Saunter, built the event as a free, self-paced alternative to expensive marathons. The route covered nearly 22 miles with about 1,200 feet of elevation gain, Hoodline reported, citing the event listing. Stops included Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Point Ruston and Northern Fish Co.

Nobody had to finish the whole thing.

"In some ways these kind of feel like anti-marathons," Ringer said. "If you finish it first, you're doing it wrong. … But the whole point is to meet people, see a different part of the city."

Ringer walked across the United States through 20 states starting in March 2023 to raise money for the pedestrian nonprofit America Walks. He launched the Seattle Super Saunter in May 2025, drawing about 300 people from Shoreline to Bryn Mawr-Skyway in constant rain. He has since organized walks in Queen Anne, West Seattle, Bellingham and other areas.

He chose Tacoma because he's living in the city for a few months while working on a political campaign and wanted to explore it on foot.

Faster walkers stayed near the front, following Ringer's directions shouted from a speakerphone. Others lingered toward the back, chatting with strangers at a slower pace.

Daniel Hardebeck, a Tacoma resident of 15 years, attended with his wife, Dr. Lisa Hardebeck, after spotting a flyer posted around town. The couple typically walks 10 to 15 miles of Tacoma per week. Hardebeck said the walk highlighted the history preserved in the city's buildings, pointing to UW Tacoma's campus where old industrial brick exteriors hide modern classrooms and libraries inside.

Chelsea Oldenburg and Rafael Oliveira traveled from Seattle to join. Oldenburg has family roots in the Tacoma area. Oliveira said his only prior impression of the city came from driving to the airport.

Those who completed the full route celebrated with a drink at 7 Seas Brewery and Taproom.

Ringer said this may be the only Grit City Gauntlet in its current scope, since organizing citywide walks takes significant planning and he only plans to live in Tacoma a few months. He said he hopes the walk inspires residents to keep it going on their own.