Introducing Team USO Running the 2026 Chicago Marathon®

For the first time ever, Team USO will be running in the 2026 Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2026 represented by five dedicated runners supporting service members and their families through the USO. Learn more about their efforts and support the team through their official campaign HERE and discover how the USO continues to fulfill its mission to enhance the well-being of America’s military service members and their families. Let’s meet this year’s runners!

Audrey Gonzalez has served as an active-duty Army officer since 2016 and is currently stationed in Natick, Massachusetts, where the USO has been a steady source of support throughout her career—from using their services during assignments and deployments to serving as a unit liaison and ordering care packages for her team overseas. A proud advocate for the organization, she raised over $10,000 running the 2025 Boston Marathon with Team USO and is now preparing to volunteer at a USO pop-up location in her community. Over the past year and a half, Audrey has also become an avid runner, originally inspired by the dream of completing the Boston Marathon while living in Massachusetts. She has loved watching her progress and building friendships through shared miles, and she is currently pursuing the World Marathon Majors and the Armed Forces Challenge. Next year, she continues her dedication to service and sport as she takes on the 2026 Chicago Marathon as part of Team USO.

Lalena “Zoe” Magnetta is a Navy veteran, a veteran’s spouse, and a lifelong advocate for the military community — a commitment she has carried proudly since being named Ms. Veteran America 2019 2nd Runner-Up. Her connection to the USO runs deep, both through her own service and through her husband Mike, who serves as the USO Center Operations Manager at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. As an experienced endurance runner, Zoe has completed two full marathons, more than 30 half-marathons, and countless other races — always fueled by a love of running and a passion to “run for those who serve.” For Zoe, joining Team USO for the 2026 Chicago Marathon is far more than another race. It’s a chance to honor the military community she loves, to pay forward the support the USO has provided to so many, and to build meaningful connections with fellow runners who share the same mission. Every mile is an opportunity to make a difference for the service members and families who mean so much to her.

Rebecca Martin has participated in a wide range of professional running events — including half marathons, 5Ks, 10Ks, Tough Mudder, and Spartan Race — and brings her endurance and determination to every starting line. Her connection to the military runs deep: both of her parents were career Soldiers who met while serving, and her brother joined the Army at 18, later attending West Point and earning his Ranger tab before being killed in action in Baghdad in 2007. As a Gold Star family member, Rebecca is committed to giving back to military support programs like the USO, where she has volunteered on numerous occasions, including serving meals to veterans and their families during multiple Thanksgiving holidays. Growing up in a military household, she witnessed firsthand the impact the USO has on service members, and she’s honored to have contributed to that mission throughout the years. Representing Team USO in the 2026 Chicago Marathon brings together two of her lifelong passions: supporting the military community and pushing her limits through endurance.

Derrick Albarran is preparing to take on his first marathon, backed by a steady running routine of 3–4 days a week and distances ranging from 3 to 10 miles, as well as prior experience completing a half marathon. He is currently serving in his sixth year with the Illinois Army National Guard as a Sergeant and Artillery Cannon Crewmember, continuing a strong family tradition of military service across both the Army and Navy. Throughout his time in the National Guard, Derrick has experienced firsthand the USO’s support, from drill weekends to annual training, where the organization has supplied his unit with snacks and essential items like toiletries and sanitizers. He remains deeply grateful for the ways the USO assistance has helped his unit stay mission ready. Running the 2026 Chicago Marathon as part of Team USO is a meaningful opportunity for Derrick to give back to an organization that has supported him and his fellow Soldiers throughout their service.

Ann Poindexter’s connection to the military began in childhood through her father’s Army service, continued as a Navy spouse, and deepened even further when she chose to join the Navy herself shortly after the birth of her first child, becoming part of a dual-military family. After separating from the Navy, she continued her commitment to service as a Veteran Service Officer for the State of Florida, where she works closely with the USO while assisting Veterans and active-duty service members. She even volunteered with the USO after her separation, an experience that reinforced her desire to support the military community in every capacity she could. Although she has never run a marathon, Ann has participated in several fun runs and now incorporates running into her cycling cross-training. Taking on the 2026 Chicago Marathon as part of Team USO is a meaningful way for her to give back to an organization that aligns with her passion for serving those who serve.

Join Team USO in achieving their fundraising goal by visiting the USO’s 2026 Chicago Marathon page!