Army Widow, 43, Runs Over 90 Miles to Honor Husband on 15th Anniversary of His Death (Exclusive)

"I needed to experience the earth in ways he never got to," Lisa Hallett, who shares three children with her late husband John, tells PEOPLE

• Lisa Hallett, 43, ran 93 miles in Washington last month to honor the 15th anniversary of her Army captain husband's death in Afghanistan

• “Each year on the anniversary of John’s passing, I tackle a challenge that is worthy of the boldness of John’s life, service, and love of country,” she tells PEOPLE

• In addition to completing her goal, she also raised over $115,000 for Gold Star families

An Army widow marked the 15th anniversary of her husband’s death by running close to 100 miles.

On Aug. 25, Lisa Hallett ran 93 miles along Washington’s Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier to honor the life of Army Cpt. John Hallett, who died that same day in 2009 after he was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

"My heart was broken and this new world felt crushingly overwhelming,” Hallett, 43, tells PEOPLE. "I was left to raise our three babies, Jackson, Bryce and Heidi, all on my own."

But, she says, "in addition to what I lost, I was equally devastated for all that John would miss.”

In the years since, Hallett says she's made a point of finding ways to honor the impact her husband made during his lifetime.

“Each year on the anniversary of John’s passing, I tackle a challenge that is worthy of the boldness of John’s life, service, and love of country,” she says.

Related: 23-Year-Old Widow Remembers Love Story with the Last Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

This year, Hallett wanted to go "big" — and she "knew that circumnavigating the 93-mile Wonderland Trail was the answer."

In addition to the fact that Mount Rainier is a "stunning backdrop," she also says that Joint Base Lewis McChord, which is located nearby, was "John’s final, military installation."

Speaking with PEOPLE following the "majestic" run, Hallett explains how she was able to push herself through the daunting terrain.

“I had to focus on one moment at a time: crossing the river, finding stable footing up a mountain pass, filtering water for the next valley, avoiding gnarled tree roots on a pass descent,” she says.

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But Hallett admits that “as darkness settled in...so did doubts about being able to complete the 93-mile challenge.”

But, thanks in part to other runners on the course, who provided her with emotional support, Hallett says that she "was reminded that even in the hard, all things are possible."

Related: Navy Widow Learns She's Pregnant After Husband's Death and Honors Him with Special Gender Reveal

In addition to taking on a new experience on behalf of her husband, Hallett says there was another important aspect to the run. "Just like he served his county, this challenge needed to be about going good for others," she says.

This year, Hallett says her run raised money for Gold Star families (families of military members that were killed in the line of duty) through the help of her nonprofit organization Wear Blue: Run to Remember.

“Each donation allows us to expand high-touch, high-impact programs for families of the fallen, including our Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program, Gold Star Race Program and national community runs,” Hallett says.

“In Wear Blue, I know that John will never be forgotten," she continues. "My children and I are not alone on this journey ... I am surrounded by a community [that] will help me do hard things. Every Gold Star and surviving family deserves these gifts."

As of Friday, Sept 13, more than $116,000 has been raised.

Still, Hallett notes she's looking to other "big, beautiful ways" to honor John in the future.

"Each year the challenge will look a little different," she says.

"I remember in the days, months, and even years after John died, people would ask, 'How do you do it? How do you survive the loss of your husband and raise your three babies on your own?' ” she recalls. "Inevitably, the same person would answer the question, 'Well, I guess you just did what you had to do. You had no choice.' "

No matter what, she says, "There is another sunrise to see, another mountain to climb, another goal to achieve."

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