This past weekend was a very cold one. It was also a weekend where I was scheduled to run the furthest distance I ever ran: 14 miles. That doesn't seem like a lot when you consider I've run 4 half marathons (13.1 miles.) However, 14 miles is 14 miles. To explain it those in Pittsburgh that may not run, it's the same distance if I ran from my house on Neville Island to the Consol Energy Center in downtown Pittsburgh (14.1 per Google Maps.) That's pretty far for human legs.
Sadly, my shadow does not look like Darth Vader's shadow......
Facecicles! (not a word)
This weekend was a little tougher because the temperatures were not friendly. The SCRR group runs start at 8:30am and it was supposed to be about 6 degrees out with wind chill of -10. Needless to say, the group runs were cancelled. I wanted to do 14 on Saturday, but I took some sound advise from my girlfriend and waited to run with a group on Sunday instead. Even thought it was still supposed to be cold, it wasn't going to be as cold at 11:00 AM when were were planning on running. But, I still ran on Saturday. I put in 5 miles after bundling up, and the cold didn't really both me. It never really has. It was sunny out, and I was just enjoying the calm around me.
Sadly, my shadow does not look like Darth Vader's shadow......
Busy street, a little snow, and sun blazing in the sky.
Facecicles! (not a word)
I did end up running 5 miles that morning, but then I had to prepare for something else: The Cupid Undie Run. This is the third year that this fun run was held in Pittsburgh, and it's in approx. 38 major U.S. cities. What is the Cupid Undie Run all about? Well, you run in your underwear on or near Valentine's day. Now, why in the heck would anyone run in their underwear in the dead of winter? That's easy to answer. There are two reasons. The first is simply because we're crazy. The second is because it's for charity, and what better reason is there? The Cupid Undie Run and Cupid Charities were started to help raise money to help fight NF, or neurobibromatosis. The short story is that this disease affects the nervous system where inoperable tumors can grow on your nervous system which can lead to blindness, deafnesss, etc. I'm not the best at explaining it, but you can find that information here: http://www.cupidsundierun.com/info/charity-info/.
Some of you may have never heard of this disorder. I know I hadn't until about three years ago when the first Cupid Run came to Pittsburgh. A friend of a friend has a daughter who has been in treatment for this disease so of course I was going to run this one. I did think it was a 5k at first, and was a little disappointed that it wasn't, but again I really knew nothing about this race and it turned into a lot of fun. This year being the third year, I joined the planning committee so that I could learn how something like this is organized. Let me tell you, I didn't learn a whole lot because there was just so much to know! All I can really say is that those that did set up the day's events did one hell of a job. I don't know how they did it, but they did, and with much success. Pittsburgh raised over $300,000 for Cupid Charities. You know how we roll here in the 'burgh. It's always go big or go home! For the race, the runnerw more or less party for two hours, and then after a few drinks, run a mile in their underwear. This past Saturday, it was as you already know, so very cold.
What does something like this look like? It looks like all of this:
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| Photo courtesy of Kiersten Hoy Camacho |
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| Photo courtesy of Michael Markilinski |
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| Photo courtesy of Bev Bagosi |
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| Photo courtesy of Camille Goodrum |
I was asked by one of the photographers of the event how I could just stand there in the cold. I told her it was easy when you couldn't feel your legs anyway and didn't realize you were still actually standing.
Overall, it was a long exhausting day, but the race directors did a great job with this year's run. Please tip your hats to these three wonderful ladies (as well as all the members of the committe):
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| Left to right: Race Directors Amy Boyce Bates, Rachael Olbeter, and Kelly Kolling. Photo courtesy of Cara Antonelli. |
Sorry folks. You do not get to see me in my underwear. I'm sure you are all OK with that. But, rest assured, this adorable little girl thanks you for enduring the cold in your panties, and so do kids like her all over the world
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| Little Kelsey Hanahan, daughter of April and Tom. |
In fact, all these adorable kids thank you Pittsburgh:
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| Photo Courtesy of race director Rachael Olbeter, whose son is pictured in front. |
After such a long day on Saturday, how was I going to run on Sunday? I had 14 miles to do. No matter how worried or scared I was, I did it, I was sore for two days, but I did it. I'd love to tell you about it, but today's blog I wanted to really talk more about Pittsburgh's Cupid's. I'll just have to talk about the 16 miles I have run this weekend next time (and hope I don't bore you in the process.)
Until hen, I'll see you out on the streets, and I'll run right beside you, every step of the way.
Sinceriously Yours,
Chuck Hull - The Running Jedi
#26miles26dedications #gameonpgh #runpgh #runtastic
Don't forget: Let's try to get to $500.00 raised for the Mario Lemieux foundation this coming weekend! I'll raffle off two $25.00 gift cards to two lucky people if we reach that mark. Gift card of your choice! Let's help fight cancer folks!
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