20 Miles For Evan

      As I sat at work on Friday, I could't stop thinking about the fact that I was about to test my body like I've never tested it before.   Was I really about to run 20 miles in 1 day?  Yeah, I really was.  Again, I look back in the past to 21 year old me.  I even look back at 16 year old me.  Would either of them have said that to themselves?  Not a chance.  16 year old me would have been camping with good old Troop 905 with his best friends Aaron and Doug.  16 year old Aaron may have run 20 miles, but 16 year old Doug would have laughed if you asked him that question.  21 year old me was too busy trying to figure out college, eventually quitting, and joining the Navy instead.  That version of me would have laughed at the thought, too.   43 year old me?  43 year old me just says, "wow, I'm really going to do this.  And I'm not going to stop."

     As the day progressed, there was a post going around Facebook about a local 12 year old boy who had taken his own life due to being bullied.  That was something else that spent a great deal of time on my mind.  I just could not stop thinking about that post.  Why have things today changed so much that a 12 year old boy felt the need to do this?   I don't know, and I'll never understand it.   Did this sort of thing happen as much when we were growing up, or do we now just notice it more because we have access to everything 24/7?  I don't know the answer to that, and I'm not really sure I want to know.  What I do know is that this sort of tragedy should not have happened.  It just shouldn't have happend.

     As I spent the majority of my time on Friday thinking, my #26miles26dedications came to mind.  I've been planning that post for quite some time now, and I think the first of a three part post is coming later this week.  But for now, I my thoughts are of how this little boy left the world by his own hands, and I just can't understand why.  I can't say I've been affected by his tragedy deeply because I didn't know him or his family, but one of my co-workers has a son in the same grade at the same school district.  When speaking with her, she said her son wished they would have had class together so that he may have been there for him as a friend.  But, just how do we make other kids feel the same way?  How do we get them to help?  We have one boy that wishes he could have helped, but we need everyone's help.

     I can admit that I got picked on growing up.   I was, and still am to this day, a nerd.  I don't say that to get down on myself.  I say it with humor in my voice.  I have more fun being an adult nerd than I did being a teenage nerd, though.  There were times when classmates would knock my books out of my arms.  There were times when I would get roughed up a little bit in gym class.  There was even a time when someone decided it would be funny to give me a wedgie, one that actually ripped my underwear.   I'm not sure what made that person and everyone else think it was so funny, but all I can remember saying, in anger, was "dude, we're ****ing 18 years old!  When does this sh*t stop?"   Yeah.  We were seniors at that time.  But, I graduated a few month later, and I never had to deal with those types of things again.   Did I feel like I was bullied?   You know, I don't think I would have called it that.  At least, maybe not now.  The only reason is because my definition of being bullied back then is completely different to how children are being bullied now.

     To me, in my mind, it seems that some of today's kids seems to be hell bent on wanting to put all their wrong doings (or anything else for that matter) on the internet to see how many "hits" they can generate, or to see if what they've done will go "viral."  They film another kid getting beat up or getting picked on instead of maybe trying to help or stop it.  Some adults are no different.  I truly feel that when it comes to the internet, so many people want to be the next big thing.  They want to be the next viral sensation.  They want their 15 minutes of fame.  But why?  What's the point?  Do you really think that telling someone "my video got a hundred thousand views on You Tube" will really do anything for a college application or a job resume?  No.  It won't.  But, they'll still do it, and other people will still watch those types of videos. But, these are my thoughts and this is only what I think.  Maybe it's all stemming from my anger.  It is still what I think (which doesn't mean I'm right.)

     Unfortunately I also feel that there are more people who will laugh at and giggle at those videos than there are those that show outrage towards them.   Today, when people are outraged, they just comment and say why they are outraged.  A comment won't do anything to stop what has already happened from happening again.  It seems like an endless cycle.

    So, again, there I was on Friday with a thought.  I was running 20 miles on Saturday.  But, it wasn't for my marathon training.  It was for that little 12 year old boy.  A 12 year old boy that I've never met.  A 12 year old boy that hurt so much inside that he is now no longer with us.  A 12 year old boy that the world will never get to see how much potential he had, or how much he could have accomplished.  A 12 year old boy that could have one day raised the Stanley Cup.  A 12 year old boy that could have become President.  I may be dedicating 26 miles for 26 different reasons come May 1st, but on Saturday, March 26th, I had 20 miles just for Evan.

     All 20 miles were Evan's and Evan's alone.  They weren't mine.  They weren't yours.  They were his.  I know I don't know him or his family, and I'm sure I never will, but I want kids like him to know that no matter how bad it may get, or how bad it may seem, just talk to us.  We will listen.  And to the adults out there that fail to see or understand any of this, you have to listen, too.  You must.  It's our job as an adult, as a parent, as a cousin, a brother, an uncle, a friend.  We can make this world a better place for these children, and for us.  We truly can.  But, we can only do that one way: together.

Coach Suzanne's JASR group: arms linked to stand
together against bullying.

   And so here it is, Saturday morning.  I woke up at 4:30, but had my alarm set for 6:30.  As I tried to lay back down to get two more hours of rest, my brain clicked to the on position and stayed there.   I could not, no matter how hard I tried, fall back to sleep.  Just thinking about the day and the miles I had to put in made my adrenaline kick in.  I could feel it.  I was starting to get jazzed up.  I was really getting pumped.  After a quick breakfast, I headed out to do some fun laps around North Park for the Just A Short Run race.

The 80's called...they want their gym shorts back.

     The race itself was a 30k, or 18.6 miles. The plan was to add 1.4 mile cool down after I crossed the finish line to get in my 20.  I was still sticking with the 10:00 min mile pace since that seemed to be what's been working best for the longer distances, and we had a pretty strong group.  We did lose some runners as they were strong enough to pick up their pace and go faster, but I stuck to my guns and stuck with the plan.  I had my gels, and I had plenty of fluids on me.   As it turned out, I even had some friends working one of the water stations.   That was a pleasant surprise!

Thanks to Ed and Jennifer Hogan;
Chad Schirnhofer and his little girl Hogan, and to the rest
of the St. Malachy team.

   
     I ran fora total of 3 hours and 20 minutes, and I felt good.  I felt damn good.  I didn't tire once.  I didn't even feel tired!  I felt as though if the marathon were this past Saturday I had another 6.2 miles in me.  I can neither deny nor confirm that I went all Rick Flair on the final miles with my coach, wooing loudly.  Wooooooo!  (Note: this is OK in a race (I think,) but NOT OK at a Pirates or Penguins game. Ever.)  20 miles.  WOW!

Coach let me hold the pace sign!

Coach Suzanne and I after I finished my cool down miles
to get my 20 for the day.

     I can' believe I just ran 20 miles as part of my training.  I did it.  Despite what I said earlier in this post, I did it not just for me, but I did it for you.  I did it for them.  I did it for every man, woman, or child that felt as if they could not go any further.  I did it for all for all of those that felt they had no other choice and just decided to stop.  And, on that day, I mainly did it for Evan Ziemniak.  RIP Evan, and thank you for running with me on Saturday.

Until later this week,  keep on running, and let's run together.

Sinceriously Yours,

Chuck Hull.... The Running Jedi

#20milesforEvan #26miles26dediations #runpgh #gameonpgh

PS:  Don't forget, there is still time to donate to my fundraiser this year.   Please donate.  We are at $700.00 raised.  My goal is $1501.  We are almost halfway there.  I would love to get there in the next three weeks.  I know we can get there.  All it takes is lunch for one day.  That's it.  Click the link to donate.   Remember: if we meet the goal, I'm raffling off a Mario Lemieux Jersey to one lucky person.  ($1500 is the minimum to raise in order to receive the Jersey, and I want to give that to one of you, just like last year.)

https://www.crowdrise.com/LemieuxPittsburgh2016/fundraiser/chuckhull

The Treblemakers called....they said "Please Don't Stop The Music."

Case in Point:

     I'm sorry, but I love the movie "Pitch Perfect."  It's ridiculous.  It's hilarious.  It's just plain fun.   I equally enjoyed Pitch Perfect II, as well.   I'm not sure if it's because I love silly things, or if it's because I love music, or a combination of both.  I'm going with both.  (It's also fair to note I have a very unhealthy obsession with the movie Rock Of Ages.)

      Some people may not know this, but I was a DJ for 15 years.   That's a really long time.  I'm also currently a front man for a cover band (just a few old farts that like to go out and rock your socks off.  You can find us here: https://www.facebook.com/tuneduppgh/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel.  Give us a like!)  In the time I was a DJ, I've worked in bars, some night clubs, and have done my share of weddings and parties.  I've never really charged a whole lot as I was mainly doing it for fun, and I never felt that it was a job for me.  It was just something I enjoyed doing.  I have very fond memories of my first gig at McCoy's place in Moon Township, our local watering hole.   The beach parties there came to mind.  We did that two years in a row where we hauled in two tons of sand to cover the back floor of the bar.

The Sand Man cometh....

...and so do the people.....

 

....who don't stay to help us clean up.

     People loved it.  It was just something fun and different.

     From there I moved to the city and worked at the Boardwalk in places like Tequila Willies, Level Lounge, and even the outside deck.  I've also been able to work the deck outside for a summer at The Matrix.   These places are no longer around.  I swear it's not my fault.   There is on place that I truly found a home as a DJ.   It's a place I can always call home: Jekyl and Hyde down on the South Side.

     Jekyl and Hyde is Pittsburgh's only Halloween themed bar.  They have a great selection of beers and micro brews, as well as Halloween themed shots.   Everyone there from my fellow DJs (Matt Swogger, aka DJ Luke Duke, DJ Don Deleo, and DJ Steve Spin all of BMP DJs (www.bpmdeejays.com) and Greg Russell who took over for me,) to the bartenders Dave, Liz, and Carmela (who you can now find at Carmella's Plates and Pints also on the South Side,) to the owner Mike Alberter (a Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor - another reason why I picked the Lemieux Foundation to run for.)  We had nothing but fun every night we worked together (except that time Mike forgot I had a new car and my car ended up getting towed.  Thanks for picking that up by the way!)  The halloween parties were always epic, but they would not have been without the music to go along with it.  Good times were truly had by all.   It's because of placed like Jekyl and Hyde that I have met so many people as a DJ.  Some became acquaintances.  Some have become life long friends.   This can happen while being a runner, too.

DJ Don Deleo, myself, and the boss man Mike on
one of Jekyl's bar crawls for the Lymphoma/Leukemia society 

Needless to day, I did not have a career as an 80's rap icon

The DJ is.....wait for it......horsing around.

Celebrating my last NYE as a DJ at Jekyl with my buddy Mike.

So it looks like I confused Lion-O, Lord of the
Thundercats...with a clown..... (pre-Halloween Crowd.)

     When running, I like to run with music.  In fact, a lot of people do.   Some feel that it helps keep them going.  Some don't like the noise and enjoy the quiet.  They "run naked" metaphorically speaking.  At times, especially during a race, it's recommended not to wear headphones or listen to music.   Some may wonder why this is.  Generally when you have something in your ears the sounds around you can be muted.   You can't really hear someone coming up behind you.  Heck, you can't even hear something coming up behind you (like traffic for example, or maybe a bear?)  But, we still choose to do it.   You don't have to have the music up that loud, but when your jam comes on....it's hard not to turn it up to 11.

     As a DJ, I had come up with an idea to make this killer mix when I ran my first half marathon in 2013.  By killer, I mean a large variety of hair band and rock tunes to keep me going.  I've used this same mix now four times.   I've used it for my daily runs, a lot.  It's so familiar to me now that I can tell how far I've run just based on what song is playing.   I even find myself at times running in cadence with the music.   When a song like "Kick Start My Heart" by Motley Crue, or "Rocket" by Def Leppard comes on in the mix, I find it very hard not to pick up the pace.   However, this mix has gotten a little old for me.  Sure the songs are old, but I'm finding myself needing some more motivation on these long runs.  This mix is only 2 hours long, and clearly I'm now running a lot longer than that.

    I have my first 20 mile run this coming Saturday.  I'm looking at this as the ultimate test of my abilities.   When I first signed up to run the full marathon, I had a hard time wrapping my head around what I've done.   Now, with the marathon being 39 days away, that doesn't seem like such a crazy thing anymore.   Also, with 20 miles only 3 days away,  my frame of mind has went from, "how am I going to do this?" to "I can do this!"   I know I can.  But I'm not going to do it without some music to keep my feet going.

     What's on my playlist?   People that know me can probably figure that out.   You damn well know there are some Bon Jovi songs on that list.   There will ALWAYS (pun intended) be Bon Jovi on my phone (and in my car.)

Just for you ladies.  Feel free to steal this pic if you haven't already.
I know you really want to steal it.

     Even with the majority of my set list being hair bands and other rock, I do like a variety.   Songs like "Shut Up And Dance," "Uptown Funk" to name a few newer songs are just fun to have for running.  But I can also take it back to the 90s new jack swing era with "Poison," and "Gettin' Funky," as well as some of the smooth sounds of Motown ("Rock With You" is also on there.)

(I beg of you to watch this video too....  https://youtu.be/3XOqUotSQnU )

     You can also bet your bottom dollar that "Eye Of The Tiger" and other songs from the Rocky movies are on my set list.

     Since I do have the equipment, I can mix this all together so I've got non-stop music.   It's as if I'm at the club but I'm not.  I don't have a drink in my hand.  I'm not covered in other people's cigarette smoke.  (I'm also 43 - a club is not happening anymore anyway.)   But what I do have are my headphones, my shoes, and my motivation.

     I would actually love to know what other people have on their playlist.  What keeps them going?  What song really gets them pumped up?  No matter how tired they may be, what song comes on at the right time, and they automatically perk up and tell themselves, "I got this.  Nothing will stand in my way.  Nothing can.   It's just me, and the finish line now.  Nothing else."

     There will always be that certain something that makes you feel that way.   Maybe it's not even a song.  Maybe it's just someone right behind you, or even next to you.  They can see that maybe you are slipping, or slowing down.  Maybe instead of music you hear a person.  Maybe that person will come right up to you, and in your ear they say, "EYE OF THE TIGER ROCK! EYE OF THE TIGER!"

    And that, right there, is all you needed.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.


You got this.

Dibbs on the girl with the sign!

I got this.

WE GOT THIS!

And it's with, or without music.

Until next time, keep on running.



Sinceriously Yours,

Chuck Hull, The Running Jedi




One more clip for the road?

PS:  Don't forget, there is still time to donate to our fundraising efforts for the Mario Lemieux Foundation!  We are almost half way to our goal.  The goal is $1501.00 and we currently sit at $675.00 raised.   Once the goal is met, we will be able to raffle off a signed Mario Lemieux Jersey!  Click below to donate!

https://www.crowdrise.com/LemieuxPittsburgh2016/fundraiser/chuckhull

Only Nipples Bleed

     As you can see from the title of this week's entry, I had to channel my inner rock god and come up with something catchy.  I can thank a Mr. Vincent Furnier for that.  You have no idea who that is, do you?   Perhaps you may know him better as Alice Cooper.  Alice has been rocking our world for decades (and will be back in Pittsburgh this year once again,) and based on this past weekend's run, I felt it only fitting that I parody his song "Only Women Bleed."   But, I'm really only doing that with the title.  I'm not going to go all Weird Al on the lyrics.

One big hill before we get near the Pittsburgh Zoo and near the end of 14 miles

     I've run a lot in the last few weeks.   Two weekends ago it was another 14 mile stretch on my training schedule, however I had to do that on Sunday instead of Saturday.  On Saturday, I participated in the 5th Annual Brave American Classic.  I ran this one last year and I really enjoyed it.  I'm not sure if that's because there is a chance of a Mario Lemieux sighting, or it's because the starting line is only about 6 miles from my house.  (The race starts from St. Stephens Church in Sewickley, PA.)

     This particular race was created as a sophmore project by Robbie Veltre of Quaker Valley High School (class of 2014.)  The race itself helps to fund the Boulder Crest Retreat for Wounded Warriors (link below) and because of the overall success from the first race combined with the money raised, Robbie and the mayor of Sewickley knew this one was here to stay.  The Steel City Road Runners had a nice presence in this race as well as they were asked to help assist with the pacing.

Moon High School Class of '91 mini reunion
Michelle Corbett Coy
and Sara Majetic

See....I look good, right?

   
                         I run this one with a group of life long friends and one of them suggested that I run it in my old Navy Uniform.   Since I can now fit into that again, I figured, what the heck why not?  However, there were a few things I forgot about when wearing my dress blues:  those 13 buttons on the pants are a pain in the butt, and that wool is very itchy!  I still look pretty damn good in the uniform though if I do say so myself.

     Before the start of the race, SCRR set out to take a group picture, and when I joined up for that pic, my world got smaller once more.  Another member of the group saw my ship's name badge and asked if I served on board.   Turns out, so did he.  What's even wilder is we were on the Abraham Lincoln at the same time.  I was on board from 1994 to 1997 and he was on board from 1995 to 2000.   That is just wild.  I'm not sure if he made West Pac with us or not, but it just amazes me how small the world can get every day.

     OK, back to the race.  I ran this race a little too quickly (51:09) to which my marathon training coach was a little angry with me, but she let me slide this one time.  She said as long as I felt I was going to be OK to do my long run the next day she'll not give me to much of a hard time about it.  She just wants to be sure I don't push myself too hard and overdo it.  I agree with her, but for some odd reason as soon as they said go, I went.  I kept telling myself to slow down but I think my adrenaline kicked in and got the best of me.  I was able to complete my long run the next day without any issues, so I'm very relieved about that.  Sorry coach.  Next time I won't do that. I promise.

10:00m pace group last Sunday afternoon on a corner near Bloomfield.

     Next up this week was a little speed work on the Montour Track for Track Tuesday.  I have never done something like this before and almost didn't, but on the suggestion of my training coach I decided to participate.   I did feel like I was running a race, but that was the whole point.  Coach said getting speed work in helps with your stamina (and here I thought it was Viagra for people my age.  Bu-da-bum tsssss.)   We had to run a total of 6, 800s (800 meters around the track) with a 2 minute rest period in between.  We also had to run those at our 10k pace.  It went surprisingly well and my coach said I'm on the right track with my training.  However, 18 miles on Saturday was still lurking around the corner.

Some Stretching in preparation for speed work outs on the track
 - Photo Credit Kim Lambert of  SCRR.

     The planned group run this past Saturday coincided with Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day parade and other festivites.   There was a huge turnout for the group run and everyone was of course encouraged to wear their green.   This year's member shirts just happened to be green so that made it easy for me to decide on what to run in.  Well played SCRR.  Well played.

Photo Credit - Dave Spell of SCRR

     We started early enough where we missed most of the crowds traveling into the city for the parade.  We also were no where near the parade route which was also nice.  Our 18 miles took us all over the city.  Most of the run was on the majority of the marathon course and it helps us get familiar with where we are running come race day.  We crossed a few bridges; ran through the north side; ran over the West End Bridge and down Carson street to the South Side.  From there we took on the dreaded Forbes Ave. hill, and all way into Bloomfield.  Then it was across the 40th St. Bridge.  We finished up around the North Shore trail and then back to the SCRR garage.

     I can tell you this much so far.  Running this many miles in one day works much better for me when not alone.  Whether I run with one other person, or two, or 20, it helps me out a lot.  I'm not sure what would cross my mind if I ran that many miles alone.  I can do 10-13 all alone, but 18 miles?  I'm not sure.  I may find a way to talk myself out of it.  I may not.  However, when you run with other people, someone is always there to pick you up if you fall down.  Someone is always there to encourage you to keep going.  Someone is just always there.   It's nice because as a person, we should always encourage others to keep going or that they can do anything they set their mind out to do.   Oftentimes, we see so much negativity everywhere, and we also hear people put others down constantly, but that's not the way it should be.   We know how it makes ourselves feel, so why would we want to make others feel that way?  We don't.   Sure we may not know any of these people we are running with, and they surely don't know us, but our end goals are the same.

Braving the Birmingham Bridge right before the dreaded
Forbes Ave. Hill

   
     I can say that towards the end the sun was shining bright and it was getting hotter by the second.  By the time I hit mile 14 I felt myself getting a little tired.   I was really hot and sweaty and I made sure to keep on my water intake.  There was not much shade on the back end of the trail as we headed back to the Steel City garage and I'm sure that didn't help.  However, I still felt good and confident and I was going to finish this long run.

Post race meal provided by Audrey Burgoon - $5 donation to
help raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. SCRR group runners
helped to raise $1405 on Saturday.

     We hit 15.5 miles when we got back to the garage for a quick water break and headed back out to finish up our last two and a half miles.  A few of the runners in our pace group only had to do 16 miles but the rest of us still had to keep going.  At this point I had to take off my SCRR shirt, but have no fear! I was wearing another short sleeved green shirt underneath!   The run did start at 36 degrees but by the time we were done it was close to 60.  However, that was not going to stop me from finishing my 18 miles.   And, it didn't.

     I'm truly amazed that I was able to do this.  As I talked to a friend yesterday I asked him in all the years that he's known me, did he ever think I would run 18 miles on a given day, let alone run a marathon?   He just looked at me and said, "I don't know, but I'll be there at the finish line when you cross cheering you on."

     Now that's how you end a good weekend of running.

     Oh wait, what about this week's post's title?

     So, yeah....anyone have a band-aid?

     Until next time, keep on running.


Sinceriously Yours,

Chuck Hull - The Running Jedi

#26miles26dedications #gameonpgh #runpgh #lovetherun

PS - For information regarding the Boulder Crest Resort click here:

http://www.bouldercrestretreat.org/

Also, please don't forget I'm raising money again for the Mario Lemieux Foundation.   The overall goal is $1600, and once reached one lucky person will win a signed Mario Lemiuex jersey.  Once we hit $1000.00 raised, one lucky person will win a signed Mario Lemieux puck.  To donate click this link:

https://www.crowdrise.com/lemieuxpittsburgh2016/fundraiser/chuckhull

How do you raise money for charity? Say yes to the dress.

     Last weekend's long run was 10 miles which I've done on many an occasion, so there really is not much to talk about as far as my training goes.  So, I was thinking, what the heck could I talk about?  Maybe a past experience with running?  Maybe something else?

     I chose something else.

     Over the years of my 43 years in existence, I've worn  many things.  You could say I was a master of disguise (or not.)  It's true though.  At one point in my teenage years I was a svelte, cardigan wearing poster child of the 80s/90s.

Yes, this is my senior picture.  Such a dashing young man.  Even the jeans were pretty stellar.

     There was a time where I was thought to be a knight of the round table:

     I know a couple people that are probably not going to be very happy that this picture is plastered even further across the internet.  And really, when did they have sun glasses in the middle ages?








   

     I've been a Dark Lord Of The Sith, a werewolf in London, and, like I've said a millions times before: I'm Batman.

Even Batman has to shop sometimes.

I've even had a bad hair day (or two...or three.)

Note the arrow pointing towards the ever classic mullet.

     One of the things I've worn best, and I'm most proud of wearing of course, is a uniform (that fits again after almost 20 years.)

Recruit Hull in 1994.

     All of that aside, there have been a few things I've worn, but there is one thing that I swore I would never wear.  Not even on Halloween.  That of course, would be a dress.   I know it's all fun and games, but still, no matter what, I told myself no way would I ever wear a dress.

     Never say never people.  As some of you know, it eventually happened.  When I signed up for my second half marathon, I discovered that you could run for a charity.  I had never done anything like that before, so I decided to try to do something good.  I had no idea what I was doing, or even how I was going to get people to donate.   We all like to give as much as we can, but there are times where it just is not possible.  I knew it would be tough, and I knew that I needed ideas for fundraising.  I really didn't have any.  One of my best friends said that you should tell people you'd wear a dress if you reach a certain goal.   I told him no way.   Well, after a week or so of mulling that idea over, I decided to roll with it.  I figured, what the hell, why not?  It was for a good cause, so what harm could it do?

     I set a few goals that year.  The first was to wear a dress while I DJed at the bar. The next step was to wear a dress to a hockey game.  After that, I set a goal to dress as Wonder Woman (I'm not sure really how that one came into play to be honest.)  After reaching those goals, and seeing as how much I raised, a friend of mind said that if I reached 2k raised, he would join me at the bar in a dress.  Another friend chimed in that no way would I reach that mark, so he would join too if I did.  Needless to say, both of them ended up wearing dresses as well.  It didn't end there.  Another friend said if I reached 5k, he would do it.   You can all guess what happened next.  That's right.   Four of Pittsburgh's ugliest women were in the bar raising more money for charity.

Not even Wonder Woman could stop that from happening.

     Well, now that I had to wear a dress, I had to go shop for one.  As funny as it was, it was still an interesting experience.  Going to the Target to dress shop with one of your best friends seemed like a super fun thing to do.  And it is, if you are a girl.  I of course am not.  However, my friend Bonnie was more than happy to help out while her husband David wanted no part of it (the dress thing was his idea, even if he was joking originally.)

     The looks people were giving us in Target were pretty priceless.  You have a women, handing a man a dress, saying "hold this up to your neck.  Let me see what it looks like on you.  Nope, not your color.  Here, hold these.  OK let's try them on."   I'm pretty sure the other women in the store were trying to figure out if we were serious or if I was really dress shopping.   I was ladies.  I was.  We didn't find anything at Target that really worked or even fit for that matter, so we made our way to Kohls instead.  That's when the madness really began.

     Now, brace yourselves, because these are never before seen pictures of me, trying on dresses.

The first of many.....

Meh.....moobs...

Not even fit for a grandma.....

Hey...how you doin?

I'm not exactly sure why I'm laughing here....

Ok, now I'm just being a bit weird.

    Yeah, this one make me look like a Peg Bundy reject.  I really hate leopard print.  Even even more so if it's stuck on me.  And this one was stuck.  I had a hard time getting it off.
















     I finally settled on something (it was ugly, but not as ugly as everything above) and thankfully it was on the clearance rack.  Only had to waste eight bucks.   However, I had to get a second one for the hockey game.  The one I bought for the bar was not really family friendly if I sat down, and it's a hockey game.  I would have frozen my behind off.  So, my friend Shelby and I hit the thrift store before the game and found the worst Golden Girls looking dress we could find.

Look how uncomfortable David is....

I'm not sure what Bob Grove's hand is doing, but it didn't make me make this face I swear.

      As I walked around the Consol Energy Center, I could hear people saying things like, "you've got to be kidding me.  This has to be a joke.  Did that guy lose a bet?"  Thankfully, I had a sign on my back that said why I had the dress on, and even made some more money for donations.

     The last thing to do now, was the night at the bar.  The auction that night helped me raise another $500.00 and put me at $5500 raised for the Mario Lemieux Foundation.  Not a bad night of work.  I could not have done it though, without these lovely ladies:

Left to Right: Mike Jackson, Bryan Benson, me, and Roger DeFurio

SMH

And somehow, even after this, Sam still married Roger.'

     It didn't end there.  I did promise to run in a tutu for the entire 13.1 miles of the half marathon if I hit that $5500.00 goal.  I delivered.

Battered, bloodied, and tutued (is that a even a word?)

     The overall experience of fundraising has been great.   I never really set a goal of how much I could raise, but I don't really like to take the credit for what was raised.   It wasn't just me that was involved in this fundraising campaign.  It was all of you as well.  I didn't raise $5875.00 that year.  WE did.   We raised another $2600.00 the following year.   This year, I would love to do the same, but I cannot do that without all of your help.  I may be the one running this marathon, but you, all of you, are part of my team.  WE are all a part of Team Lemieux.

Until next time folks...keep on running.

Sinceriously Yours,

Chuck Hull, The Running Jedi

#26miles26dedications #rughpgh #gameonpgh #lovetherun

PS: Don't forget, chances to win cool stuff from me from this years fundraising campain.   I would love to raffle off that signed Mario Lemieux puck!  If we hit the $1600.00 goal, it will be the Mario Lemieux jersey.  It doesn't matter how much you can donate.  Everyone gets the same amount of chances to win.

https://www.crowdrise.com/lemieuxpittsburgh2016/fundraiser/chuckhull

(Don't forget, some companies match donations.  Mine does.  Does yours?)


PPS:

I'll leave you with this....the thing of nightmares.   I still can't get this image out of my head.  And now, neither can you.  You're welcome.

Amy still kept him...even after all of this.