Picked Last In Gym - The Misadventures of Chuck: January 2017

Amy, Bryan, Bryan's munchkin, and Sara

That sounds sort of funny, doesn't it? It doesn't matter if you are a boy or a girl, you always need your athletic supporters. But what the heck does that have to do with running? A lot, actually. However, this type of athletic supporter comes in the form of people.

I've made it well known that when it comes to running, I couldn't do it without the help and support of all of you. As a runner, it's extremely important to surround yourself with a great support system. Mine just happen to make me laugh, make me smile, and make me forget sometimes that I'm even running. I've always stated that my journey to a mararthon is not just my journey, but also ours.

I'd like to take a minute or two to introduce you all to my "athletic supporters." I don't want to go into too much detail as they too have a story to tell, and I'd like to give them the chance to do so in the coming weeks. It's important to me that you get to know all of them as well. So, with that being said, let's begin.

Amy - Amy is a friend from high school. She's the little red headed engine that could. She told me that I ran her first ever race with her a few years ago (I think it was three) and that race was the Hell Hath No Hurry trail run up at Settler's Cabin Park. I can't forget that day. It was cold, wet, and rainy, and we were both pretty much covered in mud. It wasn't easy to do, but it was fun (which is why we keep going back to that race.) We've run quite a few races together, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Amy and Me

Sara - Sara is another friend from high school whom I've known for many years. From our days working at Roy Rogers down the street from Moon High School (lunchbox) to now, she's always one that gives 110%. She has completed not one but two Tough Mudder races, and I know she's training for her third. She likes to get dirty and the Tough Mudder was made for her.

Steph, Amy, Sara, me

Steph - I've known Steph and her husband Eric for half of my life as well. (He's an OK guy even if he is from Philly and a Flyers fan.) I see the same attitude in Steph as I do everyone else: never give up. She doesn't. I've watched her run two 10 Milers and did her first half marathon in her home town of Puxatawney. This year, she's giving the Pittsburgh Half a shot. I'm looking forward to Steph seizing the day on May 7th.

Steph is raising money for Team Red White And Blue which helps benefit and support Veterans. If you'd like to help support a Veteran organization, click this link:

https://www.crowdrise.com/TeamRWBPitt2017/fundraiser/stephaniehaas

Chad - I can't forget Chad, even with his recent move to Baltimore. Thankfully, he's only a few hours away. Chad is a huge positive spirit, always smiling and laughing. We may not have the chance to always run together these days with him being a little south of Pittsburgh, but it was a privilege to run my first marathon alongside of him.

Chad and I

Kirsten - Kirsten is pretty much a speed demon. Don't let her lie to you. She can take off at the drop of a hat. Kirsten has a good idea of how to add miles to a long run while running throughout Carnegie, but I really have a hard time convincing her of staying away from hills.

Kirsten, Kim, Me, and Marty

Marty - Marty joins Kim, Kirsten, and myself when we are doing our Carnegie loops among other things. An avid lover of all Pittsburgh sporta, Marty can usually be found working Pens Games, Pitt Game, etc. Marty started running a few years back and just keeps on going, too.

Bonnie and David - Bonnie and David are a different type of athletic supporter. They have no interest in running themselves, except when they are chasing their two little girls around the house. They've been with me since I started my running journey, and continue to follow me on my path, and encourage me as well. They do remain active in other ways through the Beach Body program. These work outs can be intense, but you do get results. If running is not your thing, maybe what they do may be something that sparks your interest.

Links to their coaches pages are below:

Bonnie: https://www.facebook.com/BonnieHamsteadFitLife/?fref=ts
David: https://www.facebook.com/FitTechDad/?fref=ts

Bryan - Last but not least, I can't forget Bryan. He doesn't run, but he's our pit crew. He's Uber. He's our cheerleader. He also hacks our phones when we hand them to him before they say go at the start line. I've know Bryan most of my life as well, and I would change a thing. (See above pic #athleticsupporter)

We always need support. Everyone I work out with and run with are always there for me. In fact, everyone has been. My friends, my family, all of you. Without everyone, things may get a little boring. I'm glad that you are all there every time I lace up my shoes.

Until next time, keep on running.

Sinceriously,

Chuck Hull...the Running Jedi

PS: Don't forget, I too am raising money for the Mario Lemieux foundation once more. If I hit $2500 again this year, I'll raffle off that awesome signed Mario Lemieux jersey.

Click here to donate:

https://www.crowdrise.com/MarioLemieuxPitt2017/fundraiser/chuckhull

Enjoy some more pics of my athletic supporters....

16 dgrees + 7 degree wind chill = beardcicles

As 2016 ended, training for the next big race was about to begin. The Pittsburgh Marathon training kick off run was just last Saturday, and I started to reflect on the past year (as well as grow beardcicles in the icy temperatures.) I know I've said it well more than once, but never in my life had I ever expected to run a full marathon. When I started my journey to 26.2, I was not quite sure what to expect. I knew it would be difficult, but I didn't realize just how difficult.

I look back at that day, and I still remember everything. I remember the huge crowd of people on the front end of the course. I remember the dead silence on the majority of the back end, leaving me to tackle the obstacle of my mind. I remember Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons blaring outside of a Bloomfield restaurant amd everyone outside of the church in Homestead singing and cheering. I remember my friends handing me a beer at the finish, and I remember my girlfriend Kim and her girls screaming at me to keep going. I remember 20 miles for Evan. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't getting choked up right now just typing all of this, because we all know how sentimental I can be. The Marathon was one of the hardest things I've ever tried to do, and I did it. I also didn't have to do it alone.

Now, I didn't stop there. I kept going. I just...ran. Completing the marathon was the end goal, but it wasn't (and isn't) my only goal. And not only that, but, I just like to run. A few weeks after the marathon I finished the Ogden Half in Wheeling which I hadn't run in over 20 years. (I highly recommend it.) After that, I gave something else another shot: trail running. I've done a few trail runs before, but in 2015 I failed to finish the Hell Hath No Hurry 30k due to the unkind nature of the weather. I rolled my ankle in the first mile and even though I was able to finish the lap, I was done. I had to take a DNF. As stubborn as I am, there was no way I could finish. I was pretty mad and upset, so I wanted pay back. I wanted it in a big way. Once June rolled around I was getting that payback, but I went for the 50k option instead. I must be a glutton for punishment.

Hey, if Luke can train in the woods with Yoda, so can I.

Lap 1 and smiling.

That was another run I couldn't do without help. I remember sitting down on a log in the woods on my third loop. It was hot and very humid, and I was exhausted. I still had two more loops, and I had no idea how I going to do it. I was ready to tap out. I texted everyone, (and I do mean everyone - the girl I was dating at the time, my life long friends Amy, Steph, Bryan, and Sara) and they all said the same thing: "you got this." Even still, I finished the 3rd lap, and sat down to rest. My mind was giving up. I just wanted to get off that chair, get in my car, and go home. I had never sweat so much in one day in my whole life. However, there was this nagging in the back of my mind asking my if I wanted to DNF yet again? I had just finished a marathon only a month and a half prior. It would be OK if I let this one go. But still, I just sat there breathing heavily and staring blankly into the woods. I texted my then girlfriend again.

Lap 2, and still smiling, but not for long....

She told me I didn't get that far to quit and that she knew I could do it. She was right. She always is. Everyone was. At that time, another runner I had met through Steel City, Adrienne Tolentino-Essey, was just finishing her first lap of the 30k and saw me sitting in the refreshment/recovery tent. She knew I was giving the 50k a shot and asked how many laps I had left. I said two and her reply was, "good so do I. Let's go." I didn't want too. I had to get up. So, off to the woods we went.

It took two hours to finish that next lap, but after doing the third lap alone, it didn't feel as bad. My spirits were picking up now that I was running with a couple of other people just as crazy as me. Time was ticking away, though, and we still had quite a ways to go. It was still very hot and I was still running out of gas. I didn't have much left in the tank. I cramped up. I changed my shoes. I had to keep going.

With only about a mile left I texted my then girlfriend to let her know I was nearing the finish. Just up ahead on the trail was the last water stop of the loop, the same one I was happy to see each of the previous four times I had gotten to that station. The end was finally near, but so was the course time limit.

Just then I had just gotten another text from the then girlfriend. "We're here. How close are you? I think you're running out of time." I had less than a half a mile to go and some of the people I care about most in this crazy messed up world were there waiting for me. I'll be honest and blunt. It lit a fire under my ass. I took off like a bat out of hell and sprinted for the finish. I've been in the woods now for almost 10 hours and I was not letting the clock beat me. I sprung from the woods and saw everyone there waiting and cheering. Everyone was there cheering. It was just as cool as the marathon, if not even cooler. I crossed the finish line, and then I kissed it. It was dirty but I didn't give a rat's behind. I did it. Again.

As I look back at 2016, I feel pretty good about what I was able to do. I ran over 1400 miles. I went through four pairs of shoes. I cramped up. I cried. I chugged a beer. What an amazing feeling and an amazing year. With every step and with every mile, I never had to do it alone.

It's now 2017 and I'm about to do it again. Will you all join me once more?

Happy running everyone, and, happy trails.

Sinceriously yours,

Chuck Hull....the Running Jedi. (yeah, I'm still using that)

#runpgh #lovetherun #26miles26dedications #teamlemeiux #teamRWB

PS - I am fundraising again this year. Please help out one or the other if you can. It's greatly appreciated.

- All that donate will be entered into a raffle for a signed piece of Penguins memorabilia (Signed Olli Maatta puck) Goal is $350, only $315 to go!

The Mario Lemieux Foundation:

https://www.crowdrise.com/MarioLemieuxPitt2017/fundraiser/chuckhull

- All that donate will be entered again for a signed Mario Lemieux Jersey but we MUST reach the goal of $2501 raised. Only just under $1500 away!