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| Dance, pickle. Dance! |
The NFL draft is upon us here in Pittsburgh. It's this coming weekend, and like most people, I keep telling myself I want to avoid the city like the plague. It is a once in lifetime event, and the more I think about it, the more I want to run down and check everything out. But alas, most of the places I would run as part of my training are going to be closed and off limits. I may take a jaunty trek up to the West End Overlook instead (regardless of how busy it is) so that I can see the crowd from above. But, regardless of how exciting and energetic the NFL Draft crowd is going to be, it's not going to compare to the crowd of people that will flood the streets of Pittsburgh on May 3rd along the course of 26.2 miles. This crowd will also come out in droves to cheer on tens of thousands of runners attempting to complete either the UPMC Pittsburgh Half Marathon or the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon.
Some of these folks will be making their first attempt at a life changing event. Some of these folks have already done it for the first time and are now "addicted" so to speak. They're giving it another go in order to see if they can do better than the last, in search of a coveted PR. Some of these folks will be out there as part of a relay team, all of them a part of something bigger than themselves. Every single person out there will reach heights they had never thought possible. Me? I'll probably be out there as a pickle.
I'm still in disbelieve that I've done this for over 10 years now. And just like every year, everything always hurts. Every step. Every cramp. Every mile. What doesn't hurt though is the feeling I get when I cross that finish line. What doesn't hurt are the thousands and thousands of cheers from people screaming you got this and you can do it amongst countless other words of encouragement. What doesn't hurt is making this race always mean so much more than just me running another marathon.
And with that being said, here are this year's 26 dedications.
Mile 1: Mrs. Donna Koffler, Lou Majetic, And Cy Clark - This one has been a tradition since 2016, and I'm happy that I can continue on with this tradition all these years later. I hope they'll join me for the 11th fun lap around the 'burgh.
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| Mrs. K's senior pic. |
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| Cy, bring some Malkamania luck to the playoffs from above. |
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| Chip Majetic and Lou ready for Oktoberfest |
Mile 2: Violet Santeufemio - Violet is the Mother-In-Law to one of my Aunt Darlene's life long best friends, Regina. We've know Regina since we were kids. A couple years ago while running a trail race called "Rockin' The Knob" in Knob Creek State Park, one of my running friends (Chris Traynor) was coming up behind me and said, "What's up Chuckie baby?" I stopped dead in my tracks because there is only ONE person that has called me that since I was a kid: Regina. It annoyed me as much as the song Chuckie's In Love that my sisters would tease me with. Fun Fact! That song still annoys me. I found out that Chris and Regina were related (I think via marriages n'at, but they can correct me) and of course Regina told her to say that to me knowing how I would react. It was pretty funny, actually. Anyhow...I wanted to honor Regina's Mother-In-Law with mile 2 as she had just recently passed.
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| Violet Santeufemio |
Mile 3: Richard Fielman - Richard is the father of one of my old BCD Travel co-worker's Terri Demelio. Terri has long supported my fundraising, and I wanted to dedicate this mile to the memory of her father. He lived a full and wonderful life. RIP Mr. Fielman.
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| Richard Fielman |
Mile 4: Diane Bartlett - Diane is the mother of a friend and supporter of all things Pittsburgh Penguins, Cara. Cara has been a supporter of the cause for quite some time, and we've had some fun at Pens games in the past. I wanted to take a moment to use mile 4 to honor her mom's memory. RIP
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| Diane Bartlett |
Mile 5: Kelly Bosetti - Kelly was an old co-worker and neighbor of one of my high school friend's, Pete Cardimen. Pete has supported my fundraising efforts for years, as well as Wheels, Wings, And Wishes. During this year's Super Bowl Pool, he reached out to me when he bought some blocks and mentioned a few thing about Kelly's story. I wanted to take this time to honor her with a mile in this year's marathon.
Mile 6: Angel McLeish - Angel is the wife of one of Pete's co-workers, and again Angel has a story that is not mine to tell. However, after hearing her story from Pete, and how Pete had honored her through my fundraising efforts for the Mario Lemieux Foundation, I wanted to do the same and honor her with mile 6.
Mile 7: Amos P Cameron - Famous Amos as some of us would call him. I did not know him well, but back in our Freddy's and McCoy's days in our younger years, we all knew Amos. I remember a huge smile and a hearty laugh, and just an overall hell of a guy. RIP Amos.
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| I borrowed this pic of Amos from his Facebook page. I felt it was such a great picture, and I hope his family does not mind me snagging it. |
Mile 8: Dianne Ariondo - Dianne was the aunt of my Sister-In-Law, Sara. I wanted to use Mile 8 to honor her memory and legacy for Sara and her family.
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| Dianne Ariondo |
Mile 9: Christopher Schuffert - Christopher was the son of Dianne, and cousin of Sara. Mile 9 is in his memory. RIP Christopher.
Mile 10: Marissa Stout - Marissa was someone I met years ago in the early 2000's, and a close friend of one of my close friends, Carie Young. No matter the struggles she faced with her health, she did so with such hope not only for her husband Mike, but also for her two boys Lincoln and Jackson. When she was diagnosed, I dedicated mile 10 to her and #teamstout during my 2nd Pittsburgh Marathon. I wanted to be sure honor her once more, with the same mile. RIP Marissa. We are all better people having been able to call you a friend at some point in our lives.
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| Marissa Stout |
Mile 11: Benny Salem - Benny is the brother of Carmella and Tina Salem. Carmella as a lot of us know is the owner of Carmella's Plates And Pints in the South Side. Carmella's has, hands down, the best selection of bourbons, whiskeys, scotches, tequilas, and more. The atmosphere is incredible, and the food is always top notch. I've know Carmela, Tina, and Mike Alberter since I DJed at Jeckyl and Hyde for many years and remember when they had opened up Carmella's. They have always supported my fundraising efforts over the years. My path did not cross with Benny's often, so I had not known him that well. However, those that really knew him knew how truly wonderful and kind Benny was to everyone. I'll be running past Carmella's when I finish mile 11, so I felt this was the perfect spot to honor Benny's memory. Carm, if you or Tina or any of the Carmella's crew are out on Carson Street on May 3rd and you see me trudging my way near the restaurant, I'll gladly toast with you all in memory of Benny. RIP Benny
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| Benny Salem |
Mile 12: Robert "Bob" Gartz - Bob is the father of an old class mate from high school, Brad. I had seen that Bob recently passed and thought I would take a minute to honor him as well, for mile 12. RIP Mr. Gartz.
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| Bob Gartz |
Mile 13: James Ellis - James is the brother Kerri, a fellow Moon High alum. Kerri and her family help us every year with Wheels Wings and Wishes, and I wanted to take a moment to honor her brother's memory with Mile 13. RIP James.
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| Kerri and James |
Mile 14: Patricia Smith - Patty was a big part of the lives of our friends the Ervins. She had recently passed and I wanted to dedicate mile 14 to her.
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| Patricia Smith |
Mile 15: Sean Michael Brady - Sean was a fellow Moon High alum that had passed away recently. I did not know Sean, but a lot of my friends in classes below me knew he and his sister Colleen. RIP Sean.
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| Sean Michael Brady |
Mile 16: Patricia Bobro - Patricia is the mother of Renee, whom grew up down the street from me so many Moons ago. Renee has continuously donated her time to Wheels Wings and Wishes, as well as always donating to my marathon fundraisers for years. I hope at mile 18, when I'm dog tired as I always am at this stage of the race, that her mom kicks me in my behind to get my legs moving again. RIP Patricia.
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| Patricia Bobro |
Mile 17: Father Miroslaw A Wojcick - Wojak (pronounced voy-ak) as we call him. I've already posted on my Facebook how I thought that was his name, but it was actually the Polish word for uncle. And, how I learned that through the interpreter app on my phone. Last year I dedicated mile 17 to Edyta's mom, so I wanted to also dedicate this mile to her best friend Father Miro. He loved the casino and his family, but there was nothing he loved more than preaching the Gospel for the past 63 years. RIP Wojak.
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Father's Polish Moonshine. Oof.... |
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| Jennifer Chappell |
Mile 19: Robert "Bob" Kolar - Bob was one of my bosses at BCD Travel. He had left the company in 2021, but we kept in touch texting now and again. He was a mentor to many of us at BCD Travel, but what he really loved the most was being a father and grandfather. RIP Bob.
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| Bob and his daughter Molly, next Gen BCD Travel |
Mile 20: Donald Walter Barnes - Donald is the father of our good friend, Jordan Kline of Wish 99.7 (one of Pittsburgh's great morning DJs.) Jordan entertained us all not only on the air, but also on Facebook sharing stories of her father over the years. Mr. Barnes had recently passed, and I wanted to honor him with mile 20. RIP Mr. Barnes.
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| Apologies for stealing this pic, Jordan. |
Mile 21: Frederick Anderson - Frederick is the father of our friend, Erin Schuetz. I wanted to dedicate mile 21 not only to the memory of Erin's Dad, but also to Fleebus the Clown. I did not know this until his passing, but he entertained his community for over 30 years as Fleebus. That is an incredible run, and really freaking awesome. This mile is for you, Fleebus. RIP
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Erin and her dad. |
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| I hope you don't mind that I snagged this picture Erika. It's just such a great shot, and really captures your spirit. |
Mile 23: Carol Gerhart - Carol is Donna's mom, and had recently got to ring the bell, and being cancer free. I wanted to take a moment to honor and dedicate this mile to Donna's mom.
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| Carol Gerhart |
Mile 24: Richard Nolan - Richard is the father of two of our running friends, Dan and Sarah. Dan and I have shared many miles over the past few years, and some of those were me trying to catch him. Can't be done. Anyhow, I figured I could share a mile with his dad, and use mile 24 to honor Richard's memory. RIP Mr. Nolan
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| Richard M. Nolan |
Mile 25: Marty Morgan - I met Marty many moon ago when I DJed at the old boardwalk of Pittsburgh for Bike Days on Sunday afternoons. At the time, Marty convinced me to get my first tattoo there. He also introduce me and countless others to Baraoke. For those outside of Pittsburgh, Baraoke was a City Paper award winning Karaoke show located at a wonderful little establishment in the South Hills called the Tennyson Lodge (The Tenny for Short.) But again, what is Baraoke? Simply put it was karaoke in a strip club. That's right, you step on stage to sing, and the girls would dance while you did sang. Sometimes, if you were lucky, they would dance right next to you. I had known Marty since 2006, and although we had not seen each other in quite some time, we would still keep in touch. The last time was last May when I picked up a vinyl copy of the "Breakin'" soundtrack at the flea market store across the street from my house.
Marty had been diagnosed with cancer last year, and had begun his treatments. I had just gotten to State College for Parent's Weekend when I had received the news of his passing. I was in disbelief. His family and friends held a vigil for him at one of the places he loved to work, Jekyl and Hyde. I am not only thankful but truly grateful that Becca and Matt (DJ Wonderboy) allowed me a moment to give a small speech to everyone in attendance. Marty had touched so many lives over the years, and the fact that a Sunday evening at 6pm looked like a Saturday night at 10pm in Jekyl was proof enough of that. The world is better place for having had Marty in it. When I get to mile 25, I'm going to crank Heatwave's Boogie Nights on repeat, since you always played that for me anytime you were working. RIP my friend.
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| Marty and I during a Halfway To Halloween bar crawl for Jekyl and Hyde. Carmella left us in charge (see the megaphone.) Why she did that will always remain an unsolved mystery..... |
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| Marty and his pride and joy, his daughter Kaylee Marty shared this and a few other pics as his favorites of he and Kaylee just a few days before he passed. I thought I would share what he did, because I know he would be ok with that.
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| Bernie and Bryan Benson, during Bryan's Freddie Mercury phase... |
I know I say this every year, but I'm going to keep on doing this until I can't. As long as these legs and these feet move, there will be 26 miles, and 26 dedications to go along with that.
Sinseriously,
Chuck Hull, The Running Jedi (and also Bigfoot, and quite possibly a pickle....)
PS: If you've not had a chance and still may want to do so, there is still time to donate to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. All you have to do is click this link to donate. And thank you.
#teamlemieux #runpgh #26miles26dedications
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| Quite the refreshing beverage... |
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| Suns out B.B. Guns out. |
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