 |
| From Boulder Beast a Couple Years ago. Took me an hour to get up those rocks! |
The time has come as the Pittsburgh Marathon is only a few weeks away. And, this year it goes down on Star Wars Day! May The 4th! I'm toying with the idea of a costume, and I've got two weeks to figure that part out, but for now it looks like normal clothes. Boo to that!
This year's training has been an event in and of itself. I had the hernia on the left side of my groin fixed in January, so training had to take a back seat for a good month and a half. Well, not a full month and a half. I didn't run for almost four weeks and did take it somewhat easy. Then I decided to do 15 miles for Spring Thaw and tried to go my normal pace. That was not my best idea as the surgical area did get pretty sore by the time I was done. So, I had to slow things down. It's really difficult to do as my legs don't want to do it, and I have a hard time telling my brain it's what I need to do.
Just A Short Run was a few weeks later and I did the 30k. Each distance I've done has been a test of sorts to see how things feel and to see what I need to do in order to feel no discomfort. Everything for this race went the way I wanted it to, and I felt pretty good. Last weekend for the P3R course previous run, I was able to pull out 21 miles with no issues. Hernia repair be damned, I'll be able to just get out there on marathon Sunday and punch out 26.2 miles. After all, as with years past each mile means something. And this year here is what each of those miles mean.
26 Miles...26 Dedications
Mile 1: Donna Koffler, Lou Majetic, Cy Clark. - A tradition from the start of this journey, and one that will not change. You'll always have a mile.
 |
| Mr. and Mrs. K, along with two kids who are not so little anymore (Kolson and Kaelee), and Doug and Kathy (and apparently Kathy's biggest fan...) |
 |
| Chip and Lou Majetic (I stole this from you Chip.) |
Mile 2: Ron Russitano Jr. Ron owned The Phantom Of The Attic comic book shop on Noblestown Road. (Originally in the Parkway Center Mall.) It will be two years in September that Ron has passed. I always enjoyed talking with him every week when I went to pick up my books. He could talk for hours on all things Pittsburgh sports, wrestling, you name it. And I know he would love what Jay has done to the shop since he passed. We miss ya, man. RIP
 |
| Ron taking a selfie with The Joker |
Mile 3: Debra May. Debra is the wife of one of my old Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity brothers (and fraternity big) Mike May. She had recently passed away. I've never met Debra, but I wanted to honor her with this mile.
 |
| Debra May |
Mile 4: Mike Lange. We all know who Mike is. It's hard to pick a favorite Mike Lange phrase, but if I had to I'd pick "She wants to sell my monkey!" When the Pens won the Stanley Cup back in 2009, you could download Mike's series winning call as a ringtone. Many phones later, I still have that call saved on a hard drive. I think I'll be keeping that. Elvis has just left the building. RIP Mike. The entire city of Pittsburgh misses you.
 |
| Slap me silly. Sidney - Mike Lange |
Mile 5: Jon Burnett. Another Pittsburgh iconic legend. I was pretty stoked when I finally got a chance to meet him a few years back, and he couldn't have been nicer. I brought up Evening Magazine and I think he was tickled by the fact I remembered that show. RIP Mr. Burnett.
 |
| When I got to meet Jon, I was pretty hoppy. |
Mile 6: Dr. Peter W Heh. Pete is the cousin of our lifelong friend Bryan Benson and his family. A longtime supporter of everything Bryan did with Wheels and more, Pete is missed dearly. May he RIP.
 |
| RIP Doctor Heh |
Mile 7: Edward Abendroth Jr. Ed Jr is the son of one of our Moon Class of '91 class mates, big Ed. Ed had moved to Texas with his mom back in '92 I believe, or even shortly after we all graduated. I had just recently heard of his son's passing so I wanted to honor his memory with a mile. RIP Jr.
 |
| Edward Scott Abendroth, JR. |
Mile 8: Michael Schoemaker. Mike was a former classmate from Moon and had recently passed. I didn't see him often after school, I mean most of us don't see each other that often really except reunions and what not, which was the case here. But, the few times I did, Mike was always filled with smiles and had the friendly banter ready to go. RIP Mike.
 |
| Mike Schoemaker. I wanted to use our Little Tigers Football Picture, but I can't find it. |
Mile 9: George "Geo" Krinthinithis III. George is another classmate from Moon that had recently passed away. I'd bump into George now and again and most of the time it was when the band was playing. I remember one year we were playing the Christmas party at Kendrews, and of course I had my multiple costume changes. George really got a kick of of them, especially when I was up there on stage as Ralphie. I had learned that both George's mother and father had passed away a few months after George. RIP George, and may your mother and father RIP as well.
 |
| George "Geo" Krinthinitis III |
Mile 10: Emily Plunkett and Kaelee Koffler. Emily is the daughter of lifelong friends Aaron (A A RON!) and Jenn. The younger of two, and sister to DJ Sarah P, Emily is graduating from WVU this year. She is an aspiring musician and has a wonderful voice. She's got a CD being released the weekend of the marathon, and I think you all should check it out.
 |
| Future album cover perhaps? Get those stickers off your guitar Emily! :p |
Kaelee is the daughter my life long friends Doug and Kathy. She graduated from Binghamton University in May of 2024, after last year's marathon. Kaelee has even come to a couple of Tuned Up shows, and is a good sport when the lead singer is trying to embarrass her. (What a jagoff that guy is.) Congrats again Kaelee!
Mile 11: Benjamin J Brallier. I have not seen BJ in many years, not since he became an officer with the Pennsylvania State Police. Always a great guy to talk to and hang out with back in the day. He tragically lost his life this past October. I wanted to honor his memory and BJ himself with a mile and wish his wife, daughters, and his entire family my deepest sympathies and condolences. RIP BJ.
 |
| Officer Brallier |
Mile 12: Jim Key. Jim is the father of an old Navy Shipmate of mine, Jimmy Key. He had passed almost a year ago. An avid lover of the Cardinals and the Blues, his memory is carried on by his family. RIP Mr. Key.
 |
| Jim Key |
Mile 13: Alexander Sokolow. Alex is the uncle of one of our wish kids, Nick. He had been to every single one of our Wheels, Wings, and Wishes events and was one of our first original attendees with Nick before it morphed into what it is today. He always hung around when the band played, and was always great to chat with. He has passed away due to Covid back in 2021. This dedication is long overdue. Thank you for always helping with Wheels, and for hanging out with the band Alex. RIP man.
 |
| Alexander Sokolow |
Mile 14: Allen W Kephart, Sr. Allen is the father of our friend Rhoda. He had passed away last summer. I wanted to dedicate this mile to our friend in his memory. RIP Mr. Kephart.
 |
| Allen W Kephart, Sr. |
Mile 15: Mike Rossman. Mike had just recently passed. Like his wife Jennifer and son Dylan, he always enjoyed a Tuned Up show and came to support us whenever he could. RIP Mike. My condolences to your entire family.
 |
| Mike Rossman |
Mile 16: Glenn Gibbs. Glenn was one of my old shipmates from back in the day when I was in the Navy. He had passed away towards the end of summer last year. Glenn was a really solid dude. We didn't hang out much off the ship as others in V3 had, but we all saw each other every day during the time we served on the Lincoln. He was the kind of guy that would always have your back, and would help anyone in a pinch. RIP Shipmate.
 |
| Glenn onboard The USS Abraham Lincoln Photo Credit - Mark Rivers (stole it from ya shipmate.) |
Mile 17: Bozena "Beverly" Leszczynski. Bev is Edyta's and my brother in-law Tom's mom. As you all know, she passed away last June. I wanted to give her mile 17, because 2017 is when Edyta and I started dating. Somehow, this woman stuck with me all these years, and since her mom brought her into this world, I wanted to pick a mile that had a significant meaning from a number standpoint, and 17 seemed like the perfect place. Also, this gives Bev a chance to stick with me for a mile so that she can help me catch up with the next dedication and someone who is also very important in our lives......
 |
| Beverly Leszczynski "Babcia" |
Mile 18: Zosia Branch. My incredible step-daughter. You get mile 18 since you've obviously reached that milestone. It's hard to believe that when your mom and I started dating, you were 10. And now look at you...all grown up. If I could turn back time, I would. It's hard watching our kids grow up, and it's been really hard watching you do the same. But no matter how much you grow up you'll always be our little girl. Love ya kiddo, and I'll always be here for you.
 |
| One of Zosia's senior pictures, courtesy of the very talented Lara Huffman |
Mile 19: Leslie Ann Parish. Leslie is the mother of Andrew Parish of the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Drew and the foundation have been so generous to me over the years, and I wanted to honor the memory of his mother with a mile for this year's Pittsburgh Marathon. May she rest in peace.
Mile 20: Charles Clifford Arnold III. Charles (Buck) is the farther of a Moon class of '91 classmate, John Arnold. John, I didn't know you lost your father so long ago, so I wanted to dedicate this mile in his honor. I figured once I ran this one, he could meet up with the next dedication....
Mile 21: M. Virginia Arnold. Virginia is John's mom and had passed away during the holidays. John and his family had supported me quite a bit over the years, especially when he, his wife, and kids saw Bigfoot, or Buddy, or the Easter bunny running up Montour street during any of my crazy training/fundraising adventures. I wanted to be able to pay it back somehow by honoring not just his dad, but his mom as well. RIP Mrs. Arnold.
 |
| Virginia Arnold |
Mile 22: Donald R Freyer, Sr. Don was the father of one of Edyta's high school friend's (Nikki) husband Donnie. Mr. Freyer had recently passed. I had never met him, but so I'd like to honor him with mile 22. RIP Mr. Freyer.
 |
| Donald R Freyer, Sr. |
Mile 23: Andrew Turak. Drew was the brother of Edyta's lifelong high school friend, Nikki Freyer. Back in October of '24, Edyta and I attended a movie screening titled "Drew Is My Homeboy." It was about the life of Drew, and all of those that knew, adored, and loved him, as well as the impact he had on all of their lives. He passed away from pancreatic cancer at a young age. I'd be lying if I said that movie didn't impact me in some way. We left the screening that day and I truly felt like Drew was in fact my homeboy. I wish I had met him. He was a really funny and an extremely creative dude. RIP Drew.
 |
| You may see these stickers out and around Lawrenceville, and the story behind them is worth knowing. |
Mile 24: Robert "Mouse" Dickey. Mouse is the husband of our dear friend Beth. Mouse has joined us on so many adventures over the years from Hyner to Worlds End. Always Beth's number 1 fan, somehow he tolerated all of us young guns. Funny, sweet, and a heart of gold, we are all going to miss Mouse. Hell, we already do. This one is for your my friend.
 |
| Mouse and Beth. |
Mile 25: Zosia Branch. WHAT? YOU GET TWO MILES??? Is this even allowed? Well, my blog, my rules! Mile 25 for the class of '25. Not only have you grown up, but you have shown us how incredibly smart and talented you are over the years. And, you're headed out on your own when you attend Penn State in the fall. If I've not said it enough, I'll keep saying it. I am so very proud of you, and the woman you are becoming. You are going to do and achieve great things over there in Happy Valley. I cannot wait to see what those things are. WE ARE PENN STATE!
 |
| Edyta and I are proud as hell, too. |
Mile 26: Bernie Augier. You're missed dearly Bern, and this mile (and a shot) will remain yours until I decide I cannot do this anymore. I don't see that happening anytime soon. As long as I can breath and my legs can move, I'll do what I can to honor your memory. Love ya, man.
 |
| Well miss you every day Bern, and we're keepin' an eye on your mom for you. |
The only thing to do now is to wake up early on May 4th, get downtown, and head to my starting coral to pound the pavement. I'm not looking for any specific time; I just want to have a good time. If someone hands me a beer? I'm gonna drink it. Someone hands me a hotdog? I'm gonna eat it. And I'm going to do all of that while making every mile mean something for the people above.
Thank you all as always for your continued support of my crazy adventures, as well as my fundraising for the Mario Lemieux Foundation. I look forward to this every year, and being able to gift one of you that had donated, that signed Pens Jersey.
So, until next time, keep running Pittsburgh. And always remember to be excellent to each other.
Sinceriously,
Chuck Hull, The Running Jedi (and also Bigfoot.)
#26miles26dedications #teamlemieux #runwithp3r #p3rrunspgh #effcancer #maythefourthbewithyou #gcxcpgh #SNBAdventureTeam2025 #gcxcambassador
PS: As always, if you'd like to donate to the Mario Lemieux Foundation, just click on the link.
PPS: New some anti-chafe lube? Give Squirrel Nut Butter a go! This stuff is the ONLY thing that has ever worked for me! Use code lubeyourfriends to save 15% off your order!
PPS: USE DISCOUNT CODE HULL25 for the following GCXC Races and you can save on your next registration:
- Thrifty 5k - Saturday, May 10th
- Memorial Day Remembrance Run 5K and 10K - Saturday, May 24th
- South Ridge Trail Challenge - Sunday, June 1st
- Murrysville Monster Trail Races 10K and 20K - Sunday, July 13th
- Two Face 10K - Saturday, August 2nd
- More to come soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment