Be Legendary…

Way back when in the distant fog of the 1970’s, Legend has it that the
Big Hurt started as a way to honor Charlie and his epic adventures as he embarked on a heroic beer
run to save his friends from thirst while camping in the remote wilds of the Olympic Peninsula.
Read Charlie forgot the beer. Whatever the veracity of this tale, Charlie’s “can do” spirit lives on in
the soul of the Big Hurt and our athletes. Celebrating this undaunted attitude we have continued
this race and made a place to recognize the people that over the years best exemplify these
qualities. Meet below our growing list

Tom Wahl 2022

Tom Wahl is a teacher at Port Angeles High School. After a battle with cancer in 2015, Tom worried that he might have to cut back on his endurance racing activities. As of 2015 he had 24 marathons by that time in his life, and had been a competitor in the original Big Hurt, among other things. According to a 2015 article about Tom in the Peninsula Daily News, Tom’s first thought was to offer to help out as a volunteer at the newly-resurrected Big Hurt. He even talked with one of the organizers, Lorrie Mittman, about assisting. “Then I went home and slept on it and thought, you know, I can do this,” he said.
And he did it! And he’s been doing it every year since.
From the PDN:
But Wahl’s reasons for doing The Big Hurt go beyond his finishing time and place of finish. “It was about me, I guess, but also it was about people who have cancer or are struggling,” he said. “I just wanted to go out there and give them some hope. I want to encourage them to get out and do as much as you can, and challenge yourself to do something.”

Dave Lasorsa 2021

Legend Award 2021: Dave Lasorsa is an athlete’s athlete, starting in his youth and the roomful of trophies he had when he left his childhood home. Along with racing in the very first Big Hurt in 1997 (and many more after!), Dave is a nationally-ranked duathlete and is currently the Chair of the USA Triathlon Multisport Committee. But he gets way more fun than that! Mountain climbing and teaching survival skills to researchers in Antarctica are some of his previous endeavors. We are happy to have Dave back with us in the resurrected Big Hurt, and the recipient of the 2nd Big Hurt Legend award.

Gay Hunter 2019

The first Legend Award went to Gay Hunter, who is an amazing local athlete, participating in countless marathons, Ironman events, and more, all over the country. Gay has raced in EVERY Big Hurt: 1997-2004, 2015-present. She also volunteers for ALL of our races in some way or another.

We love Gay so much, and we are so glad we could honor her for all that she contributes to us and her local community. She is our great friend as well, and feel lucky to have her at our sides, always with a smile and positive can-do attitude.