June 17, 2010

If you live in the Charlottesville area, you've likely seen the mob of pink runners pounding the pavement during Women's Four Miler training sessions on Saturday mornings. This week's hero, Teresa Bulluck, is a loud member of the appropriately named "pink ladies", and the echos of her passion keep her fellow runners going.

"She's a bear on the outside because she wants you to meet your goals and exceed your goals, but she's a big softy [on the inside]," said Women's Four Miler runner, Lori Reece.

Don't let the pink ensemble and small stature fool you, Bulluck is one tough lady. In fact, she has been nicknamed "Sarge" by her Women's Four-Miler runners.

"We had a couple military girls that were training with us and they automatically started calling me Sarge because of how I push them on the road, and challenge them on the road," said Bulluck.

Bulluck's unmistakable voice is a welcome challenge for many of the women in the Lake Monticello satellite group of the Charlottesville Women's Four-Miler training program. The group even kept up with their workout regimen months after crossing the four-miler finish line last year.

"That's encouraging, when they light up I see them complete their task, complete their goals. I'm addicted to them as much as they are to me," said Bulluck.

The women also found that with training comes camaraderie, a partner to stretch with or a shoulder to lean on.

"Just when you think you can't do it, you can and Sarge instills in you that motivation to do it," said runner, Kristen Mach.

"Some of our own bodies were a burning building, and she's really helped bring us though the fire and let us know that we can," added Reece.

The official start to the Women's Four Miler Training Program is this Saturday, June 19 at the University of Virginia track next to Klockner Stadium. You can find the details on their website, and you can bet Sarge will be there pushing the runners to meet and surpass their goals.