Rusty Burrell is making a name for himself in the running community by running as other athletes, but not in the bib-swapping sense. Burrell ran last weekend’s Broad Street Run dressed as Charles Barkley while dribbling a basketball in 1:31:55.
Burrell, 37, covered last year’s Broad Street course dressed as 76ers legend Allen Iverson, a smidge slower, in 1:32:40.
The former college runner previously told Runner’s World that “running in costume is a fun twist on doing these races.”
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In the past he’s also run races as a Star Wars Stormtrooper, wearing a Washington Nationals uniform, and a full University of Richmond football uniform—shoulder pad, helmet, and football included.
A week prior to the Broad Street Run, Burrell ran as Darth Vader, on which Keira D’Amato commented, “Yesterday someone asked me if I saw the dude wearing the Darth Vader outfit at the race… you are a legend!!!”
Burrell’s run was even featured on NBA on TNT, which features none other than Charles Barkley himself, who said, “I got so tired running those 10 miles…Hey man, thanks for the love, Rust.”
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Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner’s World, the author of The Runner’s World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a seven-time marathoner with a best of 3:31—but she is most proud of her 1:32 half, 19:44 5K, and 5:33 mile. Her work has been published in The Boston Globe, Popular Mechanics, The Wall Street Journal Buy Side, Cooking Light, CNN, Glamour, The Associated Press, and Livestrong.com.
