ABOUT ME:
Joseph Fuller, born in Chelyabinsk, Russia, is a native of Sidney, Ohio. He attained his B.S. in Business-Management while competing in NCAA DII Cross Country/Track and Field at Saint Leo University. After a successful cross country career at Saint Leo University, Joseph is transitioned into a career in the Cross Country, Trail and Ultra-Marathon Distance.
Post college, Fuller began working for a runaway and homeless youth shelter and at local running specialty store, he then joined the US Army before moving back to Florida. He now works as a Project Manager in the construction industry.
Fuller operates his own non-profit organization (I Play Track Foundation) and race directing company (Skunk Ape Events). He is also a member of the Gasparilla Distance Classic Organizational Committee.
Post college, Fuller began working for a runaway and homeless youth shelter and at local running specialty store, he then joined the US Army before moving back to Florida. He now works as a Project Manager in the construction industry.
Fuller operates his own non-profit organization (I Play Track Foundation) and race directing company (Skunk Ape Events). He is also a member of the Gasparilla Distance Classic Organizational Committee.
RUNNING 2020
The running year started off with the Long Haul 100 Mile in Land O' Lakes where Fuller unfortunately DNF'd at mile 81 of the 100 Miles due to his posterior tendon becoming swollen. This was by far, one of the strongest training cycles of his career coming off a marathon debut at the Rock n Roll Savannah Marathon with a time of 2:45 to place 3rd Overall and 2nd Male.
After some time off; Fuller competed at the H9 Dragon 50 Miler in Vogel State Park. The whole term "Hard Time on the Dragon's Spine" is in fact the reality; Fuller finished the 50 Miles with a time of 17 Hours and 10 Minutes. With 18,000+ feet of gain, this was Fuller's hardest race to date.
RUNNING 2019
The year started off with the Long Haul 100 Mile in Land O' Lakes where Fuller finished in a time of 31 Hours and 5 minutes. The 100 Miler hosted five hours of thunderstorms which slowed Fuller down wrecking his feet; regardless Fuller continued on to finish. Fuller then went on to compete at the USATF Cross Country National Championships only two weeks after the 100 Miler.
After a hiatus of racing, Fuller finally was able to come back and compete at the FATS 50k. Fuller took 2nd place overall in a time of 4 Hours and 48 Minutes. Fuller was head to head with the 1st Place finisher until the last 7 miles of the race; in an attempt to take first, Fuller made a move dropping into the low-6 and sub-6 miles. The choice was either to sit comfortably in 2nd, or, take a shoot for the win. Unfortunately, it didnt pay off and Fuller ended up burning out in the last 3 miles to go.
Fullers next race was the Oktoberfest Cross Country 10k at Fort Benning, Fuller took the win in a time of 35:05. The course was full of mud and sitting water as it had rained the night before and the day of throughout the race.
After a hiatus of racing, Fuller finally was able to come back and compete at the FATS 50k. Fuller took 2nd place overall in a time of 4 Hours and 48 Minutes. Fuller was head to head with the 1st Place finisher until the last 7 miles of the race; in an attempt to take first, Fuller made a move dropping into the low-6 and sub-6 miles. The choice was either to sit comfortably in 2nd, or, take a shoot for the win. Unfortunately, it didnt pay off and Fuller ended up burning out in the last 3 miles to go.
Fullers next race was the Oktoberfest Cross Country 10k at Fort Benning, Fuller took the win in a time of 35:05. The course was full of mud and sitting water as it had rained the night before and the day of throughout the race.
TRANSITIONING INTO ULTRA 2018
Fuller started his transition into the Ultra-Marathon with a shorter distance, the Cross Country 10k; where he placed 50th at the USATF Cross Country National Championships in Tallahassee, Florida. On February 10th, he ran his first 50 Miler where he ended up in a DNF. After the DNF, he gave it another shot finishing the Croom Fools Run 50 Miler in 7 Hours and 44 Minutes.
RUNNING 2017
Competed in several races for the Lions within the top five for the team. As a senior, Fuller placed 17th overall at the Sunshine State Conference Championship race in a time of 26:59 on the difficult course in Lakeland, Florida; he was the number three runner for the Lions. He ran an 8k personal best at the Royals XC Challenge placing third for Saint Leo and a time of 25:50. With his impressive 28th finish at the NCAA South Regional placing running a time of 34:15.5, Fuller advanced inward to the National Championship race on November 18th, 2017. Unofortunaletly, Fuller had an injury after the regional race which impeded his National performance with a time of 35:16.5 placing 235th at the NCAA National Race.
RUNNING 2016
Competed in seven races for the Lions in 2016, and was a scoring runner in six of those… fastest 8K time of the season was 26:07.24 at the Sunshine State Conference Championship (10/22)… also finished among the top 20 at the Saint Leo National Preview (10/8) with a time of 28:13.7, 17th overall… crossed 52nd overall at the NCAA South Region Championship (11/5) with a mark of 34:15.1 and went on to compete at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships.
RUNNING 2015
Ran in eight events during the 2015 season, scoring in four of those… posted his season-best time of 26:37.10 at the Sunshine State Conference Championship 8K (10/24), and placed 21st overall… ran in both the NCAA South Region Championship 10K (11/7) and the NCAA Cross Country National Championships 10K (11/21), posting times of 34:51.81 and 32:34.90 respectively… had a strong outing early in the season at the UF Mountain Dew 8K Invitational (9/19) with a time of 27:27.24.
PERSONAL BESTS:
- 5000m Road – 16:02, 2013 Tawawa Park Scholarship 5k Run
- 5000m Track – 16:00, 2018 UT Track Classic
- 8000m – 25:50, 2017 Queens Royal Challenge
- 10000m – 32:34.9, 2015 NCAA D2 Cross County Nationals
- Half-Marathon – 1:13:23, 2016 Thanksgiving Day Classic
- Marathon: 2:45:32, 2020 Rock n Roll Marathon - Savannah
- 30Km – 31:05, 2018 USATF 30k Trail National Championships
- 50Km - 4:37.5, 2018 John Holmes 50k
- 50 Mile – 7:44, 2018 Croom Fools Run 50M
- 100Km - 12:25.50, 2018 Croom Zoom 100k
- 100 Mile – 31:05.44, 2019 Long Haul 100M
WHEN NOT RUNNING
When not running, Joseph is volunteering at local Ultra-Marathons, the Special Olympics, and the Boy Scouts of America where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 2014. He also runs the charity called the I Play Track Foundation, which gives donated shoes and spikes out to those in need.
While volunteering on the side, Fuller also race directs with his own company Skunk Ape Events and as a member of the Organizational Committee for the Gasparilla Distance Classic which boasts over 32,000 runners annually.
He also has a healthy infatuation in Hiking, CrossFit, kayaking, fishing, disc golf, orienteering, geocaching, and climbing.
Fuller lives near Tampa, Florida with his adopted pitbull mix, Samson (@pupnamedsamson). He now has added two more dogs to the mix after rescuing two German Shepherds, Bacardi and Cona (@cardi_cona21).
While volunteering on the side, Fuller also race directs with his own company Skunk Ape Events and as a member of the Organizational Committee for the Gasparilla Distance Classic which boasts over 32,000 runners annually.
He also has a healthy infatuation in Hiking, CrossFit, kayaking, fishing, disc golf, orienteering, geocaching, and climbing.
Fuller lives near Tampa, Florida with his adopted pitbull mix, Samson (@pupnamedsamson). He now has added two more dogs to the mix after rescuing two German Shepherds, Bacardi and Cona (@cardi_cona21).