Truett Hanes: Pushing Limits in Denim

Truett Hanes doesn’t train for the spotlight — he trains for the challenge. Known for running marathons in jeans and breaking the 24-hour pull-up world record with 10,001 reps, Hanes has turned grit, discipline, and mindset into a mission. In this exclusive interview, shared directly through messages with The Runner Journal, Hanes walks us through how it all began, what drives him today, and why he believes limits are there to be broken.

Running Started at Home

"My dad would make my brother and I run with him all the time while growing up so that was how I first got started. My dad started training for marathons when I was born so once he got off work, he would have us kids run with him so he could get the miles done and watch us at the same time."

"I obviously didn’t realize my dad was a big deal at the time and he really wasn’t quite yet as he hadn’t received the notoriety that he does today, but I thought what we were doing was normal until I realized it wasn’t. My brother ran his first half marathon at the age of 7 and I ran my first half marathon at the age of 8. I was able to record a time of 1:54:22 at the Coburg half marathon with my mom running by my side. When I was 13, I would go on to run the Eugene full marathon and finish with a time of 3:30. You have to be 16 to run the marathon, but my dad forged my age so I could compete since I had trained diligently and didn’t want to waste the shape I was in."

"My dad never asked my brother and I to do something he wouldn’t do himself. He led by example and would be with us every step of the way. It was hard for us, but I don’t think parents realize that kids don’t know they’re weak until they’re told so by adults. My brother and I thought we were strong and capable because my mom and dad told us that we were. We even had proof that we were tough at a young age with finishing half and full marathons before hitting puberty."

Running in Jeans

"I have a catch phrase, 'It’s Just Pain.' Running in jeans is objectively more troublesome and uncomfortable than running in tiny shorts as many runners do. I hope that when I show up to the start line and run next to my fellow competitors that I can inspire them to push a little harder and run a little faster because the pain they’re feeling is likely less than me who is running next to them in jeans."

"I know 'inspire' can seem like a cheap word these days, but I truly hope I can help other people see that there are no limits. Our mind is so much more powerful than we think and you’re much stronger than you believe. Take it from someone who ran a 3:12 marathon in SLC last April in shorts to now running a 2:34 marathon in jeans this April. Don’t let pain stop you from achieving excellence. It’s just a feeling after all."

"I know it sounds funny, but it really isn’t too bad. I don’t even notice it once I get going. I certainly don’t allow it to be a crutch either. I expect to run a sub 2:30 marathon this year and no part of me thinks I can’t do that while wearing jeans. I use Salty Britches, the best anti chafe company in the world, for all my anti-chafing needs. I lather up my feet, my thighs, my crotch, my butt, my waist and proceed to run 26.2 miles without ever having a concern about chafing. Running in jeans hasn’t stopped or slowed me down one time because of Salty Britches."

"If I ever need to go on a run and happen to be in jeans at the time then I’ll just go on a run in jeans. I have no issue getting in my training with whatever attire I’m in."

Why Mindset Wins

"Mindset can’t be overemphasized enough. You don’t need much else other than a winning mindset, an able body and pavement. That’s the beauty of running, anyone can do it anywhere. There’s arguments to be made that I’d benefit from running in tights, but the joy I feel when I’m cruising 14 miles deep in a marathon and I’m clocking 5:50’s per mile in a pair of jeans is tough to give up. A bulletproof mindset will serve you much greater than a pair of shorts ever could. That’s why I was able to get 2:34 in the Eugene marathon after just getting my PR at the Boston marathon less than a week earlier. Mindset."

10,001 Pull-Ups in 24 Hours

"What inspired me to chase the record of 10,001 pull-ups was setting the record of 8,100 pull-ups in October of 2023 and losing the title in less than a day to Gary Lloyd from Australia. In order to set the record in 2023, I underwent some serious training for 6 months and built myself up to where I was good enough to get the most pull-ups in a single day in human history. As it turns out, I didn’t do enough."

"I wasn’t going to allow someone to outwork me because that’s all it came down to: he wanted it more. I now have come to the understanding that anyone is capable of anything, but few are willing to put in the necessary work. I became the most willing individual to eclipse 10K pull-ups in a single day and all it took was all of me for 6 straight months. Every day it was pull-ups and running. I would go to sleep dreaming of pull-ups and spring out of bed with pull-ups on my mind."

"I wasn’t going to shy away from the work, but I’d let the proof of my discipline be shown on record day and it was. 10,001 reps with a little under 2 hours left even. I was able to beat the previous record set by Doug Martin with 6 hours left. The work had been put in and the result was proof of that."

Using His Platform for Good

"The Perfect Jean has been a great partner. We got connected by me in running jeans obviously and they have jeans. I chose them out of all the jean brands because of their willingness to do charity work. They helped raise $14,000 for when I ran the NYC marathon to help find the cure for MS and help individuals with that disease. They helped me raise $35,000 during my pull-up record for the Miracle foundation which helps find loving families for vulnerable children around the world."

"Now we are currently running a promotion where if someone is in the market for a new t-shirt or a pair of jeans that are comfortable enough to run a marathon in, then they can head to their website and use code 'TRUETT' at checkout which saves them 15% on their order and also donates 10% of profit to the Miracle Foundation. They have a true heart for helping people and that’s why they have my loyalty. If you’re good at something then you should use those gifts for good is my belief. I’m thankful that The Perfect Jean shares that same value."

More Than Miles

"It’s really easy to make everything about ourselves. I’ve been blessed with health and an able body, but I don’t think I should be the only one to benefit from that. If I can use my ability to help other people then I want to do just that. Especially when it comes to people’s health being compromised by MS or kids just looking for someone to love them and hold them tight when they’re scared through the Miracle Foundation - I just want people to know that they’re not alone and the world hasn’t turned their back on them."

This is Truett Hanes — in his own words, with no additions. Just the mindset, the mission, and the milestones. Everything else is just pain.