After making a few calls to his friends on June 9, Rafael Nuñéz changed out of his work clothes and pulled up to Elite Cuts and Styles Barbershop in Endicott for a live push-up challenge.
In six short minutes, eight people completed over 100 push-ups as a group, right outside on the sidewalk. With a friend-turned-cameraman steadying the tripod, Nuñéz cheered on his supporters who accepted the challenge.
Cars slowed down along North Street, some to catch a glimpse of the scene and a few because they recognized Nuñéz from his social media accounts, where he is known as “Mister Pushup.”
The 38-year-old from Binghamton has created a local challenge based on his own fitness journey — a loss of 40 pounds with a deeply personal motivation. As a father, Nuñéz was motivated by a desire to live longer and healthier for his eight children.
How Nuñéz changed his life
After struggling for years with partying and his mental health, Nuñéz turned to fitness as an outlet to reinvent himself.
“It saved my life,” he said.
Nuñéz left a sedentary call center job of 10 years for one that keeps him constantly on the move — with OnTrac, he delivers for retail companies and online orders.
“I’m a go-getter, I don’t stop. I do everything,” he said.
In January, he started a business called Fit Delivery & Hauling Services, a moving company through which Nuñéz and his crew are, according to a description on the company’s Facebook page, the “personal trainers for relocation.”
Juggling a new business, keeping up with social media, making connections in the community and taking courses to become a personal trainer are all a testament to Nuñéz‘s determination, which drives his Mister Pushup presence.
Who is ‘Mister Pushup’?
Part of Nuñéz’s daily routine is going to Recreation Park to do push-ups. He saw a man there one morning just hanging out at the park and decided to see if he would be interested in joining him for a quick on-camera challenge.
Mister Pushup was born.
The goal is simple: to spread positivity and promote healthy habits. Everybody, Nuñéz said, has a chance to make a change and do better. All it takes is one person to believe in you and show that they care.
That simple idea, Nuñéz found, has turned into a “really big” movement.
On Facebook and TikTok, Nuñéz posts videos of himself challenging people in the community to join him in a set of push-ups.
Nineteen Mister Pushup videos on Facebook have at least one thousand views. One of the first push-up challenges Nuñéz did, at the Northside Deli on Chenango Street in Binghamton, was viewed 4,700 times on Facebook and received 70 “likes.”
The Halal stand outside the American Legion Post 80 in Binghamton got a visit from Nuñéz in April, challenging the owner to a push-up challenge. On the Main Street sidewalk, the two strangers did 30 push-ups in 30 seconds.
That video has 70,200 views and 786 likes on TikTok as of June 18.
“Keep being that guy,” one TikTok viewer said. “followers will follow! good work!!” Another viewer commented, “u starting a trend keep it up.”
The challenge has even attracted attention outside the United States. A follower from Japan, Hing Phongthirath, submitted their own push-up challenge video showing support by doing 50, plus an extra 10 “for good measure.”
Phongthirath left a comment saying, “My guy! Honored to support!” Another supporter commented, “Japan whaaaaattttt!!!!!!Get global homie!!!”
Growing a push-up movement in Binghamton
Nuñéz was invited to the Boys and Girls Club of Binghamton to spread his positive message and get the little ones active. In the video’s comments, parents chimed in, spotting their kid in the background and sharing their love for what Nuñéz is trying to promote in the city.
After a mother reached out to share that her son, Jeremiah, was a fan, Nuñéz set up a surprise. Xcite Wrestling and the Northern Federation of Wrestling invited Jeremiah out to the American Legion Post 80 for a group push-up challenge in May, and a quick wrestling improv. Jeremiah was also given free tickets to the wrestling event that took place that evening.
Nuñéz would like to build on the challenge’s success and expand its reach. Eventually, he wants to turn it into a nonprofit organization to inspire children to chase their dreams and simply put a smile on their faces.
During one of his delivery routes when he first started doing the challenge, Nuñéz stopped at the Northside Deli Grocery to grab a quick snack for the road and ran into a young man inside the store who accepted his challenge.
The young man featured in the video, Amir, was able to keep up with Nuñéz — even in slide sandals — pushing through to do a total of 25 push-ups on the sidewalk outside the deli.
In the video post’s description, Nuñéz said he wants to encourage young people to put their phones down and get active. He also reminded his viewers to approach each person with positivity and kindness because you never know what people are struggling with.
For Nuñéz, it’s all about being there for the next generation and showing people that they are capable of doing anything they put their mind to.
“I want to continue being somebody’s inspiration,” he said.
There will be a push-up challenge happening at Stellar Human in downtown Binghamton on June 22 around noon, and Mister Pushup will make an appearance at the Tioga County Boys & Girls Club for one of its summer programs in July.
For those looking to get moving without the push-ups, Nuñéz also hosts a free Saturday Running Club with Strictly Fitness at noon at Recreation Park. The group is guided through a quick stretch and warm-up at the white gazebo before going on a 2-to-3-mile walk/run for all fitness levels around the park.
Follow Mister PushUp on social media to stay up to date on events and Saturday meetups.
Instagram: @misterpushup
TikTok: @misterpushup
YouTube: @misterpushup
Facebook: Rafael Núñez
Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at kcgrant@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Meet ‘Mister Pushup,’ inspiring strangers one rep at a time
Reporting by Kalyn Grant, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kalyn Grant, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin | USA TODAY Network
