The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

For some, the slightest mention of running makes their body cringe with a deeply rooted desire to do anything else. For others running is therapeutic and their willingness to pursue it is borderline addictive. Yet there are some who simply just enjoy it. They like the feeling running provides them, the escape and time away from the clutter of the world.

Many people run daily, maybe a mile or two, some days a few more but there are some among us who take it to the next level by running competitively. In Montana alone, there are plenty of 3K, 5K or 10 K walk/run events in addition to Half and Full Marathons. Training in Montana can be a bit difficult to do year round, especially like with winters like we have experienced the past two years.

Longtime Chinook resident Dwight Hofeldt recently managed to train for and complete a full marathon in Fort Worth Texas on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Hofeldt, 64 years old, completed the 26.2 mile course in 5:58.43 to finish 23rd in the 60-64 age group.

Dwight has an affinity for running, "I just enjoy running, I don't know exactly why, I just enjoy it" said Dwight.

From 1988-99 he and his family lived in Fort Worth, Texas before moving back to Chinook. Eventually his kids and grandkids found their way back.

"I ran track in high school, the mile race, but I never really started running until the kids took it up while we were living in Texas," said Dwight. "When we lived in Fort Worth I ran four or five 10K races with the kids."

He has been running races ever since. Dwight has ran in the Ice Breaker in Great Falls several times as well as a number of Sugarbeet Festivals.

"When I decided to run the marathon, in March of 2018 I started researching how to train for one" said Dwight. "I've always wanted to run a marathon."

Dwight kept a very detailed log of all his training runs. He has records of miles ran daily and weekly. On average he would run 3-5 miles a day and around 40 per week.

With winters the way they are in Montana, training for a marathon through the fall and winter can present a challenge all its own.

In his research Dwight learned that training should begin 18 weeks prior to the event. With the Cow Town Marathon set for February 24, it meant training was to get underway in October.

Weather permitting Dwight ran a number of different routes, "I ran to the golf course, to the end of the pavement, to the dump, just about anywhere."

"Sometimes before work I'd get their early and run around the school, out past the airport to the nursing home. One day I ran out to the dump and then around the water plant, I was always changing where I ran," added Dwight.

Some days Dwight would run at four or five in the morning he ran around the school ran at night, ran around the track a lot, sometimes as many as 26 laps. He then would run the fence line around the track. His goal was to train at least 1.5- 2 hours a day. He even ran on a treadmill from time to time.

Going into the race Dwight had nothing but confidence, "I had the confidence going in, I knew I was going to finish, was never a doubt no matter what."

Dwight's sister Virginia Stanford ran the first 10 miles with him. Virginia has completed marathons before, but on this day was only running the half-marathon.

Making the marathon a a truly great experience was that fact that his family was their to support him and see him cross the finish line. Pictured above with Dwight are his grandkids (L-R) Logan, Cruiser, Styles and Nolan.

Upon completion of the race Dwight felt a number of different ways all at once, "Relief, satisfaction, to know my family was there supporting me, it was really special, it meant a lot," commented Dwight.

As far as fatigue, "I couldn't really walk after I finished, I was hurting, really stiff. I took my dog for a walk that night and couldn't hardly do it, he was pulling me along. I started feeling better about three days later," said Dwight.

As far as continuing to run, Dwight has plans, "I'll probably run another marathon, maybe the Boston Marathon, but I'll run the Ice Breaker again for sure.

For anyone to complete a marathon it takes a true commitment to getting your body in shape to put forth the effort required of complete such a difficult task. To do that over the winter months in Montana and the run the marathon in sunny Texas is tribute to Dwight's perseverance.

Congratulations Dwight and achieving such an impressive goal.