Aching from miles of running, instructor Eric Wilkinson pushed through the final stretch of the 26.2-mile marathon in New Hampshire. The intermittent mist softened the earth, turning everything into mud. His shoes, brown and squelching from the rain, carried him forward, each step a battle against the relentless burn in his calf. This wasn’t just another marathon—it was the culmination of his fourth in just five days. Far from a one-off challenge, this grueling feat underscored his remarkable endurance and determination. It was a testament to his resilience, pushing through physical and mental limits with every step, marking the end of a week-long marathon journey.
With marathons, only one aspect stays the same: 26.2 miles. Everything else varies on the marathoner. Some athletes feel the rush of the run while trying to cut minutes off their last time. Others simply try to finish without leaving their breakfast on the finish line.
For many dedicated athletes, training for and running marathons can become a deeply ingrained part of their lives. These seasoned runners, like Instructors Wilkinson and Gwendolyn Hoenke, embody the passion and perseverance required to conquer such a monumental challenge. Wilkinson, having completed 35 marathons, and Hoenke, with 15 under her belt, both attest to the unique physical and mental benefits that running provides.
Despite the grueling nature of marathons—long, taxing, and often excruciating—they persist, driven by a sense of determination and a desire to push their limits. Each runner approaches the race with a personal goal, whether achieving a specific time, surpassing a previous performance, or simply embracing the challenge itself.
For Wilkinson, his journey began with a clear goal for his first marathon in 2003: to finish without walking. It’s a feat many marathoners aspire to, and Wilkinson accomplished it without taking a single step off the course. However, after that achievement, he set his sights on a new challenge: “Run a marathon in every state.”
This goal is part of a broader initiative within a group known as the Marathon Maniacs, whose members aim to complete one marathon in each of the 50 states. Wilkinson has made remarkable progress, having completed marathons in 30 states so far.
His week-long, four-marathon journey included Connecticut on Monday, Rhode Island on Tuesday, Vermont on Thursday, and New Hampshire on Friday. “So, I got four marathons in five days, in four different states,” Wilkinson said.
Hoenke also boasts an impressive number of marathons under her belt, though she never initially planned to run as many as she has. “It was like a bucket list item,” she said, describing how she became hooked on the sport. Hoenke began training for her first marathon while living in Ecuador over the summer, then returned to run in the sweltering 90-degree heat of Marquette.
After completing her first marathon, Hoenke realized she had narrowly missed the qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. Such an esteemed achievement was too tempting to overlook, so she began training to qualify. Since then, she has run the Boston Marathon three times. In addition to marathons, Hoenke has embraced new challenges, taking on half-marathons and 10Ks along the way.
Some marathoners have no interest in running more than a handful of races; they simply want the experience of completing one or two. Daniel Blake and Cherylyn Weyhmiller, both teachers, are examples of this type of runner.
Daniel Blake ran two marathons more than 20 years ago, both at the Chicago Marathon during his college years. After completing his first marathon, Blake felt he could improve. Motivated to do better, he began to “train more consistently” in hopes of beating his previous time.
However, disaster struck when Blake fell seriously ill just one week before his second race. Despite being under the weather, he still decided to run. Unfortunately, his illness made it difficult for him to perform at his best. Despite the challenge, Blake completed the race—a feat many would find unimaginable.
Weyhmiller has completed two marathons, though she never intended to run more than one. Her first was the iconic Disney Marathon in Florida, a race she’ll never forget. Despite it being over a decade ago, Weyhmiller still remembers it vividly. “Oh god yeah it was horrible,” she said, recalling the tough experience. She had trained through the cold winter months, only to face the scorching 80-degree heat of Florida on race day.
Her second marathon wasn’t planned at all. She had no desire to run another one, but her friend was determined to do so. In a show of support, Weyhmiller agreed to train and run a second marathon, this time in Grand Rapids.
However, the training proved to be a challenge. “She quit,” Weyhmiller said of her friend, but Weyhmiller herself wasn’t about to give up. She refused to back down, making finishing the marathon her sole focus. Despite all the obstacles, she powered through, determined to cross the finish line. “That was really hard, but I finished,” Weyhmiller said, reflecting on her perseverance.
Yet, despite her success in completing two marathons, full marathons didn’t appeal to Weyhmiller. “I really like the half marathon,” she said, noting that while it still offered a tough challenge, it wasn’t as time-consuming. With a deep love for the shorter distance, Weyhmiller has completed numerous half marathons. “My half marathon number is in the 60s,” she said, a testament to her consistent dedication.
Whether it’s logging miles week after week or bracing for the next daunting challenge. Whether it’s running in every state or simply refusing to give up. The marathon is one of the most grueling and personal tests an athlete can undertake.
