Runner plans to run her 100th marathon Saturday in Whitefish

This Saturday in Whitefish, Lorena Devlyn will run her 100th marathon-plus (26.2 miles and up — she has also completed four Ironmans and a 100-miler, among other ultras). When Lorena first laid eyes upon Whitefish, she knew she wanted to be part of the town. True to her heart, she now has a home here. It was so important to Lorena to make this marathon her number 100 that she crammed in an extra race last month just to make it happen.

Lorena did not grow up sporty. Legend has it that her mother wrote doctors’ notes to excuse her from PE class and that she broke out in hives the first time she sweated. But once she dedicated herself to running in her early 20s there was no stopping her.

“Lorena has the ability to push herself hard – she is pure grit,” says longtime friend and running buddy Tzatzil LeMair, with whom Lorena founded Tough Cookies, an all-women running and triathlon group in Austin, Texas.

The lure of running for Lorena is time spent with friends and continually challenging herself. Not only has she collected 99 marathons-plus so far, but she has also run side-by-side with hundreds of fellow athletes.

Many of Lorena’s running highlights show this deep connection. In the 2010 56-mile Comrades Ultra in South Africa, she blew through the first 26 miles in Boston-qualifying time and discovered levels of athleticism that she had no idea she possessed. She also met a friend for life on the course, and together they carried an American flag over the finish line. Another year, Lorena decided to run a marathon a month and achieved her goal. And last year, since April Fools’ Day is also a favorite pastime, she sent a photoshopped-looking image of herself under the Eiffel Tower with the message, “Stopped by to run the Paris Marathon.” All of her friends said, “Yeah, right. April Fools!” until she showed them her finisher’s medal.

After her 100th marathon, Lorena swears she is “hanging up her running shoes.” Her friends will believe that when they see it.

Come out to cheer on Lorena and all the runners this Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. You can find the course map and spectator information at www.whitefishmarathon.com/

This story was submitted by friends and family of Lorena Devlyn.