‘Marathon machine’
Carol Dellinger has run 222 races and even has a shoe named in her honor
Spokane resident Carol Dellinger has something in common with Charles Barkley, Dr. J. and of course Michael Jordan. They all had shoes named after them.
While her name isn’t as familiar as those famous basketball players, Dellinger is something of a celebrity in the running world. She recently completed her 222nd marathon and is the third-ranked woman in the nation for most marathon finishes. And at 46, she also is the youngest woman in the U.S. to complete 200 marathons. “I’m frequently called the marathon machine,” she said.
Dellinger is sponsored by the shoe manufacturer Saucony. In honor of her 200th marathon the company created a limited-edition Carol Hurricane 200 shoe. The snazzy red and white shoe sports her name on the tongue and the heel.
She needed those shoes. “I put on a new pair of shoes every three weeks,” she said. Two hundred and twenty-two, 26.2-mile marathons mean Dellinger has run 5,816.4 marathon miles. And that doesn’t include training miles. She’s already worn out two treadmills and is working on her third.
Twenty years ago, Dellinger was playing semipro softball and decided to take up running to increase her speed around the bases. She signed up for the Capital City Marathon in Olympia. The first few miles were not fun. “But something happened after mile 15,” she said. “It’s that runner’s high. You just feel so empowered.”
She hasn’t looked back since. “After 50 marathons I realized I was doing something special,” she said. Most runners average just a few races each year. Dellinger runs one every two or three weeks. In October she plans to run three marathons in three weeks – a personal record.
Despite all the travel, Dellinger, a project manager assistant for Walker Construction, hasn’t missed a day’s work. “It’s something I’m very proud of,” she said. “I’m usually on a plane Friday night and back at work Monday morning.” That work ethic is something she attributes to being raised on a cattle farm in Deer Park.
When she talks about her passion for running, her eyes shine and her short, blonde-tipped hair seems to bristle with energy. Words tumble out so quickly, she doesn’t seem to breathe between sentences. It’s easy to see why Saucony flies her all over the country to spread the gospel of running. She’s a regularly featured speaker at workshops and seminars.
She’s also picked up endorsements from Wigwam socks and GU, an energy-gel company. Part of her appeal is that she doesn’t appear to be the typical marathon runner. “I still look like the first-baseman I was, instead of the runner I am,” she said, laughing. “I’ve got a strong undercarriage. I’m built like a Toyota 4-Runner instead of a Jaguar.”
Her muscular build may have a lot to do with the fact that in 222 marathons, Dellinger has never suffered a running injury. However, that sturdy build also means she’ll likely never be the fastest runner in any group. She usually completes a race in the 5 1/2 to 6-hour range. And she’s fine with that. “Instead of sleek and fast, I’m strong and tough,” she said.
Her fellow runners inspire her. Dellinger’s favorite thing to do in any race is to get to know folks while running alongside them. With each marathon she makes new friends. “My goal is not to run faster,” she said. “Each time I run, it’s a journey – the people I meet – the things I see.”
Dellinger has her eyes set on a lofty goal. “I hope to get to 500 marathons,” she said. “I feel better at 46 then I did 10 years ago.”