Local runner turning heads and breaking records at 82

SANDPOINT — On Monday, April 15, Sandpoint resident Carol Wright crossed the finish line at the 2024 Boston Marathon in 5 hours and 54 minutes, winning the 80-plus women’s age division handily. At 82, she also happened to be this year’s oldest finisher, and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Believe it or not, Wright’s running journey began not so long ago in 2012. Then 69 years old, Wright was on the phone with her daughter, Amy, who just got done running a 5K in Bellingham, Wash., as part of a weight-loss journey. Wright’s daughter said the following year she was going to run a half-marathon.

“If I can do it, you can do it,” Wright remembers her daughter saying. 

Wright was intrigued and started training to support her daughter. Little did she know, she would be hooked instantly. Shortly after finding this new hobby, Wright met longtime distance runner and Sandpoint High cross-country coach, Mike Ehredt, and started to excel rapidly.

“I met him in June of that year and told him I wanted to run a half marathon in September — and he just laughed at me,” Wright said. “We met again, and he said, ‘you know you can do that’ and I asked him why he thought so … He said, ‘because you want to do it.’”

Well, Ehredt, who Wright ended up training with for roughly eight to nine years, was right. Wright ran a half marathon that September and even beat her daughter in the process. Over the years, Wright has now completed several other half marathons, and in 2014 completed her first marathon, the Windermere Marathon in Coeur d’Alene after battling 90-degree weather. It was something she never thought she would be able to do, but again proved herself wrong.

“I crossed that race with a smile on my face and said I think I want to do that again,” Wright said.

Wright has now completed 18 marathons in her lifetime and has finished the Boston Marathon seven times, her first finish coming in 2016. This all being accomplished while facing the adversity of a broken ankle, which could easily deter any athlete from continuing on.

Although her daughter no longer runs, Wright said she now does it for herself and for the running community in which she has met many friends … most of which she otherwise would not have made without running. Even at 82, Wright’s journey has arguably just begun, and she still has one lofty goal in mind — be the oldest person to ever finish the Boston Marathon. The record, which is 84 years old, was set by a female from Santa Monica, Calif., in 2018. Wright believes she is in good enough shape to eventually pull it off, crediting Ehredt for all his help over the years.

“If I hadn’t met Mike (Ehredt), I’m not even sure I would have stayed with it,” Wright said. “He is so inspirational and encouraging. Even though we don’t train together now, I know I could pick up the phone and ask him questions and he would help me instantly.”

Wright is still running around 40 miles per week over the span of five days, her dog joining in for about half of those miles. She said she has so many supporters and couldn’t do it without their encouragement. When they line the streets and chant her name, Wright said there is no betting feeling.

“Don’t stop,” Wright said as words of inspiration for those looking to achieve their goals. “I thought I would never go back to Boston after I didn’t qualify for those two years (2022 and 2023), but that didn’t keep me from trying. When I was able to set a new personal record and qualify again, I was elated. Just don’t give up.”

Wright is set to run the Denver Marathon on June 1 in hopes to qualify for next year’s Boston Marathon. Five hours and 20 minutes is the qualifying time, and Wright is eager to make the cut once again.