every runner has a story
Meet Michelle Hoffert
► From: North Dakota
► Started Running: high school cross country
► Lakeland Runners Club 2022 Board President
Hoffert took a few years away from running after high school, and reconnected with the sport in 2013. In addition to being a RRCA certified running coach, Michelle has run the Boston Marathon twice and has Overall Female wins at Moon over Croom, the Pinellas Trail Challenge and X-Country 30k.
What is your favorite thing about being connected to LRC?
LRC is genuinely the most diverse club I know. What do I mean by that? We aren’t all just ‘fast’ or just ‘new’, ‘young’ or ‘old’. Every member is who and where they are in their running and fitness journey. Willing to give, share, help others grow and look to other members for help in their own lives. LRC for me was becoming a part of the Lakeland community, not just someone who lives in Lakeland. LRC was finding others who cared about running and not going the journey on my own.
Why do you serve on the LRC board?
I took my kids to kids running club back in the Coach Grace days. And then little by little I helped support Coach Amanda when she took over in whatever shy way I could because I was there. And then I talked to a few more people that became dear friends at the Mitchell’s coffee run. Eventually they learned I’m terrible at saying no. At the end of the day – the simplest things like handing out water during a race show you the impact and difference you can make in someone else’s story and watching finish lines gives me all the feels.
What is your favorite running memory?
Can I just choose making them? I do often laugh about ‘losing’ a couple of middle schoolers that coincidentally belonged to fellow board members at Holloway Park during practice a couple of years ago. (Everyone was retrieved safely for the record. But I am still terribly sorry for making Abby cry Chris and Kim!) Adventure is part of the cross country experience, right?
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I was born and raised a North Dakota farm girl. Music Major – doubled in education and performance. But have spent my adult career in Insurance Technology. Also known as: pretty darn nerdy.
Share This Post
More To Explore
Meet Rhonda Fosser
March is Women’s History Month and one of the women that will live on in the history of the Lakeland Runners Club is Rhonda Fosser. In her 70s she is still running a 24-minute 5k.
Meet Yvonne Robinson
The Abbott World Marathon Majors is a series of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world: Tokyo Marathon, B.A.A. Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW Berlin-Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon.
Yvonne is one of 2,863 American runners, and the second LRC member, who has completed all six world majors. This is her story.
“Never in a million years did I think I could run a marathon. It seemed crazy to me how anyone could accomplish that feat.”
Meet Jeff & Kelly Bowman
Jeff and Kelly’s story is not just about logging miles or chasing personal bests—it’s about finding a second family and a supportive community that cheers them on every step of the way.
Meet Jan Mohler
Running was a surprise gift for Jan Mohler. A tragic loss for a co-worker led Jan to volunteer and raise funds for the Leukemia Society which lead to a meeting with a Team in Training and LRC running coach. 20 years and a bunch of adventures later, and Jan is still lifting others’ spirits with a smile and encouragement.