Andrea Hochhalter

Nominated by Aliza Hochhalter (her daughter)

Some people change your life by what they say. Others do it by how they live. Andrea Hochhalter has always done the second. Quietly, consistently, and with more strength than she probably realizes.

Andrea is many things: a mother, a runner, a role model. Twenty-three years ago, she brought Aliza into the world. Years later, she would show them what it truly means to keep going when life doesn’t go as planned.

Five years ago, Andrea was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a craniotomy to remove it. She famously named the tumor, “asshole,” because if you’re going to face something terrifying, you might as well meet it with humor. That moment changed everything. But it didn’t change her. She chose determination. She chose optimism. She chose to keep setting goals, even when the road forward looked unfamiliar.

What inspires people most about Andrea is her resilience. She doesn’t pretend things are easy, she simply refuses to let hard things win. She moves forward with patience, grace, and a quiet confidence that reminds others they can do the same. Watching her face adversity with hope has shaped the people around her more than she knows.

Andrea has always led by example. As a former marathon runner who completed multiple Fargo Marathons, she understands discipline, commitment, and the power of showing up. She shared that love for running early on, bringing Aliza along to races, creating memories that had nothing to do with times or places and everything to do with togetherness.

After the tumor took away her ability to train and stay active, Andrea could have stepped back. Instead, she rebuilt. Slowly. Patiently. Week by week, she found her way back into the gym, setting new goals and reclaiming something she loves. That kind of return takes more than strength; it takes heart.

One of the most admired things about Andrea is her patience and forgiveness. She meets life with compassion, choosing understanding over frustration, even when things are difficult. And through it all, she never loses her sense of humor. Whether that’s naming tumors or "misplacing" remotes in refrigerators, humor and smiles are a constant.

There’s also her tenderness. Like Aliza's first 5K with mom at age seven that turned into a flower-picking adventure instead of a race. Or the steady presence of a mom who teaches you, without ever saying it out loud, that strength might not always look strong.

If Andrea were a running shoe, she’d be built for the long road. Resilient, steady, supportive, and capable of carrying you farther than you ever thought possible. All while looking good!

Mom, if you were reading this right now, I would tell you how proud I am of you, how much you inspire me every single day, and how grateful I am for your love, laughter, and example. -Aliza