Dot Helling is a true citizen of the world. She was born in Japan to German parents, then lived in Puerto Rico and Germany before moving to the United States at age seven. Dot enjoys adventures, having traveled all over the world and most of the United States. She is a self-employed attorney who has held several legal and municipal positions, been published in multiple legal journals and athletic magazines, and received numerous legal and athletic honors.

Physical fitness, especially running, is not only Dot’s passion but also a conduit through which she has been able to influence others’ lives. Dot has run more than 100 marathons and more than 50 ultra-marathons, including twenty 100-milers. At the age of 47, Dot held the 45–49 age group course record at Mt. Washington by over 10 minutes, was the first Vermonter to capture an overall win at the Vermont 100 and was elected president of the Vermont Bar Association. She has presented to groups of young people and worked out with youngsters who aspire to be athletes. Dot was a founder of the athletic-scholarship program that her running club set up for local athletes heading to college. She gets a great feeling when parents say that she inspired their kids or that she’s been a catalyst to getting them out the door. Dot also volunteers her time with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, Magic House (a Russian orphanage) and the Stark Mountain Foundation.

Dot heard about the Blue Planet Run after a friend said it sounded “right up her alley.” After visiting the Run’s Web site, she was inspired to apply for a few reasons: the desire to participate in a cause that would have a global impact; her passion for running; and because the Run would pass through Germany, the country of her origin and heritage, as well as through Japan, where she was born. Dot was also a Torch Bearer representing Vermont for the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Games. All winter, she maintained her stamina for the Run by undertaking adventure runs in Patagonia and Costa Rica, participating in the Boston Marathon, averaging 10 miles a day, and Nordic skiing with her dog.

Certain songs evoke powerful memories for people. For Dot, two of those songs are “Für Elise” and “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” The first reminds her of playing the piano with her mother, who is also her hero. Dot heard “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” right before she ran her first marathon, and it became stuck in her head the entire 26.2 miles, pushing her to the finish line, where she arrived in tears.

Dot is also a huge fan of the Rolling Stones (“Under My Thumb”), Bob Dylan, Carly Simon, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Pachelbel’s Canon and Greensleeves. She “loves to boogie”! Her favorite ice cream is vanilla, with coffee a close second. Dot enjoys watching movies; cooking; reading; traveling; photography; time with friends, her godchildren and her nieces — and her dog, Smoochie, and cat, Gwinny.