BLOOMINGTON -- Dexter Litwiller plans to run his first 100-mile foot race next weekend to raise money for Bloomington's Clare House food pantry.

Organizers of the 15th annual food drive, which ends Nov. 26, were forced to up their goal this year to meet growing demand in tough economic times.

"I knew they were a good organization that had been around for awhile," said Litwiller, 34, of Deer Creek. "It's a great way to keep the money local so it will go to people who need it most. We live in the wealthiest country in the world. The thought there are people in our country who can't afford to eat and feed their families is inexcusable to me. We should not have hungry people in the United States. They should not be anywhere."

Tina Sipula, founder of Clare House, 703 E. Washington St., compared Litwiller to a fictional character from a Tom Hanks' movie. "I told him he is our own Forrest Gump. I think it's phenomenal. I didn't know people can run that far. He's just really a great guy," said Sipula, who added the dirve is off to a "good start."

"He's putting his body on the line for the poor."

Litwiller ran track and cross country in school years ago. He started running again after he quit a pack-and-a-half cigarette habit in 2003.

"It was one of those realizations. I couldn't remember when I didn't have to cough for 15 minutes before I rolled out of bed," he said. "I gave them up cold turkey, and I never looked back."

He ran a 3.1-mile race within weeks. He was ecstatic when he finished in a respectable time of about 25 minutes. He ran another short race in Eureka and then signed up for an eight-mile race in East Peoria. That's where he first crossed paths with ultra marathoners, who run farther than the standard marathon of 26.2 miles.

"I started watching these ultra runners come in. I was shocked and awed," he said.

Litwiller, who runs exclusively on trails to save wear and tear on his joints, ran a half marathon, 13.1 miles, in 2008. He did his first ultra marathon last October.

This year, he completed the Illinois Trail Ultra Grand Slam, a series of four races from 30- to 50 miles long. At one, he saw runners repeat the same 10-mile loop over and over to reach distances of 100 miles and more. Watching them go around the same course convinced him that his first century should be a point-to-point race like the one Saturday and Nov. 8 at Mark Twain National Forest near Hannibal, Mo.

"About eight times around the same loop and you see your car sitting there in the parking lot, I think it would be tough to keep going," he said. "In a point-to-point race, everything's different. You never know what's around the next corner."

Wearing headlamps to light their way at night, competitors keep moving around the clock. They may walk when they want -- Litwiller walks uphill to save energy. They can refresh themselves at rest stops. Litwiller's brother, Wayne, will give him extra food, fluid and clothes.

"There's a 32-hour time limit on the race," Litwiller said, "I'm hoping to finish in under 27 hours."

Litwiller's wife, Debbie, will be taking care of matters at home.

"She supports me in so many ways. She's understanding about the time I need to spend out on the trails, even though this means she's got to pick up more slack," he said. "I couldn't do it without her."

How to help

Dexter Litwiller's 100-mile run: Send checks payable to Clare House to Dexter Litwiller, Box 111, Deer Creek, 61733.

Food donations: 6 a.m. to midnight daily at Schnucks, 1701 E. Empire St., Bloomington, and 1750 Bradford Lane ,Normal. Bring your own food, or buy pre-packaged sacks of different sizes. Donations also can be dropped off at Clare House, 703 E. Washington St., Bloomington, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, and at Extreme Motors at 1019 Ireland Grove Road, Bloomington, during business hours.

Clare House: The food pantry distributes to the needy twice a week - at 1 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. (There is no regular food distribution on the Friday after Thanksgiving.) The agency also operates the Loaves and Fishes free soup kitchen from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday at St. Mary's Parish Hall, 527 W. Jackson St., Bloomington.

Volunteers: To sort food, call Mike at (309) 829-7196.