It took me 30 years to complete a marathon in each of the 50 states. My first marathon was the 1993 Marine Corps Marathon, which I do not count as a state as it runs in both Virginia and Washington, DC. My second marathon and first state was the 1994 Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Virginia. My 85th marathon and 50th state was the 2023 Minnehaha Marathon in Minnehaha, North Dakota.
Thirty years provides a long time to compile a list of what one needs to complete the 50-state journey. My list includes:
10) A good group of family and friends will allow one the time to train and travel. A group of running friends will help with training for somebody who does not like to run alone, especially with long runs. The group will help with motivation to continue on the journey. Fellow runners with the same goal can provide advice and support. At 20 miles into a marathon, a friendly face in the crowd may make the difference in finishing.
9) Before undertaking a marathon, a good solid base of mileage and race experience will reduce overuse injury risk. In my youth, I wanted to run enough miles every week to be conditioned for a marathon at any time. At my peak, I consistently ran 50 to 60 miles per week. In recent years, my weekly mileage has fallen to the high 30s, and my marathon times are increasing.
One can’t get off the couch and go right to 60 miles per week. The 10% rules work in building a base. Do not increase mileage by more than 10% from week to week. Do not increase mileage by more than 10% from year to year. Do not do more than 10% of one’s weekly mileage as speed work.
I ran some shorter races, leading to my first marathon in 1993. However, I didn’t have a solid base until 1996. By that time, my shorter race experiences included distances of one to twenty miles. So, in 1996, I knew how it felt to run a 10-mile race, a 10 km, and a 5 km when getting to the end of a marathon. Each distance has different efforts that can be used toward one’s goal.
8) Being young, healthy, and quick to recover will speed the journey. Finishing states with only a few marathons earlier in one’s plan will allow one to overcome health issues as one ages. My last state, North Dakota, only had four marathons, two in May and two in October. Missing one window because of health issues will require an additional 4 to 8 months of training.
When one is young, 12 or more marathons in one year may be doable. One should not assume that can done in their sixties.
7) One needs to keep good records. Marathon Guide (www.marathonguide.com) does have results from most marathons since 2000. The site is also an excellent place to find races listed by state. Fortunately, I don’t throw things out and still had results from states I finished in the 20th century.
Even with the online results, the site might get hacked or disappear. One’s best bet is to pull up a results list for a marathon they have finished and download the list to their computer, ensuring they do periodic offsite backups.
One should use the same name for all of their races. I always use Vic, though my legal name is Victor. Don’t use John at one race and then Jack at another. Even with the same date of birth, organizers can’t differentiate twins. Make it easy for the record keepers.
Athlinks is a database of race results. However, since a person can input their results, this site is no longer valid. Marathon Guide only pulls data from a race’s official results. If one is not on the race’s official results, they must contact the race to make the correction and ensure the change has been loaded into Marathon Guide.
As for results, when I started my journey in 1993, a marathon had to be advertised, have at least five starters and at least three finishers, and results needed to be published—current requirements: a marathon must have at least ten finishers. Of course, a marathon must be at least 26 miles and 376 yards. Races longer than this distance qualify as long as at least ten people finish the advertised distance. These requirements may become stricter. For a certified finish from the 50 States Marathon Club, check their website (www.50statesmarathonclub.com) for their current standards.
6) One needs the appropriate equipment to complete a race. Equipment includes shoes, clothing, and all the optional accessories. I advise “never to use equipment in a race that was not used in a long (20-mile) training run.” One does not want to be 2000 miles from home and have race-stopping blisters from a new pair of shoes. That will be a costly stupid tax requiring another 2,000-mile trip.
By the time one is running marathons, they should know their shoe requirements for pronation. Since companies update models frequently, one should break in new shoes in a long run before race day.
I’ve accumulated many pieces of clothing over the years. My GoreTex jacket is more than 25 years old. Though no longer stylish, it does its job in harsh conditions. Most tops of any layer may last for many years. One needs to learn what top works in predicted conditions.
Unfortunately, tights, compression shorts, and shorts will wear out within a few years. Elastic waistbands will deteriorate and lose their purpose.
One must know how to use different gloves, hats, and gaiters to match the conditions.
One will probably accumulate different running accessories, including watches, GPS, heart monitors, hydration packs and belts, and injury wraps, devices, and preventors.
5) One needs planning and travel skills to get to each of the 50 states. Running a marathon stresses one’s body. Travel can cause stress. One wants to minimize the travel stress to use that effort in the race.
Drive to as many races as possible. Driving allows one to take all the needed equipment without carrying it through airports.
One needs the skills to plan travel routes and time schedules, including airlines, rental cars, ground transportation, and hotels. Contingency planning and changing in mid-flight will overcome issues.
When flying, try to pack everything in two bags, one for the overhead compartment and a backpack for under the seat. Checked bags may not make connections or be loaded on the plane. Racing barefoot and naked will cause stress.
Nonstop flights have the best chance to get to a destination on time.
A day cushion reduces stress, arriving Thursday night for a Saturday race. The extra day may be required to pick up bib numbers before race day.
Knowing ground transportation in the race city will help reduce costs and stress. Public transportation options may save on taxi, rental car, and parking costs.
I use the same hotel chain. Using one chain gave me free nights. However, I did need to drive a little to get to an early morning race. For the average runner, races do not finish in time to meet hotel check-out times. One may need to check out before the race and sweat on the way home or spend the night after the race.
The most essential travel skill is the ability to read a map. I know it’s easy to follow a cell phone’s directions. I have experience with being misdirected. Of course, memorizing a race course map will reduce race stress,
4) One needs to be lucky. Races are canceled, some races have gone bankrupt, flights are canceled, alarm clocks fail, injury and sickness happen, weather conditions make finishing challenging, and that COVID thing. The best plans don’t always work. I’d rather be lucky than good. I was unlucky three times: one ice storm and two illnesses.
3) One has to have the desire to finish the goal. One race per month takes more than four years. To enjoy the circuit, four races per year will take 13 years. All 50 states can be accomplished in one year with the multiday series.
Without persistence, it is easy to become discouraged and distracted. Youth may help overcome nonproductive periods. One needs mental tenacity and focus to keep moving toward the finish line.
2) Traveling to and running 50 races requires free time, not to mention time for training. Each race may require four days away from work and family. One needs a good relationship with their employer to take the time off. If one is self-employed, they will have an easy discussion with their boss.
While self-employed from 2007 to 2020, I committed time daily to train. However, my weekend work hours reduced my races to one marathon yearly.
And the number one thing one needs) Money.
At $150 each, the entry fees for 50 marathons total $7500. $150 is the current average. My first Shamrock in 1994 was less than $20. Can we assume that an entry fee for a marathon in 2054 will be $1200?
However, that $150 may only be 10 to 20% of the cost to get to each race.
For most large city marathons, hotels close to the race are filled and may run up to $600 per night. I budgeted $150 per night for races in the past few years.
Booking flights and hotel rooms early will save one money. Currently, I only book refundable flights and search many websites to get the best deals—the same with hotel rooms where I could cancel up to 24 hours before arrival.
Being away from work for four days may reduce one’s compensation.
Finishing a marathon in each of the 50 states is not for the poor.
This is great! Thanks for sharing.