Run a race in every State

I am running the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco this year. I have been training with an organization called Team in Training, so I will be raising money for a good cause, as well as running a marathon. I am very happy to hear that they have flattened the course a bit this year. I don’t mind a hill here and there, but San Fran has some scary ones!

One of the 43things users suggested I run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth MN. I previously had run the Maui marathon as an individual goal, but I think I will just add it to this goal and use it for Hawaii. Any other suggestions for any state would be most welcome.

On the news, there was a man who ran his first marathon at the age of 56, since then he has become one of the few people to run a marathon in every state. I love to travel, but often make my destinations outside of the states. This last year in Australia I met some Australians who had been more places in the United States than I had been, and told me how amazing they all were. Between tonight’s little story, my love of running, and my shameful travel history in the 50 states, I think this would be a great longterm goal. Marathons are a great way to see local scenery and neighborhoods, meet people who live there and get great advice from the locals, and in general, a good reason to travel to another state. So far I have run one marathon, so I’ll start my list.

1. Portland Marathon, Oregon

I hope to get number two on there sometime this year. I guess I will look through the marathon list and choose the second destination, I think I’ll go for a state I have not been to yet.