For most runners, completing your first marathon usually concludes in one of two ways. One way is to proclaim that you will never do another one and you are thankful for just finishing. The other way is to declare that the experience was worth all of the effort and immediately start flipping through the pages of the latest marathon guide for your next event. If you have completed a marathon then you can probably relate to one of these two feelings and maybe even both.
My first marathon experience was so positive I signed up for my second marathon within a week of completing my first one. I thought that the event was the greatest single athletic accomplishment of my life and I wanted to live it again and better my time. My father, on the other hand, experienced the former conclusion and said, "never again". While being quite proud of his accomplishment, he kept to his word and to this day has not run another one since his first and only marathon in 1983.
Most people choose a local marathon as their first event. There are so many things that can go wrong while training for your first marathon that keeping the location of the event in your neighborhood eliminates some of the stress. Other people go 'back home' to run their first marathon like I did (New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon, January 1999) to be in familiar territory and amongst family. Finally others may pick one of the bigger marathons where there is plenty of crowd support. No matter where your first marathon ends up being, if your experience is motivating enough to sign up for a second one, then which one do you choose?
Some people choose to rerun their first one and improve on their time. My uncle enjoyed his first marathon so much that all seven of his marathon runs were on the same course; the New Orleans Marathon. Then there are others that look to a new venue; another city or even another state or maybe even all 50 states. What! Are you crazy? All 50 states! I just mentioned 'another' state.
But wait! It is true. There is the '50 & DC Marathon Group USA' organization. This club consists of runners that have run at least one marathon in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC).Wally Herman of Ontario, Canada is documented as the first to complete this feat. Wally completed his 51st state on December 11, 1983. But Wally wasn't satisfied with just 51 marathons. Wally has run a total of 506 marathons to date which includes 81 countries and seven continents. Wally must be 'out there' you say. Well Wally is not alone. Currently the club's web site (http://home.flash.net/~race26/50dc/index.html) lists 73 people who have completed this feat. So who what type of person would try such a feat? How long does it take to do this? I did not have to go far to get answers to these questions. Our very own club, the Space Coast Runners, has members who are trying to gain membership into this elite club. Yeppur. Right here in Brevard County. So who are they, you ask. You don't have to look further that our own club president, Marty Winkel, for starters.
Marty completed his first marathon in 1982 and currently runs four to five marathons per year. To date, Marty has completed 39 marathons in 29 different states. So how did you get hooked on this?, I asked. "I realized after the North Carolina [fourth state] marathon and while I was planning for a marathon in Pennsylvania that I should try to complete one in every state. Someone put the 50 states out there for a reason and that is to run a marathon in each one.", Marty answered. What is the hardest part of trying to run a marathon in all 50 states and DC? "Recovery, resting and the finances to do it.", Marty replied. Which one has been the most memorable? "Everyone is memorable in it's unique way. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite", said Marty. He was able to quickly rattle off all 29 states when I asked and has scheduled his next marathons to be St. Louis (Feb. '01), South Dakota (April '01), Montana (June '01), Louisville, KY (Oct. '01) and Huntsville, AL (Dec. 01) . When will you complete your last marathon and which one will it be? "The Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans in February of 2005", Marty added. Marty is looking forward to partying on Bourbon Street after he completes all 50 states and DC.
SCR club member, Bob Panzak, did not run his first marathon until June of 1997. Marty Winkel was running in the Hoosier Marathon in Indiana and was heading up to Wrigley Field to watch a Cubs game and invited Bob to go along. After an abbreviated training program, Bob finished the race but immediately swore that he "would never do another one". Bob couldn't move after the event and even had to ask Marty to tie his shoes for him. Back in the car and heading to Chicago, Marty started talking about his next marathon and Bob started to become interested. "I know I can beat my time in Indiana", Bob proclaimed to Marty. It did not take long for Bob to sign up for his second marathon and set his sights on doing all 50 states and DC. Currently Bob runs four to five marathons per year and has completed a marathon in 17 different states. Bob's next marathons include Shamrock (March '01), Coeur d'Alene (May '01) and Montana (June '01).
Linda Thompson, SCR Secretary and Race Director of the Tooth Trot 5k and the Pumpkins in the Park 5k, is also a working hard toward gaining membership into this elite club. Linda completed her first marathon in November of 1995; the Space Coast Marathon. It wasn't until after Linda repeated Minnesota in June of 1998 and with a little influencing from Marty Winkel that she set her sights on completing the 50 states and DC.
Linda has completed five marathons in the last 12 months and a total of 14 marathons in 12 different states. What is the hardest part of doing five marathons in a year?, I asked. "You have to give up the speed aspect. You have to run them slower to complete that many in a year", Linda responded. Currently Linda's PR is a 3:51:00 in Austin, TX.
Linda's upcoming marathons include Myrtle Beach (Feb. '01), South Dakota (Apr. '01), Montana (June '01), and Chicago(Oct. '01). With 39 more states to go, Linda plans to complete this task within 10 more years. I asked Linda about her most memorable marathon and she said that the most memorable marathons are the ones where a group of runners all go together to run it and cheer each other on. Linda also encouraged all SCR members to join her family and other SCR members on this year's annual Marathon Trip to Helena, Montana.
SCR club members, Dick and Marlene White are also working their way toward completing all 50 states and DC with each having completed marathons in 10 different states. Their inspiration came while running in the 100th Boston Marathon. "I think that we will try to run Hawaii as our 51st marathon", Dick added. Currently Dick and Marlene are running about two marathons per year. Dick also talked very highly of the Big Sur Marathon in California and encourages all SCR members to complete that one. The Whites plan to run the Jersey Shore, NJ marathon in April '01 and two additional marathons in the fall of '01.
SCR club member, Mary Ramba has run eight marathons in four different states as she looks toward the goal of running a marathon in all 50 states and DC. Mary ran her first marathon, the Space Coast Marathon, in November of 1997. "I like the marathon distance", Mary added. "I am doing about four a year right now and view this as a long term goal over many, many years." Mary's four states include Mass. (Boston), New York, DC (Marine Corps), and Florida (Disney, Tampa and Space Coast). Next on the slate for Mary are Montana (June '01) and Cleveland ('01).
Running and racing are about setting goals, achieving milestones and delayed gratification. Besides claiming an award or setting a PR, little compares in the racing arena to crossing the finish line of a marathon or a 100 mile race for the Matt Mahoneys out there. In the last couple of miles you can't help but think back to all of the training miles that it took to get there. Non-runners are in awe of those of us that have completed a marathon. I believe that most runners are in awe of those trying to complete one in the 50 states and DC.
Our own SCR members have a very aggressive set of marathon goals and we will make it a point to check back on their progress. If you are looking for company on an out of town marathon trip just give Marty, Bob, Linda, Mary or Dick and Marlene a ring. I am sure that one of them will be glad to have company on one of their upcoming marathon trips.
As for this author, I have just completed my fourth marathon in Tucson, AZ in Dec. 2000. So that takes care of Louisiana, DC, Idaho and Arizona. Let's see ... 51 - 4 = 47. Two marathons per year means that I should complete my 51st marathon by spring of 2024 as a young man of 66. To quote John "The Penguin" Bingham, "The miracle isn't that I finished . . . The miracle is that I had the courage to start". Best of luck marathoners!!
If you are trying to run all 50 states and DC, drop Ken an email at runnerkenwinn@hotmail.com. He will provide the info to track your completed marathons on the SCR webpage.