Kicked off my last dozen (a baker’s dozen 13) in mid-September, start of my longest weekend stretch marathoning.  Beginning September 13^th, I’d run 11 consecutive weekends – the last 10, all Eastern time zone…whole lotta travel for a guy with a full-time job.

Overnight train to Omaha, then rental car’d 2 hours to Sioux Falls.  Pre-race day spent at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead – read the entire Little House series as a boy, what memories!  On the deserted state highway to De Smet, passed a field of corn where ‘Into the Wild’ was filmed.  my fave film — double WOW!  one week later – Holy Mountain Mama – marathon #38 in Morgantown WV would be my 50 State Hilliest marathon.  Rolling hills, pop ups, long steady grinders & steep mountain climbs…but all 26.2, some version of HILL.

Who gets excited ’bout Ohio?  That’d be everyone who wants to experience Old World Amish.  Race itself was hilly & the weather steady rain but…pre-race night at an Amish auction, unforgettable.  Horse & buggy, homespun clothes, pie.  Forever memory.

Shared the next four marathons with East Coast family & friends.  Raced ’round scenic Newfound Lake in Bristol NH, then shared post-race Italian with Stephen & Sheila.  Week following, marathoned downtown Hartford CT.  Weekend’d with family in Manchester, (literally) horsed around with CT bestie Dawn, then brunched by the (Long Island) Sound with friends Andrea, Betsey & Stephen.

Museums, 2 sports stadiums, best 50 State aquarium & the Inner Harbor highlighted my 42^nd marathon in Baltimore.  Post-marathoned in Martinsburg WV, sharing dinner & laughs with my Aunt Joyce, cousins Regina & Kenny & their spouses.  LOVE LOVE family!

Kicked off Halloween week spooking on Cape Cod.  Creepiest marathon of my 50 – pre-race accommodations in the Lizzie Borden House.  Half-slept the night in the actual room where Lizzie axed her step-mom.  What was I thinking?!!

Foot raced the New York City Marathon – my only WORLD MAJOR – on November 1^st.  Ran all 5 city boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx & Manhattan.  Finish Line: Central Park.  Pre-race? swanky Manhattan hotel, pricey restaurant eats & a Broadway show.  Go BIG or go home – no regrets life 🙂   Although not a state, how could I run all 50 yet miss our nation’s Capitol?  Ran marathon #45 in Washington DC.  Urban-trail trek along the C&O Canal; 4 loops on a flat course, 15 minutes from the White House.

6 days later, travelled to NASCAR-friendly Charlotte, North Carolina.  Warm day, lotta hills, medic tent ending – wrapped/iced my Achilles before the flight home.  In-n-out in 25 hours – shortest time away of my 50.  Ended my 11 week marathon stretch in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia.  2 things on my must-do: our nation’s cracked Liberty Bell & Rocky (statue).  Crazy silly, yes – but it’s a movie powerhouse & its theme song has rocked my playlist since Alaska.

Finished 2015 in Memphis.  Chose St Jude’s 6 months before registration opened – 100% charity run, all funds support childhood cancer. Mile 18 to Finish, paced a guy running his first marathon.  Paid it forward, super rewarding.  Pre-race: Elvis’ Graceland.

Started 2016 on HAWAII – our island state, far far away in the vast Pacific.  Most exotic of my 50; race started at 5am, but finished Hawaii’s ‘coldest’ marathon at a humid 82 degrees (in January).  5 full days from home – snorkeled nearby Molokini, feasted a Hawaiian luau, crater hiked Haleakalā, dined aside the mighty waves of Pāʻia.

Thankful I’ve blogged my 50 State experience.  Such an amazing, diverse nation we share.  Super proud to be an American!