Not that I'm quite ready to be taken seriously yet, if ever, about finishing a marathon in every state (or about anything), but the current count of remaining states is at 18. That number actually sounds possible. Forget that I'm 57 and that I'm only knocking them down about 3-4 a year if I'm lucky. It is possible!!!
So what states are left, and what races are penciled in because hey, you know I got this whole thing mapped out, no matter what I tell you to the contrary...
1. West Virginia: I'm registered for the Freedom's Run this October. It's kind of a cheat, because although it starts in West Virginia, most of the course is in Maryland, runs through 4 National Parks including the Antietam Battlefields, and offers a very scenic and unique experience. It even includes a spiral staircase, which is a first! I'm very excited about this one! And yes, it does count as West Virginia officially!
2. Georgia: I'd only consider a Georgia marathon in Savannah, since I've always wanted to travel there. Rock and Roll has a mega race there, but I am planning on running a much smaller marathon on Skidaway Island, which is about 25 miles outside of town, run entirely in a gated community on the island, but promises to be scenic and serene, with only about 300 marathoners. This sounds more appealing to me. I can save downtown Savannah sightseeing for post race.
3. Montana: At breakfast one morning George pulled up my 50 state quest map, pointed to the big blank space in the center of the United States and asked if there was a marathon in this space that could coincide with a camping trip. Well yes, in fact, Missoula Montana, right outside of Glacier National Park. I swear he got all misty eyed. I think the camping will be more of a challenge than the marathon, but hey, one needs to take opportunities to grow as they present themselves.
4. New Hampshire: There's only one clear choice for me here and that's the Clarence DeMar marathon, a point to point race ending in Keene, New Hampshire. It's a beautiful course and I've wanted to run it for a long time.
5. Indiana: When I visited Indianapolis last year I was quite impressed with the urban vibe of the town, so I'm very excited about running the Indianapolis Monumental marathon. There are few urban marathons that appeal to me, so I'll take it.
6. Vermont: The Vermont marathon in Burlington is the obvious choice. There are other scenic marathon choices, but the state of Vermont is quite hilly! This race is held on Memorial week-end and is a lot of fun.
7. Michigan: They are SO MANY choices in Michigan! My first choice is a marathon in Charlevoix, in the upper peninsula. There are two marathons in Chalevoix; one is an out and back, and the other one starts in Charlevoix, but runs along Lake Michigan and finishes in Harbor Springs. I prefer to run the latter, which is called the Top of Michigan marathon. This race is very close to Mackinaw Island, which I would love to visit post-race, which means this will be a pretty big trip for us.
8. Kansas: I've always wanted to do a fairly small low key marathon called the Prairie Fire marathon in Wichita. I once asked Dane Rauschenburg, author of "See Dane Run" which marathon was his favorite and oddly enough he said this one. I have a certain Kansas friend who may stray me to run another one instead, but for now I have this race penciled in.
9. Mississippi: After Jackson's Mississippi Blues marathon got cancelled due to an ice storm I vowed to return, but have been considering other options, such as the Magnolia marathon in Meridian or the Mississippi Gulf Coast marathon. All of them are decent marathons and a short trip away.
10. Idaho: After the Priest Lake fail (I had a broken foot and Jamie dropped out due to making a wrong turn and running 7 extra miles) we vowed to return, but now I'm not so sure. It's a trail race, which makes me wince when I think about how my foot snapped like a twig off that rock on the dirt path at the lake. I think I'll stick to friendly asphalt. Believe it or not Idaho doesn't have many good choices! Even Boise's marathon gets bad reviews. There's a marathon in Mesa Falls, which is pretty close to Yellowstone, which would make for yet another fun, but big trip.
11. Maine: There are a lot of beautiful marathons in Maine, most of which are again really hard to get to and would end up being yet another big trip, which is great, but we can really only do one big trip a year, so I'm thinking I may run the Portland Maine marathon. It's easy to get to, it's pretty, and close to Kennebunkport as well. Of course my top choice is the Mount Desert Island marathon much further north in Bar Harbor, and another top choice is the Bay of Fundy marathon, which is even further north! Time will tell which one, if any, I'll end up running.
12. Kentucky: Most people choose the Kentucky Derby marathon, since it's pretty interesting, as the runners get to run past the horse track, but another Kentucky marathon that appeals to me more is the Horse Capital marathon in Lexington, which goes by 40 horse farms along Kentucky country side.
13. Wyoming: This is a hard one. Wyoming means elevation, which I don't handle well. There is a very small race called Sundance to Spearfish, which is a downhill course, most of which is in South Dakota. They only allow 50 people a year to run it, so getting in may prove difficult. If I can't get in I'll have to come up with a back up plan.
14. South Dakota: I'm still kicking myself for dropping out of the Mt. Rushmore marathon several years ago (not really but hey here I am talking about South Dakota). I'm thinking about the Brookings marathon. Previously I wanted to run the Ladies Spearfish marathon, but if I do the Sundance marathon (for Wyoming) I will be covering a lot of that terrain already. Brookings is on South Dakota's eastern border, offering a completely different area of the United States to explore. The race gets good reviews, and has been around since 1970!
Then there are three states that don't have any marathons that appeal to me in any way. That's why they will be saved for last (before Hawaii, the grand finale):
15. Alaska: ALASKA! I'm scared of all things bear. And other wildlife. And wilderness. The obvious choice is Anchorage, but just this past year some marathoners had an encounter with a bear cub on the course! It's a heck of a long way to travel for someone who is not all that excited about being there, so this will be one of the last marathons I do for sure.
16. New Mexico: Altitude, desert, heat, sand...still looking for a race that appeals to me on some level and not finding it. There was some hope with a race in Carlsbad, the lowest point in New Mexico, but it was cancelled for 2018, so not sure of its survival.
17. Nebraska: HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE? I have zero point zero desire to travel to Nebraska, because everybody who's from there says that movie was spot on. There is a possibility with the Monument marathon in Platte Valley. Although the terrain looks pretty brutal their slogan is "Nebraska like you've never seen it".
If I manage to make it this far...not that I'm saving the best for last. Running a marathon in Hawaii's tropical weather will be pure torture, but what better place to celebrate? If Jamie and I can finish this out together then it will be extra special...
18: Hawaii: The chosen 50th state marathon will be the Big Island marathon. Earliest estimate is 2025! Well let's just see...
