My 2018 goal was to finish my 50 State Endurance Challenge (a full or half marathon in each of the 50 states). At the start of the year I only had four states remaining on my to-run list - Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and New Mexico. I completed my challenge last September. In true funatical … Continue reading Where to Now?
Half Marathon
Got No Time
When is a race trip not fun? When you get to the airport and check your race results online and they don’t show you finishing the race. This happened to me in May when I went to Iowa to run the Des Moines Women’s Half Marathon. I had a few nerve-racking hours before I was … Continue reading Got No Time
To Tell The Truth
I recently celebrated a birthday, the kind where you move into a new decade. I wasn’t looking forward to getting older. I decided to do the only thing on my birthday that a funatical runner can do - run a half marathon. My birthday was on a Sunday so it was easy to find a … Continue reading To Tell The Truth
2017 – What a Year It Was
This year has been one with more adventure than I ever could have imagined. I have been walking around thinking about 2017 and everything that happened. Even though it was not all smooth sailing, overall 2017 was a very good year for me, one I will never forget. I may be the Funatical Runner but … Continue reading 2017 – What a Year It Was
Chickens and The Sea
My most recent race trip took me to Hawaii for the Kauai Half Marathon. I was never interested in visiting Hawaii. For someone who lives on the East Coast, Hawaii is a long trip - over 10 hours alone on airplanes, not my idea of a fun time. Then I saw the movie “The Descendants”. … Continue reading Chickens and The Sea
Moose and Mimosas
To date I have run a full or half marathon in 44 of the 50 states. My most recent race was the Her Tern Half Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. My goals when I boarded the plane to Anchorage were simple. I wanted to complete the half marathon so I could check off Alaska and to … Continue reading Moose and Mimosas
Running to Catch a Boat
I broke my big toe last July, one week before the Shipyard Brewing Old Port Half Marathon in Portland, Maine. I was disappointed to miss the race and vowed to run it this year. Last weekend I headed to Portland with expectations of running, eating lobster rolls, and seeing a moose. The scenery around Portland … Continue reading Running to Catch a Boat
Running, Raptors, and a Rodeo
Vacation Races is a terrific organization that puts on races near national parks. It is a wonderful way to combine running a race with a visit to a national park. In 2015 I ran their Rocky Mountain Half Marathon and in 2016 I ran their Zion Half Marathon. Both races were challenging but memorable. Last … Continue reading Running, Raptors, and a Rodeo
I Ran Far in Fargo
Recently while flying to a race, I thought about how silly this all seems - traveling to 50 states to run endurance events. Aren’t they all the same? How can any race be different? 26.2 or 13.1 miles is the same not matter where you run it, right? My most recent race in Fargo, North … Continue reading I Ran Far in Fargo
Running in The Land of Pre
When I picked out a race to run in Oregon, the choice for me was simple. I had to go to Tracktown, USA to run the Eugene Half Marathon, a race that ends on the iconic Hayward Field. This race was definitely one of the most enjoyable races I have run. Whether you come … Continue reading Running in The Land of Pre
