My father and I are in the process of trying to finish a marathon in all 50 states. I live in Littleton and he lives in Ohio, so it is a good excuse to meet and do something together. Hopefully through this website, I can convey my feelings about each marathon and the experiences that I had. This will then help you decide if any of these marathons are for you. Whether you like small marathons with less than 100 finishers or super sized events like Chicago, I will be running them all. Check back for updates and to follow our journey.

Updated 6/25/2007

Upcoming Schedule
2/17/2007 - Red Hot 50K+, Moab, UT
3/4/2007 - Little Rock Marathon, Little Rock, AK (New State - 35)
10/14/2007 - Denver Marathon, Denver, CO
3/1/2008 - Red Rock Marathon, Las Vegas, NV (New State - 36)

Photo: 2007 Red Hot 50K+, Moab, UT

53. Little Rock Marathon (Little Rock, AK)
35th State
3/4/2007
13th in age group
3:47:25
The Little Rock Marathon is a tour of the capital city of Arkansas, a small state with only 2.5 million people. The race organization was top notch with water stops every two miles and volunteers adding just the perfect touch of southern hospitality. The city shows up to support the race by lining the streets with crowds of spectators. The Little Rock Marathon markets itself as providing the largest finisher's medal in the world, and they aren't kidding. It is by far the biggest medal you will ever see and will likely make your neck hurt if you try to wear it after the race. Participants at this year's race received two shirts: a t-shirt with their registration and a micro-fiber finisher's shirt afterwards. Runners also enjoyed a post-race party when they crossed the finish line. For an extra fee, runners could purchase a pass to the Perks Tent at the finish line. The tent offered free pizza and beer, shorter bathroom lines, pre and post race massages, and a private pre-race gear check. The course featured many hills between miles 10 through 18. A lot of runners were not prepared for them, as evident by race splits.

52. Red Hot 50K+ (Moab, UT)
2/17/2007
36th Place
6:18:17
We went out to Moab to get away from the winter of Denver (all the snow). I wasn't really in shape to go 34 miles, but I decided to do it anyway. The first half of the race was pretty easy with a long climb leading up to the second aid station and a long donhill leading to the third aid station. Then we stated the steep and long climb up to the fourth aid station. I had to walk a lot of this, and it took its toll. The section from to the fifth aid station was all on the slickrock above Moab and it was really tough on my legs. This made the last six miles to the finish really hard for me. It ended up as my longest run both distance and time wise.

51. OBX Marathon (Outer Banks, NC)
34th State
11/12/2006
293rd Place
3:52:34
This was the second marathon in my first ever weekend double, so I had no idea what to expect from my legs. Fortanitly, they felt OK and I was actually able to run this one a few seconds faster! As for the race itself, it was great. Being the first year, I expected there to be a few hiccups, but there was only one that I could see (not enough Port-A-Johns at the start). Other then the 90 minute rain shower half way in, the weather was perfect. The course started in Kitty Hawk and ran south through the Outer Banks. Passing through various neighborhoods and along the water was really neat. We ran past the Wright Brothers National Historic Site. We also had a short 2 mile section on a rolling dirt road followed by a mile long stretch on a single track trail. This was by far the best part of the course (well, I am a trail runner). The worst part of the course was miles 19-23 when we ran along the main drag and over the bridge. At least we had a whole lane to ourselves! I would also highly recomend this event to anyone looking for a fast race at sea level!

Photo: 2005 Casper Marathon

50. SunTrust Richmond Marathon (Richmond, VA)
33rd State
11/11/2006
628th Place
3:53:06
The Richmond Marathon was the first in my first ever weekend double. Needless to say, I didn't know what to expect from this so I took the first marathon very easy. The good thing was that it gave me longer to enjoy the race. This year, the tempereatures were record highs. There isn't anything that a runner can do about that, but the race can. They had numerous water stops in the second half of the race (the time when the temperature was getting higher). They also had these great party zones along the ocurse where it felt like the Tour de France as there was only a small tunnel to run through! I enjoyed the first half of the course better than the second half, becasue it was this portion where you got to see all the colors of the changing leaves and also to run by river. Touted as "The Friendliest Marathon," this race definitly lives up to that billing.

49. Denver Marathon (Denver, CO)
10/15/2006
171st Place
3:39:00
The New Denver Marathon was hyped throughout the year as a "World Class Event." I decided to run it becasue it was the first one and I wanted to start a streak in my home town marathon. The race did not let me down at all. Maybe one of the best I have done, the course was great (even a bit harder than expected) and the crowds were awesome, especially between City Park and Cheesman Park! My time was not that good because I was still sore and tired from the Mt. Rushmore Marathon the week before. But, I was still able to get through it.

48. Mt. Rushmore Marathon (Hill City, SD)
32nd State
10/8/2006
16th Place
3:34:11
The Mt. Rushmore Marathon has been running for 28 years, but had another face lift this year with a new course. Last year, the course ran from Crazy Horse Monument to Mt. Rushmore. This year, the course ran from Mt. Rushmore to Hill City. There was also the Crazy Horse Marathon that started at Crazy Horse, met up with the Mt. Rushmore Marathon at 10 miles and then finished together. My dad and I entered the Mt. Rushmore Marathon becasue we didn't have South Dakota in our quest for 50 states. So, this was intended to be a long run for me. What it turned into was a wonderful strength building workout. This was becasue of all the hills on the hills on the course. The first 10 miles were very hilly, with mile long uphills and downhills along the way (and some of them were really steep). Then we ran into Hill City on the Mickelson Trail (a 105 mile long trail similar to the Highline Canal). Just after the half way point in downtown Hill City, we started a six mile, 600 foot climb to the 19 mile mark. This was when it started to get really hard. That was followed by a run abck into Hill City on the Mickelson Trail. This downhill section was beautiful, but my legs were so tired from all the hills that i couldn't get it going so I just managed to finish without walking. There wasn't any food at the finish, which was a problem, but I was able to get food back at the hotel room. Overall, the course was beautiful, but it was the hardest raod course I have run.

47. American Discovery Trail Marathon (Colorado Springs, CO)
9/4/2006
10th Place
3:08:44
The ADT Marathon starts at America the Beautiful Park, near downtown Colorado Springs at an elevation of 5,980'. This entire race is run on the ADT, half of which is paved and the other half is dirt. Luckily, I knew they course even though I had never run it before. I also got some good advice from last year's winner (who defended, running 6 minutes faster in 3:16) Tania Pacev. She told me to take it easy until 18 miles. That sounded easy enough, so I decided to take her advice. It seemed like I ended up having three gears. The first low gear I used during the first mile (run in 8:02). The next cruising gear I used from miles 2-16 (I didn't wait until 18). During this stretch, I hit all most all the miles between 7:15 and 7:30 (with one in 7:06). I hit the halfway mark in 1:37:00, which was right where I wanted to be. No, there is one thing that I must say about this stretch. The course goes south on the ADT for 2 miles to a turnaround. This stretch is all downhill, losing 100 feet in elevation. At this turnaround, you then run north on the ADT until the 15.5 mile marker. This entire stretch is gradually uphill to the 14 mile marker. You gain all most 500 feet and then it gets fun. From 14 to 17, the course is on the New Santa Fe Trail, which is very rolling, with some short, steep ups and downs that finally go away between the 17 and 18 mile marker. This is why Tania told me to wait until 18 miles before pushing. I didn't wait as I started to push at the turnaround, switching into my third gear, where I ran from miles 16-20. Since the majority of this was back down the hill, I could really get going (since I had held back on the climb to this point). I ran the last 10 miles between 6:40 and 7:00 pace, running it in 68:20. I finished maintaining that pace (6:51 last mile) in 3:08:44. I was really excited about this effort because I have not felt that good in a marathon in a long time. Being able to push for the last 10 miles was really good. One thing that helped was we got to run the last 6 miles with the back end of the half marathon (it started an hour later and ran out and back going north) so we could pass people. All in all this was a great race. The miles seemed in the right place, the course was half dirt, I got a 30 minute massage at the finish as well as pizza and beer (always love that). The only bad thing that happened to me was that the port- a-johns at mile 7 and mile 11 were still locked so I could use them!

46. Moab Marathon, Moab, UT
31st State
4/1/2006
? Place
3:50:45
The Moab Marathon runs from Dead Horse State Park at an elevation on 5950 feet and finishes outside Moab at an elevation of 4400 feet. This sounds like it should be a fast marathon. However, the first 8 miles climb to 6200 feet and there is a 8% grade downhill from miles 18-20 that tear your quads to pieces. However, the course is beautiful! There are great views of the La Sal Mountians the entire trip. I went into the race planning to run with my dad, but chose to run on my own. I had been having some issues with a new onset of asthma, so I was out of shape. Needless to say, I took it easy and had no problems with my breathing! But, my quads didn't like the downhill from 18-20 and miles 22 to the end were very painful. All in all, this was a very good marathon and I would recomened it to anyone who is a good downhill runner looking for beautiful race.

45. Maui Marathon, Kaanapali, HI
30th State
9/18/2005
284th Place
4:14:23
The Maui Marathon is probably one of the most beautiful marathons I have ever done! That being said, the race was not that great for me. It started at 5:30 AM on the north side of the island. In order to get there for the start, we had to be up at 3:00 to catch a bus. I hate marathons that start that early! However, this was a necessity. When I walked outside at 3:30 AM and felt the heat and humidty, I knew then and there I was in trouble. The first 8 miles or so are run across the valley between the two mountains. The rest is run along the ocean. It is not a flat marathon as the first 7 miles are uphill and then there are some rolling hills through the halfway point. By the time I reached this point, I was feeling lousy. I planned on runnign about 3:30 becasue I knew that my legs were still tired form running Pikes Peak. However, my hamstring also started to flare up and forced me to walk a lot of the second half. If you like the ocean and heat, this race is for you. If you don't, stay away. It is very well organized and the volunteers are outstanding. There were also 800 runners from Japan which gave the race an international flavor!

44. Pikes Peak Marathon, Manitou Springs, CO
8/21/2005
99th Place
5:35:42
This was the 50th year of the PP Marathon and even though I said I would never do it, I decided to do it anyway, just to say I had. I would have to say this is the hardest marathon I have ever done. You start in Manitou Springs at an elevation of 6400' and run straight up PP to 14100' (you don't go quite to the summit) before turning and coming back down. I thought it would be easier than the Leadville Trail Marathon because you got all of the climbing over with first. Unfortunately, the climbing is not the hard part. I felt fine going up the mountain and actually was only 7 minutes shy of where I wanted to be (there was snow and ice and a lot of water and mud in the top 2 miles, so that slowed me down). It is the downhill that really did me in. I fell above timberline and that made me a bit timid. Also, the fact that you are trying to avoid all of the people still coming up makes it really difficult. They are supposed to get out of the way, but I think I ran into 15 or so people and I about knocked a woman completely off the mountain! I think all of the breaking I was doing to prevent falling again and avoiding people is what did me in. Also, the top 2 miles on the way down were really treacherous from the previous days storm that left 6' of hail on the summit. By the time I got to Barr Camp (half way), my quads were shot. I had to do a lot of walking on the downhill after Barr Camp because I didn't think my legs would hold me up! I was afraid that if I ran and strided out a bit, my quads would give out and I would fall. The last mile was the worst (it is the steepest and it is paved), but I forced myself to run it, even with baby strides! All in all I am happy that I finished. I am also proud that I gave it everything I had and the mountain won! Sometimes that is just the way it goes. Look at Matt Carpenter last year at Leadville and then this year (can you believe it - 15:42! That is amazing!). Maybe if I do it again (which I won't) I will do a lot more downhill training.

43. Leadville Trail Marathon, Leadville, CO
7/2/2005
15th Place
4:42:45
Leadville is a funny place. Well, maybe that is just the way it seems. At 10,200' above sea level, the thin air makes everything seem giddy. This town was once one of the richest towns in America thanks to the boom in the mining industry. When that dried up, most of the people left. However, some people stayed around and tried to continue living. But, the town was slowly dying away and something needed to be done to draw people back to the highest incorporated town in America. Thus the Leadville Trail 100 was born. Sprouting from that seed are 2 other running races (a marathon and 10K), two bike races (a 50M and a 100M) and a weekend trail running camp. Most of the country knows about the Leadville Trail 100, but not too many know about the other events. So, I decided to tackle the Leadville Trail Marathon for a small taste of what Leadville has to offer. The only description of the course given on the website is as follows: "26.2 miles of breathtaking, Leadville Rocky Mountain trails, summiting notorious 13,188 ft. Mosquito Pass. Seven well-supplied aid stations." That leaves much to the imagination. I expected to run a gradual climb up Mosquito Pass (about 3000' gain) and then an easy return home. This, however was not the case. With over 6000' of climbing and descending, all at above 10,000', this race is not to be taken lightly. However, if you want to run in some of the most spectacular scenery around and don't care how long it takes to finish, then this is your race. The course is 90% jeep mining roads (which can be rocky and very steep) and 10% single track. The volunteers at the aid stations are tremendous. And, these are not your typical aid stations. Remember, this is the crew of the Leadville 100, so expect some good grub at the aid stations. All in all, this was one of the most enjoyable marathons I have ever run (at 4:42, I had a long time to enjoy it). And that is not the thin air talking either!

42. Casper Marathon, Casper, WY
6/5/2005
2nd Place
3:07:41
This race is slowly becoming my favorite marathon. This was the third year for the event and my third finish. Each year, the course has been a little different becasue they keep adding new things to Caspoer that they want to show off. THis year, we only did one loop around th Event's Center at the start and added a loop around a new golf course at the end. I enjoyed this loop around the golf course a lot (except for the wind this year). I also believe that this change makes it a faster course. The schwag that is given as awards has also improved. The overall winners walked away with a Casper Marathon Bag, a Pint Glass, a sweatshirt and $100!. I got the bag and glass and was stocked!

41. Shiprock Marathon, Shiprock, NM
29th State
4/30/2005
4th Place
3:24:24
This marathon is run in the Four Corners region of New Mexico, right in the heart of the Navajo Nation. The course profile on the internet makes it look like the course is all downhill, but it is not. There are a lot of long uphills along the route. They are not steep, but they last for two miles. I didn't have a very good day, so the fact that I could see for five miles did not help. That being said, the support for the race was awesome! They had about 200 volunteers at 12 aid stations and the finish line. The first 20 miles were run on a closed road, so the only traffic was from the volunteers. The awards were hand made pottery and plates.

Photo: Running the Freescale marathon in Austin, TX. Photo by Action Sports International

40. Freescale Marathon, Austin, TX
28th State
2/12/2005
105th Place
2:59:20
I really didn't expect this event to be as good as it was. I thought Austin was flat, but for some strange reason, the marathon is downhill! There are a lot of people in the begining because the half marathon starts with the marathon and runs the first half of the course. After the half marathoners cut off, the course gets a bit harder with some rolling hills. I seemed to do even better on this section as I ran the second half faster then the first.I will have to warn you, close you ears and eyes at 20 miles. There is a bridge over the river at this point that would take you straight to the finish and if you are feeling bad, this is the place to drop out. The post race party was really good with live music and free food (a lot of begals) and beer. RunTex running store is right at the finsih line also, so you can shop while you wait for others to finish. This is a very good marathon if you are looking for a fast race in the winter and don't want to go to Vegas or Arizona.

39. Chicago Marathon, Chicago, IL
10/10/2004
2247th Place
3:19:52
I went back to Chicago to try and run under 2:40. I thought I could since it is a "fast course." I have learned that this is not always the case. For me, I run better on courses that are rolling, Like the marathon in Cincinnati. Still a great race with a great expo and so much to do. It is rather expensive though.

38. Mesa Falls Marathon, Ashton, ID
27th State
8/28/2004
2nd Place
3:00:44
What a beautiful small marathon. With only 100 or so in the marathon, be ready to run alone. The first 20 miles is mostly downhill with great views of the Grand Tetons. The first 7 miles is on dirt roads and miles 13-15 or on a trail, so this is very forgiving to your legs if you are not used to running downhill. The pre-race dinner is small, but the food is good. There is not a lot at the post race event excet for the awards. There is not a whole lot in Ashton, so don't plan on doing anything there. After the race, drive back to Jackson, WY and stay a few days.

37. Casper Marathon, Casper, WY
6/6/2004
4th Place
3:14:48
I seem to like the small marathons a lot so I went back to this one becasue it is one of the best small marathons I have done. This was the second year for the event and the course was just a little different. I liked it because you went farther out on the path and didn't have to come back as far. Still all of the good stuff at the end and still a lot of it at 5 hours.

36. Old Town Marathon, Ft. Collins, CO
26th State
5/9/2004
22nd Place
3:11:52
THis is a beautiful corse for the first 15 miles. Coming down out of the canyon can be very fst, but don't get carried away becasue you will pay for it over the last 10 miles. The year I did it, it was very hot (70 degrees), but at least you didn't feel it until you got out of the canyon. For Colorado marathons, this is the fastest. It drops 1000 feet, which helps ease the decreased oxygen factor a bit for those coming up to run this event. The expo is really small, but the post race area is awesome. It finishes in Old Town Ft. Collins, so you can even go shopping and get some really good food afterwards if you want. They didn't give medals the year I did it, but they did give you coold Pint Glasses and Hot Plates.

35. London Marathon, London, UK
4/18/2004
931st place
2:57:44
Best marathon I have done to date! With 50,000 people, you wouldn't expect anything different! The crowds along the entire race course rival Boston in loudness. The weather this time of year in the UK is usually cool with mist or rain. It did both when I ran. When I did NYC, I ran the same time and was 500th place. If you want to run fast and have people around, definitly do London. The post race area was not too good, but there are a lot of Pubs close by to refuel in. The expo was top notch, except that you have to take the train to get there. The people in the UK (and Europe for that matter) are different about running. They all take it serious. They may be doing it for a charity, but this is their sport and they will continue on in it after the event. I was in the first coral, right behind the elites. Usually when the rope goes done, here is pushing and shoving to get to the front. Not the case here. I could have sat down on the gound and done hamstring stretches 30 seconds before the gun. They all knew that it didn't matter because the race is 26 miles and they were sure to make it up somewhere. I would definitly do this event again and I highly recomend it to everyone!

34. Eisenhower Marathon, Abilene, KS
25th State
3/27/2004
16th Place
3:32:35
They say the course is flat, but it is rolling. It is out and back in rural Kansas, so if it is windy, be ready. The year I did it there was 25 MPH winds and raina and hail. But, you can't control the weather. The race it self is really good. The only crowds are the volunteers at the aid stations, but they are awesome (especially sinec you can see them from a mile away)! There is no expo but the post race party is really good. My dad ran over 5 hours and there was still a lot of food and beer waiting. The awards are done at the Eisenhower Center, so you can learn a little but of history while you are there. There are a lot of nice old homes in Abilene, but you don't go by them in the race, so drive slowly though town afterwards to make sure you see them.

33. Disney World Marathon, Orlando, FL
24th State
1/11/2004
60th Place
3:04:12
"It's a small world after all," is not all it is craked up to be. Yes, you run through all of the parks. But, that is only about 6-7 miles of the course. The rest is on access roads and streets between the parks. There are no crowds. The expo is pretty good, but if you don't have a car, you need to take a bus to get there. However, this is Disney World and if you are not looking to race, the event is nice. It starts really early, so you can still get in a theme park in the afternoon. The weather is really good (for us that live up high or up north, or both) so that is a nice break from winter. I would recommend this event if you are looking to get a good run in while on a family vacation. And, the medal is really awesome!

32. Twin Cities Marathon, St. Paul, MN
23rd State
10/5/2003
308th Place
3:09:55
This was another marathon that I was trying to race. However, I think I had done in my legs over the summer with too much runnign and by 17 miles, I was done. However, I was not coming all the way to Minnesota to drop out, so I shuffled to the finish. The event it self is awesome! Great expo, great post race area, great course. It is just spectacular for an urban event. They mean it when they say the most beautiful urban marathon in the world. Running around the lakes in the first half and then through the high dollar neighborhoods at the end is just awesome. Be warned though, the last 10K is slightly uphill and if you are feeling bad, it is a mountain!

31. Golden Gate Headlands 50K, Sausalito, CA
8/23/2003
17th Place
4:28:50
This was my first 50K and first ultramarathon - man did I pick a hard one. with 7500' of climbing in 31.1 miles, this is not a cake walk. However, it was the USATF 50K National Trail Championships and I felt like I could compete. And I did, until I fell on the steps on the Dipsea Trail and lost all instinct for downhill running. I think if I hadn't have fallen I would have probably run around 4:10 and finished in the top 10. Such is life, maybe next time. This is very very well run low key race (as are most trail races and ultras). It is run in the Golden Gate Headlands National Park in Marin County. The views are spectacular and the scenery right against you is awesome! What makes this race so difficult is that half of the climbing and descending is in the last 1/4 of the race. If you have gone out too hard, you are doomed. The post race activities are great and you can hit the beach and ocean for a cool off while still listening to the PA announce the finishers as the come in.

Photo: Here I am leading my pace team at the Columbus Marathon.

30. University of Okoboji Marahton, Okoboji, IA
22nd State
7/19/2003
2nd Place
3:06:50
Hot and Humid! I also ran of course and ran 27 miles or so. Still finished 2nd overall. The course is OK with rolling hills and a lot of good views of the lake. Not much else to do up there unless you enjoy boating and fishing. There is a triathlon that goes on at the same time, so beprepaired to have a bunch of bikes go zipping by you.

29. Casper Marathon, Casper, WY
21st State
6/1/2003
1st Place
2:54:07
This was a first year event and for a small marathon, it was run flawlessly! THe course is really nice with the first 10K being rolling outside of Casper and the rest out and back on a bike path. There are a few hills on the bike path, so be ready. The pre-race dinner was very nice and the post race events were really good. There was enough food to last until the 5 hour runners arrived. Only about 300 marathoners, so not a lot of company the second half of the race. Would definitly recommend this event.

28. Flying Pig Marathon, CIncinnati, OH
5/4/2003
5th Place
2:41:06
This was the second time I had run this race and it is my PR to date. The reason I chose this event was becasue I thought the course worked well for me the first time I ran it. I like the rolling hills and the crowds and the entire event. Still one of my favorites (even though I don't live in the 'Nati any more).

27. Columbus Marahton, Columbus, OH
10/20/2002
326th Place
3:15:15
This was the first race were I was leading a pace group. My planned time was 3:15, so I did pretty good, considering I had run a marathon the weekend before. The course is flat and fast. With about 3000 marathoners, you are never alone. The pre-race expo is very well atteneded and has a lot of good booths. The different neighborhoods you run through are all pretty. I would recomemend this race to all marathoners, whether you are looking to run fast or just finfih your first marathon.

26. Hartford Marathon, Hartford, CT
20th State
10/12/2002
175th Place
3:23:54
This is a very well done race and the city really gets behind it. The weather was horrible the year I ran, but I couldn't do anything about that. The course is pretty , but the last 5 miles have a lot of hills in them. Good post race food and beverages. Make sure to book you hotels early as this is the changing of the leaves in New England (which is a huge time of year).

25. Eriesistible Marathon, Erie, PA
19th State
9/8/2002
21st Place
3:21:51
This race is run on Presque Isle, just on the outskits of Erie. The marathon is two laps around island. The second lap is worse than the first because the half marathoners have finished. The course is beautiful because you always have Lake Eire in site. Not a lot of people running the marathon. There is not expo and the post race party is small.

24. Patoka Lake Marahton, French Lick, IN
4/7/2002
2nd Place
3:12:48
The only reason I ran this race was becasue my father did not have Indiana yet. I had raced a 10 miler in 55:00 minutes the day before, so my legs were shot. The course is hilly, but beautiful. The lakes are really nice. The course is not closed to traffic and it can be humid. Only about 50 marathoners.

23. Mercedes Marathon, Birmingham, AL
18th State
2/10/2002
36th Place
3:11:43
This was the first year for this event and there were definitly things that needed ironed out. I won't talk about them because I am hoping they get resolved in future years. The city really gets behind the event so the crowds are really good along the course. There is a wicked hill at halfway that takes you up into the high dollar properties. THe post race event and pre- race expo are very good.

22. Tucson Marathon, Tucson, AZ
17th State
12/9/2001
329th Place
3:25:17
I went to this marathon to run fast and I did not. This race could be very fast, as long as you train for the downhill. I didn't and blew up at 15 miles. The course is on the berm of a road running into Tucson with traffic flying by you at 55 MPH. THis does make it easy for your family to cheer you along as the can stop al most anywhere along the course.

21. Oklahoma Marathon, Tulsa, OK
16th State
11/17/2001
4th Place
3:00:35
This is the best samll marathon I have done so far. The course itself is rather boring as it is a double out and back on a bike path along the river. However, the pre-race dinner is a sit down catered event (served in courses) and the post race party is at the race directors house.

Photo: Getting my award at the Napa Valley Marathon

20. New York City Marathon, NY, NY
15th State
11/4/2001
500th Place
2:57:47
The whole registration process for NY is a joke. It is not a random lottery like they say. We sent in 15 registrations together and only two of us got in (just happend to be the only 2 with sub-3 marathons). It is more of a time based lottery where they try to fill certain time slots so the filed is not too buched together. Also, the fact that the race starts at 11:00 AM and you have to get on a bus at 6:00 AM tells you something there. But, it is NYC and the event is great once you get started. I did this 6 weeks after 9/11, so the crowd support was even better. THe course is very difficult, especially the last 3 miles through Central Park. If you get a chance to run NYC, do it. But, beware of the 4 hours sitting on Staton Island (especially if it is cold) and the standing shoulder to shoulder for 45 minutes without being able to move before the start.

19. Louisville Marathon, Louisville, KY
14th State
10/21/2001
7th Place
3:13:56
This race is terrible! We ran off course and I ended up running 28 miles. There were no course marshalls, the course was not closed to traffic, and there were minimal aid stations. If you need to get Kentucky in, do a different event.

18. Chicago Marathon, Chicago, IL
13th State
10/7/2001
11689th Place
4:05:29
This race is awesome if you want to fast! I paced my wife to a PR of 4:05. The crowds are awesome the whole way. You will have someone to run with no matter what your pace and the course has no hills in it at all! THe expo is one of the best I have ever been to and they have a post race party on Sunday evening at Navy Pier. If you want to run fast, go to Chicago! But, train on flat terrain or you will pay for it.

17. Stowe Marathon, Stowe, VT
12th State
9/9/2001
3rd Place
3:13:51
Wow was this race hard! Very hilly and record temperatures in the 90's! But, it is Stowe Vermont in the fall, so it is just beautiful. The first 20 miles are run on dirt roads through the rural pasts of the county, up and down (and up and down...) with a small trial section of about 2 miles. The last 10K is run on a road back into Stowe and is also very hilly. The road is not closed to traffic, so beware of the cars. I really loved this course for the beauty and the hills. I could have done without the heat, but who has control over that! There is no crowd support and only about 100 marathoners, so if you like running tough courses alone, this is your event!

16. Flying Pig Marathon, Cincinnati, OH
5/6/2001
19th Place
2:48:18
This is one of the best marathons I have done so far. The course is difficult, but not too bad as long as you know before that there are hills. The crowds are really good throughout the event. There are just enough people in the race (about 3000) to keep you company the entire way. Very good expo and post race party on the river.

15. Martian Marathon, Northville, MI
11th State
3/31/2001
5th Place
2:56:42
This marathon is kinda boring. Most of the race is out and back on a bike path. There is not much crowd support and the not many runners either. It is cool to check out the bright yellow race gear at the end of the event.

14. Memphis Marathon, Memphis, TN
10th State
12/3/2000
26th Place
3:03:25
This race sucks! There is no crowd support, the roads are not closed and the city does not back the event. One the 10K streatch out to Graceland (which you can not see by the way), the traffic is backed up and the exhaust is terrible. However, it does finsih in the Pyramid at Memphis State and the do give prize money in the age groups as well as overall. That is a nice surprise if you win an age group award.

13. Venice Marathon, Venice, Italy
10/22/2000
128th Place
2:46:11
Mental note, never try and race a marathon on your honeymoon! Even though this is my PR to date, I should have run it on our fist weekend in Europe and not our last. As for the race itself, only 5K of the event are actually in Venice (with all of those little bridges!). The rest is run through rural Italy outside of town. It is a beautiful course, but I did not get to pay attention to that as I was trying to race the marathon. The big downfall was that there was only water every 5K (not bad for me, but for the back of the pack it was bad. My wife said that they were out of water at the 5K mark when she go there). Also, the water is carbonated! I had to wait until 15K to get any liquid I could swallow. That is when they started to give out sports drink. If you want to do a European marathon, I would recommend this one for the scenery outside of Venice. Just don't expcet to see mcuh of Venice.

12. Heart Of America Marathon, Columbia, MO
9th State
9/4/2000
4th Place
2:59:40
This course is very difficult with a lot of rolling hills and high humidty. There is no crowd support and only a couple of hundred runners. If you like rural, rolling courses, this event is for you.

11. Paavo Nurmi Marathon, Hurley, WI
8th State
8/12/2000
11th Place
3:08:26
The first 15 miles of this course is a gradual uphill! I didn't notice it until 10 miles, when the wheels fell off. The scenery is beautiful and the small communities of northern Wisconsin really back the event. They have this great chili at the end of the event. This would be a vacation race becasue it is right on Lake Superior.

Photo: Running in my first marathon - The Air Force Marathon in Dayton, OH

10. Ridge Runner Marathon, Cairo, WV
7th State
6/3/2000
1st Place
2:58:05
Wow! This might be one of the hardest marathons I have done to date! Set in the middle of WV, it is beautiful but very hilly! It is also in June, so the humidty is killer also. I ran conservativley and then passed the leader at 15 miles. No crowd support and only about 200 finishers.

9. Boston Marathon, Boston, MA
6th State
4/17/2000
1794th Place
3:04:44
What can you say about Boston that hasn't already been said. The crowds are awesome (especially at Wesley) and they are there the entire way. Don't go out too hard, becasue you will pay for it in the end. If you qualify, you must go. i think this is running law!

8. Seattle Marathon, Seattle, WA
5th State
11/28/1999
1043rd Place
4:49:04
I ran this race injured and probably should not have gone. However, I needed the state, so I did it. The course is very beautiful. It runs a long a lake for a lot of the event. The last 10K is very hard, with a lot of hills. However, the houses in the neighborhood you are running through make you forget about the hills! Very well done event. I was lucky and got a sunny day, but this is Seattle, and that is unusual.

7. Silicon Valley Marathon, San Jose, CA
10/31/1999
1019th Place
4:25:34
I ran the firsrt 25 miles alone and then waited on Jessica, that is why the time is so slow. This course is very boring with no crowds. I felt like i was runnig through an industrial park for 20 miles. It was very hot! Hoever, the medal is really, really cool!

6. Indianapolis Marathon, Indianapolis, IN
4th State
10/9/1999
26th Place
3:11:21
This race takes place at Ft. Lawrence and is a very nice event. There is a half marathon and 10K that starts with the marathon, so don't go out to hard. The first half is a loop through some neighborhoods and the second half is out and back on a bike path. There is not a lot of crowd support and the second half can be rather boring with not a lot of marathoners. The post- race event is very good, with a lot of food and entertainment.

5. Air Force Marathon, Fairborn, OH
9/18/1999
84th Place
3:12:51
Still living in Dayton and needing a long run, I decided to jump in the Air Force Marathon again, knowing that i would get a really awesome medal!

4. Trails End Marathon, Warrenton, OR
3rd State
4/10/1999
1st Place
2:49:00
This marathon is run on the NW tip of Oregon, right at the mouth of the Columbia River. If you love the ocean, you get to see it for a few miles of the race. The course is very flat and fast. THe year I did it, it was 40 degrees and raining, so that made for a difficlut run. No crowd support at all, and the race is rather small with only a couple of hundred finishers.

3. Napa Valley Marthon, Napa, CA
2nd State
3/7/1999
16th Place
2:47:08
One word can describe the Napa Valley Marathon - Beautiful! Starting in Calastoga and running along the Silverado Trail to Napa is just awesome. The vineyards are usually covered in fog for the first 10K and then they clear our and it is great. The raod is curvy and rolling. There are no wine stops along the way, but there is wine at the finish. The last 4 miles can be tough as the road straightens out and becomes flat. It is also easy for family memebrs to follow along as there are 10 or so cross roads along the way that they can go to.

2. Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC
10/25/1998
46th Place
2:50:59
This was supposed to be my first marathon, but I decidd to run Air Force as a training run, so this was my second marathon. This is definitly a good marathon for the first timer. With 20K people, you are never alone. The crowds throughout DC are awesome and the expo is also very good. Beware of the nasty hill at 25 1/2 miles!

1. Air Force Marathon, Fairborn, OH
1st State
9/19/1998
19th Place
2:53:02
Wonderful marathon for the first marathon. I was living in Dayton at the time, so it made it easy. If you need a lot of crowd support, this is not for you. Still one of the nicest medals I have received.

For more information on the 50 States Club, please visit their website.