A new state each year?
It’s so much fun to hear and follow everyone’s geographical/numerical/etc racing goals – 50 marathons by (age) 50, 30 half marathons by (age) 30, marathons on every continent, halves in every state, all of the races in a series, and so on!
I was looking at my past data, and noticed I’ve raced in a new-to-me state for the past four years (states in order raced that year, new state bolded):
2007: IL, IA
2008: IL, IA
2009: IL, WI, IA
2010: IL, WI, IA
2011: IL, IA, WI, MO, NY
2012: NY, IL, IA, WI, MO, IN
2013: NY, IL, WI, UT, KS, IA
2014: IL, TX, WI, IA, KS
I am not one to set goals… but maybe a race in a new state (or country!) each year could be a fun one! I already have a good head start, right (that is the trick to setting a goal – something you’ve already done/know you can do, ha ha)?
Do you have any specific geographical or numerical (or whatever!) running/exercise goals? How many states have you raced in?
I could see myself racing in Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, California or Alaska next year. Now the trick is, if I am going to be serious about the goal, to spread out the travel. Ha ha ha, who am I kidding? I take most travel opportunities, look for races every time I travel, and am awful with goals. Let’s see how far I get with this!
Themocracy
I think that’s a great goal! It’s reasonably ambitious and it gets you to do fun new things / places!
I have lists and maps of so many different travel things. All time states visited (47), states per year (26 in 2014), counties I’ve been to, trips Troy and I have been on (38 states), race locations…. At least 50% of the art in out house is maps, ha!
When are you going to hit all 50?! Which three are missing?
We have maps up too 🙂 I LURVE maps!!!
I have only done IL and IN! I’ll add WI in a couple weeks when I run the Full Moon half though. For me this would be a hard goal, I’m a homebody.
But my husband is looking to run a marathon or half in every state – his best friend works for an airline so he gets very cheap air travel. I’m kind of jealous because he’s going to go away so many weekends, but it also looks cool. I only requested that he not do Hawaii without me 🙂
Fun! Is that half on Aug 6? I am doing a full moon race that day in WI, too 😉
That is fantastic he can travel for so little. I do hope you get to go to Hawaii, too 😉
The 6th is a Wednesday! It’s the 9th I think. Are we finally going to be at a race the same day?!
No, my race is on the 6th, which I thought was the day of the full moon. I guess it can be called that and not be on the full moon, oops. 😉 It’s a night, right?
Aww rats. I was hoping you had the date wrong 😛
http://fullmoonrace.net/
^ Evening half on the 9th, yeah.
I’ve never done any races outside of Illinois and the majority all in Chicago. That said, I’d love to run races elsewhere…now off to see if any races will be happening in London and Dubai when I am there next year…
I hope you can run when you are traveling! It’s so interesting to hear about the similarities and differences in foreign races!
Go for it! I love combining running and travel. It keeps me trying new races and seeing the places I visit in a more authentic way than if I was just a tourist. It has been different to see how the running culture is different in the different countries in which I have run marathons. Would you be interested in an African marathon? I can’t see to find anyone who wants to tackle that one with me!
I totally agree. Anytime I go somewhere new, I try to run there!
Oh gosh. Yeah, totally interested… but totally can’t afford it! Does your fiance not want to go?
He says he has no interest in Africa. I just want to find the coldest marathon I Africa because I hate the heat. Start saving….. I am thinking sometime in 2015
Don’t do a MI race without me!!!!! 🙂
I kinda wish I had done a race in Philly while I was there, but it’s not really a goal of mine to do all 50 states (just cause we aren’t big travelers) but it is fun to say you raced in a place you’ve visited!
Do you think you will go to Alaska with your bro’s gf soon???? That would be so cool!
I won’t!!! When are we going to pick one out? You know, since we have NOTHING on the calendar… lol
You did SO much in Philly! Maybe you will be back there to visit!
I would like to go to Alaska and use her as an opportunity! Muah ha ha. I say that in a loving way 🙂
Lets do alllll of them!!!!!
Do you think Data will join you in Alaska so he can catch his own salmon?
Yes, sigh. He talks all the time about moving there!
I have a goal to run a half marathon in each state. So far I am at state #29. This year I plan to run in IA, OK, NJ, and DE. It is fun but also expensive!
You are making great progress!!! Which half are you doing in IA (that is my home state)?
The IMT Des Moines Half Marathon. It is the weekend after the Chicago Marathon so it all depends on how I feel after that race.
These are always cool challenges. I don’t have any set in place right now. Just kind of going withy the flow. Although in just over a year I will have completed 5k 10k half marathon and full marathon. That’s pretty cool as a new runner.
Yes! Mark them all off in one year! 5M, 15K, 50K next year? 😉
Do a race in Colorado and we will come watch! 😀 Just don’t get eaten by a bear!!!!!!!!!
I have heard really good things about this race http://www.bolderboulder.com/ and I could stay with Eric’s parents. I bet you could, too! It’s on Memorial Day, next year. You could train to run it with me!
I’m not a goal setter either but adding a state/year sounds fun. I haven’t tallied mine in awhile: I’ve run in 25, raced in 11 states. I guess I can move NY to the raced column after November 2.
Woo hoo! That is a great list.
I am SO pumped you are doing NYC! Best marathon EVA!!! Ha ha, well, to me. I hope you like it too 🙂
I would LOVE to do something like this. Running a race in DC earlier this year was such a cool experience and really made me want to destination race far more often. I just need to find a sponsor to pay for all my destination “racing” (really more “running,” but whatever 😛 ), because all that travel is not cheap!
Gah, it really isn’t! That is why the places I am thinking about are local or I know someone who lives there that I can crash with! ha ha
I really want to do this…but trying to hold myself back from heading to races just to tick of a state since I’m already racing so much. RIght now I’m happy to cover the Southeastern states around me and if I continue to live in the US I’m sure the rest will happen eventually…racecations!! If ya ever fancy heading down my neck of the woods let me know…I’m sure I could give you a heads up on what races are good 🙂
It’s smart to do the ones that are close-by, while you can! I will let you know if I am ever down there!!!! 🙂
How did you make that map? I love it!
(sorry if it was already asked!)
It’s a google doc. I shared a blank version with you 😉 and no one asked!
That would be a great way to do new races to you and see cool new places (and make new friends!!) I don’t have any goals to race in every state/series/continent. I’m more “find the race that will enable me to get a great time.” Although Knoxville was just plain awesome being able to see my mom & run a challenging new to me course 🙂 and before I got the Crankle I had decided against running the Chicago marathon for the 4th year because I wanted to try something new. So yeah- I’m just mainly about finding new courses to enjoy right now. (And I’ve got a bucket list of races I really need to do 😉
YOu could easily add Grandma Marathon, so many of your friends normally run it
How about a summer long cross country trek doing a race in every state. 😀
I’ve come to running later in life (mid 50s), so a geographically wide-ranging running goal is not as practical for me. But I am getting more ambitious, and certainly when I travel, I look for a race to run in.
I’ve only raced in 4 states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin), but I love tracking all the states I’ve run in. I’m up to 11 already: Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, Hawaii, California, DC, New York. I’d love to run in every state someday 🙂
I don’t have any goals like that but your goal got me thinking of places I’ve run/raced. Let’s see…
I’ve raced in WV, PA, MD, DC, VA (part of the MCM) and NJ (WV and PA were in high school but it counts). I’ve also run in SC, NC, GA, FL, DE, and HI. Possibly more but those are the only places I can think of right now.
I have raced in three states: Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
I’ve run in three more: Michigan (the U.P.), Missouri, and Arkansas.
I think it’s an awesome goal to run in a new state each year, and if anyone can do it, you can! You go!!
I stay away from goals myself, but everyone once in a while I set one. Whether it’s to run a faster 5k; or to someday run the Bix 7 again; or like this year, to finish a sprint triathlon.
I tend to set goals only when I need to keep things interesting… 🙂
I need all of those states too (except Colorado) and I’m always up for an adventure. Just saying…
I really like this map! What program did you use to create it?
I just used a blank USA map template in google docs 🙂
I’d love to run or race in more states, and I never thought about how it changed each year. This year, I did add California to the racing and running list.
I see you are missing Ohio. You should do the Pig next May except it’s the same weekend as Wisconsin – such a bummer!
Oh yeah, Ohio should be an easy one. I wish those two races weren’t the same weekend! 🙁