Happy Friday! If you’re reading this in the morning, I’m on my way to San Diego for an epic weekend/Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego 🙂 I’m hoping I can complete both races this weekend even if I have to walk but I’ll just have to wait and see how everything goes with my knee.
I wasn’t really sure what to write for today’s post, but then this idea came to me during Global Running Day. I’m sure many of you are familiar with the 50 States Half Marathon Challenge. I think that anyone that can achieve this accomplishment deserves a trophy and a HUGE congratulations because that is no easy task!
When looking forward to goals for 2017 (I know, I know..I am a little early), I thought about taking on the challenge and trying to complete it in five years. The more I thought about it, the more I felt that this was not the right challenge for me. To be honest, running all 50 states is probably uber expensive! Plus I’m all about the “racecation” so I wouldn’t want to travel to a state just to run a race, but would love to make it a mini-vacation so to speak (and stay a few days)!
That being said, I decided to make my own challenge for myself – the 25 States Half Marathon Challenge!
I think this will fit well with my love of travel and ‘racecations’! These are the 25 states I have chosen (which includes states I’ve already run in):
Arizona
California (completed 6/2016)
Connecticut (completed 6/2014)
Delaware (completed 4/2019)
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois (completed 7/2015)
Louisiana
Massachusetts (completed 5/2019)
Michigan
Minnesota
Nevada (completed 11/2016)
New Jersey (completed 11/2015)
New York (completed 2/2014)
North Carolina (completed 11/2019)
Ohio (completed 5/2018)
Pennsylvania (completed 10/2015)
Rhode Island (completed 9/2019)
South Carolina (completed 12/2018)
Virginia (completed 3/2018)
Tennessee
Texas (completed 12/2018)
Washington
Wisconsin
Bonus:
Montreal, Canada (09/2017)
Washington, DC (03/2015)
Have you completed a half marathon in any of these states (that I haven’t completed)? If so, leave me your race recommendations in the comments section!
Have a great weekend!
Jen @ SprinklesHikes.com says
What a great goal. I agree that all states can be daunting. I’ve run in only two states for a race so far, but it will be three in December – Tennessee, New York, and Maine (later this year). My big bucket list goal is to hike on all seven continents, so I totally feel you on what a big goal can feel like 🙂
kookyrunner says
Wow hiking on all seven continents would be awesome!
Elizabeth Clor says
I love this! Half marathons in half of the states! Much more manageable than trying to get them all. I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona full and it was just okay. The course was boring, but if you like RNR races, then it’s good. For Florida, check out the Miami half marathon or Disney. For Virginia (where I live) I absolutely love the Richmond half marathon in November! And a close second is the Shamrock half marathon in March. For Texas, Houston is a must!
kookyrunner says
I heard the Rock n Roll Arizona half course was okay, so the might be one to add next year. I would love to run in Miami, such a fun looking city! Another reader also recommended the Shamrock race. I have family near Richmond for the Richmond Half sounds great too! I might do RnR San Antonio this year (still debating). Thanks so much for the recommendations!
Meesh says
Shamrock Half in Virginia Beach. It was such a fun race and atmosphere. Beautifully organized and a nice flat course.
kookyrunner says
I have family in Virginia so I would love to visit and do a race there!
Melorie says
Delaware my home state….where I ran my first 5k and half marathon!
Melorie says
Caesar Rodney half, Delaware marathon running festival half, Monster Mash half, Delaware coastal half , Rehoboth half
kookyrunner says
Thanks for giving me some great ideas for Delaware!