Episode 63: 50 States, 50 Marathons! With Georges Gonzalez & Jonathan Rushnak

 This episode is available almost anywhere you find podcasts, including Google, Spotify, Apple and Anchor!

Georges & Jonathan Celebrating a "complete wall" of unique medals

Georges Gonzalez and Jonathan Rushnak admit they were unlikely candidates to take on this life-changing challenge, but made magic together in their lifetime achievement this past January, as they completed their 50^th marathon across 50 states in the U.S.! This began as a pipe dream 7 years ago, and thousands of miles ago (on feet and in the air traveling!).

In this episode, we spend a great deal of time discussing the HOW and WHY behind such an attempt, including the communities that supported them, and the contribution it has made to their lives overall. They also give us their "tops lists" for unique marathons, marathons harboring hidden gems of culture, most challenging marathons, and most surprising, among others!

You may be surprised by the "lessons learned" portion of our talk as well, which includes tips and tricks for the 50 states challenge, but also planning and destination races in general. Some of the resources we discuss are: the 50 states club Facebook Group, the official entry process (only after completing 10 races), the process they went through deciding which marathons to run, and how to organize them around a yearly calendar to not go crazy or suffer injury.

You can hear the joy and gratitude in their voices, and at times the emotions that accompany a heart-changing race such as the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. While such a challenge is not for the faint of heart, it should also not be mistaken to be only for an "elite" or expert runners experience, as they admit at the beginning of it (at least Georges) did not even consider himself marathon material and had to be talked into his first. A decade ago, he would quip "I am not a runner", and now has much evidence to the contrary...

Te learn more about each marathon on their list and explore what each has to offer (and IF they are being run during the ongoing pandemic, restrictions, etc.) you will have to visit their websites!  Explore below, and also feel free to explore Georges and Jonathan's recommended facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/74142960795/  

Note: There is also a Half Marathon 50 States group!  That being said, in order to apply for either, see rules or officially become a member of the 50 States Marathon Club, you'll have to go to this website: http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com 

Below is a list of the 50 States Marathons, in order of appearance on their roster, with location and website:

#1) Space Coast Marathon, Cocoa, Florida – www.spacecoastmarathon.com,

2) Go! St. Louis Marathon, St. louis, Missouri –– www.gostlouis.org 

3) Air Force Marathon, Dayton, Ohio – www.usafmarathon.com

4) Twin Cities Marathon, Minneapolis, Minnesota – www.tcmevents.org 

5) Marine Corps Marathon, Arlington, Virginia – www.marinemarathon.com

6) First Light Marathon, Mobile, Alabama – www.mobilemarathon.org 

7) Louisiana Marathon, Baton Rouge, Louisiana – www.thelouisianamarathon.com 

8) Myrtle Beach Marathon, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – www.MBMarathon.com 

9) Albany Marathon, Albany, Georgia – www.albanymarathon.com 

10) Wrightsville Beach Marathon, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina - www.wrightsvillebeachmarathon.com 

11) Vermont City Marathon, Burlington, Vermont – www.vermontcitymarathon.org 

12) Marathon to Marathon, Storm Lake, Iowa – www.marathon2marathon.com 

13) Swan Lake Marathon, Viborg, South Dakota – www.myslcc.com/marathon 

14) Rockies Marathon, Lakewood, Colorado – www.runrevel.com/rdv 

15) Pocatello Marathon, Pocatello, Idaho – www.PocatelloMarathon.com 

16) Big Cottonwood Marathon, Salt Lake City, Utah – www.runrevel.com/bcm 

17) Chicago Marathon, Chicago, Illinois – www.chicagomarathon.com 

18) Fargo Marathon, Fargo, North Dakota – www.fargomarathon.com 

19) Pacific Crest Marathon, Bend, Oregon – www.whyracingevents.com/pacific-crest-endurance 

20) Lake Placid Marathon, Lake Placid, New York – www.LakePlacidMarathon.com 

21) Missoula Marathon, Missoula, Montana –  www.missoulamarathon.org 

22) Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathon, Rachel, Nevada – www.calicoracing.com/et-full-moon 

23) Lake Michigan Trail Marathon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin – www.lakemichiganmarathon.com 

24) Texas Marathon, Kingwood, Texas – www.50statesmarathonclub.com/texas.html 

25) Garmin Marathon, Olathe, Kansas – www.ozrun.org 

26) Maine Coast Marathon, Kennebunk, Maine – www.mainecoast262.com 

27) Sweet Southern Discomfort Marathon, Chattanooga, Tennessee – https://runawesomesauce.com/a/races/sweet-southern-discomfort/

28) Omaha Marathon, Omaha, Nebraska – www.omahamarathon.com 

29) Route 66 Marathon, Tulsa, Oklahoma – www.route66marathon.com 

30) Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, Biloxi, Mississippi – www.msgulfcoastmarathon.com 

31) Holiday Series – Day 5 Marathon, Las Cruces, New Mexico – www.deadrunning.net/holiday-series/

32) Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon, Phoenix, Arizona – www.runrocknroll.com/en/Events/Arizona 

33) City of Los Angeles Marathon, Los Angeles, California – www.LAMarathon.com

34) Hogeye Marathon, Springdale, Arkansas – www.hogeyemarathon.com

35) New Jersey Marathon, Lakewood, New Jersey – www.thenewjerseymarathon.com

36) Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania – www.pittsburghmarathon.com

37) Wyoming Marathon, Cheyenne, Wyoming – www.wyomingmarathonraces.weebly.com

38) Charlevoix Marathon, Charlevoix, Michigan – www.charlevoixmarathon.com

39) Jack and Jill Downhill Marathon day 2, North Bend, Washington –www.jackjillmarathon.com 

40) Anchorage RunFest Humpy’s Marathon, Anchorage, Alaska –http://www.anchoragerunfest.org

41) Baltimore Run Festival Marathon, Baltimore, Maryland – https://www.thebaltimoremarathon.com

42) CMC Manchester City Marathon, Manchester, New Hampshire –http://www.millenniumrunning.com

43) Rehoboth Seashore Marathon, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware – www.rbmarathon.com 

44) Carmel Marathon, Carmel, Indiana – www.carmelmarathon.com 

45) Humana Kentucky Derby Marathon, Louisville, Kentucky – www.derbyfestivalmarathon.com 

46) Red Island State Marathon, Warwick, Rhode Island – Red Island Marathon | NewEngland Challenge 

47) Hatfield and McCoy Marathon, South Williamson, Kentucky – Hatfield McCoy Marathon (hatfieldmccoymarathontvrrc.com)

48) New England Green River Marathon, Greenfield, Massachusetts – New England Green River Marathon

49) Hartford Marathon, Hartford, Connecticut – Road Races in Connecticut | Hartford Marathon Foundation

50) Maui Oceanfront Marathon, Maui, Hawaii – HOME | Maui (mauioceanfrontmarathon.com)

Somewhere in the desert, near Area 51 in Nevada's "Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathon"

Please share this with like-minded "running anthropologists", and follow us on social media, feel free to join us on Facebook or Instagram @RunningAnthropologist, and feel free to leave a comment below featuring your favorite marathons / destination races!

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Fun Stuff you can join with us from anywhere!

Current challenges:

1) Phidippides 327+ challenge in 2022, that Jeff Galloway is organizing along with Dean Karnazes, as a cultural/historical journey to highlight the role of marathon/ultra runners in  forming early democracy:  https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/AnyState/PhidippidesChallenge

2) Recovery Camino: A 12 principles pilgrimage (in person or virtual) along the Camino de Santiago each summer: www.recoverycamino.com   VIRTUAL walk-run OPTION: www.caminoforgood.com