50-State Plan
Goal: Run a half marathon (or longer) in all 50 US states + Washington DC (51 total)
Progress: 3 / 51 completed
Criteria: No lottery · Cool temps · Scenic & iconic · Minimum 56 days between races
Completed States
| # | State | Race | Type | Date | Finish Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | Lululemon Virtual SeaWheeze Half Marathon | Half | Aug 15, 2020 | 3:10:51* | Virtual because Covid cancelled the in-person race. My FIRST half marathon. |
| 2 | New York | TCS New York City Marathon | Full | Nov 3, 2024 | 5:01:34 | All 5 boroughs, 50,000+ runners, millions of spectators |
| 3 | New Mexico | Shiprock Half Marathon | Half | May 2, 2026 | 2:22:52* | Stunning Navajo Nation landscape, iconic Shiprock formation backdrop |
* recorded on watch, not an official chip time
Upcoming Schedule
Gaps are measured against the immediately preceding race on the calendar, regardless of whether it counts toward the quest — a 56-day minimum is the target for recovery between races.
| Date | Race | State | City | Type | Counts? | Gap from Prev | Temp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🎯 Oct 25, 2026 | Marine Corps Marathon | Washington DC 🇺🇸 | Washington, DC | Full | ✅ Yes | 78 days ✓ | ~45–58°F | ICONIC monuments course. First full of 2026. |
| 📋 Dec 13, 2026 | Rocket City Half Marathon | Alabama 🇺🇸 | Huntsville, AL | Half | ✅ Yes | 49 days ⚠️ | ~38–52°F | Fast certified course, NASA/aerospace city vibe, no lottery. |
| 📋 ~ Feb 14, 2027 | Sedona Half Marathon | Arizona 🇺🇸 | Sedona, AZ | Half | ✅ Yes | 63 days ✓ | ~52–65°F | STUNNING red rock canyon scenery, no lottery, hilly but iconic. |
| 📋 ~ Apr 12, 2027 | Oklahoma City Memorial Half | Oklahoma 🇺🇸 | Oklahoma City, OK | Half | ✅ Yes | 57 days ✓ | ~50–65°F | Meaningful route past OKC National Memorial, no lottery. |
| 📋 ~ Jun 21, 2027 | Grandma's Half Marathon | Minnesota 🇺🇸 | Duluth, MN | Half | ✅ Yes | 70 days ✓ | ~48–62°F | LEGENDARY Lake Superior shoreline race, no lottery. |
| 📋 ~ Aug 16, 2027 | Jackson Hole Half Marathon | Wyoming 🇺🇸 | Jackson, WY | Half | ✅ Yes | 56 days ✓ | ~48–68°F | Grand Teton backdrop — most jaw-dropping scenery on the list. |
| 📋 ~ Oct 11, 2027 | Philadelphia Half Marathon | Pennsylvania 🇺🇸 | Philadelphia, PA | Half | ✅ Yes | 56 days ✓ | ~45–58°F | Rocky steps, Fairmount Park, historic district. No lottery. |
| 📋 ~ Dec 6, 2027 | Honolulu Half Marathon | Hawaii 🇺🇸 | Honolulu, HI | Half | ✅ Yes | 56 days ✓ | ~72–80°F | Diamond Head & Waikiki. December is HI's cool season. |
Planning Notes
Key: 🎯 Registered (paid/confirmed) · 📋 Planning (not yet signed up) · ⬜ Open Slot · 🚫 Non-US (doesn’t count toward 50 states) Rule: Minimum 8 weeks (56 days) between races — the upcoming schedule above flags any gap under that automatically.
Ohio (Flying Pig, Cincinnati, May) → moved to 2028. Flying Pig conflicts with OKC (only 22 days apart in April/May — both fixed dates). Louisiana (Baton Rouge, January) → deferred. Gap from Rocket City to MLK weekend (~Jan 19) is only 44 days. Will slot in when calendar gap allows. Nebraska moved to future planning — Omaha dropped due to limited days off. MDI (Maine) moved to future planning — removed from 2026 with the MCM addition.
State-by-State Race Options
All 50 states with a vetted primary and secondary option. Criteria applied: no lottery, cool temps, scenic & iconic.
| State | Status | Primary Race | Primary Month | Primary City | Primary Notes | Secondary Race | Secondary Month | Secondary City | Secondary Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ⬜ Open | Mercedes Half Marathon | February | Birmingham, AL | Large city race, iconic Mercedes branding, no lottery, cool Feb temps, flat & fast | Rocket City Half Marathon | December | Huntsville, AL | Fast certified course, holiday timing, no lottery, aerospace city backdrop |
| Alaska | ⬜ Open | Mayor’s Midnight Sun Half | June | Anchorage, AK | Iconic Alaska event, midnight sun, cool temps even in June, stunning scenery, no lottery | Anchorage RunFest Half | August | Anchorage, AK | Summer but Alaska-cool, scenic Chugach Mountains backdrop, no lottery |
| Arizona | ⬜ Open | Sedona Half Marathon | February | Sedona, AZ | STUNNING red rock canyon scenery, iconic Southwest landscape, no lottery, cool Feb temps, hilly | Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half | January | Phoenix, AZ | Large RnR series, no lottery, flat & fast, cool Jan temps, huge field |
| Arkansas | ⬜ Open | Little Rock Half Marathon | March | Little Rock, AR | Large well-organized event, no lottery, cool March temps, scenic state capitol route | Bentonville Half Marathon | October | Bentonville, AR | Cycling-famous town, fall foliage, Ozark region scenery, no lottery |
| California | ⬜ Open | Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay | November | Monterey, CA | ICONIC — stunning Pacific coastline, world-class scenery, no lottery, cool coastal temps | Avenue of the Giants Half | May | Humboldt Redwoods, CA | Through ancient old-growth redwood forest, unforgettable, no lottery, cool |
| Colorado | ⬜ Open | Colfax Half Marathon | May | Denver, CO | Runs through Denver neighborhoods & parks, no lottery, iconic local race, cool May temps | Breckenridge Half Marathon | August | Breckenridge, CO | High altitude (9,600 ft!), stunning mountain scenery, cool even in Aug, no lottery |
| Connecticut | ⬜ Open | Hartford Half Marathon | October | Hartford, CT | Peak fall foliage, iconic New England scenery, no lottery, perfect cool temps | Mystic Half Marathon | October | Mystic, CT | Charming coastal village, fall foliage, maritime history, no lottery |
| Delaware | ⬜ Open | Caesar Rodney Half Marathon | March | Wilmington, DE | One of the OLDEST road races in America (est. 1964), historic prestige, no lottery, cool March | Wilmington Half Marathon | November | Wilmington, DE | Fall race, flat fast course, no lottery, scenic Brandywine Valley |
| Washington DC | 🎯 Registered 2026 | Marine Corps Marathon (Full) | October | Washington, DC | ICONIC monuments course, no lottery. Scheduled Oct 25, 2026 — #5 on the quest. Full marathon. | Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half Marathon | March | Washington, DC | Monuments/National Mall course, no lottery — verify still active in RnR series |
| Florida | ⬜ Open | Space Coast Half Marathon | November | Cocoa Beach, FL | Near Kennedy Space Center, iconic space-themed course, no lottery, Nov is FL’s cooler window | A1A Half Marathon | February | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Runs along scenic A1A beachfront highway, no lottery, one of FL’s coolest months |
| Georgia | ⬜ Open | Publix Georgia Half Marathon | March | Atlanta, GA | Large iconic Atlanta race, no lottery, cool March temps, scenic Piedmont Park route | Savannah Rock ‘n’ Roll Half | November | Savannah, GA | Beautiful Spanish moss & antebellum architecture, no lottery, cool Nov, stunning historic district |
| Hawaii | ⬜ Open | Honolulu Half Marathon | December | Honolulu, HI | ICONIC — one of world’s most famous races, no lottery, Dec is cooler for HI, Diamond Head backdrop | Maui Half Marathon | September | Maui, HI | Stunning island scenery, no lottery, ocean breezes keep temps manageable |
| Idaho | ⬜ Open | Coeur d’Alene Half Marathon | May | Coeur d’Alene, ID | Stunning alpine lake scenery, charming resort town, no lottery, cool spring temps | Robie Creek Half Marathon | April | Boise, ID | Legendary local race — billed as ‘toughest race in the Northwest’, very hilly, no lottery |
| Illinois | ⬜ Open | Chicago Half Marathon | September | Chicago, IL | Runs along Lake Michigan, iconic Chicago skyline views, no lottery, manageable Sept temps | Spring Half Marathon Chicago | May | Chicago, IL | Lakefront path scenery, iconic Soldier Field finish, no lottery, cool spring |
| Indiana | ⬜ Open | One America 500 Festival Mini Marathon | May | Indianapolis, IN | ICONIC — runs on the actual Indy 500 track at IMS, no lottery, one of largest halfs in US, cool May | Indianapolis Monumental Half | November | Indianapolis, IN | Fast certified course, no lottery, beautiful fall temps, large well-organized event |
| Iowa | ⬜ Open | IMT Des Moines Half Marathon | October | Des Moines, IA | Well-organized large event, no lottery, beautiful fall foliage, flat & fast | Quad Cities Half Marathon | September | Davenport, IA / Moline, IL | Unique — crosses the Mississippi River, bi-state course, no lottery, cool Sept |
| Kansas | ⬜ Open | Prairie Fire Half Marathon | October | Wichita, KS | Great fall foliage, no lottery, flat fast course, well-organized, arts district route | Hospital Hill Half Marathon | June | Kansas City, KS/MO | Iconic notoriously hilly course, no lottery, famous challenge, large field |
| Kentucky | ⬜ Open | Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon | April | Louisville, KY | ICONIC — runs THROUGH Churchill Downs during Derby season, no lottery, cool April, utterly unique | Lexington Half Marathon | October | Lexington, KY | Horse Country setting, scenic Keeneland Racecourse area, no lottery, fall foliage |
| Louisiana | ⬜ Open | Louisiana Half Marathon | January | Baton Rouge, LA | MLK Weekend tradition, cool January temps, no lottery, flat & fast certified course | New Orleans Half Marathon | February | New Orleans, LA | Lakefront course along Lake Pontchartrain, cool Feb temps, no lottery, Mardi Gras season energy — flat & fast. (New Orleans RnR discontinued.) |
| Maine | ⬜ Open | MDI (Mount Desert Island) Half Marathon | October | Bar Harbor, ME | ICONIC — peak fall foliage through Acadia National Park, stunning coastal scenery, no lottery | Portland (ME) Half Marathon | October | Portland, ME | Charming coastal city, fall colors, no lottery, cool New England temps, walkable city vibe |
| Maryland | ⬜ Open | Baltimore Running Festival Half | October | Baltimore, MD | Iconic city race through diverse neighborhoods, Inner Harbor finish, no lottery, great fall temps | Frederick Half Marathon | April | Frederick, MD | Scenic historic city, Civil War history, no lottery, cool spring temps, beautiful downtown |
| Massachusetts | ⬜ Open | New Bedford Half Marathon | March | New Bedford, MA | One of the FASTEST certified half courses in the US — ideal for a PR, no lottery, cool March | Cape Cod Half Marathon | October | Falmouth, MA | Quintessential New England coastal scenery, fall foliage, no lottery, charming seaside towns |
| Michigan | ⬜ Open | Bayshore Half Marathon | May | Traverse City, MI | ICONIC — scenic Grand Traverse Bay shoreline, cherry blossom season, no lottery, cool spring | Detroit Free Press Half | October | Detroit, MI | Unique — crosses Ambassador Bridge into Canada and back, two-country race, no lottery, fall |
| Minnesota | ⬜ Open | Grandma’s Half Marathon | June | Duluth, MN | ICONIC — legendary race along Lake Superior shoreline, no lottery, Duluth stays cool even in June | Twin Cities Half Marathon | October | Minneapolis, MN | Beautiful fall foliage, scenic city lakes course, no lottery, perfect cool Oct temps |
| Mississippi | ⬜ Open | Mississippi Blues Half Marathon | January | Jackson, MS | Blues music theme throughout, unique cultural experience, no lottery, cool Jan temps, flat & fast | Gulf Coast Half Marathon | February | Biloxi, MS | Beachfront Gulf Coast course, no lottery, cooler winter temps for MS |
| Missouri | ⬜ Open | Go! St. Louis Half Marathon | April | St. Louis, MO | Gateway Arch views, iconic city landmarks, no lottery, cool spring temps, large field | Kansas City Half Marathon | October | Kansas City, MO | Scenic city course through vibrant neighborhoods, fall foliage, no lottery |
| Montana | ⬜ Open | Whitefish Half Marathon | September | Whitefish, MT | Near Glacier National Park, stunning mountain scenery, no lottery, cool fall temps | Missoula Half Marathon | July | Missoula, MT | Iconic Montana race, scenic Clark Fork River valley, no lottery, mountain town stays relatively cool |
| Nebraska | ⬜ Open | Omaha Half Marathon | September | Omaha, NE | Scenic Old Market & river district, no lottery, manageable fall temps. | Lincoln Half Marathon | May | Lincoln, NE | Large well-organized event, no lottery, cool spring temps, flat & fast certified course |
| Nevada | ⬜ Open | Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half | November | Las Vegas, NV | ICONIC — runs the Strip at night under neon lights, absolutely unforgettable, no lottery, cool Nov | Lake Tahoe Half Marathon | September | South Lake Tahoe, NV/CA | Stunning alpine lake scenery, no lottery, cool mountain temps, gorgeous course |
| New Hampshire | ⬜ Open | Covered Bridges Half Marathon | June | Woodstock, NH | ICONIC — through scenic covered wooden bridges, quintessential New England, no lottery, NH stays cool | New Hampshire Marathon Weekend Half | October | Bristol, NH | Peak fall foliage, scenic Lakes Region, no lottery, perfect New England autumn |
| New Jersey | ⬜ Open | Atlantic City Half Marathon | October | Atlantic City, NJ | Runs on the famous Boardwalk, iconic American setting, no lottery, cool Oct temps | Jersey Shore Half Marathon | April | Sea Girt, NJ | Scenic coastal course, no lottery, cool spring, quintessential Shore experience |
| New Mexico | ✅ Completed | Shiprock Half Marathon | May | Shiprock, NM | Stunning Navajo Nation landscape, iconic Shiprock formation backdrop, unique cultural experience | — | — | — | State completed — 2:22:52 |
| New York | ✅ Completed | TCS New York City Marathon | November | New York, NY | One of the most iconic races on Earth — all 5 boroughs, 50,000+ runners, millions of spectators | — | — | — | State completed — 5:01:34 |
| North Carolina | ⬜ Open | Outer Banks Half Marathon | November | Nags Head, NC | ICONIC — stunning barrier island scenery, Atlantic Ocean views both sides, no lottery, cool Nov | Asheville Half Marathon | October | Asheville, NC | Vibrant mountain arts town, Blue Ridge fall foliage, no lottery, scenic mountain setting |
| North Dakota | ⬜ Open | Fargo Half Marathon | May | Fargo, ND | Large well-organized event, no lottery, cool May temps, flat & fast, great crowd support | Bismarck Half Marathon | August | Bismarck, ND | Capital city race, no lottery, manageable northern plains temps in Aug |
| Ohio | ⬜ Open | Flying Pig Half Marathon | May | Cincinnati, OH | Famous fun porcine theme throughout, scenic hilly course, no lottery, cool May temps | Columbus Half Marathon | October | Columbus, OH | One of the largest halfs in the US, no lottery, fast flat course, beautiful fall temps |
| Oklahoma | ⬜ Open | Oklahoma City Memorial Half | April | Oklahoma City, OK | Meaningful — route past OKC National Memorial, no lottery, cool April temps, well-organized tribute race | Route 66 Half Marathon | November | Tulsa, OK | Iconic Route 66 theme, no lottery, cool Nov temps, flat & fast, vibrant atmosphere |
| Oregon | ⬜ Open | Eugene Half Marathon | April | Eugene, OR | Track Town USA — legendary running city, home of Nike/Pre, no lottery, cool spring temps | Portland Half Marathon | October | Portland, OR | Scenic Pacific Northwest city, fall foliage, no lottery, iconic bridges & riverfront |
| Pennsylvania | ⬜ Open | Philadelphia Half Marathon | November | Philadelphia, PA | ICONIC — runs past historic sites, beautiful Fairmount Park & Art Museum, no lottery, cool fall | Pittsburgh Half Marathon | May | Pittsburgh, PA | Famous for crossing multiple dramatic bridges, scenic Three Rivers setting, no lottery, cool May |
| Rhode Island | ⬜ Open | Amica Newport Half Marathon | October | Newport, RI | ICONIC — stunning Ocean Drive, Gilded Age mansions, Atlantic coastline views, no lottery, perfect fall | Providence Half Marathon | May | Providence, RI | Charming college city, no lottery, cool spring temps, scenic waterfront |
| South Carolina | ⬜ Open | Charleston Half Marathon | January | Charleston, SC | Beautiful antebellum city, scenic waterfront & historic district, no lottery, cool Jan — ideal for SC | Myrtle Beach Half Marathon | February | Myrtle Beach, SC | Flat & fast beach course, no lottery, cool Feb temps, large well-organized event |
| South Dakota | ⬜ Open | Deadwood Mickelson Trail Half | June | Deadwood, SD | Through beautiful Black Hills on historic rail-trail, no lottery, scenic, Wild West history | Mount Rushmore Half Marathon | August | Keystone, SD | Runs near Mount Rushmore, iconic national monument setting, no lottery, cooler Black Hills temps |
| Tennessee | ⬜ Open | Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Half | April | Nashville, TN | ICONIC — Country Music capital, live bands every mile, honky tonk energy, no lottery, cool April | Chattanooga Half Marathon | November | Chattanooga, TN | Scenic Tennessee River city, Lookout Mountain views, no lottery, cool Nov temps |
| Texas | ✅ Completed | San Antonio Marathon | December | San Antonio, TX | Home race — River Walk course, iconic SA landmarks, home crowd advantage. Rock ‘n’ Roll SA no longer exists. | — | — | — | State completed — 5:15:51 |
| Utah | ⬜ Open | Moab Half Marathon | March | Moab, UT | STUNNING — iconic red rock canyon scenery, no lottery, cool March temps, unforgettable Southwest | Salt Lake City Half Marathon | April | Salt Lake City, UT | Wasatch Mountain backdrop, no lottery, cool spring temps, well-organized large event |
| Vermont | ⬜ Open | Vermont City Half Marathon | May | Burlington, VT | Beautiful Lake Champlain waterfront, charming Vermont city, no lottery, cool spring | Leaf Peepers Half Marathon | October | Morrisville, VT | Peak Vermont fall foliage — among the best in the country, no lottery, quintessential autumn |
| Virginia | ⬜ Open | Marine Corps Historic Half | May | Fredericksburg, VA | ICONIC — military tribute race, Civil War battlefield scenery, no lottery, cool May temps | Blue Ridge Half Marathon | April | Roanoke, VA | Stunning Appalachian mountain views, no lottery, cool spring, scenic Roanoke Valley |
| Washington | ⬜ Open | Seattle Half Marathon | December | Seattle, WA | One of the oldest road races in the Pacific Northwest (est. 1970s), iconic city scenery, no lottery, cool December temps, Puget Sound & mountain views | Bellingham Bay Half Marathon | September | Bellingham, WA | Scenic Puget Sound coastline, no lottery, cool Pacific Northwest, charming college town |
| West Virginia | ⬜ Open | New River Gorge Half Marathon | October | Fayetteville, WV | Near New River Gorge National Park, stunning gorge scenery & fall foliage, no lottery | Morgantown Half Marathon | April | Morgantown, WV | College town energy (WVU), no lottery, scenic rolling WV hills, cool spring temps |
| Wisconsin | ⬜ Open | Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon | May | Green Bay, WI | ICONIC — runs THROUGH Lambeau Field (Packers stadium), unique experience, no lottery, cool May | Madison Half Marathon | November | Madison, WI | Beautiful isthmus city between two lakes, no lottery, fall/early winter, scenic lakes |
| Wyoming | ⬜ Open | Jackson Hole Half Marathon | September | Jackson, WY | STUNNING — Grand Teton backdrop, most scenic backdrop in the US, no lottery, cool mountain temps | Cowboy Country Half Marathon | June | Laramie, WY | High plains & mountain scenery, no lottery, cool June temps at elevation, university town |