North Dakota Marathon: Fargo, North Dakota, June 1, 2024 – Marathon #49
It’s hard to believe that I just finished running my 49th state in under three years! It’s been an incredible journey, and this race was no exception.
The evening before the marathon, I ran the 5K and managed to clock in at 26:46, my second-best time. I was feeling pretty good about it. However, I’m still dealing with some pain in my left leg, which started back in November. This is the same leg where I had a blood clot back in June 2022, so I’m not sure if the two are related, but it’s been affecting my ability to hit my usual pace. I’m working through it, but it’s certainly been a challenge to get back to my 4:45 marathon time.
That said, the marathon itself was fantastic. There were about 40 runners from Kansas City, so it was nice to see so many familiar faces. I also caught up with several friends I’ve met over the years running in different states. It’s always such a great feeling when someone runs up to me and says, “Hey, I ran with you in Texas, or Indiana, or Kansas!” The best part was meeting a runner who had run Honolulu with me back in December 2021—my second marathon. It’s so cool to connect like that.
As for the race, Fargo was a beautiful course. It was mostly flat, with just a couple of small hills—nothing too major. We ran through the downtown area and several neighborhoods, and then crossed over into Moorhead, Minnesota, over the bridge. The course also passed through a few university campuses, including Concordia College in Minnesota. And here’s something fun: The mascot for Concordia College is the “Cobber.” What’s a Cobber, you ask? I spent most of the first half of the marathon wondering the same thing, and then, as if by fate, I ran right into the mascot—a corn on the cob! Definitely a highlight of my day.
This year’s race was dedicated to Mark Knuston, the race director for Fargo since it started, who passed away since the last marathon. There was a special tribute, including a Mark Mile through a neighborhood, which was a really nice touch.
As always, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to run these marathons. I never take it for granted. And it’s hard to believe that I’ll be completing my 50th state in just a couple of weeks! When I set this goal back in October 2021, I had no idea how—or even if—I would be able to pull it off, but here I am, getting so close.
Next stop: Estes Park, Colorado, on June 16th for my 50th state. I’m coming for you, and I’m running all the way to the finish line!