Running in the Family is running all 48 continental states in the USA!
With the start of a new decade, I’m taking on a new challenge. I’m going to run all 48 continental states, and I’ll track my progress here on Running in the Family.
No, I’m not going to leave my family and assume a nomadic lifestyle. And no, I’m not going to drag my family along. I’m going to run all 48 continental states virtually by tracking my mileage and plotting a course that covers the entire continental US.
Why run 48 states?
Because the other two are too hard to reach! (sorry Alaska and Hawaii)
Joking aside, the purpose of this adventure is to get to know the heartland better. I’ve traveled extensively and have run in places like Tokyo, Shanghai, Frankfurt, and many others. Running always gives me a unique perspective. One that you don’t get driving by in a car, or on guided tours. On this virtual tour of America, I’ll share a view of America from a runner’s perspective – and hopefully meet some great people and see some fantastic sights along the way.
 How do you run 48 states virtually?
As I run here at home, I’ll track the distance of each run, and then plot that distance on the Run 48 States map. I’ll write about the interesting places I virtually run through on this blog as I go, so you can follow along and take part in the journey. |
 How do you know where to run?
That’s where I need your help! I need you to leave comments on the blog as I go, or on this page, with your suggestions for where I should run. I’ve only physically been to 32 states, so I need your help and input to get the small-town back-road insider information that only true locals could know. So please give me your suggestions! |
 What route will you take?
I’ll start right here in New York State at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. I’ll head north to the Finger Lakes, then over to Niagara Falls. From there I’ll skirt along the Great Lakes and the northern states all the way out to Seattle. From Seattle, I’ll meander my way across the country weaving back and forth to hit the best running destinations in each state based on your input. Follow along on the Run 48 States map! |
 How can I follow along?
The easiest way is to either enter your email in the Subscribe box above, or subscribe to our RSS feed from the home page. By subscribing, you’ll be able to monitor my progress across the country through all 48 states. You’ll also get my other Running in the Family blog posts. Subscribers will automatically be eligible for prize giveaways that I’ll be announcing in the future to celebrate significant milestones along the way, so make sure you sign up! I’ll also be posting cumulative stats on the stats page, so you can see how many miles I’ve covered – or you can check out the Run 48 States map to see the entire route. |
 How long will it take?
The longer the better! This is not a race. I’m not out to see how fast I can get across the country. My goal is to virtually run through as many truly interesting and unique places as I can. The more great suggestions I get for fantastic places to run, the longer this trip will take! My best guess right now is that it will probably take me at least 5 years, if not the whole decade to hit each state. |
 How far will you run?
Who knows?
As I said above, that depends on how many great suggestions I get from you on fantastic places to run. It’s roughly 3000 miles from coast to coast, and I’ll have to go back and forth several times to hit all 48 states. I haven’t worked it all out (again, I’m hoping to get my destination list from you), but I would expect it to take at least 15,000 miles to hit all 48 states.
Again, I’ll be tracking my progress, so I expect to be able to answer this question after I’m done. |
 Are you crazy?
That’s probably another question to ask me when I’m done.
I hope to run for the rest of my life anyway, so I might as well put those miles to use. I intend to continue this as long as I keep running, as long as I keep finding great places to run, and as long as it keeps being fun! |
So come along and join me as I run 48 states!
