By Yasir Salem · 105 marathons · all 50 states in one year · 3× Six Star
Every marathon worth the flight, and exactly when to enter.
Ballot and lottery dates for all eight World Majors, checked against the official race sites. Plus my honest take on the marathon I ran in every state, including the ones to skip.
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The 8 World Majors
How to get into each one →A marathon in all 50 states
See every state →I ran one marathon in every state in 50 weeks, from New York in November 2018 to Virginia in October 2019. Tap a state for the race and my take. Colors show my verdict.
My bucket list state races
TCS New York City Marathon
My home race and the one Gwen and I ran together every year. Five boroughs, a million people yelling your name. Nothing else feels like it.
Walt Disney World Marathon
Wake up at 2:30am, start at 5:30am, run through the parks. It gets hot and humid fast, so forget about a PR and enjoy the characters.
Little Rock Marathon
The medal is so big TSA made me take it out of my bag. Rolling hills, friendly crowds, and the Perks add-on gets you warm food and a warm room before the start.
Vermont City Marathon
Burlington in late May is beautiful and the course is a joy. Watch the forecast, we had a 45 minute rain delay. One I'd recommend to anyone.
Utah Valley Marathon
Bus up the mountain, then lots of downhill with unreal views. Top notch race staff. Air is dry, so hydrate. One of the most emotional races of my year.
Anchorage Mayor's Marathon
Twenty four hours of daylight, a bear at mile 3 and a moose on the drive home. Every turn is a postcard. This is the marathon to do in Alaska, trust me.
San Francisco Marathon
You run across the Golden Gate Bridge. Hilly, as you'd expect, and absolutely beautiful. Huge expo. Hydrate, I got sick at mile 22.
Pocatello Marathon
Fast, lots of downhill, breathtaking landscape. Dry air, so drink early. They gave me bib #50. I'd run this course again tomorrow.
Foy's to Blacktail Marathon
A real mountain trail race with about 5,000 feet of climbing and mandatory bear spray. Capped at around 50 runners. Bring food and water. The medal is carved from local wood.
Chicago Marathon
Flat, fast and the crowds never stop. I've run it several times. Any serious marathoner needs this one. Apply in October.
Detroit Free Press Marathon
You cross into Canada over the Ambassador Bridge and come back through an underwater tunnel. There's no other race like it. Bring your passport.
Marine Corps Marathon
The People's Marathon in DC. Run by Marines, packed with crowds, and they now offer a 50K. I ran my 50th state here with Dean Karnazes.