States and Strides: Half Marathon Tracking

About Me

How this 50-state half marathon project started and what you’ll find on States and Strides.

A sleek wooden medal display rack mounted on a crisp white wall, each hook holding a different half marathon finisher medal from various U.S. states, with distinctive ribbons in bold blues, reds, and greens. A slim black metal shelf below holds neatly arranged race bibs and a folded course map. Soft morning light from an unseen window washes across the scene, creating gentle shadows and subtle reflections on the metallic medal surfaces. Photographic realism, eye-level composition with a slight angle, sharp focus on the central medals and a softly blurred background, conveying a professional, organized, and aspirational atmosphere suitable for a personal performance-tracking homepage.
A professional flat-lay of a complete race-day kit arranged with precise symmetry on a dark slate background: a crisp, numbered half marathon bib from a specific U.S. state, a folded technical race shirt with minimal branding, a GPS watch, gel packets, and a neatly coiled pair of lightweight running socks. The bib subtly features a state outline and muted state colors. Overhead soft studio lighting creates even illumination with gentle shadows along edges, emphasizing textures and detail. Photographic realism, clean and modern aesthetic, with ample negative space around the arrangement, conveying organized preparation and disciplined tracking for a multi-state half marathon project.

One Runner, Fifty States

I’m a recreational runner documenting my quest to finish a half marathon in every U.S. state. Here you’ll find race notes, favorite routes, and candid reflections from each course as I balance training, travel, and real life.

Explore states
A meticulously detailed paper map of the United States spread flat on a smooth oak table, each state outlined in fine black ink, with tiny colored pins marking completed half marathon locations. Beside the map rests a modern GPS running watch with a crisp digital display showing 13.1 miles, and a slim notebook open to neatly written race notes. Natural daylight streams in from the side, casting precise shadows and creating a calm, thoughtful mood. Captured from a slightly elevated angle with photographic realism and balanced composition, emphasizing planning, progress, and a professional approach to a 50-state half marathon journey.
A scenic panoramic view of a well-marked half marathon course winding through a recognizable American landscape, with no people visible: orange cones neatly aligned along the roadside, mile markers standing at the edge of a gently curving asphalt road, and a distant banner reading “13.1 Finish” between two metal trusses. Surrounding trees in early autumn colors frame the route. Early morning overcast light produces soft, diffused illumination with minimal shadows, creating a calm, focused atmosphere. Photographic realism, shot from eye level down the road with leading lines drawing the eye toward the finish, ideal for illustrating race recaps across different states.
A close-up, photographic image of a high-quality running shoe in motion, frozen mid-stride above a smooth asphalt road painted with a clean white state-line silhouette of the United States. The shoe features breathable mesh, reflective accents, and a lightly dusted sole that hints at long miles. Late-afternoon golden hour light stretches warm, elongated shadows across the pavement, highlighting subtle texture in the road surface. Shot from a very low angle with shallow depth of field, the background fades into a soft blur of distant trees and sky, creating a dynamic, focused, and goal-oriented atmosphere perfect for a half marathon tracking site hero image.
A sleek wooden medal display rack mounted on a crisp white wall, each hook holding a different half marathon finisher medal from various U.S. states, with distinctive ribbons in bold blues, reds, and greens. A slim black metal shelf below holds neatly arranged race bibs and a folded course map. Soft morning light from an unseen window washes across the scene, creating gentle shadows and subtle reflections on the metallic medal surfaces. Photographic realism, eye-level composition with a slight angle, sharp focus on the central medals and a softly blurred background, conveying a professional, organized, and aspirational atmosphere suitable for a personal performance-tracking homepage.

Timeline

Trace the races that shaped my journey—from my first shaky 5K to breakthrough half marathon PRs, coaching shifts, and cross-training experiments that keep me healthy enough to chase finish lines in all fifty states.

View milestones
A professional flat-lay of a complete race-day kit arranged with precise symmetry on a dark slate background: a crisp, numbered half marathon bib from a specific U.S. state, a folded technical race shirt with minimal branding, a GPS watch, gel packets, and a neatly coiled pair of lightweight running socks. The bib subtly features a state outline and muted state colors. Overhead soft studio lighting creates even illumination with gentle shadows along edges, emphasizing textures and detail. Photographic realism, clean and modern aesthetic, with ample negative space around the arrangement, conveying organized preparation and disciplined tracking for a multi-state half marathon project.