Episode 63: 50 States, 50 Marathons! With Georges Gonzalez & Jonathan Rushnak

 This episode is available almost anywhere you find podcasts, including Google, Spotify, Apple and Anchor!

Georges & Jonathan Celebrating a "complete wall" of unique medals

Georges Gonzalez and Jonathan Rushnak admit they were unlikely candidates to take on this life-changing challenge, but made magic together in their lifetime achievement this past January, as they completed their 50^th marathon across 50 states in the U.S.! This began as a pipe dream 7 years ago, and thousands of miles ago (on feet and in the air traveling!).

In this episode, we spend a great deal of time discussing the HOW and WHY behind such an attempt, including the communities that supported them, and the contribution it has made to their lives overall. They also give us their "tops lists" for unique marathons, marathons harboring hidden gems of culture, most challenging marathons, and most surprising, among others!

You may be surprised by the "lessons learned" portion of our talk as well, which includes tips and tricks for the 50 states challenge, but also planning and destination races in general. Some of the resources we discuss are: the 50 states club Facebook Group, the official entry process (only after completing 10 races), the process they went through deciding which marathons to run, and how to organize them around a yearly calendar to not go crazy or suffer injury.

You can hear the joy and gratitude in their voices, and at times the emotions that accompany a heart-changing race such as the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. While such a challenge is not for the faint of heart, it should also not be mistaken to be only for an "elite" or expert runners experience, as they admit at the beginning of it (at least Georges) did not even consider himself marathon material and had to be talked into his first. A decade ago, he would quip "I am not a runner", and now has much evidence to the contrary...

Te learn more about each marathon on their list and explore what each has to offer (and IF they are being run during the ongoing pandemic, restrictions, etc.) you will have to visit their websites!  Explore below, and also feel free to explore Georges and Jonathan's recommended facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/74142960795/  

Note: There is also a Half Marathon 50 States group!  That being said, in order to apply for either, see rules or officially become a member of the 50 States Marathon Club, you'll have to go to this website: http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com 

Below is a list of the 50 States Marathons, in order of appearance on their roster, with location and website:

#1) Space Coast Marathon, Cocoa, Florida – www.spacecoastmarathon.com,

2) Go! St. Louis Marathon, St. louis, Missouri –– www.gostlouis.org 

3) Air Force Marathon, Dayton, Ohio – www.usafmarathon.com

4) Twin Cities Marathon, Minneapolis, Minnesota – www.tcmevents.org 

5) Marine Corps Marathon, Arlington, Virginia – www.marinemarathon.com

6) First Light Marathon, Mobile, Alabama – www.mobilemarathon.org 

7) Louisiana Marathon, Baton Rouge, Louisiana – www.thelouisianamarathon.com 

8) Myrtle Beach Marathon, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – www.MBMarathon.com 

9) Albany Marathon, Albany, Georgia – www.albanymarathon.com 

10) Wrightsville Beach Marathon, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina - www.wrightsvillebeachmarathon.com 

11) Vermont City Marathon, Burlington, Vermont – www.vermontcitymarathon.org 

12) Marathon to Marathon, Storm Lake, Iowa – www.marathon2marathon.com 

13) Swan Lake Marathon, Viborg, South Dakota – www.myslcc.com/marathon 

14) Rockies Marathon, Lakewood, Colorado – www.runrevel.com/rdv 

15) Pocatello Marathon, Pocatello, Idaho – www.PocatelloMarathon.com 

16) Big Cottonwood Marathon, Salt Lake City, Utah – www.runrevel.com/bcm 

17) Chicago Marathon, Chicago, Illinois – www.chicagomarathon.com 

18) Fargo Marathon, Fargo, North Dakota – www.fargomarathon.com 

19) Pacific Crest Marathon, Bend, Oregon – www.whyracingevents.com/pacific-crest-endurance 

20) Lake Placid Marathon, Lake Placid, New York – www.LakePlacidMarathon.com 

21) Missoula Marathon, Missoula, Montana –  www.missoulamarathon.org 

22) Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathon, Rachel, Nevada – www.calicoracing.com/et-full-moon 

23) Lake Michigan Trail Marathon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin – www.lakemichiganmarathon.com 

24) Texas Marathon, Kingwood, Texas – www.50statesmarathonclub.com/texas.html 

25) Garmin Marathon, Olathe, Kansas – www.ozrun.org 

26) Maine Coast Marathon, Kennebunk, Maine – www.mainecoast262.com 

27) Sweet Southern Discomfort Marathon, Chattanooga, Tennessee – https://runawesomesauce.com/a/races/sweet-southern-discomfort/

28) Omaha Marathon, Omaha, Nebraska – www.omahamarathon.com 

29) Route 66 Marathon, Tulsa, Oklahoma – www.route66marathon.com 

30) Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, Biloxi, Mississippi – www.msgulfcoastmarathon.com 

31) Holiday Series – Day 5 Marathon, Las Cruces, New Mexico – www.deadrunning.net/holiday-series/

32) Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon, Phoenix, Arizona – www.runrocknroll.com/en/Events/Arizona 

33) City of Los Angeles Marathon, Los Angeles, California – www.LAMarathon.com

34) Hogeye Marathon, Springdale, Arkansas – www.hogeyemarathon.com

35) New Jersey Marathon, Lakewood, New Jersey – www.thenewjerseymarathon.com

36) Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania – www.pittsburghmarathon.com

37) Wyoming Marathon, Cheyenne, Wyoming – www.wyomingmarathonraces.weebly.com

38) Charlevoix Marathon, Charlevoix, Michigan – www.charlevoixmarathon.com

39) Jack and Jill Downhill Marathon day 2, North Bend, Washington –www.jackjillmarathon.com 

40) Anchorage RunFest Humpy’s Marathon, Anchorage, Alaska –http://www.anchoragerunfest.org

41) Baltimore Run Festival Marathon, Baltimore, Maryland – https://www.thebaltimoremarathon.com

42) CMC Manchester City Marathon, Manchester, New Hampshire –http://www.millenniumrunning.com

43) Rehoboth Seashore Marathon, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware – www.rbmarathon.com 

44) Carmel Marathon, Carmel, Indiana – www.carmelmarathon.com 

45) Humana Kentucky Derby Marathon, Louisville, Kentucky – www.derbyfestivalmarathon.com 

46) Red Island State Marathon, Warwick, Rhode Island – Red Island Marathon | NewEngland Challenge 

47) Hatfield and McCoy Marathon, South Williamson, Kentucky – Hatfield McCoy Marathon (hatfieldmccoymarathontvrrc.com)

48) New England Green River Marathon, Greenfield, Massachusetts – New England Green River Marathon

49) Hartford Marathon, Hartford, Connecticut – Road Races in Connecticut | Hartford Marathon Foundation

50) Maui Oceanfront Marathon, Maui, Hawaii – HOME | Maui (mauioceanfrontmarathon.com)

Somewhere in the desert, near Area 51 in Nevada's "Extraterrestrial Full Moon Midnight Marathon"

Please share this with like-minded "running anthropologists", and follow us on social media, feel free to join us on Facebook or Instagram @RunningAnthropologist, and feel free to leave a comment below featuring your favorite marathons / destination races!

_________________________

Fun Stuff you can join with us from anywhere!

Current challenges:

1) Phidippides 327+ challenge in 2022, that Jeff Galloway is organizing along with Dean Karnazes, as a cultural/historical journey to highlight the role of marathon/ultra runners in  forming early democracy:  https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/AnyState/PhidippidesChallenge

2) Recovery Camino: A 12 principles pilgrimage (in person or virtual) along the Camino de Santiago each summer: www.recoverycamino.com   VIRTUAL walk-run OPTION: www.caminoforgood.com

Episode 62: Chris Twiggs, on Pacing, Disney Marathons & Run-Walk-Run

Episode 62 can be found on most podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify and Anchor!

Chris Twiggs is the Chief Training Officer & National Program Director at Jeff Galloway Productions. He has the inside track on the magic of Walt Disney Word races, and has run every Disney marathon himself since its start. He also knows the Galloway method from top to bottom, as he has used it in every marathon since his first one! And countless other races, including 100 mile ultra marathons, pacing and training others to achieve their goals. 

Chris Twiggs, "C.T.O"

In this episode, we discuss all things pacing, and specifically why it is so important in distance running, but especially by reflecting on this past week at the WDW Marathon Weekend and Galloway training/groups. Run-walk-run adjusts to one's desired speed using walk:run ratios to fit any pace/goal, and has a nation-wide support network of training groups for support. I had the honor of pacing the 4 hour marathon group this year for him, and it was one of the best experiences in my 20+ year running career; the positivity and spirit among the runners was palpable the entire way, as we supported and cheered on one another. Notably, Jeff Galloway's son Westin Galloway also ran a sub-3 hour marathon using only Galloway training plan and run-walk-run method throughout this past weekend!

Chris also offers individualized training plans to those who do not have a local Galloway running club to lean on. You can also check to see if there's a Galloway chapter/club nearby, and then contact him if you have a goal race coming up or just want to get started!

Enjoy challenges and solo walk-running? We also discussed the upcoming Phidippides interactive challenge, that Jeff Galloway is doing along with Dean Karnazes: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/AnyState/PhidippidesChallenge

"It is a great cultural running experience to do from anywhere... Run, walk, hike and move back to 490 BCE when the founder of our sport, Phidippides, changed the course of history with this run.

The Greeks invented the culture of running.  Not only did they create the world’s oldest sport through the Olympics (from 776 BC), but non-competitive distance running was also a profession in ancient Greece, as “all day running” messengers (hemerodrome) would run cross country for as much as 100+ miles a day to negotiate treaties and business deals, etc.. 

We challenge you to follow in the footsteps of Phidippides--the most famous “all day runner.” Along the way you’ll learn about the origins of long-distance running and how this run played a role in the creation of democracy.  During the last segment you’ll be pulled into Athens for the dramatic conclusion on the same course that imbedded Phidippides and Marathon into the history books and inspired the running of the Olympic Marathon which debuted on that route.

Join us and connect to the rich history of distance running with scenic views, landmarks, and a fun podcast which brings out the personality of the hemerodromi (the all day runners). Whether you take several days or several months to complete the challenge, you’ll enrich your running experience.  So lace up those shoes and let the discovery begin!"

Connect with us!  Please share this episode and follow us @RunningAnthropologist on Instagram or Facebook, or you can read more about this episode and all past ones, or send us a message at: www.runninganthropologist.com -- Until then, we hope to see or hear you on the road and trails, and Happy Running!

Episode 61: Ultras and Mountain Running, Newton McCollum

 Episode 61 is available on Apple, Google, Anchor and Spotify, most podcast apps!

In this episode, we sit down to discuss Ultra running from a relative newbie who has had tremendous success, my friend Newton McCollum. We talk all things running that someone new to trail running and ultra running might need to know, including some of the differences between flatland running and mountain running. Newton also recently moved to Boulder, Colorado, so we discuss some of the differences in running culture and training. We also talk patience and pacing, which are perhaps the most difficult aspects of distances beyond the marathon, known as an "Ultra". This might include popular 50k, 50 milers or 100 milers, or beyond! 

We also discuss the difference between time and distance goal events, including the Florida-based events: Tick Tock Ultra, Croom trail races, and of the Long Haul (100 Miler), Daytona 100!  We finally talk about nationally known races such as the goal race for many ultra athletes: "Western States", the Leadville 100 Miler (which he ran in 2019), and his upcoming Moab Arches Ultra.  To be sure, mountain training has been a huge adjustment for Newton, but one which he revels in as he clocks thousands of miles in elevation some weeks in Colorado. You can follow Newton @newtscootandboogie on Instagram, and check out his recent adventures and upcoming ones on Ultrasignup!  

Please message us @runninganthropologist on Instagram or Facebook, or you can send us a message here in the comments section below. Until then, hope to see you on the road and trails, and Happy Running!

Run Gasparilla's RD, Susan Harmeling

 Episode 60 "Run Gasparilla's RD, Susan Harmeling" can be heard on most podcast apps, including Anchor, Spotify, Apple and Google!

Pepperjack!

Our guest Susan Harmeling has been at the helm of the Gasparilla Distance Classic for 30 years here in Tampa Bay, and guided it from a small local race to one of the largest events in this part of the country. Susan started at Run Gasparilla just after her first marathon, and literally had to "read the book" on race organizing, and has since accumulated wisdom and been the recipient of knowledge from some of the best!  When she started, she was the only full time employee, with a few volunteer and part-time advisors. The Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic is close to our hearts as it truly highlights some of Tampa's best views and character, as part of the Gasparilla Festivities each year. Jose Gaspar is a fictional pirate, who is loosely based on the real-life buckaneers and other seafarers who sailed in this part of Florida centuries ago.

Susan Harmeling at the Finish Line

 Like most running events across the globe, it has been sidelined by Covid-19 and was run virtually in 2019-2021. In addition, its community running and youth programs were put on pause as a result. All are excited to get going again, according to her. In this episode, Susan gives us some hope for the future and a look at things to come in 2022. In addition, she describes what it's like to put on a world-class expo and race-day logistics, harnessing the incredible power of volunteers, without which no modern race could realistically take place. 

Run Gasparilla in the News, Pepperjack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5FrRavqSik

Susan also thanks the running community for their continued support, and reveals the new mascot's name (Pepperjack) as a result of a naming contest the past few months!  Finally, she shares what a hobby runner with a passion for organization and the running community can do.   We share some of this in this episode, and of course a dose of cheer to carry us into the new year... ready or not, here we come, 2022!  

Run Gasparilla: https://rungasparilla.com/

Volunteer: https://rungasparilla.com/race-weekend-volunteers/

Need some R&R over the holidays? We might suggest trying some of our runner-focused guided meditations and affirmations pre/post-run:  https://insighttimer.com/laneholbert

As always, we'd love to hear from you! @runninganthropologist on social media, or our blog site... learn more about this episode and all of our previous ones at: www.runninganthropologist.com

Movement as Medicine: Summary of Movement Therapy Resources

Movement Therapy Summary from December 2021 Mini-Retreat "Movement as Medicine"

Here, movement therapy is applied and understood as a means to promote improved connection of body-mind-spirit, with the therapist and all group members. Moving together towards a higher purpose is the essence of this idea, in which a connection between body-mind-spirit are also explored. Through improved awareness of our spiritual dimension’s impact on the body and brain, a more effective intuition and connection/dialogue with conscience may be fostered. This is especially true in cases where there is a blockage (resentment or fear) which are holding the individual back from accessing the noetic dimension and spiritual growth. Chrisman & Frey (2018) offer an excellent overview of various movement therapies and their origins, for those wishing to start from a broad overview of potential practices. 

I. Talk at Global Logotherapist Conference on Movement Therapy, Walk/Running logotherapy and Recovery: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-OkyHnkdRuSspAxUlBKoJnURnEF-NwzD/view?usp=sharing

II. Qigong Sessions (weekly Wednesday morning) on M. Lane Holbert’s Insight Timer page, and recorded guided meditations: https://insighttimer.com/laneholbert

III. PRACTICE ON YOUR OWN:

Tai Chi: https://youtu.be/oCnCSOWgIUU   https://youtu.be/1DeihMgXLDk

Qigong:

https://youtu.be/IyINAjEoTIs

*An excellent example of a dance movement therapeutic session, by Ekin Bernay: A lesson in therapeutic dance movement 

IV. Walk & Talk Therapy, Group Movement Therapy: My interviews with other walk/run therapists, working with individuals in recovery (addiction, loss, trauma, suffering from anxiety/depression):

- William Pullen (Britain), "Dynamic Running Therapy"

- “Team Unbreakable”, with Dan McGann (Canada)- youth walk/run therapy for depression, anxiety

- "Run with Love's" interview with me about run/walk therapy

V. "RECOVERY CAMINO", a pilgrimage group experience (virtual or physical pilgrimage small group walk along the Camino de Santiago in Spain several times each year, co-led by a logotherapist and nurse/music therapist)  www.recoverycamino.com

VI.  12 Step Workshop & Weekly Meetings, in-depth for all addictions: https://12steps4hours.org/

Zoom Meetings List: https://bit.ly/2WYbJms

REFERENCES (from mini retreat):

Chrisman, Linda; Frey, Rebecca "Movement Therapy ." Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Retrieved November 24, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/movement-therapy

Cho, S. (2008). Effects of logo-autobiography program on meaning in life and mental health in the wives of alcoholics. Journal of Asian Nursing Research, 2(2), 129–139.

Frankl, V. E. (1986). The doctor and the soul. Penguin Random House.

Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.

Frankl V. E. (1988). The Will to Meaning: Foundations and Applications of Logotherapy. New York, NY: Penguin.

Gregoire, T. K. (1995). Alcoholism: The quest for transcendence and meaning. Clinical Social Work Journal, 23(3), 339-359.

Madeson, M. (2019) https://positivepsychology.com/viktor-frankl-logotherapy/

Vaillant, G. E. (2008). Spiritual evolution: A scientific defense of faith. Broadway Books.

Yalom, I. D. (1985) The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy. 3rd Edition. New York.

Fisher, G. L., & Harrison, T. C. (2018). Substance Abuse: Information for School 

Counselors, Social Workers, Therapists, and Counselors (6th Edition). 

Pearson Education. 

Episode 59: NYC Marathon & NYRR's Team for Kids, with Coach Glen Wiener

Episode 59 with Coach Glen Wiener from NYRR's Team for Kids can be found on most podcast apps, including Google, Spotify, Apple and Anchor! 

Coach Glen (front and center) on one of hundreds of runs with Team for Kids!

In this episode we sat down with famed coach Glen Wiener, who has been with Team for Kids and New York Road Runners since 2008, coaching thousands of runners training for their first NYC Marathon. In this episode, he shares with us about what the NYC marathon experience is like, what makes it unique: from the early morning Staten Island Ferry to cheers along mile 18-25. Some nuggets of simple wisdom from empowering so many to finish their first marathon, and specifically on a difficult parts of the course in New York, are the highlight of the podcast! As a Team for Kids Coach, he also gets to see the life-changing work T4K does on the ground every day in the New York City area and across the country, and for this reason has remained with T4K so long. 

Glen is a lifelong runner with an undeniable passion for the sport and coaching others, and has ran over 25 marathons, including Boston five times, New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. While he found running early and was a collegiate runner, he took up marathons later in life (25 years after college). Glen is a Road Runner’s Club of America and Jack Daniel’s VDOT certified coach, part of the USA Track & Field coaching program as a Level 2 Endurance Coach. In 2009 Glen’s training program was featured in the New York Times alongside the programs of luminaries like Jeff Galloway, and Greg McMillan. He believes that “coaching is an art based on science and works closely with runners of all abilities to help them achieve goals they never thought possible”(1). 

*If you’d like to contribute to Team for Kids this year or consider running/fundraising for them in a future major marathon attempt (New York, London, Boston, etc.), you can check out my fundraiser page to give, learn more, or just see what the platform is like: https://runwithtfk.org/Profile/PublicPage/92722

As always, we’d love if you would reach out to us and let us know more about your corner of running culture, share inspiration and learning! Leave a comment here below or DM on Instagram or Facebook @RunningAnthropologist 

--Happy Running--  Mark Lane-Holbert

1. Team for Kids Coaches Profiles (October, 2021). https://www.runwithtfk.org/Profile/OurCoaches

Episode 58: Running on Faith, Books and Goals with Thomas Dean

EPISODE 58 with guest Tom Dean can be heard on Google, Spotify, Apple, Anchor or most podcast apps!

Hood To Coast Relay Team, 2021

Tom Dean surrounded by books in his work as a publisher, including themes of faith and running!

 Tom Dean is one of the rare individuals who are able to connect their life work to their passion areas, in creating synergy between running, faith and work life! He sets the bar high for those of us exploring running culture and what it is to make a good life. From the perspective of a running anthropologist, this is not one to miss! Hear about some of Tom’s favorite runs, books, and join us as we journey through a few decades of devotion to running. 

For Tom, the ability to work with and publish the likes of Ryan Hall (Run the Mile You’re In: Finding God in Every Step) and Sanya Richard Ross (Chasing Grace) has been a gift and learning experience he has applied many lessons to his faith and personal life. With an incredible background and skill set in book publishing and marketing, Tom then took this and applied it to sharing the gospel (of running and his faith). Integration of various aspects of our being and what we value may seem hard to do at times, yet running is a passion which parallels so many other life and happiness factors. This is a reminder of one of my favorite spiritual psychology quotes from logotherapist Dr. Viktor Frankl, “Happiness cannot be sought, but must ensue from the search for meaning.”

In this conversation, we cover a wide range of topics in work and running, but focus on his most recent Hood to Coast endeavour and meeting his goal of 1,000 miles per year for over a decade! What motivates him, allows him to reach his goals and keeps him running each day? Well, some of it you’ll have to listen to find out, but one tip is setting a monthly goal and having target races, and not getting too distraught if  ‘our best-made plans don’t turn out the first time’.  For Tom, the important thing is setting both reasonable and attainable goals that we can build on over time, and keeping his spiritual life at the center of all he does. Reflecting on our conversation, I realize this applies to not only running, also career challenges and life transitions, which we’ve all had a lot of the past 2 years during Covid! And his wisdom shared here certainly translates to family and other relationships we value. 

Tom can be found on social media @thomaspdean or find his publishing company at https://www.adropofink.pub/ As always, look forward to hearing your impressions and what you have to share in the world of running, spirituality and running as therapy!  Please private message us @runninganthropologist on IG or FB, or leave a message in the comments section of our blogsite. Until next time, Happy Running!