These are some responses to the most commonly asked marathon questions I have gotten over the years. For more about my running history, check out the Running Background and Goals page.
What marathons have you done? Where and when?
The most recent race summaries and upcoming marathons are in the main center section of the blog homepage. The links in the black box above will take you to pages with lists and links to blog posts for countries/continents, states and provinces. In the left column there is also the blog archive as well as a "full results list" link for a more simplified chronological list of marathons and finish times.
Why do you run so much? Why do you have all of these crazy marathon and travel goals?
All of this is addressed in the Running Background & Goals section of the blog.
How long is a marathon?
No, the vast majority of runners in most races are aiming for their own personal goals and not trying to win. The winners are usually elite athletes who earn a living from running just like at the highest levels of other sports. Normal recreational marathoners participate in many of the same events as the elites, but they are in a whole different category.
A marathon is, by definition, a 26.2 mile (42.2 kilometer) race. The word “marathon” is often incorrectly and misleadingly used to define any running race. Even if “10K” and “marathon” appear on the same t-shirt or advertisement, for example, there is never any such thing as a 10K marathon. Common race distances aside from the marathon are the 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), and half marathon (13.1 miles, about 21K). There are also ultramarathons, which can range in distance from 50K (31 miles) to hundreds of miles.
Do you win marathons?
No, the vast majority of runners in most races are aiming for their own personal goals and not trying to win. The winners are usually elite athletes who earn a living from running just like at the highest levels of other sports. Normal recreational marathoners participate in many of the same events as the elites, but they are in a whole different category.
How long does it take you to run a marathon?
For the average marathon, my times are usually around four hours, which is about a 9:10 pace per mile. I might be a little faster or slower depending on the course, weather, etc., but four hours is my typical goal. The winners often come in just over two hours while the last place finishers are around six hours or more. My finish times are usually a little faster than average but nowhere close to the elite level.
How fast do you run a mile?
Since my training is focused on longer distances, I don't run specifically to see how fast I could do just one mile. For shorter distances my pace is sometimes in the mid to high 7:00s per mile while my long training runs are in the high 8:00s to low 9:00s. My typical goal in a marathon is to break four hours, which is an average pace of 9:10 per mile.
What was your best marathon time?
My personal best finish was 3:32 at the 2022 Mount Charleston Marathon, an all-downhill course just outside of Las Vegas. My best time without a downhill advantage was 3:38 at the New Jersey Marathon in 2018. There were a couple of others just under 3:40.
What was your slowest marathon time?
My slowest marathon finish, by far, was 7:25 at the 2011 Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado - a very hard high-altitude trail race starting at about 6,000 feet, climbing to the summit of Pikes Peak at over 14,000 feet, and then running back down. My second slowest, also a very tough mountain race, was 5:40 at the 2017 Zermatt Marathon in the Swiss Alps. The only other marathon slower than five hours was the Antarctic Ice Marathon in 2022, not a hilly course but very slow because it's on an uneven surface of packed snow and ice.
What about ultramarathons?
Ultramarathons are in a whole different world than regular road marathons. They are often run on trails and can range anywhere from 50K (31 miles) to hundreds of miles. Generally the marathon distance works for me and I have no desire to go much longer, but I have run two short ultras. One was the local Caumsett Park 50K in 2018, which I finished in 4:53 and felt like a regular road marathon with five extra slow miles added on. The other ultra I did was the much harder 2025 Badger Mountain 55K (34 miles) in Washington State, only three miles longer than the 50K but with extreme hills and trails. I finished that one in 7:50 - my longest run ever and slowest pace in any race other than Pikes Peak.
Have you run Boston?
No. Unlike most marathons that anyone can sign up for, the Boston Marathon prides itself on having strict qualifying times and usually only accepting the fastest runners. To have a chance at getting in, runners have to prove that they have run another marathon faster than a certain time, which varies by age and gender. While my finish times are usually a little faster than average, I am nowhere close to qualifying for Boston.
Do you run shorter races?
The marathon is my main race distance, but I will run local half marathons and other shorter races if they fit into the marathon training I'm doing anyway. I don't train specifically for shorter distance races and usually don't travel much for them, but when the timing works out they add a nice little extra challenge and variety to my training.
You've run every state? What about Alaska and Hawaii?
This is a strange but surprisingly common question. Yes, of course - Alaska and Hawaii are states and are part of the goal.
You've run every continent? How is a marathon in Antarctica even possible?
Traveling to Antarctica is unlike going anywhere else in the world. There are no regular commercial flights and it's impossible to just go there on your own. All Antarctic trips need to be arranged through a specialized organization or tour company that takes care of all logistics. For crazy runners looking to do a marathon there, there are a few different options - all of which are costly and include days-long itineraries. The one I did, which was the least time-consuming option, was the Antarctic Ice Marathon in 2022.
Do you travel to places just to run a race and then leave right away?
Generally I try not to. The travel and sightseeing aspect of it is part of my motivation to keep going with the marathon goals. For most international races, I only do them when they line up with time off from work and never on a regular weekend. The expense, travel time and jet lag are only worth it if I can have at least a few days to do some tours or sightseeing in the area. This is why my international marathon blog updates have links to travel photos. For races in the states and provinces, it would be impossible to schedule all of them to line up with vacation time, but even if it's just a regular weekend, I have always tried to at least do or see something in the area aside from only running the marathon. Of course some destinations are more interesting than others, but even for the "boring" ones there's usually something new or unique to see.
Which is your favorite?
I honestly do not have one. One of the main reasons I combine marathon goals with travel is that it allows me to run a wide variety of races - big and small, urban and rural - and visit new places around the country and the world. Just repeating a "favorite" race or destination every year would get boring after awhile. The novelty and variety help to keep me motivated.
How much do you train? Do you run every day?
My standard minimum for training is 40 miles per week, broken down into a 13-20 mile weekend long run and three or four shorter runs during the week. The only exceptions to the 40-mile-per-week rule are the "taper" week right before a marathon (30 miles total) and the recovery week right after the race (20-30 miles total). These easier weeks have no long run because the body needs time to store up energy pre-race and recover afterwards. I also mix in some easy biking and body-weight training to maintain other muscles and help prevent injury.
Do you run outside in all weather?
Unless there's a major storm or some other truly dangerous condition, yes. I hate the treadmill and I'd rather run outside in zero degrees. I am very strict with myself about the weekly minimum, usually 40 miles, and the 13-20 mile long run. I do have a couple of off days during the week, so if the forecast is really bad I can sometimes play around with my schedule accordingly, but unless I'm injured or really sick (a common cold doesn't count), I will force myself to push through even if it's the last thing I want to do. No level of experience or resilience can completely silence that relentless “I don’t feel like it” voice inside all of us. That voice is always there, and bad weather is one its most powerful weapons. It's always possible to dress for cold, slow down and hydrate properly for heat, and simply push through the discomfort if it's raining. A marathon can happen in pretty much any weather, so those extra tough training runs can help you be mentally prepared for whatever happens on race day.
Don't you worry about injury from running so many marathons?
Everyone's body is very different of course and some people do have to be concerned about this, but the "I have bad joints" thing is also a common excuse that people use to feel better about not exercising. It often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because if you don't exercise for fear of injury, you gain weight and lose fitness to the point where you can actually get hurt if you try to start because you're out of shape. This "proves the point" that you just "can't" do it and then it's right back to gaining more weight and losing even more fitness - and the cycle continues. While there are certainly people who legitimately can't exercise because of some old injury or other condition, there are others way older than me doing far more than I can ever imagine. Personally my running actually improved when I switched from doing just a few marathons per year to one every month or two. Injury is always a possibility of course and becomes more likely as we age, but for now I will not let that get in the way of doing what has worked for years. Being fat and seriously out of shape for the first half of my life, I know what that's like and how much worse it could be if I slack off.
What advice would you give to motivate people who want to start running or exercising more?
This is addressed on the Advice & Motivation page.