The 50 States Marathon Challenge (Complete guide)

What It Takes To Run A Marathon In Every State Of America (50 State Marathon Challenge)

I'm Lachlan Stuart. In 2025, I completed 58 marathons in 58 consecutive days.50 across every U.S. state in winter conditions, then 8 across every Australian state and territory. That made me the third person in history to complete the 50 states marathon challenge consecutively, and the first to do it in winter.

This article explains what the 50 states marathon challenge actually is, why the consecutive format of running 50 marathons in 50 days matters, and what I learned attempting the winter version as part of my 58-in-58 journey. This isn't motivational content. It's a reference built from lived experience and verifiable facts.

Table Of Contents

  1. What Is the 50 States Marathon Challenge?

  2. How the Challenge Evolved from Bucket List to Endurance Test

  3. The Consecutive Format: 50 Marathons in 50 Days

  4. My 58-in-58 Journey: Completing the 50 States Marathon Challenge in Winter

  5. Why Winter Completion Changes the Equation

  6. The Real Logistics of Running a Marathon in Every State

  7. How I Trained for 50 Marathons in 50 Days: Lachlan Stuart's Approach

  8. Daily Recovery Requirements Under Extreme Conditions

  9. The Mental Challenge of Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days

  10. What the 58-in-58 Challenge Taught Me About the 50 States Format

  11. My Route: 50 States in Order

  12. How Completions Are Verified

  13. Frequently Asked Questions

  14. About Lachlan Stuart

  15. What This Challenge Reveals

Lachlan Stuart ran 58 marathons in 58 days (50 states marathon challenge)

What Is The 50 States Marathon Challenge?

The 50 states marathon challenge means completing a marathon (42.2 kilometres or 26.2 miles) in every U.S. state. There is no single governing body, no official rulebook, and no requirement that the marathons be formal races.

Three primary interpretations exist:

Lifetime completion: Running a marathon in all 50 states over any time period…months, years, or decades. This is the most common version. Thousands of runners have completed it this way.

Calendar-year completion: Finishing all 50 states within a single calendar year. This requires significant planning, travel coordination, and financial investment.

Consecutive-day completion: Running 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days, one in each state, with no rest days. This is the extreme version. As of 2025, only a small number of athletes have verified this format.

All three are legitimate. But they test different things. The lifetime version tests commitment over time. The consecutive version tests physiological durability, logistics under pressure, and psychological endurance in a compressed window.

This article focuses primarily on the consecutive format of the 50 states marathon challenge. Running 50 marathons in 50 days because that's where the challenge becomes something categorically different.

How the Challenge Evolved From Bucket List To Endurance Challenge

The 50 states marathon challenge emerged from the broader "50 States Club" culture, a long-standing goal among American distance runners to race in every state. For decades, this was a retirement-age bucket list achievement, completed slowly and celebrated quietly.

The shift began in the 2000s when endurance athletes started compressing the timeline. What took some runners 20 years became a multi-year project, then a single year, then, eventually, 50 consecutive days.

The consecutive format gained attention because it required something the lifetime version didn't: the ability to sustain marathon-level output without recovery. It wasn't just about covering distance anymore. It became a test of tissue resilience, travel logistics, mental systems, and decision-making under cumulative fatigue.

Dean Karnazes and James Lawrence (the Iron Cowboy) were among the first to complete verified consecutive attempts. Their documented efforts established proof standards and showed that the 50 states marathon challenge in consecutive format was physiologically possible, though brutally difficult.

By the 2020s, the challenge had become a known benchmark in ultra-endurance circles. But attempts remained rare. The logistical complexity, financial cost, and physical risk meant only a small number of athletes ever tried the consecutive version of the 50 states marathon challenge.

The Consecutive Format: 50 Marathons In 50 Days

Running 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days means:

  • No rest days

  • One marathon minimum per day

  • Travel between states (often across time zones)

  • Sleep disruption

  • Cumulative tissue damage

  • Weather exposure across multiple climate zones

This is not the same as running 50 marathons with recovery between them.

The human body can run a marathon. It can even run multiple marathons in a week. But running one every single day for seven weeks introduces compounding variables:

Tissue breakdown: Muscles, tendons, and fascia don't fully recover between efforts. Micro-damage accumulates.

Sleep deficit: Travel across time zones, late finishes, and early starts create chronic sleep debt.

Immune suppression: Sustained high-volume training suppresses immune function. Minor infections become risks.

Cognitive fatigue: Decision-making degrades. Route planning, nutrition timing, and risk assessment all suffer under mental load.

Logistics pressure: Flights get delayed. Weather changes. Roads close. Any disruption compounds.

The consecutive format turns the 50 states marathon challenge from "can you run 50 marathons?" into "can you manage systems under fatigue for 50 days straight?"

That's the distinction.

Lachlan Stuart running with Liam Sheppard during the 50 states marathon challenge

My 58-2-58 Journey: Completing The 50 States Marathon Challenge In Winter

In January 2025, I, Lachlan Stuart, completed 58 marathons in 58 consecutive days: 50 across the United States (one in every state) followed by 8 across Australia (one in every state and territory).

The facts:

  • Start date: January 20, 2025 (Anchorage, Alaska)

  • End date: March 20, 2025 (Brisbane, Australia)

  • Total distance: 2,447 kilometres

  • Conditions: Winter across the U.S. (temperatures as low as -20°C wind chill), summer in Australia

  • Documentation: GPS-tracked, filmed, publicly verified

  • Fundraising outcome: Over $162,000 raised for mental health

I became the third person in history to complete the 50 states marathon challenge in 50 consecutive days, and the first to do so in winter. The Australian extension made it 58 marathons in 58 days total.

I'm not claiming this was the hardest version of the 50 states marathon challenge ever attempted. Others have done Ironman-distance triathlons for 50 days. Others have run across entire countries. Comparisons are meaningless because every challenge tests different variables.

What I can say: winter added categorical complexity that summer attempts of the 50 states marathon challenge don't face. And the 58-day format, crossing two continents, two seasons, and 14 time zones introduced logistical and physiological pressure I hadn't anticipated.

This isn't about ranking achievements. It's about understanding what variables change the 50 states marathon challenge.

Why Winter Completion Changes The Equation

Most consecutive 50-state attempts happen in spring or summer. There's a reason.

Winter introduces:

Thermoregulation load: Running in sub-zero temperatures forces the body to burn significantly more energy maintaining core temperature. That energy isn't available for performance.

Injury risk from cold tissue: Muscles, tendons, and fascia are less pliable in cold conditions. The risk of strain increases.

Reduced daylight: Shorter days mean more running in darkness, which affects route safety and crew visibility.

Weather disruption: Snowstorms, ice, and freezing rain don't just make running harder—they shut down airports, close roads, and destroy timelines.

Logistics failure points: RV parks close. Heating systems fail. Water supplies freeze. Small problems become major ones.

During my 58-in-58 attempt, I ran marathon five in West Wendover, Nevada, at -12°C with both ankles swollen. The conditions made it nearly impossible to run normally. I was moving between a shuffle and a walk. The cold locked my muscles. My fingers went numb even inside gloves. That run took over eight hours.

In summer, that same route would've been four hours, maybe five.

The coldest wind chill I faced was in Fargo, North Dakota on February 1st, minus 20°C feels-like temperature. Running in those conditions meant constant risk assessment: frostbite, hypothermia, equipment failure and mental battles.

Winter doesn't just make running harder. It makes everything harder. Sleep quality drops. Nutrition timing shifts because appetite suppresses in cold. Crew morale suffers. Gear fails.

It's not about being tougher. It's about managing more variables with less margin for error.

The Real Logistics Of Running A Marathon In Every State

The 50 states marathon challenge is often imagined as 50 long runs. It's not.

It's a logistics operation that happens to involve running.

Travel constraints:

You cannot drive between all 50 states in 50 days. Alaska and Hawaii require flights. That introduces fixed departure times, airport delays, and baggage limitations. When we planned the 58-in-58 route for my 50 states marathon challenge attempt, I started in Alaska and flew to Seattle. Then when leaving mainland USA, I flew to Hawaii then onto Sydney, Australia.

Most attempts cluster nearby states to minimize drive time. For example: running Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut in sequence makes sense. Running them scattered doesn't.

Time zone fatigue:

Crossing from Alaska (UTC-9) to the East Coast (UTC-5) means your body clock is constantly adjusting. You finish a marathon at 2 PM local time, but your circadian rhythm thinks it's 6 PM. Sleep becomes unreliable.

State clustering decisions:

Some athletes run major marathons (Boston, New York, Chicago). Others run small local races. Others run self-supported routes with GPS verification.

Each choice introduces tradeoffs:

  • Major marathons = social proof, but rigid schedules

  • Local races = flexibility, but fewer witnesses

  • Self-supported = total control, but higher skepticism

Weather disruption:

During my 58 marathons in 58 days journey, we hit a snowstorm driving across Pennsylvania. The crew had to drive nine hours instead of four because the roads were dangerous. We arrived at 2 AM. I still ran the marathon at 7 AM.

When schedules compress this tightly on the 50 states marathon challenge, a single delay compounds across the entire attempt.

Crew dependency:

You cannot do this alone. Someone has to drive. Someone has to navigate. Someone has to manage food, water, charging devices, booking accommodation, and documenting proof.

The mental load of logistics is as taxing as the running itself. My crew consisted of my brother-in-law Liam (driver and logistics), Ben Turner (videographer for the documentary), and Etienne Ory (support runner and crew).

Lachlan Stuart completing the 58 marathons in 58 days in Brisbane (50 states marathon challenge)

How I Trained For 50 Marathons In 50 Days: Lachlan Stuart’s Approach

Training for 50 marathons in 50 days isn't the same as training for a single fast marathon.

Common misconception: You need massive weekly mileage to build endurance.

Reality: You need tissue durability and recovery efficiency, not peak speed.

Most people assume ultra-endurance athletes run 200+ kilometres per week in training. I didn't. Before starting the 50 states marathon challenge as part of my 58-in-58, my peak training volume was around 140 kilometres per week, with back-to-back long runs on weekends.

What mattered more:

Consistency over years: I'd been running consistently for a decade before attempting the 50 states marathon challenge. That built baseline durability.

Back-to-back long runs: Running 40 kilometres on Saturday, then 40 kilometres on Sunday, teaches your body how to start a run already fatigued. That's the skill required for 50 marathons in 50 days.

Caloric loading practice: I trained my digestive system to process 6,000-8,000 calories per day. Your gut adapts slowly. You can't just start eating that much on day one.

Mental rehearsal under discomfort: Long runs in bad weather. Long runs when tired. Long runs when I didn't want to. That's where psychological endurance for 50 marathons in 50 days is built.

I worked with coach Dean Wicks, who designed a 16-week training block focused on durability rather than speed. His philosophy: train as if preparing for one marathon, not 58. Keep the body healthy enough to reach the start line, then use the first few weeks as adaptation.

What didn't matter as much:

Speed work. Tempo runs. VO2 max intervals. None of that transfers to multi-day endurance at moderate pace.

The goal for me isn't to run fast. The goal is to run again tomorrow.

Daily Recovery Requirements Under Extreme Conditions

Recovery is everything when running 50 marathons in 50 days.

When you're running a marathon every day for 50+ days, recovery isn't something you do after the challenge. It's what determines whether you finish.

Sleep:

I aimed for 7-8 hours per night. I rarely got it. Travel, late finishes, and crew logistics disrupted sleep constantly. On the worst nights, I got three hours.

Sleep debt compounds. By week three of my 58 marathons in 58 days, I was making decisions like someone mildly concussed.

Nutrition timing:

I consumed four gels during each marathon (90 grams of carbohydrate each), plus electrolytes every 10 kilometres. Immediately after finishing, I ate, usually a burger, fries, and a milkshake. High-calorie, fast-digesting.

The goal wasn't optimal nutrition. The goal was getting enough energy in to start the next day without a deficit.

Tissue management:

Every night: compression sleeves, ankle traction, muscle scraping, Epsom salt baths when available. My physio, Paul Peglar, guided me remotely via video call, adjusting protocols based on swelling and pain patterns.

Injury triage:

By day five, both ankles were swollen. By day fifteen, my right quad was cramping. By day thirty, my Achilles tendon felt like it might snap.

I didn't stop. I adjusted. Slower pace. More walking breaks. Different shoes. Ice immediately after finishing.

You don't recover fully when running 50 marathons in 50 days. You just manage damage well enough to keep moving.

The Mental Challenge Of Running 50 Marathons In 50 Days

The physical challenge is obvious. The mental challenge is harder to explain.

By day twenty of my 58 marathons in 58 days, I wasn't running to prove anything anymore. I was running because I'd said I would.

What breaks people isn't pain. It's uncertainty.

Pain you can manage. You know it'll end when you stop running. But uncertainty. “will this ever get easier?” “Will I make it?” “What if I fail publicly?”. That's what grinds you down when attempting 50 marathons in 50 days.

The mental shift that saved me:

I stopped thinking about 58 marathons. I started thinking about one.

Just this one. Then the next one.

Breaking the 50 states marathon challenge into 24-hour windows made it survivable. Thinking about the full 58 days created paralysis.

Identity pressure:

I'd spent 14 months building toward this publicly. Sponsors had invested. The media had covered it. Thousands of people were following daily.

That created pressure I hadn't anticipated when planning to run 50 marathons in 50 days. I wasn't just running for myself anymore. I was carrying other people's belief.

On the hardest days, that pressure nearly broke me. On the best days, it carried me through.

The 50 states marathon challenge became less about proving I was capable, and more about becoming someone who keeps promises even when it's hard.

That's the real test of running 50 marathons in 50 days.

What The 58-2-58 Challenge Taught me About The 50 States Format

The 50 states marathon challenge was the foundation of my 58-2-58 journey, but extending it to Australia revealed something I hadn't expected: the format matters more than the distance.

Running 50 marathons in 50 states taught me about American geography, logistics, and winter endurance. Running 58 marathons in 58 days across two continents taught me about identity under sustained pressure.

Here's what I learned:

The 50 states marathon challenge isn't just about running. It's about decision-making when your brain is begging you to stop. Every morning, I woke up sore. Every morning, I had to choose to start again. That choice, repeated 58 times, changed who I am.

Winter makes the 50 states marathon challenge exponentially harder. I knew it would be cold. I didn't know how much the cold would compound every other variable. Sleep, nutrition, crew morale, logistics. Summer attempts have their own challenges, but winter removes all margin for error.

The consecutive format reveals systems thinking. When I planned my 58 marathons in 58 days, I thought fitness was the constraint. It wasn't. The constraint was systems, how well I could manage recovery, nutrition, crew coordination, and mental state simultaneously. That's what the 50 states marathon challenge tests at the consecutive level.

Australia changed the narrative. By the time I landed in Sydney for marathon 51, I wasn't chasing the 50 states marathon challenge anymore. I was finishing what I started. The Australian leg felt like a victory lap, but it was also the hardest psychologically because I knew how much pain was still ahead.

The achievement isn't the record. I'm proud to be the third person to complete the 50 states marathon challenge consecutively, and the first in winter. But what I'm prouder of is that I became someone who doesn't quit when it's hard. That's what 58 marathons in 58 days gave me.

If you're considering the 50 states marathon challenge in any format, whether running 50 marathons in 50 days or taking decades, understand this: the miles are just the visible part. The real challenge is everything else.

My Route: 50 States In Order

When planning to run 50 marathons in 50 days across America in winter, route selection became critical. I had to balance state clustering, weather patterns, flight requirements, and the reality that conditions would worsen or improve depending on timing.

Here's the exact route I took for my 50 states marathon challenge, including temperatures:

WEEK 1: THE NORTHWEST & MOUNTAIN STATES

  • Alaska (Jan 20): Anchorage, -3°C

  • Washington (Jan 21): Yakima, -3°C

  • Oregon (Jan 22): Baker City, -6°C

  • Idaho (Jan 23): Twin Falls, -8°C

  • Nevada (Jan 24): West Wendover, -12°C (the day both ankles swelled)

WEEK 2: THE FROZEN MIDWEST

  • Wyoming (Jan 25): Casper, -7°C

  • South Dakota (Jan 26): Spearfish, -14°C

  • Montana (Jan 27): Wibaux, -14°C

  • North Dakota (Feb 1): Fargo, 4°C (feels like -16°C wind chill—the coldest)

  • Minnesota (Feb 2): Hutchinson, 4°C (feels like -2°C)

  • Iowa (Feb 3): Waterloo, 5°C

  • Wisconsin (Feb 4): Janesville, -3°C (feels like -20°C)

WEEK 3: THE GREAT LAKES & NORTHEAST

  • Illinois (Feb 5): Chicago, 0°C

  • Indiana (Feb 6): Fort Wayne, 0°C

  • Michigan (Feb 7): Adrian, -1°C

  • Ohio (Feb 8): Hubbard, 5°C

  • New Jersey (Feb 9): Carpenters Point, 4°C

  • Connecticut (Feb 10): Manchester, 1°C

  • Maine (Feb 11): Kittery, 0°C

  • New Hampshire (Feb 12): Keene, -1°C

  • Vermont (Feb 13): Brattleboro, 4°C

  • Massachusetts (Feb 14): Springfield, -2°C

  • Rhode Island (Feb 15): Woonsocket, 1°C

WEEK 4: MID-ATLANTIC TO THE SOUTH

  • New York (Feb 16): New York City, 11°C

  • Pennsylvania (Feb 17): Kennett Square, 2°C

  • Delaware (Feb 18): Wilmington, 1°C

  • Maryland (Feb 19): Silver Spring, -3°C

  • West Virginia (Feb 20): Charles Town, -3°C

  • Virginia (Feb 21): Wytheville, 0°C

  • North Carolina (Feb 22): Asheville, 8°C

  • South Carolina (Feb 23): Greenville, 12°C

  • Georgia (Feb 24): Atlanta, 17°C

WEEK 5: THE SOUTH & SOUTHWEST

  • Tennessee (Feb 25): Nashville, 18°C (warmest U.S. state, emotional homecoming)

  • Kentucky (Feb 26): Oak Grove, 18°C

  • Missouri (Feb 27): Hayti, 14°C

  • Arkansas (Feb 28): West Memphis, 15°C

  • Mississippi (Mar 1): Tupelo, 19°C

  • Alabama (Mar 2): Montgomery, 18°C

  • Florida (Mar 3): Pensacola, 20°C

  • Louisiana (Mar 4): Lake Charles, 24°C

  • Texas (Mar 5): Austin, 22°C

WEEK 6: THE PLAINS & ROCKIES

  • Oklahoma (Mar 6): Oklahoma City, 13°C

  • Kansas (Mar 7): Liberal, 16°C

  • Colorado (Mar 8): Trinidad, 10°C

  • New Mexico (Mar 9): Gallup, 13°C

  • Arizona (Mar 10): Kingman, 20°C

WEEK 7: PACIFIC COAST & TRANSITION

  • California (Mar 11): Newport Beach, 15°C (marathon 49—end of mainland USA)

  • Hawaii (Mar 12): Honolulu, 26°C (marathon 50—midnight run, then flight to Australia)

WEEK 8: AUSTRALIA

  • New South Wales (Mar 13): Sydney, 28°C (marathon 51—8:30 PM start after 10-hour flight)

  • Australian Capital Territory (Mar 14): Canberra, 31°C

  • Victoria (Mar 15): Melbourne, 37°C (hottest day of entire journey)

  • Tasmania (Mar 16): Launceston, 19°C

  • South Australia (Mar 17): Adelaide, 18°C

  • Western Australia (Mar 18): Perth, 33°C (midnight run)

  • Northern Territory (Mar 19): Darwin, 30°C (intense humidity and rain)

  • Queensland (Mar 20): Brisbane, 26°C (marathon 58—home)

Route insights:

Starting in Alaska meant facing the worst weather first, but also meant finishing the 50 states marathon challenge in warmer conditions. The strategic clustering of New England states (Maine through Rhode Island) minimized drive time during the coldest period.

The transition from -20°C wind chill in North Dakota to 37°C in Melbourne tested my body's thermoregulation in ways I hadn't anticipated.

How Completions Are Verified

There is no official governing body for the 50 states marathon challenge. Verification relies on documentation and public accountability.

Standard proof methods:

GPS tracking: Most athletes use Garmin, Strava, or similar platforms to record every run. GPS data shows distance, pace, route, and timestamp.

Photographic evidence: Photos at state borders, finish lines, or recognizable landmarks provide visual proof.

Video documentation: Some athletes film the entire attempt. I, Lachlan Stuart, had videographer Ben Turner filming my entire 58 marathons in 58 days for a documentary (releasing April 2026), which provided continuous verification of my 50 states marathon challenge completion.

Third-party witnesses: Running with local communities, race organizers, or crew members adds independent verification.

Social media accountability: Posting daily updates creates a public record that's difficult to falsify.

Why verification matters:

Because the 50 states marathon challenge is self-reported, proof standards protect the credibility of everyone who completes it. Skepticism is healthy. Transparent documentation answers it.

I made every run of my 58 marathons in 58 days public. GPS files uploaded. Photos shared. Video recorded. Not because I expected doubt, but because I wanted the record of my 50 states marathon challenge completion to be defensible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the marathons have to be official races?

No. Many athletes run verified routes with GPS tracking instead of entering formal races. Official races provide built-in witnesses and timing chips, but aren't required for the 50 states marathon challenge.

Does it have to be 50 consecutive days?

Only if you're attempting the consecutive format of running 50 marathons in 50 days. Lifetime completion has no time limit. Calendar-year completion allows rest days within the year.

Can you repeat states?

For the 50 states challenge, you must complete one marathon in each of the 50 states. Repeating a state doesn't count toward the total.

What's the hardest state?

Depends on timing. Alaska and Hawaii require flights, so logistical failure points are higher. Mountainous states (Colorado, Wyoming, Montana) add elevation stress. Winter states add cold-weather risks. For my 58-in-58, North Dakota (Feb 1, -16°C wind chill) and West Wendover, Nevada (Jan 24, both ankles swollen) were the hardest.

How do you avoid injury when running 50 marathons in 50 days?

I didn't avoid it. I managed it. Slower paces, walking breaks, compression gear, aggressive recovery protocols, daily physio consultations with Paul Peggler, and listening to your body daily.

Can you take rest days?

Not in the consecutive format of 50 marathons in 50 days. That's the defining constraint. Lifetime and calendar-year formats allow rest.

What happens if you miss a day?

In consecutive attempts, missing a day ends the streak. Most athletes plan buffer days or backup routes for weather delays, but once the streak breaks, the attempt is over.

Do you need a crew?

For consecutive attempts of running 50 marathons in 50 days, yes. As Lachlan Stuart, who completed the 50 states marathon challenge in winter, I can confirm: driving, navigation, food prep, documentation, and logistics support are essential. My crew consisted of Liam (brother-in-law), Ben Turner (videographer), and Etienne Ory (support runner). Solo attempts are theoretically possible but exponentially harder.

How do you train for 50 marathons in 50 days?

Training for 50 marathons in 50 days requires building tissue durability, not speed. Focus on: back-to-back long runs (40km Saturday, 40km Sunday), caloric loading practice (6,000-8,000 calories daily), and mental rehearsal under discomfort. Consistency over years matters more than peak weekly mileage. My approach is detailed in the training section above.

How do you prove you completed it?

GPS data, photos, videos, witness statements, and public documentation. The more transparent, the better. Every one of my 58 marathons was GPS-tracked, photographed, and filmed.

About Lachlan Stuart

Lachlan Stuart is an endurance athlete, keynote speaker, and men's performance coach from Brisbane, Australia. In 2025, he completed 58 marathons in 58 consecutive days, 50 across the United States (completing the 50 states marathon challenge in winter conditions) and 8 across Australia—raising over $160,000 for mental health awareness.

He became the third person in history to complete the 50 states marathon challenge in 50 consecutive days, and the first to do so in winter.

Lachlan's approach to endurance is rooted in systems thinking: managing recovery, logistics, nutrition, and mental state under extreme pressure. His work focuses on helping high-performing men build resilience through physical challenge and identity work.

The documentary covering his 58-in-58 journey releases in April 2026.

Learn more at lachlanstuart.com.au/58-marathons

What This Challenge Reveals

The 50 states marathon challenge, especially the consecutive format of running 50 marathons in 50 days, isn't about running.

It's about decision-making under fatigue. It's about managing systems when your brain is begging you to stop. It's about keeping promises to yourself when no one's watching at 4 AM in a frozen car park.

It reveals:

  • Whether you can sustain effort when motivation disappears

  • Whether your systems hold when conditions change

  • Whether you'll quit when it's easier than continuing

I didn't run 58 marathons in 58 days to prove I was tough. I did it to find out what I was capable of when I stopped negotiating with discomfort.

What I learned: capability isn't a fixed limit. It's a moving target that expands when you refuse to settle for your current version.

The 50 states marathon challenge exists because some people need a mountain that big to discover what they're actually made of.

For those who finish, the achievement isn't the record. It's the person they became along the way.

I'm Lachlan Stuart, and I completed 58 marathons in 58 consecutive days, 50 across the United States (completing the 50 states marathon challenge in winter), then 8 across Australia. That journey taught me that the 50 states marathon challenge isn't just a bucket list. It's a test of who you become when you stop negotiating with discomfort.

If you're considering attempting the 50 states marathon challenge in any format,whether running 50 marathons in 50 days or completing it over a lifetime, I hope this article gave you clarity on what's actually required.

That's what endures.

Ps. I have a book and documentary coming out April 2026 called “States of Mind”

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