Fifty States HALF Marathon Club's OFFICIAL BLOG

Visit 50 States Half Marathon Club Official Site

2016-10-03T23:24:00.003-06:00

For all future posts, please visit the official Fifty States Half Marathon Club website at www.50stateshalfmarathonclub.com

At the official site you will find info on the Challenges, 50 States Half Marathon Challenge™, 50 States Endurance Challenge™, 100 Half Marathons Challenge™, 7 Continents Endurance Challenge™, 500 Endurance Challenge™ and the Canada 10 Provinces Half Marathon Challenge™.

You will find Finishers, Annual meet up information, rules & guidelines, online store for club gear, tips for painting your shirts, and more.

2015 Half Marathon Club Annual Meet Up and Awards to be Held in Golden Colorado

2014-11-11T22:31:00.000-07:00

Half Marathons continue to grow around the globe and across the USA. The current totals of half marathons in the USA equal well over 2000 events, with recent industry leaders’ claims of close to 2 million half marathon finishers over the past year. The number of half marathon events, and the number of finishers continue to increase annually. The 13.1 mile distance is perfect for the traveler, allowing the ability to enjoy a weekend destination with little recovery time, contrary to the full marathon distance.

In 2008, Fifty States Half Marathon running club was founded, and has now grown to become a central bonding ground for bringing half marathon runners together from all over the USA, and even some from other countries. The club also has members from Canada, and as far away as UAE. The club features over 300 running event discounts (mostly half marathons), and a fabulous high end gold cup trophy for members who finish a 50 states journey, or 100 half marathons. The challenges also allow for ironman distance and half ironman distance triathlons to count in totals of various challenges. The 500 endurance challenge and a 7 Continents endurance Challenge was added as well over the past year, an enticer to go above and beyond 50 states or 100 halfs. Members meet up for dinner and race photos all over the USA throughout the year, and enjoy an unprecedented camaraderie! The bonds of the members seem to get stronger every year, and more keep joining due to the positive energy the club and members spark amongst others! The annual meet up and awards, which is held in a new destination every year, has also been an exciting event. Members drive and fly in from all over to see one another, celebrate membership and awards for challenge finishers, and enjoy a weekend of socializing. The half marathon group is a welcoming organization with both walkers and runners of all abilities, and is a fabulous running club to meet other likeminded individuals, from some just normal everyday folks, to some with amazing inspirational stories of overcoming adversity.

In 2015, Fifty 50 States Half Marathon Club will hold their annual meet up event at Kooky Spooky Half Marathon in Golden, Colorado (a suburb west of Denver), with expectations of close to 200 members attending. The weekend, October 23rd through October 25th, will consist of a planned light group hike up the scenic Table Mountain, social night of mingling, a Coors Brewery tour, an evening of dinner and awards to be presented to all the 50 States and 100 Half finishers, a race day with mingling at post race tent upon finishing the the half marathon, and another final social gathering the last evening of the weekend. Thank you to all our members who truly make this club very special! Look forward to seeing MANY of you October 2015 in Colorado!

Our Newest Half Marathon Challenge Finishers!

2014-07-04T17:00:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to all our recent half marathon challenge and other running challenge FINISHERS. We truly have a special half marathon group and so glad our club has been a part of your journey!

50 States Half Marathon Challenge Shirt Painting - Members' Creativity, Fabric Painting Tips and Ideas

2014-07-04T15:09:00.000-06:00

We started a new Page where we are now sharing picutres, tips and ideas of member's 50 States Half Marathon Challenge shirts! Whether you have one of our black shirts (long sleeve, short sleeve, or singlets), one of our black Club Running Jackets, our Lime short sleeve shirt, or our safety green/yellow color shirts (short sleeve shirt, long sleeve, or singlet), there is a map on the back of ALL for members to paint the states along their journey that they've completed!

Here is a quick Preview of some of the shirts posted on our new page:

TO VIEW ALL SHIRTS, FABRIC PAINTING TIPS, AND CLUB SHIRT PAINT IDEAS, visit our
50 States Half Marathon Challenge and 50 States Endurance Challenge Shirt Painting - Tips and Ideas page.

NEW California Discount to INAUGURAL half marathon this August

2014-07-01T13:33:00.004-06:00

NEW California Discount to INAUGURAL half marathon this August in Shaver Lake, CA, for Fifty States Half Marathon Club members.

The Fresno County Search and Rescue Team wants to give you a challenge. So they are putting on the 1st SAR Wild Run Trail Half Marathon. This “Half” will have you running the previous year’s bike trail along the southeast side of Shaver Lake while adding more miles in the forest with great views of the lake. But save your energy as you will finish scrambling up the 5K Wild Run. They say with the longer course the chances are better of seeing BIG FOOT!

http://www.SARWildRun.com/

Click here for ALL California half marathons 2014

NEW Massachusetts Discount to INAUGURAL Half marathon this November

2014-07-01T13:29:00.000-06:00

NEW Massachusetts Discount to INAUGURAL Half marathon this November in Ipswich, MA, for Fifty States Half Marathon Club members. And I want pictures of you ALL in your mustache! LOL

Celebrate "Movember" with a half marathon that is 13.1 miles of mustache fun! Sport your own facial hair with pride or stick on the mustache we'll give you in your race bag. Join our goofy Best Stache Contest that's open to guys, gals and kids! In Movember, anyone
and everyone can rock the stache!

On the course you'll race past some of the oldest and most historical homes (pre-revolution) in the entire country. You'll also enjoy some beautiful scenic views in this charming coastal community. The Stache Halfe Race Series is a totally unique race concept. Celebrate the stache with two challenging races that will push you to test your own limits. Run both races back-to-back!

http://www.yukanrun.com/Stache-Halfe.html

Click here for ALL Massachusetts Half Marathons

HITS Omaha Marathon - HITS Omaha Half Marathon - Fifty States Half Marathon Club 2014 Annual Club and Awards Event

2014-04-20T01:30:00.000-06:00

PRESS RELEASE:

Every year, Fifty States Half Marathon Club holds an annual meet up at a new destination. Half Marathon runners from the half marathon group fly in from all over the USA, and some from Canada. In 2013, the annual meet up was held at Space Coast Marathon and Half Marathon in Florida, an exceptionally well run event put on by a stellar race staff. The 2014 Fifty States Half Marathon Club annual meet up will be held at HITS Omaha Marathon and Half Marathon in Omaha, Nebraska. The 2013 event was so much fun, that the members are really looking forward to the 2014 Omaha event! The annual get together is looking like another great turnout for club member attendance.

Fifty States Half Marathon Club is a national club and has multiple challenges, founded by Nicole Blomgren who runs both the club and the national Halfmarathonsearch.com Half Marathon Calendar. Challenges include the popular 50 States Half Marathon Challenge (to finish a half marathon in all 50 states), the 100 HALF Anywhere Challenge (to finish 100 half marathons or half ironmans, or combo of either), and the 50 States Endurance Challenge (to finish a half marathon, full marathon, half ironman, full ironman, or combo of any of those 4 distances in all 50 states, for those that like to mix it up). The club also has the 7 Continents Endurance Challenge, and the 500 Endurance Challenge for members who want to remain a club member amongst the many wonderful members, and enjoy the approximate 300 event discounts across the nation. The club even offers a lifetime membership option for existing members, and welcomes members to remain a member long after finishing a challenge or challenges.

The annual meet up in Omaha will start out with a Friday evening cocktail hour meet up at a “to be determined” destination Sept 19, 2014, close to the hotels and race location. Saturday the Pre Race dinner, hosted by the HITS Omaha Marathon & Half Marathon staff, will be a club member gathering where 50 State Challenge and 100 HALF challenge finishers will receive their personally engraved gold cup trophy awards. Sunday September 21st, 2014 will be the race day meet up, post race at tent, and following with a Sunday evening finale meet up at a “to be determined” location. Excitement is heating up as the event weekend gets closer, and looks to be another fun gathering for Fifty 50 States Half Marathon Club members! Final itinerary will be emailed out to all half marathon club official members in August.

2013 to Early 2014 Half Marathon Member Moments - Fifty States Half Marathon Club

2014-01-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

Another fabulous year for Fifty States Half Marathon Club, with wonderful members, and lots of 2013 to early 2014 half marathon memories to share. Of course we can't begin to capture ALL the great moments, but here is our year in review of member moments.

2013 to Early 2014 Member Moments Video

Get Ready for the Big Half Marathon Running Meet-Up of the Year

2014-01-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Fifty States Half Marathon Club Annual Meet-Up destination for 2014 is FINAL!

After our annual process of picking a region, and sending out the races for members to vote on for our final annual meet-up destination, the final results came down to three GREAT races in the Midwest this year. The final 3 were the Indianapolis Half Marathon & Marathon, The Northern Ohio Half Marathon & Marathon, and HITS Omaha Half Marathon & Marathon. The final vote was tallied up, and HITS Omaha won the final destination vote for 2014.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY for Omaha 9/19/2014 - 9/21/2014
Our itinerary will be very similar to how we did things at Space Coast annual meet-up in 2013. I will not have Friday and Sundays plans "firmed up" until later in the year when we get a firm count on attendees. Saturday plans are FIRM though. ALL our activities will be

FRIDAY EVENING - SOCIAL
Friday will be an informal social meet up. I'm already scoping out a destination that I believe may have a live band Friday nights, and it is within walking distance from the hotels near the TD Ameritrade Park Stadium. We will likely meet there Friday night, and it will be a nice social, fun night to mingle with members and listen to some live music.

SATURDAY - AWARDS - FINISHER TROPHIES
Saturday, all members are invited to the Pre-Race Pasta dinner hosted by the race. We will be presenting our trophies at this pasta dinner for ALL members who finished any challenges AFTER the date of our last member meet up. Our annual meet ups are our main event for presenting awards annually. We'll also get annual meet up group photos this night!

SUNDAY EVENING - SOCIAL
Sunday, I will be planning something social in the evening. It will probably be a place where people can eat, socialize, have a couple drinks, etc Once I get the final count later in the year of how many are committed to coming, I will plan this out. I recommend if you want to make the most of our member meet up and not be wiped out from the race, to probably only do the half marathon, so you can enjoy yourself with all the members. Again this will be planned later in year when I have our attendance locked in.

The 2015 Annual meet-up will be extra special, holding it local to the President of Fifty States Half Marathon Club, Nicole Blomgren, and is already looking to be an enormous turn-out! It will be held in September or October in the Denver / Boulder region of Colorado, at a "To Be Determined" Destination!

Join us and be part of the FUN weekend at HITS Omaha Marathon & Half Marathon!

HITS OMAHA MARATHON & HALF MARATHON

Fifty States HALF Marathon Club 2014 Annual Meet Up was a HIT at Space Coast Marathon & Half Marathon Destination

2013-12-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

While our annual meet up for Fifty States HALF Marathon Club was a great time at Rock'n'Roll Las Vegas for our 2012 destination, our 2013 annual meet up destination at Space Coast Marathon and Half Marathon was even bigger and better!

To start off, Space Coast Marathon & Half Marathon race management team was spectacular to work with. They were extremely organized, and truly hosted our group, by providing us a complimentary table at their expo to hand out specially designed Space Coast - Fifty States Half Marathon Club shirts they designed and purchased for all of our members. They also allowed us to present some of our official challenge finisher trophies at their hosted pre-race dinner prior to Jeff Galloway speaking, and also provided us a post race tent. This made for one of our best annual meet ups yet, in addition to drawing almost 60 of our members and their families down to the Space Coast event! From Tiki Bar meet up on Friday at our host hotel Radisson at the Port, to a fun pre race dinner where most of our members gathered, to a fun race day with members of our club, to our final wrap meeting for dinner, appetizers and drinks at Fishlips on the Cape Canaveral bay, combining that with GREAT COMPANY of our truly fabulous members of our running club I've met, I must say our 2013 annual meet up was a hit!

We now are currently working on selecting approximately 10 events for our members to vote on to identify our 2014 annual meet up that will be held in either September or October next year. This first list will be coming out soon! If you are an event within an hour of a MAJOR airport, and feel you could provide a similar experience to what Space Coast provided us for 2013, we welcome you to reach out to us for consideration! But must act soon, because once our list is out, there is no turning back :)

Also, those planning to join our club, if you want to get in on the VOTE for the 2014 annual meet up for next September / October 2014, you must join within the next day! The vote will come out soon!

We typically send approximately 10 events out for vote. We analyze our results and narrow down to final 3. We then discuss with the final 3 race directors and race management teams, and add any incentives to draw our members to choose that particular event. Since we close to doubled in membership in 2013, we anticipate an even bigger turnout than this year's 60 attendees! Looking forward to our 2014 annual meet up already!!

Here are some photos from our 2013 annual meet up!

As always, search for a half marathon at the most up to date 2014 half marathon calendar on the web!

New 15% Discount to the Running Warehouse for Fifty States Half Marathon Club Members

2013-11-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

New DISCOUNT for official Fifty States Half Marathon Club members! Members now receive 15% off at the Running Warehouse!

www.RunningWarehouse.com

Discount is for official club members only and is strictly enforced.

New Half Marathon Club Rule for Those Halfmarathoners Past the Required Number of Half Marathons to be Completed While in Member Status

2013-10-27T18:50:00.000-06:00

Attention Half Marathon Runners, who run a LOT of half marathons!

We have changed a rule effective immediately that applies to those that have completed a LOT of STATES or a LOT of half marathons and may have been contemplating joining our club due to being OVER the minimum amount you need to complete "as a member" to be eligible for complimentary finisher trophies. For anyone that joins AFTER they are over the minimum to be eligible for a trophy, I will waive that rule (once you become an official member) if you then immediately purchase the 3 year, 5 year or lifetime annual dues option (after paying the official membership fee), and you will then receive the complimentary trophy still (even if you are at 49 states or 99 HALFS, or already finished the challenge not as a member, etc. I'm doing this, because the only reason we had the rule was to avoid people doing all the states and joining right before they finish just to get a trophy (since we're a club and not a trophy store). But for those truly wanting to be a club member, and pays minimum 3 year annual dues option immediately after becoming a member (meaning you're paid up for 4 years if you just joined since your joining fee covers your first year) you will not have to "purchase" a trophy. I will get this added in our rules and guidelines this week. However you will still need to provide all the required documentation for verification process prior to our ordering and having your trophy engraved once you become a member.

Visit http://www.halfmarathonclub.com to view what counts toward each challenge.

Half Marathon Calendar, 2013 half marathons, 2014 half marathons, half marathons 2014, half marathons 2013

New 50 States HALF Marathon Club Technical Visors & Race Hats, Beanies and Headbands

2013-10-14T21:39:00.004-06:00

Half Marathon Runners .... New Fifty States Half Marathon Club Headware now available for Pre-Order until Tuesday!

Fifty States Half Marathon Club Visor

Click Here to Buy

Fifty States Half Marathon Club Technical Race Hat

Click Here to Buy

Fifty States Half Marathon Club Headbands, Beanies and More

View ALL New Club Technical Hats, Race Visors, Headbands & Beanies
More Gear Coming Soon....... View Here

Half marathon Club - Half Marathon Calendar - Half Marathons 2014 - Half Marathons 2013 - Running Half marathons - Running

Happy National Running Day to all you Runners out there

2013-06-05T07:55:00.001-06:00

Wishing all you runners out there an extra special National Running day! Runners united like never before this year, and we are so grateful to be a part of such an awesome community full of all you awesome runners.

All the best, From your Running Friends at Fifty 50 States HALF Marathon Club and Halfmarathonsearch.com Half Marathon Calendar USA!

http://www.halfmarathonclub.com

UTAH Discount added for a NIGHT Half Marathon in August

2013-05-23T23:10:00.000-06:00

Discount added for 50 States HALF Marathon Club members to the 6th Annual Moonlight Half Marathon, a NIGHT event in Mapleton, Utah! The object of this half marathon is to finish as close to midnight as possible.

www.moonlighthalf.com

New DISCOUNT added for INAUGURAL Rocky Mountain Half Marathon ....

2013-05-23T17:35:00.002-06:00

New Colorado discount added for 50 States HALF Marathon Club members to the inaugural Rocky Mountain Half Marathon, which kicks off the 1st Annual even this August 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park!

If you register BEFORE MONDAY May 27th Memorial Day, you will receive a FREE Training Shirt found at this link http://www.therockymountainhalf.com/training-shirts/rockymountaintraining/

www.therockymountainhalf.com

New DISCOUNT added to INAUGURAL Half Marathon in Arizona ...

2013-05-23T11:35:00.000-06:00

New discount added for Fifty States HALF Marathon Club members to the Inaugural event, The Lake Powell Half Marathon, to take place this October in Page, AZ!

www.thelakepowellhalf.com

50 States HALF Marathon Club members at Delaware Running Festival ...

2013-05-19T21:40:00.003-06:00

50 States HALF Marathon Club Member Wins 2nd Place for Best Costume at Movie Madness Half Marathon

2013-05-19T21:11:00.000-06:00

Fifty States HALF Marathon Club member Mary Steinmann wins 2nd place for best costume at Movie Madness Half Marathon in Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania!

50 States HALF Marathon Girlzzzzz Rocked the house at Portland

2013-05-19T21:05:00.000-06:00

Pre dinner get together, Fifty States Half Marathon Club members at Rock'n'Roll Portland Half Marathon

NEW Minnesota Half Marathon Discount added for members to Inaugural event

2013-05-19T20:58:00.003-06:00

New discount added for Fifty States Half Marathon Club members, to the new Inaugural half marathon in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, ......

The Original 13 Half Marathon

July 4th 2013

The All New 500 Endurance Challenge Announced! Complete a Total of 500 Marathons, Half Marathons, 70.3 Half Ironmans or Full Ironmans ...

2013-05-05T17:00:00.000-06:00

SO, .... You didn't think you were going to STOP at 100, did you? :)

The 500 ENDURANCE CHALLENGE IS HERE ...... www.halfmarathonclub.com and officially added to our home page.

Take on the 500 Endurance Challenge™ and finish 500 Half Marathons, Full Marathons, 70.3 Half Ironmans, or Full Ironmans ANYWHERE in the WORLD, ANY STATE, ANY COUNTRY. This challenge is exclusive to either members who have completed at least one of our other official challenges as a member, or complete at minumum 250 of the 500 total events while in membership status.

Fifty States HALF Marathon Club Member Photos 2012 - 2013

2013-05-03T21:13:00.000-06:00

Fifty States Half Marathon Club Various Member Photos 2013 - 2014 (More will be added soon)!

www.halfmarathonclub.com

Fifty States HALF Marathon Club Members Enjoying a Fun Dinner - Indy 500 Festival Mini Marathon weekend

2013-05-03T17:03:00.000-06:00

A bunch of our awesome Fifty States HALF Marathon Club members having their pre-race dinner, night before the Indy 500 Festival Mini Marathon "Half Marathon"!

New COLORADO Discount added to INAUGURAL Area 13.1 Half Marathon Denver ...

2013-05-02T20:37:00.000-06:00

New discount added to the INAUGURAL Area 13.1 Half Marathon Denver (taking place in Castle Rock, Colorado), for Fifty States HALF Marathon Club members! This is a NIGHT Half Marathon which will take place Saturday September 14th 2013.

AREA 13.1 is a nationwide Half Marathon Series originating in Roswell, Georgia. This is a night race; seriously when have you ever heard of aliens invading during the day?

All runners will receive an “out of this world” extraterrestrial-friendly shirt and swag bag equipped with glow in the dark tools needed to ward off those pesky aliens. Finishers will receive their very own die cast “I Escaped the Invasion” medal. Sponsor giveaways and much more. The Invaders are coming. Will you escape?

http://alienhalf.com/race-info-d/