Mark H Hudspeth
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2017 - 2018  Marathon Race Schedule   -  50 States 
60 Marathons (26.2), 6 Ultra Marathons (50K), 1 Ironman 70.3
Upcoming - Strongman 70.3 (October), Ironman 140.6 (November)

48 STATES  and  Washington D.C.
30 States in 1 year - Titanium Level with Marathon Mainiacs #14065


Knoxville Marathon Streaker - 14 years and counting

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Marine Corps Marathon 2003

The thrill of my FIRST marathon.  Learned a lesson about sight seeing the day before the race.  Don't explore all the monuments and museums until AFTER the race.  Except the Lincoln Memorial, go see it Before the race.  (Millions of Steps)
Virginia, Arlington  26.2 miles
Washington D.C.


Very excited to do my First with 15K others.  I was lucky enough to win the lottery the 2nd week.  Cory and I registered on the first day the race opened.  Now they draw for 30K and still fill up.  The health of our Nation is on the Rise.  Don't miss it.
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COUNTRY MUSIC MARATHON 2004


Rain Delay, about 30 minutes!in Cold Rain before the 8am start at 8:30am.  Ran in wet shoes with no problem, until the SUN came out!
Tennessee, Nashville      26.2 miles


By Noon Everyone was Cooked like Lobsters.  The last 2 miles looked like a long line of ants walking single file to the finish line.  Somehow, most survived - just sunburned and exhausted.  Winter Training doesn't prepare me for a Spring Marathon.
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Covenant Health
Knoxville Marathon
This created a lot of problems.  I had been reading Runners World and seen where people had run every race in their home town for 20 years.  Given the opportunity to start a Streak at Home was too much of a challenge for me to ignore.  And Now I have 13!
Tennessee, Knoxville   26.2 Miles

THE INAUGURAL RACE - 2005

Very Exciting, Everyone came out for this.  Even our Mayor ran in it.  What an Exciting day in Knoxville.  Our Police and Firemen gave us incredible support, and still do every year.  Live Bands at Every Mile plus Great Volunteers.  Would you expect anything less in Knoxville.
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  • USAF Marathon 2005

    At the time, they had the best medals of any race I had heard of.  They also were well organized and finished at the museum.  We ran down the taxi way between all the old airplanes.  Very inspiring after a long race.

    I had to do this one.  I served in the Air National Guard for 26 years, retiring in 2012.

OHIO, Dayton   26.2 Miles

This is also my PR of 5:08.  I know that is considered slow by most standards, but I'm proud of it.  I had a blister on my foot from mile 10 on.  Ran the last few on the side of my foot and went straight into med tent at the end.  Blister size of baseball.  They wrapped me up and I was fine within a few weeks.   I learned,  I have the ability to ignore pain when it counts.
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Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon      2006 and beyond...
Why would anybody run this a 2nd time?  It is the most "Hilly" and challenging of all race courses in the country.  Still, there are 20 "streakers" who don't know when to say "I Quit".
Most years it's cold for the start and warms gradually.  A few years we had some rain, but just short periods.  The entire town comes out to cheer every year as we run thru the neighborhoods.  I spend too much time socializing with spectators and volunteers, but the support is why this race grows bigger every year.  Athletes and Non-athletes like me, love a challenge.  The hills are getting easier now that I lost 75 pounds.

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Tennessee, Rutledge 2010

Marathon 26.2 plus a little

Very small Race in a Very Small Town.
Few Volunteers and Not Marked that great.  We started at the light pole and ran 2 laps thru the neighborhoods and town.  Several got lost, including me and we got a little extra time on the course.
Friendly people who thought this thing was better than Bling.  Its clear with clear writing and nearly impossible to read or get a picture.  After some work, here it is.
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The organizers did give us other great stuff like home made Jelly. 

I took a friend and this was his First.  Fortunately he enjoyed the experience and kept running with me for several more years.

Josh, you need to get back on the trail.  Your excuses have run out.  Pain is supposed to be temporary.  I need an Ironman Training Partner.
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Decided it was too hard to train for a marathon once a year.  Two a year, Spring and Fall might help keep my weight in check and my feet moving.

I was wrong of course, but it was a good thought.  My running form was off and with my injuries, my running speed slowed even more.

I tore 3 ligaments in my ankle, playing basketball and could barely walk for a short period.  I knew the Disney race was coming up so I had to get better.  I had little motion in my Right Ankle, but I managed to do the Goofy with a brace.
FLORIDA, Disney Marathon and Half   39.3 miles - 2012

Did I say I can't resist a challenge.  This one offered irresistible Bling.  1/2 marathon on Saturday with a Full on Sunday.
In 2012 this concept was foreign to me and wasn't sure I could handle it.  After my injury, I was less sure, but had to try.
I loved the Organization and the Crowds.  They bussed us from point A to B and C and back like clock work.  Disney is a must for all runners.  They offer many events throughout the year.
Now this does seem Goofy to think back to back races was a hard task.  In July I'll be doing 4 Full Marathons back to back with ease.  All miles past the first one are just mental anyway.
I just keep running until someone yells, "Stop Forest"
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Georgia, Fort Oglethorpe  2013

This race is pretty cool too.  It's a 2 loop race thru a national park.  It is very cold for the start, but they have a tent with heaters to help us stay warm.
Well organized and close to home.
The Bling is nice too, offering new states each year to commemorate the battles fought in the Civil War.


Even if your not into running, you should plan a trip to Chickamauga Battlefield and nearby Chattanooga for sightseeing.

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I had so much Fun, I had to try it again.

Fun weekend getaway with a great German Restaurant nearby.  If your not into trying new foods, Chattanooga is very close and has anything you could think of to eat.

Now that I'm on a plant based diet, I'm not I can do German.  They serve Gravy with every meal.   Yum, Yum. 
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Started Eating Healthier, Exercising More and Reading More.  With Enlightenment and New Since of Confidence, decided to Go for 50 States Club.  First up Denver 50K.
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COLORADO, Denver 2017   50K

William (Bill) Morton host a very unique, loop race.  He list all runner names on the finisher ribbon.  It is a small race, but great support team and you can't get lost.
The Bling is really cool too.

Runs With Scissors, CO
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Michagan, Niles   26.2 Miles      May  2017
Indiana, Portage
Illinois, Fulton
3 back to back May 2017
Mainly Marathons Group - Most Have The Goal of Completing a 1/2, Full or even 50K in all 50 states.  Some are doing it again.
These guys are incredible, average people, just like me.  The only thing special is their "Can Do" attitude.  I love running with them.  I even met a guy who had completed an IRONMAN.
There may have been more, just couldn't see their tats.  I even apologized for only doing 3 of the 7 marathons in the series.  They made fun of me for thinking "only 3" was in some way less.
My mental state of mind is evolving and I have lost a sense of what "Normal" is.  If everyone else is running 7, back to back, I can too.
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July on the Prairie is HOT.  80's, 90's and even into the 100's by days 5 and 6.
I only ran the MN and ND this week so I missed the really bad heat.  I drank gallons of water and gatoraide and gained about 5lbs on this trip.  Luckily it dropped back down within a few days of being home.

All the MM runners completed their goals with Excellent support from the new crew..
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This Journey has already brought me much more than I ever thought I was signing up for.  The people I'm meeting on the road, in the races and the support crew have been incredible.  I am trying to highlight at least one or two from each trip, but it is hard to choose when you are surrounded by so many world class athletes.  I'm lucky they even let me on the same track with them, but they are all so humble and friendly you would not even know they are famous.  I'm looking forward to a great couple of years.
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Anchorage Alaska.  WOW.  This race day was perfect.  It was 55 degrees with a light rain most of the day.

I felt great and had my fastest race time in years of 5:08.  Just missed my PR by 30 seconds, bu considering I set the record at age 35, this is very good.  

I'm sure I will beat this time by the end of the year.
I Discovered the West in the next couple of Series with the Mainly Marathon Group.  It was a lot of driving thru wide open spaces - very low population, very large farm land.  In addition to the running, I was able to visit Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devil's Tower, The Center of the Nation marker, Medicine Rocks, Hot Springs, The Sundance Kid statue, Superman Statue and museum, Snake River, The Lewis and Clark trail, The Arch in St. Louis, The Falls in Sioux City and the Worlds only Corn Palace.  Probably a few other things like lots of Loony Birds.  I'm really enjoying the experience and spending quality time with my family.

Next  WV, NC, SC and Ironman 70.3 NC
Appalachian Series



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