50 States Half Marathon Club™ Challenges
Descriptions of 50 States Half Marathon Club™ Member Challenges
50 States Half Marathon Challenge™
Take on the 50 States Half Marathon Challenge™ (the original challenge our club was founded on) and finish a HALF marathon in all 50 States (plus DC optional) in the USA. [Finishers receive Gold Cup Trophy personally engraved]. This challenge is 13.1 miles (21k) only.
OR {choose one or the other, NOT BOTH}
50 States Endurance Challenge™
Take on the 50 States Endurance Challenge™ and finish a half marathon, full marathon, 70.3 HALF Iron distance triathlon [which has an official USAT 13.1 finish], or full Ironman triathlon [which has an official USAT 26.2mi finish], or combination of any of these mentioned distances, in all 50 states (plus DC optional) in the USA! [Finishers receive Gold Cup Trophy personally engraved]. This challenge is half marathons and full marathons combo.
FAQ: Do any other distances count (such as distances inbetween the half and full, or distances a little over, like a 25k, or a little under)?
NO: The event must be a 13.1 mile (21k) course event, a 26.2 mile course event, a 70.3 triathlon (because it has an official 13.1 mile course), or an Ironman distance tri (because it has an official 26.2 mile course). The challenege is a combo of official halfs anf fulls in all 50 states.
FAQ: What if the course distance goes over?
Answer: If the race was "stated" as an official half marathon, and "stated" as a 13.1 mile distance on the race official website, and goes over by a regular standard of error per USATF guidelines, it is just fine. If the race was not stated as an official half marathon 13.1mile race distance, the event does not count. Same methodology pertaining to the full marathon distance. The event does not need to be USATF certified, but must follow this guideline.
The 50 States Endurance TRAIL CHALLENGE™ 20k PLUS
This challenge is for true single track trail runs that are 20k or longer in distance. Run a true single track trail run, 20k or longer, in all 50 States! Since there are so may awesome trail runs out there, close to a half marathon or longer, and with trail runs being more difficult to measure, this challenge will alllow true trail runners to not fret over a little less, or a little more than a 21k (half marathon). Any true single track trail, race starting at 20k or longer (21k, 25k, 50k, Ultra trail runs, you name it, they will count.
ALL RACES COUNTED TOWARD THIS CHALLENGE, CAN NOT COUNT TOWARD ANY OTHER CLUB 50 STATES CHALLENGE.
No gravel trail events, and no paved trail events count toward this challenge. It must be a real, true, dirt trail run. Small portions of a trail race may include a little bit of road or crushed rock, and that is fine, as long as it is not any significant portion of the course.
100 Half Marathons Challenge™
Take on the 100 Half Marathons Challenge™ and finish 100 Half Marathons and/or 70.3 HALF Iron distance triathlons (because it has an offical 13.1 mile half marathon course), ANYWHERE in the WORLD, ANY STATE, ANY COUNTRY. This challenge will be an excellent match for either those who don't have the time or the financial means to travel as much OR want to take their challenge to traveling around the world finishing HALFs in other countries. This challenge is exclusive to half marathons, but is not exclusive to specific states. This 100 half marathons challenge has been one of our challenges since the start of our club, and you can work on this challenge simultaneously with all other challenges [Finishers receive Gold Cup Trophy personally engraved for the first 100, and milestone award for each additional 100].
FAQ: Can I count some of my past races?
YES: Please read through Rules & Guidelines Page. Rule #11 answers this question thoroughly. Thank you.
FAQ: Can I work on more than one challenge?
YES: All members can work on ALL our challenges simultaneously (except the fact that you have to pick one OR the other of the two regular 50 States Challenges. The 50 States Trail Challenge CAN be worked on simultaneously with one of the other 50 States Challenges, but a 21k half marathon trail race can only count toward one or the other, not toward both.
FAQ: How do I track my challenges?
ANSWER: I will send out detailed tracking instructions and process to each individual after they join the club. It's not a difficult process.
500 Endurance Challenge™
Take on the 500 Endurance Challenge™ and finish 500 Half Marathons, Full Marathons, 70.3 Half Ironmans (because it has an official 13.1 mile course), Full Ironmans (because it has an official 26.2mi course) 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. This is half marathons & full marathons only. [Finishers will receive a special award].
FAQ: Do any other distances count (such as distances inbetween the half and full, or distances a little over, or a little under)?
No. The event must be a 13.1 mile course event, a 26.2 mile course event,a 70.3 triathlon with a 13.1 mile course, or an Ironman distance with a 26.2 mile course. It is a challenge to try to reach 500 official half marathons and full marathons combined.
FAQ: What if I wait and join later and work on the challenges on my own?
ANSWER: You are missing out on "the experience" to share your journey with other amazing members, pre race dinners at races and the camaraderie at races. You will miss out on the fabulous annual meet ups. You will miss out on tons of discounts and possibily some free entries. The discounts pay for your annual dues and thensome, if you take advantage of them, so it is more cost effective to join EARLY. PLUS, there could be a joining fee increase at some point, so join us now and enjoy the journey with other great members.
ALSO, if you join PAST 25 of your 50 states, or PAST 50 of your 100 Half Marathons, you will need to read rule #11 carefully, and follow the extra steps to qualify for complimentary awards.
7 Continents Endurance Challenge™
Take on the 7 Continents Endurance Challenge™ and CHOOSE to complete a Half Marathon, Full Marathon, 70.3 Half Ironman Triathlon, Full Ironman Triathlon, or any Ultra Distance Run longer than a full marathon, on each of the 7 Continenents, and receive a special award (different than our trophy). [Finishers receive a Plaque with a Gold Globe]. Rule #11 applies to new members.
FAQ: Do we have to complete Antarctica? Yes. There are growing options available to complete one of the listed distance events on Antarctica, and we do have multiple finishers of this challenge.
Canadian Provinces Half Marathon Challenge™
Complete a Half Marathon in each of Canada's 10 provinces.
This challenge is half marathons only (13.1mile / 21k).
Finisher award is "To Be Announced".
In a Multi-Club effort to support our Veterans and those with disabilities, Fifty States Half Marathon Club allows Hand Cycling for ALL challenges. If you have other needs or ideas as to how we can support in other ways, feel free to reach out.