Massachusetts to New Jersey: Running, Reading, and Racing in the USA

What do the Boston Marathon, a haunted New England classic, Detroit riverfront miles, Grandma’s Marathon, a Harley-themed half, Yellowstone racecation dreams, Las Vegas chaos, and a Judy Blume coming-of-age classic have in common?

They are all part of Episode 3 of Running, Reading, and Racing in the USA, Extraordinary Strides’ five-part summer series exploring all 50 states through books, races, local running gems, and the stories that make each place unforgettable.

This week, we travel from Massachusetts through New Jersey, with book pairings, racecation ideas, state trivia, and plenty of “wait, should I add that to my someday list?” energy.

Featured states: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.

On the bookish side, we are talking The Scarlet Letter, Mystic River, North Woods, Middlesex, The Virgin Suicides, Firekeeper’s Daughter, The Lager Queen of Minnesota, Ordinary Grace, The Latehomecomer, The Help, A Time to Kill, Mudbound, James, Gone Girl, Stoner, A River Runs Through It, Montana 1948, My Ántonia, Eleanor & Park, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, One for the Money, and Americanah.

On the racecation side, we are covering Falmouth Road Race, Boston Marathon, Boston 10K for Women, Baystate Marathon, Detroit Free Press Marathon, Grand Rapids Marathon, Traverse City Bayshore Marathon, Grandma’s Marathon, Twin Cities Marathon, Mankato Marathon, Hattiesburg Half Marathon, Harley Half Marathon, Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, Bass Pro Conservation Marathon, Kansas City Marathon, Run Liberty Half, Missoula Marathon, Bozeman Marathon, Yellowstone Half, Glacier Half, Good Life Halfsy, Lincoln Marathon, Nebraska State Fair Marathon, Rock Tahoe Half Marathon, Red Rock Canyon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon, Clarence DeMar Marathon, Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon, Covered Bridges Half Marathon, New Hampshire 10 Miler, OCNJ Half Marathon, Run the Vineyards, Statue of Liberty 5K, and Jersey City race ideas.

Choose one book. Add one race to your someday list. Then tell us which state you would most love to read, run, or explore next.

Read. Run. Explore. Connect.

Transcript

July Series Kickoff And Format

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This July on Extraordinary Strides, we're celebrating 250 years of the United States by exploring the country the way we know best. Not with a pop quiz, not with a ranking, and absolutely not with a requirement to read every single book or run every race, though I am down for that kind of challenge. We are exploring through stories, places, race cations, and the connections we make when we get curious about all three. So let's pack those library cards, get those running shoes ready, and that little part of our brain that sees a race calendar and immediately thinks I can make a weekend out of that. Episode three is gonna take us from Massachusetts all the way to New Jersey. Welcome back, friends, to Extraordinary Strides. I am Coach Christine, and this is episode three of Running, Reading, and Racing in the USA, our five-part July exploration of all 50 states. If you've missed the first two episodes, it's not too late to go back and have a little re-listen. We're moving alphabetically through the map, and today we're covering Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. I kind of feel like I'm reading out all the states in like a Miss America pageant contest, but truly, for each state, I'm bringing you three books. One may be iconic or literary, one may be more popular or accessible, and a little bit of a wild card or a conversation starter just because I can. That's because of Extraordinary Strides. After all, we're adding these races, race cation tips, and places to run, even if you decide not to pin a bib on it. Now, with that said, my friend, I am ready to get this 50 State Party officially underway. So

Massachusetts Books Plus Boston Energy

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we're gonna kick this off with a little bit of Massachusetts. Now, if you guys recall, I am a fan of things in the New England area because there's just so much wonderful, wonderful history. But specifically in Massachusetts, we get a little bit of that Salem energy, a whole lot of Boston grit, and a little bit of Cape Cod speed. We know that this state brings it when it comes to a very serious running history, and they all meet together at the start line here in Massachusetts. Now, this is the state where we can say that it is more than just one story. It has geography, history, weather, a whole lot of local pride, and maybe a book, a race that's going to make your top list. My very first book out of the gate, my friend, is going to be The Scarlet Letter. It's a classic for a reason. Of course, there are a lot of different important themes within it, including moral hypocrisy, a community loves a scandal more than it loves compassion. Now, just a little note: although the author has a lot of deep Salem roots within the pages of this book, the custom house frame is in Salem, but the main story takes place in Puritanical Boston, that is, or Puritan Boston. That's actually useful to know because Massachusetts gives us both that Salem shadows here with this book, and of course, a little bit more of those Boston consequences. You likely have seen the movies, of course, with Mystic River, but this is such a classic book to pick up as well. A Boston area crime novel about childhood trauma, loyalty, grief, and the way one neighborhood can hold secrets for decades. As we know it became a movie in 2003 by Clint Eastwood. And I gotta say, in doing this series, I learned that Clint Eastwood produced a lot of different uh really phenomenal movies. So he must be a pretty big literary reader himself. I do think that this is a great one, especially if you're making your way up to Massachusetts to pick up the book, watch the movie maybe if you have a treadmill day, and of course discuss with your friends. Last but not least is Northwoods by Daniel Mason. It's a sweeping, unusual novel that's built around a single house in the woods of western Massachusetts. Moving through centuries of inhabitants, ghost, nature, climate, a little bit of love, a teensy bit of madness definitely creates a recipe for success. This is the book for people who want a place to be more than just a setting. It's basically Massachusetts saying, hey, pull up a chair. I have like 300 years that we could chat about. So again, phenomenal different options here. They all are set in such rich history. I think that you're gonna love immersing yourself in any of these, but I'd love to hear from you as to if you have a particular favorite. Now, we can't talk about Massachusetts without just calling it a spade a spade, right? It's Boston Marathon. It is the crown jewel run on Patriots Day. It has incredibly intense qualifying standards. It just continue to tighten year after year. Of course, there's other ways of getting bibs through charity or invitationals, but, or maybe like the special, um, if you're chasing the majors, lottery happenings, that's probably the only way. Or if you're outside of the US, of course, there's those international tour operators, but there's so much history. There's of course Heartbreak Hill, the Scream Tunnel, and an emotional experience that makes many runners tear up before the start line even appears. Definitely before the finish line gets there as well. But let's say you don't make your way down to Boston. I do want to call out the base state marathon and half marathon. It's a strong alternative for the Boston qualifying dreams for sure, or just that you prefer to not have to worry about that BQ standard. So uh it's set in Lowell and it typically is in October. It has a pretty flat and fast reputation and definitely has a less frenzied appeal, maybe, um, than chasing that Boston unicorn. Now, if you still want to make yourself out to Boston and you want to tackle maybe a different race, still these can be hard to get into. The BAA races are difficult, but a little bit easier to get a bib for is the Boston 10K for women. It's a fall Boston tradition, and of course, it has a women-centered race atmosphere, great distance, and a route that lets newer runners feel part of something bigger. And again, speaking of tradition, there is the ASICs Falmouth Road Race. It is a seven mile August Cape Cod Classic. It does get warm, but you will see all sorts of professional semi-pros and just a great crowd toe up, running from Woods Hull to Falmouth Heights. It's scenic, it's historic, and it's sneaky because you think that seven miles sounds like an okay way to spend your afternoon, right? But my friends, there is that summer humidity, there is early hills that join this little bit of party. So keep that in mind. Again, with these races, as usual in the world of running nowadays, it is important that you plan ahead. So get these on the books, especially that Boston qualifier, if that's something that really speaks to your heart. Now, my personal pairing, I would say check out the Book of Northwoods and go ahead and sign up for the Boston 10K for women. It'll give you all that little bit of extra Massachusetts feel and surrounded by an incredible crowd of fellow runners. Now, if you want to get in a run when you're in the area and you don't necessarily have an opportunity to line up your vacation or your travels with a race, of course, there's a Charles River Esplanade for classic Boston Running, the Emerald Necklace for Parks in City Green, the Minuteman Bikeway, if you want more of that revolutionary history with your miles, and then the Cape Cod Rail Trail for vacation legs or a little bit of a gentle Salem waterfront shakeout if you want that witchy energy with without racing anyone with a cloak, but who doesn't want a little bit of that witchy energy? So I think all of these sound like wonderful runs to add to the list. Now, I'm curious if you were aware that Massachusetts has that sea level coastline, but also has quite a bit of elevation with Mount Greylock at about 3,400 feet. And as we know, it also, the lovely state of Massachusetts, gave us Shelene Flanagan, who grew up in Marblehead and the Boston running culture that is iconic all on its own. We're

Michigan Stories And A Border Crossing Race

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gonna go ahead and leave the great state of Massachusetts and make our way to Michigan. And here in Michigan, it is one of those states where choosing again, only three books felt really difficult to do because Michigan has just so much widespread geography and culture and interesting little tidbits of it. But three is what I gave, yeah, or the three is what I promised, and that's what I'm gonna give. So our iconic or literary anchor is gonna be Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenes. It's a Detroit and Gross Point family saga that spans immigration, identity, gender, and the complicated inheritance that shapes a life. It's a big layered and very much a book that reminds you that Michigan is industrial. There's a lot of immigrant, suburban, urban, and deeply personal all at once. So it really, I feel, kind of encapsulates so many different aspects of Michigan. Now, again, a little bit of a popular choice here would be the Virgin Suicides. Um, it's a suburban Detroit-era novel about five sisters and the boys who never stop trying to understand them. It has a lot of just this high energy, high tension. It can be a little unsettling. And we do know that it was also adapted for screen by Sophia Coppola into the 1999 film. Um, who doesn't want to party like it's 1999? But it did make the entire book when it hit the screen feel a little bit more dreamy and a whole lot more tragic. So keep that in mind, it is not a light read. Last but not least, we're gonna have the Firekeeper's Daughter. It's a thriller, a coming of age story, and I think you're gonna really like that it goes up into the UP or the Upper Peninsula. It brings community, identity, hockey, which I don't think you can talk about Michigan and not talk about hockey, family grief, and justice into a true page turning story. It feels very alive and very rooted. With all of these books, I definitely suggest specifically I like these more as reads versus audio listens, but I'm curious if you would agree with me or if you are more along the lines of preferring these as audio listens. Now, there are some really iconic, incredible races, and again, very difficult to get them all because of how big it spans and how different they can be from lower parts of Michigan to the UP. But we're gonna bring in a Detroit Free Press Marathon right out of the gate because it is a showstopper. It also sells up very quickly, but you can get your name into the list. What's so incredible about the Detroit Free Press is yes, it does have distances that are not quite the marathon, but the marathon is especially iconic because it crosses into Canada and it includes that Detroit Windsor Tunnel. So you're gonna want to bring your passport for this particular race and of course have a whole lot of fun. It is a big race, it has a really uniquely international appeal though. If that doesn't sound up your alley, we've got Grand Rapids Marathon and Half Marathon. It's a friendly fall race with a reputation for strong community support. It's got phenomenal pacers, it is more pace inclusive, it's a more manageable marathon experience. This is a race for someone who wants that production, but without that really huge race overwhelm. And of course, last but not least, we're gonna go to Traver City Bay Shore Marathon. It's a gorgeous late spring race, which is my personal favorite time to race along the water. It's popular runners because the course is scenic and can be quite fast. Registration also goes really quickly. So let's not casually think about it for six months and then act surprised when it sells out. Go ahead. If this appeals to you, get it on the books. It's always good to get it on the books. If you make your way to Michigan and you're thinking, I don't have time to plan around a race, but I want to get in a good run, you're gonna make your way to Detroit River Walk. And that is a wonderful opportunity to get in a little bit of that area. But in Traverse City, you're gonna look at the Tarte Trail. And of course, if you find your way there, I definitely can say that going for a run in Mackinac is always going to be a wonderful experience. For me personally, my friends, I'm gonna say that the best pairing, if you will, will be the Firekeeper's Daughter plus Detroit Free Press Marathon, because I'm always all about any kind of race that crosses state lines, but even better, country lines at international line. How fun, especially since the Firekeeper's Daughter touches a lot on identity and borders and community. So here you get to put that into play literally on foot. I think you're really gonna like it, but let's say that's not your spiel. Bayshore with Middlesex has a certain Great Lakes drama to it that you may like quite a bit. Now, a little bit of tidbit, of course, is that Michigan touches four of the five Great Lakes and has some serious freshwater bragging rights. The highest point is Mount Arvon, and the Michigan running scene also has the Hansen's Brooks distant project connection. Plus, of course, we know that Des London has long been tied to the Michigan training scene. So if you are out there and you get to wave to Des, shoot me a message. I want to hear all about it.

Minnesota Heart And Grandma’s Marathon

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Okay, friends, we're gonna continue our adventure, our road trip, or our road race, if you will, making our way to Minnesota. Which did you know that this is where we can find the US State's smallest soft drink? Because it's mini soda, of course. Okay, that's really, really bad. I'll stick to what we were promised, right? Which was running and reading. Okay, my friends, with Minnesota, what you're gonna find is that it is just like a really wonderful state of incredibly friendly individuals. But we're gonna bring a little bit of that into our reading list. The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradall is warm, it's funny, it's of course that beer adjacent family story. It follows sisters and pie and brewing, ambition, a little bit of resentment, as can happen when there's friends and families involved, and the complicated magic of people trying to build something in the Midwest. It's a big-hearted book without being a little too sweet and a little too like syrupy sweet. It has that particular Minnesota ability to be funny and practical and emotionally devastating all in the same paragraph. If that doesn't sound upper alley, Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger takes us to a small Minnesota town in the early 60s where a young boy looks back on a summer marked by and of course death, faith, family, and the loss of innocence. It has mystery, but it's not just a mystery. It's reflective and tender, and it's the kind of book that makes you want to take a quiet walk afterward and stare just like you're in a bit of a movie trailer, if you will. And then last but not least, this is definitely gonna be a bit of a wild card. It's The Late Homecomer by Kao Kelly Yang. It's a memoir choice and it is an essential read. It tells the story of Yang's Hmong family, refugee camps, migration, memory, and then of course making a home somewhere a little new in Minnesota. This is what gives that state a wider, more human lens. And it reminds us that a place is not just scenery, but truly so much more than that. It's layered, and this book has some fascinating aspects of language and food and family displacement and the courage to begin again. With that said, my friend, I'm gonna say that these books, The Lager Queen, I think it's just such a light, fun audio listen. The late homecomer is such a great way to digest either through Kindle or um old school just reading the book. And ordinary grace is something that I think you should actually have on your bookshelf. Okay, with that, there are some really great races to be had out there. And at the top of the list, Grandma's Marathon. It is the Minnesota Anchor. It's been on my must-do list for quite some time. It runs from two harbors to Duluth along Lake Superior, it finishes near Canal Park. It is beloved, it's fast for many runners, it's stunning, and it sells out so quickly because people really do want to soak in this experience. Now, the great thing about grandmas is that if you did not manage to grab a bib when it became available to you, it did up until recording of this episode, allows for legal transfers. So put this on your list. It usually runs in June. I think you're gonna definitely want to make that happen. Um, I think you're you're gonna also want to book those hotels early because they do sell out, or at least the more popular accommodations will. That's a pretty iconic phrase, right? It gives you Minneapolis to Saint Paul, and again, it's just going to be this wonderful way of exploring lakes, parkways, neighborhoods, and the capital finish. One important note to keep in mind is do pay close attention after recent weather issues have kind of really led to it being a bit warmer than expected. So keep that in mind that while it is a race that uh is in October, they're looking at moving it later in October to hopefully minimize some of that weather risk. And this is a smaller race, but it is a smart alternative if you weren't able to snag into grandma's or the Twin Cities, which is Mankado. It's you've heard, of course, the royal couple of the league, um, Julie and Nick have run it, and it just gives you that southern Minnesota. It's a fall race weekend that has multiple distances, a field size that feels really manageable. So it's really the kind of race that might not dominate with Instagram, but runners who do it appreciate the organization and the easy go-to logistics of it. If you make your way there and you're not able to grab a bib at all, or you just want to go out for a run, Minneapolis chain of lakes and the grand rounds are obvious choices. You could also tackle making a little bit of river pathway through the Twin Cities and then in Duluth, the Lake Way gives you shoreline drama without needing to pin on that bib. So just remember Lake Superior does have main character energy. So be aware that the weather can change very, very um instantaneously. So be prepared with those layers. Now, again, I feel like this has been super fun to dive into some of like the running iconic legends of these areas. And some of the running names that you may know is Carrie Tolfeson, Olympian and Minnesota native, and of course Gabe Grunwald, who you may know from the nonprofit Brave Like Gabe. Okay, my friends, we are going to take another bit of a road trip, but I'm gonna ask you real quick, I want to pause. What of these books have you already read? Which ones do you think you want to add to your list? And any of these races kind of really speaking to your heart.

Mississippi Courtrooms Delta Blues Miles

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Let's go all the way down south to Mississippi, where there is courtrooms and then that Delta Blues and a little bit of the Gulf Coast Miles. Mississippi, let me say again, this is always tough to narrow it down to three races, it's three races or three books. Mississippi gives us so much literary drama, and maybe you could even say that it is where that Southern Gothic genre really hails from, or there has been a lot to be read in that Southern Gothic aspect. But we're gonna start it off maybe a little bit lighter, but still nonetheless a great read to add with the help by Catherine Stockett. It's probably the most widely recognized because of the movie, but it's said in Jackson, Mississippi during the civil rights era. It follows black domestic workers of the time and the white women that were connected as their employers. Many readers love it, though. There have been some critical feedback based off of maybe the voice of it, the framing, who gets to tell which stories. I think that this makes for a useful book club discussion. That's why we read these books, that's why we dive in. We shouldn't all walk away with the exact same feelings about them. So I'm very curious what you feel if you've read it or have seen the movie, which again, another book and movie A Time to Kill by John Grisham. It gives us that Mississippi courtroom drama with very high stakes. It's the story of a black father, a violent crime against his daughter in a trial that exposes racism, justice, fear, and the limits of the legal system. It is emotional and it's very part, very much part of like that Grishom's Mississippi identity. And speaking of, again, classic Mudbound by Hillary Jordan. Takes us to the Mississippi Delta after World War II. Two families, one black and one white, are tied to the same land in the same brutal social order. It's about war trauma, racism, labor, poverty, and the mud itself, both literal and symbolic. So the film adaptation is also excellent. The book sits with you a little differently. How should you consume these books? Well, I personally have read with my eyeballs all three of these and have watched the movie adaptations. So I'm curious if you feel a little different, if you have maybe embarked on the audiobooks. And actually, I kind of want to revisit a couple of them through an audio perspective and see how that works out. Now, I'm gonna tell you that I'm gonna do something a little bit, hmm, it might be controversial here. I am going to say that you should skip Mississippi Blues, half marathon, and marathon. I know, I know, if you've been around any of the 50 state running community, that's usually the top of the list of people knocking off Mississippi from their 50 state endeavor. But friends, I just don't see that it has the reviews that really should rank it high on your list, especially when there's so many other good ones that do. So I'm gonna say skip the Mississippi Blues race and instead do the Hattiesburg half marathon or of course the companion distances. It has a strong community feel, it has a race with a purpose personality, it's approachable, it's friendly, it gives you a true southern Mississippi race experience. While again, not massive, but very well produced. If that doesn't speak to you, then the Harley half, it's gonna be your Gulf Coast personality pick. The name alone feels like it should come with a leather jacket and a playlist, of course. But this one gives a coastal Mississippi experience. It's typically smaller and more local, but really well produced and highly regarded from runners in the community as well. And if you still haven't gotten enough of the Gulf Coast and make your way to Mississippi, Gulf Coast Marathon, and of course, half marathon and lower distances as well. It's the scenic coastal option. It's usually in December, which means the weather's usually absolutely lovely and a little less humidity, but you also get beaches, flat terrain, gorgeous golf views, and the reminder that flat can still mean wind when you are running against those beaches or lakes or rivers. So be mindful of it. I would say for me personally, I would add Mississippi Gulf Coast to the very top of my list. And I've already read all three of these books, and I would reread them again. They're just all phenomenal. But maybe for you, if you haven't, Mudbound with that Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, I think is a Chef's Kiss perfect pairing. Okay,

Missouri Thrillers Ozarks Hills Barbecue

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in Mississippi in Missouri. I I think after I leave Mississippi, I have a hard time going into any other phrase. So I actually had to edit out Missouri earlier, but I'm leaving it in this time. Missouri is where rivers, caves, cities, and the Ozarks kind of all play together along with baseball, jazz, and barbecue. They all enter into the chat at one time, and I'm here for it. It's one of those states where you can go from really urban miles to rolling terrain, and I just love every aspect of it. Now, you have likely read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It is a classic. It is a almost required reading for many of us growing up. I'm gonna say don't revisit that one quite yet. Put James on your list if you have not yet read it. It gives us the Mississippi River literary tradition, but it kind of gives us a completely different angle of the camera. It's not just a retelling, it is absolutely just immersive. I read it in one evening. I sat down and could not put it up. So much so that my other half said afterwards, I don't even know that you should have bothered buying that book. Like you didn't even, you didn't even get to put a bookmark in it. You just read it all the way through. I was absolutely captivated. Positively one of my favorite books. Gone Girl, though, is also on my list. It's a classic as well, but it brings us more of that thriller territory. It's set in North Carthage, and it's about a marriage, media manipulation, missing person panic, and one of the most infamous plot turns. Also a book that has been adapted for the screen. I'm sure you've seen it. If not, it's on Netflix as we speak. And then if that still doesn't really speak to you, my friend, then there is Stoner by John Williams. It's a little quieter. It's set around the academic life in Missouri, and it follows William Stoner through work, marriage, disappointment, small dignity, and the meaning of an ordinary life. It has become one of those books where people will press it into your hands and say, you have to read this, trust me. I'm gonna say that's the case for all three of these books. Truly. 100%. So I've already kind of alluded to the fact that I read James with, again, as a book edition, have it somewhere on one of my bookshelves, but Gone Girl and Stoner also I read as a true like paper book or hard book edition. Uh, I would be curious if you consume them a different way. Which way and how do you think it should be read or consumed for lack of a better word? I have some really fun races for you there in Missouri. Not Missouri, but Missouri. I'm gonna suggest that you check out the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon in the Kohic half. It's the same weekend, it's in Springfield, and they're such a wonderful Missouri pick because it does support conservation, it really leans into that outdoor culture and it gives runners a race weekend with personality beyond just that start line. So I think that should definitely be with it. But do know this, suffer responsibly, my friend. It's known for its rolling Ozarks hill work, basically. So, but it does have great strong community support. Now, one thing that's always interesting about Missouri is that you can visit Kansas while you're there, but it's just Kansas City. The Kansas City Marathon gives us that urban Missouri option. It's hilly enough that anyone who told you the Midwest is flat definitely owes you an apology, but you get neighborhoods, fountains, barbecue temptation. I'm also super curious as we embark on these 50 states. Who has the best barbecue? I mean, do you think it's the Midwest? Do you think it's the South? Do you think it's more like North Carolina? Do you have a favorite barbecue? I know I personally am here for it all. Haven't met a barbecue I did not like, but I digress. Third list or third race on this list is the Run Liberty Half Marathon. It is a smaller alternative. It has, again, great local energy. It's a smart pick if you want a well-reviewed race without the emotional bandwidth of like that huge weekend. So you could just kind of really be casual about getting in those miles. But if you're in the state and you don't have a bib, you want to make your way to Forest Park in St. Louis is a must. The Katy Trail gives you a huge rail trail possibilities. I'm such a huge fan of the rail to trails. In Springfield, the Ozark Greenway system is a great local resource. And Kansas City has the trolley track trail and, of course, those riverfront routes if you want some city miles. A little state trivia tidbit about that running sparkles. Courtney Ferrex is an Olympian steeplechase silver medalist, and she's from Nix, Missouri, which means the state gets to claim some serious barrier clearing credibility. No doubt about that. You already know what I'm gonna say. My very favorite book on this list is James. And I'm gonna say, without a doubt, I'm gonna put Bass Pro Conservation Marathon Weekend on my list of races. So if you think you want to join me, let me know. Because anything that combines rivers, land, history, and movement, that is absolutely a race that I want to do.

Montana Big Sky Books And Park Races

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Well, we're going to leave Missouri and we're gonna make our way to Montana. And before I go too far into this big, beautiful state, let me give a shout out to Miss Vicky. And I get the honor of chatting with Miss Vicki on a weekly basis where I get to learn all about Montana through her. She's a multi-generation Montanian. Vicki, is that right? Can I call you a Montanian? But let's be honest, who hasn't seen Montana and absolutely fallen in love in summer? Because I don't I don't know that I can do the winters there. But there's mountains and rivers and big sky and of course beautiful wildlife, and it just has this gorgeous, rugged landscape that I think makes you feel really inspired and yet very, very small, which I think is such a healthy perspective for us in our running journeys. So we're gonna start with a classic, A River Runs Through It. I mean, it's obvious, but there's a reason. It is short, it's lyrical, and it's tied to fly fishing, family, faith, grief, and the rivers of western Montana. It's of course one of those works where the landscape is not just a backdrop, but really truly part of the emotional storyline. I'm gonna add to this list something that you're gonna likely say is a little bit maybe pandering to the latest contemporary reviews and critics, but I could do what I want and I'm going to. And it's gonna be the Buffalo Hunter Hunter. It's newer, yes, it's sharp, it's very different, I know. It brings horror and history and revenge and colonial violence and the indigenous perspective into the Montana conversation. It's not a small book. Um, it's not also just that gentle Montana scenery, maybe it's it's not quite reverent, but it is a book that really looks at what the land has witnessed and says maybe the past is not completely done with us. So I'm gonna say put that on your list. And I read it and listened to it simultaneously because it is such a ginormous book. Uh, so I was able to kind of go between reading the book my bedside at nighttime and then getting in some of the audio component on my runs. I think that that lends really well for this because the voice character actors are just so phenomenal in the narrations of it. Third book on this list is Montana 1948 by Larry Watson. It gives a small town family story with a moral crisis at its center. It has a sheriff, a very powerful family, a very terrible crime, and the question of whether justice can survive loyalty. It's a bit smaller, it's readable, it's a really great, strong discussion one because nobody gets to hide behind, and it really does bring a lot of thoughts to the forefront. Now, with that said, I think that truly a majority of these races I've got to hear again from Vicky about it. Um, Bozeman is of course their big city there. So Bozeman Marathon and all of its distances gives us a different mountain town feel. You get elevation views, and of course, it asks you to respect exactly where you're at. Um, I wouldn't say that this is a PR type of state, but again, for a race cation, I think that Bozeman has that outdoorsy food, beer, mountain backdrop combination that really does make it top of the list of places to go. Of course, there's Missoula Marathon. It's the Montana Road Race sweetheart. It has a super strong reputation in the running community, beautiful scenery, excellent community support, and again, a destination race that feels phenomenally like you're just throwing yourself into that world without it being a super huge giant city. It's often praised for its organization and its friendliness, and I think that that's super important when you are visiting these incredible states. Now, this may be a little controversial as well because it is a more international or national community race director. And I I wanted to try to like really highlight more so of the local race directors, but it is what it is when it comes to this, because I do think that many of us would want the opportunity to run our gorgeous state parks, and that's exactly what you get with vacation races with Yellowstone Half and Glacier Half. Of course, they're very different than traditional road races because you are running inside the national parks. Not necessarily the parks that the part of the park that maybe you would immediately associate, but still very much part of that portion of the national park. Um, but it also means that there's a lot more logistics with shuttles and lodging strategies. There is, of course, that leave no trace mindset, so be prepared. Uh, these will be coupless races. You're definitely not leaving your litter behind. Please don't do that anyway. Um, you can't wing these, you do have to plan for them. But if you plan strategically, a lot of these vacation races you can almost do back to back if you only have that time frame to be in that part of the world. Now, we should just give Vicky a call if we want to go for a no bib run. But until she is willing to give us all the inside scoop of where to run, I'm gonna suggest uh Bozeman with the Galligator Trail and its access to some mountain roots, and then of course the Missoula's Riverfront Trail and the Kim Williams Trail as well. Now, the highest point in Montana is over 12,000 feet. So the state is not playing around. You can find the ultra runner Nikki Kimball has those strong Bozeman ties, which again feels very appropriate that it would give us an incredibly strong ultra runner who can handle the elevation. I personally am gonna say that reading here, I'm gonna go with the Buffalo Hunter Hunter. I just really enjoyed it. I know it's a little bit more of a modern classic, but I do still feel like it's going to be a classic for sure. And I want to run all of these races. Like, sign me up for all of them. I I can't even begin to tell you which one I would not want to do because the entire state looks incredible. We're gonna

Nebraska Prairie Classics And Fast Halves

SPEAKER_00 36:45

leave the gorgeous big sky state, though, of Montana. We're gonna make our way to Nebraska. And it's again one of those states I think that might that people may underestimate until they actually spend time there. It does have the prairie, it does have some college town, race energy, rail trails, wide skies, and it also has an incredible literary landscape. So we're gonna start very first with our literary landscape of my Antonia. It's a classic anchor, it's a prairie novel about memory, immigration, land, childhood, work, and Antonia herself, who becomes one of the characters that readers remember so much for her spirit and the plot. It's truly a Nebraska book that says landscape shapes people, but people also leave marks on the landscape. Of course, L O M Park by Rainbow Roll is a popular pick. It's set in Omaha in the 1980s. It follows two teens, finding connection through music, comics, family stress, poverty, bullying, and first love. It's tender, it's a coming of age, but it still has some edginess to it. And I would say that it gives Nebraska contemporary pop culture feeling with mixtapes instead of covered wagons. And then last of these books on my list is The Echo Maker by Richard Powers. It's gonna be our wild card because it's set around the Platte River and the Sandhill Crane migration, but a man survives a crash and develops a rare neurological syndrome. And that book becomes like a meditation on identity and consciousness, ecology, and what makes us us. So if maybe if you haven't felt like yourself, maybe it's because you haven't done dove into a good book lately. So I will say the Echo Maker is a little brainy, um, but that crane migration gives us that huge natural backdrop that feels very Nebraska in the very best way. As we make our way to our books, so we can really explore Nebraska in the very best way on our own two feet. I'm gonna say the Good Life Half-C is a Nebraska crowd pleaser. It runs from Lincoln to Haymarket area and has that downhill to downtown race energy that people love, also net downhill, so you can usually get some pretty good speed on it. It's fun, it's popular, and it has enough personality to make that half marathon feel like the true main event that it is. Lincoln Marathon is going to be the bigger endurance anchor. It's a May race connected to the University of Nebraska and it finishes in Memorial Stadium, which is a very cool finish line detail, especially if you're a big sports fan. And then there's the Nebraska State Fair Marathon. It's a little bit of an off-beat pick, I'll tell you that. But I think that that's because it gives us a lot more unique aspects. It gives us Grand Island, a state fair atmosphere, and a race weekend that feels really uniquely Nebraskian. I wonder, am I saying these right? From people from Nebraska, are you a Nebraskan? A Nebraskian? Well, you'll let me know. If you make your way to Nebraska and you're gonna go out for a run, I'm gonna say check out Omaha's Keystone Trail. It's great for those uninterrupted miles. Lincoln has a strong trail network as well. And the cowboy trail is a major rail trail dream if you're building a Nebraska adventure. Don't forget the Platte River areas. They also can be truly beautiful, especially during crane season. Now, the Echo Maker, I'm gonna say is a great dive if you want a little bit more of like a heady type of book with the good life halfzy. Because I think the fact that it gives us a little bit of those cranes, a little bit of consciousness, prairie sky, and then a half marathon that lets us finish on a really good downhill with some fun lunch. I think I think that sets it perfectly. From

Nevada Neon Desert Heat And Altitude

SPEAKER_00 40:27

Nebraska, we're making our way to Nevada. I also think this might be one of my more controversial episodes because I chose some different things here. Well, Nevada is Nevada. I feel like if there's gonna be another state that can rival the wild, weird, and wonderful, it would be Nevada. Um, it has some extremes. You get desert and mountains, there's neon, which by the way, the Neon Museum should be on your list if you're making your way to Vegas. There's of course quite a bit of silence, especially if you go out for those outside of Vegas roads. There's true spectacle, but there's heat and altitude. Also, where Coach Christine learned that you can't, you can indeed drink too much water. Um, but it's not just Vegas, although we are gonna start right out of the gate with my first choice book, Is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson. Now, you're gonna tell me why in the world would I choose that? Well, because it truly set a whole new standard of journalistic kind of integrity or journalistic um viewpoint with Gonzo journalism. I think this just Hunter S. Thompson had just a quirky brain. I think you'll see it in Fear and Loathing. It has, of course, drugs and journalism and satire and disillusionment. It's a little bit of a fever dream, also was adapted for the screen with Johnny Depp. And I think you might dig it. I mean, I think it's it's a very weird one, but I think it should be on this list. Next, after that, though, I would say is Nevada Days. It's quieter by a lot, but it is more of a literary wild card because it draws from the author's time in Reno and it gives us a stranger's view of Nevada. Um, so you may feel as a stranger going into Nevada that it kind of clicks for you a bit more. It also talks about displacement and family and landscape and kind of how they can feel a little temporary, but still truly all-consuming. I think that's why I really like that one. But then there's also the Oxbow incident. It gives this Nevada in a very different key than these other two. It's a Western about mob justice and also about suspicion, violence, and the terrifying speed at which people can decide that they are right just because they are angry. That righteous anger. Um, it's short, but it is quite serious. It is a classic for a reason. Okay, I'm just gonna say it right out of the gate. My least favorite race that I have recommended on this series so far is the rock and roll Las Vegas half, but I'm putting it on here. And I don't think this is the best representation of Nevada, but I do think that it is something that is the best representation of Vegas, and it is unique in that you can run the strip at night and everything is lit up for you. It is truly an iconic bucket list experience that I think you should knock off of your list. But I'm gonna also say if you decide to do this, don't take yourself seriously. Enjoy it. Do the silliness that comes along with being in Vegas, meaning maybe you decide to go ahead and be an attendant and one of the drive-thru or run-through weddings that are there. Maybe take the jello shots that are being offered by individuals, wear a costume, be silly and enjoy as much as you possibly can of this because when in Vegas, you know, be glitzy, make it a spectacle. But other races on this list, I think, are more appropriate of what Nevada as a whole. So I'm gonna put at the very top. Rock, Tahoe, half marathon. It's the scenic showstopper. Lake Tahoe is ridiculous in the absolute best way. Now you do need to remember it's at altitude. So while they are gorgeous views, it's still not going to cancel out physiology. So if you're coming from sea level, hello, Coach Christine, your lungs are likely going to like have a little bit of a formal complaint. So take it easy. Just be mindful of that as you're training for it. And then, of course, the Red Rock Canyon races near Vegas are beautiful desert options. Think really dramatic cliffs and desert color, climbing and descending. Again, this is one of those situations where you have to respect the terrain. So these two may not be as silly and spectacally bedazzled and wild as Vegas, but I think that they may give us a better understanding of Nevada at the whole. Now, I will tell you, if you want to run the strip in Vegas and don't want to do it for the rock and roll Las Vegas half, you can just go early. You literally feel like you own the strip because you're gonna it's gonna be you and like two other people out there. Um, choose those safe pedestrian-friendly routes and still don't underestimate the heat. So stay hydrated, but don't forget those electrolytes, my friends. You could also tackle the River Mountains Loop Trail near Henderson or Reno has the Truckee River Pathways and around Tahoe, the East Shore Trail is gorgeous, but again, still be mindful of the changes in altitude and weather. What you're gonna likely find from me as what I think you should do, uh, this is such a hard one. I think if you're gonna run the Las Vegas half, if you feel like you have to live with that, then you should absolutely pair it and read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. And if that's not your spiel, if you feel like you don't like the glitz and glamour and silliness and that fever-pitched dream aspect, I'm going to say that you should make your way to those Nevada days and maybe check out that Red Rock Canyon a little bit. I am curious, do you prefer those Vegas lights or do you prefer more of like that natural red rock or Lake Tahoe kind of energy?

New Hampshire Coastal Mysteries Mountain Weather

SPEAKER_00 46:14

Friends, we have just two more states on this episode, so we're gonna round it up with our news, which would be New Hampshire and New Jersey to start that kickoff of the new. New Hampshire is small, but it's not necessarily any less mighty than all of the others. It gives us mountains and coastline and college towns and covered bridges and tons of literary seriousness. So we're gonna start off with a prayer for Owen Meanie. It's our big New Hampshire novel. It's probably in the fictional town of Gravesend. It's funny, it's strange, emotional, theological, political. Whew, it's got all the uls and more. It truly does give you a really great energy of Owen's voice being unforgettable, and the book becomes a story about friendship and fate and the faith in a way that childhood can echo through our entire life. Also, The Weight of Water. It gives us a much darker coastal mystery, a movie between a modern journalist and the historical Smuddy Nose Island murders. It's moody, atmospheric, and a good reminder that New Hampshire's tiny coastline holds a lot of story. And then Look to the Mountain by Legrand Cannon Jr. takes us into the historical New Hampshire settlement life. It is an older regional classic. It has lots of wilderness and talks about marriage, community, survival, and the white mountains as more than just pretty scenery. It's definitely the kind of book that I would say pairs really well with a hike, assuming your hike does not become a weather incident. Be mindful of those weather changes there. I'm going to say though, as for our races, there is the Smuddy of Nose Rockfest Half Marathon. It's going to bring that Hampton Beach energy. It's coastal festive and very New Hampshire in that it gives us a race that says, yes, maybe we should have seafood and beer after we all go for a run. And who's not down with that? Also, the Clarence DeMar Marathon is the anchor race. It's a historic New England marathon in Keene. It's named for the seventh-time Boston Marathon Champion. It has a classic runner-focused feel. And for people who love road racing history, this one has a whole lot of heart and soul, pun intended. Now, this one is also going to be a little bit interesting. This of all of the book uh the races that I've added to my list for this episode has the lowest like ratings and reviews in terms of production and swag. But it is so out of the world incredible on its reviews of the scenery that I had to add it. It's very iconic in the running world. It's the covered bridges half marathon. It is the scenery pick of this entire episode. The views are gorgeous, the covered bridges are like charming, and it has that New England postcard energy. So just be mindful that maybe the production or the swag may not be up to your frame of reference, but if you're just there for the scenery, it will give you that, my friend. Um, because it does not get great reviews on production and swag, I'm gonna go ahead and add in a really fun New Hampshire 10 miler as a strong option because first of all, there's not enough 10 milers, and second of all, because we all need some more options of running in our lives. So I know for many of us that uh don't get the opportunity to run 10 milers quite as much. It is always fun when we have the opportunity to do so. There's so much great running in New Hampshire if you don't have a bib, but some of the places that I came across in my research was Franconia, notch recreation path. Um, Portsmouth gives us that coastal town miles, and of course, we also have the Northern Rail Trail for those longer, quieter miles. Now, if you're gonna be maybe doing some trail running in the mountains, please take a buddy and please be careful of that New Hampshire weather. Again, it is no joke. Um, the highest point is Mount Washington at 6,200 feet, and people tend to think, ugh, that's nothing. Like we just talked about 12,000 feet out in Montana. My friends, I will tell you that Mount Washington is famous for its extreme weather. Uh, the low point is Atlantic Ocean out there in New Hampshire as well, so there is quite a bit of variables within this small state, and it also gives Olympian Eric Jenkins from Portsmouth. So there's there's a lot of running history there. I'm personally gonna say that I think the best pairing is going to be the weight of water and that somebody knows Rockfest half marathon. But all of these races sound incredible.

New Jersey Boardwalk Miles And Big Nostalgia

SPEAKER_00 50:49

Finally on our list is New Jersey, and this is gonna be quite interesting because it gets also a little underestimated by people who know it from like the turnpike jokes, but I think you're gonna find that there's gonna be some beautiful areas to explore here. So we're gonna kick it off with Are You There God? It's me, Margaret. If you did not read this as a preteen and did not say we must, we must increase our bust, then I don't know how we can be friends because I was so obsessed with this book. And I thought it was so wonderful that it was adapted for the screen. Super cute. Still, I think that the book is the better way of going. Um, but we're gonna also go with goodness gracious, this author may be recommended to me more than any other author I have ever heard about. People who read Janet Evanvitch absolutely love her. So out of the gate, we're gonna go with one for the money. Um, it kicks off the entire series of Stephanie Plum. It has family, danger, humor, and a very New Jersey sense that things are about to go sideways, but at least someone will have an opinion about it. It's a light, fast read. Um, and I think that this one also pairs really well with audio. So just keeping that in mind. And then on the opposite spectrum, while this one's light and a little, I won't call it fluffy, but a little bit lighter of a read. Um, this next on the list is not. It's Americana, and it's a much bigger contemporary literary pick. It's part of the American story unfolding in Princeton. It also talks about immigration, race, love, hair, identity, blogging, and the experience of seeing America both from inside and outside the assumptions. So it's not only about New Jersey, I will tell you that. It also talks about many other aspects of um US and international, but I still think it's a great one to kind of have the opportunity to pop into New Jersey a little bit. With that, we're gonna go with Ocean City, New Jersey, half marathon. It gives us a 10 miler, it also gives us a 5K, it gives us a Jersey Shore race weekend, the boardwalk, ocean air, multiple distances, and it's a great runcation or race cation, especially if you want beach and fries, and of course, that little bit of having a great running community around you in the coastal aspect. There's also the Run the Vineyards, Cork High, and Bottle Deep Half Marathon in the wine country area. Um, I'm gonna say it's a fun change of pace from the boardwalk files, and it has that vineyard scenery, smaller race energy, but obviously it has a very obvious post-race theme. So I think you should participate in that post-race refreshment out in the vineyards. Just make sure you have a little bit of water as well. And this last one, ooh, there were arguments in Coach Christine's house over whether or not to include this in this part of the list. But it is the Statue of Liberty 5K in Jersey City. I know, I know. You're gonna tell me that's not maybe officially considered Jersey, but that's where the start line is. Um, so a 5K with Liberty State Park and Skyline Energy is a perfect reminder that you don't need a marathon to make a race memorable. So I think a 5K running in the Statue of Liberty area and park sounds absolutely iconic. Now, again, if you want to make your way to the great state, the garden state, and get in some races, you could also go um or to get in some runs without a race. Liberty State Park, as I already mentioned. You could see the skyline and Statue of Liberty views. You get the DR Canal Towpath, is great for longer steady miles or the Henry Hudson Trail and Sandy Hook area, also great areas. A little bit of who we can find as maybe the running legends would be Sydney McLaughlin Lavron, who grew up in Dunellin, and mile legend Marty LaCore from Cedar Grove. Now, me, you already know what I'm talking about. I'm gonna pair Are You There God? It's me, Margaret, with the Ocean City, New Jersey half marathon weekend. I love that coming of age feelings with the boardwalk miles. It just feels absolutely like the perfect duo. Friends,

Choose One Book One Race Goodbye

SPEAKER_00 55:08

we have officially made it through our 10 states. We have just two more episodes left. I can't wait to continue this adventure with you all. But we just traveled from Massachusetts to New Jersey, and this episode had a lot of range. So I want to hear from you as to if you have a favorite state of this episode or of the three so far, maybe a few favorite books, or definitely if I if I feel like I have not included the right book to represent the state, let me know. I want to just remind you that your invitation, your gentle invitation, is just choose a book, one race, and one state from this episode, and let that be enough to kind of get you started on planning your race cation. You don't need to become a 50-state marathoner by the end of the series, but I do want you to just keep a little bit curious about what the great fake world in the USA can offer us. With that said, next week we're gonna continue with New Mexico through South Carolina, which means we have even more landscape literature and finish line temptations lie ahead. Until then, my friend, read something that moves you, move in a way that feels good to you, and keep making your life extraordinary. One stride, one story, and likely one slightly enhage race cation idea at a time. See you soon!