As some of you might know, I Love numbers, probably why I flew commercially for 37 years before retiring 12 years ago.

Here are some numbers to ponder.

Since Cat passed away 9 months ago, I have made 122 stops visiting 91 Family and friends and have scattered her ashes in 49 memorial places for both of us.  I have driven 13,000 miles crisscrossing the USA.  I have also flown to 9 different countries, plus Hawaii.  Over the past 9 months, I have run 56 5Ks and walked 22 10Ks all over the world.

Now for the surprise that I had promised. 

The picture was taken back in October of 2023 in Bowman, North Dakota.  Today I will set out to do an uncertified,  solo Marathon where Cat and I did a 10 K back in 2023.  I picked the same park, North Shore Marina, Bowman-Haley Lake, that Mainly Marathons uses for their races in North Dakota.  I also used the same venues as Mainly Marathons in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Chadron, Nebraska; Belle Fourche, South Dakota; and Baker, Montana, for my 10k and 5K states.  Little known fact.  Belle Fourche is the geographical center of the nation and that is why the Mainly Marathon series of these states are called, Center of the Nation.

This will be my 71st marathon since I turn 71 next month.  Cat and I did a 50 miler shortly after I turned 50.  Did 55 miles in two days at 55, and my 60th marathon in Medoc, France, when I turned 60.  Of course, I did my 65th marathon shortly before I turned 65, and the same goes for when I turned 70.

When done today, I will only have 6 states left to get a marathon in all 50 states plus DC.

As you can imagine, it will be a very emotional 7-8 hours, so keep me in your thoughts today.  I will check in halfway through and again when I am all done.

The post By the Numbers first appeared on Running With Cat.

Anthony Copeland-Parker Tony

Anthony L. Copeland-Parker was a professional Pilot/Manager for thirty-seven years, the last twenty-seven with United Parcel Service. His last job had him managing pilots and flying B757/767-type aircraft all over the world. When he retired, he began writing his blog, RunningwithCat.com. Since then, he and his partner Catherine have traveled to eighty-two different countries. They have run at least a half-marathon in thirty-five countries and on all seven continents. This is his third book, the first being Running All Over the World, Our Race Against Early Onset Alzheimer’s, published by Newman Springs Publishing. The second is an abridged version published by Morgan James Publishing.