MONROE - Many people think marathons are dominated by elite runners, but another aspect of these long-distance events concerns quantity over speed, and that is what "endurance marathons" are all about. Here, success is measured by who can run the most marathons, in a week, in a year, in a lifetime.
The first annual Heartland Series endurance marathons will feature five consecutive days of marathons and half-marathons across five states and wraps up in Monroe on Sunday, June 8. The event takes place in a different location each day, beginning in Niles, Mich., on June 4, followed by Anderson, Ind., Bloomington, Ill., and Clinton, Iowa.
Runners in Monroe will use the Badger State Trail, starting across from the new trailhead by Twining Park. The participants will make laps of 1.2 miles - 11 times for a half-marathon and 22 times for a full marathon.
Runners from 30 states, Iceland and Canada have registered to participate in the event. Runners and walkers can register for the event online and before each morning's start.
Heartland Series organizer Clint Burleson said he expects about 100 runners to participate in Monroe, including 53-year-old Monroe resident Randall Pink.
Burleson said in an email that Monroe's selection as the final site was "somewhat the luck of geography."
"When trying to do five states in five days, we needed a town in southern Wisconsin," said Burleson, a resident of Las Cruces, N.M. "We like smaller towns (more than) big cities; their sense of community is far greater, and their ability to get things done is very helpful. And Monroe is a beautiful town, that certainly helps."
There is a small group of runners who have finished 100 lifetime marathons and fewer yet who have completed 200, and then there are only three who have over 200 marathons in just one year. These three, and many other endurance marathoners, will be participating in the Heartland Series.
Parvaneh Moayedi, 49, San Antonio, completed 250 marathons last year and is the top female endurance marathoner in the country with a total of 578. Jim Simpson, 72, California, also topped 200 in one year and was the first American to reach 1,000 lifetime marathons. To date, Simpson has participated in 1,255 marathons. Larry Macon, 69, San Antonio, is the current record holder for most marathons in a year and for his lifetime. Macon finished 255 marathons last year and now has a total of 1,270 marathons.
Participants can do any or all of the days in the series with no time limits. Participants are encouraged to combine some walking along with running to save themselves for trying multiple days.
"Many of us are trying to do a marathon, or half, in each of the 50 states," Burleson said. "I had the idea that doing five states in five days might appeal to those with the 50-state goal, and it has been successful. For us this is a small family business, and we are having a great time meeting some wonderful people around the country.
"This is certainly good for us and also for the towns where 100-plus runners will come to eat, lodge, buy groceries, fuel."
More information about the Heartland Series is available at Burleson's running company website, MainlyMarathons.com.
The first annual Heartland Series endurance marathons will feature five consecutive days of marathons and half-marathons across five states and wraps up in Monroe on Sunday, June 8. The event takes place in a different location each day, beginning in Niles, Mich., on June 4, followed by Anderson, Ind., Bloomington, Ill., and Clinton, Iowa.
Runners in Monroe will use the Badger State Trail, starting across from the new trailhead by Twining Park. The participants will make laps of 1.2 miles - 11 times for a half-marathon and 22 times for a full marathon.
Runners from 30 states, Iceland and Canada have registered to participate in the event. Runners and walkers can register for the event online and before each morning's start.
Heartland Series organizer Clint Burleson said he expects about 100 runners to participate in Monroe, including 53-year-old Monroe resident Randall Pink.
Burleson said in an email that Monroe's selection as the final site was "somewhat the luck of geography."
"When trying to do five states in five days, we needed a town in southern Wisconsin," said Burleson, a resident of Las Cruces, N.M. "We like smaller towns (more than) big cities; their sense of community is far greater, and their ability to get things done is very helpful. And Monroe is a beautiful town, that certainly helps."
There is a small group of runners who have finished 100 lifetime marathons and fewer yet who have completed 200, and then there are only three who have over 200 marathons in just one year. These three, and many other endurance marathoners, will be participating in the Heartland Series.
Parvaneh Moayedi, 49, San Antonio, completed 250 marathons last year and is the top female endurance marathoner in the country with a total of 578. Jim Simpson, 72, California, also topped 200 in one year and was the first American to reach 1,000 lifetime marathons. To date, Simpson has participated in 1,255 marathons. Larry Macon, 69, San Antonio, is the current record holder for most marathons in a year and for his lifetime. Macon finished 255 marathons last year and now has a total of 1,270 marathons.
Participants can do any or all of the days in the series with no time limits. Participants are encouraged to combine some walking along with running to save themselves for trying multiple days.
"Many of us are trying to do a marathon, or half, in each of the 50 states," Burleson said. "I had the idea that doing five states in five days might appeal to those with the 50-state goal, and it has been successful. For us this is a small family business, and we are having a great time meeting some wonderful people around the country.
"This is certainly good for us and also for the towns where 100-plus runners will come to eat, lodge, buy groceries, fuel."
More information about the Heartland Series is available at Burleson's running company website, MainlyMarathons.com.
