Local runner is a man on a mission
by Dan Holland
For Hinckley resident Michael Conrad, running at least one marathon in all 50 states – a goal he set for himself in 2008 – was recently realized when he completed his 50th state marathon in Montana.
If that’s not commendable in itself, Conrad also completed all 50 races with a finish time of around 3 hours, 30 minutes.
“That became an initiative of mine, but I didn’t want to be away too long with having young kids at the time,” said Conrad, who has lived in Hinckley for 20 years. “So, I always try to get back home within 24 to 36 hours. I joke and say that the running is the easy part; it’s the logistical things that can make it a challenge in getting there.”
Conrad has also competed in 50-milers, 100-milers, Ironman and Ultra-Ironman competitions over the years.
“I knew about all the Ironmans and other races beforehand, but I needed another goal that wasn’t so time-consuming,” said Conrad. “So, in 2008, I put together a list. Our son was born in 2010, and our twin girls came in 2012. So, at that point, I had run marathons in 20 states, and this was a way to keep me engaged in the sport while giving me a goal and purpose in mind.”
Competing in all 50 states has afforded Conrad an opportunity to travel to destinations he would have otherwise never visited.
“I’ve been able to learn a lot of cultural things across the country, and I’ve been to some really awesome places that I otherwise would have never visited,” said Conrad. “The Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon and Los Angeles Marathon – those all stand out due to the sheer size and excitement of them.”
He ranks a marathon he ran in Portland, Maine, among his favorites.
“I ran the New Hampshire Marathon the day before and drove to Portland and ran in the Portland Marathon the next day,” he recounted. “It rained through the entire race, but it was still the most beautiful marathon I’ve ever run. There were some races that were more scenic, but the beauty of that race stands out, as well as how I felt and the time I had. I surprised myself with a good time in that race having just come off another race one day prior.”
Other favorite marathon locales include Spokane, Atlanta, and North Dakota.
Conrad is currently eyeing a 55-mile ultramarathon in South Africa – a race he will have to post qualifying times for in order to to be included.
“There’s a race in South Africa called The Comrades Marathon,” he explained. “It’s a goal to try to take the family there and run the marathon. But I have to qualify first with another 100-miler in order to earn a slot in that race. There are time requirements for it, and it’s quite a bit of work.”
Conrad encourages everyone to get involved in some type of physical activity for the mental and physical benefits.
“I would gear it more toward physical fitness and activity just for the mental aspect of it even more so than the physical aspect,” he said. “I’m a big proponent of the mental aspect of running and getting outdoors. The community of people who work out, and the health and mental benefits of it are important for everyone and crucial for a person’s overall well-being. When you get your body moving, you just feel better; it’s all about people feeling better about themselves overall.” ∞
Photo: Hinckley resident Michael Conrad recently completed his goal of running at least one marathon in all 50 states. Photo submitted.