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.

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What do Hawaiʻi hula traditions, an Idaho race called Jackass Half Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Kentucky bourbon-country relays, New Orleans vampires, coastal Maine miles, and Maryland’s historic JFK 50 Mile have in common?

They are all part of Episode 2 of Running, Reading, and Racing in the USA, Extraordinary Strides’ five-part summer series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the stories we read, the places we explore, and the races that make us want to start a wildly ambitious racecation spreadsheet.

This week, we travel from Hawaiʻi through Maryland, with bookish escapes, bucket-list races, local running gems, and the travel details that make each state feel like more than a pin on a map.

Featured states: Hawaiʻi, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, and Maryland.

You’ll hear about unforgettable reads including Molokaʻi, Hula, This Is Paradise, Housekeeping, Idaho, Train Dreams, The Devil in the White City, The House on Mango Street, The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Fault in Our Stars, A Thousand Acres, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, Interview with the Vampire, Olive Kitteridge, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

On the runcation side, we are talking Kauaʻi Marathon and Half Marathon, The Hapalua, Maui Oceanfront Marathon, Coeur d’Alene Marathon, Jackass Half Marathon and 5K, Mesa Falls Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Shamrock Shuffle, Quad Cities Marathon, Indy Mini, Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Carmel Marathon, DAM to DSM, Garmin Olathe Marathon in the Land of Oz, Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon, Bourbon Chase, Urban Bourbon Half Marathon, Crescent City Classic 10K, Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon, Baltimore Running Festival, Annapolis 10 Miler, and JFK 50 Mile.

You’ll also get:
• Why Hawaiʻi deserves reading that goes beyond resort-postcard energy
• A flat-and-fast Midwest alternative for runners who want great production without a World Marathon Major lottery
• Cheryl Massey’s insider Indiana recommendations, including the scenic but spicy Brown County Hilly Half
• A little Kansas Oz magic, plus a race where themed shoes may be strongly encouraged
• Why Kentucky is made for runners who enjoy books, bourbon, bluegrass, and relay vans
• A Louisiana preview as Every Woman’s Marathon heads there in February 2027
• Coastal Maine race ideas, Chesapeake Bay running inspiration, and a few local details worth knowing before you book the trip

This is not a reading assignment or a 50-state race checklist. It is an invitation to get curious.

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

Read. Run. Explore. Connect.

Have questions or want to chat? Send a voicemail!

Support the show

Join the newsletter list for updates, special offers, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

Join fellow pod and running enthusiasts at The Stride Collective community on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.

What can a great book, a bucket-list race, and a memorable local running route tell us about a state?

Welcome to Episode 1 of Running, Reading, and Racing in the USA, an Extraordinary Strides five-part summer series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the stories we read, the places we explore, and the finish lines we dream about.

In this first episode, we travel alphabetically from Alabama through Georgia, pairing iconic books, popular reads, and unexpected wild cards with must-run races, racecation inspiration, local running gems, and a few delightfully specific state facts along the way.

Featured States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia.

We are talking Rocket City Marathon, Mount Marathon Race, Lost Dutchman Marathon, Little Rock Marathon, Big Sur International Marathon, BOLDERBoulder, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, Gate River Run, and the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

On the reading side, expect everything from To Kill a Mockingbird, Homegoing, Into the Wild, The Great Alone, Stargirl, True Grit, East of Eden, White Oleander, The Joy Luck Club, The Shining, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Bad Monkey, Swamplandia!, The Color Purple, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

You will hear why Mount Marathon is often called one of the toughest 5Ks in the world, why California belongs on every runner’s racecation radar, what makes Florida running both magical and mildly unhinged, where to chase desert views in Arizona, and which states deserve more attention from readers and runners alike.

Tell me what I missed and what you’re adding to your must-run list, then subscribe, share with a running-and-reading friend, and leave a review so more people can find the series.

Have questions or want to chat? Send a voicemail!

Support the show

Join the newsletter list for updates, special offers, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

Join fellow pod and running enthusiasts at The Stride Collective community on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.