DES MOINES, Iowa — From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee, one metro man has achieved the relatively rare accomplishment of running a marathon in all 50 states.

It was a dream that started later in life for Michael Howland, of Norwalk.

“Race number two. A gentleman passes me and he’s a retiree, but he’s got a shirt on him that says ’50 State Marathon Finisher,’ and I’m like, ‘I’m 34. There’s no way I could have time to do 50 states,’” Howland recalled. “I started calculating, and even if I did two a year, I would have been 56.”

However this past weekend, a decade and a half after that encounter, Howland did just. He crossed the finish line in South Carolina accomplishing a marathon run in every single state. Some years he ran two, others he ran up to six. During the Pandemic he ran two virtually.

“I’m awestruck, you know, at the whole journey,” he told WHO 13 reporter Katie Kaplan.

Howland and Kaplan met at Gray’s Lake on Wednesday afternoon. It is where Howland started to train in 2009. He brought along his proof of performance — 50 very different marathon medals provided to him after each race. The sight drew the interest of a small group of people who had been sitting at a nearby picnic table. They came over to admire the medals and shake Howland’s hand.

“I hope you get more,” said one of the spectators.

“I’m not done yet,” he responded.

It is an impressive accomplishment, not only to complete strangers but also to Howland’s longtime friend Jeff Harper.

“It only takes one person really to inspire you at times,” Harper said.

It is a friendship forged through faith and fitness. The pair met at church when they worked together with the kids in the youth ministry. During a breakout session at a conference, they encouraged the youth pastors to consider diving into a marathon to raise funds for getting water to people in need in Africa.

Howland was up for the challenge and encouraged Harper to join. Harper has now run 24 marathons of his own. The duo has accomplished five together, including their first marathon back in 2009 when they ran the Chicago Marathon in 34 degree temperatures.

“That was just the beginning,” said Harper as he smiled down at the medal from that particular race.

Harper thought it was only fitting that he be there this past Sunday to witness the culmination of a 15-year journey for Howland. A journey that has taken Howland from downtown Des Moines,
to the rowdy routes of Nashville and up to the biggest of all — a 49K in the nation’s 49th state of Alaska. The standard marathon is 42 kilometers, or 26.2 miles.

Each experience has provided a different adventure along the way.

“I am forever grateful and just taking it all in and treasuring the experience of a lifetime,” he said.

Howland said he is grateful to God, to his friends, his family and all of the other people he has met during his journey.

“You meet blind runners, you meet handicapped runners,” he said. “You just find constant inspiration.”

Howland now joins the ranks of roughly 2,000 other people who have joined the 50 States Marathon Club. But he has taken it a step further.

At the race on Sunday he also sang the Star Spangles Banner — something he has now also done in all 50 states, making him a part of the 50/50/50 club- 50 marathons and 50 National Anthems in all 50 states. Something he said he has only heard of two other people accomplishing.

Howland said he plans to keep running and, God willing, plans to do so well into his 80s.