50 in 50

Hart approaching goal of 50 marathons in 50 states before he turns 50

By CHRIS BIERI, Staff Writer cbieri@minotdailynews.com
Ken Hart’s enthusiasm for distance running was evident from the first time he finished a marathon.

Registered to race a half marathon, Hart didn’t stop after completing the 13.1-mile race. Instead he ran right through the finish, not stopping until he completed another 13.1 miles for the full marathon distance.

That was less than three years ago.

When he steps on the course Saturday at the ING Trestle Valley Marathon, he will be competing in his 46th marathon in his 46th different state.

Hart plans on running 50 marathons in 50 different states before he turns 50 years old on Dec. 3 of this year.

“I ran the Air Force Marathon (in Dayton, Ohio) in Sept. of 2005 as the first marathon that I started on my quest to run 50 marathons before I turned 50,” Hart said. “I was 46 at the time and I had 39 months to complete my goal. I met several members of the 50 States Marathon Club at the race and we talked about the goals of the club and it seemed it would add an exciting dimension to my original goal. The members are some of the nicest people I have ever met — they are a very inspiring group.”

Hart wasn’t always a dedicated distance runner — he’s suffered from chronic asthma since the age of 12. Although he competed in sports in high school, he didn’t have any interest in distance running until he was in his mid-40s. Recently divorced, a single father to two young boys and a partner in an architectural firm, Hart sought a release.

“Several friends of mine were runners and they convinced me to join them on some short runs,” he said. “I enjoyed the freedom that running brought to my life at a time when everything around me seemed a little chaotic at times.”

After getting his asthma under control, Hart slowly increased the distance of his runs — from 5K to 5 miles — from 10K to 10 miles. Soon he was running half marathons and then full marathons.

“No doubt about it, running 26.2 miles can get a lot of things off your mind,” he said. “I think it is healthy to have a sport, hobby or interest that keeps life in perspective. It is too easy to be consumed with work, obligations and commitments that demand a lot of our time — but running was a great wast to work through day-to-day issues. The issues that seemed like mountains prior to running were always reduced to a hill by the time I was finished.”

He said scheduling 50 marathons in 50 states in just 33 months has been a huge challege.

“Logistically, it is very difficult to obtain a marathon in some of the states that only offer one of two marathons throughout the entire year, so planning ahead is critical and you have to be a little flexible and sometimes spontaneous.”

His decision to make Trestle Valley his North Dakota marathon was an easy one.

“Minot seemed like a great race and the size of the town reminds me of the small Midwestern towns where I was raised and spent some of the best years of my life,” Hart said. “After running some of the largest races in the world, I truly appreciate the small town atmosphere of the smaller races.”

For Hart, the small-town atmosphere wasn’t the only draw.

“As an architect, I am intrigued by the trestle bridge as an icon for the race,” he said. “I lash a digital camera to my arm when I run and I will take anywhere between 20 and 100 pictures during my marathon — and I am looking forward to some great shots of the area.”

After Saturday’s race, Hart will compete in marathons in Lincoln, Neb., Burlington, Vt. and Helena, Mont. He plans to complete his 50th race at Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minn., on June 21.

For spectators, Hart won’t be difficult to spot. He has been issued bib No. 46 in honor of North Dakota being his 46th state.