Running 50 Marathons

Summary

The Nightly: "Running 50 Marathons"

Podcast: The Nightly
Episode Date: July 3, 2026
Host: KP Parker (for this episode; Hatch Podcasts)
Guest: Rosie (Listener)

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Nightly is centered on the ambitious, meditative, and somewhat whimsical pursuit of running a marathon in every US state. Host KP Parker welcomes listener-guest Rosie, who shares her personal journey toward this 50-state achievement, what motivates her, the challenges she faces, and the surprising joys that come from running across America. True to the podcast's theme, the episode gently explores late-night thoughts, goals that help us sleep, and finding inspiration in unlikely places.

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Key Discussions & Insights

Setting the Tone: Pre-Guest Banter

[00:01 – 03:50]

• KP discusses making moviegoing a regular (and "luxurious") treat, thanks to AMC's discount program and the joy of unlimited popcorn and Coca-Cola Freestyle machine flavors.
• Sets a playful, cozy tone, inviting any listener to reach out and share their own late-night musings.

Meeting Rosie: The Marathoner

[03:50 – 04:02]

• KP: "Hi, Rosie. Thank you so much. What is on your mind tonight? What are you thinking about before bed?"
• Rosie: "Running has been on my mind."
  • KP notes the contrast between winding down for sleep and the mental image of running.

The Ambitious Marathon Goal

[04:02 – 04:40]

• Rosie reveals she’s working on running a marathon in every US state, already having completed 26.
• She notes the logistical challenges: each race requires travel, careful planning, and shifts in her sleep patterns.
• Rosie: "It definitely helps me sleep, that amount of running. But it can also be a bit of a distraction if I'm thinking about how much I have to run the next day."

Family Motivation & The Origin Story

[05:05 – 05:47]

• Rosie admits she didn’t always love running—she “hated” high school cross-country, but was ultimately inspired by her own parents, who are also pursuing 50 states.
• Running has become a family affair; her parents are even closer to 50 than she is.
• Started pursuing the state-goal about 10 years ago, ramping up activity to about 8 marathons a year recently.

Favorite States & Toughest Races

[06:43 – 08:02]

• Best marathon so far: Philadelphia ("I really liked the Philadelphia Marathon.") — Rosie's favorite for the city's beauty and history.
• Toughest races: Anything hilly is tough as she's from the Midwest, used to flat runs.
• Hardest conditions: Florida ("was hard because it was February...Miami February is very different, temperature wise. And it's humid too.") — Rosie struggled with the heat and humidity vs. her Chicago baseline.
• KP on Denver's elevation: “I can’t read a whole paragraph out loud without being like, can you guys give me a 10 minute break to catch my breath?”

Unique Marathons

[08:02 – 08:17]

• Rosie mentions there's a marathon in Colorado where runners do the course holding a lead for a donkey ("...you run with a mule or like a donkey.") — making for a memorable and quirky race experience.

Not About Speed: The Mental Game

[08:27 – 09:18]

• Rosie isn’t focused on besting her records; her goal is simply to finish and enjoy: “I’m not really focused on time. Just on finishing.”
• KP affirms: "We don't need to stack accomplishments on top of accomplishments. It's like you're already doing the coolest thing ever."

Pacing, Planning, Patience

[09:18 – 10:05]

• Rosie emphasizes the beauty of a multi-year journey—no rush, enjoying travel and process: "...it's like a long term planning thing."
• Turning point: Rosie describes how her stubbornness, rather than innate love, kept her running at first; then, eventually, her mind “switched” to craving the challenge: “I want to run further.”

Tips for Aspiring 50-State Marathoners

[10:51 – 11:25]

• Rosie's advice:
  • Use a training plan tailored to your current activity level.
  • Don’t rush; “do what you enjoy.”
  • Run at times that feel good for you—mornings aren’t required for everyone.

The Joys of Running & Seeing New Places

[06:24 – 07:02]; [11:34 – 12:07]

• Rosie and KP agree running is a wonderful way to discover a new place, making travel more meaningful.
• They discuss people who run every street in a city (e.g., Chicago) as an inspiring and fun way to make running a personal quest.

The Meditative Zone

[13:01 – 13:24]

• Rosie, a biologist, reflects on the meditative nature of marathon running: “I think it's just kind of like almost meditative to run for that long.”
• KP notes the contrast: very few comedians/artists they know are long distance runners, hinting at an interesting "left brain/right brain" divide.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rosie [04:55]: “I'm trying to do all full marathons so it'll be the 26.2 miles for every state."
• Rosie [05:05]: “I have not always liked running ... but my parents are both long distance runners as well so I was kind of motivated to do it from them.”
• Rosie [06:03]: “I think I did eight last year.”
• Rosie [08:10]: “I know someone who did one in Colorado that you run with like a mule or like a donkey.”
• Rosie [08:46]: “The nice thing about, for me, at least for marathons and the goal of running one in every state is that I'm not really focused on time. Just on finishing.”
• Rosie [09:18]: “I'm kind of taking my time with it. ... I'm not really in a rush because this is the nice thing about this goal, it's like a long term planning thing.”
• Rosie [10:51]: “I would say finding like a training plan that starts where you are... And then don't rush it and do what you enjoy.”
• Rosie [12:07]: “You have to like look around you because otherwise you'll fall. ... It's, I think, one of the only times I'm like fully aware of my surroundings.”
• Rosie [13:01]: “I'm a biologist by training and I think ... it's just kind of like almost meditative to run for that long.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:01 – 03:50] — Opening banter, moviegoing as a late-night treat
• [03:50] — Rosie joins; introduces marathon project
• [04:40] — 26 states completed; logistics of marathon travel
• [05:05] — How family inspired Rosie to run
• [06:01] — 8 marathons in a single year
• [06:49] — Favorite marathon: Philadelphia
• [07:13 – 07:40] — Hardest marathon: Florida (heat and humidity)
• [08:02 – 08:17] — Running with donkeys in Colorado
• [08:27 – 09:18] — Focusing on finishing, not winning
• [10:51] — Rosie's marathon advice
• [12:07] — Running makes you notice your surroundings
• [13:01] — Marathon running as meditation

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Episode Tone & Takeaway

The episode is light, friendly, and gently inspiring—channeling the podcast's trademark blend of bedtime comfort and late-night curiosity. Whether you're aiming for your next marathon, your first run, or just letting your mind wander to big goals, Rosie's story and KP's supportive hosting offer both practical tips and a cozy boost. The pursuit of 50 marathons is ultimately portrayed not as a superhuman feat, but a joyful, slow, and social journey—one that brings people and places together and makes sleep come easily by the end of a long, satisfying day.

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Want to share your own bedtime thoughts or late-night adventures? Email [e-mail] to be a guest!

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Transcript

[A]

Audio for sleep by hatch. Good evening, everyone. I'm kp. Welcome to the nightly from Hatch, where your late night thoughts go to rest. It's just me for now in the pillow fort. I'm here getting everything all cozy and ready for you before we bring on a lovely listener that I'll be able to talk to. If you are also a lovely listener, which you're listening to this and you're lovely, so you are. And if you'd like to come on the show to talk about absolutely anything that's on your mind, email us or send a voice memo to thenightlyatch. Co. We can gab about anything at all. It could be about shopping for an upcoming event. That's always fun. It could be about the gardening you want to do. It could be about shoes. These are just the things I'm thinking right now. But hopefully yours are even more true to you and more exciting. It can be anything. So come on the show. But before we do that, let me tell you what I've been up to lately. I have been interested in. This is not my usual mo I find going to the movie theater, of course it's fun, but in my mind it's always like, well, that's quite the luxury, going to the movie theater. You have to a leave your house, which that's luxurious on its own. And then it's like, if I'm going to the movie theater, of course I'm going to need some popcorn, I'm going to need some sodas. It's, it's quite the, it's quite the event. But I'm trying to make it a little more casual and a little more fun because there are so many good movies out these days and I can't miss it. So I signed up for the list, the AMC list that you get $5 off or something. I don't, I don't even know what the list is, but now I'm on it. So Nicole Kidman is talking to me finally. Every other time she's talked to me, I've put my fingers in my ear because I'm not an A lister. But now she's talking right to me. And I will say they're on to something, folks. They are on to something with that. I do feel like now there's discounts on the popcorn and drinks. So in my mind those are free. If there's a discount on something great, it's become free in my mind and they're begging me to get it. And I'm happy to oblige. And try and drag me away from that soda machine because I love the Coca Cola freestyle. I like what they're doing there. I think they're getting a little egregious with it. They're doing some like late night grogu bubble water. Like they're doing some. Have you seen this? I promise you they're doing different movie tie ins within the freestyle machine now. But hey, I love it now I'm an A lister. Catch me at a lot more movies because now I feel really valued for my love of the movie theater and that's what's been going on with me. Of course I saw the recent ones, I saw backrooms, I saw Obsession. We won't get too into it here because we have to bring in a beautiful, lovely guest who's going to tell me what they're up to these days. Hi, Rosie. Thank you so much. What is on your mind tonight? What are you thinking about before bed?

[B]

Running has been on my mind.

[A]

Oh, wow. Kind of the antithesis of going to bed is getting up and running.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

What has been on your mind with running?

[B]

Well, so I'm trying to run a marathon in every state, which takes a lot of planning and it definitely helps me sleep that amount of running. But it can also be a bit of a distraction if I'm thinking about how much I have to run the next day. Did I prep everything I need?

[A]

This is racing thoughts versus racing body. This is interesting. This is a classic, classic issue. Well, this is. Have you already run some marathons in states as of now?

[B]

Yeah, I've done 26 states so far.

[A]

Oh my goodness, Rosie, that is so cool. And now marathon is. Could that be like half marathons, quarter marathons, any sort of marathon or full.

[B]

I'm trying to do all full marathons so It'll be the 26.2 miles for every state.

[A]

Oh my goodness. How did this whole journey start? Have you always liked running?

[B]

I have not always liked running. I did cross country in high school and hated was not fun. But my parents are both long distance runners as well so I was kind of motivated to do it from them. And now we run races together, which is really fun.

[A]

Wow, they're still at it.

[B]

Yep. They're closer to 50 states than I am, that's for sure.

[A]

Wow, this is incredible. When did you start the actual state crossing off ness? A few years ago.

[B]

Yeah, I started about 10 years ago now.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah, so I've definitely ramped up how many I do in a year, which I think I've gotten Used to the mileage, so it gets a little bit easier. Sure.

[A]

How many can you usually do in a year? Two, three?

[B]

I think I did eight last year.

[A]

Oh my gosh. I am so clearly out of it. I'm like, even doing one, I'm like, that would take me four years. And if I started right now, I could make it to the finish line in four years time. That is so cool.

[B]

Eight.

[A]

Wow. And so this is traveling too, right? This is like deciding which ones are going to be worth your time and crossing out the state ones.

[B]

Yeah. But that also makes it more fun because it gives you, as you travel, it gives you like something to do. And kind of running around a new place is actually a really good way to see it because you're not driving in a car. You're not just walking slowly. You're kind of going faster. You can cover a lot more distance.

[A]

Totally. What has been your favorite one so far? The favorite state or the favorite run?

[B]

Yeah. I really liked the Philadelphia Marathon.

[A]

I love Philly. It's very fun. There is a. It's a pretty. It's a very pretty city with all the historical streets and landmarks still.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. That's a good one. Okay.

[A]

What has been the one that you're. You're not looking forward to? Is there any that you're like that is going to be a little more difficult

[B]

anywhere hilly? I'm from the Midwest, so I'm used to flat running and going somewhere with a lot of elevation is always challenging. Florida was one that I did recently that was hard because it was February. So I'm used to Chicago, February and Miami. February is very different, temperature wise.

[A]

And it's humid too, isn't it? It's like wet air.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, it was very humid.

[A]

That would not be idea. The elevation really is. That can be a butt kicker. I went to. I traveled to Denver for work a little bit and I like can't read a whole paragraph out loud without being like, can you guys give me a 10 minute break to catch my breath? Yeah. So I would imagine Colorado. Have you done Colorado's yet?

[B]

I haven't. There's actually, I know someone who did one in Colorado that you run with like a mule or like a donkey.

[A]

Oh my gosh. Wow.

[B]

So you're like holding a donkey by like a lead and it runs with you the whole time. I think.

[A]

Okay. Well, that is actually something to really look forward to because I would prefer a lot more time with donkeys in general in my life.

[B]

Yes. Yeah.

[A]

Have you broken your records Each year, like, have you gotten faster or is that not part of the equation for you?

[B]

I've had some that are faster than like, my average. But the nice thing about, for me, at least for marathons and the goal of running one in every state is that I'm not really focused on time.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Just on finishing. So I've kind of gotten to a point where I just take my time and whatever feels good and whatever means that I'll feel good after the race is what I go with.

[A]

Yeah, we don't need to stack accomplishments on top of accomplishments. It's like you're already doing the coolest thing ever. I don't think we need to, like, now make it miserable. That's so cool. Wow. Are you thinking that this will wrap up in a few years or you're like, you're taking your time with it because this is now just the fun rest of your life?

[B]

Yeah, I'm kind of taking my time with it. I think year to year it'll depend how many I can do just with like different travel and things. But I'm not really in a rush because this is the nice thing about this school is that it's like a long term planning thing. Yeah.

[A]

What made you turn from not liking it in cross country in high school to now liking it and making it like something you're really excited about?

[B]

I honestly don't know. I did a couple of half marathons where I was like, I'm pretty stubborn, so once I commit to something, I'll just do it. But I still didn't like running when I was doing those. And then I think something just kind of like switched in my brain that was like, I want to run further.

[A]

Yeah, that's very cool to have some extra thing to be working towards in it. I think that is very cool and keeps the brain active as opposed to just some of my friends. I mean, the brain works in really mysterious ways because sometimes my friends are like, oh, y. Yeah, I just wanted to take a walk. And so I left my house and I, you know, walked for two hours. And I'm like, that is not the way that my brain at all works. I have to be like, towards a location or towards a goal or towards a destination or something. So that's. It's interesting the way our bodies do that. Well, what has been. What would be some cool inspirational thing? If somebody wants to do exactly what you're doing, what would. What tips would you give them?

[B]

I would say finding like a training plan that starts where you are and Meets where you are like with your activity level. And then don't rush it and do what you enjoy. So if you maybe like don't necessarily love running in the mornings, then find times that do work for you. If you are somebody who enjoys being out at night, then maybe try running at like 8pm or something as the sun's going down to find parts of it that you really like.

[A]

Very cool. There's that. Have you seen videos of this guy that's trying to run through every street in America? I don't maybe.

[B]

Yeah, there's actually somebody. I don't know if it's the same guy who did that for Chicago. I think he actually just recently signed it.

[A]

I just saw that where he ran every single street in Chicago. He was running with a Chicago flag on his as a kid, which looked pretty cool. I mean, I do think there's something really inspiring like you said. It's like it is such a way to learn a city is such a cool way to think about. It is. Yeah. In the car we're all just distracted and seeing just roads and nothing interesting and taking the time to get a little. A little slower but still fast. That is very cool.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. And you have to like look around you because otherwise you'll fall. So you're kind of constantly like. It's, I think one of the only times I'm like fully aware of my surroundings.

[A]

Yeah, I did one 5K and it was bubbles everywhere. That was sort of the theme of it. And I did it with my mom. And I'm not sure why we chose that because it was quite chafy to have soap all over you and run. I was like, this is not. This is ill advised.

[B]

This hurts me.

[A]

But I think I'm so. I'm so impressed by people that can have that stamina for. Because I mean is it. This is multi hours, right? 26 miles takes you a few hours.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. My. I'm not super fast and mine's usually about four hours.

[A]

Wow. So this is just like a mental game too, is just staying in the zone, I'm sure.

[B]

Yeah, I think so. I'm a biologist by training and I think I know a lot of people in biology who do long distance running. So I don't know if it's something like. If it's a correlation causation. If our brains are just wired. Yeah, in a certain way. But I think it's just kind of like almost meditative to run for that long.

[A]

Definitely, definitely. Wow. Very cool. Yeah. I know very little comedian artists that are long distance runners. So I bet there is some sort of, some sort of difference in the left brain, right brain of running that could be interesting to look at. Wow, Rosie, this is so cool. So inspirational. This is very, very cool that you're doing it with your parents, too. That is awesome. And I hope they get to 50 and I hope you both do. That is fairly really awesome.

[B]

Thanks. They're actually running one this weekend, I think.

[A]

Oh, my goodness. Wow. Well, good luck to them. Thank you so much for joining us and I hope you sleep well.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

And I hope everyone listening sleeps well, too. Thank you so much for listening and we'll talk to you next time. To learn more about our phone free light and audio experience, head to Hatch Co. You can also follow us at Hatch Podcasts.