Marathons 37, 38, 39 of the #50in50: NE, WY, SD (8/20-8/22, 2019)

• NEW YORK 11/4/18: @nycmarathon

• NEVADA 11/11/18: @runrocknroll Vegas

• PENNSYLVANIA 11/18/18: @Philly_Marathon

• WASHINGTON 11/25/18: @seattlemarathon

• TENNESSEE 12/1/18: @stjude Memphis

• ALABAMA 12/8/18: @irunrocketcity

• FLORIDA 1/13/19: @rundisney #wdwmarathon

• LOUISIANA 1/20/19: @thelamarathon

• MISSISSIPPI 1/26/19: Mississippi blues Marathon

• ARIZONA 2/9/19: Mesa-Phoenix Marathon @phxmarathon

• TEXAS 2/17/19: Austin marathon @austinmarathon

• MASSACHUSETTS 2/24/19: Hyannis Marathon @hyannismarathon

• SOUTH CAROLINA 3/2/19: Myrtle Beach marathon @runmbm

• ARKANSAS 3/3/19: Little Rock marathon @lrmarathon

• NORTH CAROLINA 3/9/19: Wrightsville Beach marathon @wbmarathon

• GEORGIA 3/17/19: Publix Atlanta marathon @atlantatrackclub

• NEW MEXICO 3/21/19: Dust Bowl Series - New Mexico

• OKLAHOMA 3/22/19: Dust Bowl Series - Oklahoma

• KANSAS 3/24/19: Chisholm Trail marathon @chisholmtrail44

• MISSOURI 4/7/19: Go! St Louis marathon @gostlouis

• KENTUCKY 4/27/19: Kentucky Derby marathon @kyderbyfestival

• NEW JERSEY 4/28/19: New Jersey marathon @njmarathon

• OHIO 5/5/19: Flying Pig marathon @runflyingpig

• NORTH DAKOTA 5/18/19: Fargo marathon @fargo.marathon

• COLORADO 5/19/19: Denver Colfax marathon @runcolfax

• VERMONT 5/26/2019: Vermont City marathon @runvermont

• UTAH 6/1/2019: Utah Valley marathon @runutahvalley

• DELAWARE 6/18/2019: Mainly marathons - Independence Series - Bear DE

• MARYLAND 6/19/2019: Mainly marathons - Independence Series - Elkton MD

• ALASKA 6/22/2019: Anchorage Mayor’s marathon @anc_marathon

• HAWAII 6/30/2019: Kona marathon @konamarathon

• IOWA 7/11/2019: Mainly marathons - Heartland series - Clinton IA

• WISCONSIN 7/12/2019: Mainly marathons - Heartland series - Sparta WI

• MINNESOTA 7/13/2019: Mainly Marathons - Heartland series - St Cloud MN

• RHODE ISLAND 7/21/2019: Violet State marathon

• CALIFORNIA 7/28/2019: San Francisco marathon

• NEBRASKA 8/20/2019: Mainly marathons - Center of the Nation series - Chadron, NE

• WYOMING 8/21/2019: Mainly marathons - Center of the Nation series - Sundance, WY

• SOUTH DAKOTA 8/22/2019: Mainly marathons - Center of the Nation series - Belle Fourche, SD

Marathon/State # 37 - Center of the Nation series - Chadron, NE

I flew into Rapid City, SD. There was severe weather all over the US and I almost didn’t make it if it wasn’t for Delta’s amazing service on the phone, in the airports and on the planes. Throughout this journey, I’ve had a lot of luck with weather and flights working out. I haven’t had any major transportation issues, but some minor road bumps.

When I was flying from NYC to change planes in Minneapolis, I asked the flight attendant to help me make my connection. Because of flight delays, I looked like I has only only about 10 minutes to make my connection to Rapid City, SD before it took off. I was watching the flight’s progress on flight tracker at my seat. The flight attendant was very helpful. She moved me up a few seats and made an announcement that there were passengers with tight connections. I was able to get off the plane and run across the airport and made my flight!

Marathon/State # 38 - Center of the Nation series - SUNDANCE, WY

I drove back to SD stay near the WY and SD border. The landscape in this part of the country is amazing. I have to come back. I ran a good marathon today and slept really well.

Marathon/State # 39 - Center of the Nation series - BELLE FOURCHE, SD

I woke up feeling good. My legs were rested. I ran a great marathon and heading back to NYC for Gweneviere’s album release party on here birthday a couple of days from now.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD GWENEVIERE’S album

She was excited about releasing an album that she had just finished, but she passed before she could realize that dream, so we just recently released her album so that we could fulfill that dream for her. Buy & listen to the album here. 

Marathons 37, 38 & 39 (NE, WY, SD)! I'm running number 40 in ID this weekend at #PocatelloMarathon. . . #gmf #50in50 #cancer #raiseawareness #marathon #running #timelapse #cancersucks #forlove #50states #runner

77 Likes, 4 Comments - Yasir Salem (@yasir_salem) on Instagram: "Marathons 37, 38 & 39 (NE, WY, SD)! I'm running number 40 in ID this weekend at..."

Marathon 15 in 50 of the #50in50: North Carolina (Wrightsville Beach)

15 of 50 states in the #50in50 done:

• NEW YORK 11/4/18: @nycmarathon

• NEVADA 11/11/18: @runrocknroll Vegas

• PENNSYLVANIA 11/18/18: @Philly_Marathon

• WASHINGTON 11/25/18: @seattlemarathon

• TENNESSEE 12/1/18: @stjude Memphis

• ALABAMA 12/8/18: @irunrocketcity

• FLORIDA 1/13/19: @rundisney #wdwmarathon

• LOUISIANA 1/20/19: @thelamarathon

• MISSISSIPPI 1/26/19: Mississippi blues Marathon

• ARIZONA 2/9/19: Mesa-Phoenix Marathon @phxmarathon

• TEXAS 2/17/19: Austin marathon @austinmarathon

• MASSACHUSETTS 2/24/19: Hyannis Marathon @hyannismarathon

• SOUTH CAROLINA 3/2/19: Myrtle Beach marathon @runmbm

• ARKANSAS 3/3/19: Little Rock marathon @lrmarathon

• NORTH CAROLINA 3/9/19: Wrightsville Beach marathon @wbmarathon

On 3/9, I got up early in my Wilmington, NC hotel to ran the Wrightsville Beach Marathon.

I parked at the finish line on the UNC-Willmington campus and took the race shuttle to the start line. The race start was 6:40am, which was an interesting choice. I ran with the 4:00 pace group. The weather was cool and crisp, and the temperature was 48. I stuck with the pace group until around mile 20, and then I needed to take a walking break for a couple of minutes to bring my heart rate down. The course is scenic with ocean views and fairly flat.

Our pacer was really consistent and dependable. I ended up finishing in 4:05, which I was satisfied with. I’ve been generally consistent with my time. I want to chip away until I get to my goal time at NYC marathon 2019. Here are my splits:

The finisher’s festival on the UNC was really well done with lots of food and drinks. Publix was the big sponsor. They brought out food in a big way for finishers and took care of them. The medals were really nice and colorful:

I flew back right after the race on Saturday night, which I was excited about because I would be sleeping in my own bed on a weekend night. I haven’t done that much of that in the last few months, because of all the traveling for races.

I got home just a little after 9pm, hung out with the cats, and went to bed soon after.

Next marathons/states on the schedule:

• 3/17 GA (Atlanta)

• 3/21 NM (Clayton)

• 3/22 OK (Guymon)

• 3/24 KS (Wichita)

Join me on the #50in50 for the Gweneviere Mann Foundation, with many ways to get involved.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD GWENEVIERE’S SONG

She was excited about releasing an album that she had just finished, but she passed before she could realize that dream, so we just recently released a single "What I Can Be" off of her album for her so that we could fulfill that dream for her. Download it here

Together we will save lives through early detection programs for lung cancer and brain tumors.

I ❤️ you Gwen.

-Yasir

Marathon 6 in 50 of the #50in50: Rocket City (Huntsville, AL)

On 12/8, I completed marathon #6 in my #50in50 goal (50 marathons, 50 states, 50 weeks) at the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, AL. We are gaining more awareness for our foundation and its mission.

I arrived early on 12/7 into Huntsville and headed over to the Huntsville Museum of Arts to pick up my packet.

It was a small expo with a relaxed atmosphere and small town feel

I got my race bib, 1776, which I thought was kind of cool.

The next morning I arrived at the race start, prepared to in cold and rainy conditions. I had an unused rain poncho from the Seattle Marathon from a couple of marathons ago. It came in handy this marathon.

Many of the runners waited inside the Von Braun Center, where the marathon starts and finishes, to stay out of the cold and rain.

Finally, at 7:00am on the dot, the race started. I thought about running a 4:04-4:05 marathon, but decided to run with the 4:15 group instead because of the weather. I didn’t want to wear myself out early and wanted to play it safe.

The course was pretty nice with some small rolling hills. The course winded by the US Space and Rocket Center where runners got to see several rockets and space vehicles. The biggest challenge was the weather. It was rainy and cold the entire time. It reminded me a bit of the Hyannis Marathon that I’ve run for the past 2 years. It takes place in Cape Cod, MA. It’s been cold and rainy for the 2 years that I’ve run it. I finished the race in 4:15 thanks to my pacer Katie.

The post race food was great. They had bagel, PB&J, and soup.

The medals are really cool.

I got my obligatory pic with the race’s signage.

After the race, I showered up then drove down to Birmingham to see my old co-workers/friends from my Mental Floss magazine days with Will, Cary and Winslow.

Will’s family took me to see Birmingham’s famous Vulcan statue.

We got a couple of pics with the statue.

Here’s the view of Birmingham from the observation deck.

And a view from inside the informational exhibit next to statue.

Overall, I enjoyed the Rocket City Marathon and recommend if you are looking for a southern marathon in the December. It’s a nice small town marathon with easy, rolling hills.

Next marathons on the schedule:

• AL (Rocket City in Huntsville) 1/13

• FL (Walt Disney in Orlando) 1/20

• LA (Baton Rouge) 1/26

• MS (Mississippi Blues in Jackson) 2/9

• TX (Austin) 2/17

Join me on the #50in50 for the Gweneviere Mann Foundation, with many ways to get involved.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD GWENEVIERE’S SONG

She was excited about releasing an album that she had just finished, but she passed before she could realize that dream, so we just recently released a single "What I Can Be" off of her album for her so that we could fulfill that dream for her. Download it here

Together we will save lives through early detection programs for lung cancer and brain tumors.

I ❤️ you Gwen.