Rochester's Gwen Jacobson ran her first marathon eight years ago when she took in all 26.2 miles of the Twin Cities marathon. Fast forward to 2019 and Jacobson, 61, has now run a marathon in all 50 states.
That's just the tip of the iceberg for Jacobson who's finished every single one of those marathon's in under four hours and in a time qualifying her for the Boston Marathon.
"About six years ago, I had done a few marathons and someone told me about a group that runs marathons in every state and in under four hours," Jacobson said. "I said no, but thought it'd be a great way to see the country."
After that, Jacobson's journey across the U.S. began, but the start was a little rockier than anticipated. She ran her first marathon in just over four hours and she added to her goal of running all 50 states in a time that qualified her for the Boston Marathon.
"In 2012 I ran a marathon in just over four hours," she said. "I wanted to run in under four hours to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I ran the Grandma's Marathon in 2012, but I was hurt. I finished, but not in the time I wanted."
She ran Grandma's Marathon again in 2013, which became her first sub-four hour marathon, qualifying her for the Boston Marathon, which she calls "every marathoner's dream."
Jacobson achieved that dream of running the Boston Marathon for the first time in 2014, one year after the Boston Marathon bombing left three people dead and several hundred injured.
"It was very special to be in Boston that year," she said. "It was special for Boston that people weren't afraid to come back and run."
Jacobson has run in the Boston Marathon every year since 2014.
Her goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon in all 50 states was finally reached at the IMT Des Moines Marathon held Sunday, October 20. The Iowa-based marathon held a little extra meaning.
"I was born in Osage, Iowa and lived in Iowa for several years before moving to Minnesota," she said. "I realized through my planning that I had never run a marathon in Iowa and thought there wouldn't be a better place to finish."
Sunday's finish line was special. It's where Jacobson's three children, her sister, nieces and nephews, her partner John, and several people from her running community greeted her.
She'll return to run the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2020. Six days later, she will run the London Marathon, which brings her closer to achieving another running accomplishment.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors consists of the world's six largest marathons: New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.
"Typically it's really hard to get into these marathons," Jacobson said. "Abbott started a program where if you're 40 or over, you could qualify for the age group championships."
Jacobson's waiting to hear whether or not she qualified for the Berlin Marathon. Tokyo will be her final of the six largest marathons in the world.
Jacobson had to run select marathons and finished in placed second for her age group in the United States. She finished behind two-time Boston Marathon winner, Joan Benoit Samuelson, who also took home the gold medal for running the marathon at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles.
"I will get to run London next year with the best in my age group," Jacobson said. "I'm just thrilled to have been invited."