Runner Sets Record for Marathons in All 50 States

William Goodge finished the challenge at the New York City Marathon, completing 50 marathons in 22 days, 17 hours, 16 minutes and 34 seconds.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Running

William Goodge set the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to run a marathon in all 50 U.S. states, finishing at the New York City Marathon on Sunday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

William Goodge set the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to run a marathon in all 50 U.S. states. He completed his final marathon at the New York City Marathon on Sunday.

Why it matters

The record establishes a new benchmark for the Guinness category and highlights an endurance challenge that covered the entire country. Goodge also raised money for cancer research through a fundraiser benefiting Stand Up To Cancer.

Goodge ran 50 marathons of 26.2 miles each, averaging more than two a day during certain stretches, to finish in 22 days, 17 hours, 16 minutes and 34 seconds. Tracking came through Strava, two fitness watches and a GPS live tracker, and the source does not state the total amount raised for Stand Up To Cancer.

The players

William Goodge

An endurance runner who completed the Mission America challenge of marathons in all 50 U.S. states to set a Guinness World Record.

Guinness World Records

The organization that recognizes and certifies world records, including the fastest time to run a marathon in all 50 states.

CBS Mornings

The morning news program on CBS that broadcast the live confirmation of Goodge's record.

The details

Goodge began the challenge in Honolulu on Oct. 9 and ran through handpicked cities, including iconic landmarks, state capitals, college towns and rural areas. He ran in honor of his mother, Amanda "Mandy" Goodge, who died of cancer, and embraced the mantra "Pain with Purpose" after her passing.

Oct. 9: Goodge began the Mission America challenge in Honolulu.
Oct. 12: Goodge ran his Idaho marathon in Idaho Falls.
Sunday (Nov. 1, 2026): Goodge finished at the New York City Marathon, completing the record.
Monday (Nov. 2, 2026): Goodge received record confirmation live on CBS Mornings.

Season Trajectory

Goodge's record extends the Mission America challenge, which requires completing a full 26.2-mile marathon in each of the 50 states within a single effort. It adds a new Guinness benchmark to the endurance running calendar, closing a multi-state feat that few runners have attempted.

Goodge's record sets a new Guinness benchmark for the fastest marathon time across all 50 states, a category readers interested in endurance running can now track. The record time of 22 days, 17 hours, 16 minutes and 34 seconds provides a concrete target for future runners planning similar state-by-state challenges.

The takeaway

Completing a record like this required averaging more than two marathons a day during certain stretches, showing how sustained daily mileage can build toward an ambitious endurance goal. Readers planning long-distance challenges can use Goodge's tracking approach with Strava, fitness watches and GPS live tracking to monitor progress across many events.