Ben YIN's Staging Area

State 39 in the books. The Iowa course was two loops. Which means you get the special mental challenge of seeing the same miles twice and realizing exactly how far you still have to go.

Crowd support? Let’s just say… it was a very intimate race. For long stretches it was just you, the road, and the endless pod / lake view. No cheering crowds, no loud music, just the sound of your own footsteps and the wind moving through the fields.

And the wind… the wind was no joke. At times it felt like running on a treadmill that someone quietly turned up to level 12. You lean forward, push harder, and somehow the scenery barely moves.

But that’s also the beauty of races like this. It strips marathon running down to the basics. No distractions. Just you, your legs, and the decision to keep moving forward.

And when you finally cross the finish line, the local volunteers greet you with the kind of genuine Midwest warmth that makes everything worth it.

Quiet course. Big wind. Friendly people.

Iowa, you were tougher than you looked.

My state 37 WV was great. Only here can you find the smallest airport and the biggest football stadium in the same town – and somehow, it all makes perfect sense! Everything was perfectly managed. Marshall Univ. put on an amazing race- I even got to carry a football across the finish line inside the stadium!

I came to Abilene, Kansas chasing another step in my 50-state full marathon journey – and left with a deeper appreciation for small-town races that run big on heart.

The race was flat, fast, and friendly. The course took us through quiet country roads, open skies, and the kind of calm that forces you to focus inward – just your footsteps, your breath, and the occasional cow watching from the field.

The weather played along: cool and crisp, perfect for long miles. Aid stations were simple but consistent, and the volunteers were kind-hearted Kansans who made you feel like family. It was kind of race where everyone cheers for everyone. And in those final miles, when the body starts fading, that matters more than you think. Loved KS – On to the next state!