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One marathon at a time, Green Bay resident finally reaches goal

By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor


GREEN BAY – During a lifetime, many people have visions of visiting every state before they die, but one Green Bay resident took that a step further.

With his family in attendance, 64-year-old Robert Ginnow recently completed his quest to run a marathon (26.2 miles) in all 50 states.

Delayed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ginnow finished the Big Island Marathon in Hilo, Hawaii, March 20.

He was joined by 11 family members in Hawaii, including his wife, Karen, daughter, Beth, son, Mark, and several grandchildren.

Ginnow crossed the finish line in about 4 hours, 38 minutes.

“There were lots of emotions when I finally completed my goal, and I was overwhelmed with joy,” he said. “If you’re a runner or other endurance athlete, you understand goals and passions. It’s something I set out to do, so leading up to the (Big Island) marathon, I was hoping nothing would go wrong.”

What started as a journey to lose some weight and get in better shape, ended about 17 years after Ginnow completed his first marathon, the Fox Cities, in 2005.

“My dad was overweight with diabetes, and I didn’t want to go that route,” he said. “Now, my reason and reward for my daily run is my mental health. My mood is always better after – it sets the stage for a good day.”

Even when Ginnow started running, marathons weren’t on his radar.

“I didn’t run in high school, so I was a late starter,” he said. “I started running about 25 years ago with 5k and 10k races. Then I did a half marathon.”

During his initial marathon, thunderstorms and heavy downpours temporarily shut down the course.

Ginnow cramped severely but continued to move forward before the course was eventually re-opened.

Since then, he’s run other races in the cold, snow, ice, rain, extreme heat, humidity, fog, smoke and the dark.

The second time Ginnow ran Fox Cities inspired him to go further.

“A gentleman was standing next to me wearing a shirt that said, ‘Fifty States Marathon,’ and I was flabbergasted,” he said. “I talked to him a bit, and that gave me the inspiration.”

For the next five years, Ginnow traveled to marathons within driving distance, upping his total to 13.

“In 2011, my wife and I were in a position financially where we could travel more,” he said. “That’s when (my goal) ramped up. We could travel to some cool places, and I could do a marathon while I was there.”

In 2012, the New York City Marathon was canceled by Super Storm Sandy, but he completed that one at a later date.

Ginnow has also done Boston and Chicago twice each.

“The Boston Marathon has been my favorite,” he said. “I was always about 10 minutes slower than my needed qualifying time, so I invested in a trainer. I qualified for Boston at the Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) Marathon, qualifying by about 10 seconds. The entire experience at Boston was incredible – the crowds were awesome and you’re treated like a celebrity.”

He’s avoided wildlife on the course – a moose in Anchorage – and has only fallen twice during a marathon.

Ginnow, who does a high majority of his running outside, has run about 33,000 miles and has worn out more than 100 pairs of running shoes.

Entry fees, plane tickets and hotels aren’t cheap, so Ginnow’s goal also held him accountable.

“You put lots of money into training and planning, so that makes you train,” he said. “It drove my training – I had a few doubts here and there, but it worked out.”

Because doing a marathon isn’t cheap, Ginnow said that also led to his most difficult marathon in New Jersey.

“I had broken a bone in my foot about 10 days before that marathon,” he said. “I’m stubborn, so I went to the race. I was in so much pain in the hotel room (the night before), so I used every piece of ice I could find. I got to the start line, and it was pouring rain. After a while, (my foot) went numb, and I couldn’t feel the pain. I did walk some, but it was probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”

On the other end of the spectrum, Ginnow said when you do so many marathons, some aren’t that inspiring.

“I usually find something positive about every race I’ve done, but yes, there have been a few I didn’t enjoy as much as others,” he said. “I’ve gone from the big city and big crowds to the smaller races – every race has something unique.”

Completing 72 marathons total, Ginnow said his next goal is to complete 100.

“My plans include more marathons in Canada and revisiting some of my favorite races and running races with my children and grandchildren,” he said.

Ginnow said he’s especially grateful for the many excellent running trails in the Green Bay area and runs several times a week on the Fox River Trail.

“I appreciate the trail being open and plowed during the winter,” he said. “My wife comes with me to the trail most days and walks/jogs 4 miles. Her support has been great.”

Ginnow said he takes a few days off here and there and rests for about a week after completing a marathon, or if he’s injured.

“I don’t think I’m damaging my body at all, so I’ll keep going as long as I can,” he said. “I also ride my bike and golf in the summer and do a daily core stretching program with planks, sit-ups, pushups, lunges, etc.”

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