When Morgan Cummings ran her first marathon two months before graduating from MIT in October of 2008, she wasn't trying to set any records. She finished the the Bay State Marathon in Lowell, Mass., in 3:36:27, qualifying for Boston on her first attempt.
Last Sunday when she completed the Marine Corps Marathon, the 22-year-old Cummings set a new world record, becoming the youngest woman to finish 50 marathons in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.
"It doesn’t feel like that big of a deal really because it’s just what I do every weekend," said Cummings in an interview today.
After graduating from college Cummings got a job as an analyst for an airline. For the past two years she has worked during the week and traveled to marathons on weekends, staying with friends or sleeping in her rental car to save money. "I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t work for an airline because it would have been too expensive," she explained.
She didn't decide to go for the record until she had run nearly 20 marathons. "I didn’t even know that there was a record," she said. "I found out by accident that I had the chance to break it because I met a girl who was two years older than me who was just about to break it."
That woman was Laura Skladzinski, who set the old record at the age of 24. The two became fast friends, and Skladzinski supported Cummings throughout her journey.
Cummings met her boyfriend, Gary Krugger, at marathon number 25 in Delaware. Krugger is a sub 3 hour marathoner. The two rearranged their running schedules so they could meet up at races. Krugger finished his 50 marathons in 50 states and D.C. on the same day as Cummings.
Cummings said the most difficult course was the Sehgahunda Trail Marathon in upstate New York. It wasn't, however, her most difficult race. Last June, after running Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn., Cummings found out she had a stress fracture in her hip. She finished three marathons in the two months she spent on crutches recovering. The first of those took her 10 hours and 39 minutes.
"Right before I broke my hip I got third overall back to back in two marathons in one weekend," she said. The fracture and the rehabilitation have slowed her times dramatically, but her attitude hasn't changed. Cummings still loves running and hopes to be back to her old speed in a couple of months.
Up next, Cummings plans to run 50 sub 4 hour marathons in all 50 states plus D.C.
Comments
Beverly Paquin is the youngest woman to run all 50 states and the rules for morgans so called record plus dc is wrong
rules state..... that marathon counts as virginia she never ran a marathon in dc
The Marine Corps Marathon counts as Virginia because it starts and ends in Virginia. Additionally, the National Marathon and/or Washington DC Marathon, which begin and end inside DC do not count towards the state count because the District of Columbia is not a state.
"Little Brother" - you are WRONG. Morgan finished the states & DC and never cared what Beverly did.
Directly from the 50&DC website:
http://www.50anddcmarathongroupusa.com/information.cfm
"Each keeps individual marathon participation records and evidence. The new Washington D.C. Marathon (Last Plain to Boston) and the Marine Corps Marathon are all acceptable as the D.C. Marathon."
All of us support Morgan and most of us have never even heard of that other girl. Get your facts straight before you post BS comments like that.
Just putting in my two cents. (little brother) got his facts and info from www.50statesmarathonclub.com under there rules and guidelines Marine Corps Marathon counts as Virginia because it starts and ends in Virginiais ...but there is also www.50anddcmarathongroupusa.com which says running Marine Corps Marathon are all acceptable as the D.C. Marathon. That being said both records are very great accompishments and should not be in anyway negitive. I have heard of of both girls and think they both deserve credit in finishing such a great goal. My two cents!!!!
Hi! Let's not start any arguments here :) we both had different goals and were going for two different records -- and both of us accomplished our goals so no matter how you look at it, we're both legitimate verified record-holders.
While I do wish Beverly hadn't tried to undermine my accomplishment by stalking me or lashing out and telling lies about me, I personally won't do anything in response that would lower me to her level.
My journey through my 50+DC has been filled with positivity -- meeting Gary, making lots of new friends, moving past my horrible injury, making my debut as a race director -- and I'd like it to stay positive! thanks!
great job to Morgan!
Little Brother: You are right in saying that Beverly is the youngest female "50 States" finisher. However, in accordance to what "50&DC Runner and 50stateman" have said, Morgan does indeed hold the record for the youngest female "50 States + DC" finisher. Both women and both accomplishments should be applauded!
Beverly's accomplishment has already been covered after she finished her 50 states tour in Maine on 10/17/2010: "Iowan is youngest woman to run marathons in every state " (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101019/SPORTS13/10200339/Iowa...).
This article by Kim Bogin is a chance to let the running community know about Morgan's accomplishment of finishing the 50+DC circuit, which in my opinion is a tad harder (1/51th harder) than 50 states, simply b/c there are only 2 opportunities to run DC per year (National & MCM).
Being on crutches or taking 10 hours isn't running a marathon. I've hiked that far with a 30 pound pack on my back in less time. Marathons are hard and should be given respect.
Andrew, 2:29 personal best marathon
Andrew - I realize it's impossible to imagine how hard it is to crutch a marathon unless you've done it yourself. I too could hike that far with a 30 pound pack in less time -- but not with only one good leg. Finishing Missoula on crutches in 10 hours was without question the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, and I was much more sore after that than I've ever been after running a marathon on my own 2 feet.
I ran in the Missoula Marathon and heard about you running that marathon on crutches. I had never heard of any such thing. After the marathon, I looked to see what your final time was and nothing was ever posted. Did you finish?
Hi Bryan, yes I did finish - the timing mats had been gone for 3 hours when I got done, so the official time isn't on the website, but they had volunteers stay to monitor the course while I was still on it, and gave me my medal afterwards as proof of completion so it would count for Montana!
I've been reading through these comments because I've heard about you and I guess I could send a congratulation card on being the 2nd youngest person to complete all 50 states!
Tom, 2:46 PR marathon time
Running 50 states plus DC is like running 50 states plus Canada or Mexico. Who cares! The 50 states is the only thing that matters.
I'm not aware of any club for 50 plus Canada or Mexico, the difference here is there are two separate US clubs with two separate records. Morgan completed the circuit according to the standards of BOTH clubs (and broke one record). Beverly only did it according to the standards of ONE club. She broke a separate record, not the same one Morgan broke, but according to the standards of the of the other club, Beverly isn't even a finisher! Still, both got the states done one way or another at 22 years 10 months so kudos to them both.
Forget DC, who was the youngest to complete the 50 states?
Congrats!
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