�f the statehood movement in the �istrict of Columbia ever goes anywhere , Toni-Anne and Robert Thompson will have a plane to catch . Come to think of it , anexpress train could �ip them down there almost as�uickly . Or , perhaps it would be more fitting for them to take abrisk jog . The couple have now completed the last leg of ajourney where they successfully ran ahalf-marathon or marathon inevery state . The Thompsons , of Mandon �rive in�ayne , knocked off their 50th race by finishing the 14th annual Maui Oceanfront Marathon in Hawaii in �anuary .“ It ’ s agreat accomplishment ,” says Toni-Anne , 51 , “ but it ’ s also alittle bit sad that we ’ ve come to the end .”
Theirs was a17-year endeavor that started when Robert , having con�uered multiple 5Ks and shorter road races , looked for something more challenging . His first halfmarathon came in Seaside Heights in October 2005 . Two years later , he ran among some 38,550 competitors in the New York City Marathon . “ It all took off from there ,” says Robert , 51 , afinancial adviser in Oakland . “ �e wanted abigger goal .”
By then , friends were racing with
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them , and they set their sights on races beyond this region . They scored their next finishes in �elaware , and then in Connecticut and Rhode Island , between May and October 2012 . Sometimes , the couple says , they hit two or three marathons in bordering states on consecutive days .
They raced with fewer than 80 people in the 24th annual �eath �alley Trail Marathon in California . The course was an old jeep road , all gravel — and it descended about 5,000 feet in its last 14 miles , Robert says . The narrow road �ig- �agged through agorge known as Titus Canyon . Its limestone walls , once immersed in tropical seas , are hundreds of millions of years old . “ It almost felt like we were onthe moon ,” Robert says .
On the next day , they were running again — but the backdrop was �uite different : the clamor and neon lights of the Las �egas Strip .
On trips built around the marathons , they went glamping under the stars at Bear Lake , amassive freshwater expanse on the Idaho- �tah line , and passed by Mount Rushmore during a late summer getaway to the �akotas . On their most recent trip , they stopped in the
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middle of the race to watch in awe as a pod of humpback whales splashed around in Maalaea Bay . “ The memories that we now have from every state are priceless ,” Toni-Anne says .
“ �e had ice cream and took anice picture in front of �evils Tower ,” her husband adds , referring to the attraction in �yoming . “ You can ’ treplace that kind of time together .” The couple , who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in April , have three children : Nicholas , 23� Gabrielle , 21� and Robert �r ., 15 .
“ This is something that we dedicated ourselves to doing as adults ,” says Robert , a native of Paramus . “ This is our little hobby , outside of our children .”
The Thompsons ’ running partners during their marathons were Stacey and Frank Ferry III of North Caldwell , and the latter ’ s brother , �ominic Ferry of�erona . Toni-Anne grew up with Stacey and the Ferry brothers in Belleville .
“ It ’ s addicting , to tell you the truth ,” �ominic says oflong-distance competitions .
“ �hat makes itmore special ,” Stacey says , “ is that all five of us finished it together . I think that makes it more special .”
Frank introduced the group to
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ILLUSTRATION� JOHN FLYNN / GETTY IMAGES |