LINTON, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) -Sometimes accomplishing a dream takes setting a goal and then putting one foot in front of the other. Shauna Kendall has taken many steps over the last few years to make her dream come true. She decided to run 50 races, in all 50 states, by the time she was 50 years old.
“Every December, for the last seven years, I’ve sat down and decided which states I need to go to,” said Shauna Kendall.
She’s crossed the country sometimes running marathons, other times running half-marathons. Once she ran six half-marathons in seven days.
“I’m so proud of myself and that’s what I always say. There’s no shame in my game and I pat myself on the back,” added Kendall.
She combined her love for running with her love for traveling. She would often run a race and then take the next week to sight-see in whatever state she was visiting. Kendall said the most challenging part of the dream is paying to get to all of the destinations. She would often do what she calls “car camping,” because she could not always afford a hotel.
“What I had to do was just sleep in my car. It honestly hasn’t been that bad and I’ve got accustomed to it,” Kendall smiled.
She has now completed 49 races and with just a few months from her 50th birthday, she’s about to cross the finish line of her 50th race this weekend in Hawaii.
“It’s been so worth it and I recommend it to anybody that if you have a goal in life, if you have anything you want to accomplish,” said Kendall. “Don’t be afraid to just go for it.”
Go for it, like she did, so many miles ago.