N※N

Travel nurse to achieve 50-state marathon goal in Detroit as she turns 50

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. te-marathon-goal-in-detroit-as-she-turns-50.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Sunday, October 19th 2025 at 21:29 GMT by Channel 3000
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

301x168/9845 Bytes

179x224/10344 Bytes

224x224/9076 Bytes

Rochelle Anderson turned 50 this spring, and she didn’t celebrate with a quiet dinner or a family gathering. Instead, she laced up her shoes and hit the pavement in Detroit for the 50th marathon of her life—one that takes her closer to a bold personal ambition: to run a marathon in every one of the United States’ 50 states.

Anderson, who has spent the past decade working in hospitals across the country—from the humid wards of Texas to the snow‑plowed emergency rooms in Maine—has used travel nursing as a way to see new places, meet new people, and push herself physically. The same energy that keeps her from getting burnt out on the job now fuels her running schedule. “I get to learn a lot about people in each state, and I love the idea of having a running story for each of them,” she says, a sentiment that reflects the dual passions of her career and her sport.

The Detroit Marathon 2025

The race took place on a crisp, early October morning in downtown Detroit, a city that has long celebrated its resurgence. The 2025 Detroit Marathon, organized by the non‑profit Running for a Purpose, attracts around 8,000 runners each year. Participants run a 26.2‑mile course that weaves through the historic neighborhoods of Midtown, the riverfront, and the revitalized Corktown district. The route offers both a scenic view of the city’s architecture and a physical challenge, with a few moderate hills and an unpredictable spring weather that can turn a warm day into a brisk wind.

Rochelle finished the race in 3 hours, 18 minutes, a time that places her in the middle of the pack for her age group and underlines the consistency of her training. She credits a blend of long, steady miles on the weekends and high‑intensity intervals during the week. “The key is to build mileage slowly and listen to your body,” she notes. “You’re already running 70 miles a week on the job, so the extra running is an extension, not an added burden.”

The Detroit Marathon also serves as a fundraiser for the organization’s youth mentoring program. Anderson took the opportunity to raise awareness about the benefits of travel nursing and the importance of physical activity for caregivers. She partnered with a local nonprofit that provides mentorship to teenagers who are considering careers in health care, sharing her own journey of balancing professional responsibilities with a demanding training schedule.

The 50‑State Marathon Vision

Rochelle’s 50‑state goal was born out of a desire to connect each state she has worked in to a tangible memory. She has already completed marathons in 48 of the 50 states, with the two missing—West Virginia and South Dakota—still on her list. Her plan is to complete the last two within the next three years, taking her on a road trip that will combine her love of travel with her love of running.

The idea has resonated with her colleagues, many of whom have become her “running crew.” After a tough shift at a rural hospital in Idaho, she would meet up with a group of nurses for a night run around the town’s park. These spontaneous workouts not only helped her stay on schedule but also strengthened camaraderie among the traveling nurses. In a recent interview with the Travel Nurse Times, Anderson highlighted the support network that has kept her motivated: “It’s a mix of coworkers who run, the local running clubs in each state, and the online community where we swap training tips and race results.”

The Road Ahead

Anderson’s journey is not only a personal achievement but also an inspiration to others in demanding professions. She has taken to social media to document her training, posting short videos of her daily runs and the scenic vistas she encounters along the way. Her Instagram feed, now boasting over 12,000 followers, is a mix of hospital life, workout photos, and motivational quotes. Her story has attracted the attention of a national magazine that featured her in a piece about healthcare workers maintaining their fitness while juggling long hours.

Looking forward, Anderson plans to tackle the remaining two marathons by leveraging a well‑structured training plan that balances mileage with recovery. She is also exploring partnerships with running gear companies for sponsorships that could help offset travel and equipment costs. Additionally, she is in talks with a local university’s sports science department to study the physiological effects of sustained high mileage on nurses who work long shifts—research that could provide valuable insights for the broader healthcare community.

The Detroit Marathon served as both a milestone and a reminder of the path ahead. “Every finish line is a new beginning,” she says. “I’m excited to see where the next 50 miles take me.”

Through her relentless pursuit of running across every state and her commitment to the care of patients, Rochelle Anderson embodies the spirit of perseverance and purpose—qualities that are essential both on the pavement and in the hospital. As she continues to lace up her shoes and head out for the next race, she invites us all to consider what dreams we might be ready to chase, no matter how far the finish line lies.