Steve Ranson of Plainfield completes his goal of running in all 50 states in 2016, holding up a sign for “50” as he heads for the finish line.
Steve Ranson of Plainfield is running up on two milestones Sept. 28 — he’ll turn 70 that day, and he’ll complete his 70th marathon that day as he joins more than 3,000 runners taking part in Columbus’ annual Mill Race Marathon.
“I’ll be a happy guy,” says Ranson. “It just wonderfully worked out.”
Ranson had looked at events out of state, but between living in Indiana for more than 40 years and having family in the state, the Mill Race Marathon gave him a great opportunity to celebrate the two milestones. He had competed in a Mill Race event a few years ago, and he’s looking forward to returning.
Around a year ago, Ranson realized his 70th birthday would be on a Saturday. Knowing that’s a common marathon day, Ranson began looking for a race and found the Mill Race.
Before he ran, both of Ranson’s older brothers were marathon runners, and although he respected it, he had no interest in doing it.
“Though I thought that was kind of cool, I had zero desire to pay somebody to get blisters on my feet,” says Ranson.
Ranson’s interest in running began with a hope that the three brothers could run a race together someday, which led to him running his first marathon in 1994. Running runs in the family, Ranson jokes.
The result of his first marathon is one of the race times he clearly remembers, 3:59:08, beating his goal of four hours by less than a minute.
“That one clicks in my mind for some reason,” he says.
Since that race in Dayton, Ohio, 30 years ago, he’s run in Chicago, New York City, Boston, Anchorage, and even Athens, Greece, the birthplace of the marathon.
“It just kind of gradually took on a life of its own,” says Ranson.
Although all three brothers never ran together due to the oldest retiring from running, Ranson’s love for the race is still going strong. The health benefit is one aspect of his motivation, but there’s also emotional upsides.
“It’s relaxing, it’s mentally cleansing, I enjoy the social aspect of it,” says Ranson.
In addition to that, there’s a certain simplicity to running that Ranson appreciates. All you need is a good pair of shoes, he says.
“Running’s pretty simple, it’s just left, right, left, right,” says Ranson.
Eventually, Ranson had the idea to race in all 50 states, a feat he completed in 2016 in Connecticut.
“There is so much beauty all around,” Ranson says of traveling for races.
Ranson says it’s harder for him to take days off than it is to find motivation. He trains five days a week, running around five miles a day, with a 10-mile day every couple of weeks. He describes himself as average — “average guy, average build, average pace” — but years of conditioning mean he’s in shape to run a marathon at “the drop of a hat.”
He compares maintaining his state to a pot of simmering water, as opposed to room temperature water. Kick up the flame just a bit, and it’ll quickly boil.
“It’s just the joy of doing it,” Ranson says about his continued motivation to run.
Ranson retired in 2019 after being a pastor for 40 years. Along with more time to run, Ranson says he has gained some clarity on the nature of life.
“Life’s not really a competition,” he says. Most people are concerned with their own lives, their own careers, their own race.
Ranson is looking forward to his 70th marathon, realizing it will be a meaningful day.
“I’m just so humbled that I can hear, and talk, and walk, and see, and all the more to run and cross a finish line of 26.2 miles,” he says.
