A Draper resident finished the Boston Marathon for the second time — and already has qualified for her third.

Just two days prior to the 129th running of the Boston Marathon, 47-year-old Karin Nielson Nelson also ran the Newport Rhode Races marathon in Newport, Rhode Island, her 31st state toward her goal of running a marathon in all 50 states before she turns 50. She has run most of those marathons in the past two years.

“One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday is to go for a long run, and that’s how I treat many of them,” Nelson said. “I get a long run in a new state, and I see a beautiful place. I get to know people on the course, and I just have fun. I meet people who I can help pace them to their goals and help them, because I don’t need to win; I don’t care. I do run some fast, but for the most part, I’m running for the enjoyment. Either way, I get a medal.”

The 1996 Hillcrest High alumna displays those medals on a plaque gifted to her by her husband.

“I color in each state on my little chalkboard, and it’s satisfying,” she said, adding she generally only kept her race bibs from Boston.

Nelson’s quest to run all 50 states began recently.

“I did sprints in high school. My body is built for short distance. I have the stronger quads, I have the power muscles,” said the Husky alumna, who graduated with a 3.9 grade-point average and participated in cheer, dance company and several clubs. “I was ‘Little Miss High School.’”

At BYU, Nelson stayed active with dance and occasional running while earning her degree. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey’s marathon story, she signed up for her first race 20 years ago.

“Between my number two and number three child, I read Oprah Winfrey had run a marathon, and I thought if Oprah can do it, so can I,” she said.

Nelson followed a marathon training program online.

“I was so excited when I first hit six miles on the treadmill. I was so proud of myself. I built my mileage up and, on the weekends, I met up with a friend from high school, and we would just run down the canyons, trying to get our quads strong for the race,” she said. “When I ran Top of Utah, everything fell apart. I had stomach issues, and I lost a toenail. I hated every second of it. I quit running for 15 years; I was never going to do a marathon again.”

Moves to California and then Georgia reignited her training. Nelson entered a local half marathon and placed first in her age group.

“I pushed it and I got first in my age division, and I was like, ‘I’m faster than I thought,’” she said, but also knew “I never was going to make Chicago or New York or any of the bigger races; I wasn’t close. But this one felt good.”

Nelson joined a group of early-morning runners.

“It depended on how long we’d run as to what time we’d start,” she said, adding her sixth child was just 18 months old so often, she’d nap with her after running up to 20 miles before getting her other kids off to school. “Those runners were fast. I ran with them; I didn’t think anything of it. We chatted while running and had a party.”

In November 2019, Nelson attempted to qualify for Boston at the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon in Georgia.

“I wanted to qualify for Boston. I was shooting for around a 3:35 pace, but I didn’t know how to fuel. I was a rookie. By mile 17, my batteries just ran out. I was completely depleted. My time was a 3:40, just off the qualifying time,” she said.

Still determined to qualify for Boston, Nelson and another runner in the group “trained our butts off. I was in the best running shape of my life, going as fast as I’ve ever run.”

Then, COVID-19 canceled the race. She attempted Boston qualification again at the Surf City Marathon in California, but illness and high heat thwarted her race pace. 

An unexpected entry into the St. George Marathon followed, where Nelson clocked a sub-four-hour finish.

“It was respectable, but it wasn’t at all my goal pace,” she said.

Nelson’s next attempt, at the Mt. Charleston Marathon in Las Vegas, was emotionally charged.

“The day before the race, my mom called to say my dad was in the hospital,” she remembered. “I ran that race, thinking about my dad the whole time and dedicated to him. He passed away a couple days later, but I made it back to see him.”

Nelson finished in 3:38—fast enough to qualify for Boston.

That’s about when she learned about the 50-state challenge. 

“I was like, ‘That’s cute. I’ll think about it.’ When I was talking to one of my best friends, she said, ‘You’re 45 you should do all 50 before you turn 50,’” she said. 

Nelson turned to a 50-state marathon club on Facebook and was encouraged by others to “totally go for it.”

At that time, she had run marathons in five states, including New York City, and had planned to run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. Still undecided, Nelson ran one in North Carolina on Mother’s Day, her third in three months.

“That’s when I became fully committed to 50 by 50,” she said. “I know it’s crazy, but I’ve enjoyed it. I meet the coolest people; I help pace them to their goals and get to know them.”

Nelson finds it rewarding to pace others.

“I’d rather be a friend to somebody and enjoy the race. I get so much more out of that because who cares if you win all the time? That’s very self-serving. It doesn’t do anything for anybody, plus, it’s not good for my body,” she said. 

To help fund races, Nelson has coached fitness classes both in Georgia and Utah.

Through dozens of marathons, she’s honed her strategy. 

“Last May, I ran Conway, North Carolina, after running others, and I got a 3:34 so I beat my PR by four minutes. I’ve discovered, I do a lot better if I keep training than take a month off. I bounce from one to the next just giving my legs a little rest the week after a race and the week before a race,” she said.

Despite the demanding schedule, Nelson has remained strong, even placing in the top three at the Marine Corps Marathon in amongst competing in other marathons in several weeks. 

“I was just going to go enjoy the day knowing my legs were probably tired, but my legs felt fresh and that’s where I ended up qualifying for Boston again,” she said. 

Nelson qualified again the very next week.

“I didn’t expect to even feel as if I had any energy left, but I felt fine. The body is amazing; it can do more than we think it can. But obviously, listen to your own body; don’t hurt yourself,” she said.

In December 2024, a hamstring injury forced Nelson to stop mid-race in a chilly Redondo Beach, Delaware marathon.

“I quit at mile 11, and it broke my heart. I’ve only quit that one marathon, and it still eats at me even though it was the right thing to do,” she said.

After recovering, Nelson resumed her streak, running in Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island—where she paced a first-timer and soaked her legs in the Atlantic.

“I held myself back knowing I had two races in three days,” she said. “Afterward   , I sat with my legs in the Atlantic and soaked, like a cold plunge,” she said.

At Boston, Nelson started pacing another runner from Utah, but eventually ran her own race. 

“I felt strong, which was surprising after just running a marathon two days before,” she said about her 3:49 finish.

Next up: marathons in Montana in May and in Colorado in June; and possibly two per month if costs can be shared.

Running, Nelson said, is essential for her mental health.

“When I run for a certain amount of time and push myself, I get a serotonin surge because my body releases those endorphins. I need that high. Running saves me. It’s my therapy. On the days I don’t run, I get a little grumpy. My sweet husband is so good about that and will say, ‘Oh, did you run today? I’ll watch the kids, just go for a run,’” she said.

Nelson encourages people to find what challenges them.

“If it’s a 5K that will push you, then set it as a goal. Find the challenge that fits you. I do a full marathon because it’s hard. If I’m not constantly pushing then I’m not getting any better or stronger or faster. I know I’m getting older, and I should be slowing down, but don’t tell me that,” she said.

After 50 states, Nelson is eyeing a 50-mile race.

“I’m thinking I’ll do my 50  by 50 in January, maybe in Hawaii, and then, look for a 50-miler in March for my birthday,” she said.

Nelson won’t stop once she finishes that finish line.

“I’m doing Australia this summer, one of the Abbott World (Marathon) Majors. I’ve already done Boston, Chicago and New York so I need London, Berlin and Tokyo. Sydney is being added to that,” she said. “My goal was 50 by 50, but now it includes the big six by 60 and all seven continents by 70.” λ