COURTESY PHOTO
Debbra Jacobs-Robinson manages a smile during one of her many marathons.
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Marathon Woman
The Hawaii race will fulfill her goal of running one in every state
DEBBRA Jacobs-Robinson has run marathons in the frigid cold, the hot sun, lush surroundings and concrete jungles.
At the age of 55, Jacobs-Robinson is expected to run in her 85th marathon Sunday. She has run in all the other 49 states, and Hawaii completes her list. "Once I got hooked, I got really hooked," she said.
MARATHON VS. MARATHON
Debbra Jacobs-Robinson's impressions of races he has run:
» Most picturesque: "Big Sur Marathon and Avenue of the Giants Marathon, for non-city marathons. (See photo at right.) Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis-St. Paul was the most beautiful city marathon I've run."
» Most interesting: Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. -- "Very interesting and inspirational; ditto for the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon in Georgia (on a Civil War battlefield). ... Also fun is the Hatfield-McCoy Marathon in Kentucky/West Virginia, where the marathon centers around the famous family feud between the Hatfields and McCoys."
» Most hot and humid: Tahiti Nui Marathon on the island of Moorea in Tahiti.
» Chilliest: "Snow flurries at the beginning of the Fargo Marathon come to mind. However, I've been chillier ... including Rocket City in December in Huntsville, Ala., and at the Tucson Marathon in Arizona, also in December."
» Most difficult course: Bulldog 50K, a 31-mile course in the Santa Monica Mountains.
» Easiest course: "Chicago is probably the flattest course I've run."
» Favorite: "Always the one I'm running!"
On the Net
» 50statesmarathonclub.com
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Jacobs-Robinson started running marathons about 10 years ago, along with her husband (he's done about 25). She's a member of the 50 States Marathon Club, whose members share a goal of running a marathon in each of the United States. About 280 have done so.
Runners must have completed a marathon in at least 10 states to be eligible to join.
"It isn't just the running," she said. "It's the people I've met and the wonderful places running has taken me to."
Long-distance running is more mentally challenging than physical, Jacobs-Robinson said. It's all about making it to the finish line. "It's not about being a good athlete. It's about putting one foot in front of the other."
The Los Angeles resident, who works as a certified public accountant, notes that running marathons is unlike other sports, where athletes are all on different levels.
"We are all running the same course as the guy who wins it," she said. "If I can do it, anyone can -- it is not a super-human thing."
The physical aspects can't be denied, though. Recovery after a 26.2-mile race can take time, she said. "They say it takes about a day for every mile -- about a month."
Her best training tips: "Take it easy. A lot of injuries come from trying to go too fast. Secondly, enjoy the ride. You aren't going to win, so relax and get the most out of the experience," she said.
"I want to run faster, and hope to qualify for the Boston marathon one day, but I'd rather do ones that are pretty -- like Big Sur or Twin Cities -- than waste my life trying to squeeze another minute off my time."
She's visited Hawaii before, but Sunday's will be her first race here. "I saved the best for last."
Running has also provided Jacobs-Robinson with a means to raise money for charity. She raised more than $4,000 for the City of Hope, a cancer research facility, in recognition of her mother, who died of ovarian cancer at age 50.
To mark her 50th-state run, Jacobs-Robinson plans to present the donation to the City of Hope once she completes this weekend's run.
"I'll know I've done something other than just running the 26.2 miles. I usually force a smile when I finish a marathon -- just happy I made it, she added. "This time, I'll smile for another reason."