A. I checked. I have run 65 individual marathons. 3 full Ironman Triathlons with a marathon, and 2 50ks.

Q. When did you start thinking about running in all 50 states? When did it become a firm goal?

A. About 10 years ago when Ron and Cynthia Christen completed their 50 states quest. It inspired me. I think I had about 15 states at the time. Ron has given me great advice since then. I have also met many others from around the country that have or are trying to complete it. The journey has been more important than the goal. I have been blessed to be able to travel to some interesting places with friends to run marathons.

Q. Which marathon effort was the most fun, which was the hardest, and which one was your favorite?

A. The hardest marathon was Pike’s Peak because it was a trail marathon that ran up to 14,000 feet and then back down. My favorite has to be the 1986 Tallahassee Marathon which I won, on Valentine’s Day, and then

Q. When and where was your “darkest hour’?

that I should do all 6 of the major marathons. I have already done 3 of them. So, I have London, Berlin, and Tokyo on the list now. I also want to go back and run the New Orleans Marathon again in 2025 which would be 50 years after my first one there.

Gulf Winds Hall of Famer

One of Felton’s great gifts is his ability to get people involved in the sport of running and show them how to enjoy it. He was named Runner of the Year in 1985 and along with his wife Bonnie and son Jamie was named Co-Race Director of the Year in 2001.

Finally, in 2004 he was elected to the GWTC Hall of Fame joining his father, Leitch Wright, as the only farther-son team in the Hall of Fame. He inspired three people (Jillian Heddaeus, Carter Hay and Allen Blay) to run their first marathon and one (Chris O’Kelley) to run his third marathon in Atlantic City.

I had to laugh when I saw him identify the 1986 Tallahassee Marathon as his favorite. I am sure the main reason it goes to the top is the fact that Bonnie accepted his marriage proposal. But I remember it a little bit differently. Felton mentioned he won the race, and he did so in a time of 2:40:57. It was my second marathon, and I was trying to qualify for Boston – which meant I had to run under 2:50.

As soon as he crossed the finish line he hopped into a car and came back looking for me. Somewhere along the way his watch or his math betrayed him, and he was convinced I was behind the necessary pace to qualify. I either needed to push harder or forget qualifying.