Dane Rauschenberg
Encyclopedia
Dane Rauschenberg is an American
long-distance runner who ran 52 marathon
s, one every weekend, throughout 2006. He raised over $43,000 for charity, as part of an effort he called "Fiddy2".
Leading up to Rauschenberg's 2006 effort, he ran a few marathons as a middle-of-the-pack runner. Rauschenberg first marathon was the Harrisburg Marathon in 2001, which he finished in a time of 4:12:07, 159th overall of 281 finishers. Rauschenberg next ran the 2004 Marine Corps Marathon
in 3:31:13, in 685th place. Three weeks after the Marine Corps event, Rauschenberg ran another marathon in Maryland, dropping his personal best by 10 minutes.
Before 2006, some runners tried to see how many marathons they could run on consecutive weekends. For example, Richard Worley had run a marathon on each of 159 consecutive weekends, with his times averaging around 5 hours per marathon. Others attempted to see how many different marathons could be completed within a single calendar year, with some runners reaching 90.http://mm.littlemarathon.com/ScoreCard.asp Retrieved 2007-11-28 With this background, Rauschenberg decided in April 2005 goal of running 52 marathons on consecutive weekends during calendar year 2006. However, his enterprise competed for public attention with at least three other contemporaneous efforts, two of which involved running 50 marathons on 50 consecutive days.
in the year prior to running the 52 Marathons, Dane selected its beneficiary, the Mobile chapter of L'Arche
, to be the recipient of his efforts. Rauschenberg obtained partial assistance for his effort in the form of race entry fee waivers, free meals from a local restaurant, free running shoes, and a free website. Despite his making many funding requests, Rauschenberg reports that he did not obtain monetary donations to offset Fiddy2's costs, and estimated that total travel expenses related to the effort would be $20,000. Rauschenberg sent out weekly press releases in an attempt to promote the fundraising effort, submitted blog postings, and sought speaking invitations. As a result, Rauschenberg spoke at marathon events throughout the year and was featured as a runner on race's websites and various blog
s. Rauschenberg sought radio, television, and print coverage and he called attention to the fundraising marathon project with a website and blog.
During the project, he ran marathons in Alaska
, the Cayman Islands
, and three in Canada
.
Late in the year, to preserve his streak of marathons, Rauschenberg organized the Drake Well Marathon consisting of 105.5 laps around his hometown's high school track, as he was not aware of any other certified race scheduled for the Christmas weekend at the time. The race was limited to 25 runners, with 21 runners from nine states participating, and was the penultimate event of his effort.
Fiddy2 was one of at least four charity fundraising projects in 2006 that involved a runner running 50 or more marathons during that year. Rauschenberg ran his 52 consecutive weekly marathons in 2006 with an average time of 3:21:16. In recognition of Rauschenberg's efforts, he was named by the marathonguide.com website (a marathon reference website) as one of the 20 outstanding USA marathon runners for 2006, as part of an effort to recognize those individuals whose participation in multiple marathons "show that marathoning is and can be part of one's regular routine." The 52nd and final race was run on December 31, 2006, with $32,000 raised at that time.
In 2007, Rauschenberg switched his career to race promoting and as a motivational speaker
discussing his 52-marathon experience and offering suggestions about running as an aspect of a healthy lifestyle.
to Washington, D.C.
, in the time of 50 hours and 16 minutes by himself.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
long-distance runner who ran 52 marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
s, one every weekend, throughout 2006. He raised over $43,000 for charity, as part of an effort he called "Fiddy2".
Background
Rauschenberg graduated from Penn State University.Leading up to Rauschenberg's 2006 effort, he ran a few marathons as a middle-of-the-pack runner. Rauschenberg first marathon was the Harrisburg Marathon in 2001, which he finished in a time of 4:12:07, 159th overall of 281 finishers. Rauschenberg next ran the 2004 Marine Corps Marathon
Marine Corps Marathon
The Marine Corps Marathon is an annual marathon held in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC. The mission of the MCM is to promote physical fitness, generate community goodwill and showcase the organizational skills of the United States Marine Corps....
in 3:31:13, in 685th place. Three weeks after the Marine Corps event, Rauschenberg ran another marathon in Maryland, dropping his personal best by 10 minutes.
Before 2006, some runners tried to see how many marathons they could run on consecutive weekends. For example, Richard Worley had run a marathon on each of 159 consecutive weekends, with his times averaging around 5 hours per marathon. Others attempted to see how many different marathons could be completed within a single calendar year, with some runners reaching 90.http://mm.littlemarathon.com/ScoreCard.asp Retrieved 2007-11-28 With this background, Rauschenberg decided in April 2005 goal of running 52 marathons on consecutive weekends during calendar year 2006. However, his enterprise competed for public attention with at least three other contemporaneous efforts, two of which involved running 50 marathons on 50 consecutive days.
Running 52 marathons in 2006
Rauschenberg called his effort "Fiddy2," which in the initial planning stages, did not have a charity fund raising component. After contacting the First Light Marathon in Mobile, AlabamaMobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
in the year prior to running the 52 Marathons, Dane selected its beneficiary, the Mobile chapter of L'Arche
L'Arche
L'Arche is an International Federation dedicated to the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities...
, to be the recipient of his efforts. Rauschenberg obtained partial assistance for his effort in the form of race entry fee waivers, free meals from a local restaurant, free running shoes, and a free website. Despite his making many funding requests, Rauschenberg reports that he did not obtain monetary donations to offset Fiddy2's costs, and estimated that total travel expenses related to the effort would be $20,000. Rauschenberg sent out weekly press releases in an attempt to promote the fundraising effort, submitted blog postings, and sought speaking invitations. As a result, Rauschenberg spoke at marathon events throughout the year and was featured as a runner on race's websites and various blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s. Rauschenberg sought radio, television, and print coverage and he called attention to the fundraising marathon project with a website and blog.
During the project, he ran marathons in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
, and three in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Late in the year, to preserve his streak of marathons, Rauschenberg organized the Drake Well Marathon consisting of 105.5 laps around his hometown's high school track, as he was not aware of any other certified race scheduled for the Christmas weekend at the time. The race was limited to 25 runners, with 21 runners from nine states participating, and was the penultimate event of his effort.
Fiddy2 was one of at least four charity fundraising projects in 2006 that involved a runner running 50 or more marathons during that year. Rauschenberg ran his 52 consecutive weekly marathons in 2006 with an average time of 3:21:16. In recognition of Rauschenberg's efforts, he was named by the marathonguide.com website (a marathon reference website) as one of the 20 outstanding USA marathon runners for 2006, as part of an effort to recognize those individuals whose participation in multiple marathons "show that marathoning is and can be part of one's regular routine." The 52nd and final race was run on December 31, 2006, with $32,000 raised at that time.
In 2007, Rauschenberg switched his career to race promoting and as a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
discussing his 52-marathon experience and offering suggestions about running as an aspect of a healthy lifestyle.
Running 202 Mile American Odyssey Relay solo
In 2010, Rauschenberg ran the American Odyssey Relay, usually a 12 (or 6) person relay covering the 202 miles from Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaGettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in the time of 50 hours and 16 minutes by himself.