When David Schmitz crossed the finish line earlier this summer of the Sunburst Marathon underneath the golden dome of his alma mater — the University of Notre Dame — it marked the achievement of a longtime objective.

Running any marathon is an accomplishment in itself, but the June 14 race made it a marathon in every state by Schmitz, associate professor of mathematics at North Central College.

“I read an article about a bucket list that included a marathon in every state,” says Schmitz. “I was running my first marathon at Walt Disney World in 2003 and I saw a guy wearing a shirt with the postal codes from every state and he had crossed off the ones he had run in. That’s how it started—just a goal, really.”

After running the Disney Marathon and the Chicago Marathon for seven consecutive years, he began the challenge on the weekend of Memorial Day 2010 with a marathon in Minnesota.

Throughout his journey, Schmitz has kept every medal and racing bib. In every race he wears a red and white striped shirt that matches those of the North Central College men’s cross country team.

“It’s very recognizable if you’re familiar with the cross country program.” He says that in Omaha and Phoenix, he was approached by alumni who noticed the stripes.

This challenge allowed Schmitz to see some of the country’s most famous cities.

Some of his favorite races included the San Francisco Marathon, where he ran on the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Louisville Marathon, which progressed through Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.

“Running marathons is an interesting way to see the states.” he said. “Beyond the blisters and travel expenses, I’ve gotten to see some states I had never been to before.

Another favorite was the marathon in Memphis, Tenn.

“St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital placed a poster at every mile of a child with cancer and an inspirational saying like, ‘Thanks for raising money, you’re helping my family,’ and it warmed your heart to see that.” In addition to raising $1,500 for St. Jude, Schmitz has raised funds for other various causes. “It turned into a motivation as I began fundraising for different charities. That gave me a reason to keep running.”

Although Schmitz reached his goal, his running career is not over. Future plans include marathons in Canada, Asia or South America.

For now, Schmitz will enjoy a less strict running plan.

“I can say ‘I ran that one and I liked it, I’ll run it again!’ Having the goal is helpful because it keeps you on target. But now that I’ve completed it, I need something else to do.”