After conquering 50 states, La Jolla runner takes his half marathon streak north

John Newsam just finished his pledge to run 13.1 miles in all 50 states. Now he’s halfway through a new international goal: racing a half marathon in every Canadian province.

John Newsam mid-race in Whistler, one stop on his 10-province half marathon tour. (Provided by John Newsam)

Local La Jolla runner and former Bird Rock Community Council president John Newsam is set to run a half marathon in five of the remaining easternmost Canadian provinces this September, crossing the finish line of a goal that he has already gained substantial ground on.

Earlier this year, across five consecutive weekends in May and June, Newsam completed half marathons in five of the westernmost Canadian provinces. This came just five months after fulfilling the oath he made on his 70th birthday to run 13.1 miles in every state. Newsam achieved this feat in two years, spanning 655 miles across America.

Reflecting on finishing his 50-state pledge, Newsam anticipated the comedown that would follow: “I knew that it would be a bit of a letdown when this finished. And so, the question is: well, what the hell am I going to do now?”

He immediately began planning his next milestone: running a half marathon in each of the 10 provinces of Canada.

He wanted to explore Canada, especially Banff, where his grandmother had visited over a century ago on her honeymoon. In addition to visiting with old friends and making new ones, he wanted to assess how Canadians were being impacted given the current state of affairs between Canada and the United States.

As an added benefit, running in each of Canada's 10 provinces would mean he has run across most of North America, an accomplishment held by few in his age group.

“Let's face it, most people don't like running at all,” said Newsam. It takes a special individual to even set a goal involving this much discipline, let alone follow through with it.

Newsam told the La Jolla Light last year that these endeavors are about more than the running itself. They are reasons to explore novel places, visit national parks, reconnect with friends and family, eat interesting food and interact with people, he said.

The first leg of his journey took place in May and June of this year, when Newsam completed a half marathon in Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba — all in just four weeks.

He initially wanted Banff to be the anchor of the trip, driven by a desire to explore his heritage by visiting a place his grandmother had once enjoyed a century ago. However, the only race in Banff had already sold out.

After writing to the race director, he was told to sign up for a 10K with the possibility of being switched into the half. Whether it be good luck or his ancestors watching over him, he was able to run the Banff half marathon and enjoy the surrounding area that his grandmother had once visited on her honeymoon.

Photographs taken by John Newsam’s maternal grandmother on her honeymoon in Banff decades before his visit. (Provided by John Newsam)

In the days between races, Newsam and his wife, Sharon Wampler, made the most of the interprovincial travel, recovering in peace on a “high-end tourist train with large windows all around you to see the Rockies and the rivers and the wildlife as you chug through,” said Newsam.

The second leg of the tour will begin on Sept. 13, when Newsam and Wampler will travel throughout the eastern Canadian provinces over five weeks, taking in the culinary and cultural treasures of Canada, and of course, competing in a half marathon at each stop along the way. 

It is often in the downtime that Newsam finds the most opportunity for connection: “We like chatting with people that we just happen to run into who are staying at the same place or in the same restaurant,” said Newsam.

Newsam and Wampler know that after a long day of racing and traveling, a hearty and local meal is vital, not only to sustain themselves but also as an avenue to experience the cuisine of the place they are visiting.

“We're going to stay for 10 days in the old part of Montreal. And, we've got a couple of Michelin-starred restaurants on the list, including the one for Sharon's birthday,” said Newsam.

When seeking inspiration to keep going, the moments between races make for the perfect window to recharge by sharing interests, experiencing novel landmarks, celebrating life and sharing it all with the person you love.

After running a half marathon every week across the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, his journey will culminate in Prince Edward Island, for the final marathon on Oct. 18, a province “renowned globally for its mussels,” Newsam said.

In the spirit of friendship, Newsam has extended invitations to family and friends to join him on his final trek. He is hopeful that loved ones will join him during the race and on the sidelines. A local La Jolla couple has already confirmed attendance at the celebration.

When Newsam finished his 50-state pledge in Delaware, about 30 people braved the December cold to cheer him on — five even ran the final stretch with him. If Delaware is any indication, a similar warm welcome will be waiting for him at the Prince Edward Island finish line.

Bon voyage, Newsam and company!