About Finishing Fifty: How Running All 50 States Transformed My Life After 50 by Christine Palmisano
Approaching fifty, most people slow down.
Christine Palmisano sped up.
In Finishing Fifty, Christine shares the extraordinary true story of how an ordinary woman turned uncertainty, loss, and self-doubt into one of the most ambitious personal goals imaginable: running a half marathon in all 50 states.
After a childhood marked by illness, Christine carried a quiet belief that her body had limits. Then came her fifties—bringing divorce, retirement after a 35-year career, and the disorienting question of what comes next.
Running became her answer.
What began as a tentative step evolved into a 16-year journey across the country—through unfamiliar cities, changing landscapes, and pivotal life transitions. With every race, Christine rebuilt her confidence, discovered resilience she didn’t know she had, and formed meaningful connections with people and places along the way.
Inside, you’ll discover:
– How to pursue bold goals even when life feels uncertain
– Why perseverance matters more than talent or timing
– What endurance sports can teach you about starting over
– The emotional and mental shifts that come with midlife reinvention
– How movement can become a pathway to healing and purpose
More than a running memoir, Finishing Fifty is a story about reclaiming your life—one step, one mile, one state at a time.
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to start again, this book will show you it’s not.
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Author Bio:
Christine Palmisano spent 35 years in public service while pursuing a personal goal that took her across all 50 states: running a half marathon in each one. Originally from Wisconsin and later based in Virginia, she now lives in Florida with her husband, Mike. Christine is also the author of Thoughts From the Heart and writes to inspire others to pursue meaningful goals at any stage of life.