Peggy Faber's Memoir Chronicles 50 Marathons in 50 States

The book traces Faber’s journey from her first marathon in 1996 to her final race in 2024, detailing her pursuit of the "50 in 50" goal and the challenges she faced after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2018.

Faber’s marathon journey began back in August 5, 1984, when she watched Joan Benoit win the first Women's Olympic Marathon on television. That moment planted the idea that she, too, could run a marathon. It took more than a decade for that dream to become reality, as she completed her first marathon, the Portland Marathon, in 1996, finishing in just over four hours with her three young children cheering from the sidelines.

In the years that followed, Faber discovered the "50 in 50" challenge, which involves completing a marathon in every U.S. state. She set out to do the same, running marathons in all 50 states. However, her pursuit was interrupted in October 2018 when a persistent hand tremor led her to a series of medical appointments and ultimately to a Parkinson's disease diagnosis. Despite the diagnosis, Faber chose to continue racing, eventually running in shirts that read "Fighting Parkinson's One Mile at a Time" and speaking openly with race directors, fellow runners, and strangers on the course about her diagnosis.

The memoir follows Faber through the remaining marathons of her 50-state journey, describing races affected by Parkinson's symptoms, including sudden episodes she and her running partners came to call "BOOM, SIT, RESET." Along the way, the memoir also explores friendship, family support, humor, and the experiences that kept Faber moving toward her goal. In its closing chapters, the memoir recounts Faber’s return to the Adirondack Marathon in New York in 2024 for her fiftieth and final marathon. She partnered with the Parkinson's Foundation and had three main goals: to raise funds, raise awareness, and inspire others.

Faber spent more than twenty-five years working toward the 50-state goal while raising three children and building a career in finance. She describes the book as humorous, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting. The memoir is intended for readers interested in endurance sports, come-from-behind heroes, and stories of grit and determination when faced with the unforeseen and unwanted.

The author, a former chief financial officer and mother of three, is a Parkinson's advocate and speaks about maintaining an active, goal-driven life after diagnosis. "Get Me to the Finish Line" is her first book and is available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover formats.