After her mother passed in 2022,
Meaghan Fastert, PE Teacher and Girls’ Cross Country Coach, wanted to finish a goal she had set for herself years before: running marathons in all 50 states before she turned 50 years old. Fastert reached her 33rd state in Little Rock, AR at 39 years old last week.
Fastert has always loved running since she was a little girl. Instead of watching her older sister’s basketball games at Glenbrook North, Fastert ran laps around the court to cure her boredom, Fastert said. When Fastert was a student at North, she ran for the girls’ cross country team all four years. After college, Fastert ran at the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon in Champaign, IL, the first, but far from the last time, she would tackle this
strenuous task.
Her time during the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon qualified Fastert for the Boston Marathon in 2022, the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon, with a qualifying time of 3:35.54.
“I was so proud because I truly wanted to walk at the end, but didn’t let myself because I was so close to the Boston qualifying team,” Fastert said.
While it was her mother’s passing that initially inspired Fastert to embark on this journey, her husband and kids continue to inspire her to train harder every day, Fastert said. Her family has attended each of her races, and her husband Matt Fastert Fitness Coordinator at Glenbrook North high school, ran the Boulderthon in Boulder, CO with her on their wedding anniversary in 2024, Matt said.
“While we ran, we kept saying there cannot be many couples who enjoy running four hours together, let alone on their wedding anniversary,” Matt said. “It is a pretty awesome memory for us to have together.”
Meaghan soon hopes to complete Ultra Marathons—marathons of 50 miles, 100 miles, and 200 miles—within the next five years, as well as the IronMan Triathlon, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and a full 26.2-mile marathon. Along with her more extreme goals, Fastert wants to one day run a marathon with her former students, she said. Fastert pushing herself as a runner has manifested in the way she coaches
girls’ cross country, Fastert said. Sammie Ognar, Girls’ Varsity Cross Country Captain, attributes her desire to run a marathon to Fastert, who has taught her everything she knows about passion, Ognar said. Seeing Fastert practice what she preaches, Ognar is eager to run a marathon with Fastert in the future, Ognar said.
“Fastert’s dedication and discipline have shaped me into the runner I am,” Ognar said.
For Fastert, each mile is not just a personal milestone, but rather a lesson in resilience. With 17 states left to complete and years of racing still ahead of her, Meaghan is not just chasing a finish line; she is building her legacy, one marathon at a time, Fastert said.
“I have learned to enjoy the journey along the way, but I am not done,” Meaghan said. “This goal will continue to grow as I will continue to experience new things and more challenges.”
