John and Donna Swanson Story

Just Another Runner’s Story March 2025 Written by Gale Fischer

A Unique Running Journey

“Motion is lotion that soothes the body and soul.”

—-Jane Rolfe

Running has the potential to transform your life. Improved physical health and fitness is probably the benefit most easy to measure, but there are other positives that come to mind. Running can enhance one’s mental capacity with what it can do for brain health. It can boost confidence and provide an array of positive emotions that range from endorphin boosting excitement to sensations of calm and peace. Perhaps the most appreciated outcome of running that sustains over the long haul is the personal stories that are created. Each running journey grants a lifetime of memories. There are those runners that enjoy making these memories in isolation with the serenity of running alone but many of us share our journey through the years with others in the running community. Many individuals have played roles in the running journeys of Branch County runners, John and Donna Swanson, but what makes their journey special is they have enjoyed it together as husband and wife for almost a half-century.

Both John and Donna have savored their sport for years but John was first to get his feet wet with running. He had some experience as an endurance athlete while competing in long distance swimming in high school which helped some with the transition to running. “I started running in 1977,” he noted. “I was 25 at the time. Donna and I had been married for three years and were living in Chicago. One of my college roommates was a Golden Glove boxer. I wasn’t interested in boxing but I agreed to support him with his training and began running with him. We were doing short sprints about a half-mile each day. It wasn't the longer distances that I would enjoy running for many years but I still appreciated the daily routine. A few years later, another friend of mine convinced me to join him for a two mile run. Before attempting two miles I wasn’t at all confident that I could run that far but I was pleasantly surprised.” Half-mile sprints would turn into two mile runs and two mile runs would lead to even longer distances for John. The routine and consistency kept him going but running eventually turned into something much bigger than a daily activity for John.

Running had become a routine for John for two years before he finally convinced Donna to give it a try. “John took me to a 5K race in Northville,” Donna said. ”I decided to race as well and placed in her age group. I had done some running before the race in Northville. I saw how much John was enjoying it and I wanted to experience this also. I ran on my own initially. I had to work up to John’s level of endurance before I could run with him. After placing in my age group at the 5K race in Northville I was hooked.”

Once Donna built her endurance she and John began running some together. Sharing their joy for running with each other and with others helped to fuel their passion for their sport. Donna’s competitive drive kicked in after her performance at the 5K in Northville. “For the first fifteen years or so, we were comparable in pace,” John explained, “so we trained primarily together but also with others in the running groups we belonged to wherever we were living at the time.” Donna worked up to John’s endurance level and pace but eventually her speed surpassed his. 

Both John and Donna would progress to what many consider to be the coveted runner’s distance. “I ran my first marathon in 1979, with a time of 4 hours and 10 minutes,” John said. “Emotionally, it was very exciting because of the work put in to accomplish this milestone. Physically, I was exhausted and thought I would never run another, but a few days later, I was already planning for my next. Donna was a huge support for me and ran many of the training runs with me for my initial marathon.” 

Supporting John through many of his training runs may have planted the marathon seed for Donna but cheering him on race day is what pushed her over the edge. “I went and watched John run his first marathon and decided that I wanted to run one,” Donna noted. “I trained for my first marathon after this and ran Detroit in 1980, with a finish time of 4 hours and 29 minutes. I was very excited after doing my first. I was exhausted but knew I wanted to do another.” 

It seemed that Donna fell in love with the marathon immediately. Her desire to run more pushed her in making a few long range goals. One of these goals was to knock off a marathon in every state and become a member of the 50 State Club, an accomplishment that both she and John have achieved. “Donna first made a goal to run a marathon in every state,” John said. “Eventually this also became a milestone I wanted to achieve as well.”

The 50 State Club is an exclusive group of runners with a very small percentage in the running community belonging and a fraction of those who call themselves marathon runners are part of the club. Running a marathon in every state and having your spouse do the same is an even unique scenario. Through the years it has become a major part of the Swanson’s running journey. “I completed my 50th state in April of 2015 in Louisville,” John reflected. “My first one is right up there for my most memorable marathon, but probably sitting at the top of this list is the Leadville Trail Marathon, starting at 10,200 feet, climbing to 13,185 feet. This was the last marathon that I was able to finish ahead of Donna.”

Donna shared some of her highlights in part of her 50 state accomplishment. “I finished my 50th state in 2014 in Vermont. My fastest marathon was 3 hours and 13 minutes in Las Vegas. I have run Boston three times. John and  have run 35 of the states together. My most memorable marathon was when I ran Detroit with a time of 3:14. I was the third female in the master division and I won $500. I have also crossed the finish line for the Running Fit Trail Marathon three times as the first female.”

The memories created for 26.2 miles in all 50 states are truly amazing but it is more than the running that has made this journey one to cherish for John and Donna. “We have lived in Michigan most of our marriage, but we were in Montana for five years,” John explained. “It was helpful, living there to complete some of the states out west. I have loved running with Donna through the years.The running has been great, but trying to knock off 50 states has created great memories with the traveling, the things we have seen and the people we have met.” Donna shared similar sentiments. “When we moved back to Michigan, John retired for a year, so we decided to buy an RV and travel, running races wherever we went,” Donna said. “One of these memories from traveling came near the end of my 50 state journey. My second-to-last state marathon was in Little Rock, Arkansas. A big thunderstorm came in, with about six miles remaining for me, and there were threats of the marathon being canceled, but fortunately I was able to complete it with an official finish.” 

Running a marathon in every state wasn’t the only long term goal that Donna made for herself. “I decided that I wanted to run 100 marathons, a goal which I was able to accomplish just a few years ago,” Donna noted. “My 100th marathon was in 2022 in Detroit. This will be my last marathon. My knees and hips have held up pretty well considering all the miles and marathons I have run. Now that I have reached this milestone I have no desire to run another marathon.”

The marathon has been the go to distance for both John and Donna, but they also have some experience in the ultra marathon world. “John and I have both run the Big Horn 50K in Wyoming once and the Big Horn 30K once. I have also run a 50K in Allegan, Michigan. John has also run the Big Horn 50 miler.”

John and Donna’s running journey has played a major theme in their life journey. Donna reflected on what running has meant to her. “It has been awesome running with John for much of our lives together. I can’t imagine anything better. Every place we have lived, we have joined a running club. Running friends have been a huge part of our lives. We have always been actively involved in each club we have belonged to. What running has taught me most is that I am capable of doing anything, even things that are hard.”

The miles run for John and Donna for the last 50 years have blessed them with good all around health. Now in their mid 70s both are able to remain active. John no longer runs but has implemented a walking routine into his life. Donna continues to run but has added walking to her routine also. The enhancement of physical health that running provides is much appreciated by all in the running community but perhaps the biggest payoff for John and Donna is the shared journey that running has created for both of them as husband and wife.

Everyone has a story.  Stay tuned next month for another runner’s story.