Sandy Hook’s own Brenda McRae, a fixture among top competitors in local races, is working toward completing a marathon in all 50 states. This past weekend she knocked off state No. 13 by completing the Twin Cities Marathon and finished fourth in her age group, missing third due to a backtrack to say hello to Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, which McRae described as being well worth it. McRae completed the course in 3:16.

This marathon is one of the top ten in the United States and is referred to as the most beautiful urban marathon in America, McRae said. The course goes from US Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis and then around four lakes of the famous chain of lakes (Lake of Isles, Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet and Lake Nokomis) before hitting the bank of the Mississippi River into St. Paul and then ends at the state capitol. It is considered one of the more challenging races as miles 21-23 are a steady uphill.

Fellow Sandy Hook representatives Josh Helmin Walker (4:47) and Ben Smith (4:30) also ran the course. McRae plans to run a marathon in her 14th state, Georgia, the week before Newtown’s Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot.