Former Glencoe 7-11 Owners Have Run Marathons in All States

GLENCOE, IL - Bob and Lesley Strauss, the couple that owned the 7-11 in Glencoe’s Hubbard Woods Shopping Center for four decades, have raced their way to a unique milestone in the year-and-a-half since their store closed.

Both Bob and Lesley have completed marathons in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Glencoe News tells the Strauss’ story, which includes a more complete focus on running since the closure of their Glencoe store and three others in the area.

The pair ran the Mount Desert Island Marathon in Maine in October to complete to mission of having run a 26.2 mile race in every state.

"It's a comfortable thing, and I think it stimulates us and we always look forward to seeing another state," Bob said.

With the finish in Maine, they became part of the 50 States Marathon Club, a group of runners who have completed the same feat. It’s something a surprisingly high (more than 4,000) number of people have achieved.

Bob, having been a runner since high school, has a race pace much faster than his wife’s His personal best is in the 3 hours, 34 minutes range was Lesley’s top time was in the ballpark of 5 hours, 11 minutes.

But Lesley, who picked up running later in life, is catching up when it comes to number of miles. She has run 23 marathons in just the past three years.

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