Vinny O'Shaughnessy ran 26.2 miles in all 50 states. Cancer, a brain tumor, a broken femur and a hip replacement couldn't stop him.
The 65-year-old Sarasota resident and retired New York Police Department officer completed his final state marathon in Atlantic City in October 2025, capping a quest that spanned more than 60 races across the U.S., Paris and Dublin, Your Observer reported on Thursday, Aug. 6.
At least 25 supporters greeted him at the finish line, including grade-school friends, family members and friends who traveled from Ireland and Mexico. O'Shaughnessy said reaching that particular finish brought him to tears, describing a photo where he has "the biggest smile on my face" because he could finally see the crowd waiting for him.
From couch to 50 states
O'Shaughnessy picked up running in 2007 using the Couch to 5K program. He ran his first marathon in 2008 after finding a Team in Training flyer organized by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A dozen marathons followed in 2017 alone after he committed to the 50-state challenge, inspired by seeing news coverage of runner Carmen Reyes Cruz completing hers in Alaska.
The road between state No. 1 and state No. 50 was anything but smooth. His medical history during the quest included thyroid disease requiring radiation, a femoral fracture from a bike collision during a 2009 Philadelphia triathlon that kept him off his feet for three months, a meningioma brain tumor discovered in 2019, non-small cell Stage 2 lung cancer diagnosed after the 2023 Maine Coast Marathon that required partial lung removal, three broken ribs from a fall on Ringling Bridge during Boston Marathon training and a total hip replacement in November 2024.
Boston on broken ribs
Six months after losing part of a lung, O'Shaughnessy ran the 2024 Boston Marathon with Cops for Kids with Cancer, raising over $13,000 for the charity to earn his entry. He crossed the finish line with three broken ribs and still beat the cutoff time. The Boston Athletic Association lists Cops for Kids with Cancer among its official charity program partners.
Atlantic City: third time's the charm
The Atlantic City Marathon had been deferred twice before O'Shaughnessy finally ran it. Once before his lung surgery, once before his hip replacement.
"I had two shirts and no medal," he said. "Believe it or not, I made it from July to October (of 2025) without getting hurt."
After his November 2024 hip replacement, he rebuilt his running with 10-second intervals and two-minute walks, gradually extending the distance with his doctor's clearance. He said he wanted to hurry up and finish because he was starting to "expect lightning and locusts."
What's next
O'Shaughnessy is now chasing half marathons in all 50 states and has completed 11, including The Hapalua Half in Honolulu and the Coeur d'Alene Half in Idaho. He holds a coaching certification through the Road Runners Club of America and coaches runners through the Manasota Track Club, where he was named Comeback Runner of the Year.
Tom Tatarian, a fellow Manasota Track Club member, retired Long Island police officer and O'Shaughnessy's friend of 35 years, was among a group who ran the Atlantic City half marathon so they could be waiting at the finish line. Tatarian said O'Shaughnessy's son and daughter were there too, calling it "a lot of fun and a nice celebration."
O'Shaughnessy's upcoming schedule includes the Police Unity Tour in the United Kingdom the week of Aug. 6, half marathons in West Virginia and Arkansas, and a September 5K benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
