Roberts, one of only about 180 people to ever run a marathon in all 50 U.S. states under four hours, has released 50sub4: A Marathoning Journey, now available on Amazon. Roberts completed his goal in early 2019, but his journey didn’t end there. To meet the 50sub4 standard, he had to “redo” 10 states, ensuring that every marathon he ran was completed in under four hours. It was during this process that the idea of a book came to life.

“To me, it’s like a great summary not only for me, selfishly, but for my family,” Roberts said. “Even if only 10 people buy it, (the book is a) legacy that lingers on about that goal and accomplishment.”

Roberts’ passion for marathons began at the young age of 16, drawn in by the challenge.

“I blindly thought I could just go and do it,” he recalled. “It was quite a powerful experience.”

Photos submitted Pictured is Jim Roberts Book 50sub4: A Marathoning Journey Cover.

Decades later, his book captures the triumphs, challenges, and experiences of his running career. Organizing the book by state, Roberts had to dig deep into old race results and photos to reconstruct the memories.

But 50sub4 is more than just a record of marathon finishes.

The book includes a chapter on Roberts completing an Ironman triathlon, his firsthand account of being at the Boston Marathon during the 2013 bombing and a memorable experience running the original Marathon-to-Athens course in Greece with his wife, Lisa.

Running the ancient Greek route was a particularly special moment for Roberts.

“Lisa and I ran, in essence, the same course and survived it and did it on our own,” he said. “(We) did it unsupported. Just the two of us making our way from Marathon to Athens. Even a non-runner can appreciate the pictures and that experience just as much as a runner could.”

While Roberts still has goals — like completing the Paris and London Marathons — nothing will quite compare to the 50sub4 journey. In the end, 50sub4 is not just a running memoir. It’s a story about determination, resilience, and adventure.

“I think there’s a lot of different things in there in addition to just the running and the marathoning,” Roberts said. “It’s not just about running. It’s mostly about that. But it’s also about a kid who lived on his own for his senior year of high school and still accomplished his goal.”