Mystery Marathon 2026

Thanks to our daughter, real-life marathon runner Bethany Mills - b.mills in this challenge - for posing for this photo.

	The Mystillery Literary and Athletic Association (MLAA) welcomes you to the third running of the Mystery Marathon! Your goal is to to complete the marathon by reading 26 mysteries during the year. (No actual running is required.) One book is equivalent to one mile, and the number of pages equivalent to the number of steps taken to complete that mile. No advance signup necessary. Just read the General Information for Runners page and run your first mile! You'll be crossing the finish line in no time!
	Revisit previous marathons: 2024 • 2025

Official
Elapsed
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My count-up

MYSTERY MARATHON updated MON FEB 23 2026 @ 6.45 PM EST 18 On the course • 1 Finishers																														FINAL
Place • Runner		Status	Tracker	Completed miles in yellow, showing steps (pages)																										Days	Steps
	1 • Tina Hilbert Ohio			324	306	649	299	325	330	287	295	296	330	201	406	295	320	313	304	320	328	266	543	354	368	351	304	404	327	39	8845
	Vallery Louisiana			272	306	279	334	60	274	110	400	288	366	368	226	304	220	228	290	220	172	230	210	368	304	306	24	25	26
	JenneB Pennsylvania			268	320	303	336	285	269	171	330	368	275	331	320	288	310	224	247	256	320	288	224	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Traci L. Illinois			92	212	223	246	104	88	75	274	288	308	250	317	310	54	329	248	117	256	268	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Colleen Illinois			362	28	406	326	292	436	90	362	297	310	344	310	281	393	338	317	440	453	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Beth M North Carolina			448	432	254	272	336	448	540	352	368	158	256	270	109	355	330	320	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	*Bev "Flash"* Hankins** Indiana			224	204	230	191	240	200	182	351	278	452	297	179	225	356	128	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Linda B Kentucky			314	264	213	271	250	408	149	164	250	244	234	82	174	305	192	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	OutsmartYourShelf The United Kingdom			270	336	397	400	244	147	439	394	302	288	310	372	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Jjean Texas			448	318	273	512	383	448	376	448	304	353	301	416	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	*Rick "Spandex Streak"* Mills** Maine			186	311	270	224	294	162	304	312	223	328	322	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Sanacrow Tennessee			176	517	623	527	448	432	438	159	172	350	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	SueC Utah			241	256	304	233	288	324	323	296	352	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	*bat "Go Speed Racer"* kat** West Virginia			288	384	304	332	272	334	272	352	288	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Karen A New Mexico			90	288	212	219	224	224	224	224	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Tara Taylor Illinois			400	378	340	384	464	359	379	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Tari Hann Ohio			296	276	104	76	231	303	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Erika Morris California			288	340	360	360	368	371	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26
	Lynn High Pennsylvania			505	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	.2

Ambiguous instructions and arbitrary rules are found on the General Information page.

Key to symbols
	Moved up a position(s)
	New or updated today
	Update pending
0	Mile marker
000	Steps (page count)
	On the course!
	Finish line in sight! Sprint!
	Crossed the finish line!
	Tracker page (optional)