Kelly Sinclair is defying the odds and is having a blast while doing it.
It is estimated that only 0.01% of the global population will complete a single marathon in their lifetime. Of all marathon runners worldwide, less than 1% go on to complete all six original World Marathon Majors: London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, Tokyo and the oldest of them all, Boston. With 26 marathons under her belt and her final world major approaching this April, Kelly is about to earn her spot among a community of less than 18,000 individuals worldwide who have conquered the most iconic races in the world.
Kelly’s impressive marathon journey all started with a 5k. Nearly 15 years ago, she and two friends decided to sign up for a local 5k, not knowing that it would be the first of many races they would experience together. They briskly moved on to run their first 10k, then a half marathon, and finally, their first full marathon in 2011. As their mileage grew, so did their aspirations. Kelly’s running crew, now a foursome, strives to run one marathon each year, no matter what life throws their way.
“The group is what keeps us picking races, it is all about the bonding,” says Kelly. “And it is an incredible experience when you look back retrospectively on having friends that you run with and while doing so, sharing things that you never thought you would share with other people, to relieve stress, have a laugh, or to cry — we have been through so much.”
In the midst of raising families, career moves and even cancer battles in the friend group, running has been a comforting constant, and according to Kelly, they’re only just getting started.
“We have a list of races we want to keep doing after I do Boston,” Kelly exclaims. “We laugh and talk about how we are going to still be running at 70!”
As a pediatric emergency medicine physician with an emphasis in child abuse and neglect, Kelly sees heart-wrenching cases on a regular basis. She loves her career, one that has given her the opportunity to work in a sexual assault clinic and to partner with nonprofit agencies, such as the Sunflower House in Kansas, that provide care for victims of child abuse. With such a professional background, Kelly is elated to run in support of The Home for Little Wanderers’ mission to build permanent, positive change for children who have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma.
“There are a lot of causes I like to run for, but this one is super exciting because it hits so close to what I’ve done for so long,” says Kelly. “I am in a spot where I can provide medical help but also be there for patients and families during such a hard time, to offer them hope, resources, reassure teenagers that they are healthy and that their bodies are their own… That is why this charity means so much to me.”
For Kelly, the 129th Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America is the true pinnacle of her running journey. After running countless miles across the globe and experiencing some of the most challenging, scenic routes, she is finally taking on Boston with her whole family and dear running friends on the sidelines — what she describes as her “candles on top of the cake” and the ultimate way to close out her six-star dream.
“It is very emotional to be at this spot in my running career,” says Kelly. “I still smile about it every day when I remember this is what I’m doing. Not many people do this, it takes a lot of time and dedication and now I will be able to say, ‘I did this!’”
To support Kelly in her fundraising efforts for The Home for Little Wanderers, please click here.
