TOKYO — This one is in the books – Major mission accomplished.
Lynnfield resident Kathryn Price has joined an elite group of marathon runners who have completed what is widely considered the world’s most prestigious race: the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
She joined the club Sunday (Saturday in Boston) when she crossed the finish line of the Tokyo Marathon, thereby completing the series, which includes Boston, London, Chicago, New York City and Berlin. Runners receive a gold star upon completion of each race with the ultimate goal being to collect all six. Mission accomplished for Price, who finished the race in 5:45.03 and secured that sixth star.
“It was amazing and incredibly surreal,” Price said. “I went in undertrained, but never hit a wall. I enjoyed every moment, savoring the coolness of the old-meets-new vibe of Tokyo as we ran past the Kaminarimon Gate and Imperial Palace, the Sky Tree, flashing billboards, and the high-end boutiques in the newer parts of the city… You couldn’t help but get caught up in the moment over and over again.”
She added that “It was a pinch-me moment for sure. It was a dream come true.”
Price went into the Tokyo race knowing her training had been compromised a bit, due to the fact that she tore three ligaments in her ankle in December.
“I haven’t had the best training, but the doctor said I can’t tear it any more and I should go for it as long as I have no sense of urgent pain.” Price said. “I did two 20Ks and everything was OK, so I thought I would be OK. Those were huge confidence boosters. I didn’t know what to expect in the last five or six miles, but I made it.”
Price said she first learned about the series in 2014 while running a relay leg in the “One Run for Boston” race, from Santa Monica to Boston to raise money for The One Fund.
“I was particularly touched by it,” Price said. “I’ve seen the Boston Marathon so many times in person and I felt like the running community was my people.”
Her grandmother and aunt died that same year, so she decided to dedicate the Chicago Marathon to her uncle, Graham Newsome, who was in his late 30’s when he died from AIDS.
“He contracted AIDS in 1982 and I wished he had lived at a different time when it wasn’t so stigmatized as gay man’s cancer,” she said. “I remember my parents told me not to say anything to anyone about it. I was only 11 or 12 and didn’t know of anyone with AIDS, let alone someone who died from it like my uncle.”
The money raised from Tokyo will be donated to the Genders and Sexualities Alliance at the Lynnfield Middle and High Schools. Price said the groups offer opportunities for students to socialize and engage in special events and other supportive initiatives.
“These are groups that haven’t had access to tons of money, so it’s great to be able to give them the money,” Price said. “They have the flexibility to develop their own programs, which run the gamut, but they help with things like the annual Lynnfield Pride event. They have faculty advisors, but the kids essentially decide what to do. I just know that programs like that would have been such a game=changer for my uncle.”
The Tokyo goal is to raise $3,100, bringing the total money she’s raised in all of the marathons to more than $60,000.
Price said she is incredibly grateful to have had the support of the community.
“It’s been a pretty crazy ride and I feel lucky to have had the time and the resources and good health to be able to train and race,” Price said. “So many people in Lynnfield have contributed to my races, people who are willing to support this cause. It really means a lot to me.”
When asked how she feels now that the quest for six stars is over, Price said, “I am proud of what I’ve done in terms of fundraising. I absolutely lost it – getting my Six Star medal – but it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m so lucky to have had this adventure.”
