What’s a mere 26.2 miles along the Boston Marathon course cheered on by thousands of people once you’ve already knocked off all 189 miles of Wellesley’s streets and trails, many by yourself and sometimes in a couple feet of snow?
First-time Boston Marathoner and 21-year Wellesley resident Kevin Clark is about to find out come Marathon Day on April 20.
Like many local runners, the pandemic initially inspired Clark to explore more of the town just as a way to get out of the house and do something. Then he kept going and going and going…
Now he’s 86% through all of Wellesley’s streets and trails—and when we say all, we mean all. He’s not just dipping a toe onto a street and calling it done. He’s running the full street or trail.
“I’ve enjoyed visiting neighborhoods I never knew including Standish and Sheridan Estates, along with the trails leading to our neighborhood schools. I enjoy seeing the look on people’s faces when I come through on dead ends and cul de sacs that see little traffic or strangers,” Clark says. “I once worked as a milkman and I like to run to all our public schools on a run I call the “Milkman’s Route.”I also was surprised to find some steep hills tucked in throughout the town and forests.”
Clark is running the Boston Marathon in memory of his and his wife’s son Harry and on behalf of the Community Fund for Wellesley, which provides essential grants to address both emergent and ongoing needs within the Wellesley community. Clark hopes you’ll contribute to the cause to provide him with extra incentive to finish all the Wellesley miles and then crank out a fast Boston Marathon in April.
Contribute to Kevin Clark’s Boston Marathon run on behalf of the Community Fund for Wellesley
Both goals have been extra challenging during this snowy and icy winter with “many sidewalks impassable or sketchy,” Clark says.
Clark has used an app called Wandrer to track his miles across Wellesley. It gamifies things by awarding points for new roads and trails covered. It also sync with Strava, a popular app that Clark uses to track various activities.
Related: More Boston Marathon bios of Wellesley runners raising funds for good causes.
