Cynthia Kmak and Their Journey to Becoming a Six Star Marathon Finisher

Cynthia Kmak wears many hats — runner, comedian, and head coach of the Fleet Feet Racing Team. This past February, they added another achievement to the list: Six-Star Abbott World Marathon finisher.

​An achievement coveted by marathoners around the world, earning Six Star status requires completing all six World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Chicago, London, New York, Boston, and Berlin. In recent years, that goal has only become more elusive. As the sport has surged in popularity, entry into these races has grown increasingly competitive, with acceptance rates typically hovering between 5–10%, and dipping as low as 1% for this year’s New York City Marathon.

Between the challenge of securing a bib, the international travel across three continents, and the physical demand of running six marathons, becoming a Six Star finisher is an extraordinary accomplishment.

Cynthia set their sights on this goal in 2019, after having completed Boston, Chicago, and New York. They were halfway there already, but the rest of the races would be international - a unique challenge for Cynthia, as they had never left the country (besides Canada). They took on the challenge, running Berlin in 2023, London in 2024, and finally Tokyo this past February.

​After completing all six Majors, a few races stood out above the rest. For Cynthia, London and Tokyo far exceeded their expectations. In London, the crowd lined the entire course — there was never a moment of quiet. It felt like a 26.2-mile block party from start to finish.

Tokyo stood out for a different reason: its unmatched level of organization and volunteer support. Before the race, Cynthia had heard it might be quiet, but that wasn’t the case at all. Crowds cheered along nearly the entire course. The volunteers, though, were what truly set it apart. Every 800 meters, volunteers held out garbage bags for discarded gels, and each water stop flowed seamlessly, with teams rotating to hand out water and sports drinks, all while smiling and cheering on the runners.

​Some marathons are harder than others, and the Six World Majors are no exception. For Cynthia, the New York City Marathon was the hardest. In their opinion, Boston has the reputation of being the most challenging major, but New York has its own unique set of obstacles.

The point-to-point course requires runners to commute early to the start, followed by a long wait before the race begins. Cynthia also felt the crowds were surprisingly sparse at times, especially toward the later miles in Central Park. After finishing, runners face an additional challenge: a nearly two-mile walk just to exit the race area.

On top of that, Cynthia underestimated how much hydration was needed, especially with the effort of climbing the bridges throughout the course. It all added up to a race that challenged them in unexpected ways.

However, they know the New York City marathon has a special place in many people’s hearts, so they hope to go back one day.

Cynthia’s favorite race was London. They ran it solo, taking in every kilometer along the way. From the incredible crowd support to the athletes dressed in elaborate costumes throughout the 42K course, the energy of the race left a lasting impression. What stood out most was the inclusiveness felt on the course. There was a two-kilometer stretch lined with rainbow flags for the LGBTQ+ pride portion of the course, a moment that filled Cynthia with joy.

The most challenging part of taking on the World Marathon Majors for Cynthia was the financial burden. Completing all six races meant traveling across three countries and paying entry fees for some of the most expensive races in the world. On top of that, races like Boston and New York are hosted in notoriously expensive cities, adding even more to the overall cost.​

At the same time, those challenges became part of what made the experience so meaningful. The Majors gave Cynthia and their partner, Mark, the opportunity to travel internationally, something they hadn’t done much before. It pushed them to save, plan ahead, and step outside of their comfort zones.

Through the journey, Cynthia was able to experience different cultures and see how major cities around the world operate. That perspective, they believe, has made them not only a stronger runner, but a more well-rounded person. For Cynthia, any opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, especially through travel, is an opportunity for growth, both as an athlete and as a global citizen.

​Throughout the whole experience, the moment that stuck out for Cynthia occurred before they even laced up their shoes. Cynthia is a non-binary athlete, and the moment they were able to register for the world-majors as such was exciting. Tokyo was the last world major to make the change. Cynthia has run all the world majors (with the exception of New York) as a non-binary runner. For Cynthia, this points to a more inclusive future for the running world, and hopefully beyond.

​Throughout the entire experience of running all the World Majors, the moment that stood out most to Cynthia happened before they even laced up their shoes. As a non-binary athlete, being able to register for the World Marathon Majors as such was incredibly meaningful. Tokyo was the final major to introduce a non-binary division, marking an important step forward. Cynthia has now competed in all of the World Marathon Majors (except New York) as a non-binary runner. For Cynthia, this progress represents a shift toward a more inclusive future in the running world, and hopefully beyond it.

When asked what crossing the finish line of Tokyo, Cynthia’s last major, felt like, they said that for them, the most impactful moment was actually the start. They were joined by a large group from Fleet Feet Racing Team, and they were amongst 3 people in the group to get their sixth star that day. They crossed the finish line together, and they all embraced each other at the finish, filled with joy (and very sunburnt).

When asked what it felt like to cross the finish line in Tokyo, Cynthia, their final Major, said that the most impactful moment actually came at the start. Surrounded by a large group from the Fleet Feet Racing Team, they were one of three runners in the group earning their sixth star that day. They went on to cross the finish line together, embracing at the end, filled with joy (and more than a little sunburn).​

After racing around the globe, Cynthia is now setting their sights on their next big goal: running a marathon in every state. With just 15 states left to go, that next accomplishment is well within reach.