A Cleveland Clinic family medicine physician from Silver Lake will lace up on Saturday, September 26, for the 26.2-mile finish line of a goal two decades in the making: her 50th marathon, in her 50th state. Dr. Katie Clark, 47, will run the Jackson Hole Marathon in Wyoming on September 26, closing out a journey that began when she was a young mother learning to run after tearing her ACL.
Clark practices family medicine at Cleveland Clinic's Stow location, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Her office sits within the Cleveland Clinic Akron General Health and Wellness Center on Allen Road, a facility that also houses a 24-hour emergency department and the LifeStyles medically supervised fitness center, according to Cleveland Clinic Akron General.
The Jackson Hole race will not be an easy way to cap the streak. The course starts at roughly 6,300 feet above sea level with 522 feet of total gain and 511 feet of loss, producing a net elevation change of 11 feet, ending beneath an elk antler arch at Teton Village Commons as a cupless, USATF-certified Boston Marathon qualifier, according to Lake.com. The course takes place at high elevation, a notable feature for runners. The race launches at 7:30 a.m. Mountain Time from Jackson Town Square, with a 7 a.m. Early Bird start, according to RunDida.
A Journey That Started With a Baby at 15
The path to marathon number 50 began long before Clark ever ran a step. She had her first child at age 15, as a high school freshman, yet still graduated on time, per the Beacon Journal's reporting. She had a second baby as a college freshman, left school for a time to work full-time, and eventually earned degrees in anthropology and biology before entering medical school and becoming a doctor. She now has four children, including her oldest son, Brian Clark, who is 32.
Clark started running in her 20s while raising three young children, and the sport became cathartic for her, the newspaper's report notes. After completing her first half marathon with a neighbor, she tore her ACL, underwent surgery, and took five years off from running before eventually returning and setting her sights on a marathon in every state. Along the way she even completed one marathon while breastfeeding.
A Running Partner for 13 States and Counting
Clark hasn't run the journey alone. Her Silver Lake neighbor and longtime training partner, Jennifer Wells, has joined her for roughly 13 of the 50 states, and the two will share their 14th race together in Wyoming, with Wells running the half marathon. Clark has also stayed with strangers mid-race when needed, including staying with a person who passed out during a run in St. Louis until help arrived.
About 50 family members and friends are expected to travel to Wyoming to watch Clark cross the finish line, with several running the full, half, or quarter marathon alongside her. Brian Clark described his mother to the Beacon Journal as fierce, wonderful, generous and loving, adding that she is a force who draws people to her.
Running for Blood Cancer United
Clark is using the milestone race to raise money for Blood Cancer United, the organization formerly known as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The group officially rebranded on August 28, 2025, broadening its mission to cover more than 100 types of blood cancers with a goal of granting patients over one million additional life-years by 2040, according to Blood Cancer United. Founded in 1949, the organization has directed more than $1.8 billion into blood cancer clinical research, per Movers & Makers, and it also offers free resources, personalized support, and advocacy.
Clark set a fundraising goal of $10,000 and had nearly reached it by mid-September, the Beacon Journal reported. She said the 50th marathon is a chance for reflection and gratefulness, and that her body has held up through the entire journey.
Joining a Small Club of 50-State Finishers
The 50-state-finishers article says more than 1,500 runners have completed a marathon in all 50 states, according to Chicago Athlete Magazine. The article also discusses progress toward completing the full circuit.
Clark's late entry into medicine reflects a non-traditional path through American medical education. Older applicants often face steep structural barriers, including family obligations and non-traditional academic timelines. Medical students may take gap years before enrolling.
Clark told the Beacon Journal that her determination to attend medical school and her determination to complete her marathon goal overlap, and that people should pursue long-held dreams through small, incremental goals. She said she plans to rest for a while after the Jackson Hole race, though she also has an eye on a future goal: completing an Ironman someday. Her advice to others, as she put it to the paper, is simple — do not let your dreams die.
