A runner nears a marathon milestone
Charlottean Cheryl Perry is on a journey through the world's biggest marathons, from Tokyo to New York
The following article appeared in the April 5, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Cheryl Perry has raced through five of the world’s biggest marathons, with New York next on her journey to an exclusive club.
Cheryl Perry (No. 481) competed and completed the London marathon in October 2022. That’s Big Ben behind her. (Photo courtesy of Cheryl Perry)
By Ken Garfield
What would possess Charlotte’s Cheryl Perry to run all over the world, competing in marathons in the world’s largest cities? She has completed five so far — Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo.
New York on Nov. 2 will be her sixth, completing the original Abbott World Marathon Majors. She’s a 47-year-old working woman with a husband and four kids. What gives?
First, the background:
Perry oversees communications at South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church. She started running alongside her dad when she was 16. She ran her first marathon in 2000 in San Diego. In all, she’s run 13 marathons in person and two “virtually” during Covid (she ran 26.2 miles in her neighborhood). While not her best time in a marathon, her best time in the Abbott series came in London — 3 hours, 29 minutes, 56 seconds.
Her husband, John, often accompanies her. A Human GPS, she calls him, because he can spot her in the mass of runners. Their four kids — Ava, Hunt, Mac and Smith — cheer from afar.
Organizers of the World Marathon Majors have added a seventh race, in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 31. Cheryl’s thinking about it for the coming years.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors was formed in 2006, offering the chance to tackle six of the world’s most high-profile marathons.
A six-star medal goes to those who complete the original six. To date, 20,118 runners and wheelchair athletes have finished the original six majors. The event is sponsored by Abbott, a global health technology company.
Now, we’ll let Perry explain.
Q. Obvious first question: why?
Why not? But I get why traveling great distances to run a very long distance might not be everyone’s jam. Running a marathon in different cities and countries is a great way to experience a new culture while also understanding how similar the human experience can be — clearly seen in the Porta-Potty line.
Q. What one word would your kids and spouse use to describe you and this marathon journey?
Is three OK? “That’s SO Mom.”
Q. What one word would you use to describe yourself?
Resilient — mostly.
Q. Best memory?
Seeing my husband and hearing him scream my name as I came up on the final stretch in my first Boston Marathon. The finish line of Boston is pure magic. Seeing him right before the home stretch meant everything to me. He had to wait a LONG time.
Spectating marathons is no joke. Close second was the finish line of London at Buckingham Palace. I crave tea and scones just thinking about it. Bonus memory: seeing my sister while I was running the Chicago Marathon. She was holding up a poster of her dog that said, “Run, Cher, Run!”
Q. Worst memory?
When I crossed the finish line of the Berlin Marathon. I immediately knew something was seriously wrong with my foot. I spent the day after the race in a German ER and ended up with a stress fracture in my heel.
I had to fly back to Charlotte on crutches, in pain. The worst memory is using an airplane bathroom with one good foot and two sore quads.
Q. Favorite city and meal?
A tie between London and Tokyo. London because I am obsessed with their cream, scones and Princess Kate’s style. Tokyo because it’s the cleanest big city I’ve ever visited.
Best meal: a bowl of homemade ramen with fresh vegetables from a little neighborhood place in Tokyo. A close second: the steak dinner my friends and I had post-Chicago in 2000. Twenty-five years later, I still remember how delicious it was.
Q. It’s all about winning, right?
Each of the World Major Marathons can have 55,000 or so runners, so winning for sure is not my end goal. Mainly, I just want to finish and be proud of my performance — whether that means I nailed an arbitrary time goal or I didn’t throw up at the end. Winning is when I finish a run and get to come home to my family.
Q. No one does this alone, correct?
There are so many runners in Charlotte who inspire me. I'm on a team, Flow Motion Running, coached by Mike McMillen. We’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders. I have some best “running mom friends” who inspire me not just with their running but how they’re raising their families while accomplishing their goals.
At day’s end, it’s just running. It doesn’t have to be fast or pretty. The only race that matters is the one with yourself.
Q. What has running five World Major Marathons meant in the big picture of your life?
I’m scared at the start of every race, no matter the distance or location. And I don’t even have to pay my mortgage with the prize money. It’s scary when you know it’s going to hurt and the only way out is through.
I also never want to let myself down. But it’s worth it every time. So are hard workouts and boring long runs. Overcoming fear and discomfort has enabled me to grow spiritually, emotionally and physically in ways I never could have imagined.
Ken Garfield is a frequent contributor to The Ledger, including the Ways of Life newsletter each Tuesday that chronicles the life and death of interesting people. Reach him at garfieldken3129@gmail.com.
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