BURBANK, S.D. (KELO) Less than one percent of the world’s population has completed a marathon.

A woman from southeast, South Dakota didn’t finish just one. She conquered all six World Marathon Majors.

Along the winding roads of Burbank, South Dakota, you’ll occasionally find Carly Heard out for a run. She ran her first half marathon in 2009, and her first, and supposedly last, full marathon two years later.

“It was hot. It was awful. And I was like, I’m never doing this again…then I did two more marathons that year,” Heard said.

It sparked the beginning of her even bigger journey to run all six World Marathon Majors. She hired a coach and hit the treadmill and gravel, running.

“I did that five years ago,” Heard said. “I think that really changed my perspective on running and what I was capable of.”

Miles and miles later, Heard qualified for the 2022 Berlin Marathon, her first major.

“It was kind of cool,” Heard said. “I remember being in my hotel room getting ready to run that one when I found out my time was going to be good enough to get into Boston.”

Berlin led to the New York City Marathon that same year.

Then, in 2023, it was Boston and Chicago.

By 2024, Heard was preparing to run the London Marathon, what she calls one of the most difficult races to qualify for. But during her last long run before the race, she injured her hamstring.

“I couldn’t warm up, couldn’t do anything. In the first mile my hamstring tore. I could feel it pop in the first mile,” Heard said. “I kept thinking, what am I going to do? Like, I’m here in London. I came all the way here.”

That day, Heard finished all 26.2 miles, completing her 5th world major, despite the immense pain.

“I was like, I guess I’m going to do the best I can. So, I basically ran-walked the entire marathon so I could finish, which is just ridiculous. I still can’t believe I did it,” Heard said.

Injury wasn’t her only challenge throughout her running career. Her mom, Dawnie, died by suicide in 2016. Heard used her grief to keep moving forward.

“I think that one of the things that helped me get through all of that is knowing the things that I do will make my mom proud if she was still here. It’s kind of cool to do it and know that she’s watching me do this,” Heard said. “I hope she’s proud of me.”

Support from friends and family, especially her husband, also kept her striding forward.

“I’m very, very, very lucky that in almost every instance I’ve had him to be able to say, yeah, do whatever you want,'” Heard said. “Anything that’s local, he always comes and brings the kids. Even when they were little, they’d be at the finish line cheering for me.”

Those waves of support followed her to her final stop earlier this year: the Tokyo Marathon.

“Tokyo was kind of like my comeback race,” Heard said.

It was a comeback like no other, as Heard crossed the finish line in Tokyo, completing a journey that few runners ever achieve. She had just completed every race in the World Marathon Majors series.

“It was the coolest experience, and I think it was almost like a fever dream of like I can’t believe this really happened. Like, I can’t believe this is happening right now, and I’ve done this and it’s finished,” Heard said.

A medal marks accomplishment, but Heard says the real reward goes beyond the finish line.

“It’s okay to take time for yourself because it will make you a better person. I think that’s been a huge thing for me because I know at the end of the day, my kids see it and know that I’m a better person and a better mom because I am taking the time to take care of myself,” Heard said.

Sydney, Australia is the newest addition to the Abbott World Marathon Majors series, announced in November 2024.

“I said I was going to retire after this one, and now I’m like, well, who doesn’t want to go to Australia, right?” Heard said.

It’s her next potential stop, perhaps someday down the road.

Heard says she’s participated in about 13 marathons and nearly 50 half marathons so far in her lifetime.

Runners who complete all six of the original Abbott World Marathons Majors receive the Six Star medal and are inducted into the Six Star Hall of Fame.