Sports

Malden's Cate Seely Running 2014 Boston Marathon for Childhood Neighbor

Seely is raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The following was submitted by Malden resident Cate Seely.

The Basics:

Name: Cate Seely

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City: Malden (John Street)

Age: 27 (turning 28 a week before the race)

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Occupation: Senior Administrative Assistant at Simmons College

Running for: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's TEAM in Training

Number of Marathons Completed: 2011 Boston Marathon, 2013 Boston Marathon

Fundraising website: pages.teamintraining.org/ma/boston14/cseely (Checks made out to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society may be sent to 35 John Street #3, Malden, MA 02148)

Why I am running for this charity:

This spring at just 28 years old I will run my third Boston Marathon.  While this isn’t unheard of, it is for this Newburyport native. I grew up playing sports but could never be caught running for fun or in an off season. 

I got into running in 2008 to try to ‘thin' down for a wedding. In 2010, I started to use running as a way to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a cause I am all too familiar with. I’ve lost an uncle and a cousin to these cancers, but have also come across many survivors. So to honor them and other folks in my life who faced those diseases, I raised $4,166 to run the 2011 marathon. 

In 2012, I volunteered with the team but that fall I felt itchy to hit the pavement again, so I ran the 2013 Boston Marathon and raised an additional $5,382 for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Fourteen days before the marathon, my neighbor of 19 years on Buck Street in Newburyport , Joan Rogers, passed away from leukemia. Joan lived almost her entire life on the street I grew up on. Joan was an amazing woman and I am proud to say she was like a grandmother to my younger brother and I. Joan was survived by a loving husband, daughter, siblings and granddaughters. I am running this year to truly honor her. 

Her warm and giving nature was shared by her husband, Will Rogers (yes! I live next door to Will Rogers!). This is important because I don’t know what I would have done this fall or winter without Will living next door to my mother. Will and Joan have always been generous, thoughtful, warm and just wonderful neighbors.

In September 2013, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. While her battle was quick, and she is now on the other side of it, Will gave me peace of mind. I was constantly worrying about making weekly trips to visit my mother, see what I could do. My mom would tell me Will had been by to check in on her, or that he had just shoveled out her driveway (because she would be too tired to do it herself from radiation treatments).

While all of the Buck Street neighbors were, and still are, incredibly giving to my mother during this difficult time, all I can think is how can I best honor Will? He is aware that I am fundraising in Joan’s memory but I was hoping I could get the Newburyport community to help me honor them both. At this time I have raised $2120 for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Million Dollar Question: Did I finish last year?

Nope. Honestly, I wasn’t even close. I was about five miles away when the race officials had me stop. I was set to beat my 2011 time of 6:00 hours (brutal – I know). I started the marathon going out way too fast, and had paid for in Wellesley. I after having an adult beverage on the run curtsy of a spectator; I was relaxed and felt a second wind of energy to take me to the finish line. I had my team coach by my side when we were asked to stop for further instructions. Neither of us were able to really understand the gravity of the situation in Boston, and he just looked at me and apologized I wouldn’t get to beat my 2011 time. Per my running watch I was going to beat my time by 15 minutes. It was very hard to wrap my brain around the news, not only were friends and family there to cheer but I had 150 teammates to account for.

Since I was so removed from what was going on I couldn’t imagine the carnage but focused on how I would meet my family in Charlestown, which was the original plan. Even by phone and text, no one could explain to me how bad the scene was but that our family was accounted for. When I arrived in Charlestown about 3 hours after I’d been stopped I began to see what was going on. I could not believe my eyes. I didn’t think it was possible for someone to not witness a tragedy and still be in shock, but I was. 

The day before, I had left my finisher’s jacket at my brother’s house in Charlestown so I could wear it upon finishing. I felt uneasy to wear it. Even sometimes it feels odd.

Like most of New England, I watched television throughout the week as more details unfold. 

I had the privilege of meeting one of the victims, Krystle Campbell at a mutual friend’s party. At the gathering I only knew one person. Krystle made me feel welcomed and included. She was lovely and full of energy.  I think of her often and still pray for her friends and family.

I never went back and finished my race. I ran a half marathon about two weeks after Boston in Washington D.C and felt like I had received some closure. For non-runners, bib numbers are usually pre-assigned to runners. At the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, the numbers were given at random; I received 6177. Although there is an extra 7, all I could think about was Boston. I was meant to have this number. I cried. I had chills. The last five miles were emotionally challenging but crossing the finish line was utterly amazing.

I’ve had conflicted feelings about running this year, I know many people did. I’m proud to be running another Boston Marathon. I am honored that the BAA gave me the chance to run what will most likely be my last Boston Marathon.


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