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For Kaleigh Neuhauser, participation in the Boston Marathon runs in the family. “When I was young, my grandmother lived right on the course in Wellesley, around mile 14,” she says. “Every year, my cousins would come over, too, and we would make the Marathon a whole family excursion.”
The Neuhausers, however, are not mere spectators. Kaleigh’s mom, Kim, ran the Marathon in just over 4 hours, 30 minutes before Kaleigh was born. And her dad, John, ran the race in 2013 and was on pace to finish in just over 3 hours when bombs exploded at the finish line, which he was nearing but never reached.
“We were at my grandmother’s and we watched him run by. It was so exciting! And then the bombing happened. My mom wasn’t telling us anything but the radio was on and I was old enough to figure out something was going on,” she recalls. “I was thinking, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to see my dad again’. I remember the feeling of panic. We were all waiting for some sort of communication from him. He wasn’t able to reach us for hours – he didn’t have his cell phone with him – but eventually he was able to find a phone and could call us. We were totally terrified. Those were the longest hours ever.”
This year, Kaleigh, age 20 and a sophomore studying Applied Psychology at Boston College, will literally follow in her parents footsteps by lining up as part of the fourth wave at this year’s Boston Marathon. Her estimated starting time is 11:15am, and she has set for herself two goals.
“We are a very competitive family,” she laughs. “When I saw my dad run by me in 2013, I thought, ‘If he can do it, I can do it.’ My goal is to run at a pace that averages 9 minute miles – a sub-4 hour marathon. This way, I would beat both of my parents!”
“The doctors and nurses at Boston Children’s literally saved my life.”
Her secondary goal, however, is even more personal. On May 10, 2018, while walking home from soccer practice, Kaleigh was hit by a car and thrown 75 feet. She was rushed to Boston Children’s Hospital. “I was at the hospital for a few days. I was beyond lucky; the odds were in my favor that day. I mean, it wasn’t perfect – perfect would mean it never happened – but I didn’t break any bones and I didn’t need surgery. I had a big cut on my face, and I got a concussion, but I was lucky. The doctors and nurses at Boston Children’s literally saved my life. The care I received there was unlike anything else. And I always knew I wanted to find a way to give back to them.”
Kaleigh is part of Boston Children’s Hospitals’ Miles for Miracles Team, which numbers 120 runners (some are competing in the Boston Marathon while others compete the following week at the London Marathon). Her hope is to raise at least $12,000. “I was brought up to have personal values that stress giving back to people. I’m so glad to be raising money for an organization that means so much to me and my family.”
(to sponsor Kaleigh, go to https://secure.childrenshospital.org/site/TR/ActiveEvents/ActiveEvents?px=3035890&pg=personal&fr_id=2551)
Training is grueling, particularly while juggling schoolwork, though Kaleigh insists it’s all pretty manageable. “I have been able to shift my priorities during the week to train for about 3-4 hours between classes and my academic responsibilities. On the weekends are the distance runs, which I do with the whole team, and those can take all day.”
More challenging than finding the time is keeping to a healthy diet, which can be difficult when relying on a campus meal plan. Kaleigh sticks to avoiding desserts (though she will splurge on a fun-flavored protein bar) and makes sure to drink plenty of Powerade to keep her electrolytes in check. “I am a huge ice cream fan,” she admits. “I’m glad I’m not home now that Erickson’s is open as I wouldn’t be able to stay away! Post-Marathon, that is definitely where I will be headed.” Her go-to flavors? “Anything peanut butter, chocolate, or raspberry.’
On Patriot’s Day, when tens of thousands of folks will be heading out of the city toward Lexington and Concord, Kaleigh will be headed into the city to join her team for a celebration brunch, after which she will go with her mom to pick up her bib (#26534). “That’s going to feel unreal!” she says. Then it’s home to Sudbury for Easter, and back to Boston Children’s by 9am on Marathon Monday to take the team bus to Hopkinton. Her ideal weather? Cloudy, just a little sun, a little breeze, temperatures in the low 50s.
“My parents and my younger brother (Brennan) will cheer me on from around the 15 mile marker,” she says, “and then they’ll hop on the T to meet me at the finish line.” And after that? “Erickson’s!”