Framingham Mother-Daughter Duo Take On Boston Marathon Together

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Leslie White-Harvey has been running in the Boston Marathon for three years, but this year is a special one. This year, she will be running with her daughter, Carleigh-Ann. The pair plan to cross the finish line together on Monday.

Running is rooted in the Harvey family, with both Leslie and her husband running several marathons and races. Carleigh-Ann is the oldest of the Harvey's two daughters and said she was inspired to join her mother this year after watching and volunteering in the marathon for years. "I just love the spirit of the marathon and I wanted to be part of it," Carleigh-Ann Harvey said. This will be her first marathon and she is excited to conquer it with her mother. "I'm very fortunate to be able to run a marathon with my own daughter, not many people are able to do that," Leslie White-Harvey said, this will be her fourth marathon.

Leslie is on the steering committee for Team Framingham where she serves as one of the training and mentorship coordinators. She said her and her daughter are the first mother-daughter duo in Team Framingham's history. Leslie said she has always loved being a mentor, but acting as a mentor to her daughter brought a whole new experience. "There was a lot of raw emotion," Leslie said. Each victory that Carleigh-Ann made in her training was like a victory for both of them, Leslie said. "She's been so supportive, she always takes great care of me," Carleigh-Ann said.

Both women are running for local nonprofits in Framingham that hold special meaning to them. Leslie has run her past three Boston Marathons for differing organizations that support Framingham students, including the Framingham High School Foundation, Hoops and Homework and Resiliency for Life. This year she is running for the Boys and Girls Club of MetroWest. Leslie has raised close to $20,000 over the past four years.

Carleigh-Ann is raising money for Amazing Things Arts Center for her first marathon. She said it was important for her to support an organization from Downtown Framingham, where she lives, and that supports the arts in the community. So far, Carleigh-Ann has raised over $3,000 for the organization.

As a veteran Boston Marathon runner, Leslie has a tradition she follows before each race. First, she has her children sign her bib for good luck and inspiration. Then, she takes time to write her own thoughts on her bib. "I write my thoughts, my own personal mantra — I leave it all on the bib," she said. Leslie added that she's kept all of her bibs, foil wraps and medals — safely nestled in a box that she plans to display one day.

For her first marathon, Carleigh-Ann said she wants to enjoy the journey. "I want to take it easy and enjoy it," she said. In the days leading up to the race, she has been crafting the perfect playlist to keep her motivated. Carleigh-Ann plans on framing her medals and bib as soon as she gets them, but what she's looking forward to most — the foil wrap. "I don't know, I just remember seeing all the runners wrapped in them when I was little and I wanted to grab one so bad," she said, "I can't wait to have one of my own."

The pair are looking forward to a few spots in particular during the marathon. Framingham's six mile spot is an obvious exciting point. Friends, family and neighbors will crowd the downtown to cheer on the runners. Seeing familiar faces sheer you on is the perfect boost, the pair said. As an educator in Natick, Leslie is also looking forward to passing through the town and seeing students and colleagues lining the path. The finish line at Boylston Street is the moment both of them are really waiting for. Leslie said she can't wait for her daughter to experience the exhilarating feeling. "The energy at Boylston Street is unlike anything you've ever experienced, it's amazing," she said, "If you could bottle that up and make it last your whole life, you'd be in good shape."

Post-marathon, the Harveys have a tradition of getting dinner in Boston. "After the marathon you want to eat everything," Leslie said. They are looking forward to meeting their family at the finish line and sharing the moment together. Leslie hopes that someday soon her youngest daughter Brooke might join them so that the Harvey women will have a trio to conquer the 26 miles.

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