Kate Runs A Marathon

Sunday was a great day. It is always exciting and fulfilling to witness someone stepping out of their comfort zone to reach a goal and make a difference. On Sunday Kate Watt did just this. She ran a marathon, 26.2 miles in 4:05:05. She was at ease and floated the whole way. She was spectacular.

Kate is a member of the Bow High School Cross-Country team. I have coached her for four years. She and I have had our ups and downs. Kate is thoughtful and perceptive. She has grown and changed as all high school students do. She was “Rookie of the Year” as a freshman. I thought she might move up into the Top Three on the team but she remained at the number 7 spot. Her junior year she seemed uninspired and didn’t seem to like running. Running isn’t always fun. I knew she would come out for her senior cross-country season. Running aside, Kate has always been the consummate team player.

She messaged me this past summer and asked me if I would be her Senior Seminar Mentor. Bow High School has this amazing class for seniors. They must do a senior project. It can be a service project, an academic endeavor, pretty much anything. I told Kate I would be honored to mentor her and inquired about her project. “I want to run a marathon” she said. I stared at the words on my phone. A memory of Kate saying “ugh” after I told her she was doing a five-mile run at practice one day came flooding into my mind. “You?!” I replied… “want to run a marathon?” She went on to explain that she had found a charity that used running to unite and empower the homeless. “Running, she told me, "has improved my life. This foundation is amazing.” Back on my Feet brings running shoes and clothing to homeless people and organizes regular runs. Running together improves physical and emotional health. It struck Kate. She also found another charity , Community Recycling which collects used shoes and donates to Back on my Feet when donations are made. She had a plan. There is research to do and information to present. I went to the high school in September to watch her present her idea and share information on the benefits of running and the details of the charities. It was awesome. The marathon, Kate said, was her way of sacrificing on a personal level. I signed on!

She balanced cross-country and team responsibilities with her marathon training. She added long runs to her training plan. She tacked on extra miles after practice. She was excited to plan the participation of her teammates in her marathon experience. This would be a major accomplishment. We breezed through September. All seemed good. Then I was suspended. I wasn’t allowed to communicate with any of my runners. This was a horrifying reality for me. I worried daily about Kate. I knew that she could manage the numbers and get her training done, but coaching is far more than numbers. As October went along and resolution remained out of reach, I thought about Kate daily. When her season was over, she met with principal Brian O’Connell. She shared that she wanted me to continue to be her mentor, that she had no problem with me. He gave approval for me to continue as her mentor. I could coach her and participate in her marathon experience. I can not put into words my joy and relief at being given this opportunity. It was a good and right decision.

We reviewed training and planned the day. I communicated via email or phone calls with her mother Leigh Ellen. We drove the course, a fun filled experience that set Kate’s mind at ease. Seeing the course and planning her effort made the marathon manageable. It comforted her mother as well. We were ready!

Race day arrived and I rose early and picked up Bow graduate Annie Gregoire. Cross-Country and Track gave Annie a helpful support network, a community in which she could be herself. Coffee in hand we went to gather Kate. Kate was calm and focused…on the outside… inside she was nervous. The three of us left for Manchester as her family organized food, water and plans.

I had hoped to include the entire cross-country team in her experience. As this was not possible Kate asked two teammates to run with her between miles ten and eighteen. Meredith Krause and Louisa Carey signed on. Autumn Boisvert joined Louisa’s Mom as a quality cheerleader. I haven’t seen or spoken to these three girls since September 24th. Our reunions were tear provoking. Louisa’s mom gave me a comforting hug. Then the day was all about Kate.

We said hello to a bunch of people. We put Kate on the starting line. We had our hugs and off she went… then Annie and I walked to The Red Arrow Diner. We sent Kate a picture, she responded with a thumbs up! At mile five Kate came floating by at nine-minute pace. Her goal had been 10 so this was good. We drove to Trinity High School for mile eleven and the arrival of Kenny and Gracie. There are significant hills between mile five and eleven. Kate floated buy and Meredith joined her. She would run to the half way point with Kate.

As Kate ran her miles Annie and I transported Meredith back to her car. Autumn joined us and we navigated the detours to mile 18. Louisa’s mother Christine met us there and we waited for Kate and Louisa to arrive. They came by and Kate floated away as Louisa joined the cheering caravan. Our love and admiration for Kate and her effort was palpable. A brief Dunkins stop with funny photos and we headed to the finish.

As we stood on Elm Street at Veteran’s Park our emotions were bubbling like spaghetti sauce about to boil. Trying to maintain composure we were full of love and excitement. She came into view and we went nuts. Pictures and video, hugs and food. Sweet Kate’s success was huge. She won her age group. She averaged 9:20 a mile. I remember her running that pace for a 5K early in her career. The tears were hard to keep under control.

Her family shared their stories on the course, feeding Kate bananas and peanut butter sandwiches. We reminisced on Kate's work over the summer, coming to the Bill Luti Race with Bow XC teammates to volunteer and earn money toward her charity. Her weeks of solitary preparation during my suspension. Her comfort and ease at running 26.2 miles. I knew Kate had talent that first year. Her effort on Sunday, with minimal training and maximal stress was phenomenal. I have offered to ACTUALLY train her for a marathon. I firmly believe THIS is where her talent lies. Her goal…to run Boston… where she can raise money for a variety of charities and achieve her goals. I am honored and humbled by her project and her achievement. I am grateful for the love and support from her family. I thank Bow High School for allowing me to support Kate in her senior project. Life can be tricky, but when it is right, it is RIGHT. I love you Kate Watt. You are a hero.