• About
  • Editorial Board
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • Students Remember the Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsberg
      Students Remember the Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsberg
    • First-Year Students Reflect on Their Expectations for College, One Semester In
      First-Year Students Reflect on Their Expectations for College, One Semester In
    • “We Want to Fundamentally Change the Culture,” International Student Union says
      “We Want to Fundamentally Change the Culture,” International Student Union says
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • Wellesley, why can’t you meet our dietary needs?
      Wellesley, why can’t you meet our dietary needs?
    • The block system is a joke
      The block system is a joke
    • Spineless nonpartisanship: how the Girl Scouts convinced me they no longer care about girls
      Spineless nonpartisanship: how the Girl Scouts convinced me they no longer care about girls
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • Harry Styles de-typifies masculinity in Vogue’s December Issue, but is this enough? (spoiler: it’s not)
      Harry Styles de-typifies masculinity in Vogue’s December Issue, but is this enough? (spoiler: it’s not)
    • Music Performance Courses Adapt to an Altered Semester
      Music Performance Courses Adapt to an Altered Semester
    • Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of “Rebecca” fails to deliver compared to its classic counterpart
      Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of “Rebecca” fails to deliver compared to its classic counterpart
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
  • Health and Wellness
    • No image
      Athletic impacts of Covid-19
    • No image
      A new kind of PE
    • No image
      Maintaining wellness as the cold sets in
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • Miscellanea
    • No image
      Remote students experience existential crises; change class years in email signatures
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Your next on-campus romance isn’t going to work out
      Your next on-campus romance isn’t going to work out
    • The Artichoke
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Shreya Kochar Sports and WellnessMarch 11, 2020

“An enormous privilege”: running the Boston marathon for cancer

Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe

On Monday, April 20, one of Boston’s biggests events will take place: the Boston Marathon. One of Wellesley’s own students, Katharine Conklin ’22, will be amongst the approximately 30,000 people running. Conklin has been running for about three years, explaining that she “… got into running about three years ago (spring of my junior year of high school). Before this I had never participated in cross country, track, nor anything like it. I used to hate running!” Not only is this Conklin first time running the Boston Marathon, but it is also her first marathon ever! Her purposes for running are not just for the sport, however. Conklin is running to fundraise for pediatric cancer.

The means by which she was selected for the race are unique and wholesome. Rather than the traditional time qualifications that participants must meet to race, Conklin applied through a charity and was selected to race for them. “I applied for a spot on Massachusetts General Hospital’s pediatric hematology-oncology team back in October and was lucky enough to be selected. This process involved submitting information as to why I am interested in running for their charity and how I planned to meet their fundraising requirement of $10,000,” she said. 

After a close family friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor, she decided to fundraise for this organization. “The proceeds raised by me and my teammates will support clinical and laboratory research in childhood cancer; supportive care programs including wellness services; parent, teen, and sibling support groups; and child life specialists. I consider it an enormous privilege to run for such an awesome cause” said Conklin.

Conklin highly recommends future students interested in running the Boston Marathon do so. “I run to feel strong more than anything else. I’m not particularly concerned about being the fastest nor setting a personal record when I go out. Anything around a 9:15 mile pace makes me feel proud and accomplished.” She believes that anyone with the drive to run can do so, so long as they find something they believe in to motivate them. Currently, she is hard at work, constantly staying on top of her game and running with local groups. “I am training by following a program designed by Heartbreak Hill Running Company. They lead team runs out of their Newton location on Saturdays which I’ve been going to since the beginning of this (Spring 2020) semester. Aside from this, I do all of my running on my own,” she said. Her willpower to fundraise for pediatric cancer keep her on top of her physical health and constantly motivated to improve. However, it is an extraordinary time commitment, and those considering running should be aware of this fact. Conklin says that she “… spends so much time thinking about and training for the marathon that it feels like an extra class. […] If you are going to run on behalf of a charity, be sure it’s one you’re passionate about! On days when my training is especially hard, it’s important for me to remember and focus on why I’m doing what I am. The combination of MGH’s work, my love of running, and training efforts will fuel me on Marathon Monday.” 

 

Note from Katharine: Right now I am fundraising to reach my goal of $13,100. If people are interested in donating, the address to my fundraising page is tinyurl.com/kathrunsboston and donations can be sent to the Venmo katharineruns26-2. I am running a raffle right now, leading up to Spring Break, featuring $50 to Alta Strada, $25 to Truly Yogurt, and $25 to Cafe Mangal.

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleKeohane Sports Center makes some necessary facilities updates
Next articleBlue tennis on an upwards swing

You may also like

Athletic impacts of Covid-19

A new kind of PE

Maintaining wellness as the cold sets in

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

  • Harry Styles de-typifies masculinity in Vogue’s December Iss...
  • Students Remember the Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2021 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top