Catastrophic injury can’t deter Massachusetts man from marathon dream
Published 10:31 am Tuesday, April 4, 2017
- Brian Castellanos recently finished the 22-mile-long trial run on the same route as the Boston Marathon. Almost four years ago, Castellanos was told he would never walk again and now his is preparing to run in his first Boston Marathon later this month.
SALEM, Mass. –– Brian Castellanos overcame years of hardship, including losing his mother and brother to cancer, experiencing homelessness and being told he would never walk again, to fulfill his lifelong dream: running the Boston Marathon.
And if you ask him what his keys to success are, he’ll respond with three things: how hard you’re willing to work, how strong your attitude is, and having the desire to never give up.
“When I first got injured, it was just me and a battle within myself,” said Castellanos, 26, who fell asleep at the wheel of his car on the morning of June 13, 2013. He was alone, on his way back from Disney World and headed to a football captain’s practice at Framingham State, where he played free safety.
“I remember sitting there helpless in the hospital bed not knowing what’s going to happen next. That really put things in perspective and drove and inspired me. I’ve always wanted to run the Boston Marathon and (the accident) made me want to pursue it that much more.”
Before Castellanos even began thinking about training for a marathon, he was a young boy growing up in a rough neighborhood in Lynn, a small city in Massachusetts, about 10 miles outside of Boston. As the youngest of 12 children, day-to-day life was hard enough as his mother and father did the best they could to keep things afloat in a poverty-stricken home.
But things became nearly impossible when Castellanos’ mom passed away from cancer when he was a freshman in high school. Castellanos was surrounded by gangs, drugs and violence.
Eventually, Castellanos ended up finding a home with his older brother Eddie. He worked two jobs while attending Lynn English High School, where he was a standout on the football team and was even invited to play in the annual Harry Agganis All-Star Game.
He was getting by until another tragedy hit: Eddie was diagnosed with lymphoma. Six months later, during Castellanos’ senior year, his brother lost the battle with his illness.
From there, Castellanos spent his days in the classroom and on the athletic fields and nights in his car — all while maintaining the two jobs and studying hard enough to get into college.
“I was literally homeless and living out of my car while working two jobs at Wal-Mart and John’s Roast Beef as a delivery driver,” said Castellanos. “Then I found Urban Education at Westfield State and really made my discovery in academics there. I was able to accelerate with all the resources I had there.”
The Westfield State program led Castellanos to Framingham State University, where he would pursue an undergraduate degree in criminology. Castellanos lived on campus while at Framingham State and was a member of the school’s football team.
After his accident, Castellanos thought his life was over.
He suffered a broken hip, eight broken ribs, a pair of punctured lungs and internal bleeding. He was placed in the intensive care unit at Boston Medical Center for three weeks, and doctors told him he would never walk again. Other forms of mobility were also in question.
“That’s when my life was introduced to tragedy,” admitted Castellanos. “My football career was over, moving on my own was questionable, and the road to recovery was not going to be easy. But I never lost hope.”
Castellanos wasted no time beginning his rehabilitation. Castellanos battled through the pain of having pins in his hip, and within six months he had made a full recovery.
Castellanos graduated from Framingham State in the fall of 2013, just three months after his accident.
Then the real training began.
With the help of Reck Fitness in nearby Beverly, Castellanos has accomplished more than he could imagine. He started the running with 5Ks, elevated to half marathons and, most recently, completed the longest run of his life: a 22-mile trial run on the Boston Marathon course. He completed the trek in about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
For Castellanos, April 17 can’t come soon enough. His ultimate goal come Patriots Day is to simply cross the finish line in Boston.
“I’ve turned myself into a runner,” said Castellanos. “I’ve used my old competitive nature as a football player and have been able to transfer that discipline to this. (Finishing the 22 miles) was very emotional for me, a true milestone. I can’t wait to feel that again.”
As if running for himself wasn’t enough, Castellanos seeks to give back to another cause through his sprint to 26.2: The Horizons for Homeless Children, a place where he’s had the opportunity to volunteer.
He set a goal of raising $12,000 for the organization, and has already raised nearly $9,000.
“After the accident, all I knew was I was alive and I had a second chance,” said Castellanos. “I fell in love with giving back, and that’s what keeps me going.”