Friends & Neighbors - Marshall Democrat-News

Debbie Smith shows off her medal for completing the Chicago marathon on Oct. 7. RN Duyen Van also participated in the marathon.
(Contributed image)

Debbie Smith wove throughout the streets of Chicago on foot, reading signs that stated, "0.5 percent of the world population has run a marathon." Originally, Smith didn't think she was capable of joining that elite percentage, but to her surprise, she is now one of them.

As the manager of Fitzgibbon Hospital's OB department, Smith challenged herself to participate in the hospital's wellness program earlier this year. With weekly goals, progress checks and incentives, she lost 23 pounds.

"You get to talk to the dietician every week," she said of the program. "My goal was to build up enough miles to challenge myself to do a Chicago marathon."

Smith began recording the number of steps she took in one month, and then built up her endurance from there. She had participated in the YMCA's Couch Potato to 5K run with a team two years ago, followed by a half marathon. Her desire to run in Chicago stemmed from her son's participation the year before.

"I went with my son, who's 20 (years old). He double-dog dared me," she laughed. "You have to sign up in February and it takes five months to train. ... I just had to see this and that's why I worked so hard."

Employees at Fitzgibbon Hospital created and signed a banner for Debbie Smith's return, congratulating her on completing the Chicago marathon.
(Contributed image)

Smith wanted to experience the marathon for what it was -- an event, or, in her eyes, a cultural experience.

"It was the most incredible thing I've ever done," she said. "The people of Chicago came out ... they had so much activity" throughout the marathon such as dance performances and drum lines.

"Some women had bags of oranges for runners; there were people handing out pretzels," she said. "I had never seen anything like it."

Past several cultural districts along the route, runners were cheered on by unexpected supporters.

"We went by this one little nursing home and these little ladies are lined up in the windows of the nursing home, waving and blowing kisses," Smith recalled. "Runners were blowing kisses back. Every mile there was something memorable."

That moment stuck with Smith like the endurance of a lifelong runner, well after the race had ended. And for her, that's what the occasion was about. Smith went into the race hoping for an experience similar to that of her son's, but she returned with her own -- one unique and personal for a woman looking to complete a goal.

Competition from other runners was never a concern for Smith. Her objective was simple: to finish what she started. This past July, Smith proved to be her own challenge. She had developed hip tendonitis, which threatened her ability to run. But with a lot of rest, she pushed through the next three months to reach the Chicago streets.

"I thought (my hips) would bother me," she said.

On Sunday, Oct. 7, Smith stood with thousands of other runners eager to cross the finish line. She finished the race in six hours and 39 minutes -- inspired, healthy and with a Rolodex of new memories.

Contact Sarah Reed at
sreed@marshallnews.com

Source: http://www.marshallnews.com/story/1904627.html

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