John Smith
South Elgin, IL
Total Raised: $2,066.80
1. Tell us about yourself and your family?
I joined the staff of Harvest Bible Chapel in 2000 as Pastor of Family Ministries. My responsibilities include leading the ministries to children from birth through fifth grade, directing Camp Harvest, and partnering with families. My passion is to see students come into a relationship with Jesus, learn the truth of God's Word, and grow in their love for God.
My wife Sherri and I make our home in South Elgin, Illinois. We enjoy spending time with friends, traveling, working out, and working on our home.
2. Have you ever done a half or full marathon before?
Yes, I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2002 (my first race ever!) and 2004. I also ran the Mini-Indy half marathon in 2004 and 2005.
3. What are your biggest challenges for race and what is your goal?
My greatest challenge is making the time to train well. I just ran 8 miles for the first time since May 2005.
My goal is to finish in 3:45 which would be a personal best for me. My previous times were 3:54 in 2002 and just over 4 hours in 2004.
4.How did you know Mitch?
Mitch and I got to know each other through Harvest. He always had a passion for life and having fun. I became friends with Mitch at a point in his life when he got serious about his passion for Jesus Christ. His enthusiasm was contagious. I enjoyed playing golf with him at a Walk in the Word outing.
Journal
November Update • Thursday, November 01, 2007
1. Would you or are you planning on running this distance again?
I’m thinking about running it next year because I didn’t have a good showing this year. I would not want this year’s time to be my last.
2. Explain what it was like to run on the hottest day in the Chicago Marathon 30 year history?
Hot! From the moment I walked outside in the morning I knew that it was going to be extremely difficult. It was great to see the whole Swaback team before and after the race. During the race, the water, Gatorade stops, and people cheering us on were great. I was thankful that Sherri took the time to run all over Chicago to see me and offer me words of encouragement.
3. Lastly please write something to each of your sponsors, it can be a thank you, share a verse, something from your heart.
I’m so grateful for the generous hearts of friends and family who supported me and our Swaback team. For me, it was great to see this idea that God placed on my heart become a reality. Who would have guessed that so many people would support us with so much money for the Swaback Foundation and the Athletic Center in Elgin. It was great to not only meet, but to exceed the goal.
When the race officials told us that the clocks were turned off and the race had been called, the guys I was running with said, “can’t stop me from finishing this race.” Thanks for helping us cross the finish line.
October Update • Monday, October 01, 2007
1. How many months you have been training and if you have cross trained.
I have been training since May.
Long runs—178 miles—painful!
Short runs—28 miles—scenic
Biking—117 miles—fun
Running around Camp Harvest, the new Worship Center, Mitchell Swaback Athletic Center, and children’s ministry rooms in Elgin—priceless!
2. Tell us what you’ll be doing the Saturday before the race.
We have an all-staff picnic at a park in West Dundee for lunch. I’ll follow that with my packet pick-up at the Marathon Expo at McCormick Place, attend the Building Dedication of the new Worship Center in Elgin, and plan to wrap up my day with a carbo-load dinner with the other MSF runners at Maggiano’s in downtown Chicago.
3. The race is almost here. Please share your thoughts about the endless hours of training, your sacrifices, and what this has done to impact or even change your life.
My biggest challenge in the training has been the midweek runs. It has been hard to set aside that time during the week. I have enjoyed the long runs with my friends Joe and Jeff. Running that far by myself would have been a real struggle. I have learned that I had to be consistent in my long runs on the weekends. So even when the shorter distances were crowded out, I had to keep Saturday morning dedicated to those high-mileage runs.
I also had to pay more attention to what I ate. I cannot tell you how many bowls of healthy cereal I have consumed over these past few months—instead of my favorite nightly bowl of ice cream.
I guess the big thing that has impacted me during my training is thinking about the goal—finishing the marathon, staying healthy during my training, and getting some sponsors for the MSF. I really enjoyed my friendship with Mitch and was excited about the changes that I saw God make in his life. It has been very motivating to me to run in his memory and for one of the ministries that he really cared about most—sports. So it is great for me to be able to do something for the gym that I have to believe he would have loved.
I’m so grateful that Sherri was supportive in so many ways; curbing my eating habits, never negative about me waking her up early on Saturday mornings, compassionate after those long Saturday runs, encouraging me to purchase some new gear to help me keep up with Joe and Jeff.
September Update • Monday, September 10, 2007
1. Share with us your workout schedule for August?
August was a challenging month to get my weekly runs in because of splitting my time in Chicago and Michigan. Our last two family camps at Camp Harvest went really well and now I’m getting motivated to hit the pavement.
2. How are you holding up physically and mentally?
I am thrilled to report that I have had very little pain in my knees. I have tried to run inside my heart rate on the long runs which has also helped my not fee totally exhausted after some of the long runs. Mentally I’m struggling a little because I see so many days that aren’t crossed off on my training schedule. I’m looking forward to getting some long runs in during the month of September.
3. Athlete’s Journal: Please make this your journal for the month of August and share with us everything and anything you would like?
I’m so happy to go through the offices at Harvest and hear so many people talking about the Marathon. Hearing the buzz around the office gets me excited for long runs on Saturday. It has been a really good time running with Joe and Jeff on the great western trail.
August Update • Wednesday, August 01, 2007
1. What makes you keep going on a day when you just aren’t having a good run or training day?
Yesterday I got out of bed to run 13.1 miles. That doesn’t sound like much to you who have been logging miles regularly throughout the week, but I have been focused on Camp Harvest and working on fall kick off. So, I have only run a couple times this past month. All that to say, at mile 12 on Monday, my body was not thrilled with me, but I thought about joy that it is to support the Foundation, switched the song on my ipod, and tried to finish strong.
2. What things are you doing to prepare physically and mentally for the marathon?
Jamie Harrison called me last Friday and told me that I needed to get my bike off the hooks in the garage and ride with him early Saturday morning. It was a lot of fun to bike 32 miles with some of my closest friends.
3. In what ways are your family or friends helping support you while training?
My wife has been running, too, so when I’m home she encourages me to keep working at the miles. She even brings me drinks along the way on my long runs. Jamie, on the other hand, keeps getting faster and losing more weight which only makes me want to eat more ice cream before I go to bed.
Is there anyone in particular that helps motivate you?
I get a lot of encouragement from Joe Stowell, Jamie Harrison, and Steve Garman.
4. Athletes Journal:
Looking at my daily mile log sheet I realize that I have to remove some of the distractions around me. I need to hunker down on my goal of breaking the four-hour mark. I probably need to take my bike to camp and figure out a time to run during our church plant LifeRock week (August 5-8) and Family Camp (August 12-15). I know that this month it is time to get some mileage in.
July Update • Monday, July 02, 2007
1. With three months remaining before your race what’s going through your mind?
Two weeks ago I ran 11 miles…that was a long ways. It is hard to get my head around running 26.2!
2. What is your training schedule for the month of July?
My training schedule for July is a mess. One of my joys at Harvest Bible Chapel is giving leadership at Camp Harvest. I’m looking forward to finding some time before the campers get up to run some short distances but there isn’t enough time or energy to go long distance.
3. What is your long run up to?
I’m going to try 13 miles on June 30.
4. Athletes Journal:
Consistency seems to be the key. I have to get more focused on the daily training if I hope to keep up with Jeff Donaldson.
Sponsors
Dave Schlueter • $100.00
John: Run in accord with your already running spirit and attitude! Love, DaveBrian and Kate Sweet • $500.00
Outstanding cause John - Katie and I will both be praying/rooting for you! My favorite running verse: Philipians 3:14 - "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."Sherri Smith • $520.00
John, train well, run fast, finish the race. Know that I will be cheering you on every step of the way. I love you and am so proud of you for doing this--for you, for MSF, and for the glory of God.The Geu Family • $50.00
Mitch was a very serious competitor, so take that with you when you train for this challenging race! We will triple the amount if you win...Trey and Rebecca Morris • $52.40
John - Rebecca would want me to give you some thoughtful and positive words of encouragement, but that is just not my style. :-) We are donating $2 a mile. $1 per mile for your race and $1 for every mile that I have or will ever walk, run, or possibly stumble in my lifetime. TreyJin and Sharon Lee • $262.00
Go, John!!! Phil 3:13-14 Thanks for your hard training and pressing on... and being the "pace setter" and "leading the pack" for all of us. We love you!Nathaniel Lee • $26.20
Go, go, go, Pastor John! Love, "Nathaniel Lee In-the-house"Krisalyn Lee • $26.20
Da... Ja... @?#?$?@&?X#?$ (translated: Go Pastor John!) Love XOXOXO, KrisalynMark & Hellen & Nate • $100.00
Press on, pastor John, press on... May the joy of the LORD be your strength! :)Brenda,Buddy,Breanne Delaporta • $30.00
We'll be praying for you! Wish we could be there to see the big race! We know you will do awesome!!We love you!!Keith Watson • $50.00
John, You inspire me both physically and spiritually! Your Brother-in-law, KeithBridget & Scott Keeran • $50.00
John, you know God's provision and grace has gotten you thus far. And He promises to lead you through! We'll be cheering (and praying) for you that day!J-Slo • $250.00
Go StrongDog- run like the wind my friend. I will be right there with you bro, lets get this thing done.The Turpin Crew • $50.00
Run hard, run safe. How you found time to train, we'll never know!Thank you for your support. Mitchell Swaback Charities is a non-profit organization, exempt from federal income under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Service code.
IRS Letter of Determination (.pdf, 393Kb)
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