When Katie Schmid registered to run her first marathon in Dublin in 2003, as a fundraiser for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), she admits the real reason was for the post-race Irish Pub Crawl.
"I wasn't so into the marathon idea" of running 26.2 miles, she said years later. "However, as I trained, learned more about the cause, and how the entire [training] program and the people involved affected my life and how I affected the lives of others, I quickly became addicted."
Schmid has now run 14 marathons, highlighted by her personal record (PR) time (3:48:16) at the Fox Cities Marathon in Wisconsin in 2008. She also has run countless half-marathons (13.1 miles) and other shorter-distance races, in addition to one 50K race, the Chicago Lakefront 50/50, which spans just over 31 miles.
"I'm attracted to the challenge [of running races] and think I'm glutton for punishment. [Running also] is an excellent stress reliever," she said.
Schmid, 34, lives in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood and is the behavioral health manager for Search, Inc. She is married to Paul, who is also an endurance runner, although on a much smaller scale—several current and former T2 runners, coaches and staff (many from the gay community) attended their wedding.
Schmid is the head coach for the second consecutive year for the Team To End AIDS (T2), the endurance-training program of AFC. This was her seventh summer coaching runners on behalf of AFC.
To date, she has led Chicago-area runners into 10 full marathons and three half marathon. She has coached close to 2,000 runners.
"I'm attracted to the idea that I can make a difference in the lives of people with HIV/AIDS," Schmid said. "These aren't strangers to me. These are people I love and who I come in contact with all the time. Through this program, I came to realize the true power of a person. Every dollar matters; every participant matters; every step in the race matters. It really is a program where giving everything means everything.
"Fundraising year in and year out can be difficult. When I started coaching, I was in graduate school. I didn't know the level of financial commitment I could give, but I knew I could give my time and energy. I had such a great experience during my first year that I wanted to be a part of giving that experience back to future participants."
Schmid paced select T2 runners in October during the Chicago Marathon. She will be in Hawaii next month when T2 runners run in the annual Honolulu Marathon.
"My favorite part about coaching is seeing the person who has never run before in their life, [or] never thought it was possible, [or] the person who was always told they aren't an athlete, or they are overweight, or too old. Seeing that person cross the finish line is incredible. I never get used to that," Schmid said.
Schmid said a number of her closest friends are HIV-positive, including some who attended her wedding. "These aren't just participants who I've met; these are life-long friends who are alive because of AFC and T2," she said.
Her memories of countless Saturday and Sunday mornings, running and coaching runners along Lake Michigan over the past nine years, are endless. There was the man who stopped at a lakefront vendor to buy—and eat—a polish sausage during a run. He sat down and had a lunch while his pace group continued to run. He picked them up on their way back [to where they had started], and he finished the run with them.
Other highlights:
—A female runner had a fanny pack that, believe it or not, had fried chicken in it that she would eat while running.
—A father and his young son approached Schmid and the T2 runners at a water fountain. "The kid looked at [our T2] shirts and asked his dad what it said," Schmid recalled. "[The father] told him it was a TEAM TO END AIDS. The kid asked his dad what that meant. I cringed awaiting his response for fear it would be dismissive. But the dad said, 'They help people who really need our help.' It was so good, so inspirational to see that we had just brought awareness to people on the path and that, hopefully, this kid will grow up wanting to do something about AIDS instead of fearing it like so many other [past] generations."
—Schmid ran with a T2 runner near mile 25 of the Chicago Marathon who really wanted to quit: "She was not smiling, not happy, and was in pain. She was having a hard time getting over the mental obstacles. There was, meanwhile, a fan on the side who kept cheering for her and walking along the sidelines yelling her name and cheering. I asked if that [fan] was someone significant. She replied, 'No, I don't know him [and] I wish he'd shut up—maybe he should get out here and do this.' As we turned from Michigan Avenue [onto] Roosevelt Street for that final 0.2 miles, he yelled, 'Thank you for doing this! I'm alive because of people like you.' I think we both started crying."
—T2 camaraderie: "One thing I always love about coaching is, no matter how long it is taking a participant to finish [a run], how dark it is, or how many people have left [the course], there always is a crew of T2 coaches, staff, participants, and fans cheering to give each and every last person the credit they deserve," Schmid said.
Schmid said coaching for T2 has changed her life "in more ways than I can possibly describe." Coaching has made her far less selfish and far more aware that even when things are rough, it could be worse. "When things are rough, perseverance will get you through. Just like in a race," she said. "Coaching makes me want to give back. It keeps me positive and optimistic."
Just as scientists around the world scurry for a cure for HIV/AIDS.
"This is [the] TEAM TO END AIDS, so when we end AIDS, perhaps then I will stop [coaching]," she said. "Coaching for T2 is a great part-time job. It's not really a job, though, because I really enjoy it. I get to meet the coolest, most inspiration people. Getting my butt out there every weekend keeps me wanting to do more and be a better person. I look at the obstacles people go through to do our program, and they make it happen because it is important to them. That's important to me."
Schmid has been to many gay bars in Chicago with T2 runners, coaches and staff. After the Honolulu Marathon Dec. 11, she will be at Hula's Bar & Lei Stand, the gay bar where T2 will hold its post-race victory party, and Schmid is excited for the cold beer or mai tai—or both—at Hula's to celebrate with T2.
"Just like any community, you want a community that accepts you for who you are. The gay community accepts me as a straight female," she said. "What I love is a community that stands up for what it believes in, and fights against social injustices. Gay or straight, you need communities that will do that, and I love being a part of [the gay] community that is doing something to promote change."
Schmid is registered to participate in the Ironman Florida 2012, held in Panama City Beach. No doubt she'll be back along Chicago's lakefront in the spring, sporting red on behalf of T2 and AFC.
"A really awesome [personal] experience I had this year was running with my older brother, Brian; my husband, Paul; my sister-in-law, Ellen; and my younger brother's girlfriend, Samantha [in] the Chicago Half Marathon," Schmid said. "Had you told me a year ago I'd be doing that, I would have laughed and put my money on 'Hell no.' But, to have all four of them completing [that race] was really cool and I'm so proud of each of them. It is a testament to the contagious effect running can have."
