Driven to turn tragedy into beauty, Lillian Smith is adding to her growing list of marathons. In honor of her late mother, Lillian ran the Chicago and New York City Marathons just weeks apart in 2024, alongside Project Purple. Now, her sights are set on two more marathons – this time overseas: the London Marathon on April 27, 2025, and the Berlin Marathon on September 21, 2025 with Project Purple.
If you would like to contribute to Smith’s Fundraising Efforts, you can click here.
Mom’s Motivation
Lillian’s journey into running was not immediate; it took some convincing. She first started running in seventh grade, encouraged by her basketball coach to join the cross-country team. However, her true motivation to start running came from her mom, Kathleen Smith. Kathleen, an avid runner, participated in countless 5Ks and other races. For her, running was a stress reliever that helped balance her demanding career as an actuary while raising four children. Kathleen wasn’t just a runner – she was a lover of hiking and kayaking, always active and outdoors.
“She would walk to and from work every day because it was only a mile, and she loved it,” Lillian recalls. “Even in winter, she’d bundle up and walk.”
Kathleen’s passion for running eventually rubbed off on Lillian, and it became a way for them to spend quality one-on-one time together – time Lillian deeply treasures today.
Lillian’s first race was the Loco Marathon in New Hampshire. Since then, she has run the Boston Marathon three times and, more recently, the Chicago and New York City Marathons in 2024, both with Project Purple.
Her 2024 training schedule was intense – after running in Chicago on Sunday, October 13, she only had two days to rest before getting back into running four days a week and strength training. Having thought she was going to PR in Chicago, Lillian didn’t have the run she anticipated and felt a little defeated. Despite her rigorous schedule and disappointment with her previous run, Lillian felt strong during the New York City Marathon, reenergized by the reminder of who and what she was running for. Even better, she set a new PR! (a personal best time)
“I flew,” she says. “It was the first time I ran a full marathon without stopping. I didn’t walk once.”
Now, she is training for the London and Berlin Marathons.
Kathleen’s Diagnosis
In the winter of 2014, Kathleen developed a sinus infection that only worsened despite antibiotics and surgery. After experiencing additional stomach pain, her doctor ordered a scan. She was then diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Kathleen underwent chemotherapy and radiation, but eventually transitioned to hospice care because the treatments were negatively impacting her quality of life. She found comfort in being at home and surrounded by her four children. Lillian was in college at the time, but she was close enough that she could take the train home or get rides from friends. Two of her siblings lived at home, and her sister lived just down the street. “It was easy for all of us to be there,” says Lillian.
Sadly, on October 20, 2015 – the day before her fifty-fourth birthday – Kathleen passed away at her home of twenty years.
Running as Connection and Therapy
For Lillian, running the Berlin Marathon, which falls so close to her mother’s birthday, feels like a birthday present to Kathleen. It is a poignant way to honor her mother’s memory, and Lillian sees it as part of her continued connection with her mom.
Running has also become a therapeutic outlet for Lillian. “It’s my therapy. I have a hard time meditating, but when I run, I feel like I’m meditating,” she says. “Every time I take a break from running, I always come back to it. I crave it. It’s how I stay connected to my mom.”
Kathleen’s Legacy
Kathleen’s resilience was a core part of who she was. She was a grounded, steady force, never allowing outside negativity to affect her. “I knew that if I was really in trouble or needed something, I could always go to her, and she would fix it,” Lillian recalls.
Lillian often turned to her mother for advice, and one of the best pieces of wisdom Kathleen imparted was, “Everything will get done.” This simple yet powerful reminder assured Lillian that no matter how overwhelming life might seem, she always found a way to handle whatever troubles it threw her way.
Lillian hears this advice now, guiding her through her toughest moments. When she’s nervous at the start line she hears her mom saying, “You’re gonna get it done.”
She holds her mom’s can-do attitude close, as well as a physical reminder: her mom’s engagement diamond, worn as a pendant.
“When I’m really struggling or having really hard miles, I hold it and I don’t know why, but it kind of gives me this warm feeling, and I can almost hear my mom saying, ‘You got this,’” says Lillian.
Stronger Together
Kathleen was the ultimate supporter of her children, always cheering them on. “Growing up, she just wanted the best for all of us,” Lillian shares. “She was our biggest champion. Now that she’s gone, it’s brought my siblings and me closer. We’re each other’s champions now. It’s so special to have them there to watch me race and support me.”
One of Lillian’s siblings joined her in Chicago, and now all of them will be there to cheer her on in Europe. The opportunity to share these experiences together, united by their mom’s memory, makes the journey even more meaningful.
Through her grief, Lillian has found strength in honoring her mother’s legacy. She’s raising funds for pancreatic cancer research and patient support, while also connecting with others who have been impacted by the disease. This unimaginable loss has turned into a beautiful testament to Kathleen’s spirit.
To support Lillian Smith and her fundraising goals, click here to donate to her page.
If you’d like to run or participate in an event of your own for Project Purple, visit our events page.
