ST. GEORGE, UTAH – October 3, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) — Tracey Bratt Smith, mother of missing St. George teenager Macin Smith, has posted a new statement on social media, likening the emotional and physical toll of searching for her son to that of a running marathon.
The post appeared just hours before thousands of runners took to the streets of St. George Saturday for the city’s annual marathon.
“The reason I mention the local marathon,” she wrote, “is because it took me back to those feelings I had preparatory to completing my first and only full marathon. The anxiety was tremendously high until after the finish line.”
It’s the same anxiety she feels now as the search for her missing 17-year-old son stretches into its second month.
Macin Smith walked out of his family’s St. George home September 1 leaving behind both his cell phone and wallet.
He has not been seen or heard from since.
“I vacillate between hope and hopelessness depending on the moment,” Macin’s mother wrote, but she also is buoyed by the support of friends who remind her that all is not lost and that Ed and Lois Smart waited nine months for the safe return of their daughter Elizabeth.
The full text of Tracey Bratt Smith’s Facebook posting is below:
Oct 2, 2015
Dear Macin’s Army:
St George marathon is tomorrow. I don’t know if you have ever trained for such a race but many years ago, I did. One of the many things I learned training for a marathon is that the prep work for a successful completion starts months in advance. You need the proper equipment, mainly really good shoes and you need a training plan. It takes incredible discipline and dedication. So much effort and time goes into preparing those 3 months before the actual race. If you haven’t taken the time to train prior, the resulting effects to your physical and mental self may be quite damaging.
Even if you’ve prepared ahead of time, on the day of the race anything can happen. Perhaps you become dehydrated, twist an ankle, become ill or let’s face it, your body just gives out.
Gratefully every other mile there are stations with water and every few miles there are opportunities to refuel with some oranges or bananas etc.
If you have prepared, the likelihood of finishing is pretty high, even if your muscles are all achy and you produce a headache or start hyperventilating when you see the finish line. It’s an unforgettable feeling when you accomplish something so mentally, emotionally and physically demanding. Euphoric really.
I’ve noticed that some begin training and they become running/adrenaline junkies. Then there are those similar to myself that are fine with crossing it off their bucket list.
The reason I mention the local marathon is because it took me back to those feelings I had preparatory to completing my first and only full marathon. The anxiety was tremendously high until after the finish line.
David Cummings checks in with me every few days which I am grateful for. We had a conversation regarding remaining hopeful yesterday. He has energy and communicates that he’s been working behind the scenes and is planning more searches. I, in turn, mention that I vacillate between hope and hopelessness depending on the moment. David kindly reminds me that Elizabeth Smart took 9 months to recover.
It caused some inner dialogue that tied in with the training of a marathon. I want to have a conversation with God regarding my preparation time when life provides an opportunity for a crisis. I want to tell my Father in Heaven that I didn’t get that memo and therefore, I shouldn’t really be required to go the distance. There was no head’s up Tracey, you need to pace yourself. Or you better exercise your “I don’t care” muscle so it won’t hurt as much when your body is taxed to its limit. Or how about the proper equipment? You may need to install a tracking device so that you are better able to expedite the process. I’ve never been good at endurance. I truly thought or hoped this would be a short sprint kind of deal. Although I am so thrilled that after 9 months the Smarts were united, the thought of living this way for months on end is unimaginable to me. Turning my will over to God is a great exercise and I can do anything temporarily, but finishing strong has hardly been my greatest attribute. I know that if I just saw that finish line, I could make it through but it’s as if, someone keeps moving it.
***I’m sharing a picture of all my kidlets at a time where I would share with anyone/everyone that these are the ages I wanted to “freeze” my kids. This was the perfect age as a mother to just enjoy my kids. Macin is the youngest little blondie on the right. Looking all cute and happy. The other is a picture that was taken by his sister Kai who was trying to be obnoxious and get an extreme close up of his face. I just want the world to know how bright and beautiful his eyes are. So no matter what else changes on him, those eyes never will.
(I love you Macin. We check your room multiple times a day and night. Nothing has been moved. It’s as you like it. Feel free to sneak in anytime and surprise us. I cannot wait to be reunited and to make thousands of new memories with you. Your Dad has not been the same since you walked out that door. He loves you so much and would do anything to have you back again.)
Love, The Momma
