Larry Olsen RIP

he will be missed dearly. he devoted his entire life to running and promoting the sport. he was an absolute class act.

RIP Larry, you inspired me to run, you are the reason I'm coaching today.

I'll miss you.

Henry Phelan wrote:

RIP Larry, you inspired me to run, you are the reason I'm coaching today.

I'll miss you.

a nice compliment henry.

larry was one heck of a competitor. he surely gave a lot to the sport.

Can someone confirm this? While I don't like hoaxes, I honestly hope this is.

I thought running was suppose to keep us with 28 inch waists and live long enough to bring down social security ?

This is truly sad news. I used to run with Larry a lot when I lived in MA. He was a great person and will be missed.

Wow. I'm stunned by this news. Larry gave so much to the sport, and really helped me out when I was just starting out. A huge loss to the New England Running Community.

I am shocked and terribly sad. Larry was a fixture in the running community. He was always so supportive of my running. I am sure I would have never run a Boston Marathon without his encouragement. There were so many races, that I remember him cheering me on near the finish. He gave so much and asked for so little.

So sad. Larry was far too young, productive, helpful, and appreciated by many. I can't think of anyone who retained top performances through the years like Larry. In the mid-1960s, we used to think of him as a sort of second-tier racer. In the decades since then, he embarrassed many of us, certainly me, with his refusal to slow down much. I wish I knew his secret; I'll just have to assume he was willing to continue pouring more blood, sweat and tears into his running than most.

The new issue of Running Times has an article on Larry. I was meaning to read it this weekend, but didn't find the time.

Tomorrow, I will. And I'm sure I'll wipe away a few tears.

I don't get ir! Eddie Sheehan, Andy palmer. Larry... guys I have raced/trained with super strong super fit why do they give out while these unfit nobodys live on???

Larry and I raced many times over the past few years, often finishing near each other one way or the other. We only chatted a few times, but he seemed like a great guy and I'll miss seeing him out there. RIP Larry.

idontgetit wrote:

I don't get ir! Eddie Sheehan, Andy palmer. Larry... guys I have raced/trained with super strong super fit why do they give out while these unfit nobodys live on???

Yeah, seems like a fair amount of good runners have been dropping dead or nearly dead on runs in the last several years. Kinda scary. As far as New England, there was a long time runner (more recreational I think) and lawyer from lynn (forget his name) who dropped dead running in breakheart reservation in Saugus, MA a few years ago . And then Lou Ristiano (sp?) nearly dropped dead during a run (was very lucky to receive immediate treatment). Of course Alberto nearly died. And there have been others.

Strange and a little scary.

Goodbye my friend and former teammate. We had some great masters team races with you and us fellow masters. Glad I raced with you rather than against you. Those mid race surges that you used so efeectively dropped me and many others over the years. You were once tough son of a bitch to get by everytime I raced against you. We'll meet again some day for a race and I still won't be able to beat you. RIP Larry.

53:51 for 10 miles at Yankee Homecoming, at age 50!-wow

He was so great

LAURENCE OLSEN 50 M MILLIS MA 53:51

Nice article in Metrowest Daily News this morning...focuses on him as a coach. RIP Larry http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/local_sports/x29009379/Hopedale-cross-country-coach-Larry-Olsen-dies

We will all miss Larry.

http://www.mariofraioli.com/writing/tg-10-28-07/

So sad - I loved spotting Larry in road races and watching him just grind it out. He was a gift to our sport.

Larry was my High School cross country coach. He was an inspiration in my formative years and again when I reconnected with him many years later at a race that re-ignited my interest in running. Few people were as dedicated to running and the running community. I will miss him.