| toni reavis |
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A memorial Service for Mike Long will be held Friday, July 27th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm Mission Point Park San Diego, Ca. In lieu of flowers, Mike's family requests that you honor his life by making a contribution to the Entoto Foundation at 5452 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121. Mike helped found the Entoto Foundation in 2006, and served on its Board of Directors. The Foundation helps deliver medical assistance to Ethiopians who do not have access to appropriate treatment or surgery. The Foundation will serve as a fitting legacy to Mike's love of East Africa and his compassionate nature in always thinking of others. Directions & Parking - From South or East San Diego, take I-8 to the Sports Arena Blvd. exit, make a right onto West Mission Bay Drive and continue on to West Mission Bay Drive ramp. Continue over the bridge and make a left onto Mission Blvd and continue to the end the go left in to the Parking Lot. - From North San Diego, take I-5 to the Sea World Drive exit, make a right onto Sea World Drive and continue on to West Mission Bay Drive ramp. Continue over the bridge make a left onto Mission Blvd and continue to the end the go left in to the Parking Lot. |
| wejo co-founder |
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I just received the following email from Khalid Khannouchi and he asked me to post it on here: From Albuquerque NM As I heard the news of Mike Long's death and while I was between shock and remembering all the greats memories my wife and I had with Mike during our stays in his home the last four years, it is hard for me to believe that he is gone. We just lost a great man in our sport. Mike was a man of honesty and sincerity. He was passionate about running and his work with Elite Racing and he was very helpful to too many people and athletes around him including my self. I still remember how much he loves my wife's cooking. He always came home early to have dinner with us. We are sending our condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed and he will always be in our hearts. Khalid Khannouchi |
| mbarak hussein |
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To all the running fraternity, we have lost an icon in the sport of running. He was trully a gentleman and a great pioneer of running. Mike you will be missed from all corners of the world and especially those whom you have touched. May he rest in peace. |
| Scott Robinson |
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We at AmeriKenyan Running Club would like to extend our deepest condolances. Mike was a generous, loving and compassionate man. We only knew him for a short time but in that time we witnessed his passion for the people, sport and life. We thank God for his contribution to our world and that of so many others. God Bless, Scott and Vanessa Robinson and the members of AmeriKenyan Running Club |
| francis macharia , kenya |
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iam sure that every road runner in africa and usa is mourning mike`s death sudden death, i dont know him but every elite runner in kenya would say,"let me contact mr long for my entry to ROCK and ROLL this year" he is know for his honesty and sincerity by most kenyans who likes american roadraces. Rest in peace mike!! |
| James OBrien |
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I first met Mike in 1984 when I joined Jerry Kiernan and Brendan O'Shea, who were staying at Mike's house in South Mission prior to the Los Angeles Games. I stayed there for a week or so and have rarely felt so at home. But that was Mike's beauty. His generosity in opening his house to total strangers - though, runners - was remarkable, unfailing and now legendary. Over the years, I imposed myself on Mike's hospitality so many times that it's remarkable that not once did he invite me to leave. On the contrary, as we all know, generosity of spirit was natural to him in a way that breathing is to the rest of us. His warmth and good humor - not to mention is abiding love for practical jokes - are the things I will remember most about him. It would be easy to write and write and write about Mike, as I'm sure others will do, much better than I. But I did want to say that I feel so much the poorer for Mike's passing. My sincerest condolences to his family and to all of those who loved him so much. James O'Brien |
| Erin |
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Thank you to ALL of you! It is ever so comforting to read such incredible words about my Father! I know we are not alone in our loss or grieving. Please, keep telling your stories, I will check back often. |
| Anne Roberts |
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For the past few days I've been reading all the heartfelt messages about my dear friend Mike. What a special man he was! When Bob Wood called with the sad news, I thought, impossible! None of us who knew and loved him are ready to lose him. But that's not our choice. Then, I began to sift through so many memories, some funny, some sad, all treasured. I realized that at the end of the day, Mike's greatest assets were his love for, and pride in his children and his incredible integrity. What a guy!! Rest in peace my friend. |
| Marco Ochoa |
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Thank you again Mike for everything you did for me. As we see in this message board, Mike always had a positive impact on the many people he came in contact with. I was fortunate enough to meet Mike Long over 10 years ago and be part of his passion for running and the passion to help runners. I recently saw him at the Home Depo Track meet and stop to say hello to him, and like always, he was as friendly as he was over 10 years ago when I first met him. Thank you Mike. |
| Brian Appell |
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We were so sad to hear about Mike. He was the ultimate gentleman. Words cannot portray the loss. Hope to see him on the trails on the backside of this current macro-cycle of life. Brian and Olga Appell |
| d2 runna |
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I never knew the guy but after reading everyone else's posts I understand why people are saddened by his passing. I have had a lot of trouble with meet directors in the past few years and while i'm sure track meets are different from road races in who they can accomodate. It seems as if way too many race directors have some sort of agenda beyond helping the athletes themselves. Its good to know that there are those race directors out there that actually help out and care about the athletes. I wish I could have raced in one of his races and hopefully there will be more race directors to follow his lead. |
| douglas burke |
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i first met mike long a couple of years ago at the carlsbad 5k, the day before the race they had the run with the elites, i was a very fat 5 foot 9 and 267 pounds but i ran and talked to tirunesh dibaba and meselesh melkamu for the 2 mile jog, at the end of the jog they were giving away huge chipotle burritos, so i said to the girls, here have some free food, t. dibaba looked scared and backed away, melkamu jumped back and said no race tomorrow, too big, and she held her stomach, i told mike long i was just trying to play with them and he talked to them and they were both laughing, i felt he saved me from embarassment as i like them and am a fan who was trying to be silly. the next year i called to ask who is in the elite field and the receptionist said mike long had the list and would release it to the media today or tomorrow and the receptionist asked for my name and number, about a half hour later mike long called and told me, and even said who to look for that i did not know. the next year i call to ask when the elite list would be released and the receptioned said you have to ask mike long, i said when will he be in, the receptionist said he is here now, i will put him on, i said my name is doug and he said? doug burke, i said wow you remember me, he said yes, i asked who would be there and he said he had a great field, but the runners who ran in mombassa were all still suffering from the heat, he said tariku bekele, abrahaham feleke and others wanted to run, but were suffering from the heat as was melkamu who was supposed to race defar, we talked he asked if i was an athlete and he told me he wrestled for michigan state, then i told him thanks and i look to see a great race, before i hung up he said wait there will be a party for the runners tuesday at a restaurant and the ethiopians including meseret defar would be there, so i went to the party and ryan and sarah hall jen rhines, ian dobson and many others were there. i could tell meseret defar really liked mike long, when i asked defar how her sister elemesh is doing she said her sister hurt her back, so i told meseret to tell elemesh (agzer yi ma resh) which means may god restore her health and meseret was lauging loudly and yelled mike, mike he knows amharic, and he said doug you know amharic? and i said only a few words. then at the end of the party they had dancing and aheza kiros was the top dancer and kiros showed mesere some dance moves, meseret practiced and then tried to get mike long to dance. the party was the most fun i had this year. |
| Cash money99 |
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THis is a HUGE loss for Ethiopians Here is a who is who of athletics who paid tribute to mike in addis abeba This from Elias Kebede in Ethiopia: THE FOLLOWING ATHLETES WERE HERE AT GLOBAL ATHLETICS OFFICE IN ADDIS TO PAY THEIR TRIBUTE TO MIKE AND SEND THEIR DEEP CONDOLENCE TO HIS FAMILY THE ATMOSPHERE WAS VERY SOMBER AND ATHLETES WEPT OPENLY BELAY WELASHA DEARATU TULU GEZAHGEN ABERA DR YILMA BERTA TIRUNESH DIBABA SILESHI SIHENE EJIGAYEHU DIBABA MARCOS GENETI SINTAYHEU EJIGU BERHANU ALEMU TEKESTE KEBEDE MOGES TAYE GIRMA TOLA HALEFOM ABEBE HIRUT ABERA HAJI ADILO EYERUSALEM KUMA ASHEBIR DEMISU ABERASH TEGENGE AIDA TADESSE ELIAS KEBEDE GOD GIVE YOU THE STERENGTH AT THIS MOMENT |
| AnneB |
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We may have lost a life with Mike's passing, but now we all have the rare opportunity to help save a life by donating to the Entoto Foundation. Skip the Starbucks today and send $5 to Entoto Foundation, in honor of Mike Long. |
| toni reavis |
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Below is the Entoto Foundation website link. They wanted to launch it today while Mike's memorial service is still awaiting us next Friday afternoon in San Diego. And wouldn't Mike have been pleased with Alan Webb's American mile record and Meseret Defar's win in the African Games? That was what Mike was all about, the racing. He would have been burning up the phone lines, for sure, giving his good friend Steve Scott a hard time about leaving that "soft" record out there to be taken down by Alan. No one could insert the needle better than Mike. In his memory, a small donation would enlarge his legacy even further. Thanks. |
| AGR |
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I was saddened to hear this week of the loss of our friend Mike. I personally feel honored that I could call Mike my friend for the last 15 years. Each time that I wake up at 3 am in the morning to set up the Elite Aid Stations for Rock N Roll Marathon, I would think that it will be my last time. But then I would meet Mike at the hotel at 3:30 am and for a few minutes while everyone slept, it would just be the two of us and I immediately knew why I did this for the past 10 years as a volunteer - I just respect this guy for the impact he has on the global running community and especially the African runners that come from extreme poverty. This guy gave them the respect, the dignity and the opportunity to change not only their lives but further generations. Over the years, I would met Mike on the street in New York, Boston, Honolulu and Phoenix at marathons and each time, he invited me back into the VIP areas and started introducing me to the athletes. At Phoenix, when Haile Gebrselassie shattered the whole record for the half marathon, Mike asked Gebrselassie to stay around for a few more minutes after the press conference so that I could have my photo taken with him. Mike looked after his friends, in fact he looked after everyone. I can only have very warm memories about this man who only knew "how to give". Mike has been a great inspiration in my life. All of the volunteer work that I do at running events has been motivated by the example that Mike has set in the global running community. Greg White Vancouver, Canada July 21, 2007 |
| evodio neri |
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perdimos a un gran caballero del atletismo como lo fue el senor MIKE LONG, el atletismo mexicano le da las condolencias a la familia LONG, que sus restos descansen en paz, seguro que dios lo nesesitaba a su lado. GRACIAS POR TODO EL APOYO QUE SIEMPRE NOS BRINDASTE. ATENTAMENTE;MX INTERNATIONAL. |
| bill bunn |
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Erin, I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Mike. I will miss him very much. I just found out about his passing. I had left him a message on his phone the other day. Your Dad and I go back to our days in the wrestling room at MSU and in the ATO house. Please give my condolences to Scott, family and Claudia. I have sent emails to as many fraternity brothers as I could. Please have Bruce call me at 561 305 6144 Bill Bunn |
| wejo co-founder |
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We received this email from Kenya about Mike: On behalf of the Kenyans athletes we send our sincere condolences to the family ,friends, and the office of the elite racing .He has been a man of love and concern to all athletes May God rest his soul in peace From Teresa Wanjiku Margaret Karie Toroitich Hellen Kimutai Ann Jelagat |
| John Conley |
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Mike was a good friend and will be sorely missed. Mike was truly the face of Elite Racing and in many ways, he was the face of our sport. He was an amazing ambassador for professional athletics. Mikw was everywhere. I remember driving into St. Galmier in 2005 for world cross with my wife and James O'Brien and the very first person we saw on the street was Mike, walking back to the hotel from a visit with his friends from Ethiopia. In 2006 we saw him again in Fukuoka at world cross and I cannot even remember all of the times our paths crossed in New York, Chicago and dozens of other places. We are still stunned by the sad news of his passing and I cannot believe he is gone. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all of our friends at Elite Racing. John and Stacey Conley ConleySports, Inc. Austin, Texas |