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Quote of the Day:
"You choose to be poor, average or excellent at what you do. We all knew Ryan chose to be excellent"

-coach Joe Vigil, speaking at Ryan Shay's funeral


Ryan Shay
1979-2007

The tragic death of Ryan Shay in the first 10k of the race put everyone in the running community at a loss for words. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family.

Ryan Shay Photo Gallery: Alicia Shay writes in to thank the running commmunity for their support and kind words in this time of need. Plus she shares some of her favorite photos with Ryan.

Official Ryan Shay Remembrance Thread: Joe Shay, Ryan's dad, wrote in to give his thanks for all the kind thoughts and prayers. With a dad like that you see why so many people liked Ryan.

More News: Runnesworld's Amby Burfoot Writes About Spending Time With Ryan Shay's
Parents and Alicia
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Amby Burfoot Writes about Ryan Shay Memorial Track Runs in Ryan's Hometown
Sunday:

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Nice Writeup on Ryan's Funeral from Local Paper Notre Dame coach Joe Piane: "If my son turns out to be half the man that Ryan was, I'll be a happy dad."
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Many Pay Tribute to Ryan Shay at His Funeral
Detroit Free Press
*Ryan Shay Laid to Rest www.detnews.com
*Associated Press Recap of Ryan Shay's Funeral
Good Read:
Alicia Shay Had Found Her Soul Mate in Ryan Detroit Free Press
*Ryan Shay Profile in Detroit Free Press
*Photos from Funeral
Previous News:
*Lengthy Article on Ryan in His Hometown Paper
Ryan's dad made sure the author sent us this one.
*From Ryan's Hometown Paper: Ryan Died Pursuing His Dream From his hometown paper as well.
*Meb Keflezighi Dealing with Ryan Shay's Death
San DiegoTribune
*Tim Layden of Sports Illustrated Looks at Ryan Shay's Death
The article is a good one. It says some runners like Meb and Culpepper admit they could never push like Ryan. Surprisingly some of these top guys say Ryan's death has them wondering how hard they will push themselves in the future. Plus it reveals, Dathan Ritzenhein had to tell Ryan Hall and Brian Sell of Shay's death.
*Notre Dame's Joe Piane And His 12 Year Old Son Coping With Ryan Shay's Death

*Ryan Shay Made Lasting Impression on Detroit Free Press Writer

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Ryan Shay Tribute in Eugene 3:00pm on Sunday
*Main Funeral 2:00pm in Michigan
New News for Friday:

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Lauren Fleshman Blogs on Ryan Shay's Death Interesting read as Lauren woke up in a cold sweat right aroudn the time Ryan died. She advocates we all wear gold bands or ribbons in honor of Ryan.
*Meb Keflezighi Statement on Ryan Shay
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Volunteers Struggled To Revive Shay: An Indiana native, who was a volunteer, describes the scene immediately after Ryan Shay hit the ground  Detroit Free Press
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Flagstaff Training Group Writes About Ryan Shay's Death
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Memorial Service for Ryan Shay in Flagstaff on November 14, 2007
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Running In Memory Of Ryan Shay: Santa Clara student recounts how he ran 5.5 miles on Monday, stopped and observed a moment of silence for Ryan
Thursday's News:
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Lengthy Ryan Shay Piece in NY Times With Photos from the track in his hometown where the town is having a candelight vigil each night.
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Alicia Shay Still in Disbelief at Ryan's Death NY Daily News
*Ryan Shay Being Remembered in Central Park Photos from former Oregon runner Ben Andrews.
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Christine Brennan: Death of Marathoner Shay Prompts Search for Answers Should USATF/Sports bodies like NBA, NFL test all athletes? USA Today
*Ryan Shay Special Section at Runnersworld Runners World
*Saucony Has Turned Its Entire Website Into a Picture of Ryan With a Link to the Official LetsRun Thread
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Chicago Sun Times Columnist: In Long Run, 'Just Do It' Solid Advice For Us
Previous:
*Ryan Shay's Funeral is Sunday, Nightly Candlelight Vigils are Going on in His Hometown, Local Runners Are Coming Out Thursday
More Funeral Info here
* Ryan Shay a Legend in His Hometown

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Coach Joe Vigil Talks About Ryan Shay NY Daily News
*Having an Enlgarged Heart Is a Big Cause of Sudden Death in Young Athletes
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Ryan Shay Article in NY Daily News With a Photo of His Dad NY Daily News
*Ritzenhein, Lananna Shaken by Ryan Shay's Death Eugene Register Guard
*Andrew Lemoncello Dealing with Death or Ryan Shay, He's Training in Flagstaff and Talking About Moving Up to Marathon at Some Point
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Notre Dame XC Dealing with Ryan Shay's Death
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Shay's Death Bewilders Loved Ones Everyone including his former coaches Joe Piane and Joe Vigil are bewildered by Shay's death. Abdi revealed a touching anecdote of how he warmed up with Ryan and what Ryan's last words were to him. Shay's funeral will be on Sunday in Michigan as Shay's HS and Piane and Vigil will speak.
*NY Times: Still No Answers In Shay's Death An autopsy was performed on Sunday was inconclusive. Full results won't come out until later in the week. Ryan's father speciifically asked for toxicology tests to be performed so he could prove that his son never used performance enhancing drugs.
*George Vescey Column: After a Death, Time for Life and a Race Paula Radcliffe expresses her condolences after winning.
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Notre Dame Coach Joe Piane Mourns Death of Ryan Shay
*Dick Patrick of USA Today with Lengthy Piece on Ryan
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Tim Layden of SI Writes about Runners Reaction to Shay's Death
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Philip Hersh of Chicago Tribune Writes about Ryan Shay
*Ryan Shay Slideshow from NYTimes
*NY Times Recap on Hall's Win, Shay's Death
*Amy Shipley of Washington Post: Ryan Shay's Dad Says He Had an Enlarged Heart

For the LetsRun.com Homepage click here

Funeral Info
Ryan Reid Shay
(May 4, 1979 - November 3, 2007)
funeral web site http://www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com/index.cfm
VISITATION: Friday, Nov. 9: 5-8 pm at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes
Saturday, Nov. 10: 12 noon until 8pm, at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes
FUNERAL SERVICES: Sunday, Nov. 11: 2pm at the Harvest Barn Church in East Jordan, with a visitation from 1pm until the time of service
MEMORIALS: The Ryan Shay Memorial Fund 5873 Leisure Lane East Jordan, MI 49727
Hotel reservations can be made at bereavement rates at: Shanty Creeek Resort 231-533-8621