My Son Ryan Shay

I never knew or met Ryan Shay. But I didn't have to, to know his place in the running community, whether we were fast or slow.

Into your hands, O Lord

we humbly entrust our brother.

In this life you embraced him with your tender love;

deliver him now from every evil

and bid him enter eternal rest.

The old order has passed away:

welcome him then into paradise,

where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain,

but the fullness of peace and joy

with your Son and the Holy Spirit

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Mr. and Mrs. Shay, Alicia, family, and friends, you are all in my prayers. I ran my favorite trail this morning and thought of Ryan the whole way. I met him at the Gate River Run and he was so friendly and passionate about the sport. The running community grieves immensely for this tragic loss.

RIP Ryan, a real tragedy.

Matt

Ryan,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on this day and the days to follow.

I wish I would have known your son.

It is not so wrong to measure the length of a man's life by the number of people he has touched and inspired. Your son lived for 200 years.

That's a great story. What a class act.

I was shocked when I heard the news yesterday. I'm sorry for your loss.

I never had the opportunity to know Ryan. I remember, though, in 2001 when he won the NCAA 10,000m. I was in 10th grade at the time and I remember - for whatever reason - that particular victory being a huge source of inspiration for me. As I learned more about Ryan I knew that he was the kind of runner I, too, wanted to be someday.

My heartfelt condolences to Ryan Shay's family, his wife, and his many friends. The entire running community is with you and praying for you during this most difficult time.

Peter Kane

ryan loved to run in terribly cold conditions. he believed it made him tougher and anything that helped his running he fully embraced.

as some of you remember, at the ncaa xc championships in 2000 at ames, iowa, it was -19 degrees with the windchill. ryan was redshirting that season, but still came down with the team. the morning of the race he woke up and did a 20 miler by himeself before the bus even left for the meet. i've never experienced cold like that yet it didn't phase ryan in the least. i truly believe he would've put a hurt on the field had he actually competed that day.

he was very proud of his northern michigan roots and often commented how growing up there made him tougher. there were no easy days for ryan. he ran with intensity everyday. everyday truly had a purpose for him. you could see just by looking at his face. he couldn't be anything less than inspiring to those that saw him run. a true modern day prefontaine.

Ryan was one of the greatest competitors I ever faced. You never had an easy day with him in the race. I'm so sorry for your loss, and our loss as a running community. I always enjoyed cooling down with Ryan, and talking about racing, training, and the future, at Big East and NCAAs. What a great guy, great friend and great competitor. What a sad day.

- Scott.

hopefully a memorial race is set up in the next year.

maybe on ryan's birthday.

Im sure many would attend.

I don't think it matters how good or bad of a runner you are as long as one is a great person. Not only was he an inspiration but a good person, and both will be missed. Everyday we are touched by people like this. And everyday we lose people like this. No matter who you are, I believe we can all relate to his story, his successes and his life. Life stands still in two moments, one of victory and one in death. Both, although very contrary to the other, are feats which all must face, but in the light of things, both shall be remembered for long from now. Every time I race I will remember him and think of what is possible of life. From what I have read, I will only take pleasant thoughts hence forth and learn valuable lessons on how to continue to be a better person... Thank you for your gift, you son, and his memory shall be forever to me.

-a friendly stranger

I was at the race yesterday, just above 79th Street. At about 2 1/2 miles, Wardian went by, then two other rabbits, then the pack. The crowd of a couple thousand spectators ran through the park to see them come by at 5 1/4. Wardian was still out front, but the other rabbits had been caught, and a group of 6, with Hall, Ritz, Meb, Abdi and Browne had pulled away from the pack. Then came the pack, already starting to spread out, with Shay in it."Shay should be up with the lead pack," I said as he ran past, to no one in particular. I remember the look on his face, eyebrows furrowed, his eyes hard, pure determination. It was the look of someone who would either make the team or end up on the side of the road. 90 seconds later, he was on the side of the road, dead. A terrible, terrible tragedy.

Mr Shay -All my condolences to you and your family. From our family in Canada. May God Bless

RIP - Ryan Shay

I can't even begin to express how deeply shocked and saddened I was to hear about Ryan. He seemed to be the ideal athlete when I met him this summer, a hard worker with a down-to-earth attitude. The type of athlete and more importantly, person who many of us strive to be.

Ryan and family; you are all in our prays here in Stillwater, Okla.

To the Shay Family,

I did not know your son but, I'm deeply saddened to hear of your loss. It is clear your son had a huge impact on the running community and beyond.

A few years ago when I suddenly lost my sister, I took great comfort in reading the words others would leave on her memorial message board. I hope that you take comfort in knowing your son touched many. For some losses, there are no explinations.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Billie

memorial wrote:

hopefully a memorial race is set up in the next year.

maybe on ryan's birthday.

Im sure many would attend.

I was thinking today that if there were some sort of memorial fund or a race (or race series) with the proceeds going to such a fund, I'd definitely want to contribute to the fund and/or run in a memorial race.

I feel very moved by all the stories, poems, and reflections posted here. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I didn't know Ryan Shay, but am "meeting" him through all these wonderful posts and am grateful that someone like him has represented this sport with such class.