My Son Ryan Shay

My family's thoughts and prayers are with you.

I had the pleasure of running with Ryan and Alicia on a morning (Bagel) run in Flagstaff this past March. I could tell from chatting with him after the run that he was a really nice guy and serious about running. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

Reid Coolsaet

Hey, just wanted to send my best to Ryan's siblings. I read somewhere he was one of eight and saw a picture of him with his brother in the pictures that Alicia posted. I come from a big family and can't imagine loosing one of my siblings. Never knew him, but man, he seemed like a STUD!

Hey, just wanted to send my best to Ryan's siblings. I read somewhere he was one of eight and saw a picture of him with his brother in the pictures that Alicia posted. I come from a big family and can't imagine loosing one of my siblings. Never knew him, but man, he seemed like a STUD!

Mr and Mrs Shay, and Ryans family, god bless you, and guide you through till the hurt dies, and the good memories dominate and sustain you. Runners in general mourn with you, marathoners will carry him with them on every run, like a Marine who never leaves his buddy behind. Semper fi Ryan

Please know you and your family are in our prayers.

Dear Shay family, I hope you find comfort in the fact that so many people were affected by Ryan's life. Its so sad when's someone's time comes too soon, but it seems like every moment of his life was well lived. From stories I've heard it seems like he loved alot, laughed alot and lived with passion and lived well. I hope you find that you can still talk to them, laugh with them, and find comfort that they are watching over you.

Dear Shay family,

my thoughts and prayers are with you. I didn't know Ryan, but when I heard the sad news during the press conference I was in tears. God bless.

Urban

Dear Mr. Shay,

My son and I will keep Ryan and your family in our thoughts and prayers.

I am glad I had the opportunity to meet and run with Ryan.

He will never be forgotten!

Rich

My heart is so small

it's almost invisible.

How can You place

such big sorrows in it?

"Look," He answered,

"your eyes are even smaller,

yet they behold the world."

~ Rumi ~

Hi, I didn't know Ryan, but I had the pleasure of watching him run in the Twin Cities marathon and I was looking forward to watching him again at the trials. Unfortunately I came upon him getting worked on and I was devestated. I was just recently married and my heart goes out to Alicia and Ryan's family. My husband and I went back to the spot where Ryan went down and wrote his name on a rock and put up a little cross. I just wanted to let everyone know, so if anyone else wants to go and remember Ryan they can.

To The Shay Family- I'm so sorry for your loss. Ryan clearly touched a huge number of people. You are all in our prayers.

I went for a run last night in central park, as I always do, and saw the spot were Ryan died. It is marked by a small makeshift cross, and "RYAN SHAY 1979-2007" written in chalk on a nearby rock. I stopped at the spot to pay my respects, and felt my heart pounding. It was an ironic and magical moment all at once. I hope, in the future, that many others will stop to offer a moment of solace and be just as touched. This is not nearly enough of a tribute to such a wonderful inspiration to all of us and I hope that others will share in my desire to have a bigger memorial constructed on the site. Ryan will be my inspiration to run for quite some time.

Dear Mr. Shay:

I am a member of the board of directors for the Hospital Hill Run in Kansas City, Missouri. Ryan won our half-marathon in 2004 in a time of 1:05:04, which is outstanding for our hilly course in a warm June day.

On behalf of the entire board and our race director, Beth Salinger, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to your family and to Alicia on Ryan's tragic death. Ryan epitomized everything that is good about our sport and he was one of the most respected competitors on the scene in years. The entire running community shares your loss.

I have forwarded to you an e-mail from our race director announcing the creation of the Ryan Shay Award to be presented annually following Hospital Hill beginning with our next race in 2008. The requirements for the award are not achievement, but passion. It was Ryan's passion for the sport that we want to honor with this award.

On behalf of the board of directors and our race director, I would like to invite your family and Alicia to come to Kansas City on Saturday, June 7, 2008 to present the first annual Ryan Shay Award (at our expense, of course). It would be our honor to have all of you present this award.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The American running community has lost one of its truly brightest lights.

I pray for you and your family and everyone who has had the pleasure of knowing such a great person and runner. I did not know him personally however I do know the brother of one of his college roommates and I somehow feel connected through our shared sport. I got to see him run in the Twins Cities Marathon in 2006 and he was amazing to watch, he was powerful and fierce competitor, the running world will never forget him I Promise.

I am sorry for your loss.

I volunteered at the Olympic trials, and saw your son run by me. I wish I had looked at him more, maybe I would have seen an angel. I ran the NYC Marathon with a heavy heart, and thought about him a lot. I would not quit because what I know about your son was he would never quit either. I'll keep him in my prayers always, and his family as well.

To the Shay family -

My deepest condolences for your loss.

While I never had the pleasure of meeting your son, it is obvious from the postings and articles that he wore his heart upon his sleeve. His passion is admired and I can understand why so many in the distance running community enjoyed being his friend.

As the father of a two year old who loves to "race" daddy I will do my best to instill the same passion for the sport in my son that you did in Ryan.

This is truly a tragedy. As a runner and an avid running fan, the loss of Ryan is great loss to the running community and the world in general. My prayers and sympathies are with you and your family.