My Son Ryan Shay

Dear Shay family,

We are so incredibly sorry for your loss....while we didn't have the opportunity to know your son, we were blessed to know Alicia through her High School running years in Wyoming....We will keep all of the Shay and Craig families in our thoughts and prayers....

The Lyman family

Mr. Shay,

My heart goes out to you, Alicia, and the rest of your family. Your son was an inspiration to so many and did more in 28 years than most people do in a lifetime. My prayers are with you.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Shay family at this time. No words can ever express how saddened this running community is without one of our own. May the Lord help you through this difficult time.

'He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.'

Psalms 91:4

To Alicia and the Shay family,

We share with you the sense of loss and heartache in tragic passing of Ryan. May you find solace in the excellence of his all too brief time with you and the family of running.

Toni & Toya Reavis

Although I did not know Ryan, I do know that our close running community truly morns his passing. We will forever remember the amazing person and runner he was. I pray for comfort for Alicia and your family. Cherish the memories you have, he will be with you forever. God Bless.

My thoughts and prayers our with thru this tragic time.

I remember the year in which Ryan won his first Class D cross country championship. This accompalishment put small schools in Northern Michigan on the map for the first time for sports.

I sat here Saturday evening as I read what had happened and cried. For a father to take the time and write to the fans of Letsrun and say 'thank you' says tons about the kind of family Ryan came from

Now today I come home and see that Alicia has sent in some pictures and a letter to us as well. And again, I cried- and this time for a lot longer. It's so tragic that such a great person was taken away from such a close family.

If I can ever come close to matching the passion, hard work, and dedication Ryan had to both his family and his running- I know that I will be very successful in my own life's journey.

-Joe Whitman

Alma College, Michigan

thoughts & prayers to the shay family & friends...i didn't know ryan or anyone close 2 him but as a mid distance runner it hurts me to lose a member of the running community...& only last week i read the thread about how ryan & shay met & about the other running couple...u are in my prayers....keep the faith & trust God

God bless you all! Brazilian runners are praying for him and you all!

I'll work out even harder in his memory! I'll remember him in every training session!

He is now an angel helping us to fly with our legs!

Marcos Amaral

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Your son was a strong force and an inspiration. I did not even know him, but somehow remain very shocked and saddened by his all too sudden death. May you and your family find comfort from those of us out here who are thinking of you and praying.

To the Shay family:

I cannot begin to express the sorrow I feel for your family. Ryan was such a great role-model and image to look up to. He will greatly be missed. Your family is in my prayers.

To the Shay family:

I cannot begin to express the sorrow I feel for your family. Ryan was such a great role-model and image to look up to. He will greatly be missed. Your family is in my prayers.

I am a mediocore runner who is inspired by those who are great like Ryan Shay. I am deeply saddened by this loss. I am so sorry for your loss and may God be with his family and friends in this time of need. God Bless you!

Stumped. Dont know what else to say that hasnt been said already.

I'm glad Alicia and Shay's family have received so much support. No words can replace their loss--but hope there is much comfort in knowing that their husband, son, and brother touched so may lives.

To the Shay/Craig Clan:

Saturday morning I went for my long run and was excited to return back to the local coffee shop to check on how my favorite runners did. My initial response was elated, but quickly turned to grief. Throughout the entire day I was speechless and without emotion--everything felt dull and far away.

Ryan Shay gave so much to the running community (I love visiting Jay Carbon's Youtube) and he had so much more to offer. The one comfort that I did find that morning was that Ryan Shay died doing what he loved and always showed such tremendous passion for.

As you can tell from the responses that continuously grow every day on the letsrun message board, Ryan Shay was an inspiration to us all. I saw him run in KC at Hospital Hill and there was such determination and passion etched into his face that it made myself and everyone around want to go out and run a brutal 13 ourselves. I will be happy to donate towards the Ryan Shay Award that will be given out next year.

Ryan Shay will be missed, but we all know that he is running in the most beautiful place in existence. My biggest hope right now is that Alicia continues on and gives everything she has in the trials next year.

God bless.

I met Ryan here in Kansas City in 2003 when he came and won our Hospital Hill Half Marathon, and I had the wonderful opportunity to have a long conversation with him. I knew he was from East Jordan, which I was familiar with because we have a place in Glen Arbor. We had a lot to talk about, such as running Traverse City and Grand Rapids. Also, how he was spending his time building a new home in the East Jordan area. I saw and talked to him again the following year, when he again won the race that I scored for years before the sponsor hired Beth Salinger.

Ryan was a great, all-around guy, and he will be missed by all who knew him.

Mr. Shay: As a fan of all distance runners, I knew of Ryan Shay from a far. On Saturday, I got up early to watch the Trials. I don't think I had been so excited to watch a race in many years. The only way I could watch it was to come to work. I brought my 8 and 11 year old sons with me, and we had the greatest time shouting at my computer screen in an empty office early on a Saturday morning as the race unfolded. The performances of Hall, Ritz, and Sell were so inspiring that we went through the rest of the day with smiles on our faces. I was more determined to keep my 45 year body in better shape and my sons were asking me what it takes to one day run in a race like the Trials. When I heard the news Saturday evening about Ryan, it broke my heart. I couldn't tell my two sons. Reading about his life has been helpful for me. One quote I will remember was the report of a neighbor of yours who saw Ryan running on a day when it was -10 degrees and snowing in northern Michigan to say they wanted you to stop Ryan, and you said you can't. That's what he does. What parent wouldn't want their child to have such a positive passion that weather like that couldn't stop them. For the rest of my life when I or my sons are faced with a day when the temperature hovers around zero, I will remember that story and tell my boys "this is a Ryan Shay day -- a day when we prove to ourselves that we have what it takes." My sympathies to you and your family.

To the Shay family:

In 2003, I lost one my best friends and roommate at the early age of 24 in a car accident. I still remember the numbing feeling when I found out about the accident - my body slowly drifting into shock, overcome by a chill that would cut to the core and remain for hours.

For me, the pain has never gone away. Sure, life has gone on, but there is still a subtle pain that serves as a constant reminder of my personal obligation to ensure that my friend's life and death not be in vain.

Having known Ryan publicly through his career and achievements, the entire running community now shares this burden - the burden to run each run like it is our last, treat every person as if they are important, and attack life with a fierce passion that would make your son, brother, and husband proud.

My deepest empathy goes out to you. May God bring you peace and eventually a renewed joy during this difficult time.

Chris

Since the tragic loss on Saturday, I have not been able to step outside for a run without the thought of Ryan Shay running through my mind. One minute my fiance and I were watching the trials in Central Park, and the next we were at home reading all the posts about Ryan Shay. It was truly a moment that knocked the wind right out of me. I cannot even begin to imagine what you, Alicia and the Shay family, are going through. I am deeply saddened for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.