Here's to breaking 20 for 5k (à la EddyLee)

i'll dedicate a mile to Will tonight

No shame in admitting that you got upset while reading this thread. I did too. It was very tough to read the later entries, particularly when he was writing letters to his kids, getting his affairs in order and wrote about playing with his children in some tunnels by his house. Hell...if that didn't pull at your heart, I don't know what would.

It's a sad story. But I'm trying to take away the positive. It's cliched and we hear it all the time, but life is short and in a moment everything that we know can change. Get out and live. Let people know you love them, try new things, be nice to others, embrace different opinions and appreciate what you have...and run an extra mile.

i kinda like running wrote:

A lot of posters make comments about how this site and message board are in the gutter, and there is definitely a lot of smut to be found here. But threads like this show me that Letsrun still has some hope.

Until today when I just removed someone plugging their smoothie website on this thread we had not removed a single post on this thread I believe. That just shows how amazing it was and how respectful people can be when they are discussing something serious.

Salute!

RIP Will.

Thanks for the inspirational thread.

I hope your family are doing ok.

I just came across this thread. And it really moved me, and also reinforced many important virtues in life. I doubt anyone will read this, but I just wanted to express my condolences to Will's family and say that I'll always remember Will's story of courage and love as I strive to "live everyday as if it were my last." RIP Will

Read it, thanks for posting. Very fitting for Will, he was a great guy. I think of him often. I'm glad you read his thread.

Ken

Someone recently posted the link to this in another thread. I had never read through it before. It is profound to say the least. I cried as I read each page but kept reading.

What a profound story. What an amazing man.

Thanks to all who shared their stories along the way, too.

I am forever changed.

I kinda wish that cancer guy had known that joho (aka Johanna Olson) also had cancer and lost her battle as well.

Spent the last couple hours reading this thread. I wasn't around on letsrun in 2012, and I was just a high school kid.

I'll admit that I am holding back tears as I write this. I can't imagine what it would have been like to go through what Will did, but my god am I inspired to stop feeling sorry for myself every time something small doesn't go my way. I didn't run yesterday, and I was kicking myself about it. Enough of that crap. Will was out there, sometimes for 2 hours a day, enjoying the gift he had. I hope to never do anything to squander the life I am living and the gift I was given.

I am rambling, as I am upset just by reading this. But I am very happy Will was around to share with us, and I mourn his loss even 6 years alter.

I too just read all of this thread after it was referenced in another.

So so sad. There is nothing to say that hasn't already been said. Always inspiring when people in these situations are able to share their life and experiences with others.

Just commenting so that this stays on the main page and others like myself that did not know of it's existence can have a read.

This thread, and the man himself, is why I told the Brojos they should change the letsrun server password name to honor Will.

Just reading this for the first time myself as well. It’s so hard on a day to day basis to remind ourselves what a privelege it is to run. We kick ourselves over a missed workout, a poor performance, or a missed run because we’re too tired to wake up at 5 am. We often then see these types of stories, remind ourselves to not take things for granted, but fall into the same traps once the memory fades.

RIP. I’ve lost family members to cancer and know that my genetics aren’t in my favor. I will do my best to not let this reminder fade for me.

First time reader as well.

RIP cg.

It's so hard to remind ourselves that to be able to run is a privilege. Cliche but this makes me want to respect my body and admire what it can do more instead of beating myself up when I cant hit certain goals.

another first time reader here. I am right now in class and cant express how I feel about this whole thing, my dad is currently fighting cancer, and lately due to college + my family situation, Ive been really struggling to feel motivated to run, im right now out of shape, probably running like almost 2 min slower for 5k than I did 4 months ago... Im happy to say that this thread inspired me to get back at it. I will get my crap together, in honor of Will. Thanks for that.

hi everyone- i’m not sure if after 12 years i’m the only one who reads this eager to read my dad posts again. i am so happy he had you guys as a support in his last years on earth. i look back often at the videos and blog posts he shared online to show others his strength and his never ceasing humor and how he never backed down from anything. today would have been his 48th birthday. i can’t even imagine what my life would look like if he was still alive today but i know the grief i carry everyday is the love i wasn’t able to show him in the 8 years he was alive to by my dad. i love him and miss him so much. i dedicate getting up on the days that are so hard to him because of how hard he pushed everyday to live day by day for me. he was given 6 months and he lived 3 years. he honestly blew the doctors away with his stubbornness to succumb to his cancer. he passed the day before my birthday and i wanted him to rest and be pain free so it’s okay. i am 20 now, i don’t run, i wish i was enough of a masochist to enjoy it like all of you do but i love so many other things that i know we share in common. i have dreams and he is in them. i miss him so much but looking back i know how much he hurt. if anyone sees this- thank you for reading his story. he wasn’t just a random person to me and to so many of you guys as well. my mom now runs a non profit in honor of him called little hearts of hope. it provides art therapy packages to children who have a parent or sibling going through cancer treatment. so much hurt and yet so much good has come from his death but i know he is always with me, he promised he would be and i believe him. he lives in our memories and hearts. long live will <3

It's been many years since I've looked up this thread. I was moved to do so by walking by a bench in Central Park that I also hadn't visited in a while that bears this inscription:

"IT IS NECESSARY TO DIG DEEP WITHIN ONESELF TO DISCOVER THE HIDDEN GRAIN OF STEEL CALLED WILL."
RYAN SHAY, 1979-2007

I'm not sure if you know who Ryan Shay was, but I'm sure you can understand why the inscription made me think of your dad. I happened to be a bystander when Ryan died, and I also happened to contribute to this thread from time to time. I'm so glad to hear glad tidings of you and your mom. May peace be with you.