My Son Ryan Shay

Colorado Stats wrote:

-pictures from our 5.5 mile Run for Ryan- November 17th. in Alamosa, Colorado....

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/561495589fVJLdB

Thanks for posting these. Its good to see all levels of runners out there from recreational joggers, to elite marathon trials qualifiers and sub 4 minute runners. I wish I could have been out there. We'll always remember you Ryan.

Sub 4 minute mile runners*

Those are great pictures... put a smile on my face. The shirts were great also. Is there any way i could get one of those?? If there is anyone i could contact about buying one of them, i'd be very interested. I know Ryan thought highly of Alamosa, as he trained there with Peter De La Cerda... Thank you

What a good man

Last year, the frustrations of running finally caught up with me; and I gave up running for my first love - ice hockey. I had a game tonight that went well - we won 4-1. I play in a league, whose all-star team, would not be fit to launder an NHL players jock.

Afterwards, I grabbed a beer with a teammate. We were talking and, somehow, Ryan came up. I was telling him how I have had a rough year, lost some very close people (including my Uncle/Godfather, best college friend).

It made me think of Ryan. Ryan probably never knew me by name, and if he did, it was through a friend-of-a-friend.

Still, my first and lasting memory of Ryan, was at the Junior Nationals in Joplin, MO. It was probably 1993. I had run 10:11 for a two-mile as a freshman, so I was feeling pretty good about myself. So I show up for this grab-bag race, and low-and-behold, the race goes out in 4:43 (my pb at the time was 4:52).

I slogged home in 9th, 9:45 or so; in first place, some Michigan guy named Ryan Shay, 8:48. The reality is, it took me until I was a senior in HS to match that time, and I was fortunate enough to find a great university who opened their doors to foster my abilities (BU).

I never came close to what Ryan achieved, and I am completely content with that fact. Throughout the years, he has been someone I admired for the obvious reasons: his unflinching work ethic, his mix-it-up nature in races and above all else, his passion for the sport.

He was a gentleman. He was a talented person. Overall, I think Brian Sell summed it up best when he said he would give back the Olympics to have Ryan Shay with us today.

My deepest apologies and condolences go out to everyone who knew Ryan. I didn't feel I had any merit to post here, until I realized a night of rec-hockey would result in telling a friend who just read about the tragedy in the paper, what a great guy Ryan was.

Petty differences aside (which are common in the running world), there is one bond: the love for the sport. Ryan embodied that. Every petty squabble we have all faced, every stress-fracture, everything that makes us who we are: at the end of the day, we are all people. It is horrible that the world today is without Ryan Shay.

Very best regards,

Jason

This is how I remember Ryan, never backing out from a challenge http://trackandfieldphoto.com/DisplayJpg.php?070324_1440_4992_RLM&next=1

Nice article in Runner's world. God bless all this new year!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss. I have to say to Alicia I wish you the best of luck on your trials in June. May Ryan's spirit and strength be with you on your race day. What a better way to keep his spirit alive, and may both of your dreams come true. Again my deepest regards.

I was flipping through an old magazine the other day and I came across an ad Ryan did a while back. It has an imposed picture of him running among horses, with the caption "The Workhorse: Elite Marathoner Ryan Shay." I wanted to let you know I cut it out of the magazine to put on my wall as inspiration.

-a female collegiate runner

During my freshman year of college my team was at the National Catholic Cross Country meet at Notre Dame. That year I was on JV and got to watch the Varsity race. Luke Watson won the race by like 30 seconds. I was blown away at how good of a runner he was. My coach told me that he wasn't the top runner. I found that hard to believe but then about 10 minutes later a guy went flying by us doing a workout. He told me that he was Notre Dame's top runner and his name was Ryan Shay. Ryan was the first runner that I ever Googled. I didn't believe that this guy was that good. After searching the internet I was convinced. The following year I was back at the meet but in the varsity race. After all I cared about was who had won. Ryan and Luke Watson finished side by side. My coach, amazingly was standing around talking to Ryan after the race. I went over and got to shake his hand. It was one of the high points of my running career to that point. After that weekend I went back to my dorm and hung a picture of Ryan from that day on my wall. It stayed there for the next three years because he had become a hero. I now coach high school and that same picture hangs on the bulletin board in my classroom with all of the other motivational items I hang there. He was a motivation for me. He made me want to aspire to be as good as him. I never reached that level but because of him I continue to be serious about this sport.

r.I.p ryan shay. I pass my condolences to the shay family.

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows with Him on the cross. Alicia and family you will have memories of Ryan but by faith there will be no grief or sorrow. We cry when our loved ones pass on to be with the Lord because we will miss their presence. We don't weep as though we have no hope because we know they are with Christ. Coming from a parent who has lost a child, I know all things are possible through Christ and he can heal the hurt.

Love you all!

Alicia,

You will get through the grieving process; though certainly take the time and allow yourself to grieve. I also know the pain of loss and death. Nothing worse. But the human spirit is flexible enough to absorb the blow and eventually move on and thrive again. The key is to keep living and striving toward your goals, as you are doing. Make new friends and talk it out with current friends. See new places. Move your body in a desired direction and your mind will follow. 'Do your way out of depression.' No magic pills...just keep on keeping on.

Ryan died on my birthday, 11/3. I celebrated my 26th birthday, and my birthday 5 yrs old as a Runner. Running saved my life. Running was Ryan's life. Every time I run, I devote one mile to Ryan. He lives on in every mile we runners conquer. Ryan continues to inspire.

Thank you Ryan Shay.

Vishal

NYC

Still miss him.

RIP !

Great guy, great man, a running legend.

No yawning to Ryan Shay, just lots of praise.

I can't believe it's been so long. God bless Ryan and his family.

Ryan Shay is not forgotten.