R.I.P, Ric Sayre

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I am stunned by this news.

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Really ? Do you think this hobby has a guarantee to longevity ?

Didn't mean to sound so crass by my response. I ,too, mourn his passing . He was the original "blue collar runner", to get to the higher ground.

However, as another poster stated,3x a week more than enough. I'm now 51 with two cardio-ablations for A-fib and A flutter.And have had numerous compartment syndrome/orthopedic problems.

I still want the joy of the sport, viz a viz, jogging,now.

But after almost 35 years ,(quit one year at 19), know that this is the begining of the penultimate lap . And the kick ain't there anymore.

Just want to finish the last lap like a runner.

I am a cousin to this very special man.

my statement is short .but my heart felt feeling is from west akron Ricky I Love you!! grab Crystal and give her a big hug.:) you both our angels now ,RIP honey :))))sad,sad day,but great memories!

Love ,Patty

Ric Sayre Memorial will be at the Band Shell in Lithia Park on Sunday, July 10th from 10 am to 1 pm. Spread the word.

Ric and I were teammates/roommates in college so it is with great sadness to hear the news. We had long gone our ways years ago but recently I had started a search to see if I could track him down. It is unfortunate that the mission wasn't completed but it was very fortunate for me to have had him as a friend during those years. He was everything stated by those here and more from my memories as well. Proud to have known him as well. May you rest in peace now but our memories of you spirit, integrity and friendship has and will make us better people.

When I was 20 and studying abroad in Italy, I decided to run a marathon while there. Looking around, I found Venice, and registered, and trained haphazardly for a couple of months. I got on a train, checked into a hotel, had a restless night, checked out of the hotel in the predawn hour, left my luggage in storage, and boarded a bus. I met a runner from Nike--Ric Sayre--on that bus. He was so easygoing and calm, while I was a nervous wreck. He invited me to warm up with him beforehand, and so I did. Then he went to the front of the starting line, and I got as close as possible (still a ways back). My race went as well as expected for someone who hadn't trained properly. I finished in 3 hours and 34 minutes. And Ric, who finished in 2 hours 16 minutes (4th overall), had waited over an hour to make sure that I got a ride back with him to the hotel. He let me get my luggage, come up to his room and shower before boarding a train back to where I was staying (3.5 hours away). We exchanged information and kept in touch for the next two decades.

He never mentioned that a few years prior he had won the 1st annual Los Angeles Marathon. I learned this a year or two later. He was just a nice, humble guy who was happy to assist a non-elite college kid who liked to run. I feel very fortunate that our paths crossed, and very sad that they never will again.

The cause of death "has not been made public". I'm the same age as Ric and still train pretty hard- just wondering.

I was just reading the results of s study, I'll have to see if I can find the article again, showing that men over fifty who can run a mile in eight minutes or better have only 10% of the risk of a heart attack as men who can't. The risk rises steadily as the mile time slows. There are no guarantees and cases like Ric's are alarming, but large scale studies keep showing that maintaining fitness as we age is a very good thing.

Saw that someone posted that there was a memorial get together in Ashland on July 10,2011 at the Band shelter from 10am to 1pm.

If any of you are unable to make it Ric birthday is August 19th. So if you happen to be running on some trails in the woods whereever you are that day, might be nice to look up in the sky and give our friend a great big smile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love you Ric

chuck

chuck taubner wrote:

Saw that someone posted that there was a memorial get together in Ashland on July 10,2011 at the Band shelter from 10am to 1pm.

And a memorial run tomorrow at the Plaza @ 9:00am.

Dear ncsub17,

Beautiful contribution. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with us. For someone who never met Ric Sayre but was aware of his successes on the road, your story tells volumes regarding his character and how he treated and regarded those around him. Thanks.

just get an echo and ekg at the same time. You can also get a Holter monitor test for 24 hours and run with it on. It's not everything but if your echo shows the valves are ok and rythms are good and blood flow velocities are good, you can have a lot more confidence and it won't be false.

Followup on the Ric Sayre memorial run this morning. Over 200 of Ric's friends showed up at the Plaza this morning to get together, hug, cry a bit and to remember the person Ric was. We missed you at the starting line Ric but one by one we will see you again at the finishline.

Love you

chuck

Ric lived 2 houses from me in Akron, ohio. I can remember seeing Ric take off running, and not returning for a couple of hours. I used to think he was crazy, but after I took up cross-country, and track, I realized he wasn't crazy, he just really loved what he was doing. When Ric took off running, he was in a zone, and nothing could take his concentration from him. I will always remember Ric because his dad would always make Ric leave his running shoe's outside because they smelled so bad. R.I.P Ric.

Men of a certain age (my age)-- get a stress test!! I was having mild chest pains very occasionally and only during some runs. Thought it was my acid reflux. Got a stress test and it saved my life. 95% blockage in my LAD and with virtually none of the normal CHD indicators and no family history. Got the stent and feel great.

Let's look out for each other!!

My knees are shot and I no longer can run. Can a stress test be done on a bike instead?

Thanks for the update Chuck. Sorry I wasn't able to make the 10 hour drive.

I would encourage all runners to make that phone call (or eMail) to say thanks to all of those folks out there that:

Ever gave you an encouraging word about running/racing.

Got up and ran in the dark, nasty weather to help you get ready for a race.

Broke the wind for you when you were trying to set a PR.

Paid for your race registration when you were broke.

Ran repeat miles with you even thought they hated them (and didn't need them).

Always showed up to watch you race, when they had a rest day.

Beat you by several minutes, but waited around to cheer you on and cool down.

Gave you one of their cool awards just for being their friend and training partner.

etc..

I just received one of these eMails and I know it was heartfelt; know it was generated by Ric's passing; know its because I am not young anymore. I also know that I took the time and feel good about it.

Don't let the opportunity slip by.... you never know when those folks will not be around to hear it. I miss you Ric.

Yes , bike and or stationary static test ( induced by a drug ) , this is said give a great degree of accuracy.

HRE wrote:

I was just reading the results of s study, I'll have to see if I can find the article again, showing that men over fifty who can run a mile in eight minutes or better have only 10% of the risk of a heart attack as men who can't. The risk rises steadily as the mile time slows. There are no guarantees and cases like Ric's are alarming, but large scale studies keep showing that maintaining fitness as we age is a very good thing.

Ric was a fine human being.

RIP

Almost right my friend, though I do like your quote about Ric's wins in LA. He came in 1st in 1986 and 2nd in 1987. I was there and I'm his youngest brother. Art Balou won in 1987.