R.I.P, Ric Sayre

I read this sad news 12 hours after reading this:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/when-exercise-is-too-much-of-a-good-thing/

Here is a part of a nice story about Ric, a true ironman.

Ric Sayre wasn't expected to enter the Los Angeles Marathon last year.

Sayre had won the Long Beach Marathon five weeks before the L.A. race, and the prevailing opinion was that his body wouldn't be up to another long run in such a short time.

Sayre entered anyway, then proved just how elastic a body can be by winning the first L.A. Marathon with a personal-best time of 2 hours 12 minutes 59 seconds...

FULL STORY:

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-03-01/sports/sp-7108_1_ric-sayre

Maxwell had a family history of heart disease. However, Palmer's death was a surprise.

black days wrote:

Not to mention Brian Maxwell. What scares the shit out of me is the fact that these guys were not your garden-variety weekend warriors.

I believe that Palmer, Maxwell, and Sayre were all still in good shape when they passed. I guess Alberto would have made this list as well had it not been for some quick action.

Does anybody know if these guys all had the classic "widow maker" attack - the left main artery?

Maxwell had a congenital valve defect (bicuspid) and was told by doctors that he needed a valve replacement and should not be running.

Sad news. I ran and raced Ric in the late '70s and early 80's and even lived with him for a while in a house in Akron. Truely missed.

So sad. I remember the big article Runner's World did about him after one of his marathon wins, probably LA. It was a classic story of a guy who kept at it despite not showing a lot of initial promise and eventually succeeding beyond expectations and was as inspirational as could be.

R.I.P.

Miss you Ric. Had some great races and training runs with you.

Giles Norton wrote:

As well as Andy Palmer and Ed Sheehan, there was a guy of the same era from Maine who had run sub 2:20 who died of a sudden and unexpected heart attack in 1989ish...Bruce Ellis.

http://www.runmaine.org/athleteindex/new/1991/bruceellis.htm

RIP Ric.

Thanks for sending that article along about Bruce Ellis. He lived a few doors down from me in our freshman and sophomore years in college. At the time, I was a football player but was always amazed that he and his roomie would get up very early to run and then again in the afternoon.

You can add Larry Olson to that list, I believe.

RIP Ric.

I am stunned by this news.

another who had just run sub 3:00 at Burlington and was a lifetime runner and seemingly very healthy

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/burlingtonfreepress/obituary.aspx?n=christopher-p-ludington&pid=152096316

Here is a link to the local newspaper: http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110622/NEWS07/106220342

Very sad news. Just not fair. At least he went out finishing up doing something that he loved to do...RUNNING!

I wonder if stories will come out soon if he had any recent health complaints?

He will be missed. I had the chance of meeting him this week, what a great guy. Here is a tribute to a fellow runner. http://www.shipraiders.com/news/2011/6/21/WTRACK_0621113928.aspx

coachemorris wrote:

I am stunned by this news.

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

This certainly makes us older runners think. But i actually quit trying to "train" or race in my mid 40's and have since just run to keep the weight off. If I read the NYT article right, it is the athletes that continue to push the pace and distance that may have a problem. Hope that's correct as I am at 94,500 miles at age 61 and hoping to hit 100K. I really admired athletes like Ric.

We lost a good pal today...he was always at home here in San Francisco and even won our marathon before landing in Ashland which suited his tempermanent just perfectly...one down to earth human being...anyone mention that he was a 5 times Oly marathon trials qualifier...yes, FIVE! Ric was absolutely nails.

Some of us heading to Eugene will commemorate his spirit this weeknd starting with a momemt of silence on the Hootie 5K start line...in fact last we saw each other was as we were filing out of the stands at Hayward Field last year post-meet...it was like old home week.

RIP brother Ric...gone but not forgotten.

MF

Its a warning for all of you over 50 to get a stress test sooner than later , you are not bullet proof.

Here is a guy that lived a very healthy life in all aspects.

We will miss him.

See your Doc wrote:

Its a warning for all of you over 50 to get a stress test sooner than later , you are not bullet proof.

Here is a guy that lived a very healthy life in all aspects.

We will miss him.

You think a stress test would have prevented his death? Of course people are not bullet proof. Ric Sayre was the kind of runner that this website should celebrate.

I am so saddened to hear of Ric's passing. I got to know Ric as a fierce competitor, and then as a friend, back in the 1970's in Northeast Ohio. We shared many great races, training runs and good times together. When Ric decided to move out West I was flattered that he asked me if I wanted to go with him, in a different time under different circumstances I may have just taken him up on the offer. The last time I got to visit with Ric was when he came to my house during the 1992 Olympic Marathon Trials held in Columbus. My daughter just moved to Oregon to attend graduate school at Oregon State and I was telling her all about Ric and how I was going to contact him and get together with him when I got out there. Ric's passing is a personal loss to me but I am sure that if could have chosen what his last act on earth in would be, it would be running. RIP my friend.