The world has lost a bright light: Rest in Peace Gabe Grunewald

I kept coming back to the board hoping to not find this news but knowing I would.

Long may you run, Gabe. Long may you run.

This was her husband's instagram post announcing her death:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Byl2sW2ngOd/?utm_source=ig_embed

The local news channel in the Twin Cities led with Gabe's death. She impacted so many. RIP.

Thank you for turning the front page black for Gabe. I've been reading this site since 2001 and she deserves the black page as much as anyone ever has.

To Gabe: you ran a great race, thanks for taking us on the ride with you. RIP.

She accomplished more after her diagnosis than most of us in our prime. She inspired all of us with her fight. May she Rest In Peace. Thoughts and prayers to Justin and her family.

Great piece by Tim Layden on Gabe:

https://www.si.com/olympics/2019/06/11/gabe-grunewald-runner-cancer-battle-inspiration

And his previous bio from 2017

https://www.si.com/more-sports/2017/07/10/gabriele-grunewald-cancer-fight-runner

Tim's piece has a quote from Justin that sums up exactly how I feel about all of this. "We’re a people with strong faith, so we believe there is a place beyond this world. And if Gabriele doesn’t get in, none of us are getting in."

It's now quote of the day.

She fought well. Any of us should be lucky to have a fraction of the strength she showed us.

Wow this is heartbreaking. She achieved more in 32 years than most would in 100 lifetimes. Rest in peace. ❤️

Life isn’t fair when stuff like this happens. How bad people out live the good I’ll never understand. Following Gabe since college I was really hoping she would make it back but her life was cut short. May she be in a better place and no longer suffering.

wejo wrote:

Tim's piece has a quote from Justin that sums up exactly how I feel about all of this. "We’re a people with strong faith, so we believe there is a place beyond this world. And if Gabriele doesn’t get in, none of us are getting in."

It's now quote of the day.

I had the honor of covering Gabe on BTN when she ran for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and began her cancer battle. For once, I suspect that every LRC post above this...and every LRC post to follow... I will definitely agree with. There is no controversy whatsoever about the courage, grit, and determination that this woman exhibited over the past 10 years. She fought the good fight and I (and many others) will never forget her. I have lost some running competitors and friends to cancer in the last few years... but their running careers were long over when their battles began. Gabe's cancer started so early in her life but she faced it like a true champion in athletics...and will be remembered as a true champion in life. Condolances to her husband Justin and all of her family. RIP Gabriela Grunewald! #bravelikegabe #keeprunningonhope

Craig Virgin wrote:

For once, I suspect that every LRC post above this...and every LRC post to follow... I will definitely agree with. There is no controversy whatsoever about the courage, grit, and determination that this woman exhibited over the past 10 years. She fought the good fight and I (and many others) will never forget her.

And that might qualify as another miracle. Well said Mr. Virgin.

sjc wrote:

Thank you for turning the front page black for Gabe. I've been reading this site since 2001 and she deserves the black page as much as anyone ever has.

To Gabe: you ran a great race, thanks for taking us on the ride with you. RIP.

Couldn't say it any better myself. Amen.

The world lost a good one today. My heart goes out to Justin and Gabe's loved ones. I never met her, but Gabe was a huge inspiration to me over the past 9 years. It was 2010 and I remember reading an article about Gabe placing 2nd at the NCAA 1500m after being diagnosed with cancer and going through treatment. At the time I was a teenage cancer patient struggling with chemo and in a pretty dark place. I can still remember the hope and inspiration I felt from reading about her. She's been one of my biggest heroes since. As the years progressed, I was consistently amazed and humbled by her strength and positivity as life continued to deal her an unfair hand. I've since recovered from my Lymphoma, but I sometimes wonder how I would act if I were to ever relapse. I can only hope that I would have a fraction of the courage and composure that Gabe demonstrated. Gabe will always be a symbol of strength and bravery to me, and I am so grateful for her example. #BraveLikeGabe.

Gabe was born in Perham, MN, a small town in northern Minnesota.

A little more than an hour or so away, in another small Minnesota town, author Lief Enger was born.

A section from Enger's novel, Peace Like a River, kept going round in my head while Justin shared,

with grace, the journey he and Gabe have been on; and, if you have patience to read the few pages,

you also may see why LetsRun is a fitting place to share this.

(The linked excerpt -- see pgs 300, 302-304 -- is from one of the last chapters, Be Jubilant, My Feet, and occurs

just after the antagonist has shot the main character - a young boy, the voice through whom the story is told - and his father.)

https://books.google.com/books?id=6vZaPZruwioC&pg=PA300&dq=peace+like+a+river+be+jubilant+my+feet&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_qb_W-uHiAhVLDq0KHTBfB6MQ6AEIMDAB#v=onepage&q&f=false

With admiration,

and praying for y'all.

Minnesota is proud of Gabe Grunewald. I doubt I ever hurt more from learning about

a person who I did not know personally having died.

A very classy woman. What guts! Her loss is felt by all.

I hope she can now hit the heavenly trails with another gutsy runner who is already there, in fact the last athlete who achieved the similar - and vanishingly rare - feat of commanding universal respect on this board.... another runner of great character and accomplishment, taken by cancer, who will no doubt receive her with the full respect she deserves: Ed Whitlock.

What a courageous person. My condolences to her family and friends for their loss.

Thanks to all for following this and sharing. It's been an emotional experience following the news, with ups and downs along the way. My favourite memory from this, and what I think makes the better quote of the day:

"Not today!"