“Passion is pushing myself when there is no one else around - just me and the road.”
Ryan Shay
I was 17 years old when I first saw Ryan Shay. I was at the top of the stands at Michigan International Speedway, trying to stay warm in the chilly wind after competing in my team’s cross country state finals race. It was November 2, 1996, and Ryan and I were both seniors in high school, though I didn't know yet who he was. In those days, athletes were divided into separate team races and then runners who had qualified as individuals. It was also the first year all divisions were running their state finals in the same location. One of my teammates shouted, “Look at that guy!”, pointing toward the curve where racers came across the track and turned to begin the long grassy stretch toward the finish line in front of the stands. At close to three-fourths of a mile long, it might be the toughest stretch, both mentally and physically, as you can see how far you have to go and who’s in front of you for what seems like an unfathomable amount of time. Shay had nothing to worry about though, for as he crossed the finish line the next competitor was barely even visible. He won in 15:30, over a minute faster than the runner-up.
Ryan Shay didn't lose a single cross country race from the third time he stepped on the line as a ninth-grader until he graduated from Central Lake High School. He won four consecutive state titles in Class D (Division 4): 17:47 as a freshman,16:10 as a junior (his sophomore time is unavailable), and then his senior campaign in 15:30. Those times don’t seem so unattainably fast now, which shows just how much the sport has grown, but as I gazed then across the gray, snowy sky at his dominant performance, I was stunned that someone could win by such a huge margin and wondered, “Who IS that?” I had never heard of this guy before and had no idea where he was from. Little did I know how much more his life would later influence my own.
As a running fan, I followed Shay’s career loosely through newspaper articles and my monthly mail subscription to Runner’s World magazine: there was no internet to speak of, no way to track times like athletic.net, and information flowed much more slowly. While I had a modest collegiate career of my own, Shay was winning NCAA titles and setting records for Notre Dame. He then moved into the professional circuit, winning road race titles and debuting in the marathon. Meanwhile, I got married, started my teaching career, and began raising a family. I kept tabs on the 2004 Olympic Trials Marathon since Brian Sell, a local Hanson’s/Brooks runner, was competing. My husband and I periodically saw Sell training at Stoney Creek Metropark as we did our long runs, preparing for our first Boston Marathon that year. Ryan Shay also ran in the trials marathon, finishing 23rd.
By 2007, I had two small children, a rudimentary cell phone, cable, and home (dial-up) internet. As the World Wide Web expanded, so did the speed and availability of news coverage. It was state-meet Saturday on November 3 and also the next round of the Olympic Trials for the marathon. I was excited to watch live on NBC and see if Ryan Hall would take the predicted victory. He did, and two Michiganders ended up going 2-3 behind him and earning their Olympic berths: Dathan Ritzenheim and Brian Sell. But along with the excitement and accomplishment of that day was the shock of seeing a camera shot - quickly panned away - of a runner’s legs sticking out of a crowd of EMS personnel around the first half-hour of the race. The commentator said someone was down and they’d keep us updated. I didn’t give it much thought and moved on. A few days later, the news hit that Ryan Shay had died of cardiac arrest during the race.
According to an article on LetsRun.com, “That morning, at 8:06 a.m., Ryan Shay’s heart betrayed him. After he fell, just north of the Central Park Boathouse, Shay was quickly surrounded by spectators and volunteers, but neither they nor any of the paramedics who showed up approximately six minutes later could do anything to get Shay’s heart started again. Shay was pronounced dead at Lenox Hill Hospital at 8:46 a.m. He was 28 years old. When the autopsy was released, over four months later, the New York medical examiner concluded that Shay’s death was due to an irregular heartbeat as a result of his scarred, enlarged heart.”
“How does a professional runner die running?!” I kept asking. It seemed shockingly unfathomable and at odds with the stereotype of a runner’s health. As more details unfolded, the heartbreak seemed to grow. His parents had been on their way to the state meet with the cross country team they coached when they got the news of his collapse. Ryan was also a newlywed, just married months before, and now his wife was burying her husband. As the years passed, I thought about Ryan from time to time, wondering about his widow and how his family was doing.
In 2011 my family purchased property in Ellsworth, Michigan, about 20 minutes south of Charlevoix. As we spent summers up north at the lake and the kids grew and developed their own interest in running, we looked for a family 5K we could run around the 4th of July during our family vacations. We found the Ryan Shay Midsummer Night Run, a 5K race in neighboring Central Lake, about eight miles away. We registered the family and headed out to what would become an annual tradition. Joe Shay, Ryan’s dad, kicked off the race at the start line downtown. We ran through the streets of Central Lake, finished at the track, and were presented with medals by none other than Ryan’s mom, Susan. It was such an honor to meet them and briefly express my admiration. A classic part of this evening was the Fudgees Kids’ Run, where all the youngsters not quite ready for a three-mile race would grab a cup of ice cream and complete four laps on the track, simultaneously eating while running…and trying not to barf. Eventually, my extended family would participate while visiting and it became the highlight of our summer.
During COVID, we stayed up north for several months in the spring of 2020 when school and sports were canceled. My family spent many hours on the Central Lake track each week walking and doing track workouts, trying to stay in shape, and also keeping our minds and bodies focused on productive activities. As I rounded the curves time after time or ran the nearby roads and trails, I couldn’t help but think about when Ryan must have done the same. He was legendary for his unrelenting work ethic, intense competitive spirit, and intelligence. He was the valedictorian of his class and in his essay for admission to Notre Dame, wrote, "Dark, unreasonable fear can twist and grind an individual. At these times, it is necessary to dig deep within oneself to discover that hidden grain of steel called will." It inspired me to reach a little deeper, push a little harder, and remember not to take the ability to run for granted.
The Ryan Shay 5K was canceled in 2020 at the height of COVID-19 and was not reinstated in the years afterward. A new race has since taken its place: Victory for Veterans, which raises money for local heroes who fought in the armed forces. It seems fitting on Independence Day to run in honor of those who sacrificed so much for us. You can also watch elite athletes race down the main road through Charlevoix each year as part of the Ryan Shay Mile. If you ever run through Central Park in New York City, look for the bench with his name engraved and the quote he wrote about "that hidden grain of steel called will". His character has remained a testament to others, lasting far beyond his records or accomplishments.
We visit Central Lake frequently in the summer for delicious Fudgees Ice Cream, a game of pickleball at the park, a shopping trip at the 100+-year-old Bachmann’s General Store, or sometimes a workout on the track. But every time I’m there, I always think about Ryan. He’d be 45 today, just like me. I remember the first time I saw him soaring across the grass at MIS, unaware that he would one day be part of my future, still inspiring me almost three decades later. He reminds me that every breath, every step, and every mile is a privilege and a gift.
Excerpts below are from Ryan’s obituary guestbook:
“His contribution in this life is unmistakable and lives forever in the minds and hearts of all the millions of people he touched. Those of us who knew and watched him grow up are forever blessed by and through his gift of giving. Whether through his smile, his movie star good looks, his stunning running style, pace, work ethic and performances, his unwavering spirit, and his unique ability to connect with everyone it is apparent that no one who knew Ryan will ever forget him.”
“I am just one of thousands Ryan inspired during his amazing life, another Michigan high school runner who usually only saw the back of his Central Lake singlet. Whether competing against "Shay" or cheering him on during a separate race, it was clear to all, that we were watching a ferocious competitor who would earn his success at the highest levels. In everything he did, Ryan took the bar and raised it as high as it could go. He was respected not just by his running peers, but by everyone who met him. Ryan continues to brighten the world through his legacy, inspiring us to emulate his determination, spirit, kindness, and humility. His life was lived to the fullest and will always be celebrated.”
“I never met Ryan, nor have I ever seen him run in person. But as a dedicated high school runner and avid fan of the sport, I feel some camaraderie for any runner who has ever found what it truly means to push oneself to their true limits and find who they are. From what I've read, Ryan Shay was one of those people.”
“I have never seen a person so driven for excellence in my life. In the classroom, on the track, in everything that he did, Ryan strived to be the best...and he usually was.”
“It is a tribute to Ryan that so many of his competitors count him as a friend. He was not only talented, and fiercely competitive, but apparently also kind, loving, and fiercely loyal to his friends. He was such an inspiration when it came to setting goals in life and going after them. His life was an example of "never give up" and that is something that inspires me in my everyday life.”
“Ryan is truly one of the greatest runners, competitors, and people I have met. Racing against him was always incredibly difficult and extremely rewarding. Talking with him after races was even better. I was a better athlete for having raced with him, and a better person for having seen his work ethic and the fruits it bore.”
“We marveled at his discipline and dedication in his pursuit of excellence. He was an amazing role model for athletes and for all who pursue to be the best that they can be.”
“I will never forget Ryan for the competitor that he was, both in mind and body. I have always admired him, his determination, and his fierce competitive spirit; I have always looked at him as a model for a professional distance runner, a person, and an athlete - he will never be forgotten. He died trying to fulfill his dream. He is to be admired and remembered.”
Comments