Click on “Read More” to watch Paul’s performance in the finale.
Here is Paul’s performance in the finale:
I had watched the whole Olympic Marathon Trials live on the internet and had been excited when Ryan Hall pulled away from the rest of the field, winning by several minutes and setting an Olympic Trials record in the process. Later that day I learned that while Ryan Hall was winning that race, his friend Ryan Shay had passed away after collapsing in the street behind him. As I read more, I learned that Ryan Shay had just gotten married in July to Alicia Craig who was herself a former 10k champion. He also leaves behind his parents, both of whom are cross country coaches, and seven siblings who are also runners.
I went out for a run the next day, a nine mile run through the rolling hills of Missouri. While I ran at a pace a little faster than half the speed they ran in the Olympic Trials, I thought about dying while competing. Ever since I almost died while competing, hearing that someone has actually died in a triathlon or run really hits me. Earlier this year at the Octomax Triathlon in Innsbrook Missouri, Kevin Hunt passed away while finishing the swim portion of the triathlon. I didn’t know Kevin and I had no idea anything had happened until I finished that race. When I heard the news all I could do was sit down and cry. Hearing about Ryan Shay brought that same flood of emotions boiling back up.
As I ran I thought about what I would want others to think if it were me. What if I had died from getting hit by a van? Or what if I died while out on a training run?
Then I realized, people die all the time, but not all people really live. If I were to give up competing because I might die while doing it, if I were to insulate myself from as many dangers as possible, I’ll still eventually die but I’ll never really truly live. Ryan Shay was living life to the fullest on Saturday and while it is sad and tragic that he is gone, it is made less so to know that he was doing what he loved when he went. To quit competing now would be to give up…
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine