Who You'd Be Today

Sunny days seem to hurt the most
Wear the pain like a heavy coat
I feel you everywhere I go
I see your smile, I see your face
I hear you laughing in the rain
Still can't believe you're gone
It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
The death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
All the hell that I've been through
Just knowing no one could take your place
Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today

Who You'd Be Today - Kenny Chesney

For those who knew Ryan Shay (and I was not one of them except knowing him through running magazines), these words will have a piercing impact on them. For any of us who have lost people to death too early in our or their lives, these words will have an imprint on our hearts or others who were not even given the opportunities at life we sometimes wonder. Ryan Shay died doing what he loved, running. He was not out for a casual easy run. He was running the Olympic marathon trials for a place on the U.S. team in Beijing, something he had dreamed of and trained for all his life. God took him too early but in doing so, you might just see an American winner in Beijing at the marathon distance in 2008. Ryan will be with the U.S. Olympic hopefuls through their training and their gold medal run. To all of Ryan's family, friends and new wife Alicia, the running community's deepest sympathy is offered to you all.

There are few deaths in running events. Recently there have been two; in the Chicago marathon and the Olympic trials. Although Ryan was well-known, both made headlines. I can't tell you the name of the man who died in Chicago but I do know that the same words apply for those who knew and loved him. I also also pray to God that when He believes that my race has ended, that I am taken while running expending the energy of the body and mind, transferring energy to those who need it more, to have those born who may not be otherwise. I also pray that I get to cross the finish line so I can proclaim as Jesus did, "It is Finished" (John 19:30) as His last words on the cross. It should be up to God to know when "It is Finished" and up to God through Jesus to guide us to the finish line. Don't let people wonder who you'd be today, show them today who you are because, unlike the running race, we never know how close the finish line is.

Beauty of the Cape...

There is no better way to see the beauty of Cape Cod than running 26.2 miles around it. The views of Nantucket sound were eye candy and worth the price of admission. This is the Norbsk Lighthouse around mile 22. This picture was taken just about 15 minutes after sunrise the day after the marathon.









It looks like I am the only runner in the marathon but there were over 1000 marathoners and another 190 relay runners on a rolling course throughout Falmouth.





Another view of the Norbsk Lighthouse the day before the marathon. It was an overcast misty day but is shown in whole other essence.