NPR: Runner Dies at Olympic Marathon Trial

Runner Dies at Olympic Marathon Trial

Filed under: News, Sports

A runner in today's U.S. Olympic marathon trial has died. Ryan Shay, 28, collapsed in respiratory distress about 5.5 miles into the course, in New York City. Shay fell not far from the Central Park Boathouse.

This week on the BPP, we ran a segment about deaths in marathon races. A cardiac specialist and runner talked to us about the toll a marathon takes on the body and how many people who aren't ready are attempting the 26.2 mile feat. Statistics predict that eight people will die this year in a U.S. marathon, many of them because they weren't fit enough for the race. Two people died in the extreme heat of October's Chicago marathon.

The situation here is altogether different. Ryan Shay was an elite runner, presumably in supreme physical condition, who collapsed not even six miles into the course. For a runner like Ryan Shay, six miles should be a cup of coffee.

The weather in the city today is gray and chilly but not cold, with a swirling wind from the remnants of Tropical Storm Noel. New York is proud, as are so many cities, of its running tradition. The city's marathon is scheduled for tomorrow, and Midtown Manhattan is now filling with runners carrying marathon kits and police officers setting up barricades.

Losing an elite athlete like Ryan Shay, who came here to do his very best, hurts.

Laura Conaway

1:41 PM ET | 11- 3-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Does anyone truly believe that Alison Stewart has paid her reporting dues? Aside from having a fairly attractive face, this vapid Gen-X'r has never produced one iota of intelligent debate.

Sent by Yeah | 9:10 PM ET | 11-04-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Host

Alison Stewart

Welcome to 'The Bryant Park Project'

This new radio show from NPR comes to you weekdays, straight out of New York City. You can find audio and video from us here and in our podcasts. Bryant Park is not a talk show, but it is a conversation. Intrigued? Read our frequently asked questions and discussion rules.