Legends Never Die

I’m sitting in the terminal here in Las Vegas, laptop wide open and thoughts flying all over the place. I still can’t wrap my head around the tragic news I received yesterday on the passing of Larry Olsen — a great friend, unbelievable runner, awesome coach and above all an incredible person.

The timing of his passing is unexpected and eerie — unexpected because a relatively young, insanely fit guy with many miles in his hardened legs left us so suddenly, eerie that it happened the day before this article I wrote for Running Times hit newsstands. Just over a week ago on Thanksgiving I was chatting with Larry after the Whitin 5 Road Race and he was asking me when the article was going to come out. He was so excited — not for himself, but for the girls on his high school cross country team who were going to get a thrill out of seeing their picture in such a major magazine. I’m sad he never got to read the piece, but honored that I had the chance to write it. I know I will write hundreds more stories in my lifetime, but I can say with certainty I will never be more proud of a piece than that one. It was an honor to know Larry, call him a friend and share his selfless story. He will be dearly missed by many.

Rest in Peace, Larry and Godspeed.

Larry Olsen: November 14, 1946-December 6, 2009