Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Tribute planned at nationals for late runner Grunewald
DES MOINES, IOWA >> Justin Grunewald carries a lock of her hair with him as a remembrance. He has countless photos of her on his phone, along with rich stories from so many.
He feels closest to his late wife, Gabriele — “Gabe” to everyone — at random moments: On a mountain. Watching a sunset. Hearing a song. During a long run.
“I know she’s always close,” Justin wrote in an email. “It keeps me going.”
Two years ago, Gabe ran the 1,500 meters at U. S. championships in between rounds of cancer treatment. On June 11, Gabe lost her battle with cancer at her home in Minneapolis — an inspiring fight that connected an entire running community. She was 32.
Atribute toher is planned this week at nationals.
“It’s not hard to find her everywhere,” said Justin, who is hoping to make it to DesMoines for the event.
Gabe was a popular figure — for her competitiveness, courage and positive attitude even in the midst of her illness. That’swhy shortly after her death, world steeplechase champion Emma Coburn wrote “Brave Like Gabe” on her bib number before a race. That’s why in Minnesota there was a “Brave Like Gabe” run on June 25 — her birthday — with a proclamation marking the day as “Gabe Day.” That’s why therewere somanymessages posted on social media.
“Gabe was a fountain of joy, friendship, hope, laughter, and inspiration,” decorated distance runner Shalane Flanagan said on Instagram. “The harsh reality she faced did not dim her spirit, but seemed to ignite her love of life.”
Gabe was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma — a rare form of cancer in the saliva glands — in 2009 while running for theUniversity of Minnesota. Following surgery and radiation therapy, shewent ontofinishsecond in the 1,500meters at the 2010 NCAA championships.
She kept on running through three more bouts with the disease, building a career as a professional athlete andU. S. championwhile enduring surgeries, radiation treatments, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Never one to let anything slow her down, she postponed another round of treatment for cancer that had spread to her liver to compete at the 2017 U. S. championships.
Just to feel like a competitor one final time.
She didn’t advance out of the first round of the 1,500 that day. It didn’tmatter. The real story was her smile.
“I want her legacy to be a legacy of someone who persevered and continues to persevere,” said Justin, whose wife was the U. S. indoor 3,000 champion in 2014. “She is the bravest person I’ve ever met, and I think she made the majority of the people she touched more brave, including me.”