Wednesday, September 7, 2011
to be cont'd
sorry for the delay, as everyone can see at this point, im not very good at this blogging thing yet.....i will get better, promise. i have the MRI scheduled for tomorrow evening at 7:45pm. i haven't run in now going on 16 days, worst feeling ever, i feel like training is so behind, but we still have alot of time. best case scenario, the MRI reveals nothing and i can get back to regular schedule on friday, i will let you all know.......cross your fingers, think positives thoughts, and i will keep saying my prayers. shawn tells me its gonna be all good.....until tomorrow night guys....
Thursday, September 1, 2011
to be continued......
so as of my last post, my knee still hurts, and more so than before, i have tried to run with no success and am awaiting a dr's visit on friday.....i spoke with a physical therapist who felt it was just a sprain, she gave me some pointers on what to do, and suggested a week off. i did all that, went to run on monday, exactly a week off, which was hard enough to wait that long, and got about a mile in. the knee hurts more than it did prior and i felt it enough to shut it down until i get to the dr. i called the dr and they didnt have an appt until next thursday!!!!! by the grace of god and friendship i got an appt with a different dr for tomorrow morning at 8:45am, thank god for friends....seth's wife works for a doctor's office and they hooked it up, shout out to both of you and many, many thanks. the training has been hard enough and now to not be training knowing the race is only 7 weeks away only makes it tougher. unless the dr says there is damage or i need surgery i will not quit, trust me. i may now be more behind than i wanted to be, but there is no quit in this kid. thanks to all who i have had talks with that have helped me stay strong.....of course tamara, pops, seth, jerry, the list goes on and on.....i will keep everyone posted as to what the dr says. i have got to stay positive though, because positive thoughts breed positive results....and, thats what shawn kept saying every day through his struggle and until his last days.....miss you brotha, keep me grounded and strong i am gonna need it these last few weeks of training......
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
8/24
so here we are with 8 weeks left of training and i have hit my first major hiccup. i have pushed my limit to just over 12 miles about a week or so ago and had some knee pain the day after. i continued to run even though it wasn't feeling great and swelling up a bit. i finally had to shut it down for a few days as it was getting unbearable. i spoke to a friends friend, who is physical therapist and she sees it as a stage 1 or stage 2 sprain of the knee. her suggestion.........."rest and ice", two words i didn't want to here during the home stretch of training. i have been resting for two days and it feels much better, so i will continue to rest for another 5 days, with icing session, and we will see what happens. i can only trust the words of a professional, instead of my instincts, which is to continue to run and power through.......in need of positive thoughts and vibes, lets hope for the best.
i will keep you posted.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
my first official post!!!
i first wanted to thank everyone who has had a hand in developing this site, as it couldn't have happened without you, i am very grateful for technology, just not always the best at it. i also wanted to thank all of you for following up to this point and the continued generosity of all, i am very appreciative, i know katie and family are, and absolutely know that shawn is as well, as he continues to watch from above.
i would first like to thank my wonderful family for their support, this could not happen without you. first and foremost my unbelievable tamara, as she continues to support, my crazy work life and crazy training program, "whilst" (our favorite word) raising our two beautiful children, and not getting the proper support that she undoubtably deserves. baby you have plenty coming your way, and you deserve every drop of it. layla jade and charlie (our two babies) who inspire me every second im alive. my mom who bought me my first pair of proper training shoes, my father who continues to drive me by sending running info, magazine articles, blogs, etc. and reigning me in when i get a little down. jerry and seth (accomplished runners) who help keep my mind at ease when training seems not to be going the greatest. katie who continues to fight on after losing the toughest battle i hope none of us ever have to fight. charlie mae who i see everyday when i look into my little girl, layla jade's eyes. everyone else i may have forgotten, i will continue to shout you guys out as i continue to do a better job of keeping the blog updated.
just to keep everyone up to date i have officially hit the 11 mile mark and training is coming along much better than i could have ever anticipated, a true testament to all of you and shawn who helps out a lot more than i could have ever imagined. i have a 13 mile and a 14 mile run upcoming and i will have you all on my mind. i hope to see many of you on october 9th, not for me, but to celebrate shawn.
love you all.
i would first like to thank my wonderful family for their support, this could not happen without you. first and foremost my unbelievable tamara, as she continues to support, my crazy work life and crazy training program, "whilst" (our favorite word) raising our two beautiful children, and not getting the proper support that she undoubtably deserves. baby you have plenty coming your way, and you deserve every drop of it. layla jade and charlie (our two babies) who inspire me every second im alive. my mom who bought me my first pair of proper training shoes, my father who continues to drive me by sending running info, magazine articles, blogs, etc. and reigning me in when i get a little down. jerry and seth (accomplished runners) who help keep my mind at ease when training seems not to be going the greatest. katie who continues to fight on after losing the toughest battle i hope none of us ever have to fight. charlie mae who i see everyday when i look into my little girl, layla jade's eyes. everyone else i may have forgotten, i will continue to shout you guys out as i continue to do a better job of keeping the blog updated.
just to keep everyone up to date i have officially hit the 11 mile mark and training is coming along much better than i could have ever anticipated, a true testament to all of you and shawn who helps out a lot more than i could have ever imagined. i have a 13 mile and a 14 mile run upcoming and i will have you all on my mind. i hope to see many of you on october 9th, not for me, but to celebrate shawn.
love you all.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Midnight Runners
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| Charles and Shawn |
Charles
As life evolves, everyone is fortunate to make many acquaintances along their journeys. Hopefully some of these acquaintances develop into friends. You can be considered very lucky if a handful of these friends turn into “true” friends.
As life evolves, everyone is fortunate to make many acquaintances along their journeys. Hopefully some of these acquaintances develop into friends. You can be considered very lucky if a handful of these friends turn into “true” friends.
I met Shawn in 2003 while employed at Pili.Pili restaurant in Chicago. Our initial meeting, as he applied for a server position there, planted the seeds of our relationship. We became immediate friends because of our mutual love of food and drink. Our working association expanded along social lines, from just hangin’ out to sharing our love for music at live shows with my friends and his. Separately, I met Shawn’s wife Katie also at Pili.Pili, a restaurant industry groupie a few months prior. We became immediate friends. Our separate friendships grew into simultaneous friendships and our friend set began.
Our relationship grew during many bonding sessions, late night or early morning feasts where our expansive knowledge of food and drink proved fruitful as we sampled the food and the drink that we both so loved. It was during one of these "sessions" in 2004 that Shawn spoke with some ambition of training for and ultimately completing the Chicago marathon. He had my blessing of support but not my desire to run alongside him. Although he completed long runs, triathlons and the like, his marathon dream was never fulfilled.
Our relationship growth included Katie, for as we were all growing, Shawn and Katie were growing as a couple. Their relationship happily resulted in a permanent partnership as true friends and lovers as husband and wife. Two years ago or so, they were blessed with their beautiful daughter Charlie. I’m still not quite convinced how they arrived at that moniker, but i love it!
Our relationship continued after I moved to New York City as we continually made every effort to stay in touch. I never needed a hotel stay when visiting Chicago, as Shawn and Katie always welcomed me with a warm bed and a place to stay so we could continually catch-up.
Shawn was diagnosed with a two rare forms of brain cancer in February of 2010. He battled this terrible disease quietly, but bravely outliving the 50 or so people that shared this same condition. He fought through surgery, treatments, hospital stays, hosiptal visits, medicial programs, pain, heartache, and undoubtaly sadness. His last days included the comfort of home and hospice, where all previous treatments were discontinued. Shawn died peacefully on June 13, 2011, at around 4:20pm.
I met Shawn in 2003, until now, and forever will always been a true friend. I most admire his strength, both physically and mentally. He is a great man in every sense of the word, always doing the right thing without asking question, a noble feat in its own right. I speak with as much conviction about this as anything else, as he was truely one of the greatest men anyone would ever have met. As life evolves, I hope you are fortunate enough to have a true friend like Shawn Koch.
As our relationship now continues spiritually, I want to confirm our friendship more tangibly for Katie and Charlie, making a difference for them as they have done for me. I recalled that night of liquid courage and Shawn’s unfulfilled desire to run a marathon. There is no better way for me to express my admiration for him and help him and his family than by running a marathon with him. My training has long started and I have been entered to run the 2011 Chicago Marathon in October.
I know I can count on your support! I know I will continue to have the support and inspiration of Shawn…Katie…Charlie…My Family...and most importantly my beautiful Tamara, without her this would not be possible. She continues to support in ways i didn't know were possible. As she sees me through my crazy training program and work schedule, she is also raising our two beautiful children, where she continuously gets less support than she undoubtedly deserves.
For those fortunate enough to be able to donate, my personal goal is to have people donate $26, a $1 for each mile i run "whilst" (Tamara's favorite word) celebrating Shawn. I appreciate everyone's continued support, in every sense of the word, it is very much appreciated. I hope to see everyone on the streets of Chicago, October 9th, 2011, not for me but to celebrate the life of my true friend, Mr. Shawn "Shorty" Koch......I love you all.
Eric
Like Charles, Eric worked at Pili Pili with Shawn and Katie. Eric says that Katie could open a wine bottle faster than anyone in the restaurant and that Shawn was one of the most knowledgeable people in the restaurant. Eric also described Shawn as one of the most genuine people he would have the pleasure of knowing. Eric, a bartender but future chef, looked up to Shawn for both his foodie knowledge and charming personality. Everyone loved him, customers and co-workers alike. When asked why Eric was willing to do this marathon for Shawn, despite his inexperience and ambivalence of running, Eric replied, "because he would do it for me."
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| Eric Goebel |
Monday, June 13, 2011
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die
The loss is felt by all that know him. Shawn passed today at 4:30pm CDT. A message from his strong and devoted wife Katie:
Our hearts are happyTo read more about Shawn and the fight he so valiantly faced click here. The memory of Shawn and our love for his family will be what carries us across the finish line.
Our hearts are sad
And it is okay- to be be happy sad...
Shawn took his last breathe around 430pm tonight. It was beautiful. Harpist played 10 minutes or so- he is free of cancer at last....
Love-Katie
Saturday, June 11, 2011
A tribute
Some drunken nights are meant to be forgotten. This particular night would be until a couple of guys, Charles and Eric, needed a way to not only help their friend Shawn, but a way to show their admiration, love and respect for him and his family.
The fateful night in question occurred over seven years ago when Charles and Shawn talked about training for a marathon. Shawn went on to compete in triathlons and other runs but never a marathon. Diagnosed with brain cancer in February of 2010 Shawn had to put aside thoughts of marathons. Fighting the disease and defying expectations, Shawn has shown the strength and resolve of someone meant to run mile after mile.
Recently, Shawn has entered hospice care. Faced with losing his friend and looking for a way to help Shawn’s wife, Katie, with the exorbitant medical costs Charles remembered that night from seven years ago. He could think of no better way to help his friends and show his support than to raise donations in support of his running the marathon his friend never got to. Charles then recruited a fellow Shawn friend, Eric, and despite their collective lack of marathon experience are determined to complete the Chicago Marathon together with thoughts of Shawn powering them across the finish line.
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| Shawn with Charlie Mae |
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