The Midnight Runners

Charles and Shawn

Some of you might be asking who are the guys running the marathon. Well here's some background info on the guys who have never run a marathon but are willing to do it to honor their friend and help his family.

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.

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."

Eric Goebel