When my father passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2009, Adrian came to NYC to run the marathon. He collected funds for Pancreatic Cancer in honor of my dad, who was a colleague of his. I was not much of a runner but anyone having witnessed a marathon understands how moving, beautiful and unifying a marathon can be. I remember we tracked Adrian all over NYC, following Janet and his kids around. I remember my throat tightening when I saw him run by, everyone cheering and showing solidarity. In the middle of my grief, I found comfort in seeing their family bond, reminding me a bit of my own family.

Adrian performed beautifully at the marathon. I remember asking him all about it, and him sharing how many marathons he had run, and what it feels like to hit the wall and overcome that. With this race, he gave - without knowing - the most significant gift a grieving daughter needed at that moment: the determination not to give up, to keep smiling and fighting for life. The drive to put one foot after the next, when all you want to do is give up because things hurt. 

I never told Adrian and I regret this now, but he inspired me to run many races and three marathons of my own, including the NYC marathon years later. To be fair, I often think of Adrian and how insane his NYC performance is to me; I am not even coming close to his average time even after years of training! I am forever grateful to Adrian for showing me how running can truly save us. It certainly saved me. He was and continues to be an inspiration. I did not know him much, but I am convinced beautiful souls have that aura on others. I have the feeling that Adrian touched many lives around him, with his quiet smile and what appeared to me as an endless drive. While I am sorry I shared this too late, I sincerely hope his family finds the same determination and hope that Adrian gave me in the most difficult moments. He was a wonderful man and I will continue remembering him in my races. 

Kind regards,

Valerie Meausoone