However, I will continue to celebrate the life of Aaron and to continue this quest in his honor. As such, I am formally dedicating my Ironman in his memory.
A warm, caring and friendly person, Aaron captured the essence of why we do this craziness in a letter he wrote just a few days before his life was taken.
Why do I run?
“I run because I can…” How many times ...have I seen and heard this phase? How many times have I read it and not really thought about it?
A year ago, you shared something with me that answered the same question. As the father of a 3 year old, I hear the question “Why” so many times, that while sometimes the answers come out automatically and quickly, sometimes I stop and think about the question. Sometimes Lily receives an answer that while she won’t quite understand, my hope is that somewhere deep in her “absorbent sponge” mode of life, something will be tucked away that she will remember and use later in life.
Such a short statement – “I run because I can….” – so much inside those few short words.
One year ago today, I ran the farthest distance ever. I left my house to Alice Wainwright, past Kennedy Park to Peacock Park and back. I mapped 8 miles at an 11:36 pace. That run gave me confidence to do the 13.1 the following week, and while I couldn’t walk for a few days after, I did the ING race and finished.
I run because it does matter. I run because actions mean more than words. I run because challenging myself and stepping up to the challenge is what life is all about. I run because I find that when we do, I surround myself with great and motivated people that understand and connect on a level that others may never understand. I run because I grow with each step and with each breath. I run because I believe that I can, and with each mile, I realize that understanding and believing and reaching for what is important is a journey that I have to and want to face head on. I run because it makes me smile. I run because I love to reach the finish line happy. I run because physically, emotionally and mentally, each step builds endorphins, energy and emotional highs that make me more accomplished, energetic and confident.
I run because it makes me happy.
I run because you have pushed me to believe in myself and what I can do and will do. Two years ago, even one year ago, I never would have believed that I could do the things that we have done together in the last two years. When you talked about doing the 70.3 I thought you were a little nuts. When you mentioned a full marathon, I thought you had lost your mind. Your confidence, your determination, your courage, your happiness, your motivation, your toughness, your ‘not taking no for an answer,” your kindness, your compassion, and your love have made me understand and believe that anything is possible.
I have been competing in sports since I was 4 years old. I have been in national and North America championships, State and local competitions, and even the Olympic trials. I have raced in the past against some of the best athletes in the world. I haven’t done any of that since I was roughly 20 years old. Still, with all the history and all the past accomplishments, I have never felt an athletic accomplishment greater than I did finishing my first 70.3.
Now I am one week away from my first 26.2 (because 26.3 would be crazy). I am nervous and confident at the same time. I feel like I did before the 70.3 – confident, ready, and at the same time, anxious and a little nervous for the start. Part of me is also thinking about the next race and the next challenge. Thank you for your support, encouragement and for everything that you have done to influence this amazing series of events and accomplishments.
Why do I run? The short answer is I run because it makes me happy. Thank you for being such an integral part of that."
A year ago, you shared something with me that answered the same question. As the father of a 3 year old, I hear the question “Why” so many times, that while sometimes the answers come out automatically and quickly, sometimes I stop and think about the question. Sometimes Lily receives an answer that while she won’t quite understand, my hope is that somewhere deep in her “absorbent sponge” mode of life, something will be tucked away that she will remember and use later in life.
Such a short statement – “I run because I can….” – so much inside those few short words.
One year ago today, I ran the farthest distance ever. I left my house to Alice Wainwright, past Kennedy Park to Peacock Park and back. I mapped 8 miles at an 11:36 pace. That run gave me confidence to do the 13.1 the following week, and while I couldn’t walk for a few days after, I did the ING race and finished.
I run because it does matter. I run because actions mean more than words. I run because challenging myself and stepping up to the challenge is what life is all about. I run because I find that when we do, I surround myself with great and motivated people that understand and connect on a level that others may never understand. I run because I grow with each step and with each breath. I run because I believe that I can, and with each mile, I realize that understanding and believing and reaching for what is important is a journey that I have to and want to face head on. I run because it makes me smile. I run because I love to reach the finish line happy. I run because physically, emotionally and mentally, each step builds endorphins, energy and emotional highs that make me more accomplished, energetic and confident.
I run because it makes me happy.
I run because you have pushed me to believe in myself and what I can do and will do. Two years ago, even one year ago, I never would have believed that I could do the things that we have done together in the last two years. When you talked about doing the 70.3 I thought you were a little nuts. When you mentioned a full marathon, I thought you had lost your mind. Your confidence, your determination, your courage, your happiness, your motivation, your toughness, your ‘not taking no for an answer,” your kindness, your compassion, and your love have made me understand and believe that anything is possible.
I have been competing in sports since I was 4 years old. I have been in national and North America championships, State and local competitions, and even the Olympic trials. I have raced in the past against some of the best athletes in the world. I haven’t done any of that since I was roughly 20 years old. Still, with all the history and all the past accomplishments, I have never felt an athletic accomplishment greater than I did finishing my first 70.3.
Now I am one week away from my first 26.2 (because 26.3 would be crazy). I am nervous and confident at the same time. I feel like I did before the 70.3 – confident, ready, and at the same time, anxious and a little nervous for the start. Part of me is also thinking about the next race and the next challenge. Thank you for your support, encouragement and for everything that you have done to influence this amazing series of events and accomplishments.
Why do I run? The short answer is I run because it makes me happy. Thank you for being such an integral part of that."
/End of letter
By the way, I have no doubt that were he alive today, he would already be an Ironman, so I am going to do it for him.
If this dedication moves you to sympathize for the plight of Aaron's family and to desire to help them, you may contribute to his daughters' education by sending money here to the trust set up in their name:
The Lily and Aiden Cohen Trust
c/o Stephen Cohen
Cohen, Kelly, Olson, Dehaan & Richter, L.L.C.,
900 Ridge Road, Suite K
Munster, Indiana 46321
c/o Stephen Cohen
Cohen, Kelly, Olson, Dehaan & Richter, L.L.C.,
900 Ridge Road, Suite K
Munster, Indiana 46321
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