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| Rick Lecuyer |
Fifty-seven
year old Rick Lecuyer is an extraordinary individual. The 2014 Boston Marathon was to be his
twenty-first full marathon and second Boston Marathon but, as with many things in
life, it did not go as planned.
Rick first
qualified for Boston in 2008 at the Ottawa Marathon. He qualified again in 2012
at the Chicago Marathon with an outstanding 3:12:27, almost 18 minutes faster
than the required time. In addition, Rick
has completed over 30 half-marathons and dozens of 5 and 10 k event. Clearly, this man is no stranger to distance running.
Rick is the
consummate runner; he knows about pain, suffering, goals, triumphs, and
defeats. He frequently volunteers at races throughout the city and can often be
seen cheering runners curbside. Those that know him will attest that he’s well
respected and loved within our tight community. He’s quiet, reserved and shy
about sharing his achievements with this pesky blogger. He understands the significance
of the events leading up to his collapse and wants others to be cautious. Rick agrees his story could save a fellow
runner's life and for this reason, he wants it told.
Rick was
feeling confident and strong in the days leading up to the Boston
Marathon. He was eating and sleeping
well and was hydrated. He ran a “good strong pace” the day before the marathon
to loosen the legs and ease the pre-race jitters.
Rick was
seeded in wave 1, corral 9 as planned, while his life-partner Lorraine started
in wave 3, corral 8.
“We’ll meet
at the finish line” was the fateful plan du jour.
Rick
started strong and was on pace for the first 13 miles. He first sensed a twitch of
discomfort at mile 14 and slowed his pace. Still running, he became light headed
and disoriented. Suddenly a jolt of pain permeated his right arm and then his
chest felt tight and his breathing became labored. At mile 15 Rick went down on one knee
clutching his chest and fainted, collapsing in the gutter of the famed Boston
Marathon.
The all too
familiar call was made “runner down” and the critical response team jumped to
action.
He
remembers opening his eyes about a minute later, bewildered, confused and wanting
to continue with the race. The police on site told him that wouldn’t be
happening and an ambulance was dispatched.
Rick was taken to Beth Israel Hospital, the same hospital the bombing
victims were triaged in 2013.
The medical
team noticed Rick’s Road ID and called his daughters Noelle and Nicole who then
began the arduous task of contacting friends and family. Lorraine’s daughter Jenn was the first contacted. In the face of adversity these three amazing women calmly developed a plan to text contacts at the Boston Marathon who would then
meet with Lorraine. Noelle was steadfast
in her communication with the hospital and together, with good friend Bill Diehl
Jones, critical information trickled to his loved ones and friends gathered in
bars, hotels, and coffee shops throughout Boston.
The
attention now shifted to finding Lorraine who was still on the course oblivious to
the happenings. Two friends eventually
located her next to the Boston Common gate.
They provided broad strokes and advised her to call home.
Exhausted
and elated from just having completed the most prestigious marathon in the entire
world, and now hit with this tragic news, Lorraine’s brain was simply not capable of
retaining information. She quickly passed the phone to a friend who took the
details.
Lorraine
shares:
“The scene
at the Beth Israel was somewhat of a war zone with lots of injured runners. By
the time I reached him they were discussing options for his care… and concluded
that he had not suffered cardiac arrest.”
The reason
for Rick’s collapse remains a mystery and is as perplexing as it is
unsettling. He now runs with a HRM and
has newfound appreciation of his own mortality.
The final
word goes to Rick
“Never
leave home without your Road I.D. during
training times or race day. It saved my life and it could save yours. Write the
names and phone numbers on the back of your bib of people waiting at the finish
line.”
It’s a good
day to be alive, right Rick?
Mike
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| Order your Road ID today. Tell 'em Rick and Lorraine sent you. |
