Official Chris Gleason Memory Thread (& Service Info)
Folks,
Thanks to all of you for your response. This thread is meant to be a place where we can share our "Chris G" moments…I plan on collecting them and handing them over to his wife and children when everyone has had their chance to contribute. No story is too epic, too individual, or too snarky to share….Chris was truly one of a kind.
As for the services, this is what I know. The wake is Friday from 4-8PM at Gordon C. Emerick's Funeral Home, 1550 Route 9 in Clifton Park, NY 12065; phone is 518.371.5454.
The funeral is 9:00AM Saturday at St. Edwards the Confessor Church, 569 Clifton Park Center Rd. Clifton Park, NY 12065. The burial will be private but a party is being planned following services. Jenny says the party will be Chris G style 'cause that's the way he would have wanted it.
I will be heading up, planning on a 6pm arrival at the wake and I'll be staying overnight for the services on the next day, etc. I am happy to connect with anyone else in the region who is able to come…please email me at patrick.mccrann@gmail.com.
Jenny also said she is humbled about the donations, so thanks again for your support. All money we raise will be given directly to the family; you can add your contribution here (http://members.endurancenation.us/C...fault.aspx)
Thanks,
Patrick
Comments
I've only known Chris for a little over 3 years now but we probably exchanged messages weekly, if not daily, for the majority of that time. I feel like we have know each other much longer. We met in the EN forums during first Out Season. We barely knew each other at the time but he said he would have a prize for anyone that gained more than 10 watts on their FTP test. That offer from Chris was just enough extra motivation for me to gain 11 watts and sure enough Chris got everyone's address and mailed our certificates with gels and a few other items. I still have the certificate in my pain cave and from that point on I was in regular contact with Chris either EN, Slowtwitch, and facebook.
I always new that we both got into endurance sports around the same time but we never talked about the details. Ironically, I just learned yesterday that we both did the same race as our first race, the 2004 Chicago Marathon.
Chris always kept everything in perspective and it was clear that his family was most important and endurance sports were something he did for fun (but he was incredibly competitive at the same time). I tend to get a little to focused on training and racing and Chris really helped to show me how to balance things out.
I knew I could always count on Chris for honest and accurate feedback on anything and everything. He called it how he saw it and always had great advice that I needed to hear whether I wanted to or not.
Although we never met in person each year Chris made a point to invite me to join him at American Zofingen or LP.
Chris will be missed by many and I wish the best to his family and friends.
Chris was a guy who gave of himself, never expecting anything in return. I remember in my buildup to IMLP 2010, we were chatting at the LP camp, and I mentioned I was thinking about renting a front wheel. Before the sentence was out of my mouth, he said "take my 808!" I couldn't believe my good fortune. His only caveat was that I had to go fast, because that wheel had never been a part of a day slower than 11 hours (classic). He was at the top of the hill on the first loop, asking how I felt. When I said 'terrific', he shouted 'then you're doing it right!' He really knew how to make you feel good at the right moment.
He also was a constant reminder of the appropriate place for this sport in the grand scheme of life. He never talked about training, he talked about play. When I'd get wound up about bike FTP or putting in more hours or not drinking a beer the night before a race, he'd call me out, reminding me that it's all just a game, and it's only worth doing if you're having fun.
I was so excited to find out the he'd signed up for Philly. I was hoping to BQ there, and was thrilled to think that I could be chasing him out on course. On the day beforehand, he wasn't geeked out about the race, he was texting to ask how the kids' race had gone. We got into the starting corral, and he didn't want to talk about race plans, he wanted to talk about his AmZof shirt and the unbelievable good time that race was. Even at mile 17, on an out and back, seeing him and hearing his words of encouragement made a tough day that much better.
I coudn't count the number of messages, comments, etc, that have made a difference to me. But I'll always think about Chris when I need perspective on this game, when I think about being a good father, and when I think about what it means to be a good friend.
I bantered back and forth with Chris G on Slowtwitch for a couple of years when I started triathlon. There was something that seemed very transparent and straightup with him. I was fortunate enough to meet Chris during the week of Ironman Lake Placid in 2008 and enjoyed getting know the guy behind the online forum name. I believe that because Chris only knows how to be himself, that it didn't take long to trust him, to call him friend. He would call you friend based on the same. He would help anyone. I've seen stories across the board very similar to mine. In my case, his help meant pointing me in a direction towards Endurance Nation. He had become a true advocate of EN because of the time that it allowed him to focus on family and profession, while still improving and competing in sport.
Family. He treated us all as if we were part of his fraternity and for that, I'm honored. Yet, though I heeded his advice in triathlons, it was the way that he walked the walk regarding family that I truly admired. As far as sharing pictures of his life, the only times that it wasn't about Jenny and the kids was when a great picture of road rash or bodily trauma or a prized victory beer stein had to be shown. It came across as 'Hey, check this out!, Yeah, cool, huh.....But, look at these pics of the kids!
I wish we were close enough to his family to help out more. As I was driving home from work this morning at 7am, in Suwanee, Georgia, I couldn't help but to think about what I had heard yesterday about my friend. It occurred to me that so many of us scattered about this huge place were feeling terrible about this tragic news because a great man had at some point reached out his hand to help us, and now he had been called Home. Before we were ready to let him go.
Rhode Island. California. Texas. Massachusetts. South Carolina. Indiana. Minnesota. Colorado. Kentucky. Pennsylvania. Iowa. New York. Wisconsin. North Carolina. Illinois. New Jersey. Washington. Maryland. Georgia. Virginia. Florida. Ontario. and these are just a few of the places where people had similar thoughts as I did this morning, and I'm sure there are many more.
I'm a little bit better for having known Chris. I pray for comfort and peace for his family and friends.
I’ve known Chris for only a few years, but sappy as it might be, he was my hero. He was like the starting quarterback who was nice to the dorky kid (me), for no other reason than he was just decent to everyone, no matter what. To me, he was like an older brother; I felt he was looking out for me, and only wanted the best for me. He was always telling me that I was much faster than I used to be.
We initially met on the Endurance Nation forums, but I got to know him much better at our local tri club workouts, Tuesdays in the summertime. He was the first to stop to help fix a flat. He always slowed down to talk to me on the run for a minute or so, before he ramped up his speed again. I was always included for post-workout drinks at Lakeview. Not something the fat, slow kid is used to. I saw him frequently at races, he helped me in T1 IMLP 2009, he was always encouraging.
He was snarky, funny, but never mean. He was the light; people were drawn to him like moths. Notice how in pictures, he is usually in the middle.
I’ve never heard him brag about what he’s done, just how awesome these OTHER guys are. He talked up Epicman, and I showed up for the Thursday Whiteface climb because he said it was something I had to do once. Yeah, that was me picking up the rear in June. I think I did it more for him than for me.
He always made me feel as if I were one of his best friends, even though I know I wasn’t. I bet a lot of people here feel the same.
I remember talking to him in transition at IMLP 2011, about 6:00AM. He was torn. He really didn’t want to swim without the wetsuit. He didn’t think he had a shot at Kona, but he “didn’t want to take it off the table.” He didn’t want those Slowtwitch boys to give him crap if he beat them with a wetsuit when they were going for a Kona slot sans wetsuit. I wanted him to go for Kona, and get to Kona, for him, but also for me. We want our sports heroes to win the big one for us, not them.
To me he will always be the man in the arena.
I will miss my friend.
My condolences to Jennyfer, the kids, and the rest of his family.
the 2nd idea is mine - I lost a cousin in a similar freak event a couple of years ago, very similar circumstance. He was an avid runner & was dabbling in triathlon. One of the local races dedicated the race in his honor the following year. I am sure given the reaction to this that something similar will happen in the Albany NY area. It would be great if we could get a huge EN participation in such a race to help keep his spirit alive.
anyone local to that area that might be able to keep us in touch on such an event? or perhaps patrick through Jenny?
Chris Gleason was special to me for many of the reasons that he touched so many of you. His caring spirit. His incredible attitude. His constant perspective on what mattered. His ability to give it all, and challenge you to do the same. He made it out to almost every single time I appeared in LP, and he did his best to make sure it was fun. It took 3 or 4 tries before I began hanging with his ST boys at the Placid Pub, and wouldn't you know it those were some of the best times I have ever had as a triathlete.
I didn't know Chris other than through his posts here. He and I went at it pretty good in the forums over the years. Recently, Rich intervened and in the process told me, "I know you and Chris would be fast friends if you got together." I believed that, and I am sad that can't happen now. I really wanted to get to know him and share the beloved beers. I appreciated his perspective on tri and by extension on life. I respected his growth and toughness and work as a triathlete and his humility and ability to laugh at himself. I called him a jackass once, but only because he had already referred to himself as one. His direct and unequivocal replies to posts led me to call him "frequently wrong but never in doubt". The truth though, is that he was right a lot and he pointed out things to me about myself that I didn't want to admit were true. He helped make me a better and tougher triathlete in the process.
I am sick with sorrow for his family, especially his kids. I will say a prayer for them all. This is so very sad.
I too met Chris through the EN forums at first, it was actually my first EN outseason in 2009. He offered advice willingly and kept the group mojo going during the hard times. I also was pushed by the 'Carrot' award from the first to secon FTP test on the bike.
Follow that up with a trip to Lake Placid last year where I was able to follow the team, meet up with Chris before the race and have a quick discussion about how there was no way he was going to do the race with a wetsuit and take a smack down from his friends. I got to see a great race by Chris and then meet up with him and several others at Lake Placid Brew pud for post race beers
In all the discussions and interactions Chris would give honest no BS advice while keeping the life balance. One example is doing the OS workouts and getting skiing in iwth the family.
Chris' presence will be missed here an EN for sure.
Gordon
I think each time something like this happens we try to understand why. I don't think there is any proper answer.
I'm not overly religious, but in Hinduism they have this really easy explanation (take it for what it is worth)
Basically you keep getting reborn into this earth and each life you have a chance to improve yourself. Basically, it is an opportunity for your spirit to "upgrade" and move closer to nirvana
You start as an ant, and over time you move up the evolution chain and end up as a human
then you keep getting reborn as a human, each round you upgrade your spirit. If you are a jerk, you moved backward in your human and spiritual development and get born back into this mess we call earth
Finally you move so far up the chain, that your spirit is ready to leave earth for good. It does not need to rent any more bodies and come back here, rather it moves permanently to heaven.
I'm not sure if I believe any of this myself, but what is astounding that the guys who die young "way before their time" seem to be the highest notch guys. They are usually one step above the rest of the other guys they leave behind.
Maybe there is some truth to it and what Jenny said, "God thought Chris was so awesome, that he had work for him to do elsewhere".....or using the way Hindu's explain it, he no longer needed to rent a body on this earth. He had reached the highest level you can on this earth and his spirit was finally free of being entrapped in a human body and could move to a higher form.
As someone mentioned before the American Zofingen Duathlon was one of Chris's favorite race venues. He was constantly inviting, sometime berating, people to come and experience this great race. I have just found out that the Race Director and Catskill Mountain Multisport have dedicated this year's race as a memorial to race. It would be really fantastic if we could have a strong EN presence.
Having been one of those people who Chris convinced to check out this race I highly recommend that everyone check it out. There are multiple formats including: 1) Short course (5/29/5); 2) Middle Distance (5/29/5/29/5 -- Chris's favorite and last year's winner) and 3) the dreaded Long Course (5/84/15), what better way to experience IM-distance racing without the SWIM! In addition they offer a 112-mile road bike TT!
So come join me and experience a great race and honor one of our own. I am sure that Chris will make sure it is a cold, wet and miserable day, the only way to experience this race.
Me: Chris, are you sure?
CG: Look, there's a hole right there in the radar. PLENTY of time to climb Whiteface and get back before it starts to rain again.
Me (muttering): The Weather Channel says that rain is a lot closer.....
You all know where this is going. He got me to climb Whiteface on a very iffy day last July. To make the timing work out, I parked a few miles down the road, and started climbing before the group. About half way up, here comes Chris and his train. Huffin' and puffin' and smiling and cracking jokes at me as they went by.
By the time of the descent, which is hair-raisingly scary on the best of days on Whiteface, it was pouring. I mean biblical. It was raining so hard you couldn't see the double yellow lines in road. The thunder was cracking as only it can in the mountains, and the lightening was splitting the sky. "Hey, dummy, did you forget your jacket?" he cackled on the way down as he passed me. Even that made me laugh, b/c I had, and it was a very "dumb shit" move, as he reminded me later.
Back at the hotel, as I was hitting him with my wet sock, he just kept laughing about doing "stupid human tricks," and how that climb certainly counted as one. He also said about the weather, "you know we were going to go anyway." It was true. At dinner that night we drank too much Merlot and topped it with a beer I should not have had. I NEVER did stuff like that unless with CG. I always told him that if we were in HS together I would have certainly been suspended, if not expelled! Man, I loved that guy.
I talked to him on Saturday night before the marathon to tell him to "go to bed!" My son had a breakthrough swim performance at BC that day, and he was emailing me stats on where he ranked nationally. He was into my son's swimming, b/c he was into EVERYTHING. When people were striving and achieving he loved it. "What are you doing looking up swim stats?! It's late," I scolded him. But that's how it was between us. Friends.
Like others, I was in touch with Chris virtually every day. He'd call, certainly text all the time!, email, online--we shared a lot of stuff both athletically and personally. I miss him with all my heart, but I know he will live there until the end of my days.
On another note, I did my best to keep it together as I did a quick recap of the memorial weekend on video: http://youtu.be/iALVTzE59tg He was one extraordinary doode for sure...
Nice work on the recap; thanks.
Man, you look cried out.
On another note, I'm signed up for the short course at AmZof, but I'm not sure if I switch to the middle distance. Do you think Chris would say I'm bring a pussy if I don't change?
@David: I am pretty sure he would, and then buy you a beer to celebrate your success. This race is more about the community than the distance raced. Did I mention to everyone that they serve Irish Car Bombs during the race! I am sure they will flowing this spring.
Chris was always so appreciative of my feedback. I'm not sure how much people realize what it means, at least to me, when you receive such positive feedback from other athletes. This post is something Chris wrote to me on ST about 4 years ago (yes, it's one of many posts I remember from him):
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"FWIW I think your stuff is great and think it is really cool that you seem willing to give away your knowledge. Only had a PM for a few months and only used it one race at Harriman [hilly 4 loop half]. I followed the advice your pacing article and the EN racing with power best I could [VI 1.05] and watched all those around me do everything you said they would and then never saw them again until after the run turn around.
I think these are some of the best threads on ST. Don't really have the expertise to comment as to the methods but can read/understand and learn. Thanks."
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He may not have had the expertise back then but he certainly developed it rather quickly. I suppose he started the sentence with "FWIW" because it just sounded right. Well, to me, that comment was worth a ton.
I know what Chris meant to this team and to Rich & Patrick. Although I've been around EN since the beginning and Crucible Fitness before that, I've always been more involved in my local tri community. I'd like to take this opportunity to show my appreciation for what Rich & Patrick have put together. EN is full of a wonderful group of athletes who are always so willing to help each other out. I've never worn an EN jersey when racing but I'd like to do that next year at IMC in recognition of Chris.
I wish you all the best. My heart goes out to his wife and kids. Chris will be dearly missed.
Take Care,
Chris Whyte (aka Lakerfan)
@ Chris W- one time, when I was starting to get 'serious' with my interest in improving at this tri stuff, I asked Chris G some questions....he offered some some good insight, but he always finished with a comment that in essence was 'search and read ALL of Lakerfan's posts'. He made it very clear how much he thought of you. FWIW.
Chris G was one genuine dude and I consider myself fortunate to have met him.
The last time I saw him was the Saturday following IMLP 2011: it was barely past dawn in the parking lot of a service center by the NY State Thruway in Ramapo. My fiancee and I were walking back to our car - turns out that I had parked right next to Chris G's SUV. I hadn't seen him as he was fiddling with the straps to his bike rack. He spotted me and softly called out to me, "hey Ironman, look at my wheels!" Attached to his vehicle were two kiddie bikes!!
We chatted briefly -- not about IMLP but rather about the joys that awaited ... time on the beach with our respective loved ones. Chris' enthusiasm and joy were palpable. We said our good-byes and agreed to good-naturedly taunt each other on the EN forums.
Like many, I'm still in disbelief. Rest in peace.