Shawmont Running Club

From: Mary
Subject: John
Date: May 8, 2023 at 7:25:30 PM EDT
To: [SRC List]

Hi All,

I know that you all have been missing your weekly SRC reports. In this last Saturday morning run on 5/6, [Teddio] shared with the group John’s condition…

John died very peacefully and without pain on Saturday, May 6th, at 5:15 p.m. His daughters and I were with him and gave him much love as he drifted from this life.

John well knew the triumphs and trials of long-distance running. While he may not have known each of you, he shared your miles, knew what it took to get out there, and celebrated your tenacity and enthusiasm for running. In his day, John ran 18 marathons and 2 Ironman distance triathlons and had a lot of fun along the way with quite a few in SRC.

Kind regards to all, Mary “Weezie”

Ruminations

     A Remembrance: 2023’05’06’S Rumination

     The Acts of Zen: 2023’06’10’S Rumination

     ZYKu: 2023’05’20’S Rumination

          Consistence defined.

                                                     life.

                                transcends

                   legacy

          His

          Z Y R I P

          —RA (RunAnon) “Negative Spelt or Positive Spelled” #dewthedoo

          FINE PRINT
          RunAnon, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

     Zen Yanny carries ON: 2023’06’17’S Rumination

          Zealous protector of Shawmont Running Club;
          encouraging always, and in all ways:
          nourishing and celebrating other’s good fortunes!

          Yearning, working for and appreciating success;
          all while remaining accountable. With
          noetic word appreciation and being
          noble-hearted to the edge of numinous,
          yOU feel valued by his works!!!

          —OKhen “Positively spelt (UK edition)” or “Positively spelled (US English edition)” or “Deletreado positivamente (US Spanish edition)”

          FINE PRINT
          Text by Kenneth Olsho (Ólshó), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Gratefully published: Facebook Shawmont Running Club, Shawmont Running Club website. ¶Depictions used with permission.

Remembrances

I ran every Saturday morning from 2001 to 2015. I moved into the city and only had the Kelly Drive in my back yard. John gave me the name AGee. I have to say the Shawmont running group had such a positive influence in my life. I met such great people, and I did something I never dreamed I could do—run a marathon. I did my first one at 50 years old and finished in 3:50. I did one more the following years at 3:39. It was from the peer pressure of this group. If I would come and do a 10 mile run. I always felt I was slacking. I thank our fearless leader Zen Yanni for the inspiration. —AGee

John was a mentor and friend to me for 30 years. An amazing man. I will miss him so much – but he, and all he taught, will always be with me. —Chris D

In 1999 or so, I began running in Valley Green with the intended purpose of running my first Marathon. John saw me and invited me to run with the Shawmonters – and was always and everywhere an encouraging voice – both in person and in my head. He had conquered many personal road blocks and had an ever positive view on life – running was such a wonderful and friendly medium for friendship and change. He was a wonderful friend and personal hero. My sincere love to Mary and to all who lost John, a great person, friend, mentor, and runner. —Java Mon

I’m so sorry to hear this. He was a wonderful, kind, gentle man. I’ll never forget his wit, and how he gave everyone nicknames. My thoughts are with Mary and the rest of his family, and his running family community. —LisaBee

This is a huge loss and I know we will all miss John. Most notably, we will miss his wittiness and welcoming presence for all those who showed up to run with the club, whether a veteran or newcomer being “welcome[d] to our world.” For me personally, no matter what else was going on in the world and what else I was dealing with personally, the one thing I could always count on was showing up on Saturday morning and John asking me, “what’re you up to today, MattManDo?” —MattManDo

Such a loss to the running community. A great guy. He was always so encouraging to me in my early days of running. Had a big impact on me. —Maverick

Oh How can this be true? I am so very sad to hear this news. We went to Boston twice and ran many a miles. Mary Van Allen I am sending you prayers and strength. John Van Allen was a true gem. Sending love, —Mystic Martha

Such sad news! My thoughts are with Mary Van Allen and the Shawmont Running Club. John welcomed me into the group over 12 years ago when I was a beginner runner. He dubbed me Yudy – I think because I looked Amish dressed in all black He was kind, dedicated, and quick with a joke. I’ll never forget the year I won the FUBAR award. I moved to Portland Oregon 7 years ago and I continued to get the weekly run reports. Run on John Van Allen —Yudy