Gabe Grunewald Reaches Finish Line

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Distance runner Gabe Grunewald died peacefully with her husband, Justin, and loved ones Tuesday after a 10-year-long battle with a rare form of cancer. 

Grunewald left the hospital and went home to spend her last two days. 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

At 7:52 I said “I can’t wait until I get to see you again” to my hero, my best friend, my inspiration, my wife. @gigrunewald I always felt like the Robin to your Batman and I know I will never be able to fill this gaping hole in my heart or fill the shoes you have left behind. Your family loves you dearly as do your friends. When @chipgaines made the final push in his #chipinchallenge I could feel your happiness building and could also see that this made you ready to head up to heaven. Chip thanks for helping her to go up so peacefully with no suffering. To everyone else from all ends of the earth, Gabriele heard your messages and was so deeply moved. She wants you to stay brave and keep all the hope in the world. Thanks for helping keep her brave in her time of need 😪🙏🏻 #keeprunningonhope #bravelikegabe 📸 @pixelcrave 📷 @kohjiro_kinno

A post shared by Justin Grunewald (@justingrunewald1) on Jun 11, 2019 at 6:35pm PDT

A 2014 USATF Indoor champion in the 3,000 meters, Grunewald's story as a cancer survior with an unbeatable spirit spread around the world. Her long struggle with the disease, and her will to keep pushing, spawned the hashtag #bravelikegabe.

Grunewald's impact on the running community as a source for inspiration, and the example she set for living life to the fullest, lives on. 

If you don't know Gabe's story, read Tim Layden's 2017 profile here. She built a running career after finding out she had a rare, but insidious form of cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).

Also worth watching is the Gabe Grunewald documentary, made by her sponsor, Brooks.