I still cannot believe it. I just saw you, too. I feel like I'm in the middle of a nightmare and no matter how hard I try, I just can not seem to wake up from it.

John, I can not thank you and your family enough for everything you all have done for me, even when you didn't have to.

There are not enough words to express how I am feeling right now. You were like a second dad to me. You were always there for me when one of my parents could not make it to a meet. You showed up at practices and made everybody's days just a little brighter.

You are one of the biggest reasons I am where I am. You and my dad saw something in me. You saw your daughter in me. You saw a fire in me that I did not even know I had.

You helped to push me to follow my dreams of running in college. I still remember you coming over for dinner just to talk about Lindenwood. To tell me about the town. The school. Coach.

Even after Ashley graduated high school, you were still there. You still came to meets. You still yelled out my splits. You still cracked my back. You still encouraged me to be the leader that you saw in me.

This upcoming season is going to me unreal knowing that I won't see you at any meets. That you won't be around the corner when I am coming down a hill. That you won't just pop up in St. Charles for the festivals anymore.

But I know that you will be looking down on all of us and cheering us on. Heaven really did gain another amazing angel. You will forever be in my heart and in the hearts of so many others. You touched the hearts of everybody you met; doesn't matter for how long you knew them. Your smile was big enough to bright anybody's day. Your laugh was contagious.

You were more than just my friend's dad. You were a coach. A friend. You were family. You will forever be part of my family. I will see you later.

To Vickie, Ashley and Casey; my heart is with you all. You guys are family and always will be. I love you all.