- Minnesota recognizes Gabriele Grunewald Day on Tuesday, June 25, in honor of the late middle-distance runner who died from a rare cancer on June 11.
- Runners in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are invited to join a group run starting at 6:15 p.m. in B.F. Nelson Park to celebrate Gabe and her impact on the community.
- Runners can also participate virtually by posting a picture of your run with the hashtag #BraveLikeGabe or #RunningOnHope on social media
On Tuesday night, June 25, runners in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are joining together for a special group run to honor one of their own: Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald, a former University of Minnesota track champion and professional middle-distance runner who died of a rare cancer on June 11 at the age of 32.
The short evening run/walk of 1.405 miles—1405 was Gabe’s favorite number—begins at 6:15 p.m. in B.F. Nelson Park and will take place on what would have been Gabe’s 33rd birthday. It also marks another special occasion: Gabriele Grunewald Day, officially recognized on June 25 by the state of Minnesota.
“I know Gabe is smiling down seeing everyone staying active and donating to rare cancer research,” Justin Grunewald, Gabe’s husband, wrote in an Instagram post. Justin—who was by Gabe’s side for nearly every step of her decade-long battle with cancer, both on the track and off—will be speaking at the group run, along with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
After she graduated college, Gabe moved to Minneapolis, where she lived and trained. Over the past few years, she and Justin both worked tirelessly on the Brave Like Gabe foundation. To recognize the athlete’s tremendous strength and commitment to raising awareness and funds for rare cancer research, Frey officially declared June 12 to be Gabe Grunewald Day in Minneapolis.
“Today the world said goodbye to [Grunewald], and in Minneapolis we honored her legacy, officially recognizing June 12 as Gabe Grunewald Day,” Frey wrote in an Instagram post. “She was a champion on the track and in life. Her bravery was an inspiration and her positive attitude was relentless.”
Gabe’s impact—both on runners as well as people who have been affected by cancer and other terminal illnesses—stretched well beyond Minnesota. In the days prior to and following her death, thousands of fans, fellow competitors, and friends shared their own memories of Gabe and her positive influence in the world on social media. Earlier this month, Runner’s World spoke to several people who were closest to Gabe, including her coaches, teammates, and track rivals. Each person shared their own personal stories about the runner, who was as much of a fierce competitor as she was a kind, optimistic person off the track.
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For runners who live outside of Minneapolis, you can still join the Brave Like Gabe group run virtually by posting a picture of your run with the hashtag #BraveLikeGabe or #RunningOnHope on social media. (You can also show your support on Strava by joining the Brave Like Gabe Challenge or Club.)
Runners in Providence, Rhode Island, can also participate in a Brave Like Gabe run starting at 6:30 p.m. in Lippitt Park to raise money for the Brave Like Gabe foundation. If you wish to donate directly to the Brave Like Gabe foundation, visit bravelikegabe.org/donate.
