Remembering Margaret Bradley

Posted July 10, 2007 at 02:00 PM by Bridget Sullivan

Section: Special Features, Announcements

Three years ago today, I lost an amazing friend, the running community lost one of its finest runners, and the world lost a remarkable human being.  Margaret Bradley, a medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a talented runner vying for an Olympic Trials qualifying time in the marathon, continues to inspire us as we remember her infectious energy and her love for running and for life.  Tonight in Chicago, from 8:30 - 11:30 pm, Universal Sole will host a memorial and fund raiser to keep both Margaret’s spirit and the Margaret Bradley Scholarship Fund alive.  The fund raiser will take place at Lincoln Tap (3010 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, Il.).  $30 entry fee.

The first time we ran together, she dropped me. 

The wind rushed across Lake Michigan and tried to bully us into quitting, but we monotonously dragged one foot in front of the other as we trekked down a deserted lakefront path.  The icy-cold temperature hovered in single digits, causing icicles to dangle from our frozen hair. 

I remember peering over at Margaret as she ran; her stride seemed awkward and much too long for her 5’4” frame, but as her hips and shoulders rolled forward her body propelled ahead.  I fell off pace, my breathing lost its rhythm and my stride ambled sloppily behind.  I finally admitted defeat; Margaret handed me her apartment keys and I slowly crawled back to her place as she finished the final 2 miles of what was supposed to be our 16-mile run.  It was the middle of February and we were training for the Boston Marathon.

When I received the call that Margaret Bradley’s body lie lifelessly in the Grand Canyon on a sweltering day in July of 2004, I immediately wanted to disbelieve and deny it.  Twenty-four year-old marathoners and medical students don’t die suddenly on a hike.  Margaret had yet to qualify for the Olympic Trials in 2008, graduate from medical school, find the true love of her life and buy a dog – she loved dogs.

Tears silently rained down my cheeks when I hung up the phone. 

I do not understand Margaret’s death; I never will.  But all I can do is celebrate her life and spirit.  Her energy was infectious.  Even when she covered over 90 miles a week, she still made time to grab nachos with her friends, watch a movie and study for her medical school exams.  She always seemed to be doing three things at once; in fact, she couldn’t survive unless she was magically juggling a running/working/social schedule that kept the rest of us in awe of her.

As a competitor, I envied her.  As a friend, I loved her.  The only time I ever saw Margaret down was when she was injured and could not run.  I’ll never forget the day she hobbled into the running store where I worked.  With tears jogging down her flushed cheeks, she worried that her dream of running the Boston Marathon was dashed.  Her body rebelled against her, but her indomitable spirit fought back and she made it to the start line.  Margaret finished 31st in one of the most prestigious foot races on a hot and humid day – 3 months before her final step - that forced many runners to lose pace and succumb to the heat.  But none of us who knew Margaret were surprised by her Herculean feat and finish time of 3:04.

She was running in the Canyon when her heart, stressed by heat and dehydration, lost its beat.  Her death is simply too tragic for words, but whenever we (her friends and teammates) run, her heart will beat within us and her spirit will run alongside of us . . . well, probably a few steps ahead of us. 

I will never remember her as the “marathoner” who died in the Canyon, but as the friend and runner who conquered every mile in the day – every minute and every second.  She never missed a stride.  She finished every race in life but her last, and now we must all carry her spirit with us and finish some races for her that she never got to start. 

Margaret is the athlete who died too young, but just as the words to the famous poem are eternal, so too are Margaret’s spirit and her running legacy, a legacy replete with determination, ambition and heart. 

We miss you, Margaret.

For More on Margaret Bradley, click on the following links: Margaret L. Bradley Award (GBTC and Universal Sole award) Falmouth grad dies in run at Grand Canyon: Margaret Bradley, 24, is remembered as an outstanding athlete “She worked so hard and she inspired people” Margaret Bradley, 31st female finisher at 2004 Boston Marathon, died from dehydration during Grand Canyon run. Her two clubs—GBTC and Universal Sole—create the Margaret L. Bradley Award Margaret Bradley Team Bio from Universal Sole Pictures of Margaret by Stan Hu

The Margaret L. Bradley Scholarship Fund: The Margaret L. Bradley Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Margaret L. Bradley (1979-2004), who completed her first year of medical school.

This Fund will provide financial aid to medical students in need a the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Annual awards will be given to first or second year students, who similar to Margaret, have matriculated from the University of Chicago College in the Early Acceptance Program, and demonstrate compassion and commitment to advancing medical research.

Please send contributions to: Attention: Andrew Welch- The University of Chicago- Medical Center Development- 1170 East 58th St.- Chicago, IL 60637 Andrew Welch phone: 773.834.2060