For Mike

You may have raced away, 
But your legacy runs on. 
The Garage still Gold.

I got this e-mail. I had no idea. I was shocked.

Subject: Some Sad News

Dear Friends & Family,
It is with unbearable sadness that I share with you that Michael has passed away from brain cancer, at home, surrounded by loved ones. While he was a public figure in many ways, he was also a very private person. Because of that, he chose not to share his diagnosis broadly, preferring to live his life as if he was living, not dying.

A little over a year ago, Michael was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Nevertheless, he faced this journey in the same way he approached all he did in life: with determination, discipline, dignity, and optimism. As a coach, he often told runners to divide the race into thirds: “Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the final third, with your heart.” In many ways, it’s how he took on his illness. 

Through it all, he continued to do the things he loved, including running, of course. In October, he achieved his goal of reaching 115,000 miles run, the equivalent of traversing 4 times around the world. As many of you know, mentoring and coaching were lifetime passions of Michael’s. He truly believed that the world was a place of abundance and wanted to share that with others. And in the process, he had the privilege of influencing and inspiring so many along the way.

For Michael, the magic happened when pushed outside his comfort zone. In a podcast a few years ago, he said, “As long as I can come across the finish line…knowing that I couldn’t possibly have run one iota faster, that to me, that’s satisfying.”

No matter what he did—running or living his life—he did it to the fullest.

He will always be on my mind and forever in my heart. We shared so much love and a wonderful life together. Thank you to everyone who cared about Michael. We are truly grateful for the impact you had on his life. 

A service honoring Michael will be held in January. More details will follow.

The news of Mike Fanelli’s death hit me hard. Real hard.

Haven’t been this struck by a runner’s passing since Steve Prefontaine’s.

I never really knew either man but they both seemed to know me. Especially Mike.

And, if you are a runner, he knew you, too.

We have all lost a friend.

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a45972197/mike-fanelli-obituary/

Norm Ogilvie

Shocked and saddened by the death of Mike Fanelli, as we all are. Good friend Jack Pfiefer, long-time Track and Field News correspondent and former director of the NY Armory Collegiate Invitational when that meet was in its heyday, has asked me let all who know Mike on Facebook to let them know that the track and field garage is in good hands in the state of Oregon, where Jack now lives. Mike and Jack met before his death and decided to find a permanent location for the collection of track memorabelia…Jack is already looking for a West Coast university to relocate and display all materials for the public.

Mike and Jack decided it will be named the Pfiefer-Fanelli Track and Field and Cross-Country Library. You can be assured Mike insisted that his last name be listed last, as was his humble nature. Let’s let others who knew him better than I properly eulogize Mike Fanelli, but let’s just say he was a friend and mentor to me who I will surely miss. RIP Mike.

Founder Greater San Francisco Track Club 1979

City College of San Francisco school record 10,000 meters 1979

San Francisco State University school record 10,000 meters 1981

Bay to Breakers color commentator 1984 – 2005

Elite athlete coordinator San Francisco Marathon, Jamaica International Marathon, San Diego Marathon 1983 -1987

Reebok International running / track & field promotions 1984 -1987

Hoy’s Sports 10,000 Meter Classic race director 1987 -1991

Head Coach Impala Racing Team 1990 – 2000

Coached 14 US Olympic Trials qualifiers, 1 US National Champion

Head Coach USA National Team 3 x (1992, 1996, 2000)

Hall of Fame Inductee City College of San Francisco 1988

Hall of Fame Inductee San Francisco State University 2011

Meet Director Kezar Mizuno T&F Invitational 1992, 1993

Promoter of San Francisco’s first ever sub-four minute mile 1993

USATF National Cross Country chairman 1992 – 1994

USA National Team Leader World Cross Country, Spain 1993

Track & Field journalist / Historian.

“SOLID.”