Ryan, who was six years older than Stephan, had been diagnosed with an enlarged heart as a teenager.

Stephan, the youngest of eight siblings, told the Florida Times-Union that his entire family was evaluated after his brother's death and it appeared the condition that enlarged the US international's heart and led to his heart attack was not genetic.

"Every time I run, whether it's racing or going for a training run, I always think about Ryan," said Stephan, who was fifth in last year's USA Half-Marathon.

"It helps me push it a little bit harder."

Stephan, who competes for the Bay Area Track Club, has not had an easy preparation for his marathon debut, as he wrote a blog recently which described an unexpected close encounter with a giant cactus after getting out of his car to stretch his legs while driving in Arizona.

"Unbeknown to me, there was a giant long-spined cactus right next to where I parked," he wrote.

"I turn my head while in full extension and, BAM! - I get jacked below the eye by one of the spines."

After what he described as "a disappointing finish" in the World Half Marathon championships, he started suffering from intermittent fevers, and six months later "pulled out a thorn" from his upper gums.

"The cactus issues prompted me to invest in myself and do everything I needed to do to start training again," said Stephan.

"If you suspect something is going on with your health because of recovery, training, race results, then there probably is...when you allow yourself to find solutions, you allow yourself to move forward and continue to progress."


Shay is one of six US runners announced today as competitors in the elite men's race on Sunday, April 17, the fastest of whom is 28-year-old Dathan Ritzenhein (pictured), who ran his personal best of 2 hours 10min at the London race two years ago.

A three-times US cross-country champion, "Ritz" finished eighth in last November's New York City Marathon and won a bronze medal at the World Half-Marathon championships in Birmingham in 2009.

A former US 5,000 metres record holder, the Oregon-based athlete was also sixth in the 2009 World Championships 10,000m final in Berlin.

He joins Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru, world champion Abel Kirui and defending London champion Tsegaye Kebede in a men's field that includes no fewer than six athletes who have run quicker than 2:05:30.

The other elite men's US runners are Jason Lehmkuhle, who was ninth in the Boston marathon last year, Michael Aish, Patrick Smyth and Mohamed Trafeh.

The latter pair are also making their marathon debuts.

"I am delighted to be returning to London," said Ritzenhein, who was fourth in last year's Great North Run but withdrew from the international team challenge race at last Saturday's Great Edinburgh Cross Country event.

"When I raced in London two years ago I produced my best time so I hope the strength of this field can inspire me to run another PB this year," he said.

"It will be a daunting task against such talented opponents but I am looking forward to the challenge."

Virgin London Marathon race director David Bedford welcomed his new signings, saying: "I am delighted Dathan will be running the London Marathon again this year.

"We have many of the best marathon runners in the world in the line-up for April 17 and hopefully that will give 'Ritz' the platform he needs to improve his best time as all the athletes build towards the London Olympics next year."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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