Very Sad Story

The following is a story that is a tough one for me to post - a young dad, only 32, participated in a Dallas-area half-marathon this weekend, and after he crossed the finish line, he fell and died. It is a personal connection for us because one of our hygenists was right behind him and his brother at the finish line and was there during the CPR. Sad deal...

You never know when your life will end. This man was in great shape and just ran 13.1 miles. Live your life. Tell your loved ones that you care - every day. Laugh.

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Family Shocked by Half-Marathoner's Death
Brother: "Should have been me: I'm 10 years older"
by Ellen Goldberg
A North Texas family is mourning the loss of a young father who died at a Dallas half-marathon.

Mark Austry, 32, a former baseball player for Texas Tech and the Fort Worth Cats, collapsed just seconds after crossing the finish line at Sunday's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Dallas on Sunday.

“We high-fived, (and) he got a glass of water,” said Michael Austry, who ran the 13.1 mile race alongside his younger brother. “I turned around and just missed catching him; he was out.”

Paramedics tried to revive the Lantana husband and father of two girls. He was rushed to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas but never regained consciousness.

Family Mourns Fallen Marathon Runner

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“They did a great job trying to keep him with us, but it didn't take," his brother said.

Mark Austry had been athlete his entire life. He played baseball in college and professionally at one time for the Fort Worth Cats.

Michael Austry, his elder by nearly 11 years, was the runner in the family. He said he talked his brother into running the half-marathon.

“It’s hard to acknowledge it, but I think he did it because he loved me, because he wanted to spend some time on something he knows I do," he said.

The initial autopsy report from the medical examiner was inconclusive.

Michael Austry said his brother was in top shape and had no known health issues prior to Sunday's race.

“I don't know if our pace was too fast, if it would have happened anyhow, if we should have walked," he said. "But why would we walk? He felt good.”

He said they stopped for water several times and cracked jokes along the course.

Mark Austry is survived by his wife and two daughters, ages 1 and 3.

Michael Austry and his wife are expecting their first child this summer, and he said he hopes to be half as good of a father as his younger brother.

Services for Mark Austry are scheduled for Friday at Saint Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell. A fund has also been set up for Austry's daughters. Donations can be made at any Edward Jones Investment firm across the state in care of the "Austry girls."