'He had a lot of life left in him' Fallen Illinois trooper's brother runs marathon in his honor

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) — These mornings, you can find Ryan Thompsen lacing up his sneakers and getting a run in. He is preparing to line up at the Christie Clinic Marathon starting line on April 26th.

Thompsen is no stranger to these marathons. He has been running them with his family, and younger brother Corey, for years.

"We've done many races at the Christie Clinic..." Thompsen shared. "Corey did the marathon in 2018. I asked if I hop in and join him, coming off of a decline, we ran it side by side."

This year's race, there won't be that hand to hold.

Illinois State Trooper Corey Thompsen died last October, killed in a line of duty crash.

"As his older brother, it tears me up that I wasn't there..." Thompsen said."In a way, racing a half marathon and being in that discomfort, that's about as close to the experience that he had to go through in those last moments."

Ryan Thompsen will be participating in the elite field of the half marathon. Every mile, will be dedicated to his younger brother.

"I'll certainly be imagining him on the course biking next to me, giving me encouragement!" Thompsen said with a smile.

When asking Thompsen, what Corey would be yelling to him on the sideline, the answer was easy: "He's probably say you better not let up on the gas!"

With Corey's license number across his chest, Thompsen hopes to channel his brother's tenacity, grit, and determination to make it over that finish line.

"He would be all gas. No breaks, from gun to tape..." Thompsen said confidently. "And that's just how he lived his life! He deserves the best that any of us can give to honor him."