Just Amazing

If you live in Massachusetts today its three things.

-Patriots Day
-A Red Sox late morning game
-The 110th Running of the Boston Marathon.

For kids of school age its also "April Vacation". I recall as a young lad heading a few miles from my home to watch the Boston Marathon in nearby Ashland MA, (about 6 miles in I think). You'd see the elite runners go past then over the next 1hr+ you'd see sea after sea of people. Every marathoner has a story, or a reason for doing so but one set of runner(s) that have really stood our are these two.



That is Dick and Rick Hoyt.

Today Dick will push son Rick the 26.2 miles for the 25th time.

Rick was born with Cerebral Pasly and the two have made over 950 race appearances.

Now, to make you feel even more of "couch potato" lets have a look at the Dad.

-He is 65 years old.
-He ran his first marathon ever at age 40 and he pushed Rick.
- After their 5th marathon they decided to try Triatholon. (You know 2+ miles swim 100+ miles on a bile then a full 26.2) before they could do that Dick had to learn to swim. After the first try with Rick in a rubber raft they modified things. Now when they do the Triatholon Dick pulls Rick via a harness strapped to his chest..all the while pulling a nine foot Boston Whaler.

Here is a little blurb from this story about one race.

In 1999 Rick and Dick completed one of the most grueling tests of endurance in the world of sports—the Ironman Triathlon. In 1999 they returned to Hawaii to compete again. Along with 1,500 athletes, Rick and his father set out to complete the 2.4-mile swim, the 112-mile bike ride, and the 26.2-mile run.
The first leg of the competition went without a hitch as Dick swam the course, towing Rick behind him in a raft. Fifty miles into the bike race, however, island tradewinds hampered their efforts, and their 15-year-old bicycle broke down. Rick was determined to finish the race. After a costly delay, the two athletes arrived at the bike-to-run transition 90 minutes past the cut-off time. Dick buckled Rick in the bicycle seat and they were off again. Undeterred by exhaustion and the torturous up-hill course, father and son pressed on and crossed over the final finish line 45 minutes under the 17-hour limit.

Dick has said that 25 years ago they were viewed as a freak show not a runner, not a wheelchair competitor, now its hard to even imagine seeing the race without them

All you need to do is put in Dick Hoyt in to google and read the hundreds of stories about this amazing team. In this day and age where pro athletes are paid sky high salaries and seem to be put out by helping those less fortunate its so refreshing to see the adoration these two get, for just doing what they love