{"id":48711,"date":"2014-04-19T22:22:16","date_gmt":"2014-04-20T02:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"\/news\/?p=48711"},"modified":"2014-04-22T10:03:27","modified_gmt":"2014-04-22T14:03:27","slug":"team-hoyts-final-boston-a-tribute-to-a-sons-potential-and-a-fathers-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/team-hoyts-final-boston-a-tribute-to-a-sons-potential-and-a-fathers-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Team Hoyt\u2019s final Boston Marathon a tribute to a son\u2019s potential and a father\u2019s love"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For those of us who are runners or who follow running, this Monday is not your average Monday: it\u2019s Boston Marathon Monday. And while thousands of runners gather to tackle the epic 26.2 miles, I\u2019d like to draw your attention two runners who will be marking their last Boston together.<\/p>\n

I remember the first time I heard about Team Hoyt<\/a>. It was several years ago, and I was watching coverage of the Hawaii Ironman \u2013 some people watch football; some watch baseball; we runners watch races. The coverage was interspersed with profiles of the runners, and that\u2019s where I first saw the story of father-and-son team Dick and Rick Hoyt.<\/p>\n

Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and his wife, Judy. As a result of oxygen deprivation, Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Told that Rick had no chance of recovery, his parents were advised to institutionalize him, as he would be a “vegetable.” But they refused. Instead, they brought him home and determined to give him normal childhood experiences.<\/p>\n

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At age 12, Rick was able to begin communicating with the help of a speech device. One day, he told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile race to help a teenager who had been paralyzed in an accident. There was one big obstacle, though \u2013 Dick was not a runner. Nevertheless, he agreed to push his son\u2019s wheelchair for the entire race. After the race, Rick told his dad<\/a>, \u201cDad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.\u201d With that race and that statement, Team Hoyt was born.<\/p>\n

For the past 37 years, Dick has pushed, pulled, and carried his son through thousands of races, including marathons, duathlons, and triathlons \u2013 including the grueling Ironman, made up of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike-ride, and 26.2-mile run.<\/p>\n

Along the way, Rick graduated from Boston University and moved into his own apartment. His wish? \u201cHopefully people will look at me as an intelligent person and look past my disabilities,\u201d he says<\/a>. \u201cI may be disabled but I live a very fulfilling life. I have showed to disabled people that they don\u2019t have to sit back and watch the world go by. They, too, can go to school, get a job, and be included in everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n

When called an inspiration, Dick\u2019s response<\/a> is simply, \u201cI just love my family and I just want to be the very best father I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The child who people said should be institutionalized will on Monday race with his father in Team Hoyt\u2019s 32nd<\/sup> and final<\/a> Boston Marathon. At 73 and 51, respectively, Dick and Rick will continue to compete in smaller races.<\/p>\n

Team Hoyt has shown the world the depth of a father\u2019s love and the absolute exquisite beauty of every life. Dick and Rick, we\u2019ll be cheering for you on Monday.<\/p>\n