Love, Commitment and Inspiration: Team Hoyt

After pushing Rick in a 5-mile race to benefit a paralyzed lacrosse player in 1977, Rick said to his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped." How often do we get caught up with our own agenda and forego our child's agenda. Dick knowing that Rick has spastic quadriplegia with cerebral palsy chose to do something special for his son.

Then one day, Rick asks his father: "Daddy, will you run the marathon with me?" Dick answers, "Yes" and both run their first marathon together. No less doing the legendary Boston Marathon in 1981.

Rick then asks his father if he wants to run the marathon with him again and Dick answers, "Yes." They both run the marathon together again.

Then one day Rick asks his father: "Daddy, will you do the Ironman with me?" (the Ironman is the toughest...it requires a 4km swim, 180km biking and 42km running). The father says, "Yes" again in 1988 but did not make the cutoff. They did complete it the following year. Rick uses a special boat, bike seat and wheelchair in this competition all powered 100% by Dick. They attempted this all sounds easy...so check this video at runwithnoah.com.

Running in general can be tough. Running a marathon is even tougher. Participating in an Ironman is super tough. However all of these races are really easy when you put things into perspective.

This Team Hoyt Adventure reminds me of John Taylor's "Notes on an Unhurried Journey" that was published by Four Walls Eight Windows, New York in 1991. The passage clarifies what is important.

When we adults think of children there is a simple truth which we ignore:
childhood is not preparation for life; childhood is life. A child isn't
getting ready to live; a child is living.

Children are constantly confronted with the nagging question: "What are you
going to be?" Courageous would be the youngster who, looking the adult
squarely in the face, would say, "I'm not going to be anything; I already
am." We adults would be shocked by such an insolent remark, for we have
forgotten, if indeed we ever knew, that a child is an active, participating
and contributing member of society from the time of birth.

Childhood isn't a time when a pre-human is molded into a human who will then
live life; the child is a human who is living life. No child will miss the
zest and joy of living unless these are denied by adults who have convinced
themselves that childhood is a period of preparation.

How much heartache we would save ourselves if we would recognize children as
partners with adults in the process of living, rather than always viewing
them as apprentices. How much we could teach each other; we have the
experience and they have the freshness. How full both our lives could be.

The children may not lead us, but at least we ought to discuss the trip
with them, for, after all, life is their journey, too.

As of Jun 2011 they have done 1051 Total Events,

• · 240 - Triathlons (6 Ironman distances, 7 Half Ironman)
• · 22 - Duathlons
• · 69 - Marathons (29 Boston Marathons)
• · 8 - 20 Milers
• · 8 - 18.6 Milers
• · 92 - Half Marathons
• · 37 - 10 Milers
• · 1 - 20K
• · 8 - 15K
• · 32 - Falmouth 7.1 Milers
• · 22 - 11K
• · 14 - 10K
• · 4 - 8K
• · 1 - 7K
• · 154 - 5 Milers
• · 18 - 4 Milers
• · 140 - 5K
• · 1 - 20 Mile Bike for Best Buddies

Someone asked Rick what he would give to his father, and Rick replied, "The thing I'd most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once." So how are you spending your time to create the greatest journey for yourself and for/with your child(ren)!

I can't believe that Dick is 70 and Rick is 50. I am totally inspired, what about you?