Dick Hoyt is a personal hero of mine who passed away at the age of 80 earlier this year. His son, Rick, was born with cerebal palsy. When he was born, the experts recommended Dick to put his son in an institution, but Dick and his wife did everything they could to raise Rick like their other children. Rick recieved a computer that allowed him to communicate and was able to verify that under his disability, he was intellegent, aware, and engaged with his surroundings.
Rick asked his dad to push him in his wheelchair in a 5 mile charity run for a paralyzed local kid. Dick wasn't a runner, but at the age of 36, he pushed his son in the race (finishing next to last). Rick told his dad "when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped."
Dick went on to run 1000 races with his son including 6 Ironman races (pulling Rick on an inflatable boat for the swim, riding a special bike with Rick in front in a special seat, and then pushing Rick in his racing chair for the marathon). Dick's fasted 5k (pushing his son) was 17 mins. 17 freakin' minutes.
Today we honored the memory of Dick and his love for his son.
Warm Up:
Disclaimer (and then some)
20 SSH
10 Grandma Maters
10 Toy Soldiers
15 Copperhead Squats
15 Mericans OYO
The Thang:
Swim:
Split into 2 teams, rotate through movements:
- 1 PAX 15 burpee broad jumps (the counter)
- 1 PAX pull snow sled loaded with 90 pounds of weights
- 1 PAX crabwalk
- Rest bear crawl
Switch exercises when burpees are over. We went for about 10 mins.
Bike:
One half of group does Freddie Mercuries while other half does copperhead squats holding a 45 pound plate. Count is 20, then switch. Again, we were in for about 10 long minutes.
Run:
One half of group runs a long 400 around the parking lot. One PAX is pushing jogger stroller loaded with 90 pounds–jogger runner is running rabbit–pushing pace as much as possible. Other half is doing walking lunges with 45 pound plate overhead (in retrospect, this was a horrible idea). We did 2 full rounds and then another run all together.
Mary:
20 LBC
20 Low flutters
Reflection:
Jeremiah 29:11-12 – "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
Dick Hoyt was a dad who did his best by his boy, and that's really all I know about him (well, there is that 17 minute 5k). When his son wanted to go run, they ran. God's plans for us are for us alone–we don't need to be concerned about anyone else. God puts our purposes in front of us, and we need to be what God has called us to be: a dad, a husband, a friend. We can get distracted by the world's ideas of greatness, but when we seek God's plans, we can find our true purpose.
Thanks for humoring me this morning, fellas.