Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Inspired
What do you do to get inspired? Is there a book you read? A place you visit? A saying you tell yourself? A movie you watch? I remind myself of this father son team - the Hoyt's. A little about them...
"Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America.

It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can't walk or talk.

For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 65, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick. "

That was taken from their website. You see, Rick is a quadriplegic, has cerebral palsy, and can't speak. Their story amazes me. And when I need to be inspired, I watch this video...(grab some tissue)

10 comments:

Jessica said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this story, I heard it a few year ago(not sure where) and had forgotten about it, thanks for sharing!!!

eve said...

Thanks for making me bawl like a baby. That is so amazing,and hits close to home. My mom was the only physically normal child out of four in her family.

Anonymous said...

melissa! thank you for sharing this! wow! i never heard of this before tonight. as i watched their video and listened to the perfect song that was picked to accompany this, i just choked back the tears, but still tears came. wow! truly amazing.

you know what else? kinda wild coincidence. i posted tonight and i talked about this exact same song, "i can only imagine" by mercyMe. come and see the post.

~thank you thank you for moving me to tears tonight. so inspiring. hugs my friend, kathleen :)

Anonymous said...

one more thing, i posted about this song etc BEFORE i read your post. twlight zone music begins .... :)

Heather said...

I, too, love this video. It's such a great example of a parent's love and devotion to his child.

Justine said...

I remember reading about them in Runner's World a few years back.

I get motivated by good music. And little quotes I stick up in places I look every day.

And then sometimes, I look at my thighs and they motivate me... right out the front door for a long run.

Melissa said...

Jessica - it is one of my favorites! It just moves me

Eve - You're welcome :) Wasn't really my intent to make you bawl, but that's what happens to me too. I bet your mom is a pretty strong lady :)

Kathleen - hmmm... maybe we need to check with each other before blogging... ;)

Heather - I'm glad you liked it too! I know it inspires me to be a better parent and to get out there and do things!

Justine - LOL! My body is a motivator too :D

Anonymous said...

melissa: anytime baby! ha. my phone number is 907.24..... it's in an email to ya. talk later, loved this post and story and everything. chow, kathleen :)

Anonymous said...

hey melissa: come and see. i highlighted YOU in my post tonight. for real. tootles, kathleen :)

Kat said...

Oh wow that was awesome!