You Think Your Workouts are Tough?

When I was a boy whenever I was challenged with performing an athletic endeavor my older (and more athletic) brother would try and motivate me by relating it to somebody else who’s had a similar challenge and was able to overcome it.

Over the years you know what I found? No matter what the problem or issue in my life there’s always someone out there that’s had it as well; and often had it worse than me. Yet, they have dug down deep within themselves to overcome it. This, in turn, motivates me to overcome my challenges as well.

When I came across this video clip of a father and son triathlon team it touched me deeply. Talk about overcoming adversaries!

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 Dick’s son, 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.

So, the next time you find yourself complaining about having to complete one more mile in your run, or doing that 20 minutes left in your workout – remember this Dick and Rick Hoyt story and muster up your own inner strength to keep going the distance!

Robert Garza, CPT, RTS