Team Hoyt

Team Hoyt is a father (Dick Hoyt, b. ca. 1940) and son (Rick Hoyt, born January 10, 1962) in Massachusetts who compete together in marathons, triathlons, and other athletic endeavors. Rick has cerebral palsy, caused by loss of oxygen to his brain at birth because his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck.

Dick pulls him in a special boat as they swim, carries him in a special seat up front as they bike, and pushes him in a special wheelchair as they run.

Doctors told his parents that Rick would live in a vegatative state, but his parents, with the help of Tufts University engineers, recognized that his sense of humor indicated intelligence. At the age of 12, Rick was able to learn how to use a special computer to communicate using movements from his head. The first words he typed were, "Go Bruins!", and the family learned he was a sports fan. They entered their first race in 1977, a 5 mile benefit run for an injured lacrosse player who was a schoolmate of Rick's.

Dick is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard. Rick earned a college degree from Boston University in special education, and now works at Boston College. They continue to compete in races, and are also motivational speakers.

As of August 31, 2008, Team Hoyt had participated in a total of 984 events, including 229 Triathlons (6 of which were Ironman competitions), 20 Duathlons, and 66 Marathons, including 26 Boston Marathons. They have also biked and run across the USA, in 1992 — a 3,735 mile journey that took them 45 days.

When asked what one thing Rick wished he could give his father, his reply was "The thing I'd most like is that my dad would sit in the chair and I would push him once."

Birth

It all started when Rick Hoyt was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a condition that occurs when oxygen to the brain is blocked during the birth process. “It means the brain can’t send the correct messages to his muscles” [2]. Since Rick was coming out face up instead of a normal face down delivery, the doctors tried to manipulate the baby, a measure that put the lives of both the mother and baby in danger. Consequently, the umbilical cord became twisted around the baby’s neck which caused the blockage of oxygen flow [7].

Many doctors encouraged the Hoyts to institutionalize the baby at the young age of nine months, informing them that he would be nothing more than a “vegetable” [2]. Rick’s mother, Judy Hoyt, once proclaimed, “There is no way we will ever put our son away. We love him. He is ours. We will work with him and bring him to the place where he can reach his greatest potential. We will never, never put him away simply because he is different” [7]. Rick’s parents held on to the fact that Rick’s eyes would follow them around the room, giving them hope that he would somehow be able to communicate some day [2]. The Hoyts took Rick every week to Children’s Hospital in Boston where they met Doctor Fitzgerald. He encouraged the Hoyts to experience “risks” with little Rick by taking him sledding, rolling him down a grassy hill or taking him swimming. In other words, they were to “treat him like any other child.” Judy spent hours each day teaching Rick the alphabet with sandpaper letters and posting signs on every object in the house. In a short amount of time, Rick learned the alphabet [7].

Breakthrough

They pushed to have him educated in public schools but the authorities would not allow it because they felt he had no way to communicate [4]. Eventually they proved them wrong. When he turned 11, Rick’s mom and dad took him to Tuft’s University to the engineering department to see if there was something they could “rig up” that would help Rick communicate. Initially, the answer was an abrupt, “No way.” The persistent parents asked the engineers to tell him a joke. When they did, the young boy laughed. It was obvious that Rick understood and had a world inside him that was aching to come out and explore [2]. Eventually, the engineers developed a cursor for a computer that was attached to Rick’s head, one of the only parts of his body he can voluntarily move despite the cerebral palsy, and allowed Rick to activate a touch pad to communicate. “The engineers named it the Tufts Interactive Communicator. or, for short, TIC. But, for clear and obvious reasons, the Hoyt family referred to it as The Hope Machine” [7]. Initially, in order to build the computer, the engineers needed $5,000. The Hoyts set out to raise the money, no little feat in 1972, but they met their goal [4]. A door was opened and soon Rick was “speaking” [2]. He also got into school [4].

Team Hoyt begins

While at Westfield Middle School, Rick would be wheeled to the library instead of attending physical education classes. When the gym teacher, Doctor “Doc” Steve Sartori, got wind of this, he demanded that he come to class. Eventually, Rick was doing many of the activities with other students. There was a real connection, so when the teacher asked if Rick could attend a college basketball game with him, Rick was ecstatic. While at the game, Doc Sartori noticed a sign that read “Run for Doogie. Use your legs to help his. Show your favorite midfield your love. Fund raiser, 5-mile race on Saturday” [7]. “The athletic phenomenon that is known as Team Hoyt began one spring day in 1977” [1]. It was then that he and his father began to climb the mountain as Rick announced, “Dad, I want to do that” [2]. It was an “uphill” battle as Rick’s father, Dick Hoyt, was not a runner and was 40 years old. Organizers of the event thought the two would not make it past the first corner. It was Dick’s perseverance that allowed them to cross the finish line after the five mile run without coming in last. The victory came in Rick’s tapped out words when he proclaimed, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.” As a father, even though he had made himself physically ill by running, he shared in that joy by stating, “Making Rick happy was the greatest feeling in the world” [1].

Training

Perhaps that perseverance came from Dick Hoyt’s background. He was a career “Army guy” who equates his training to run with Rick with basic training. The running in the military was structured and involved those who breezed through it and those who struggled. Training made him faster and the one who could breeze through the “march” [1]. In the preface to Sam Nall’s book, It’s Only a Mountain, he says, “In Dick Hoyt’s world, the only difference between a hill and a mountain is something called attitude, and along with their courage and determination, the Hoyt Family has conquered many mountains the past forty years. ”

College

Another almost insurmountable achievement occurred when Rick graduated from a major university, majoring in special education, just like his mother. Rob Hoyt, Rick’s younger brother said, “I think Rick himself, graduating from a major university—a non-speaking quadriplegic person to graduate from college—that’s just...it still blows my mind.” Rick responds, “My hope is that by seeing what I can do and listening to my achievements, that all people—especially young people—will realize that I am just like them” [2].

Competitions

And so it began, the climbing of the mountain. After the initial five mile run, “Dick began running every day, Judy said. “He ran with a bag of cement in the wheelchair because Rick was at school and studying, unable to train with him” [7]. As of February, 2008, the Hoyts had competed in 958 endurance events, including 65 marathons and six Ironman triathlons [4]. They had run the Boston Marathon 25 times, but were unable to compete in the 26th because Rick was recovering from surgery on his hip in 2007 [5]. The competitions the Hoyts participate in are no small endeavors. It does not only require a specialized wheelchair that is pushed an entire foot race, but also the equipment and strength required to compete in triathlons. The running, swimming and biking event sees Rick sitting in a boat for the 2.4 mile swim in the ocean while Dick pulls a rope attached to his body [4]. Sound easy enough? The learning process to accomplish this next portion of the “mountain” came when, before participating in a triathlon, Dick had to learn how to swim. The gift of putting his son first has never failed. For the cycle portion of the triathlon, Rick rides up front on a specially designed bike [2].

Setbacks

Another boulder on the mountain came when an aging Dick Hoyt, now 68, suffered a heart attack in 2003, but was told his lifestyle of running with his son saved his life. One of his arteries was 95% blocked, a death sentence for most patients, but because of his good condition, he came through with flying colors and was able to continue competing [6]. Although barely noticeable, with the only symptom being that he “felt an unfamiliar tickling sensation is his throat, along with an unusual build-up of saliva” during a half-marathon and then again at several races over the next few weeks, he did report this occurrence to his doctor who promptly performed an EKG. The results prevented him from competing in the Boston Marathon for the first time in 22 years [1]. There have been many struggles along the way beyond the heart attack that Dick suffered. Dick had to have knee surgery when he twisted it initially in a race and again while trying to evacuate Rick when a hotel fire alarm went off. A tree went through the roof of Dick’s house and within a few short months Rick’s van broke down (the chair lift broke). An athletic association began a fund drive and although Dick initially didn’t want to accept the $90,000 they had raised and instead donate it to Easter Seals, he realized the need and received the check graciously [7]. Is there a cost to all of this competing? Judy, Rick’s mother, would certainly argue that there is. She and Dick’s marriage ended 14 years ago, precipitated by the fact that Dick and Rick participated in a 45-day, 3,753-mile, bike-and-run trek across the United States. Judy felt alienated and frustrated at the same time, wondering if Dick pushes Rick beyond his desire. Rick retorts, “I tell you the truth, it was my idea to being running with my dad. I do see my role as the inspiration of Team Hoyt. Also, I was overwhelmed with a sense of happiness that I could show that life goes on beyond disability” [2].

Inspiration to the world

Because the Hoyts have become an inspiration to many people worldwide, they are well sought after for personal appearances, making about 50 appearances per year to corporate groups [1]. When speaking in Milwaukee at a Best Buddies Wisconsin leadership breakfast, Dick Hoyt said, “He motivates and inspires me. He’s a very tough guy, and he doesn’t let his disability get in the way of things he likes to do” [3]. Some may argue just who is the tough guy and who doesn’t let things get in the way of what he likes to do, but the humble Dick Hoyt looks at it through his son’s eyes. Dick says, “I just feel now that Rick is the athlete and I’m out there just loaning him my arms and my legs so we can compete together” [2]. It is true that Team Hoyt has become, arguably, the most famous distance runners in America. Not only did they meet politicians Ronald Reagan and Rudolph Giuliani, but Oprah has had them appear on her show. They have also had a full-length documentary made about them [1]. Recently, they have become the subjects of videos on YouTube. They include footage of the pair competing in triathlons [6]. One would think that all of this notoriety would have produced stardom level attitudes and personalities, but the two remain humble in their competitions on the course and in real life.

Bonded for life

It seems as though the pair is inseparable and has no intention of ending this racing “bond” any time soon. It is the “rope” that helps them climb to the summit of the mountain. In fact, Dick Hoyt says, “Rick and I have this bond. We truly believe there is nothing we can’t accomplish together” [4]. Dick also said, “I don’t run without him. I wouldn’t know what to do with my arms” [7]. While he was a senior at Westfield High School, a teacher gave Rick an assignment to write an essay. He wrote about what it is like to be a non-vocal person. He said, “...At first, I felt cheated and angry. Even though my parents talked to and treated me the same as my brothers, I felt and knew I was different. I understand all things said to me. Being a non-vocal person does not make one less of a human being. I have the same feelings as anyone else. I feel sadness, joy, hunger, love, compassion and pain...” [7]. According to Sam Nall, “No one could predict what might be next for Rick, but a new challenge would never be far away. That’s the way he lived his life. To him, the finish line was only an illusion, a place to wave at the world while he caught his breath and considered his next move.”.

References

[1] Brant, John. “Team Hoyt Starts Again.” Runner’s World. 2006. http://www.runnersworld.com/events/boston06/Mag hoyt.html

[2] Hayes, Liz. “Team Hoyt.” Sixty Minutes. 27 May 2007

[3] Held, Tom. “Father, Son Together for the Long Run.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wis.: 20 Feb 2007: B.2.

[4] Henderson, Joe. “Odds Overcome.” Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Fla.: 10 Feb 2008: 1.

[5] “Hoyts Forced to Miss Marathon.” Boston Globe. Boston, Mass: 29 Mar 2007: C.9.

[6] Kent, Paul. “Strongest Dad Ray of Sonshine.” The Sunday Times Perth, Western Australia: 11 Feb 2007: 50.

[7] Nall, Sam. It’s Only A Mountain. 2. St. Petersburg: Chary Bdis Publishing, 2002.

[8] “What Obstacles?” Gainesville Sun. Gainesville, Fla.: 10 May 2008.

Audio Interviews

• Interview with Dick Hoyt on July 16, 2007 after being honored, along with Rick, as TheFinalSprint.com's July 2007 Success Story

External links

• Official website
• Reilly, Rick (June 20, 2005). "Strongest Dad in the World". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
• Rick Reilly article as cited by Congressman John Duncan in the U.S. House of Representatives
• "Photo Gallery: Team Hoyt". Sports Illustrated. June 13, 2005. Retrieved 2009-05-03.