By Dave Andrusko
My oldest daughter, who regularly runs marathons and half-marathons, has talked me into taking baby steps–a.k.a. running (loosely defined) a 5K last Father’s Day.
She is gearing up for a shorty–a mere 10 miles–next weekend while I am trying to persuade my ancient bones that just because I tore a few ligaments in my maiden run, it won’t happen again next month when/if I run a 5K (3.2 miles) for a local organization that helps the homeless.
Running with Emily, as we did on Father’s Day, or just watching her, as my wife, Lisa, and I often do, have provided surprising blessings. For example, not so long ago, the three of us–Emily, Lisa, and me–got up at 4:45 on a Sunday to watch Emily compete in a very short race (by her standards) of six miles.
Beautiful day, up to a thousand runners, nice background music–couldn’t ask for more.
Lisa and I stood about 10 ten feet away from the finish line. Having not seen Emily actually complete previous races (there can be a lot of people bunched together), we were bound and determined this time to actually see our first birth complete her six miles and give her a high-five. By the way, Emily teaches vocational skills (“life skills”) to adolescents with special needs.
As we waited for Emily, members of the group that were running 3 miles began to cross the finish line, one by one, including a mom pushing a double stroller with two little kids in tow.
And then…one of those moments you don’t forget.
A guy, I’m guessing in his late thirties, finished unnoticed. He was pushing an adult-size stroller.
For a moment, I thought it was another double stroller. Looking online afterwards, I’m guessing it was a variation of what is called an “advance mobility freedom push chair.”
His compatriot in the race was a young man, probably in his late teens. He was safe and secure and warm, bundled up under a kind of protective tarp, his face beaming pure joy as they completed the race.
This special young man had a special need. His dad, his brother, his friend–whoever it was that pushed him around the small tarmac where the race took place–unceremoniously kissed him on the forehead and placed around his neck the medal they’d received for finishing the race.
I’m guessing that many of our NRL News Today readers have seen the “Team Hoyt” video to which people have added as background music, “I can only imagine” by Casting Crowns.
For those who haven’t, you’re wonder what/who is Team Hoyt?
It began, according to Jacqueline Mitchell
in 1977, when 15-year-old Rick, who was paralyzed at birth due to oxygen deprivation, told his dad he wanted to participate in a 5-mile run to benefit a lacrosse player who had been paralyzed.
Since then, Dick and Rick completed thousands of marathons and triathlons, including six Ironman competitions—that’s a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, followed by the 26.2-mile marathon.
Every time I watch the final scene [], when they cross the finish line together, I bawl like a baby.
As best I can tell, nobody was there that day at our little local airport (which closed down for a couple of hours to allow the race), with camera in hand, ready to take pictures and maybe write a story about this small but important triumph of the human spirit.
I’m sure the man was not looking for publicity. He was just doing the right thing.
But I was there. And I was blessed. And I so I wrote about them.