The other night I found my husband in his most familiar spot, sitting on the coach looking at his computer. Loud music was coming from his speakers, again nothing new for our house. One look at his face, tears in his eyes and mesmerized by what he was watching I knew that this was not "just another video". Coming closer to his computer all I could see was a dark figure running while pushing a dark figure in a special wheel chair. I sat down next to Scott and he started the video over so I could watch it from the beginning. With the screen in clear focus, music booming out of the speakers, the words CAN typed across a computer screen, I knew I was being blessed. I was watching love between a father and his son. I was watching Dick and Rick Hoyt, better known in the running world as Team Hoyt. Just so you know their motto is "YES YOU CAN".

Since watching that video 3 days ago, I have not been able to get the video, this family, these men out of my mind. I know from experience that if something keeps coming back to me; whether it is a negative thought  or something positive, I know that I need to pay closer attention to it. So, I asked myself, what am I suppose to do with this video, this family? I could and plan to donate to their charity, but there was something more I felt I needed to do. Share their story with others, tell others about this father and son's journey, spirit, their love. I can do that, so I am going to tell you about Team Hoyt--and the video "CAN".

Ricks journey started in 1962 when he was born with cerebral palsy. The family was told that their son would never walk or talk, there was little hope for him. Put him away--that is what the doctors told Dick and Judy Hoyt. They didn't, they took their son and raised him like they raised their other 2 children. What they noticed was that Rick would follow them with his eyes, he was in there, he knew what they were saying to him, he had a sparkle, a gleam in his eye. Rick spoke for the first time, via a special computer when he was 12 years old. He went on to attend high school, and this is when he came home one day and told his dad that he wanted to run a 5-mile benefit run. A fellow student of Rick's had been in an accident and was now paralyzed. He told his dad, "I have to do something for him, to let him know life goes on".

Dick was not a runner, but he could not let his son down. He ran the 5 mile race, pushing Rick in a wheel chair the entire way.  Rick told Dick, "dad when I am running it feels like my disability is gone". Those words were the start of a new and special journey for this father and son. Team Hoyt was born, the 2009 Boston Marathon was their 1000 race. They have run 60 something marathons, 25 of them the Boston Marathon, multiple 5 k's, 1/2 marathons, and 6 Iron Man's.

It was an Iron Man video that I watched 3 nights ago that seems burned into my mind. Dick swims the 2.2 miles with a strap around his waste, hooked to the front of a raft, inside his precious cargo, "Rick" lies. When he finishes the swim, Dick then by himself pulls Rick out of the raft and carries him to a special made bike. Dick again by himself straps Rick onto the front of the bike, checking his helmet to make sure it is secure. He pedals off into his 100 plus mile ride, I was tired just watching the video. The look on Rick's face, pure exhileration makes it clear, why Dick puts himself on the seat of that bike. After the ride, they run, Dick pushing Rick in a special made chair. They win the Iron Man, when they cross the line hours behind the official "winner". You don't have to cross the finish line first to be a winner. Anyone who crosses a finish line, running or walking a race is a winner.  Any father that puts his heart and soul into life, allowing his son to experince exhileration in his life, is a winner in my eyes. 

Dick vowed that as long as, "we are healthy and enjoying ourselves we will continue". I hope they do. I have been inspired by a lot of people in my life but these men are #1 on my list. During my morning run the very next day, I started to tell myself, "I am tired", I could feel myself starting to fight the running process. Instead the picture of Dick and Rick swimming, biking, running, crossing the finish line came into my mind. Quietly I told myself, YES YOU CAN.  Guess what I did.

Team Hoyt has their own website, www.teamhoyt.com go check it out, they will inspire you!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRHxHapwirw&feature=related