Father Pushes wheelchair-bound son through marathons; Lee writes story

Written By: TMC

Posted on June 26, 2007

Saw a report today on Team Hoyt, a father-son racing duo so unique that my own words can’t do it justice. So, let’s have their website tell the story:

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.

Without going all Rick Reilly on you (actually, I think he may have written an article about them a couple years ago…), I have to say, that’s pretty cool. But what does this have to do with fiction, you ask? Good question.

It reminds me of sportfiction friend and contributor Lee Klein’s story, “Carry Me Father No More,” which is featured on AGNI’s front page, and which is also pretty awesome. I got to see a draft of this story three years ago in workshop, and it was really good then. Three years of work later, and it’s even better. So, go check it out.

Real fiction-y updates on the way sooner than later– maybe even from someone who’s not me, which is exciting.

Update: Turns out SI did, in fact, write an article about them. The blog I found it on doesn’t name the author, but I’m almost positive it’s Rick Reilly. Anyway, here’s the link in case you’re interested in seeing it.

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