Boston Marathon legend Dick Hoyt dead at age 80

So sad. What an inspiration at Boston.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQSrCBv0n1A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnhDyc7AZ5U

Sad news. Such an inspiration. RIP.

They were a team for the ages!

Probably not the right time to say this, but I always felt like the father was trying to make up for son's unfortunate disability by focusing too much emphasis on his own exploits. Maybe I'm wrong, but something didn't feel genuine about all the attention this seemed to garner for the made-for-television feel good moment.

Yes, it may be a good move to just not keep going when you think (?) "this may not be the right time to say this..."

The journey for families who have kids with disabilities is varied. He brought a spotlight to Rick and agree with poster who called them a team. Heard him speak one time. That love for his son was genuine. His athletic accomplishments gave him a life.

I had the honor of meeting both of them in the 2009 Boston pre-race expo and then encountering them the next day on the course. What an inspiration! I remember Rick saying in an NPR interview that his dream was that one day they could reverse roles and he would get to push his Dad. RIP, my prayers go out to him and his family.

Yeah probably not the best time to bring that up lol. And I disagree strongly

The guy was a beast! I raced against them many times back in the late 70's and 80's. As a newbie back then, he was running marathons in the 2:40's. And, Rick's chair wasn't the most advanced technology at that time. He was one tough competitor. I got to chat with him at a race in Plymouth a few years ago and we reminisced about a number of past races. RIP.

RIP to a real one.

My first Boston marathon was more of a vacation for me. I stopped running seriously after college and would just train for a few months a year and do a marathon. So I qualified and thought it would be a fun thing to experience, despite my job keeping me too busy to train really from 1/15 - 4/1, so I had about two weeks of running after a few months off which I thought was enough for me to finish.

Not surprisingly the last half was a death march, but I remember seeing Dick and Rick out there working as i was having a pity party for myself and it really resonated with me. What an incredible inspiration they were. Glad at the life that Dick lived.

TMADDDHASFNE wrote:

Probably not the right time to say this, but I always felt like the father was trying to make up for son's unfortunate disability by focusing too much emphasis on his own exploits. Maybe I'm wrong, but something didn't feel genuine about all the attention this seemed to garner for the made-for-television feel good moment.

I can see how someone might come to that conclusion. I'll share two personal experiences where I feel he did it for the love of running and love of being with his son. First, I stopped to help him at the beginning of the New Bedford 1/2 due to an issue with a tire. I asked him if he needed any help and he told me no, "we've got this" Another time they did a 5k in Hopedale, MA in a drenching thunderstorm May 8 2010. No press, no TV, no one but 100 people who ran for the love of it.

I in no way meant to diminish or denigrate his accomplishments along with his relationship with his son. My limited knowledge of the pair comes from some of the coverage of their exploits during the Kona Ironman races many years ago. I recall at least one of the races was extremely hot and brutal and it appeared as both were suffering. It just seemed to me at the time that putting his son through the experience was somewhat dangerous if something had gone wrong in the swim or out on the hot lava fields. It's open thing to put your own body at risk in an extreme sport such as a full Ironman, it's another to compromise someone else's for even a noble cause.

RIP Dick. Legend.

Total Legend!

Respect. Complete 100% respect for the man.

This is really sad news.

I met Dick a couple times at the Boston Marathon Expo many years ago. The first time was shortly before my son was born. I remember admiring him for the love he showed to his son and how I would want to do the same thing for my child if I was in a similar circumstance. This guy was the definition of a great father and human being.

TMADDDHASFNE wrote:

I in no way meant to diminish or denigrate his accomplishments along with his relationship with his son. My limited knowledge of the pair comes from some of the coverage of their exploits during the Kona Ironman races many years ago. I recall at least one of the races was extremely hot and brutal and it appeared as both were suffering. It just seemed to me at the time that putting his son through the experience was somewhat dangerous if something had gone wrong in the swim or out on the hot lava fields. It's open thing to put your own body at risk in an extreme sport such as a full Ironman, it's another to compromise someone else's for even a noble cause.

Yeah, you should sit this one out. As you say, most of us have “limited knowledge”, so why say something that is absolutely diminishing and denigrating despite your attempt to walk it back a bit.

I thought he was inspiring and his son loved it from the media I saw.

RIP I was just thinking about them and how much I loved watching them.

Dick deserved at least a healthy 100 years. RIP to a man who loved his son and has run numerous marathons faster pushing his son than I can/could muster solo. I passed them in the Boston Marathon in 2006 and it completed a perfect day for me. Good time and running with the Hoyts.