Team Hoyt

One of the Boston Marathon's unique traditions will be on haitus this year: the father and son team of Dick and Rick Hoyt.

Dick, 66, and Rick, 44, have competed as a team at Boston 25 times at since 1981, running every edition of the race since then except for 2003. Father Dick pushes son Rick in a special wheelchair from Hopkinton to Boston because Rick is a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy and cannot run himself. Rick, a graduate of Boston University, is unable to compete this year because he is suffering from cellulitis, a common infection of the skin and the soft tissue immediately beneath it. He is scheduled to have surgery to alleviate the condition, but his post-operative recovery will take up to three weeks, putting him out of this year's race.

Over the years, the Hoyts have become symbols of perseverance. Prior to last year's race, Rick said: "Because we stuck with running and did not ever accept 'No, you can't,' we are now educating the world about people with disabilities, making them more aware of the issues that the disabled face every day."

The Hoyts plan to compete in the 2008 edition of the Boston Marathon, race organizers said.

28: CMM

Twenty-eight days to go before the Country Music Marathon. In a perfect world I would be almost ready to begin a taper at this point in my training. Alas, this is anything but a perfect world. I am still building milage totals. This week was good--though I really pooped out on my long run. I felt great through the first seven miles. But after that, I really struggled. I was supposed to do eighteen miles. Instead, I quit after just thirteen. Despite that small disappointment, my weekly total was a respectable thirty-six miles and my monthly total was well over a hundred. I am going to keep pushing to see if I can get caught up and actually give this marathon a go.

Run with a View

Although I never was able to squeeze in a long run this past week (I'll just have to try to do that early, early Monday morning), I was able to log a really solid 40-mile week by running morning and evening most days. That's the best week of running I've had since late November. And I got to do it with a most spectacular view (I took this picture while on my Friday morning run).

I'm home now and Spring really has sprung--so, I fully expect to be able to keep up the consistent milage (but, I'll have to do it the ocean and the sailboat, alas).

Running in Paradise, Part 2

Running in paradise is, well, it is just wonderful. Though I've not yet had any long runs--I am saving that for tomorrow--I've run at least twice every day for at least a three-miler each time. It is great. I still don't feel very confident about the marathon--now just five weeks away. But, hey. I do love a challenge.

Running in Paradise

It is amazing what glorious weather can do to jump-start one's running. My first day here in Florida, I was able to run twice--once before church, once after lunch--for a total of seven easy, wonderful miles. This afternoon, my plan is to get in a nice slow ten-miler. Let's just hope that I can keep this up and carry it over into my at-home schedule.

From Brisk to Beach

My weekly long run planned for today was supposed to be between 14 and 16 miles. It was very windy and more than just a little brisk. So finally, I had to give up after just 10. I remain way, way behind on my schedule for the marathon at the end of April. But, the 10 was a really comfortable 10. The really good news though is that I will be in Florida this next week where I hope to be able to reasonably ramp up my training and my milage (while also enjoying the sun, the surf, and the requisite seafood).

Slow Start

I'm nearly recovered from the debilitating flu bug that derailed me for two weeks. Though I am not all the way back, I felt like I really needed to try to get back on track with my training. The Country Music Marathon is just seven weeks away--and I am off to a very slow start.

Before I readjust my expectations for the marathon I want to test myself to see just how far this slow start has set me back. So, I am dusting off the training program.

I was in snowy Washington, DC on Wednesday and Thursday. So, my first workout back was in the hotel fitness center. It was probably just as well. But then yesterday, I logged a nice easy nine-miler. And this morning I added another four-miler.

Thankfully, I felt pretty good afterward--though I could tell that I've lost a lot of conditioning. This is going to be even more of a challenge than a marathon already is!

Never Tired

Getting the flu kinda knocks milage plans, good intentions, and training schedules right out the window. I've been sick for a week--and I still ache and even though I have only just trudged through the hours and days since succumbing to this nasty bug, I am tired all the time. I just have to get back on track soon or there is no way that I am going to be ready for the Country Music Marathon at the end of April. So, I have prescribed a heavy dose of General George Patton for myself. The tough-as-nails 1912 Olympic veteran said, "Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."