Posted on 03/19/2021 2:20:16 PM PDT by NohSpinZone
Dick Hoyt, who died Wednesday of heart failure at 80, was a perennial presence with son Rick, completing 32 Boston Marathons between 1980 and 2014. Through bitter cold, searing heat, and windblown rain, they were an inseparable and indomitable entry, running and rolling up and down the hills, always finishing and always with the son one second ahead of the father, as Rick enjoyed pointing out.
“My favorite race,” Dick said. “My ears ring for two weeks afterward.”
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonglobe.com ...
The proudest moment I ever had as a marathon runner was passing these two at the 2006 Boston Marathon and having Dick give me a nod as I was clapping my appreciation for being in the same race as they. I still get goosebumps thinking about it some 15 years later.
Oh God bless him. I followed their story for years. Unbelievably devoted and kind man. The world was a better place for him being here.
Gets me choked up every time I’ve heard Dick said that his son “saved his life” because it forced him to get into shape to be all those races with him.
For every one who dies now, we need to ask, did he get the Covid shot, and when.
Now I feel really old. There were a few years when I’d go watch the marathon with my dad in the late 60s, early 70s. I used to say there were fewer people watching it in those days than there are people running in it now.
We used to watch for John Kelley. Not John J. Kelley, the guy who won it in 1957. John A. Kelley, the guy who won it in ‘35 and ‘45. Turns out he ran it to the finish for the last time in 1992.
That’s a great memory. Yes, John “Heartbreak Hill” Kelley ran his last Boston Marathon at the age of 84!
Hey give Rosie a break. She identified as a Boston Marathon winner. Works for dudes who think they’re chicks, so why not?
What a great story and a great runner, thanks!
A true trendsetter.
Dick was a humble and gracious man. He was truly an inspiration. RIP Dick.
That’s Joe Biden.
That’s how he “won”.
For anyone interested, here’s a good 30-minute video about Dick and Rick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQSrCBv0n1A
In case you’re up for it, this is a beautiful video set to a beautiful song, about the Hoyts, father and son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bF1Vol4jNA
RIP.
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