THE FACE OF GOD

by Kim Michael

What would you say if I told you that there is a man who has run over a thousand endurance races, including 72 full marathons (32 Boston Marathons), six Ironman Triathlons, climbed mountains, and crossed America riding a bicycle in 45 days. And in all of those competitions (to my knowledge) has never won a single race? Would you say–that he is probably the biggest loser of all time? You might if you didn’t know that much about what “winning” and “losing” really means; or the inspired way in which he lost; and how in losing, he has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people around the world.

Meet Dick Hoyt, a retired military man who at the age of forty began running races. A lot of them. And up to that time he had never run more than a mile; he did not know how to swim; had never climbed a mountain and had never biked more than a few miles. And the reason why he started doing all these things…is where this amazing story begins.

You see in every one of those races, Dick Hoyt carried, or pushed, or pulled his quadriplegic son “Rick”; sometimes in a wheelchair, sometimes in a rubber raft that Dick pulled behind him as he swam, and sometimes on the handlebars of a bike specially designed to carry Rick, and in all that time, Dick Hoyt has never run a single race without his son.

It all began in the winter of 1962 when Dick and Judy Hoyt’s son was born. During the delivery the umbilical cord had gotten wrapped around Rick’s neck strangling him and leaving him brain damaged and a spastic quadriplegic, unable to talk or control his limbs.

At the age of nine months the doctors told the Hoyts that Rick would be nothing more than a vegetable and should be institutionalized, but the Hoyts refused, which began a long list of refusals that would eventually save both Rick and Dick’s lives.

The Hoyts refused to leave their little boy behind. They refused to let his life be less than any other child’s. They refused to let Rick’s disabilities define him, and when the kids in the neighborhood played, Rick payed with them, in his wheel chair.

The Hoyt’s invested in a computer that allowed Rick to tap out words with his head, and eventually he went to public school and graduated.

But the real turning point came when Rick heard about a La Cross player who had been paralyzed in an accident and a five mile charity run was being held to raise money for him.

“Dad,” Rick said. “I want to run in that race. I’ve got to let him know that life goes on even though he is paralyzed.” So Rick ran the race with his father pushing him in his wheelchair. They came in next to last, but they finished, even though Dick was sore for two weeks, but Rick told his dad, “When we were running, it was like I wasn’t disabled any more.”

That was all Dick Hoyt needed to hear. It was the beginning of a race that Dick and Rick would run for over forty years—together, father and son. Over a thousand races in all, including six Ironman Triathlons; crossing America on a bicycle in 45 days, and climbing mountains. And in each of those races, thousands of people lined the streets to see them; Rick waving his arms wildly, grinning ear to ear as they passed; people applauding them, cheering them on, taking pictures of them and more than a few with tears in their eyes.

The Hoyts carried their message of hope to millions just through the simple act of refusing to give in, of having the courage and the sheer will to be more than their limitations. I don’t think you can see something like that and not be humbled…and inspired by it. I know the first time I saw the the video, I am not ashamed to say tears rolled down my face.

But that is not the whole story. Dick Hoyt admits that Rick saved his life as well. Several years ago during a race Dick Hoyt had a mild heart attack. With an artery 95% blocked he was told by his doctors if he had not been in such good shape from running, he would likely have died fifteen years earlier.

At the age of 73 and Rick 51, the Boston Marathon they ran together that day would be the last. It has been almost ten years since I wrote this story. In March of 2021 Dick Hoyt passed away at the age of eighty and in May of 2023, Rick Hoyt joined his father at the age of 61. For forty some years that they ran the races that inspired millions of people…including me.

Over the centuries there have been many artists who have tried to depict the true likeness of God; great artists like Rubens, Blake, Michelangelo, and many others. But you know what I think? Only yards from the starting line of the Boston Marathon, is a statue of a father pushing his son’s wheel chair in a race they will never win; his son’s arms waving wildly… and if you look closely you can even see the smile on his son’s face. That’s what unconditional love looks like, and I’m thinking …that’s what the face of God looks like.

Kim MIchael

**Thanks to Team Hoyt for allowing me to use the pictures in this story.

THE FACE OF GOD

THE FACE OF GOD

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Kim Michael– “IN SEARCH OF WONDER”.

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Kim Michael