- For the first time in nearly 40 years, Rick Hoyt will not be a part of the Boston Marathon.
- Since 1981, Hoyt, who has cerebral palsy, has been pushed in the race first by his father, Dick, and later by family friend Bryan Lyons.
For decades, the team of Rick and Dick Hoyt has been a fixture at the Boston Marathon. Dad Dick first started pushing son Rick, who has cerebral palsy and can move only his head voluntarily, through the marathon course in 1981. Their yearly journey from Hopkinton to Boylston Street has inspired spectators and runners alike.
Together, the father-son duo did every marathon until 2015. That year a family friend, Bryan Lyons, took over the pushing duties for Dick, who was then 74. Lyons pushed Rick through Boston from 2015–2018.
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That streak ends this year. Rick Hoyt, 57, has been suffering from pneumonia and has been hospitalized for three months, his father said on Friday. He’ll miss the race for the first time in 38 years.
Dick Hoyt said his son’s condition is improving, which they can tell by his sense of humor. “He is teasing his brothers when they go visit him,” he said.
Lyons will run Boston this year on his own. “Rick will be in my heart every step of the way,” he said.
Related video: Team Hoyt-For Those Who Can’t
Sarah Lorge Butler is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World since 2005. She is the author of two popular fitness books, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
