Shake it off and move on!

What do the pictures here have in common? All three represent amazing people who are reminders to me of all that can be overcome. All four people in the photos have faced incredible challenges and perservered in their sport of choice. I look at their stories and and realize I can do this; sure it may not be fun, but just another thing to add to my arsenal of war stories.

Amy Palmiero-Winters ran the Cleveland Marathon in 2006 and shattered the world record for female amputees by a staggering 27 minutes. But she didn’t stop there. Just a few months later at the 2006 Chicago Marathon she smashed her own world record by another 22 minutes. But that’s not all. Her time of 3:04 was 12 minutes faster than her personal best from 13 years earlier, before she lost her left leg in a motorcycle accident.

Since then, she has continued to blaze trails for amputees. In October of 2009, she became the first female amputee to finish a 100-mile ultramarathon—the Heartland “Spirit of the Prairie” 100-Mile Endurance Run. But she didn’t just finish the race—she won, beating every able-bodied female, and with the second fastest time in the event’s history. The 37-year-old now has 12 world records to her name in everything from the marathon and 50 miles to 100 miles and triathlons, along with three Triathlon World Championship titles.

Dara Torres you may be more familiar with. She medaled in the Beijing Olympics at an age most said was "too old" - she is in fact the same age I am.

Last I look at Team Hoyt. Rick Hoyt was born in 1962 and as a result of oxygen deprivation to Rick's brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him recovering, and little hope for Rick to live a "normal" life. This was just the beginning of Dick and Judy's quest for Rick's inclusion in community, sports, education and one day, the workplace.

In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped."

This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days.

In a triathlon, Dick will pull Rick in a boat with a bungee cord attached to a vest around his waist and to the front of the boat for the swimming stage. For the biking stage, Rick will ride a special two-seater bicycle, and then Dick will push Rick in his custom made running chair (for the running stage).

Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded, "The thing I'd most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once."

The 2009 Boston Marathon was officially Team Hoyt's 1000th race. Rick always says if it comes down to doing one race a year he would like it to be the Boston Marathon: his favorite race. Dick Hoyt hopes that he is able to push Rick in the Boston Marathon when he is 70 years old (2011)! Neither Dick or Rick are ready to retire yet.

I had the privilege of attending Boston University while Rick was a student there. He went to class everyday. I ran the Hyannis Half this past Sunday and Rick was there, pushed by his dad. I bought their book and as Mr. Hoyt signed it I realized that with the right support team, nothing is impossible.

So the good news is - no chemo, no radiation. Surgery? Maybe. I really liked my doctor who grabbed me as I walked out of the office Monday and said, "Don't lose sleep over this - we can fix it". Like I said, with the right support team, anything is possible - I am looking for a KO for this 2nd round.