They Told me: "You Can't Run"

In the summer of 2009, in Lowell, MA, John Young stepped up to the shoreline, adjusted his goggles, and took a deep breath as he looked out into the water.  The river was already flooded with participants who had taken off in the waves preceding his and this was John's first triathlon - at just 4 feet and 4 inches tall.

Forty-three years before that day, John was born into dwarfism.
Before this race, John had never even run on a track.  He also did not own a bike.  John's first real bike ride, two years before, was on a borrowed bike.  But it wasn't a lack of equipment or opportunities that kept him distant from that starting line all those years before.  Going as far back as he can remember, the consistent response to his desire to try something new was "I wouldn't do that," or "You'll get hurt."

For years, John listened to those negative voices in and outside his head.

He held back.

He stayed safe.

In life, however, there are a few things that will lift you out of your own safe routine, have you putting on your superhero cape, and running out the door to slay dragons - or participate in triathlons - and one of those things is being a Dad.  If there is an unseen and unacknowledged fuel, driving so many of us to climb mountains, bust down barriers, and to soar higher than someone else thinks we should, it is being a parent.  You see, John had become a successful teacher at the Pingree School, a small and independent school on the North Shore of Massachusetts.  John's wife, Sue, had her own story of success as a Medical Secretary for a clinic on the North Shore.  However, they both began to notice their son, Owen - also born with dwarfism- was beginning to struggle with who he was.  Owen was beginning to feel being born with dwarfism meant huge limits and unforgiving obstacles to chasing after dreams.  This was unfair compared to his teenage friends.  

John- fueled by the blessing of fatherhood- put on his cape, and decided to race for his son.   

John and Sue were parents on a mission.  While John races and trains, Sue is the backbone, giving him strength through constant encouragement.   

John and Sue were out to prove - not to the world, or even themselves - but to their own child, that limits were a figment of one's own imagination.  They had 100% of their hearts into showing their son that when he believed in himself, he could achieve what he dreamed about.  At 4 feet and 10 inches tall, a triathlon had once been just a distant dream to John.  A triathlon had now become a reality, but it was more about being a Dad, than it was about the time, finish, or medal.  

John came in last at that first triathlon in 2009.

But friends, that didn't stop him.  That was just the beginning.

John worked hard and competed in three more triathlons that summer and Sue was always there to support and uplift.

As parents born into dwarfism, John and Sue were unapologetically teaching the world and fellow athletes, that when your heart is in the right place, your arms, legs, and wheels - no matter how tall or short - will follow, and take you to that finish line.

Looking back at that first summer, John remembers, "Having always heard negative feedback about trying new things due to my size, I was nervous about approaching a Race Director to participate.  But it was the triathlon community who let me in and I've never had a triathlon Race Director tell me I shouldn't tr(i)"!    

Since deciding to bust through the barriers others put around him, he has competed in 16 full marathons and countless triathlons.  Now 52 years old, John receives encouraging emails from people all over the world, thanking him for showing them what is possible.

One of John's favorite family-friendly races is a local triathlon on the coastline city of South Berwick, Maine -The Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival.  Just an hour north of Boston, this fall race attracts triathletes and their fans, from all over the country.  When I asked John what makes the Pumpkinman such a rewarding race, he had no trouble answering: "The whole community embraces this race...It's home grown, with every water stop run by a different community group of the Berwick area." 

John went on to say about the Pumpkinman course, "The bike course has rolling hills with no terrible climbs and the roads are in good shape... there is a spirit on that course; I had people high-fiving me on the run!"  If you've participated in, or have heard about the Pumpkinman, you know it has a delicious reputation!  John affirmed that reputation by exclaiming "And you simply cannot beat the food at the end of that race!"

I asked John at the end of our conversation what he would say if he could shout something from a rooftop for all the world to hear:  

"Your will has to be stronger than your won't.  You're going to have to plan, practice, and prepare."

And when reminiscing on what brings him back to the Pumpkinman and triathlon racing, year after year, John noted, "There are young children involved.  Young kids are seeing me out there - a guy with a different body - doing his best.  And if they or a friend are different too, then my presence teaches them not everyone is the same."

Nine years ago when John hung his small-framed, custom-made bike on a triathlon's race rack for the first time, with pounding heart and racing nerves, his will was stronger than his won't.

And today, you can see from family photos, that John's strong will has been passed down another generation.  John and Sue's son, Owen, competes in high school cross-country and track and is confidently showing us all, that obstacles are just a figment of our imagination.  

Way to go Young family. WAY TO GO!

Peace,
Annette