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Dick And Rick Hoyt Will Compete In Last Boston Marathon This Year

BOSTON (CBS) - This year's Boston Marathon will mark the end of an era. It will be the last for fan favorites Dick and Rick Hoyt.

They are marathon legends and a fan favorite along the course, but this will be the last year they run the marathon together.

Dick has been pushing his son Rick in a wheelchair along the 26-mile course for more than three decades. He had planned to make last year his final race, but after the bombings, the 73-year-old says he knew he had to run again, despite nagging back pain.

"It's going to be unbelievable, this is going to be our 32nd Boston Marathon," Dick Hoyt said. "Last year we did not go across the finish line we were stopped at the 25 mile marker. But we will be out there, we will get across it this year, it's going to be very emotional."

Steve Burton Reports

It is likely Rick will still participate in the marathon after this year, but someone else from Team Hoyt will be pushing him.

As for Dick, he still plans to compete in about 20 smaller races every year with his son.

Last year, a statue was unveiled in their honor near the starting line in Hopkinton.

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