Yates to honor father
Josh Hall
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Sports
Every time Chris Yates feels like giving in to the burning in his lungs and legs that feel like dead weights on a long run, all he has to do is think about his father to find the strength to keep going.
Chris' father, Rick Yates, passed away on April 4, 2008, after a two-year battle with cancer.
"A lot of times I can go back to that bed in the hospital… and know how much I can really endure," Chris said.
Now, the man who first inspired Chris to start running not only keeps his legs churning, but is helping him to reach new goals.
Shortly after his father's death last spring, Chris set a personal best in the 10 kilometer run, running a time of 32 minutes 49 seconds. He's shaved another 40 seconds off that time this spring.
Chris is using his fathers' inspiration to not only better himself, but the lives of others as well. On July 11, he will travel to San Jose, Calif. to race in a 5k benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Growing up
Chris never would have started running if it weren't for a challenge his dad gave him over 13 years ago.
"When I was six or seven, my dad would challenge me to see how far I could run down the road and come back."
Chris' father was not the biggest runner himself at the time, but the joy he saw when Chris ran, coupled with Chris' natural knack for the sport, lead him to encourage his son to keep going.
Chris and his father would regularly attend local races and watch running events during the Olympics together.
In middle school, Chris took running to a new level as he competed in cross-country and eventually took his talent to the high school level, where he was part of Ozark High School's State Championship team in 2005.
Chris' Inspiration
It was the fall of Chris' senior year when his father was diagnosed with lung cancer.
"It was tough. My dad basically made me believe he was superman," Chris said. "I think everyone thinks that of their father."
Chris' father, Rick Yates, passed away on April 4, 2008, after a two-year battle with cancer.
"A lot of times I can go back to that bed in the hospital… and know how much I can really endure," Chris said.
Now, the man who first inspired Chris to start running not only keeps his legs churning, but is helping him to reach new goals.
Shortly after his father's death last spring, Chris set a personal best in the 10 kilometer run, running a time of 32 minutes 49 seconds. He's shaved another 40 seconds off that time this spring.
Chris is using his fathers' inspiration to not only better himself, but the lives of others as well. On July 11, he will travel to San Jose, Calif. to race in a 5k benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Growing up
Chris never would have started running if it weren't for a challenge his dad gave him over 13 years ago.
"When I was six or seven, my dad would challenge me to see how far I could run down the road and come back."
Chris' father was not the biggest runner himself at the time, but the joy he saw when Chris ran, coupled with Chris' natural knack for the sport, lead him to encourage his son to keep going.
Chris and his father would regularly attend local races and watch running events during the Olympics together.
In middle school, Chris took running to a new level as he competed in cross-country and eventually took his talent to the high school level, where he was part of Ozark High School's State Championship team in 2005.
Chris' Inspiration
It was the fall of Chris' senior year when his father was diagnosed with lung cancer.
"It was tough. My dad basically made me believe he was superman," Chris said. "I think everyone thinks that of their father."
Article last update: 5/5/09 at 8:07 PM CST
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