California Track & Running News Jan-Mar 2013, VOLUME 39 NUMBER 2 | Page 18

CTRN-JanFebMar2013-_Layout 1 1/17/13 6:28 AM Page 18

athlete

and a woman whom the Okamotos have come to
respect as a second mother to him, agrees. “Tyler
is one of our most consistent members,” said
Hodgson. “He lights up when he runs.”
That level of dedication shines through in
other aspects of his life, as well. Okamoto has
racked up more than 2,000 volunteer hours at a
Glendora hospital where he works 18 hours a week
in the cafeteria. Despite Okamoto’s disabilities—
many of which are social—he works well with the
group and is seen as a valuable member and leader.
He acts as a host for the Ridge Runners, often slowing his pace to help new and beginning members
of the club.
“Running provides him with a valuable social
outlet,” said Laub. “He’s not treated differently
than any other runner.”
And indeed, this normally one-word man finds
confidence and an ability to express himself
through running that he doesn’t normally have. He
knows everyone’s names in the running club and,
according to his mother, “He will spill all the family
secrets on a run.”
While he has been trained and taken care of
by the Glendora Ridge Runners for the past 4 years,
they are all quick to point out that he has taught
them so much more.
“This journey with Tyler has taught us how to
treat newcomers, how to include others, and how
to work with people who have differences,” said
Hodgson.
That is what makes Okamoto so special.

L–R Okamoto and
decathlete Bryan
Clay, 2008 Olympic
gold medalist, at
the 2012 Fit4Fall
Bryan Clay 4K in
November.

Hollie Reina

Tyler Okamoto is special. At 31 years old he can’t
make change