Andrew & Phil Dinsky after completing the Boston Marathon
Tedy’s Team rookie, Andrew Dinsky, will be running the 129th Boston Marathon®️ with Tedy’s Team, in memory of his father and heart hero, Phil Dinsky, who passed away suddenly from a heart attack in August of 2012.
Growing up, Andrew saw his dad’s passion for running and the benefits that it provided to his overall health. Phil would jog through their neighborhood in all kinds of weather, from humid summer days to harsh New England blizzards – he rarely missed a daily run.
“As a kid, I was actively involved in sports, but I always dreaded running on its own. Suicide sprints at the end of wrestling practice, or the grueling two-mile warmups before lacrosse practice were torture for me,” explained Andrew. “However, fitness was an important part of how I identified myself, a value my dad instilled in me from a young age.”
In 2006, several years after graduating college, Andrew realized that he needed to make a lifestyle change and get back into a healthy exercise routine. To do so, he committed to running his first marathon – Boston.
At that time, Phil was also in a workout rut and had lost touch with running for several years. When Andrew told him that he was running the Boston Marathon, Phil decided to join him.
“During this time, we forged a special bond,” said Andrew. “The experience not only brought us closer, but also helped my dad rediscover his love for running. It pulled him out of his personal rut, and both of our lives changed for the better.”
Their shared love for running continued for six more years.
During that time, Andrew and Phil ran three additional marathons together, including the San Diego Marathon in June of 2012.
Two months later, while driving through Vermont with two of his running partners on their way to run the Quebec Marathon, Phil passed away suddenly from a heart attack.
Since his dad’s passing, Andrew turned to other areas of fitness because it was too emotional for him to continue long-distance running.
Now, more than 12 years later, Andrew is ready to run again, and on April 21st he will be back on the Boston Marathon course to run every mile in memory of his dad.
“Since his passing, I have worked hard to educate myself about heart disease and how to lower my risk factors,” Andrew said. “While there are no guarantees in life, I want to do everything in my power to be around for my wife and kids for as long as possible.”
Not only is Andrew ready to run again, but he is also ready to do his part in raising more awareness of heart disease and the warning signs of a heart attack.
To support Andrew’s fundraising and awareness efforts, please visit his personal team member page and learn more about heart disease TODAY.
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