OSU: Helping maintain a commitment to fitness

Friday, October 10, 2014

Tim McCue has a focus on living life to the fullest and he’s happy to say that Oklahoma State University is helping him do just that. 

McCue, assistant coordinator of student conduct education, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 4 years old but that never held him down. His resume shows he completed his first half marathon when he was 18 years old and seven more since then. He’s regularly involved in wheelchair track and field, road racing and swim competitions.

 

McCue follows a rigorous fitness routine, lifting weights three days a week and swimming or racing his chair the other two days. When he moved to Stillwater in August he quickly felt like he was part of a welcoming community, especially when he saw OSU’s commitment to health and wellness as America’s Healthiest Campus. 

“The OSU Department of Wellness has been extremely welcoming,” said McCue.  “Kent Bunker, director of the department of wellness, and Jason Vlastaras, fitness coordinator, helped me find storage for my racing chair in the Colvin Center and they made sure that I was not isolated from the rest of the gym by putting my fitness equipment on the floor with the rest of the equipment.”

McCue’s first real exposure to competitive sports was when he joined the track and field team his freshman year of high school.  He likes to tell the story of how his coach showed the same tough love as his parents did.  The coach told McCue to “do the best you can with whatever you have.” 

During track and field, McCue felt like he belonged to a team.  His times may have been slower than others, but he continued to improve just like his teammates.  McCue credits his parents for shaping him into someone who makes no excuses to live life to the fullest.

“This is the life I know,” McCue said.  “When I was learning to walk, my parents would take me on their errands to the grocery store and force me to walk and it was easy there because I had plenty of distractions.  They have always made me stand on my own, even since I was little.” 

McCue says that he isn’t necessarily an inspiration or anyone’s hero, his life and his perspective are different, but his goals are the same. 

“Make sure you don’t become your own biggest obstacle, don’t focus on the reason not to do something,” McCue said. “Every step is a step in the right direction, you are responsible for your own success.” 

PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/sets/72157648524238256/

Story by Alex Marianos