Redondo Beach Brothers Defy Odds To Race Together

REDONDO BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Tyler and Tysen Lucas of Redondo Beach are not only brothers and best friends, but teammates.

They share a passion for sports – Tyler named Tysen after boxer Mike Tyson – but it hasn't always been easy for them to compete on the same team, since Tysen suffers from several medical conditions, including cerebral palsy and scoliosis.

But seven years ago, Tyler began entering 5k, 10k and half-marathon races with Tysen, and the two haven't looked back since. The brothers, who now call themselves Team Lucas, participate in about nine races a year. They have their routine down pat. Tyler pushes Tysen in a wheelchair, but Tysen crosses the finish line on his own two feet.

"I just wanted to have a sport to do together with my brother, so we just started racing," Tyler Lucas said. "He loves to run, so every time I push him in his wheelchair, he gets really excited."

Tyler Lucas said the moments when the brothers cross the finish line together make a big impression on his brother.

"Tysen does understand what's going on during the race, and gets excited hearing his surroundings when he crosses the finish line," he said.