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OMAHA, Neb. - (September 6, 2006) - Leonard Vavra won't let a wheelchair or a prosthetic leg stop him from crossing the finish line of another marathon. "My goal has always been to complete 100 marathons," said Vavra. He's come close. At age 78, the Omaha man carries the honor of completing 97 marathons. The Omaha Marathon on Sunday, September 24 will be number 98.
"Once it gets into your blood, it's hard to stop running," said Vavra. "I was very sad when I lost my leg and when my running career came to a screeching halt."
Vavra lost his leg two years ago due to complications from knee replacement surgery. Just when he says he was starting to accept the fact that he may never cross a finish line again, several of his old running buddies came up with a plan to make it possible for Vavra to participate in the 2006 Omaha Marathon.
Volunteers will take turns pushing Leonard in his wheelchair and medical staff from The Nebraska Medical Center and OrthoWest will monitor his health during the race. Each of the 26 volunteers will push Leonard for a mile.
"We're calling it the 'Crazy Leonard Relay'," said Susan Smisek, Omaha Marathon Race Director. "During all of his past races, Leonard made a name for himself. He always was hooting and hollering as he ran and we always wondered, 'Who is this crazy guy running?' Thus the nickname 'Crazy Leonard.'"
Vavra's running story began about twenty eight years ago. At age 50 after purchasing his wiemaraner dog named Blue, Vavra started running to exercise with Blue.
"At that time, there were only a few runners out there and there weren't any running clubs. Because there were only a few avid runners who entered races in Omaha, we became close friends. The camaraderie drove me to the races."
Vavra traveled the nation entering races in different cities every weekend.
"Once I started, all I thought about was running. I really got into it."
His wife, Delphine, says he lived out of his car traveling from one race to another.
"I was cleaning out his 1983 Oldsmobile last year to sell it and I found his Boston Marathon medal under the car carpet," said Delphine. "That brought a smile to my face thinking about the old times."
Total Respiratory & Rehab, a company that specializes in customized and specialized rehab equipment, is donating the racing wheelchair.
"We researched several wheelchairs to find the perfect one. This wheelchair is built like a jogging stroller that can handle a 26 mile race. It also has adjustable handle bars to make it comfortable for those joggers pushing Leonard," said Rob Matuszeski of Total Respiratory & Rehab.
However, the wheelchair won't be used the last 20 feet of the race. Vavra plans to walk across the finish line with his new prosthetic leg.
"Although I lost a leg, I still consider myself a marathoner," said Vavra. "I have a lot of fun racing. I'm not sure if I'll hoot and holler during this race, but I just might!"
Source: Andrea McMaster.
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