DETROIT – Jeff Agar used to pitch in the Tiger’s minor league system. He was always an athlete, but admits running was never his thing.
“I ran because I had to,” Agar said. “We did sprints, but never more than a couple of miles.”
Now Jeff Agar runs, long distances at that, because his son cannot.
“Every movement I make is a struggle for me, from brushing my hair to going to bed at night,” 22-year-old Johnny Agar said.
Johnny has cerebral palsy. He always wanted to be like his dad, which explains his love for the Tigers.
“The Tigers are always on my mind,” he said. “Whenever I get done training, I like to watch a good game.”
About six years ago, Jeff Agar had an idea to get Johnny out there competing.
“I thought, 'I could take Johnny on a race,'” Jeff Agar said.
Soon, the father-son duo was racing all over the place -- dad running, pushing his son in a cart. To date, they’ve done six marathons.
This year, they’ve upped the ante. They will compete in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii on Oct. 8.
“They say it’s just the most brutal day on your body,” Jeff Agar said.
Johnny was one of five in the world to be chosen to compete in the 2016 Physically Challenged Open/Exhibition drawing.
During competition, Jeff will pull Johnny on a raft during the 2.4-mile swim, bike with him 112 miles, then push him through a marathon.
Johnny knows his dad is putting his body through a lot, so he decided he wants to challenge himself as well.
“I got the idea to walk the final mile because walking a mile is running a marathon for most people,” Johnny said.
Jeff and Johnny Agar are required to finish in 17 hours. The goal is to get to that final mile in 16 hours so the dad and son duo have an hour for that final mile.
For more information on this inspiring family go to:
http://www.teamagar.com/