11/21/2025
Adaptive Endurance Athlete: Adam Fleisher
Q: What inspires you to stay active in your sport or training?
A: I was diagnosed with a genetic defect in both knees at 13 and told I would never run again. I didn’t run for two decades. Today, I’m inspired by the doctor who said I never would — and by my daughter. I want her to see that even with limitations, you can still do the impossible.
Q: What’s your favorite Medi-Dyne product, and how does it help you?
A: SportShield XTRA. I used to deal with terrible chafing, and nothing worked until I found SportShield. Since then, I’ve been able to run any distance, in any weather — rain, blizzards, heat, wind — with zero chafing. My only “hack” is using more than I think I need.
Q: What’s one song you could train or compete to for the rest of your life?
A: One of three songs: Dead Sara “Weatherman,” House of Pain “Jump Around,” or Bu****le Surfers “Pepper.”
Q: Tell us a bit about your running journey.
A: My journey into walking and running is somewhat unique. When I was 13, I was diagnosed with a genetic defect in both knees and told I would never run again. In my mid-teens, I had surgery on both knees, then again in my late teens. When I was 34, I had both knees replaced, and in my 40s, I had my fourth knee surgery on both knees.
I started walking when my daughter joined a kids' running group. Eventually, I ran 0.25 miles. In June 2014, I ran and walked my first 5K and was hooked. I have participated in over 180 events, crossing every finish line. I later learned I also have multiple autoimmune diseases and other medical conditions. I have run and walked everything from 5Ks to marathons to a 100-mile ultra in 2020. Now I am a walker.
My journey to become and remain active is a daily struggle. I am a disabled athlete who loves to inspire, encourage, and motivate others to start or remain active. I have also had the honor of being the first mobility-impaired runner to compete and finish races — trail, road, and a variety of distances. This picture was taken at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, where I was told I was the first disabled athlete to run and finish the race.
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