After a bicycling accident left him with 26 broken bones, doctors told Dominic Leventini he’d never run again. This Sunday, he’ll be running his third consecutive Los Angeles Marathon, proving his endurance against all odds.
A few years ago, Leventini became interested in endurance sports. He set out to complete his first Ironman, his first marathon, and had just moved to Los Angeles.
One day, he went out for a bike ride.
In a split-second, everything changed.
“As I was coming down the hill pretty quicky on my bike, a cement truck pulled in front of me,” Leventini told NBC Los Angeles. “And next thing I know, I wake up, and it’s a month-and-a-half later.”
Leventini doesn’t remember the details of the accident that left him with more than two dozen broken bones and a ruptured carotid artery.
Doctors told him his life as an endurance athlete was over. Running was out of the question.
“They weren’t certain I would have, you know, much of a life after that,” he recalled. “I was told, even after I recovered out of the hospital that I would never run again.”
Even with the support of his loved ones by his side during his recovery process, there were times when Leventini wanted to give up.
“It took a while before I could focus on how much worse it could have been,” he said. “The doctors said if I had ruptured my carotid artery even one millimeter more, I would have bled out in 10 seconds.”
Leventini said focusing on having a positive mindset was critical to his recovery.
“It wasn’t until I shifted my focus on what I had to be grateful for — that I still had this life,” he added.
Step by step, stride by stride, a grateful Leventini was able to exceed all expectations.
His dreams of being an endurance athlete were far from over.
“I’ve done four marathons, and a couple of Ironmans since then,” he told NBCLA. “I’ve done a 100K, 62-mile run.”
In fact, the odds stacked against him may have only driven his motivation.
“Part of me is always happy at the end of a race to prove people wrong,” he added.
This Sunday, Leventini will run the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon, not for himself, but for someone special.
He’s running for The Scooty Fund, a nonprofit organization founded in memory of Will “Scooty” Taylor, a friend he lost to suicide.
“It’s a great opportunity to get out and run and really embrace all those things we’re working hard for, but also start those conversations, raise money and bring together a sense of community to help in this constant battle that many of us have with mental health,” Leventini said.
And when he hits that 26.2-mile course through Los Angeles this weekend, Leventini will be running to heal and running for hope.
“When you get to that finish line, it’s not only the endorphins that are making you feel high — it’s that feeling of accomplishment, of tangible results, of ‘I just worked for six months, years, days,’ whatever it may be.”
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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