ORWIGSBURG
To most, he’s known as Zebra Man.
Clad in zebra print from head to toe, a painted face and wearing a 20-pound weight vest, Matthew Liptak attempts to conquer the beast.
“The Beast” is a grueling, military-style obstacle course with distances up to 15 miles called a Spartan Race.
Liptak is gradually becoming a veteran at the Spartan Race, but for him, competing has much more meaning.
“With the fundraiser I was doing, I thought if I trained really hard and placed in events then people would look at me and say, ‘What’s this crazy zebra man doing?’ ” Liptak said. “I figured that would be a great way to break into the scene and raise awareness about EDS.”
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a collagen-affecting disease where a body produces defective collagen, causing high levels of fatigue and joint pain that interfere with daily life. One in every 2,500 people suffers from EDS in the United States with a 50 percent chance of passing the gene to subsequent generations.
Liptak’s main motivation for raising awareness through competing in Spartan Races, Tough Mudders and any local events is his fiancée, Andrea Coller, who after years of suffering was diagnosed with EDS.
“She was always complaining about being tired and her joints aching. It would mimic the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis or Rheumatoid Arthritis and she just continued to get worse. I realized how little was known about EDS and that’s when I set out to create a scene,” Liptak said.
The 29-year-old competed in his first Spartan Race in 2012, placing fifth in his age group and 25th overall out of a total of 5,000 participants. He then traveled to Vermont in 2013 to compete in the World Championship Spartan Race called “The Beast.” With a total of 4,963 participants, Liptak placed sixth in his age group.
“The primary thought that I have while racing is that it’s not as bad as what these people (with EDS) are going through,” Liptak said. “ I have a couple hours of discomfort, but they go through it every single day.”
Liptak is a physical therapist assistant at Faust Physical Therapy, located on Route 61 in North Manheim Township. His employer is also his main sponsor. He feels the support that he receives from owners Jeff and Shannon Faust and from his fiancée is a crucial part of achieving his goals.
“Faust Physical Therapy is very supportive of EDS and we team up to reach out to the community and offer help and advice to those who may be suffering or may not have a diagnosis,” Liptak said.
As far as support from his fiancée, Liptak can’t say enough about what she means to him.
“Everything I do is in her name and she is there for me in everything I do,” Liptak said. “I really respect that she can stand outside in the cold for over 5 hours while I compete.
“I’m pretty sure that makes her even tougher than me,” he laughed.
Liptak’s race in Vermont was a 12-15 mile distance with various obstacles, on one of the tallest mountains and covering the worst terrain possible.
“A mile and a half before the finish line was the steepest part of the course and we had to carry 60-pound sandbags. Basically, your upper body’s cooked, your grip is cooked and your legs are cooked by this point, but you just keep pushing through,” Liptak said.
After every event, the 5-foot-8, 145-pound Orwigsburg native sets up a stand to hand out pamphlets about EDS that detail its signs and symptoms along with treatment options. Liptak also created a Facebook page called “Conquer the Beast. Save A Zebra” and a Twitter account called: ZebraMan@ZebraManRuns.
Why a Zebra?
Liptak explains that the zebra is the only animal in the Savannah that runs through the fire instead of around it. Zebra also refers to a rare diagnosis in the medical world as opposed to a “horse” diagnosis.
“To be the best me is to promote this,” Liptak said. “I don’t look at it as a pride thing. I’m just glad to have a cause to work for and to know that my efforts have helped some people.”
As far as future goals, Liptak has his sights set on five more Spartan Races, including the World Championships, this year and will continue to race as long as he is physically able.
“Every endeavor is all about persistence,” Liptak said. “Set the goal and figure it out as you go, that goes for anything in life.”