Dr. Barry Leonard is well known for his pioneering efforts in treating Keratoconus for people in Southern California and around the world. Since combining his optometry practice with his father’s in 1986, he has built a reputation for providing passionate eye care for his patients, many of whom started with his dad’s practice in 1957. Today, the third and fourth generations of those original patients trust their eye care to his practice. That’s a testament to his skill and a legacy to be proud of.
A Parallel and Unplanned Legacy
Did you know Dr. Leonard has another legacy he has built over the years? The same year Dr. Leonard joined his father’s optometry practice was the year of the first Los Angeles Marathon, and Dr. Leonard ran in it. In fact, he has run in all 40 of the LA Marathons, only one of 92 people who can make that claim. That’s a LOT of running: Forty marathons is a total 1048 miles!
The truth of this legacy is that Dr. Leonard never intended to run more than one. The first LA Marathon began and ended at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a historic venue and the main site for the 1984 Olympic games. At the end of the race, he lay back on a patch of grass to catch his breath. His Dad came up with his Super 8 video camera and filmed him lying there.
He said, “Son, I’m so proud of you, and you did really good, and you’ll do even better next year.” To which Dr. Leonard replied, “Dad, I can see no reason in the world to ever do one of these things again.”
Famous last words.
Why Run Marathons?
People run marathons for many reasons. For Dr. Leonard, running helped him stay physically healthy, mentally resilient, and ready to tackle any challenge. As he puts it, “Marathoning is as much a mental game as a physical test. You must have mental toughness, resilience and perseverance to overcome the challenges you will face throughout the race.”
There’s also a lot to learn to run a marathon and finish, like pacing yourself, staying adequately hydrated, and practicing proper race nutrition so you don’t hit the wall or “bonk,” as marathoners say. In one of his marathons running with a friend, Dr. Leonard bonked and told his friend he would lie down for just a minute. His friend recognized what was about to happen and bought him a popsicle from a vendor along the route. After shoving the icy treat into his mouth, the blast of sugar got him back in the race and across the finish line.
Running The 2025 LA Marathon
This year, Dr. Leonard ran with his new practice Partner, Dr. Alex Bennett. Dr. Bennett is also an avid fan of exercise and outdoor activities. So, he was excited to run in the 40th LA Marathon with Dr. Leonard. Once the start was signaled, the two ran together for the first mile, after which Dr. Bennett sped up to his preferred pace.
In keeping with their profession as optometrists, both men wore Oakley Prism Road sports glasses specially designed to provide high-contrast eye protection so they could see the pavement and any irregularities clearly.
So, how did the duo fare? Dr. Leonard clocked a time of 4:55.43, and Dr. Bennett turned in a 3:59:32 time.
What’s Changed For the LA Marathon Over 40 Years?
The first LA Marathon, held in 1986, resulted from the interest in running generated by the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. Over the ensuing decades, the race has grown significantly. This table provides brief highlights of the first and fortieth races.
LA Marathon: 1986 vs 2025
| Category | 1986 (1st LA Marathon) | 2025 (40th LA Marathon) |
| Registered Participants | ~7,500 | Over 26,000 |
| Number of Finishers | Data limited; at least 29 recorded finishers | Specific finisher count TBD |
| Men’s Winner | Ric Sayre – 2:12:59 | Matt Richtman (USA) – 2:07:56 |
| Women’s Winner | Nancy Ditz – 2:36:27 | Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu (Ethiopia) – 2:30:16 |
| Start Location | Exposition Park / LA Memorial Coliseum | Dodger Stadium |
| Finish Location | Exposition Park / LA Memorial Coliseum | Avenue of the Stars, Century City |
| Notable Events / Firsts | Inspired by the 1984 Olympics, there was a significant turnout for the inaugural race | First American male winner since 1994; 40th anniversary milestone |
| Legacy Runners | Not applicable (first race) | 92+ runners completed all 39 previous marathons |
Passing the Legacy Baton
While no physical baton is passed between marathon runners as in a relay race, in a sense, Dr. Leonard has begun passing the baton of his practice to Dr. Bennett. As you can imagine, Dr. Leonard’s patients mean a lot to him, and he means a lot to his patients. That’s a natural outcome of decades of compassionate and successful treatment.
He recognized that he needed to transition his involvement in the practice at some point, so he started looking for a colleague who shared his passion for the finest eyecare possible — someone who wanted to build and maintain their own multi-generational patient base while caring for those already in the practice. So, how did Dr. Bennett get the “nod?”
Like many medical practices, Dr. Leonard has had interns work for him as part of their education, typically working for three months. Dr. Bennett was one of 100+ interns. When Dr. Bennett completed his education, he reconnected with Dr. Leonard about working in his practice. Remarkably, staff and patients remembered Dr. Bennett from all the interns and characterized him as a great guy and skillful optometrist. Dr. Leonard not only brought him back to work in the practice but to eventually take it over. The baton was extended and is now in the process of being passed.
Experience the Best Optometry Practice in the Valley
If you are looking for unsurpassed eye care, whether for a routine checkup, treatment of myopia, or addressing Keratoconus, please call the offices of Leonard-Bennett Optometry (formerly Dr. Barry Leonard & Associates). No marathon experience is required!
