Senior Olympian race walker turns tragedy to triumph

Senior Olympian Mike Devaney was inspired to stay active out of necessity.

Three years ago, Devaney nearly died bed ridden with shingles, pneumonia and ribs that exploded. He knew it was time for a change.

Devaney, who designed hotels and casinos for a living, made a choice to partake in a massive exercise regime and entered in competitions all over the country in an attempt to stay active.

Montana was the 40th state he visited and was headed to New York the day after the race walk Senior Olympic competition.

“I chose to exercise as a way to get back walking and I just got faster and faster at the Senior Olympics,” Devaney said.’

Devaney hasn’t lost many races and says he wins in about half of the states where he enters.

“I win in about half of the states and I win in all age groups 50-and-above,” Devaney said. “I got fifth in Nationals at Birmingham.”

Walt Egged, another power walker, said he always ran to stay in shape.

“I’ve always just run to try to stay in shape and I’ve run all my life,” Egged said. “I used to run when I was younger. We had eight kids in the family and only one bicycle. I would run to ride the bicycle.”

Egged, whose wife died of breast cancer after it re-emerged from remission, said he is committed to stay in shape.

“I just make sure I stay in shape until the end,” Egged said. “I really concentrate on landing on my heels when I power walk. That gets your legs going and you are supposed to keep your legs straight.”

Egged, now having competed in his 7th National Senior Olympics, said he has a lot of experience.

“I ran a 5K road race and I began in Big Sky State Games,” Egged said. “I’ve done some other things like the Big Sky softball throw, javelin throw, and I’ve done 400-meters to pick up my speed. I just have to try a little bit of everything.”

Dillon resident Wade Hanson continues to power walk as part of his regime to stay active.

Hanson, who climbs mountains two to three hundred miles and walks about 10 miles a day in the fall, said his activity level keeps him in good shape.

“When I was doing a test for the life insurance test, I got the insurance for about a third of the price because of my stats,” Hanson said. “I have blood pressure that is 110 over 70. I just started this last year to keep in shape all of the time. I run on the treadmill if I don’t get a chance to do work outside. The college invited me to run 5K because I could run up and down those mountains. I was an old man at 67 years old and placed 10th out of 22 people that were running, not walking.”

A former wrestler in college, he said he does this for the camaraderie.

“Everyone just gets along with each other and the competition is fun and friendly,” Hanson said.