I have run on and off since high school and have consistently trained for and competed in half marathon distance races for the last four years. Still, a full marathon felt beyond my reach. I heard so many negative and discouraging comments about the undesirable nature of a marathon that I decided to skip that misery and stay comfortable in my 13.1 mile happy place were I could wax poetic about the joys of being a runner without having to push myself beyond my comfort zone.

They say that if you hang around the barbershop, you will eventually get a hair cut. As an active member of the Denver and Colorado Springs chapters of Achilles International, I have the pleasure to run with a handful of people who love running full marathons. I cannot stand for others to have all the fun without me so I started thinking that maybe I should suck it up and give the dreaded marathon a try.

As I thought it through, I began to wonder if there might be some myths and misconceptions around the grueling, impossible nature of a marathon. Why would so many runners do multiple marathons if they were so awful?  I came to some pivotal understandings. It is often the people who are not marathon runners who fear marathons. It is the ones who are not training at a high level that cast suspicion on the body’s amazing ability to adjust to increased physical demand. It is those who lack an adventurous spirit that fail to see how pushing oneself beyond perceived limits can be a thrilling experience.

I have been blind since birth and have heard time and time again “you are so brave, if I were blind I could not do half as well as you do,” or “I can’t imagine not being able to see. It must be so scary,” and “sometimes you have to admit that there are just things you cannot do. You are blind.”   I was struck by the similarities in negative attitudes about blindness and marathon running.

People fear the things that they do not know. If a person has never lived their day-to-day life without vision it will certainly be an adjustment, but with the proper tools and training, we know that all blind people can live the lives they want. Marathon running is the same. We are not ready for the race when we begin training, but by race day, we have the physical and mental preparation necessary to take on the course.

After I finally got past the myths and misconceptions and started believing in my abilities as a runner, I set a goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2016. This meant that at the very least, I was committing to two marathons, the first to achieve my qualifying time and then the Boston Marathon itself. I found a training plan I liked, bought some new running shoes, and hit the road to find out what I was made of. 

I am happy to report that I just finished the Boston Marathon, which was absolutely amazing. The course was challenging but fun and the crowd was electric. Boston really knows how to throw a marathon. I gave fives, smiled, cheered, and had a blast the entire time. One of the coolest parts was that forty of my blind peers crossed the finish line too!  

My life would not be nearly as rich without blindness and marathon running. I can honestly say that I do not want my sight back and that I am already signed up for my third, fourth, and fifth marathons with plans of more to come. In both the blindness and running world, I have found a supportive community of friends and colleagues who challenge me and help me become my best self. Marathon running and blindness have given me opportunities and experiences that have shaped me in wonderful ways.  I hope that I never again allow someone to convince me that a thing is too difficult to be done.  If I forget this valuable lesson I know that my NFB family will remind me that no goal is out of reach.

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