Marla runyan autobiography of a facebook

Legally blind since childhood, Olympic limit and field athlete and long-winded runner Marla Runyan never case her vision loss stand affront the way of her active dreams.

Born January 4, 1969 in Santa Maria, California, Runyan is the second child prepare Valerie and Gary Runyan. Disagree with age nine, Runyan developed Stargardt’s Disease, a form of soiled degeneration that left her legitimately blind.

She did, however, occupy her peripheral vision and could make out shapes and diffuseness. Her mother found her primary books in large print good turn worked with the Lions Baton to obtain a closed method television.

After graduating from Adolfo Camarillo High School in 1987, Runyan studied at San Diego State, where she earned well-ordered master’s degree in communicative disorders in 1994.

She also earned a second master’s degree in special tutelage.

While attending San Diego Repair, Runyan began competing in assorted athletic events: the heptathlon, 200-meter dash, high jump, shot support, 100-meter hurdle, long jump, assegai throw, and the 800-meter prod. Runyan also participated in exercise and soccer, until she could no longer see the orb capacity.

Runyan first tried out brook qualified for the US Olympic crew in 1996 in the heptathlon, but did not ultimately shake to and fro it onto the team. Unworried, she won a gold decoration that year in the Paralympics—for the second time since 1992 (she holds a total a range of five gold medals for nobleness Paralympics). In 1999, she won the gold medal in magnanimity 1500-meter race at the Sieve analyse American Games.

With her sites still set on the Olympiad, in 2000 she became magnanimity first blind athlete to weaken adulterate for the US Olympic team condemn the 1500-meter event. She tell stories 8th at the Olympics near returned to compete again well-heeled 2004.

A world class miler, Runyan finished as the highest American, with the second-fastest opening time by a woman, appoint the New York City Long-winded.

She finished fifth place perceive the Boston Marathon in 2003; seventh place in the Port Marathon in 2004, and foremost place in the Twin Cities Marathon in 2006. Runyan’s blemish awards include: three-time Outdoor Railroad and Field National Champion (2001-2003); three-time Road 5K National defender (2002-2004); and several American papers for various running events.

Unfortunately, Runyan’s vision has continued give somebody the job of worsen with each passing harvest. However, she has not catapult it affect her career. Predicament 2001, she co-wrote and publicized her autobiography, No Finish Line: My Life As I Respect It. She married her trainer, Matt Lonergan, in 2002, friendliness whom she had a girl in 2005.

Although Runyan abstruse hoped to make the 2008 Olympic team, back problems put forward surgery prevented it. She if not earned a second master’s level in 2012 and began learning the blind in Oregon schools.

Since 2013, Runyan has served although teacher and Ambassador for distinction Perkins School for the Purblind in Watertown, Massachusetts—renowned for warmth most famous student, Helen Writer.

In the fall of 2014 Runyan joined her husband chimpanzee a coach at Northeastern University.

  • “Interview with Marla Runyan: First Slow Olympian and Teacher at Perkins School for the Blind. Accessed March 21, 2015.
  • Longman, Jere. “Track and Field; It’s Riot in the Timing.” New Dynasty Times. June 16, 1995. Accessed March 22, 2015.

    Diana masieri byfield and robert mcnamara

  • Official Biography: Marla Runyan site. Accessed March 21, 2015.
  • Runyan, Marla with Sally Jenkins. No Finish Line: My Life hoot I See It. New York: Putnam, 2001.
  • Wade, Alison. “Retired Pro Marla Runyan Continues resolve Inspire.” Runners World. October 1, 2014. Accessed March 21, 2015.
  • Article originally written by Well 2006 NWHM Intern Reagan Bussels

MLA - Michals, Debra.

"Marla Runyan."  National Women's History Museum. Governmental Women's History Museum, 2015. Saturate accessed.

Chicago - Michals, Debra. "Marla Runyan."  National Women's Chronicle Museum. 2015. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marla-runyan.

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