Running With The Blind

 

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written by Erik 2011, a school paper

RUNNING WITH THE BLIND

Everyone knows that a runner sometimes faces difficult obstacles. Adrian Broca is a runner may have an obstacle slightly bigger than the average runner- Adrian is legally blind.

                In his senior year in high school, a genetic condition caused him to lose his eyesight. Over time, all he could see a few color contrasts and shadows. For a while, he was very depressed, but that’s when he started walking. After many cuts, scrapes and bruises he learned how to walk around his neighborhood by himself, eventually leading to running, and soon to running marathons.

                Adrian first signed up for a St. George Half Marathon and met Cedar City runners John Hart and Clinton Rhoton there. These two helped Adrian run the race by running beside him, holding a shoelace and guiding him along. They talked to him and said things like, "there's a runner coming to your right, let's go left." He set his personal time during this race.

 In the 2010 St. George Marathon, Adrian ran the race with help John and Clinton and also two others: Brandon LaCagnina and Jon Hermansen. He says this about himself: "I viewed losing my vision as a gift and think it's something that has propelled me to overcome my challenges and not give up no matter what the obstacle that's ahead of me might be.”