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CNN Live Today

Blind Runner Achieves Success: Step By Step

Aired September 16, 2002 - 10:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: More than just about any other athlete, runners always have a challenger always nipping a their heels, a competitor defined by their own personal limitations. Our next guest is Martha Runyan -- Marla Runyan I should say. Marla is the first legally blind athlete in the world to compete in the Olympic Games. She's also an author. She's the author of "No Finish Line: My Life as I See it." And in about six weeks, I understand that she's also going to be competing in her first New York Marathon. And there you see her, Marla Runyan is with us in our New York bureau this morning.
How are you?

MARLA RUNYAN, BLIND ATHLETE: Hey, I'm great, thank you.

HARRIS: Glad to have you with us today. I got to tell you, you got me in some trouble this morning, Marla.

I was little bit late getting to the set because I got distracted reading your book. This one little segment where you were talking about competing in the -- qualifying for the Pair Olympics. You had to run a race in Atlanta by yourself.

RUNYAN: Yes. Yes. Yes, that was kind of a silly story. So I put it in the book because I thought people could get a good laugh out of that.

HARRIS: That was a good one. As a matter of fact, folks, if you get the book you will enjoy the read. She had to run a 100-meter race by herself just to qualify for the Pair Olympics thing.

But listen, this is -- this is a great story, but the story I want to talk to about you this morning is this idea of running in a marathon. You've run the 1,500 meters, and that's what you ran in the Olympics here, but a marathon? That is a big leap there is it?

RUNYAN: It is a huge leap. But actually, I have also been running the 5,000 meters on the track, so -- and my training is, especially in the winter months, is very high mileage, you know, 20 to 22 mile runs, so I just kind of looked at that kind of training and I wanted to take it to the next level, and explore the marathon a little bit and I think that in the long run it might help me to be a better track runner

HARRIS: Explore the marathon. That's an interesting phrase. How does one explore the marathon?

RUNYAN: You have a long time out there to explore. You have 26.2 miles to explore it. So -- but like I said, this was something I wanted to do personally. It's like a personal endeavor that I wanted to race at a range of distances while I am running near or at my best just to see what I can accomplish and see what I can do while I am -- while I have this opportunity.

HARRIS: How did you do the past weekend. I understand you were in Philly running this weekend?

RUNYAN: Right, I ran my first half marathon yesterday morning in Philadelphia, and you know, I finished second to (UNINTELLIGIBLE), who is the world record holder in the marathon, so I didn't plan on beating her, so I am happy with second, but the conditions were extremely humid. Overall I was really happy with how it went.

HARRIS: That is not bad. Way to go, now was that your first half marathon?

RUNYAN: Yes, that was my first half marathon.

HARRIS: First time out and you get second place, that's got to give you a good feeling.

RUNYAN: Yes, and I think, you know, if I just double that I can get an idea of what I'm going to have to contend with in seven weeks so --

HARRIS: Good deal, we will keep an eye on you to see how things turn out for you. Congratulations on the half marathon and good luck on the coming marathon. Then after that what do you do?

RUNYAN: I go on a break. I take, I take some time off, and rest, and get ready for next year's track season. Really everything now is just in preparation for the 2004 Olympics where I hope to be back on the track competing probably at 5,000 meters and hopefully that is my focus for 2004.

HARRIS: You know, rest sounds like a good idea, because I am tired just listening to you say all these things. Marla Runyan, way to go. Good luck. Congratulations.

RUNYAN: Thanks for having me.

HARRIS: Glad to have you with us. And the book is "No Finish Line" and it really does look like a really fun read. I'm going to make sure I get through more of this book when I get off the set, OK?

RUNYAN: OK.

HARRIS: Take care.

RUNYAN: Thank you.

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