Blind Japanese Runner Enters Dong-a Marathon

A blind Japanese runner will run in a Korean marathon race this month.

Forty two-year-old Yuichi Takahashi won a gold medal in Athens 2004 Paralympic Games with a time of 2 hours, 44 minutes, and 24 seconds. Takahashi, who is training for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, will run in the 78th Dong-A marathon to be held in Seoul on March 18.

The Akita prefecture-born runner totally lost his eyesight at the age of 34 after suffering from Retinitis pigmentosa since middle school. He found ‘his light’ in the marathon rather than falling into despair, however. His running, which he picked up to maintain good health after losing his eyesight, resulted in a gold medal at the Paralympic Games.

It is not easy to take part in marathon for the blind. They need a guide to lead them in the right direction during a race. Training is even more difficult. Usually they practice by running around a post with a long loop of string tied to the runner’s body and running back and forth the same distance with the help of a stick. They sometimes use a device which sounds like a radio to help them stay on course as well.

A representative of Runners’ Club, a Japanese community group, by the name of Katsuo Miura has been a close friend to Takahashi as a member of the group. He said, “I am deeply impressed to see how hard Takahashi trains.”

He wrote his autobiography, titled “Takahashi’s Miracle” after he won a gold medal. The book became popular in Japan.

He works for a computer company while exercising vigorously – he finished six full marathon courses and twenty half-courses last year. He retains the world record in the paralympic marathon and holds national records in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000-meter races.

kimsk@donga.com