Blind couple sets milestone by completing marathon
- Chris McMillan
- Jan 13
- 1 min read
China Daily
13th January 2025
Blind couple sets milestone by completing marathon
By TAN YINGZI and DENG RUI
Guides running alongside provide the eyes to stay on course and avoid obstacles.
Fifty-year-old Chen Hong and 40-year-old Lei Na from Chongqing have inscribed their names in the annals of history by becoming the first blind couple in China to complete a full marathon.
During the 2024 Shanghai Marathon on Dec 1, assisted by five escort runners, Chen and Lei accomplished a 42.19-kilometer full marathon in 5 hours and 47 minutes.
"As we crossed the finish line hand-in-hand, the overwhelming cheers and praise enveloped us in a moment of indescribable happiness and joy," Chen recalled.
"A marathon is all about resilience, perseverance and faith. Now every time I meet obstacles, I remind myself that I am a marathon runner."
Their marathon journey began on Oct 15, 2022 — the 39th White Cane Safety Day — with the founding of the Chongqing branch of Running in the Dark.
Originating in Shanghai in 2016, Running in the Dark, a national charity that supports partially sighted runners, has grown to 27 branches across the country. The organization has also broadened its scope to incorporate sports such as hiking, cycling and swimming.
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