Running Blind

HOW ONE VISUALLY-IMPAIRED RUNNER FINDS HIS WAY



Griffin Pinkow, 25, of New York, NY, is blind. Despite suffering from what most would view as a major disability, Pinkow has run marathons, completed a handful of long-distance tandem bike races, several Paralympic races, and more. These are impressive accomplishments. Most recently, with the help of his guide, Brian Gallagher, he crossed the finish of the 2017 Chicago Marathon in his fastest time ever.

Degeneration and Acceleration

At age 12, Pinkow was an avid athlete. It was through playing sports that he noticed something wrong with his vision. It took multiple visits to several doctors before he was finally diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease that slowly causes vision loss.

As his eyesight degenerated, his athletic pursuits accelerated. He played rugby all throughout college and then, in 2014, his senior year, he and a friend decided to run the New York City Marathon. By that time, he was using a cane, and was seeing little more than shadowy figures.

Training was difficult, but he never gave up or even thought about giving up. Because of his class schedule, he ran most of his training runs on the school track after dark. He found himself guessing the location of the turns and other people. ā€œAt first it was hard,ā€ he says, ā€œbut once I started relying on my other senses, it was easier. I would hear someoneā€™s voice or someoneā€™s breathing for example, and then judge their location.ā€

Running on a track under relatively controlled conditions was one thing, but lining up for a road marathon amidst thousands of other runners was quite another. Pinkow realized he would need his friend to serve as a guide. When they crossed the line, Pinkow was hooked.

Challenge and Marathon Running

ā€œYou want that feeling again, you want to experience that atmosphere, and you want to run faster,ā€ he says. ā€œPlus, I didnā€™t want to do something that was easy; I wanted to do something tough and accomplish my goals.ā€

Three years and two marathons later, he signed up for Chicago. His guide couldnā€™t make it. So, he went to Gallagher, the co-founder of Throwback Fitness, a studio where Pinkow often trains.

Despite completing a couple of half marathons in the past few years, Gallagher says running isnā€™t his thing. Also, the idea of guiding a visually-impaired runner through a moving marathon crowd sounded scary. Still, he agreed, and they started training.

ā€œWe ran about five training runs together,ā€ says Gallagher. ā€œIt was tough at first. I ran him right into a puddle and then into a pedestrian sign.ā€ Gallagher learned quickly just how aware heā€™d need to be every moment to get Pinkow to the finish unscathed and in what they both hoped would be a new PR for Pinkow and a first-ever marathon finish for himself.

No pressure.

Race Day

When race day came, they were ready. Live music boomed along the course and spectators roared as thousands of runners flooded the streets. Gallagher navigated Pinkow through the crowd using vocal queues and physical nudges (visually-impaired athletes often use tethers to help them stick with their guide; not Pinkow).

ā€œI felt overwhelmed just simply running the marathon with all that was going on around us. It was sensory overload for me, and I can see,ā€ exclaims Gallagher. ā€œI canā€™t imagine all that without being able to see it. And yet, it was incredible to experience just how calm, relaxed, poised, and determined Griffin was.ā€

Pinkow was in his element. For him, marathons are a chance to ā€œseeā€ an entire city in a day. While he canā€™t physically see, he can hear, and smell, and taste the city. He can absorb all the cultural mash-up that a place has to offer simply by running through its streets.

Despite some late-race knee pain, and a couple of near crashes, Pinkow and Gallagher crossed the line in 4:07. A new PR for Pinkow and a first-time marathon finish for Gallagher.

No Room for Excuses

ā€œI know what I can do,ā€ Pinkow says. ā€œI canā€™t tell you how many times people tell me that Iā€™m the only one who thinks I donā€™t have a disability. I want people to focus on what they can do, not what they canā€™t do. Your only limit is the one that you put on yourself.ā€

Wow. Thatā€™s just it. Pinkow knows no limits.

ā€œThereā€™s always an excuse,ā€ says Gallagher.ā€ But then I look at someone like Griffin, who has perhaps the biggest excuse and he doesnā€™t use it. He rides bikes; he runs races. His condition doesnā€™t stop him. And that is so inspiring and motivating.ā€

A 4:07 marathon is just the beginning. Pinkow is already forging ahead to new challenges. Next month, heā€™ll ride in a 200-mile tandem bike race, followed by a duathlon, then a 100-mile tandem bike race, before completing his 2017 season with the US Paralympic Track & Field National Championships.


Griffin Pinkowā€™s athletic endeavors are only a fraction of his accomplishments. Check out his nonprofit, the Foreseeable Future Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping other visually impaired people reach their potential.