Blind Runners Excel at 2022 Philadelphia Distance Run

The 13.1 Mile Philadelphia Distance Run (PDR) and its companion 5K (3.1 miles) run - held this past September 18 - provided challenges for a number of runners, including the winners.

For 32-year-old James Ngandu of Kenya who won the PDR one hour, two minutes and one second, (1:02:01), worried if anyone would catch him. At Mile six at Brewery Hill Drive - located on Kelly Drive - Ngandu posted 27:36. By that point, he had a commanding lead, but he occasionally looked over his shoulder.

“I looked back to see if they were closing the gap,” said Ngandu in broken English.

He collected $2,500.00 for finishing first. He was uncertain how he would do because he never before ran the PDR.

The first woman finisher Monicah Ngige who posted 1:09:23 and collected $2,500.00 also had a commanding lead by mile six. Her biggest worry was not winning.

The blind and sight impaired runners who represented the USA Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) had an obvious set of different challenges. But with the invaluable assistance of their fully sighted guide runners, these USABA runners had great success.

The totally blind Kyle Coon, a member of the Toyota U.S. Paratriathlon Resident Team in Colorado Springs, Colo. finished the PDR with a 1:25:23 clocking.

“It was a great race,” said Coon, 30. “The crowds were great, so were the runners and race organizers.”

Running the PDR brought back memories.

“I was treated for eye cancer at Wills Eye Hospital (in Philadelphia) while growing up,” said Coon.

By age seven, both of Coon’s eyes were removed because the tumors affected both of his retinas.

“My parents knew that I was going to be totally blind so they tried to prepare me,” said Coon. They enrolled him in programs that taught him daily survival skills such as using a blind person’s cane, learning Braille, etc.

“It was still a tough adjustment,” Coon remembered.

Adjusting became easier after he met Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person who climbed Mt. Everest.

“He was a great mentor,” said Coon.

According to Team USA, in 2018, Coon became the first blind person to complete the Iron Man Triathlon, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and then running a 26.2 mile marathon.

“I finished in 10 hours, 59 minutes and 17 seconds - just under 11 hours,” said Coon.

Coon hopes to run the PDR again.

Another standout was Cindy Lou Altman of Coatesville, Pa. who finished the 5K in 39:24.

“I loved the race and I’m coming back next year,” said Altman, 53.

Over the years, Altman’s vision worsened due to Retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss.

“I have no peripheral vision,” said Altman. When Asked what she could actually see she answered:

“Look through a toilet paper tube. That’s my field of vision.”

This was Altman’s first time running with her guide runner, Makala Wang.

“It was great running with her,“ said Altman. “She guided me around the man holes, around the slower runner; she made sure I didn’t trip.”

Wang added:

“I was nervous beforehand because we had only talked over the phone and practiced walking with the tether once before the race, but luckily the course was very flat and easy to navigate. There were a few bumps in the road and a U-turn halfway through the race, so I just used the cues we discussed earlier; everything went smoothly.“

For more information about USABA: https://www.usaba.org/