May 25, 2007 7:28 pm US/Eastern
Blindfold Challenge Teaches Some A Valuable Lesson
by Alice Cook
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Boston Councilman Mike Ross will run through his district in an effort to make a difference for the visually impaired.
CBS
It's not easy to do most things with your eyes closed, so imaging running a road race. Next Saturday, both the sighted and the visually impaired will run through the Fens in the Vision 5K Road Race, and the signature of this year's event will be a category called the blindfold challenge.
"While you might be a little fearful of doing this, you'll see that being blind, or not being able to see doesn't stop you from attaining goal," said a trainer who is teaching Boston Councilman Mike Ross and others to run the upcoming race using only the eyes of a partner."
Ross will run through his district in an effort to make a difference for the visually impaired. When he toes the line, the street will go dark. "From a running perspective, it's harder than regular running, you know. You can't see anything. It's totally new."
"What in your mind is the biggest challenge of training people to run blindfolded?" asked WBZ's Alice Cook.
"I think the initial fear that people have is hard to get over, and it's really difficult to place your full trust in somebody that you've never met before and just expect them to kind of be your eyes while your running," said trainer Lisa Miracle.
The runners are connected with a tether, although it is verbal and physical cues that make it work.
The blindfold challenge is the first of its kind anywhere. Twenty-eight runners will be making history this year -- a number that is sure to grow as time goes on. "With those support systems in place," said Ross, "anyone can do anything… I never had a chance to literally climb into the shoes of anyone this way, and it was a valuable lesson."
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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