Readers Say

‘Life is a marathon’: Why this runner with partial vision is running Boston

"Your passion, positivity, energy, and kindness supercharge me every time."

Ryan Davies is running for Team With a Vision.

By Zipporah Osei

April 18, 2022

2 minutes to read

Name: Ryan Davies
Age: 47
From: Gilbert, Ariz.

Elyse Harrop is running for her niece who completed treatment for leukemia

Life is a marathon. How you prepare for the future and how you balance the presence can help you succeed in this marathon. The support from various individuals can boost your success. I was born with an eye condition called aniridia, which varies in individuals. The condition can involve glaucoma, nystagmus, corneal issues, lack of iris, and cataract. I have partial vision. In my school years, I had to learn how to adapt and adjust due to my condition. Lack of accommodations, teachers/professors not wanting to answer additional questions, relying on other note-takers and additional time on tests were the common struggles.

Socially I had to consistently see people remember their faces and names. So socially it was hard to connect when you had to be up close to decipher and recognize who they are. While others got their driver’s licenses I remained on my bike. My employment stretching in my life was difficult. Lack of accommodations and supervisors not wanting extra work to tend to someone with a disability. So to succeed I had to work extra hard and find creative ways to still succeed.

I met my wife and our first child got my eye condition. I grew up in a family that got together on Sundays to eat and socialize. Family is big to me. My daughter had a worse version of the eye condition with corneal scarring. So she has only one okay eye. My stem cell was rejected in one eye so I have one okay eye. So with my daughter’s okay right eye and my okay left eye, we have one set of okay eyes.

Second child was a miscarriage and the third child was a rare condition women carry and only give to their sons. Its called myotubular myopathy (MTM). It’s a form of muscular dystrophy. We lost him at the age of 4 due to his condition.

I don’t have the blueprint life where I have the time for the perfect diet, speed training, and the ideal clothing. I’m not the fastest and probably never will win a ton of races, but life has hardened me where I can keep moving forward despite horrid circumstances. I run for my family and stay strong for them. I run for my late son Grayson and have pointed to the heavens before finishing the Boston to honor my son. I run for people who have supported me consistently.

I run also for Team with a Vision, a group that encourages and helps the visually impaired in running. They help encourage and build a healthy community all over the world by encouraging running. So Boston this will be my fourth consecutive and I’m saddened I cannot see all your signs but look for this 6’4 guy and keep on cheering as you do.

Your passion, positivity, energy, and kindness supercharge me every time. So some run for PRs, specific times, and medals. I run for all the supporters in honor of them that bring light to this world including you Boston! I run with a big heart for people who bring such light that has got me through challenges in my life. Some marathons in life can be so hard but love from others propels you forward. Always ready, ready to move always forward!

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.