No Finish Line, Marla Runyan
No Finish Line, Marla Runyan
List: $35.99 | Sale: $25.20
Club: $17.99

No Finish Line
My Life As I See It

Author: Marla Runyan, Sally Jenkins

Narrator: Emily Schirner

Unabridged: 7 hr 56 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download (DRM Protected)

Published: 05/16/2017


Synopsis

“Blind? I think there’s no doubt that Marla Runyan can see things much clearer than most of us with 20/20 vision.” —Lance ArmstrongMarla Runyan was nine years old when she was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, an irreversible form of macular degeneration. With the uneasy but unwavering support of her parents, she refused to let her diagnosis limit her dreams. Despite her severely impaired, ever-worsening vision, Marla rode horseback and learned to play the violin. And she found her true calling in sports.A gifted and natural athlete, Marla began to compete in the unlikeliest event of all: the heptathlon, the grueling women’s equivalent of the decathlon, consisting of seven events: the 200-meter dash, high jump, shot put, 100-meter hurdles, long jump, javelin throw, and 800-meter run. In 1996, she astonished the sports world by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials and, along the way, set the American record for heptathlon 800. It was then that she decided to concentrate on her running. Four years of intense effort paid off. In 2000, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic team by finishing third in the 1,500 meters. In Sydney, she placed eighth in the finals, the top American finisher—the highest women’s placing for the United States in the event’s history.With self-deprecation and surprising wit, Marla reveals what it’s like to see the world through her eyes, how it feels to grow up “disabled” in a society where expectations are often based on perceived abilities, and what it means to compete at the world-class level despite the fact that—quite literally, for her—there is no finish line.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Donna on April 10, 2021

This book was given to me back in my hardcore running days when I began my own battle with increasing vision loss. Two decades later, my cautious return to running made me pull it off my bookcase and re-read it. Runyan's story inspired me to keep running although I'm older and my eyesight is worse.......more

Goodreads review by Kassandra on August 03, 2024

One of my favorite books I’ve ever read. Marla’s story is incredible. As someone who was diagnosed with Stargardt disease impacting her sight in her early years, she never let her lack of vision impact her dreams. Her memoir details her grit and determination to make the Olympics in her 1500 track e......more

Goodreads review by Hanna on June 21, 2023

Had to DNF this one because it was missing 1.5 chapters from my book I picked up at a used bookstore. **update: I finished the book because Ben found a PDF online for me 😄 honestly, I think you have to be a runner (track athlete specifically) to understand the essence of this book.......more

Goodreads review by Jeanne on August 07, 2021

Amazing inspirational story of a legally blind Olympic athlete Marla Runyan.......more

Goodreads review by Emily on March 10, 2016

Wonderful story. Very inspirational. Highly recommend for athletes.......more