Meet the Marathoner: Blind Ultra Runner Takes on Back to Back Races in Boston

Mar 25

Kyle Robidoux started running in 2010 to get in shape, but he continues running for the community. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease at age 11, and declared legally blind at age 19, Kyle is a regular at Achilles Boston Saturday workouts. He has helped train over 120 sighted volunteer guides.

In addition to nonprofit and accessibility advocacy work, he works in the Mayor of Boston's Office of Housing as the Assistant Director of the Office of Housing Stability.

He says joining Achilles was “about being a part of a strong community as much as it was about the physical aspect.” The ultra runner has lost count of the 40+ marathons and ultra distances he has completed but believes April 15 will mark his tenth official Bank of America Boston Marathon. Just two days before, he plans to complete the 26.TRUE unsanctioned marathon that celebrates the culture and diversity of Boston neighborhoods. In 2017, he completed a “Double Boston,” running the marathon course 26.2 distance in reverse from the finish line, and then again from the start line with the pack the same morning.

Read a Q&A with Kyle below about his journey and passion for pushing past boundaries.

What do you enjoy about the sport of running and why is it important that it be accessible to all?

“The running community is what really made me fall in love with the sport. I believe it should be accessible for everyone. Access to equipment and guides are key to breaking down barriers to running for people with disabilities. The peer network is also super important, seeing how other athletes have adjusted and learning from their experiences. Knowing what others have done before us is really important. I was never concerned with being the first to do anything. I just wanted to be able to participate and I want as many folks as possible to be able to participate. Achilles International helps make that happen. It’s less about being the first or the fastest or the best. It’s more about creating a network of support for people to reach beyond the limits of what they are capable of and supporting them in real time.”

How has Achilles made an impact on your life?

“Achilles has made a big difference in my life. The biggest piece for me is the availability of running guides. I know that I can always rely on Achilles to set me up with really great, supportive guides whether it be at a local event or at bigger races. I also really love that sense of community you get from showing up for a Saturday workout and seeing some new and familiar faces. It’s great to see the chapter grow. Achilles provides a strong national presence for runners and para athletes to co-mingle and co-participate in events, and that is very rare. I spent many years running only around people with vision loss, so it's wonderful to go to races with Achilles where we bring a strong presence of all kinds of adaptive athletes with all different types of disabilities. It’s really nice to help break down silos in the adaptive community.”

Do you have any advice for other athletes living with a disability?

“As athletes with disabilities, it is so important for us not to let others put boundaries and limitations on us. We have to recognize that the biggest challenge we have to overcome is learning how to adapt. Adapting can often be challenging. Learning to transition from running independently, to mentally saying to yourself, ‘I need a guide for safety purposes,’ is a huge transition. I would tell athletes to recognize the challenges that come with transitions, but to remember that there is a lot of support and positive outcomes if folks work through their reservations and the emotional side of transitions. Leverage the resources that are available to you and continue to do what you love.”

Help support athletes living with disabilities like Kyle by making a gift to Achilles Boston today.