Back in August, we highlighted a remarkable woman named Amy Wiegand. At the time, she was training for the New York City Marathon in a racing wheelchair.
Amy is also blind in one eye. Slowly losing feeling in her legs. And, even though she had never sat in a racing wheelchair until this opportunity emerged, none of that was going to slow her down.
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On November 1st, she completed the New York City Marathon!
Alongside an unexpected Guide Runner. KIRO 7’s own Eric Thomas. Eric was a last-minute addition, signing up with just about two weeks to prep.
And, as the two quickly discovered. Even when they got separated, they were never alone.
Because there’s a common theme along the New York City Marathon route: Support. Positivity. And Community.
As Amy can attest, it’s the people who make the New York City Marathon magical.
“The amount of people there for you that are complete strangers is crazy,” she says, recounting the spectators. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. The crowd was the best.”
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Along with encouragement from fellow participants.
“I didn’t realize for the first couple miles that they were saying my race number. I was like, ‘Who’s #285?'”, referring to her race bib.
Then realized, “Oh, they’re talking about me!”
“To have them cheering me on while they’re also doing this huge thing was really cool to see,” she smiles.
But there were doubts.
Rewind to how they got here. The pair met just two months before the race.
She was still searching for a Guide Runner, convincing Eric at the 11th hour. Both of them were attempting their first marathon.So, while the race prep had been brewing for months, Eric didn’t even make the ‘Wall of Participants’. That’s how short notice this was.
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But Amy did. And that’s all the confirmation the two needed.
They were also flanked by KIRO 7 Cameraman, Jay Nobles, capturing the sights and sounds of the weekend. And the essence of the city.
After all, it is NYC. Navigating the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple was part of the story.
From heading in the wrong direction on the subway to boundless blocks and classic architecture.
On Halloween Weekend, no less. The city, alive at every turn. Always simmering. Bright. Bold.
And, rough…like that 3:15am alarm on ‘Race Day’. But there couldn’t have been a better forecast. Clear and cloudless. Perfect running temps. The two boarded a bus to Staten Island, buzzing with anticipation.
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And, in what seemed like a blur, they were off!
Amongst the field for this year’s race, the 50th running through all five boroughs.
As they departed Staten Island, Amy used the “Verrazano Narrows Bridge” to her advantage, pulling away on the first downhill about a mile-and-a-half into the race.
“It was kind of scary because at first. I was like, ‘Where did he go? Is he going to catch up with me?'” she remembers.
But off she went. Through Brooklyn. Solo. Then, Queens. By herself.
“Is he going to finish? Where is he?” she laughs.
Then, the realization: “Whoa! This is further than I’ve ever gone before.” But still on her own, in Manhattan.
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“Can I do this two or three times more?” she thought. “Yes! I can. I can do this!
“That feeling was amazing,” she said afterwards.
And into The Bronx she went. With Eric still trailing behind.
“In that moment, I knew, like, I can do this,” Amy recalls.
It wasn’t until the homestretch, 22 miles later, along 5th Avenue, when Eric finally caught up. That’s how driven Amy is.
“It’s harder if there’s not someone there next to me,” she admits. “But, it all worked out.”
She knew Eric would eventually catch up. And, they would finish the race together. And, just like Amy called it, there they were. Reunited. With two miles left. Making their way through Central Park. The finish line constantly beyond the horizon.
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“That last push,” Amy sighs. “It was so hard. So hard. If you’ve never done the New York City Marathon, the last two miles are awful. Awful!” she says, rolling her eyes.
Until… Seven hours, nine minutes, four seconds later. The two crossed the finish line. Amongst the 61,146 finishers. A new world record.
While Eric is still recovering, Amy isn’t stopping.
“I think this trip proved to me that I can do all this stuff, even though I’m in a wheelchair,” she beams. Admitting, “I did not feel that way two months ago.”
“The fact that we could navigate New York City. And, I could do this thing I’ve always wanted to do since I was a teenager is huge,” she says proudly.
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“I don’t think that’s really hit yet of ‘I really did it.'”
But, Amy carried that confidence to Las Vegas, just days later. Playing in a sled hockey tournament. Where she not only scored her first goal; her team went on to win the whole thing! Meanwhile, she’s already convinced Eric to tag along for the Chicago Marathon next October.
Although there could be another one before that.
“Berlin. Hopefully we get in,” she says without hesitation. “I applied for the lottery. But the odds are like one in five. So a 20-percent chance we’ll get in.”
Of course, Eric has already accepted the offer to be Amy’s Guide Runner again.
Thankfully, there’s a little more time to train. But it’s just another challenge she’s ready to conquer.
Proving what’s possible. And inspiring others along the way.
