The San Jorge 50-mile endurance race held in Puerto Rico on Feb. 6 was won by legally blind runner Jason Romero of Denver, Colo. It is rare to have blind people competing in marathons, even rarer to find blind people competing in ultra-marathons (more than 26.2 miles), and was unheard of, until last Saturday, for a blind person to actually win an ultra-marathon.
“It is the first time in the history of ultra-running that a blind person has ever won an ultra-marathon outright,” said Mark Lucas, executive director of the United States Association of Blind Athletes.
Romero completed the 50-mile course in 7 hours 24 minutes, breaking the existing course record, held by a sighted male, by more than 1.5 hours. With the win, Romero also set a World Record for blind ultra-runners in the 50-mile distance.
The 45-year-old Coloradan has Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare degenerative eye condition that gradually robs its sufferers of peripheral & central sight, visual acuity, and the ability to perceive light. When he was diagnosed at the age of 14, a retina specialist told him to ‘forget about his dreams of being a doctor or lawyer.’ He was warned that most blind people can’t work. Romero ignored the doctor’s dismal prophecy and went on to become an honor student, attorney, business executive at GE and Western Union, and CEO of a non-profit school for children with Autism. Currently, Romero is a motivational speaker and adventurer competing in races and expeditions around the world. This summer, Romero will run 3,200 miles across the U.S. starting March 25 in Los Angeles and ending 64 days later at Faneuil Hall in Boston.
“Romero is an extraordinary athlete who demonstrates perseverance. His VisionRun USA across America will raise awareness about issues affecting the blind including the high unemployment rate of 70%, an obesity rate of 66%, and a depression rate 2 times the rate of the general population,” said Lucas.
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About Jason Romero
Jason Romero currently holds world running records in 50K, 50-mile, 100 mile, 24 hour, 48 hour and 72 hour race distances and times. He is a 3-time IronMan triathlete, 2015 United States Association of Blind Athletes Marathon Champion, and represented Team USA with a 4th place finish at the International Paralympic Committee’s World Marathon Championships in 2015. Romero was recently featured in an inspirational documentary, Running Vision (www.runningvisionmovie.com), which chronicles his degenerative eye condition and his completion of a 51 hour, 183 mile run across Puerto Rico.