Lisa Thompson, a visually impaired marathon runner, won her eighth Boston Marathon title in the women's T13 division with the guidance of Alexi Pappas, an Olympian. This event, which was Thompson's 13th Boston Marathon, had her finishing the race in 3:42:01. Despite her visual impairments, she shares her experience of the race's challenging terrain and the importance of pacing, particularly on the notorious Newton hills. Their teamwork and training made for one of her most thrilling marathon experiences yet, showcasing their incredible bond and commitment to the sport.
"The feeling of crossing the finish line is exhilarating and absolutely never gets old," Thompson, who works in real estate and operates a bed and breakfast, wrote in an email interview after the race.
"The first six miles, mostly downhill, are fast and quad-crushing," said Thompson, who has no sight in her left eye, low vision in her right, and no depth perception or peripheral vision.
"There is a delicate balance of how hard to go down versus how much to hold back. The suffering on the Newton hills can be epic if the first few miles of Boston are mismanaged."
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