Meet U.S. Olympian Marla Runyan! "Don't listen to negative influnces. Believe in yourself, and show others what you can do. Only "you" can find your potential." - Marla Runyan Occupation: Professional Runner Education: San Diego State University for both a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in education of children who are deaf-blind Hometown: Camarillo, California but now she lives in Eugene, Oregon Birthdate: January 4, 1969 Meet U.S. Olympian Marla Runyan! Ms. Runyan is a middle distance runner, which means she runs competitively in races that are 800 meters (half a mile), 1,500 meters (almost a mile), 3,000 meters (almost 2 miles), and 5,000 meters (a little over 3 miles) long. Marla ran in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where she proved to be the eighth fastest 1,500-meter female runner in the world! In February 2001, she broke the U.S. indoor track record for the 5,000-meter race by running that distance in 15 minutes and 7 seconds. Now, that's impressive! In May 2001, Marla ran at a race called the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, OR, and came in first place in the 3,000 meter run. Go, Marla, go! Marla was born on January 4, 1969, in Camarillo, CA. She went to college at San Diego State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and her Master of Arts degrees in education, specifically the education of children who are deaf or blind. Marla herself is legally blind in both eyes. Her vision was normal until she was about 9 years old. When she was in fourth grade, she first noticed that something was wrong with her vision because she couldn't see the chalkboard at school very clearly. She also had trouble reading her books and had to hold them about an inch from her eyes so she could read the print. When she was in fourth grade, her parents took her to the eye doctor, and it was there she learned that she had Stargardt's Disease. Stargardt's is a genetic vision disorder with symptoms that start to appear in children or young adults before they turn 20. People with Stargardt's usually can't make out the big "E" on the eye chart, even with glasses or contacts. Other symptoms include difficulty reading and distinguishing colors; these symptoms usually progress with age. For more information about Stargardt's and other juvenile eye disorders, visit these Web sites: Stargardt's Disease Marla says that she has always been a runner. Whether she was just running with her dog or running while playing soccer, she never really started running; she just never stopped running. In addition to soccer and running, Marla was also interested in other sports. During the 1976 Olympics, when she was only 7 years old, Marla was glued to watching gymnasts on TV. She imitated the Olympic gymnasts as she pretended to do balance beam or floor routines. Sometimes she would walk around on her hands and practice doing the splits. She would finish each "routine" with her toes perfectly pointed and her hands high above her head, as if to take a bow to the imaginary audience. It wasn't until she was 11 years old that Marla ran her first race. She ran the 75-yard dash against a bunch of boys and got really upset because she came in second place. But, that didn't stop Marla from running; in fact, it inspired her to try even harder. In everything she did, she tried hard and gave it her best shot. But, even with that mindset, Marla never suspected that she would run in the Olympics one day. Running was something she did for herself; it brought about a sense of accomplishment and just seemed to fit with her personality. However, after years of running races and training and with support from her mom and dad, Marla did run in the Olympics! In 2000, she became the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympic games. She ran the 1,500-meter race and ranked as the eighth fastest female runner in the whole world! Now, that's Girl Power! Are you curious about her Olympic experience? Girl Power! was, so we asked her about it, and she said being in the Olympics is almost an unreal experience. But, she also realized that sometimes it's the process of working toward your goal that is the most important thing. The work you put into your goal can be even more important than reaching your goal! Marla said that it was quite an honor to compete for the United States, but her sense of personal achievement was even more rewarding. Marla became an inspiration for others who have vision impairments and an inspiration for everyone to go for whatever they want in life. Marla is running and winning races all over the United States today! You can find out what Marla is up to by visiting her Web site at http://www.marlarunyan.com. Marla does not consider her vision impairment a disability on the track. She says it can make a race more difficult, but, "like everything in life, I prepare myself and practice so I know what to expect." Marla says her motivation to keep running comes from her desire to find her potential. She wants to know how fast she can run certain distances. Winning is not her goal. Most of the time she likes to concentrate on what she can train her mind and body to do. To girls with Girl Power!, Marla says, "Get out there and enjoy life! Play hard but have fun. Don't allow others to discourage you. Don't listen to negative influences. Believe in yourself and show others what you can do. Only YOU can find your potential. Others are just spectators—you are the star of your life." For more information about Marla, visit http://www.flynnsports.com or http://marla.flynnsports.com/.