Visually impaired runner takes on Honolulu Marathon for more than just herself

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Thousands of runners will be at the starting line for the 2024 Honolulu Marathon, but for Marri Murdoch, taking her first steps along Ala Moana Boulevard will be the culmination of a long journey.

“It’s just pure freedom and, you know, empowering to have that feeling of being able to go out and accomplish your goals and dreams,” Murdoch told Hawaii News Now.

Murdoch is entering her first Honolulu Marathon and has been running all of her life, but in 2017, the Minnesota Native suffered what’s known as a silent stroke.

As the name implies, she didn’t know she was having a stroke until her sight was impacted. Murdoch lost complete vision on the left side of both eyes, however that didn’t stop her from lacing up her running shoes.

“I had to take time off to allow for my artery to heal, and then when I was cleared by the neurologist to start physical activity again, I went straight back into running,” Murdoch said. “I took what I thought was the worst thing in my entire life and changed it into the best thing in my entire life, so you really just need to find your strength.”

Murdoch can only see what is immediately in front of her, so she says a guide is important when taking on the 26.2-mile marathon course.

Miechol Canteros has only been Murdoch’s guide since October and has quickly learned to be in sync with her.

“She trusts me to tell her all these visual cues around her, and it’s all about communication,” Canteros said. “Both of us, we need to be safe, right? So we need to have that trust and my words and to her ears to be perfect.”

Canteros also keeps a light-hearted mood, even during the most grueling parts of training.

“We have a lot of fun,” Murdoch said. “We’re humming and singing and, like, joking and laughing as we’re running.”

Murdoch is not only tackling the marathon for personal achievement; she’s running to share a message of hope for anyone who may be struggling.

“I know that my stroke was fate; looking back at everything, I know that I was meant to lose my vision because I was meant to do this,” Murdoch said. “I know that with all of my heart, I was meant to start this nonprofit and be a leader and start changing the world.”

She’s started the nonprofit Travel Visions Aloha for the Blind, which helps blind and visually impaired individuals through run clubs and other activities.

“Her mission is so powerful, and it’s all about the community. I love what she’s doing,” Canteros said. “She’s empowering the blind, the vision impaired individual to go explore the world, to travel.”

For Murdoch and Cantero, their work is just beginning; they plan to keep racking up miles for the blind and visually impaired community.

For additional information on Travel Visions Aloha for the Blind, click here.

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