The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is world-renowned for its difficulty. With 18,000 feet of elevation gain and drastic temperature changes, the race has broken even the most accomplished ultrarunners.
Past entrants throughout the race’s 45-year history have included runners of all ages and physical abilities. But Kyle Robidoux, an ultrarunner from Roxbury, Massachusetts, will be a trailblazer when he toes the race’s start line this June as the first visually impaired runner to attempt the grueling course.
Robidoux has retinitis pigmentosa, which results in what he describes as “extreme tunnel vision.” It hasn’t stopped him from challenging himself on the roads or trails; he lost 70 pounds after taking up running in 2010 and has completed three 100-mile races since.
“Although I know it’s going to be brutal, that’s why we run these races—to put yourself up against the biggest challenges,” Robidoux told Runner’s World. “For me, it’s more about having the opportunity to do that in recognizing that there are many of my peers who are blind or visually impaired who are capable of running Western States.”
Prior to 2019, none of the aspiring finishers in Squaw Valley, California, have been blind or visually impaired. After failing to get into the 2019 running of Western States through the race’s notoriously difficult lottery system, race sponsor Clif provided him with a bib.
Robidoux will run his sixth consecutive Boston Marathon this April as part of his buildup to Western States. He recently spoke to Runner’s World about the opportunity, his weight loss, and the importance of challenging himself.
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Since becoming a video producer for Runner’s World in 2014, Derek has captured such historic moments as Meb Keflezighi and Desiree Linden’s Boston victories and Amy Cragg’s win at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and Galen Rupp and Shalane Flanagan breaking the tape in Chicago and New York, respectively.
