On October 20, the 2024 Tianjin Marathon started. This year's Tianjin Marathon was the first time that a running group of visually impaired runners appeared. Under the guidance of the caring runners, many visually impaired youths completed their first marathon. The "EYE Heart Running Group" participating in the 2024 Tianjin Marathon was formed by the Tianjin Red Cross Foundation, with 6 participants and graduates of Tianjin School for the Visually Impaired, and 14 volunteer runners running in the same trip. Depending on the level of visual impairment, each visually impaired runner is required to have two to three chaperones during the race. Runner Si Wei said, "The runner not only needs to do the track pace, track safety observation, track supply station pick-up and other work during the race, but also provide transportation assistance and check-in coordination before and after the race, until the runner is returned to his relatives or teachers after the race, and the escort is not over." In this Tianjin Marathon Half Marathon, the three visually impaired runners in the "EYE Heart Running Group" and the accompanying runners successfully completed the race side by side, and the fastest one took 2 hours and 7 minutes. "They can't see the world clearly, but they want the world to see them clearly. Visually impaired youth can also have infinite possibilities in life. Zhao Hongxiang, a tutor at Tianjin School for the Visually Impaired, said.
"EYE Heart Running Group" runner Yuan Jiale (second from left) and accompanying runners Wang Xiujuan (second from right) and Du Jin (first from left) during the race (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Zishuo
Cai Cheng (front left), a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group", interacts with the audience during the race (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Zishuo
Li Zezhou (third from left), a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group", rushed to the finish line of the half marathon under the guidance of two escorts, Si Wei (third from right) and Ma Changjun (first from left). In the end, Li Zezhou completed his first half marathon with a time of 2 hours 07 minutes (taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Huang Zimao (left), a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group", receives the race items accompanied by the accompanying runner Tang Liyun (taken on October 17). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ran
Yuan Jiale (right) and Huang Zimao smile after winning the finisher's medal (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
"EYE Heart Running Group" runner Huang Zimao (left) and escort Tang Liyun hold hands after the race (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Ding Siqi, a member of the "EYE Heart Running Group", admires the finisher medal after the race (taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Volunteers congratulate Ding Siqi (left), a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group" after the race (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Li Zezhou (middle), a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group", took a group photo with two escorts Si Wei (second from right) and Ma Changjun (second from left) after the race. In the end, Li Zezhou completed his first half marathon with a time of 2 hours 07 minutes (taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Accompanying runners Si Wei (right) and Ma Changjun (left) told Li Zezhou, a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group", to pay attention to before starting (taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Li Zezhou (middle), a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group", accompanied by two escorts Si Wei (left) and Ma Changjun, went to the rest area to receive the medal after the race (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Runner Ma Changjun (right) helps Li Zezhou, a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group", stretch his muscles (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Li Zezhou (third from left) and Ding Siqi (second from left) of the "EYE Heart Running Group" celebrate the completion of their first half marathon with their accompanying runners (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
"EYE Heart Running Group" runner Yuan Jiale (left) and accompanying runner Tang Liyun conduct pre-race training at Tianjin School for the Visually Impaired (photo taken on October 16). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Li Zezhou (first from left) and Ding Siqi (second from left) took the subway to the venue under the leadership of tutor Zhao Hongxiang (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
This is a running rope hand-woven by the team of runners to guide the direction (photo taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Ding Siqi (second from left), a runner of the "EYE Heart Running Group", entered the arena under the leadership of accompanying runners Xiao Mengran (first from left) and Chen Yaohui (taken on October 20). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
The escort led the "EYE Heart Running Group" runner Li Zezhou to train at the Tianjin School for the Visually Impaired (photo taken on October 16). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue
Tutor Zhao Hongxiang (right) advises participating students on precautions at Tianjin School for the Visually Impaired (taken on October 16). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue