SUFFOLK, Va. (WVEC) – Two friends are teaming up to run the 26.2 mile-long Boston Marathon.
Michael Davis, a legally blind man from Suffolk, and Ashton McCormick an autistic man from Chesapeake, started racing together a few years ago.
They have an incredible bond, and with one foot in front of the other, they are working towards the same goal: finish the Boston Marathon, as a team.
The duo said their dreams of crossing the finish line didn’t come easy because it's never been done before.
Davis plans on pushing McCormick. Even though Davis is blind, McCormick will help lead him to the finish line. There will also be a guide runner beside Davis during the race to make sure Davis is comfortable.
"The runner has to be considered able-bodied pushing a disabled rider," Davis said.
For the Boston Marathon standards, Davis isn’t considered able-bodied, because he’s legally blind. Even though he already ran a few other marathons including the Boston Marathon in 2013.
"2200 means that what it takes, I have to be 200 feet closer to what someone with 20/20 vision could see right away," said Davis.
Davis said he relies on Ashton for his eyes, and his other senses to stay on track.
"I can hear mosquitos, flies, gnats, bees, wasps. When we practice, I know my neighborhood, so I don’t have to worry about getting lost," Davis said.
According to Davis, he loves seeing the riders smile as they cross the finish line, and he believes everyone should be included, despite their disabilities.
After a lot of practice, on April 16, Davis and McCormick will be the first team to ever have a blind man push someone at the Boston Marathon.
For the two best friends, they said it’s all about moving forward and tackling obstacles.
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