Marla Runyan
Keynote Speaker: Track & Field Runner, First Ever Legally Blind Olympic Athlete
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Marla Runyan Biography
Marla Runyan is a former world-class American track and field athlete and marathon runner who is legally blind. At age nine, she was diagnosed with Stargardts disease, a form of juvenile macular degeneration that causes progressive vision loss.
After graduating from Adolfo Camarillo High School in 1987, Runyan studied at San Diego State University where she competed in numerous track and field events including the high jump and heptathlon. In 1994, Marla graduated with a master's degree in Communicative Disorders and began her post-collegiate running career. She qualified for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials in the heptathlon, where she finished 10th but fell well short of making the Olympic Team. In 1992, she competed in her first of two Paralympic Games, and ultimately won 5 gold medals and set 9 world records in the T13 visually impaired classification.
In 1996, Runyan relocated to Eugene, Oregon and reinvented herself as a middle-distance runner. With a new coach and heightened focus, she won gold in the 1500-meters at the 1999 Pan-American Games and finished 10th in the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Seville, Spain.
At the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, Runyan finished 3rd and qualified for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in the 1500 meter event -- the first time a legally blind American track and field athlete has ever made a U.S. Olympic Team. She went on to win 3 consecutive USATF national outdoor titles in the 5000-meters and made her second Olympic Team in that event in 2004. To this day Runyan is considered to be one of the most versatile athletes in U.S. Track and Field history - as an aside to her limited vision, she astonishingly moved from sprints and field events to middle and long-distance running. In 2002, she placed 4th in the NYC Marathon and was the top American female finisher in a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, 10 seconds, the fourth-fastest marathon debut time by an American woman. Runyan also ran the Twin Cities, Boston, and Chicago marathons finishing 1st, 5th, and 7th in those events respectively.
To this day, she remains the only visually impaired American athlete to qualify and compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Runyan currently holds two master's degrees in Special Education.
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Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Marla Runyan for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Marla Runyan, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Marla Runyan or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Marla Runyan for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Marla Runyan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Marla Runyan, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Marla Runyan speak about?
Marla Runyan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Faith & Religion, Inspirational, Sports Motivation, Olympic Sports, Women, Personal Growth, Athlete, Overcoming Adversity, Sports, Women's Health, Empowerment, Women's Empowerment, Motivational and Paralympics.
Where does Marla Runyan travel from?
Marla Runyan generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Marla Runyan?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Marla Runyan for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Marla Runyan for your next private or corporate function.
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Marla Runyan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Faith & Religion, Inspirational and Sports Motivation. The estimated speaking fee range to book Marla Runyan for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Marla Runyan generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Shannon Miller, Amanda Beard and Nastia Liukin. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Marla Runyan for an upcoming event.
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