Blind Long Island City resident to participate in NYC marathon

Although a violent attack in 1997 robbed Nooria Nodrat of her sight, it did not cripple her spirit or her active life. The Long Island City resident will be running in the New York City Marathon on November 5.
While riding the subway on May 9, 1997, a young woman attacked Nodrat, pinning her to the floor and continually hitting her in the face. After the attack, she noticed things seemed blurry and that there were other problems with her vision.
&#8220The next day, when I went to the doctor, he told me I was too late,” said Nodrat, who moved to the United States from Afghanistan in 1991.
After six unsuccessful surgeries on her eyes, Nodrat was told that she would not regain her sight. When she first heard the grim news in 2003, Nodrat said she experienced several feelings, such as despair, depression and fear. However, she fought to overcome those feelings, and actually participated in her first marathon that year.
&#8220I just realized that my blindness is not the end of my life,” said Nodrat, who has a blind brother and whose husband was blind. &#8220It's part of my life, but it's not the end of my life.”
Nodrat said that it was obvious the woman who attacked her was sick, possibly being a drug addict or alcoholic. The woman was never caught.
&#8220I forgive her truly in my heart because she was sick,” Nodrat, a mother of two, said.
Nodrat ran in her first marathon in 2003 and has walked in it each year after that. She first began participating because she liked the challenge.
During the 26.2-mile marathon, Nodrat will be one of 20 members participating from the Achilles Track Club. She described her fellow club members as family and said that they are all very supportive of each other.
&#8220They are wonderful people,” said Nodrat, whose goal for this year is to finish in six-and-a-half-hours. &#8220Every one of them is my inspiration.”
Nodrat will be accompanied by six volunteers who will assist her throughout the day. &#8220I'm forever grateful to the volunteers,” she said. &#8220They (give) their energy and their time for us in order to have our dream come true.”
Along with participating in the marathon, Nodrat has found many other challenges. She is a student at New York City College of Technology and will receive an associate's degree in human services this fall.
She plans to get her bachelor's degree there, also in human services, with her ultimate goal being to attend Hunter College to get a Ph.D. and become a clinical physiologist.
Nodrat, who added that she was highly involved while living in Afghanistan, is also the president of the student association for New York State's chapter of the National Federation of the Blind and a member of the Women's Association of New York. She has also volunteered with the Catholic Guild for the Blind and Jewish Guild for the Blind, along with performing her internship at Citiview Connections.
Ceramics, music, writing and yoga are also among Nodrat's hobbies, along with having an advanced yellow belt in karate.
Nodrat said that she is sharing her story in hopes that it will motivate others and that something positive will come out of what happened to her nine years ago.
&#8220In general, my opinion is even if you have a disability, it doesn't matter as long as you put in your effort and you set your mind on something,” Nodrat said.